I'll be attending GenCon Indy this year ( http://www.gencon.com/ ). Last year was my first visit, and while the experience was fantastic, I came away feeling I'd missed major oportunities.
In an effort to be sure that didn't happen again, I polled my fellow members of the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers ( http://www.iamtw.org./ ) as to the best ways for a new professional writer to make the most of being there.

Below the cut is my post to them, and their varoius responses.

KeVin Killiany:
As I mentioned before, this August will be my second GenCon ever. And, as you know, I am just getting established as a media tie-in writer.

I have always been told conventions like this are rife with potential networking opportunities. My problem is, I'm not sure how to go about it.
In fact, I think I'm pretty bad at it.
I usually have several very pleasant conversations, but never quite figure out how to proceed from that point.

To prepare for GenCon last year I studied up on one game universe for which I wanted to write (and which I'd heard was looking for new writers). Unfortunately, I botched the approach and didn't hit it off
with the person I needed to impress. That left me with nothing for the remaining two days.

[note: I did lug my computer with me everywhere and tell everyone I met "I'm a writer." While that should be easier this year now that I have a laptop, nothing really came of it, so this year I'm leaving the computer in the hotel room.]

One thing I saw trading hands last year were business cards -- writers, editors, developers, publishers all had cards. I'm already planning on having my own ready (complete with IAMTW logo). Though
beyond that, my name, and contact information, I'm not sure what else it should say. ("Will write for food"?)

I'm also thinking I need to have a thirty-second resume/general pitch worked up.

I want to maximize my networking this time out. Any pointers, tips on things to do and things to avoid, secret handshakes or passwords, etc.?

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Mat Forbeck:
The trick with networking or schmoozing is not to try—at least not noticeably. If you enjoy meeting people for its own sake, networking becomes simple. Just be yourself and have fun, and people should respond to that. If they're the right people, so much the better.

If you get too worked up about it, you end up coming off like the desperate guy asking the pretty girl for a date.

I networked for years without business cards of my own, although I collected a lot of them. I use them now, just for convenience's sake. Before, I figured if someone wanted my info, I'd take the time to write it down.

At a consumer show like Gen Con, few of the publishers will have time to listen to a pitch much less read any sample you might have for them. (Not that you said you plan to do this, but I know those who have.) The best you can hope for is to say hi, introduce yourself, mention that you'd love to write for them, and make a good impression. You might ask a line developer what he's looking for or when the best time to contact her after the show is, but they likely won't have more for you than that.

Don't pin all your hopes on one publisher, and don't bet on an instant response. You just want to make enough of an impression so that when you contact the publisher again they're likely to remember who you are and not just ignore you or toss your name into the virtual slush pile.

These things take time, but it's often worth it. Many of my best gigs have come from people I met in passing years ago. Of course the vast majority of those meetings never came to anything, but I enjoyed them for what they were at the time—a couple of people chatting about something for which they both have a passion—so I never felt any loss.

There's a lot more to it than this, of course, but it could probably fill a book. Hmmm. :)

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Will McDermott:
This is all fantastic advice and I have nothing further to offer. But I wanted to publicly thank Matt for giving me contact information for Black Library a couple years ago (during one of those in-passing conversations he mentioned). That conversation turned into three books (so far).

Of course, as Matt said, that was one of a dozen (or more) conversations I had at GenCon that year alone. Be yourself and most importantly, act like a professional: polite, courteous, brief. There's nothing worse than coming off as a fan-boy who doesn't know when to shut up talking about his character. When you're talking to designers and editors, leave them with a good impression of you as a person and as a professional writer who can help THEM.

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Russell Davis:
I'll agree with most of what Matt said here, but...

Conventions are very busy, so I think it's both professional and critically important that you review the list of attendees and if there are people going that are on your "must meet" list, you try to arrange it in advance.

When I go to an event, I write out my schedule (including panel appearances, signings, etc.) and then look at my must meet list. I start sending those folks email, asking if a pre-arranged meeting is possible - say over a meal that I would be thrilled to buy for them, for example. Not only does this help you get the time you want/need, but it usually ensures DEDICATED time with that person.

That said, the "random bump into" leading to drinks or a meal can also work. :-)

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Jim Johnson:
Never underestimate the value of hanging out at the bar. Be casual, but
professional, don't be too clingy. Get their contact info then email them
after the con. If you played it right, you might get them thinking "Oh,
he/she was that nice person at the bar on Saturday" as opposed to "Oh,
he/she was the jerk who wouldn't shut up about his must-buy idea." :)

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David Seidman:
Quite right. Picking up on the other person's subtle clues is key. If
he/she says, "That sounds great; tell me more," it means, "That sounds
great; tell me more." If he/she says simply "That sounds great" and
nothing else, it means "I understand what you've said, but we should
discuss it someplace more appropriate for doing business" or even "I
understand what you've said, and you can stop talking now."

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Jeff Mariotte:
Another angle to all the good advice turning up here--you not only
want to meet people who can make decisions, like editors, but you want
to meet people who know people and are willing to make introductions.

Some people are natural conduits, I think, and understand the worth of
introducing one person to another if he or she thinks those two might
find mutual advantage in the acquaintance (as one example I know Matt
will understand, I'm thinking of John Nee).

Being this sort of person has its own rewards--lots of people, in
fields related to your own, who owe you favors because you facilitated
deals for them worth thousands or millions of dollars.

But even if you're not that sort of person, if you can identify who
some of those people in your field are, they're worth getting to know.

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Steven Saville:
I'll completely agree with this. Indeed, a lot of my personal success
(limited though it be) comes from referrals from other chaps.

Mike Lee (ello Mike) introduced me to Lindsey over at Black Library. In
turn, as soon as the ink was dry on my contract I introduced several
(Geoffrey Girard, who is doing the Border Princes, Robert Defendi,
warhammer pirates, Steve Parker, imperial guard, Paul Finch, who has a
Sharpesque series in the works, and Steve Lockley who is doing a tie in
with the new warhammer online) all these guys are great writers and it
reflects well on everyone concerned that the quality of writing is on
the rise in the franchise. Outside of that I have introduced 3 writers
to my agent (and was in turn introduced by our own KJA) and with the Dr
Who stuff have introduced a few more guys to the franchise...

Some people think I am insane for introducing more competition to the
field I am working in, but me, well it is just as David said, beneficial
to me and my friends, and whenever possible I will introduce people to
other people if I think they can help each other...

I guess I am just a matchmaker at heart!

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Matt Forbeck:
Too true. I try to plan out a few meetings to have too, and I'm forever having drinks and meals with contacts, often making new contacts at the same time. It's always good to cement previous relationships too.

At Gen Con, one of the best ways to impress a developer and get some "sample work time" in is to volunteer to help out at the booth. You can offer to demo games, run tournaments, help sell, or whatever else the publisher needs. Companies always need lots of help at these things, and showing up and doing a good, passionate job will both impress them and make them grateful to you.

With regards to the original topic, this is the flip side of networking. When you're in a position to do people some good, do so. Introduce people you know. Advise others of opportunities you either can't take or don't want, for whatever reason. Even if it never comes back to you directly, it helps establish you as a person that others should and would like to work with.

Plus, it's the right thing to do. :)

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So there you have it, folks. Good advice from some of the best in the business.
Hope to see you all at GenCon.