"I don't know who needs to hear this" (sorry, lol) but re: BarCon, (ICYMI that's the gathering at the bar of a convention's main hotel) I don't drink alcohol-- never even tried it. Not once. I usually don't tell ppl that b/c it makes a lot of folks uncomfortable. I hate bars. (1)

I've been attending comic cons for nearly all of my adult life & have been making a fairly comfortable living making comics for several years now, & none of the connections I've made came from Bar Con. They came from being AT my table, putting out comics, sharing art online. (2)

So if you're under the impression you *need* to attend bars after shows, you don't. It's how a lot of people get work/network, sure. But it's not a requirement. I spend con evenings drawing in the hotel lobby w/ friends or in our room talking shit to each other. (3)

Some of us drink, some of us don't. Some of us just prefer a smaller crowd, less noise, etc. Everyone's mileage may vary, of course. As an adult it's one's right to enjoy drinks w friends. But I want to lend my perspective saying that you don't *have* to. (4)

And I'd be VERY wary of anyone telling you otherwise. (5/5)