2. Panels
Panels are the heart of cons. They run the range of just plain fun (
Prepare for the Invasion with Richard Horvitz and Rikki Simons of
Invader Zim) to educational (
What is a Brony?) to actually getting critiques on your work (Writers Workshops & Portfolio Reviews) to getting you a date (Nerd Speed Dating). The panels are, for me and all the billions of other aspiring artists, where you go in the hopes of getting some bit of knowledge to get a foot in the door. In addition to the writers workshops and portfolio reviews, Comicpalooza had panels on how to start your own publishing company, how to interview for voice acting jobs and special effect make-up techniques. Each con will be different, so be sure to check the listings for the panels. There are many, many choices for everyone.