Advice for my attending my first video game convention: GaymerX2?

This year (thanks to incredible luck) I may be able to attend Gaymer X 2 which is great since I'm gay and a gamer. The thing is, I'm pretty darn introverted, and I'm not sure I know what I'm getting into. I mean, I'm not going in blind; I'm thinking of cosplaying as Pete from Harvest Moon (the main character in some of the older titles) since that way I could carry around stuff without feeling awkward since I would NEED a backpack as a part of my costume, and since he doesn't say much I wouldn't have to worry about staying "in character" and any reluctance to speak up could be seen as trying to maintain the mostly mute main character archetype.

That said, that's about all the thought I've done so far, beside planning the trip, and I still have a ton of questions. Do only certain conventions involve cosplay, and this isn't one of them? If not, would a harvest moon character be a bad idea since it may seem to conservative or like a subtle proclamation of the belief that heterosexuality is superior (which I do not hold, since I believe all sexual orientations are equally valid) and if that's the case, would a rainbow hat or something fix that?

And what about everything else? I'm a poor college student who doesn't drink and isn't interested in a relationship right now (even if I actually HAD the capacity to be flirty) so I can knock off drinks, shopping, and indulging in any hopes of attending any activity more romantic than filing taxes, so that narrow things down a little at least. What I really want to do is experience as much as I can; I want to watch the interesting presentations and go to all the interesting booths and get all the free stuff, but I have no idea if conventions work like that. And are there other activities I don't know about? What should I plan or expect to do? Is taking pictures with or of other cosplayers another activity, or is that weird?

Lastly, is there any way I could use this event to meet new people that I'd like to get better as "internet friends"? Like, if there's a friendly person I meet at a Nintendo booth, could I ask for their facebook so I could chat with them about new Mario games later on? I mean, I don't want to stalk anyone, but I realize the social dynamics for conventions are different than in "real life" in some ways, so I want to see if I can use that to my advantage to overcome my shyness.

Also, out of curiosity, is anyone here going or does anyone know someone who plans to attend? I don't need any specifics, I'm just curious if I'll be the only TV Tropes enthusiast there or not.

edited 19th May '14 8:42:37 AM by Echoloco

If you're cosplaying, get used to people snapping pictures of you, whether you want them to or not.

Shower regularly.

Don't be a dick.

... That pretty much covers convention etiquette.

Don't get raped.

Did someone seriously come up with one of the worst puns in the world and then turn it into an event?

Joel Schumacher would be proud.