We’ve all heard about cosplayers giving away free stuff at conventions. That adorable Jyn Erso who gave plans of the Death Star to Princess Leia cosplayers being the most recent example. But that was it. Cosplayers that gave away free stuff were few and far between. You were lucky to hear about it and even luckier to get the free item. I thought that was the end of it. I was wrong.
In 2017 I went to Anime Los Angeles (ALA). In the convention hall, I saw people flaunting little ribbons dangling off their badges. I got a closer look and realized the ribbons had fandom related quotes, memes, and puns on them. Fans were exchanging ribbons in the hallway, some had so many they were wearing them like scarves, and folks were running up and down the halls to get them. I’ve been to crazy cons before but this was insane. I had to pull someone over and ask; What are these?
Badge Ribbons are a tradition that started at sci-fi conventions. World Con (where the worlds supposed first cosplayer was present), may have started this trend. To quickly identify the role of other staff members, World Con employees put ribbons on their badges that denoted positions such as “Dealers”, “Artists”, and “Guest of Honor”. World Con attendees took notice and made their own, silly badge ribbons to share with fellow fans. Today, you can find ribbons being passed out at many Sci-fi conventions and Anime cons as well.
So what are they? Badge ribbons are little colorful, often shiny, ribbons with a phrase printed on them and an adhesive strip to attach it to your badge or to another ribbon. The standard size is four inches by one inch and five-eighths. They can be custom ordered on many websites and a pack of fifty can range from twenty five to forty dollars. Depending on which site you use, the ribbons can be made in any color, with any phrase and, any simple image.
Much like Pokemon, I wanted to collect them all. However, I quickly picked up on ribbon etiquette and how that was a hard task. Ribbons cost money. Because of this, whoever prints them has a specific type of person in mind who they want to give the ribbons to. This can be as general as a fan of Voltron, or as specific as their friend group. That being said, I still managed to get a few. Here’s how:
Keep Your Eyes Peeled
Ribbon dealers often keep their ribbons close at hand. When walking around the con look out for people holding a small bundle of ribbons. If you spot one, politely approach the person and ask “May I please have a ribbon?”. Should they say no, be respectful and go try someone else. But if they say yes…
Play the Game
Some ribbon dealers will just give you the ribbon. OTHER ribbon dealers often have a little game they want you to play. This can be as simple as a trivia question from the relevant fandom or as extravagant as asking you to serenade them with a song. Often the game is fun and you leave with a ribbon and a smile on your face.
Gather with Fans
I received most of my ribbons when I went to cosplay photo meet-ups. This means the more fans you surround yourself with the more likely you are to find a ribbon dealer with a ribbon you like. Go to panels, photo meet-ups, or just hang around the lobby to find the ribbons that show of your fandoms.
Trade ‘Em
You know what’s really appealing to a ribbon dealer? Getting a ribbon! If you feel so inclined, make your own ribbons and trade them for others around the con. When buying in bulk, fifty ribbons can cost as little as thirty dollars.
Advertise your Fandoms
There is no better way to advertise “I’m a fan of this thing” than cosplaying it. However, if you don’t, simply wearing a t-shirt or a bunch of buttons can signal to ribbon dealers that you share a fandom. This often times is what gets them to approach you and give you the ribbon.
Just Ask
If you see someone with a particularly interesting ribbon, politely ask them where they got it. Again, if they don’t remember or don’t want to say, that’s ok. You can ask the next person you see with that ribbon.
Remember, people paid money to make these and they give them away for free out of the goodness of their hearts. You are not entitled to any of the ribbons. Also, no one should be selling ribbons. That takes the fun out of it. Have fun at your next convention and if you see ribbon dealer, you know what to do.
