FAQ

General
What is BAMCon?
How big is BAMCon?
How do I get to the convention?
What places to eat are there around the event?
Code of Conduct

Registration
How do I sign up for the convention?
Can I pre-register for just one day?
I've pre-registered for the convention. What next?
Should I book a room at the hotel?
I'm a teenager, can I come alone? I'm a parent, do I need to pay?

Guests
I really want to see this Guest. Will he be there all 3 days?
I love [insert name]. Can you invite them to the convention?

Events
When does the convention open each day? Where can I find a schedule?
Are there events which require additional money?
What is there to do at the convention?

General

Q: What is BAMCon?
A: BAMCon is an anime convention held annually over three days in the Berkshire County - Massachusetts - Western Mass area. Anime conventions are events that showcase new videos, creators, actors, and industry guests. They are a good place to buy all kinds of anime merchandise at reasonable prices in one centralized area. Anime conventions are just great places to socialize with people who like the same stuff that you do.

Q: How big is BAMCon?
A: This being only BAMCon's second year, we hope to make it one of the biggest and best conventions in Western Mass, and hopefully all of Massachusetts and more.

Q: How do I get to the convention?
A: The Crowne Plaza Hotel and area hotels are located in the Central area of downtown Pittsfield, MA. Ranging about an hour away from NY, VA, and 3 hours from Boston. You can find out how to get there by visiting our Location Section or by putting in your Zip code in the field in the menu. If you will be driving, there is plenty of free parking surrounding the convention.

Q: What places to eat are there around the event?
A: Near the Crowne Plaza, there are many restaurants, diners, and shopping malls. Just a short 5 minute drive away, you will find a variety of foods to choose from. And for those unable to make the drive, many of the restaurants make deliveries. There are also restaurants in the hotels for everyone to enjoy. A map of the area and a list of dining options will be made available to you in the program guide you'll receive on the opening day of the convention.

Registering

Q: How do I sign up for the convention?
A: There are many ways to sign up for the convention. Until April 4th, we accept pre-registration on-line or through the mail. We offer 1-day and 3-day passes online. Pre-registration guarantees that you will be able to attend the event. Group discounts are also only available if you pre-register for the event. After April 4th, you may only register at-the-door. We offer 3-day passes as well as 1-day passes at-the-door. Rates and information can be found on our Registration Page.

Q: Can I pre-register for just one day?
A: Yes you can. You can pre-register for one or for all three days, with a 15% discount. In general, pre-registering is less expensive than purchasing individual 1-day passes at the door. For example, the price to pre-register for a 3-day adult membership is $30. If you only wanted to attend on Saturday, our at-door Saturday rate is $15. By pre-registering instead for an extra $15, you have the option to come back for all 3 days of the convention.

Q: I've pre-registered for the convention. What next?
A: Once your registration has been processed, we will put your name up on our Registration List. Please give us 4-6 weeks to process your order for mail-in registrations, and 2-3 days for on-line registrations. Once you receive an email confirmation from TicketLeap, your registration has been processed. Simply show up at the convention with a valid photo ID and proceed to our Pre-registration line in the lobby of the Crowne Plaza to pick up your badge and convention packet.

Q: Should I book a room at the hotel?
A: We encourage all attendees to book a hotel room at the convention hotel. There will be several late night activities that would be hard to attend if you had to commute to the convention every day.

Q: I'm a teenager, can I come alone? I'm a parent, do I need to pay?
A: We recommend that all minors (18 and under) attend with a paying adult or guardian. All children 13 and under must attend with a parent or guardian. The convention is a very safe place, and we have a dedicated convention safety staff and hired security staff in addition to what the hotel provides. But not all events are suitable for children under a certain age. We include suggested ages on all our video programming based on the content of the program. We also require IDs to attend any program that is adult-oriented. However, we are not a child-care service, and it is the responsibility of a parent or guardian to ensure the safety of their child, as it is with any public event. Parents are expected to pay admission to the event, because without a badge you would not be able to gain access to certain convention areas.

Guests

Q: I really want to see this Guest. Will s/he be there all 3 days?
A: Most guests attend BAMCon for all 3 days of the event. There will be some exceptions to this of course. We release a tentative schedule of events about one week prior to the event. Please check that schedule. That is the best way to make sure that you see your favorite voice guest or industry representative. Keep in mind that all events are subject to change.

Q: I love [insert name]. Can you invite them to the convention?
A: We take many things into consideration when making guest invitations. Requests are welcome in our Forums, and we monitor them to make sure that we are bringing the most demanded guests to the convention.

Events

Q: When does the convention open each day? Where can I find a schedule?
A: A tentative schedule is posted prior to the event, approximately one week before. The final schedule can be found in our Pocket Schedule included with the Convention Packets that are obtained at the registration desk. Keep in mind that all events are subject to change.

In general, programming at the event is open according to the schedule below, though there are events that run 24 hours:

Fri: 10am-8pm
Sat: 9am-8pm
Sun: 9am-8pm

Q: Are there events which require additional money?
A: Most events are covered by your registration fee. There are a handful of events that cost more due to special materials involved. The fee is usually no more than $5 and will be designated on the schedule as requiring additional payment at the door of the event. In most cases, these special events have limited seating, and will require attendees to sign up at the Information Desk. Instructions will be posted on the schedule.

Q: What is there to do at the convention?
A: There are many, many events that attendees will be able to participate in. We suggest that you visit our website a week prior to the event to look at our tentative schedule. You can begin planning what events you'd like to attend based on that. Be sure to check the final schedule in your Convention Packet when you arrive to make sure event times have not changed. Keep in mind that all events are subject to change. You can also find out the latest information at the Info Desk at the convention.