Preparing for a Comic Convention

As the wife and I will be at Edmonton Comic and Entertainment Expo this weekend I thought I would post some tips for preparing to attend a convention.

1. Queue prep. You will be lining up all day long. Be prepared to stand for prolonged periods. Wear sensible shoes and make sure you get to your signings, photo-ops or panels well ahead of time. Get in the right mindset to be patient with lineups because that is the convention way of life. Make sure you are in the right line! Ask anyone in it.

2. Check the event schedule. Plan which guests you want to meet, get pics with, and which panels you want to go to. Getting into a con can overwhelm the senses and it’s easy to get distracted. Organizing your time ahead of the con helps you see more.

3. Bring a bag. You will want various items with you and there are all kinds of swag to procure. Have a bag that’s comfortable to lug and not too large to cause problems moving through the crowd.

4. Plan signing items. If you have a lot of items you want signed space them out over the days. Personally I like to focus on item signature on either Friday (it’s usually a short day) or Sunday (not as many attendees.) It sucks lugging around a pile of stuff if you really don’t need to. You also risk damaging your items in a crowd if you over pack. Less time bouncing in your bag = less chance ruining your super-awesome-thing signed by super-awesome-person.

5. Food & water. With so many bodies in one location it gets hot. Bring a water bottle to rehydrate and refill at the drinking fountains. Con food is expensive so budget accordingly or bring food with you. Think of what would be easiest to eat in a crowd and remember that finding a table can be nearly impossible at the lunch rush. Meal bars and sandwiches are good ideas. You won’t find a microwave and anything complicated will end up on the floor.

6. Charge electronics the night before and every night. A dead battery in your phone or camera can make you miss the perfect picture. A dead phone battery can kill organization.

7. Plan purchases. Make a list of wants, and what you already have. That way if you come across something you didn’t expect to find you can remember which editions you have etc. Your impulse buy part of your brain might start firing and you can really blow your budget.

8. Sleep. Cons are crowded, problems arise that can frustrate, lineups are exhausting, and some people who really don’t know how to behave in public will be there. Being tired at a con can really ruin the experience. Get a good nights rest to prep your brain for a long day of excitement and stress.

9. Payments. Cash, credit, debit, ID. Have your payment items ready.

10. Pack everything the night before. That way you can roll out of bed and go to the show with minimal stress. Running around in the morning leads to freaking out and forgetting things, so night before prep can save you time and stress. Start your day off right.

11. DON’T STINK! The last thing you want is to run into someone super-awesome-cool and have them think of you as a stink monkey. Cons are crowded and hot. Shower daily, brush your teeth, wear deodorant, and take some gas reliever. Most people eat terribly at cons, all that fat, sugar and salt fuels the stink factory of your insides. Be kind to your fellow attendees.

12. Have fun. Cons are entertainment take time to stop and check out the booths, meet some new people, take in the cosplay. Enjoy yourself!