Handling Noise At Cons

Game conventions too loud to hear?

Old Man Masha asks about this on the Discord:

I recently ran a convention with 15 tables. I spaced them so that the chairs would be 4 feet apart after people sat down.

But many folks complained about the noise.

Can anyone here give me tips on how to handle noise at a Ttrpg tables area in a convention setting?

How does it happen abroad? Places like gen con or other conventions? (I’m based out of Bangalore, India.)

Great question!

Alas, I had to stop going to conventions. My mid-range hearing is shot and I can’t hear anything in places like busy restaurants and crowded game rooms.

But while the hearing faded, I tried a few things that helped.

  • Line tables near and along walls. And have GMs sit with their backs to a wall. After testing, I found a wall helps block ambient noise and amplifies players’ voices.
  • It’s not seat spacing that gets you but the ambient noise growing from a positive feedback loop. Everyone talks louder because everyone’s talking a bit louder. Help this by keeping your voice as low as possible.
  • It’s actually better to huddle closer, so pick smaller tables. You need sound absorption and sound barriers. People offer both, heh. Plus, a four foot gap means players must talk louder.
  • In Canada here, you can rent portable walls. Maybe you can in Bangalore too. Walls stand on their own and range from 6-8 feet high. The local convention got those and placed them between tables, and that helped a lot.
  • Use props that reduce talk. Spell cards, for example. They can be passed around and read, so you don’t have to read the rules out. Alternatively, using Campaign Logger, you can make information visible to players, like a dynamic player guide. Players can read and reference quietly on their own devices.

How about you, Roleplaying Tips GM? Do you do anything to hear or communicate better at noisy cons?

Cheers,
Johnn
roleplayingtips.com
https://discord.gg/6MxTRAqQ76
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