All purpose convention advice - 3 years in the making

[OtakuForLife]

Con Surivial - Web Version 3.5
--- Now With More Sodium! and money tips.

<Off-Center Productions 2005 (c)>

Unless you have between $180-$200
you might want to skip the con all-together... That my lowest
estimate on con expenses. Of course if your volunteering
, are staff or live near-by that number can flux a-bit.

Getting There

Once you have found out where the con is, how-do I get there?
Well, the most popular first

By Car this is good if you have a lot of friends and not a lot of money. However the car could breakdown in the middle of nowhere depending on which con your going to. Also, getting decent directions is key to surviving this part of the journey. Most con web sites have directions or links with the dreaded map-quest. Plus in some cities traffic is terrible, parking is over priced and gas prices are rising.

By Train if you want to go somewhere close-by and don’t want to pay the gas money, parking fees, rest stop breaks, or get lost (we all do). This is the type of ground-based travel you want. Once again most con web-sites keep tabs on train routes, people could take to get there and have directions to the con from you train station. Also trains almost never check your bags in-case your lugging real looking props around with you.

By Bus the bus is by far slowest mode of travel, but stable you’ll get there eventually. Plan on adding two to three hours onto your trip at least, but it’s cheap and it saves the miles on your car. Also, buses now have restrictions on weight and the size of luggage that you might want to check out. Plus, watch your stuff at night at a bus terminal. People I know have gotten stuff lifted at those places, also buses run frequency and ticket exchange on Grey Hound is pretty fast.

By Plane The most expensive mode of travel, but, safest. Again directions from the Airport to the convention can most likely be found on conventions website. Reminder if you use this mode of travel, Mail back that Katana you bought in the dealers room.

Hotels
He’s some basic advice for dealing with hotels and con groups, which I have had to do in the past.

Collect the money before hand
(unless very trusted people)

Checks can be sent though the mail or pay pal

Make a contact list
that contains everyone’s email addresses and cell-phone/home numbers form your group.

Rule of 6 - Discussion on room stacking
The maximum number of people in a room should be around six, unless
your ether very friendly or have a lot of SG’s (Skinny girls/guys) seen them safely stacked three to a bed. Anymore then 11 can’t be done safely a big thanks to my crew at Katsucon for testing this theory. (Tell katsu story)

Also don’t use your hotel room as mini-hotel with people moving out in shifts. This will only anger the hotel and the security people. Plus may add to room charges if all those people damage something by accident. This practice has been nick named “hot bunking” and it’s unsanitary as well as other things. "I'm not letting him back in the room till he pays his $1.50!"
-- Dexcon

The Basics
Sleep a few hours each day (5-6 at least)
You may say “I can stay awake the whole con and reduce my need for a hotel room” However, if you don’t want to be a sleep depraved delusional zombie go to bed somewhere and when I mean somewhere not in plan site of con ops.

Clean yourself up
For the safely and confront of those around you please keep yourself somewhat clean for the course of the convention. What if you happen to find a girl you like? Or at least this is nice for the hardworking staff hands in the video room. As mentioned in the online posts from the web supplement one “use the soap it’s there for reason”.

Money
Bring as much cash as you need. Note I did not say credit or bring your ATM card. Random artists prefer cash only and the ATM’s become raided by tons of con goers at the start of the convention rendering them useless. Some people may worry about having that much cash on them, but, I have yet to be robbed at a con.

Hydration and Food
Please eat something even if it’s ramen cups (smirk) wandering around because of starvation and passing out in the dealers room from weakness is something med. ops dose not want to deal with. As for drinks I use Gatorade <Fruit punch> or Energy Drinks just don’t over dose on the Energy Drinks.


MONEY SAVING TIPS (huh, maybe I should have put these first)

Humans can adapt to almost any enviroment

1) Don't travel to con alone always bring a few people with
you to help with the hotel and vechile expenses. A con by-yourself
is less fun anyway. If you don't know many anime fans, the internet
is a good place to meet fellow con goers to room with.

2)Don't eat-out , eat-in find the local Stop and Shop or whatever
and buy food there it's alot cheaper then buying food in the convention
center or eating out.

3)Your hotel coffe pot can supply hot water for almost anything
you can make alot with just hot water.

4)Volunteering can save you money on the convention fee and
you can get a free t-shirt usally, it also gives you a crash space if you
volunteer early enough. Every con needs gophers and lackies
just as a staff needs an army to march around. However, you
might miss part of the convention if your busy helping out.

5)Room sevice.... Don't do it! , thats it

6)Bring food with you from home.. Alot of things can surive unrefregated
bread and penut-butter being an example. Soda can be brought and
cooled down by hotel ice. Also, instant noddles can be heated
with hot water from the hotel coffe pot.

7) Don't use the local taxi service it wastes money. Find the public transportion in the area and if possible ride on that instead. Taxi's
are murder on a budget.

Bring tools with you: Ducktape,Paper Plates/Bowls, Plastic spoons
it'll save money instead of picking them up at the 24 hour store.

COSPLAY BASICS:
If your going to wear a custom please make sure it’s con-safe
Con-safe means that better be a boofer sword and not a real Kantana if you have any questions about this. You should see the people at con security. Also, some cons use the peace binding system where they tie a ribbon around your weapon to show that it is con safe nekocon used to do this.

You’re deciding to wear a huge custom? A little reminder that you’ll be wearing that for a long time. A heavy custom in the middle of pre-reg. line really sucks. If you are going to wear something like that made of heavy rubber or Styrofoam. Ether have a friend give you water or put ice packs in your suit.

Please be courteous to people wearing costumes even if they are badly done or fit don’t their figure correctly at least they tired. This year I couldn’t get the money together for a decent one.

Don’t randomly take photos of costumed people without permission or ask them to reenact you favorite scene form the Anime and Manga they are cosplaying as that really will piss them off; Also don’t post their pictures online without permission. Some people don’t want to be an online idol.

Planning The Day:
(The Basics)
1) You can’t go to every event because of the need to eat and long lines. Make sure to add time to get-into popular events and get something to eat.

2) Go to the info desk get a schedule (if you didn’t already get one in your convention baggy thing.) Highlight the events you want to go to keeping in mind rule one.

3) Don’t get side tracked, it’s easy to do at a con with so much going on, but follow your plan. You’ll get to see more that way.

4) Unless it's somthing like AMVS or Fanparodies unqie to cons
skip it. While hanging out in the video rooms is tempting you can
miss alot of important events that way.


Dealer’s room dos and don’ts
Buy things that have American labels and R2 mark on them.

Signs of The Bootleg
1) English and Chinese dub (here’s an obvious one)
2) Chinese writing on the back
3) Lower then resale Price
4) Episodes before the release date.
If you see this merchandise tell con-ops and have them caned.

Don’t spend all of your money in the dealer’s room you
Have to eat so save your money.
Meslows pyrimad.... Food and shelter go above
dvds. If you didn't pick up something you wanted to
in Dealers Room try http://www.animecornerstore.com/
they pretty much have everything you could have missed.
If you really want to buy bootlegs go online and don't get the con
involved. Personally I don't buy alot since fansubs have come
on-to the internet mostly becuase some dubs are just awful, and
me soooo poor.

Basic Sets of Con Rules
Cons are non-smoking events.
Cons will take your badge, if you use badge sharing practices
Cons will not allow you to drink alcohol in the convention center
(Story) --- Drunken Karaoke people.

Those are the basics you should probably look-up-the con rules before you go. Normally they’re on the Con website or in the Con flyers, just incase theirs something you forgot.

Bring distraction material
(ie) books, Manga ,laptops, anime magazines, drawing supplies ..etc
Reason 1-Con lines are long.
Reason 2-Useful killing of time.
Reason 3-Distracting the little ones.
Reason 4- Why not?

Customs should not be so skimpy that your almost naked.
like the FF charcters who sometimes get a little too real for
the general public.

"Card the fan girls" if she’s looks 20 she's 16 on a bad day.
In other words prison time is very very bad, all-I'm going to
say on this point.

6-2-1 Rule

6 Hours of Sleep
Eat 2 Meals A Day
Take at least one good shower.

Always pre register for a con as early as possible to save time in lines.
If not be prepared to wait and get there really early....

Reserve the room for Thursday (Earliest Pre registration Badge Pick-up)
- Saturday (Because they kick you out at noon sun)

(Most of the events are warped up by Sunday at noon)

Don't wear "kiss me for pocky" etc cause it goes against
Protrusion Laws and Con regulations.

Video Camera’s like me can go anywhere
Except:
1) Certain Guest Panels
2) AMV contest
3) Artist Alley
4) And some special events

Con Story Time: - The Reason I keep getting invited back to cons.

Any opinions, add-ons just let me know

Thinking I might need to write a book soon w/ manga illustrations

(Rules Noted Changing)

[VegettoEX]

Bring distraction material
(ie) books, Manga ,laptops, anime magazines, drawing supplies ..etc
...
Reason 4-When the panelist get boring ... if they do

There's nothing more insulting to a panelist than people sitting there doing their own thing, reading manga, playing on laptops, etc. Taking notes is one thing, but just distracting yourself because you're bored?

If you don't like the panel, get up and leave. That's far less obnoxious to the other attendees who are interested in hearing what's being discussed.

[Castor Troy]

The greatest thing about this thread is the talk of avoiding bootlegs, yet he links torrent sites.

[Osakaness]

The greatest thing about this thread is the talk of avoiding bootlegs, yet he links torrent sites.

x2 even the site to buy bootlegs...

[Kionon]

I must stress while this is good information, much of this is THE MINIMUM. I personally have to have more, even if its costs money.

I do not share a hotel room. It was fine back when I was in high school, but no more.

If coming in by plane like me then:

Many times the public transportation system is ridiculous, sometimes it's useless. Case in point: AWA's hotel. No more marta for you. I call ahead and get a town-car reservation. Expensive? Hells yes, but it beats trying to find a shuttle or a cab, you don't have to worry about your safety, don't have to worry about being ripped off (price was settled long before you left your home city), and it's fast because the driver knows exactly where to go. Furthermore you usually get all the free drinks you want on the trip.

I work every con I can, and I enjoy it, so don't think that you'll be missing the con by working. I tend to believe the opposite. You get to see more.

I sleep at least eight hours a day and shower twice a day. Not all at once, perhaps. I used to not sleep at all at cons. Afraid I'd miss something. Lies. After the parties die down around three am, there IS NOTHING TO DO until like ten the next morning. You can watch anime any time, and you'll like just pass out in the video rooms which is BAD. Do not be fooled by the roving, roomless otaku. Their presence signifies nothing. Go to sleep.

I question the statement about going to a con alone. I go to a con to see people I haven't seen in a while. I already know they'll be there.

Eat WELL. Not just anything. Lots of protein, lots of carbs. You will need to keep moving. Also be mindful of your blood sugar. Most people get honery when their blood sugar is low, and no one wants to put up with your famine-induced bad attitude.

All in all, I spend much, much more than $200 (that won't even cover my hotel bill!), but I have found the more independent I am, the more fun I have at cons. When relying on others for support, you set yourself up for problems when they do not come through.

What works for you will probably not be as conservative as what Otaku mentions. It definitely won't be as liberal as what I mention. It'll be a balance you'll have to figure out for yourself.

[Scintilla]

Most people get <b>honery</b> when their blood sugar is low...

"Ornery" or <i>"horny"?</i>

[OtakuForLife]

Actually I said something like "don't buy bootlegs at the
con cuase the con will get in trouble and the quailty is usally terriable"
But, if they are going to buy them anyway. Well I might as
well recommend a good site.

Also, Kionon made some very good points. I goto cons for people
not so much the events. Though I do love fan parodies and the AMV
contest.

(edited to better portray what I inteaded)
Thanks for the advice guys

Btw why are torrent sites banned here, I mean it's like denying they
exist at all.

[Castor Troy]

I almost see no reason to buy overpriced dvds at a con since there's places on the net like amazon and ebay to get them extremely cheap.

Fans are on a gigantic purchasing impulse at cons which gives dealers every reason to jack up prices.

I barely buy anything at a dealer's room anymore. At AWA I forced myself to buy a Family Guy action figure and that wasn't even anime.

[emopunk1]

From the few years I've been going to AX, somethings that come to mind:

-It already been mentioned, but you have to be willing to buy a burger or some sort of meal from a restaurant or nearby convient store, (just not inside the convention center or hotels, since they will charge outrageous prices) or at the very least bring some sort of food (i.e. sandwhich) that can remain edible for awhile, because it is NEVER a good idea to survive off of Flaming Hot Cheetos and Pocky with Dr. Pepper for 4 days.

-Consider carrying a CD,mp3, or portable dvd player (or even a portable game system like PSP or Game Boy Advance)all the time during the con, in case of downtime (it's quite useful during the time between the dealer's room closing and the beginning of the closing cermony as well as times when you're waiting for a screening or event)

-Have at least two people you know at the con. Going around a con by youself really sucks, especially when you don't know anyone else.

-When shopping for merchandise, the last day is the best time to buy, since merchants want to clear out inventory, you may find a good deal or haggle with them about the price

-Get a hotel that's within walking distance or if not, check if the hotel offers a free shuttle service. (The only disadvantage is that they can pick up people up to a certain time, usually around 11pm is the latest.)

-Make sure there is a refridgerator included with your room. It is definitely worth it.

-Try to get as much sleep as possible, and make sure your friends understand you need sleep, even if they're going to be on a caffine rush all night long.

-As mentioned before,bring a decent amount of cash (I'm going to say $200 is the bare minimum for everything (food,merchandise, police fines)except the room, or a credit card (if you can pay it back), but be careful, since merchants may charge a transaction fee if you pay by card

-In addition to the previously mentioned tools to bring,have AA batteries (and film, if you have a camcorder or 35mm camera). Have a lot of them, because you'll probably go through them fast especially if you take a lot of pictures or if you're going to play games on you portable game system.

-An "official con hotel" doesn't mean not mean the best or cheapest. Use a discount hotel service (hotels.com, lodgings.com, expedia.com,etc.) and search for price and closest to convention center.

-Share a room if you can't afford one and/or you don't have anyone else to go with you.

[Castor Troy]

-As mentioned before,bring a decent amount of cash (I'm going to say $200 is the bare minimum for everything (food,merchandise, police bribes)except the room, or a credit card (if you can pay it back), but be careful, since merchants may charge a transaction fee if you pay by card

Fixed.