I was rather lucky that my first conventions involved going with my local, extremely well-connected, SF group. I rather assumed that conventions involved sitting in the bar with famous people wandering over to say hello... but that's why I can find myself in the lift with @neilhimself and chat about our last meeting and get gawped at by the awestruck masses around us.

I do wonder what interactions people actually have the mega-conventions. The stories I've heard of ComicCon mostly seem to revolve around waiting to get into thing, being in huge talks with the famous people at the front, or standing outside premium events you're not invited to.