We’ve been attending conventions for more than 20 years, and I wanted to share some tips for people who are new. A few small changes can make a huge difference in whether you have a good time or a miserable time. We’d love to hear from you if you have tips that you’d like to share with readers.
Try on your costume
Every year I see people who compete their costume the night before an event, and they never actually wear it for any length of time. This invariably leads to many people being uncomfortable in their outfit when they could have made some minor changes.
I always suggest wearing your costume for at least 90 minutes around your home before taking it to a convention. Figure out how you will do common activities like being able to sit down for a panel.
Have access to money
I keep my wallet on my inside pocket because I don’t want it to fall out; however, I always keep $20 tucked in a pocket or safety pinned to the inside of my sleeve. This ensures that I can easily have access to cash.
Set an alarm for food and beverages
I see a lot of first time conventioneers who get overwhelmed and excited, and they completely forget to grab food. Worst of all the lines around lunch time can be an hour long. Ilook at the schedule and decide on food breaks before the day starts. I recently attended an convention where the shortest food line was more than 30 minutes, and one person in our group was diabetic with falling blood sugar. If this is you or someone in your group, I recommend keeping some emergency food with you. Even a single candy bar or bag of crackers can help even out blood sugar until you can get a meal.
Wear comfortable shoes
There is so much walking in the convention centers. Last year, I used my fitness tracker and I clocked over 4 miles each day. I was wearing running shoes that I covered to make the fit with my overall outfit. I also keep a spare pair of socks in my backpack. This is because you can sometimes get your socks wet if it is raining, and having the extra dry socks will keep your feet dry. It can also be nice to change to a fresh pair halfway through the day if you’ve been walking a lot.
Postpone shopping
Frequently first time convention goers will head to the vendors, and they are so excited to see the items that they spend all their money early. My suggestion is to first shop around and get a sense of the price. Most collectibles will be sold by multiple vendors, and you can often get a much better deal by speaking with the person a few times before buying.
Prices are negotiable
When you see a price on an item don’t feel uncomfortable to offer less. So many people like to haggle on purchases that there’s normally a buffer built into the price. You won’t get a $1,000 comic for $20, but you can often shave 10-15% the price if you’re nice. Also, near the end of conventions, you’ll often see deals because the vendor would rather sell items rather than loading them up to return home.
Also, prices get far cheaper the last day of the convention. We spoke with many vendors, and they said they start an event with a goal for the amount of money they need. If they are under their target on the final day, they may be willing to sell at far less than normal.
Attending each convention will cost the vendor thousands of dollars between booth rental, travel, hotel, and wages for the people working the booth. I know several vendors who lost money at shows when there just wasn’t interest in their products. In these cases, you vendor may be looking to really liquidate their merchandise so that they can branch out and try different items for the upcoming week.
Make Friends
One of my favorite parts of conventions is talking with all the other people. Many of the panels will be filled meaning that you’ll be sitting next to someone, and it’s ok to strike up a conversation. If they’re not interested in talking, that’s ok because there may be someone else around to chat with. There are many different types of cosplayer at the convention so you can find people who are interested in similar things a you whether you are a novice looking to create your first characterr or a seasoned pro who is competingin the masquerade.
Have Fun
Most people only go to a few conventions a year, and most last less than 3 days. This means that you’re at a convention 1-2% of the year, and back in your real day-to-day life the other 98%. Make the most of your time, and if there’s an activity you’re not enjoying make a change. It’s ok to walk out of a panel you’re not enjoying early. It’s to take a nap in the middle of the day so you can stay up for the evening events. Just enjoy the time you’re at the convention.
Find smaller bathrooms
The bathrooms near the main halls and primary entrance will always be packed. People spend longer than normal since they often require more time getting in and out of a costume. For this reason, the lines can grow rather long. I always scope out some of the smaller bathrooms in the convention halls near the side hallways or smaller meeting rooms. This can be a life saver if you need to go urgently or you’re in a rush to make a pit stop before an event you want to see.
Check the community guidelines
Each convention will have specific rules around what is allowed for a costume. Some prohibit replica weapons at all. Others don’t allow metal weapons even if they are totally blunted. Finally, there are modesty guidelines that limit how much skin can be shown, and this all varies from convention to convention and sometimes year to year. The last thing you want is to be turned away at the door because part of your costume isn’t allowed in the area so it’s definitely worth checking before you get onsite.
Listen to the staff
Most of the “staff” at the event are volunteers who help out to get free tickets and access to a private area. They work a couple shifts to help put on the convention which allows the organizer to offer lower price tickets. Don’t be rude to the people who are running the events. They’re not trying to be a jerk or ruin your fun, but rather make everything run smoothly.
Conclusion
So that’s our top 10 tips for attending your first convention. If you are looking for more conventions in your area, we’ve created a guide for you.
