Convention-Going Tips

- Manage Your Money!

The most important thing about conventions is that they are EXPENSIVE. It's very easy to buy up everything you see that you like on the first day of the con, and then spend the last day of the con scrounging up enough money just to buy a sandwich. Before you leave for the convention, look at your budget and tell yourself you will only spend a certain amount of money during the con. (I set aside $50 per day just for food and then between $100 to $200 per day on all other purchases, depending on the convention and how much merchandise I think I'm going to get.) Then, bring it all with you in CASH. (Check if your bank has ATMs in the area and use those if you are worried about traveling with a lot of money.) Keep it in a secure place in your hotel room and bring only the cash you will spend that day with you to the convention. That way you won't be tempted to go over your limit. Keep in mind that on the final day of the con, lots of merchants discount their stuff because they don't want to have to bring it all back home with them. If you spot an item that you want, but don't expect it to sell out by the last day of the con, wait until that last day to see if it goes on sale. DO NOT expect to rely on ATMs inside the convention center. Most ATMs will charge you a fee per use, and even if you're okay with that, there may be very long lines for the machines.

- Get Tons of Sleep Before the Con

If you're rooming with people in a hotel or crashing at someone's house, do not expect to get a full night's sleep every night. There might be room parties, your neighbors might be loud, or you might stay up to play games or just talk with your friends. Spend the week leading up to the convention getting a full night's rest every night. It's said that humans can't "store sleep", but in my experience, the fewer long nights you have in a row, the better you're going to feel on Monday.

- Bring a Towel

The Hitchhiker's Guide got it right. Sometimes room service doesn't clean your room. Either a roommate will leave a Do Not Disturb sign on the door without consulting you, or room service will not do their job and skip your room on some days. Maybe one of your roommates turns out to be a towel fiend and leaves nothing for you and others. Maybe your room doesn't get enough towels for all occupants. I always bring my own towel, one that can stand out from the others (a dark blue one with my name on it really helps prevent confusion) and I always end up in a situation that requires its use.

- Travel-Sized Everything

Save room in your suitcase by grabbing $1 travel-sized shampoo, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, hand sanitizer, etc. This is double important if you're traveling by plane, which in the USA means you aren't allowed to bring large bottles of gel or liquid in your carry-on bags.

- Pack Granola Bars

I prefer Kind bars and Cliff bars. They are packed with lots of nutrients and they taste good enough that I can eat a couple a day if need be. Carry one on you at all times during the convention just in case you can't find something to eat or are rushing around so much that you don't have the time to grab food. (Note: I'm not endorsing the use of nutrition bars to the exclusion of all other food. Try to eat full meals as regularly as possible or you'll run into all sorts of other unspeakable dilemmas.)

- Leave Room for Swag

You should always expect to return from the con with more stuff than you brought with you. Leave some room for the merchandise you're going to acquire, filling empty space in your suitcase with air pouches or something else that's light and disposable. If you can travel with one extra bag on the return trip, pack an empty, flattened backpack in your luggage. Alternatively, you could stop by a shipping office after the con ends and mail a bunch of your stuff to yourself. (This option isn't quite as viable because cons usually end on a Sunday when shipping offices rarely operate, plus it costs money, but it can be a last ditch option if you absolutely can't fit everything in your luggage.) Expandable suitcases are awesome in this context.

- Don't Rush to Pick Up Your Pre-Reg Badges

- Wear Comfortable Shoes

Even if your convention is held inside the hotel you're staying in, you will walk a small marathon over the course of a weekend. I've seen friends in agony because they wore sandals or worn-out sneakers. If you're not wearing a costume that requires uncomfortable footwear, make absolutely sure the shoes you bring are going to be kind on your feet.

- Preparation Isn't a Guarantee

The final point I'd like to make is that anyone who follows this entire list to the letter may still encounter serious problems. Maybe your airline cancels your flight. Maybe the convention is horribly run and the lines are excruciating. Maybe a drunk picks a fight with you and you spend a night explaining things to the police. There are a million unexpected things you could face during your stay. The main goal of this list is to prepare you enough to avoid the most common convention hang-ups. The more prepared you are, the easier you will be able to deal with trouble if it pops up.

Above all, conventions exist to entertain us and make us forget about our crappy lives for a weekend. So make all the right preparations, leave your stress at home, and enjoy the glory of these geeky Meccas!