What to Take to a Con

[Matt J. McCullar]

Archive-name: furry/con-tips
Posting-Frequency: Posted the week before furry cons.

What to Take to a Con

compiled by Matt J. McCullar
mccu...@flash.net
Updated February 2000

I found a basic version of this list at A-Kon 8 and thought I'd share it
with everyone, plus add my two cents' worth. Several others have
contributed to it. Please add to this list if you can. Learn from
others' mistakes and you'll enjoy your con visit that much more.

What should you take to a convention -- science-fiction, furry, anime,
gaming, etc.? $$$$$! Lots of it. But as for the rest of the stuff
you'll need...

* Toiletries. Don't forget your toothbrush and comb. And, let's face
it, hotel soaps and shampoo bottles never last when you've got one
bathroom being shared by you and your 4000 friends troweled into one
room. Clean clothes are nice, too -- bring a nice shirt to wear to the
dance, and you will stand out from the hordes who don't. Assign someone
to bring a hair dryer to share. Use just enough deodorant and cologne.
People will love you for it. (Keep toiletries inside zip-lock bags in
case they split open inside your luggage.)

* Sleeping bag. You lost the coin toss, so everyone else gets the beds.
You can try zonking in the bathtub, but a sleeping bag is far more
comfortable. If you bring an air mattress, then for gosh sakes bring an
air pump, too. Inflating it the old-fashioned way means your roommates
will have to either step over you all the time or drag you out into the
hallway after you've passed out from lack of oxygen.

* Tweezers. Keep them in your shaving kit. This is one of those items
that you never think about until you suddenly need it.

* Jam box (or Walkman). Never hurts to be able to listen to those CDs
and cassettes you paid way too much for in the dealer's room. Listening
to Dr. Demento songs makes for a great room party.

* Ice chest. That lunch meat you brought with you won't stand up to
room temperature for long, and warm Cokes are an insult. Also provides
a place to stash wet swim trunks on the trip home. Bring plenty of
zip-lock baggies.

* Cokes, lunch meat, bread, mustard, peanut butter, potato chips &
cookies. While we're at it, "brown-bagging" your munchies is a HECKuva
lot cheaper than trolling the fast food joints. You'll have more money
to spend. Ice is available from the hotel. Breakfast is the most
important meal of the day; which do you think will be less expensive:
your own box of cereal, or the hotel's restaurant?

* Large plastic garbage bag. Use it for keeping your dirty clothes
separate from your cleans. Keep this in your luggage so the maid won't
accidentally throw it (and your clothes!) into the trash.

* Pepto Bismol. You never know when you might need it. If you're in an
unfamiliar city, you might react violently to the drinking water. And
the hotel gift shop can price this pink stuff into the stratosphere
because they know there's nothing you can do about it. (Bring bottled
water if you have a history of health problems.) Also bring aspirin,
antacid, additional health-care stuff. Medicines in pill form travel
better than liquids. Keep your prescriptions with you.

* Lock box. If you're a dealer or just carrying extra cash, you need a
safe place to put it. Perhaps the hotel can store it for you. Unless
you can guarantee that nobody you don't know is coming into your room,
it's best to make sure some things aren't open to the public. You might
want to padlock your ice chest, too, or your food might disappear.

* Flashlight. Power does go out at cons, but even if it doesn't, not
everyone in a room is always asleep at the same time. If you have to
root through your stuff in the dark, turning on the table lamp just
might get you tossed off the balcony. And if you get a Maglite, it's
also good for defending yourself. Don't forget extra batteries.

* Extension cords and power strips. If you drag a VCR/TV/boom
box/computer along with you, these are a must. There are never enough
electrical outlets in a hotel, and they are never where you need them.

* Swimsuit. Hey, the pool might be open. Or the ocean.

* Towel. Always bring your own towel. The hotel's are never big
enough, and you can always identify which one you've used. Besides,
it's a tough universe... you've always got to know where your towel is.
I'm not fussy about pillows, although you may want to bring your own for
comfort's sake. Extra tenants in one room may mean not enough pillows.
Perhaps your own washcloth, too.

* Paper cups, paper plates, eating utensils. You'd be surprised how
hard these can be to procure when you really need them. And even if you
aren't holding any parties, do you really want to be swilling your
Mountain Dew from the same bottle everyone else has been backwashing
into? Some folks bring their own cola mugs, but I find those too easy
to lose.

* Masking tape and marking pen. Important not only for pricing stuff,
but also for identifying whose stuff is in what drawer in the hotel
room. Identifying drawers also might keep you from forgetting and
leaving your undies behind when you're rushing to get home. Also useful
for taping up flyers and notices (if it's okay with the hotel, that is).

* Extra eyeglasses. If they get broken or lost, what are you going to
do? They can get sat on, stolen, or dropped off of balconies. Can you
drive home without them? Same for contact lenses. At least bring a
fixit kit that includes a small screwdriver.

* Earplugs. Being trapped in a room with someone from the Olympic
snoring team will be agony unless you can block out the noise or listen
to your Walkman.

* Want list. Einstein said that if it's written down, you don't have to
remember it. Write down everything you're looking to buy in the
dealer's room: back issues of comics, movies, CDs, the works. Better
yet, write down before you leave all the issues of comics you already
own so you can fill the holes. This prevents buying things you don't
need.

* Cardboard mailing tube. Your nice, new movie posters will be ruined
if you pack them in your suitcase. A mailing tube will protect them,
and you can mail them home if you can't carry them. Also provides a
place for keeping dirty socks.

* Driver's license and secondary I.D. You're from out of town and not
everyone will take your check without positive I.D. Keep your passport
with you at all times. This is very important if you need help while
visiting another country.

* Camera. No joke. Can you remember what you had for dinner last
night? Then how are you going to remember everyone you met and every
place you went to over an entire weekend? You'll be glad you took some
snapshots later. They're fun to pass around at room parties. (If
you're flying, keep your camera inside your carry-on baggage, where it
won't be out of your sight. Cameras of all types are prime targets for
luggage thieves.)

* Comfortable shoes. You will be on your feet a lot, particularly when
shopping in the dealer's room. Buying a new pair of shoes right before
the con is not a good idea unless you have a high threshold of pain
because the shoes break in your feet, not the other way around.

* Sewing kit. Very important for costumers! Judges take away points
when tails fall off. Also useful for small emergencies such as buttons
popping off.

* Birth control. (At least the stuff you hope you're gonna need...)

* Empty folder. When you get to registration they're going to give you
all sorts of flyers, pamphlets, con books, schedules and maps. Unless
you have something to put them in, chances are you're going to lose one
or two of them -- especially the most important ones. After you stash
them all in a simple clip folder, jot down a list of times and places of
panels and shows you want to attend, in advance. That way you won't
forget any of them. Some cons give you tote bags, but take along your
own, just in case.

* Wristwatch. Sounds obvious, I know, but watch the havoc begin if you
forget it. You won't know when something's on without it.

* Checklist. Make several copies of your checklist of things to bring
and take home, so all you'll have to do at convention time is check off
the items one by one. This eliminates having to think when you're
packing so you are less likely to forget something important.


Other Things to Remember

Be sure to leave the hotel's phone number with your family. If an
emergency comes up, how will they be able to reach you? Try this phone
number beforehand and make sure it works. Notify the hotel desk if you
change rooms so they'll know where to relay messages.

When dealing with hotel employees, always get their names. This helps
track down and prevent communications problems, particularly when some
clerk sneers, "Well, I don't know who you talked to, but our policy has
always been..." Be very polite if you bump up against a problem, and be
persistent.

Write down on a stiff card the following information: your name, any
medical information paramedics need to know, and whom to contact in case
of an emergency. If you aren't wearing a medical bracelet, the next
place the medtechs will look is in your wallet or purse. Keep the card
there and make sure your roommates know about it.

If your residence will be empty, ask your post office to hold your mail
while you're away. This can be done for free by filling out a small
card at the counter. Also stop newspaper delivery and ask your
neighbors or landlord to watch your home (bribe 'em with stuff you bring
back from the con!). Have someone take care of the pets, the plants and
the kids.

Put your name on/in your sketchbooks. I'm amazed at how many people
don't do this and eventually lose them forever.

Put your name on your videocassettes. For that matter, put your name on
everything you can't afford to lose. Not everyone can recognize your
handwriting or your possessions, and if I find someone else's stuff in
my suitcase when I get home, I need to know where to send it. (I
personally use those return-address stickers normally used for
envelopes. They're small, self-adhesive, and fit perfectly on
videotapes.)

Check under the bed before you leave the hotel. The monsters that live
there eat socks, shoes, etc.

Take advantage of pre-con registration. Not only will you save money,
you also won't have to stand in line with the masses. Make certain that
you bring proof of pre-reg with you; con staffs have been known to lose
paperwork, and they can't argue with a canceled check. The same holds
true for the hotel staff if they don't have a record of your room
reservation.

Budget your time as well as your money. You can't possibly see
everything and everybody, so don't kill yourself trying. Your body
needs to sleep and eat, so include time for both in your schedule. You
won't enjoy the con if you make yourself sick.

Illness can spread quickly through a con, because people come from all
over, bringing regional diseases and sharing them. This is often
referred to as "con crud" or "the blorch." This is why you should bring
your own medicines. Remember the last time you were sick, away from
home?

You always return from a con with more stuff than when you left, so
bring an extra bookbag. Or make sure you leave room in your luggage for
all the stuff you'll buy. Prepare to do some heavy lifting.

If you want to risk it, bring your own TV along with the VCR. Most
hotels have security devices attached to their televisions that prevent
easy access for VCR hookups. There's probably a cable box hooked up to
it, anyway.

When handing out business cards, do it three at a time. This makes it
easier for others to pass out information about you and your work.
Therefore, bring plenty of business cards. Be certain your addresses --
e-mail, website and otherwise -- on them are current.

Carry your wallet and checkbook in your front pants pockets. This makes
life miserable for thieves. They know congoers are loaded with cash and
credit cards. It may be uncomfortable, but consider the alternative.

Leave the bathroom light on at night and the door ajar. It provides a
convenient night light.

Turn some of your money into small bills before you get to the dealer's
room. You can't count on every merchant being able to break a twenty.
If you're a dealer, be sure you've got plenty of change before the doors
open. Try to use the ATM when everyone else isn't.

Trust me -- your luggage will be impossible to identify at the airport
without marking it in some unique way. Wrap colored tape (such as
day-glow orange or yellow) around the handle, and/or use colored tape to
form some kind of a pattern on both sides that will pick at your eye for
a long distance. Put your name inside your luggage as well as on the
outside.

If you've never used traveler's checks before, they are easy to buy at
your local bank for a small fee. (I'm told that the AAA offers them for
free.) They are much safer to carry than large amounts of cash and can
be redeemed anywhere. Keep a record of the serial numbers -- you won't
be able to get your money back without them if the checks are stolen.
Keep this record separate from the checks.

You can ship stuff to the hotel in advance, such as boxes of comics.
This eliminates a lot of headaches and you don't have to carry it all
with you. Better call the hotel first and ask about their policies.
This also alerts them to expect your stuff and they can notify you if it
doesn't arrive.

It's easy to lose track of how many personal checks you have left until
you suddenly find you're down to your last one. Count them before you
leave.

If you're printing up flyers for other events to hand out at the
convention, have someone else proofread them. You may have forgotten to
include something vital -- such as the date or the location. A fresh
pair of eyes will spot this immediately. Better than printing out an
expensive pile of paper that no one can use.

Don't open Rapidograph technical drawing pens on airplanes. The air
pressure makes them explode and the waterproof ink is a bear to clean
up. Keep them in a plastic bag inside your luggage until you arrive.

Airport security may ask you to boot up your laptop computer.
Therefore, keep the batteries charged. (And for crying out loud, don't
joke around at the checkpoints! Hassling the guards never got anyone to
a con any faster.)

If you plan to drive to the convention and your car needs servicing,
don't wait until the last minute. Get it done at least two weeks in
advance. This gives everything a chance to break in and you're less
likely to end up stranded in the middle of nowhere. Give yourself and
your car plenty of rest breaks during the trip. Do you know how to
change a flat? Practice before you go. Carry lots of water -- both for
yourself and for the car.

If you're flying to the convention, keep your plane tickets in a safe
place. If you're flying with a group, appoint one person to be in
charge of the tickets. Make certain that everyone knows where they are
kept. Don't lose them! Keep airline tickets inside an envelope of an
unusual color, so you can find it in a hurry inside a crowded folder or
briefcase.

Moderation in all things: don't overfill a hotel room. Sure, 20 people
for a pizza party is fun, but it's absolute misery for all involved when
it's time for lights out. It'll overload the bathroom, and it's also
against the fire codes. (The nearest fire exit should be the first
thing you look for as soon as you get into your hotel room. Make sure
your roommates know where it is, too.)

Like it or not, as soon as you set foot into the convention, you become
an ambassador for your fandom and a newbie's first impression may come
from you, your behavior, and your personality. The same goes for the
mundane hotel guests -- ordinary folks who have no idea what your con is
all about. Try to make everyone feel welcome. Will a new fan join the
fun, or will he run screaming into the night? We're all supposed to
have fun at a convention, not frighten people away forever.

By the same token, if you're new to fandom and are a bit timid around
strangers, don't worry. You will see and meet all sorts of people.
Take heart in knowing that they are all there for the same reason you
are. That means you have something in common already. If you need help
with anything, ask the convention staff. They are ready and willing to
help first-timers as well as seasoned pros. They can introduce you to
other fans, and that's one of the main reasons why we go to conventions.
Tell yourself over and over that you WILL have a good time, because you
will -- if you let it happen. If you're convinced that you'll have a
lousy time, you'll probably find a way to make that happen, too. It's
fun! Enjoy it.

Above all, don't forget the most important thing to bring to any con: a
sense of humor. Go out of your way to thank the convention staff and
the hotel staff for their hard work and tell them how much you enjoyed
it all. Now have fun.

-- end --
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[anonymous...@gmail.com]

Gosh, all these things make me think twice before going to an Anthrocon. Seriously, though... "Bring your own medicines"? I wouldn't plan on getting sick, but this one makes me think it thrice...

[Dalesql]

On 3/16/2013 3:41 AM, anonymous...@gmail.com wrote:
> Gosh, all these things make me think twice before going to an Anthrocon. Seriously, though... "Bring your own medicines"? I wouldn't plan on getting sick, but this one makes me think it thrice...
>

too many incidents of people forgetting to bring their prescription
medications with them, or not looking in the bottle to see if they
brought enough to last for the entire convention. Usually by a teenager
on their first trip without their parents.
Also, it is wise to travel with a small assortment of your usual
over the counter medications for minor issues. pain reliever,
decongestant, antihistamine, vitamins, etc. you can get these at the
hotel gift shop at need, but they charge ridiculously high prices.

[THE COLONEL]

Only phaggs go to cons.

[THE REAL COLONEL]

> only phaggs go to cons.

So we'll see you there very soon?

[Coyo the Coyote]

On 12 Mar 2013 03:57 AM ,info...@tigerden.com (Matt J. McCullar) wrote:
> Archive-name: furry/con-tips
> Posting-Frequency: Posted the week before furry cons.
>
> What to Take to a Con

> What should you take to a convention -- science-fiction, furry, anime,
> gaming, etc.? $$$$$! Lots of it.
>

There's never enough mulah when you see all the shinies for sale at a con. There'll be that one thing your very favorite author or artist is offering for a steel 20% discount on Sunday, and you just don't have enough to take advantage of the discount...! Noooooo!

>
> * Toiletries. Don't forget your toothbrush and comb. And, let's face
> it, hotel soaps and shampoo bottles never last when you've got one
> bathroom being shared by you and your 4000 friends troweled into one
> room.

The number of roommates are over nine thousaaaaaand!

Seriously, though. If you have the money to attend a con, you should just book your own room months in advance.

The group discount is a scam. There are NEVER enough rooms, if you try to get the group discount. You should also book the week, Monday to Monday, especially if you are going to spend a considerable ammount of time in the Dealer's Den or Artist's Alley.

Buy your attendance pre-registration the second it becomes available. Buy the highest grade! Con staff are much more likely to work with you on any problems that crop up if you have a shiny Super Sponsor badge on your constume.

> Clean clothes are nice, too -- bring a nice shirt to wear to the
> dance, and you will stand out from the hordes who don't. Assign someone
> to bring a hair dryer to share. Use just enough deodorant and cologne.
> People will love you for it. (Keep toiletries inside zip-lock bags in
> case they split open inside your luggage.)

Honestly, you should keep a well-maintained luggage pack well-stocked if you plan on attending more than one con. Keep it packed with extra clothes, lots of ear plugs and pencils and business cards and all the stuff they NEVER have enough of in con suites. Bring hand fans with your logo and email address and such printed on them, and everyone will love you.

> * Sleeping bag. You lost the coin toss, so everyone else gets the beds.
> You can try zonking in the bathtub, but a sleeping bag is far more
> comfortable. If you bring an air mattress, then for gosh sakes bring an
> air pump, too. Inflating it the old-fashioned way means your roommates
> will have to either step over you all the time or drag you out into the
> hallway after you've passed out from lack of oxygen.
>
> * Tweezers. Keep them in your shaving kit. This is one of those items
> that you never think about until you suddenly need it.
>
> * Jam box (or Walkman). Never hurts to be able to listen to those CDs
> and cassettes you paid way too much for in the dealer's room. Listening
> to Dr. Demento songs makes for a great room party.

You might also consider bringing a backup laptop and a mobile hotspot. Hotel wifi sucks balls. LTE 4G is much more likely to not suck than hotel wifi, though admittedly, it is still a bit of a gamble.

> * Ice chest. That lunch meat you brought with you won't stand up to
> room temperature for long, and warm Cokes are an insult. Also provides
> a place to stash wet swim trunks on the trip home. Bring plenty of
> zip-lock baggies.
>
> * Cokes, lunch meat, bread, mustard, peanut butter, potato chips &
> cookies. While we're at it, "brown-bagging" your munchies is a HECKuva
> lot cheaper than trolling the fast food joints.

Attempting to order pizza will always be a nightmare. Buy frozen pizza. You'll thank me later.

> You'll have more money
> to spend. Ice is available from the hotel. Breakfast is the most
> important meal of the day; which do you think will be less expensive:
> your own box of cereal, or the hotel's restaurant?

Protip: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a lot tastier when you are starving to death. To shake it up, try apple butter or nutella! Most hotel rooms come with a microwave. USE IT!

> * Large plastic garbage bag. Use it for keeping your dirty clothes
> separate from your cleans. Keep this in your luggage so the maid won't
> accidentally throw it (and your clothes!) into the trash.
>
> * Pepto Bismol. You never know when you might need it. If you're in an
> unfamiliar city, you might react violently to the drinking water.

Bring a portable water filter! Heck, bring your bugout bag. You will never realize how much a hotel can resemble a survival scenario until you've experienced it!

> And
> the hotel gift shop can price this pink stuff into the stratosphere
> because they know there's nothing you can do about it. (Bring bottled
> water if you have a history of health problems.) Also bring aspirin,
> antacid, additional health-care stuff. Medicines in pill form travel
> better than liquids. Keep your prescriptions with you.

If you are lucky enough to have a prescription for Klonopin or Neurontin, these are some of the few drugs that can function as an emergency sleep aid. Attending a con delirious from lack of sleep is not a repeatable experience!

> * Lock box. If you're a dealer or just carrying extra cash, you need a
> safe place to put it. Perhaps the hotel can store it for you. Unless
> you can guarantee that nobody you don't know is coming into your room,
> it's best to make sure some things aren't open to the public. You might
> want to padlock your ice chest, too, or your food might disappear.

A small fire safe is a good bet.

> * Flashlight. Power does go out at cons, but even if it doesn't, not
> everyone in a room is always asleep at the same time. If you have to
> root through your stuff in the dark, turning on the table lamp just
> might get you tossed off the balcony.

A reading light is also really nice!

> And if you get a Maglite, it's
> also good for defending yourself. Don't forget extra batteries.
>
> * Extension cords and power strips. If you drag a VCR/TV/boom
> box/computer along with you, these are a must. There are never enough
> electrical outlets in a hotel, and they are never where you need them.

If you are lucky enough to own a con-van, you really should consider buying a diesel generator. Not all cons are held at a hotel, remember this well!

> * Swimsuit. Hey, the pool might be open. Or the ocean.

Many hotels have a sauna! Some camping grounds include a swimmable lake or pool! If held outdoors, bring fishing gear!

> * Towel. Always bring your own towel. The hotel's are never big
> enough, and you can always identify which one you've used. Besides,
> it's a tough universe... you've always got to know where your towel is.
> I'm not fussy about pillows, although you may want to bring your own for
> comfort's sake. Extra tenants in one room may mean not enough pillows.
> Perhaps your own washcloth, too.

Bring your own bedding. Even if you are the only one using your hotel room, because you are smart, the hotel stuff can sometimes cause you to have allergies, even if you've never had allergies before. This goes double if you've had a history of severe allergies and/or asthma. Bring extra inhalers!

> * Paper cups, paper plates, eating utensils. You'd be surprised how
> hard these can be to procure when you really need them. And even if you
> aren't holding any parties, do you really want to be swilling your
> Mountain Dew from the same bottle everyone else has been backwashing
> into? Some folks bring their own cola mugs, but I find those too easy
> to lose.
>
> * Masking tape and marking pen. Important not only for pricing stuff,
> but also for identifying whose stuff is in what drawer in the hotel
> room. Identifying drawers also might keep you from forgetting and
> leaving your undies behind when you're rushing to get home. Also useful
> for taping up flyers and notices (if it's okay with the hotel, that is).
>
> * Extra eyeglasses. If they get broken or lost, what are you going to
> do? They can get sat on, stolen, or dropped off of balconies. Can you
> drive home without them? Same for contact lenses. At least bring a
> fixit kit that includes a small screwdriver.
>
> * Earplugs. Being trapped in a room with someone from the Olympic
> snoring team will be agony unless you can block out the noise or listen
> to your Walkman.

If you need white noise to sleep, bring a portable fan. Bring two!

> * Want list. Einstein said that if it's written down, you don't have to
> remember it. Write down everything you're looking to buy in the
> dealer's room: back issues of comics, movies, CDs, the works. Better
> yet, write down before you leave all the issues of comics you already
> own so you can fill the holes. This prevents buying things you don't
> need.

Budgeting and Scheduling is a virtue. There is a reason Benjamin Franklin always recommended budgeting and scheduling everything. Even if you are wealthy, they say one does not get rich (or stay rich) by spending all his money!

> * Cardboard mailing tube. Your nice, new movie posters will be ruined
> if you pack them in your suitcase. A mailing tube will protect them,
> and you can mail them home if you can't carry them. Also provides a
> place for keeping dirty socks.

Protip: Keeping luggage light and shipping stuff ahead of time is something you should definitely plan for, if you are unlucky enough to be forced to fly to and from the con.

Many airlines only permit a single carry-on luggage bag, and this is NEVER enough. If you've never had luggage stolen from luggage retrieval, consider yourself a god of luck.

> * Driver's license and secondary I.D. You're from out of town and not
> everyone will take your check without positive I.D. Keep your passport
> with you at all times. This is very important if you need help while
> visiting another country.

If you have good credit, you would do well to remember the original purpose of Visa credit cards: TRAVEL!

Although credit cards are much maligned or used for groceries these days, credit cards were once used ONLY for travel overseas or cross-country. It is STILL used for this by smart people.

> * Camera. No joke. Can you remember what you had for dinner last
> night? Then how are you going to remember everyone you met and every
> place you went to over an entire weekend?

Remember this well: a cell phone camera will always be inferior to an SLR digital camera whose only function is taking photos. If you are a photographer, you'll say not even an SLR camera is good enough, but for most people, SLR is perfectly fine.

On that note, you should bring back-up pre-paid phones. Losing an expensive smartphone is bad enough, having all communications crippled as a result is not something anyone should ever have to go through.

> You'll be glad you took some
> snapshots later. They're fun to pass around at room parties. (If
> you're flying, keep your camera inside your carry-on baggage, where it
> won't be out of your sight. Cameras of all types are prime targets for
> luggage thieves.)

Luggage theft is extremely common. Nothing any airline could do will stop all luggage theft. ANY luggage theft will horrify you.

Protip: If something is expensive, but can be bought, just bring a credit card, and book the hotel well ahead of time.

If you can afford it, get a travel agent to arrange everything for you.

> * Comfortable shoes. You will be on your feet a lot, particularly when
> shopping in the dealer's room. Buying a new pair of shoes right before
> the con is not a good idea unless you have a high threshold of pain
> because the shoes break in your feet, not the other way around.

This cannot be over-emphasized. Cons can cripple you for life!

> * Sewing kit. Very important for costumers! Judges take away points
> when tails fall off. Also useful for small emergencies such as buttons
> popping off.

If you're a costumer, bring a full repair kit.

> * Birth control. (At least the stuff you hope you're gonna need...)

This goes double if you are a female artist.

This also goes double if you are a male fox, and hoping to meet a cutie at the con.

You never know. It's always when you don't bring protection that you need it.

> * Empty folder. When you get to registration they're going to give you
> all sorts of flyers, pamphlets, con books, schedules and maps. Unless
> you have something to put them in, chances are you're going to lose one
> or two of them -- especially the most important ones. After you stash
> them all in a simple clip folder, jot down a list of times and places of
> panels and shows you want to attend, in advance. That way you won't
> forget any of them. Some cons give you tote bags, but take along your
> own, just in case.

Bring highlighters and a daytimer. I personally prefer oldschool day planners, from before PDAs were a thing. I have very little luck keeping a schedule and budget with a smartphone. Sometimes, a pen-and-paper "hipster PDA" is a lifesaver.

> * Wristwatch. Sounds obvious, I know, but watch the havoc begin if you
> forget it. You won't know when something's on without it.

Get one that's VERY easy to read, especially in the dark!

> * Checklist. Make several copies of your checklist of things to bring
> and take home, so all you'll have to do at convention time is check off
> the items one by one. This eliminates having to think when you're
> packing so you are less likely to forget something important.
>
>
> Other Things to Remember
>
> Be sure to leave the hotel's phone number with your family. If an
> emergency comes up, how will they be able to reach you? Try this phone
> number beforehand and make sure it works. Notify the hotel desk if you
> change rooms so they'll know where to relay messages.

Make sure you get lots of extra room keys!

If possible, make sure your family and friends back home know your room number, just in case.

As I said before, bring backup pre-paid phones, preferably dumbphones.

> When dealing with hotel employees, always get their names. This helps
> track down and prevent communications problems, particularly when some
> clerk sneers, "Well, I don't know who you talked to, but our policy has
> always been..." Be very polite if you bump up against a problem, and be
> persistent.
>
> Write down on a stiff card the following information: your name, any
> medical information paramedics need to know, and whom to contact in case
> of an emergency. If you aren't wearing a medical bracelet, the next
> place the medtechs will look is in your wallet or purse. Keep the card
> there and make sure your roommates know about it.

That said, it's always good to keep a medical bracelet.

For that matter, if you have even the slightest doubt to your safety in unfamiliar places, bring a safety pendant. A safety pendant isn't just for old geezers. A responsible parent gives this to children, young and old.

It really is a lifesaver!

> If your residence will be empty, ask your post office to hold your mail
> while you're away. This can be done for free by filling out a small
> card at the counter. Also stop newspaper delivery and ask your
> neighbors or landlord to watch your home (bribe 'em with stuff you bring
> back from the con!). Have someone take care of the pets, the plants and
> the kids.

It may be a good idea to hire a petsitter, even if you don't own any pets! A petsitter is often a very affordable way to make sure there's /someone/ relatively trustworthy watching your house or apartment.

Make sure you have lights on, and randomly shut off and on with a timer. Something simple like this can often mean the difference between burglary and safety.

> Put your name on/in your sketchbooks. I'm amazed at how many people
> don't do this and eventually lose them forever.

Put your phone number and email address on/in these as well, and check your email!

> Put your name on your videocassettes. For that matter, put your name on
> everything you can't afford to lose. Not everyone can recognize your
> handwriting or your possessions, and if I find someone else's stuff in
> my suitcase when I get home, I need to know where to send it. (I
> personally use those return-address stickers normally used for
> envelopes. They're small, self-adhesive, and fit perfectly on
> videotapes.)

A label printer might be a good idea! Include contact information!

> Check under the bed before you leave the hotel. The monsters that live
> there eat socks, shoes, etc.
>
> Take advantage of pre-con registration. Not only will you save money,
> you also won't have to stand in line with the masses. Make certain that
> you bring proof of pre-reg with you; con staffs have been known to lose
> paperwork, and they can't argue with a canceled check. The same holds
> true for the hotel staff if they don't have a record of your room
> reservation.

When you pre-reg, print off a reciept, and keep this handle along with driver's licenses or other ID and your passport. Speaking of passports, it's a good idea to keep an extra passport, and keep your visa in a very safe place, such as in a concealable pouch in your shirt.

> Budget your time as well as your money. You can't possibly see
> everything and everybody, so don't kill yourself trying. Your body
> needs to sleep and eat, so include time for both in your schedule. You
> won't enjoy the con if you make yourself sick.
>
> Illness can spread quickly through a con, because people come from all
> over, bringing regional diseases and sharing them. This is often
> referred to as "con crud" or "the blorch." This is why you should bring
> your own medicines. Remember the last time you were sick, away from
> home?

Carrier monkeys like the share the love!

Con crud is almost 100% guaranteed to happen to you, and bringing flu and cold medicines, as well as medicines for stomach viruses and diarheia is a very good idea!

Sleep aids and anti-depressants for post-con depression are also highly recommended!

> You always return from a con with more stuff than when you left, so
> bring an extra bookbag. Or make sure you leave room in your luggage for
> all the stuff you'll buy. Prepare to do some heavy lifting.
>
> If you want to risk it, bring your own TV along with the VCR. Most
> hotels have security devices attached to their televisions that prevent
> easy access for VCR hookups. There's probably a cable box hooked up to
> it, anyway.

A portable 8" TV can be a lifesaver, if you like watching TV.

> When handing out business cards, do it three at a time. This makes it
> easier for others to pass out information about you and your work.
> Therefore, bring plenty of business cards. Be certain your addresses --
> e-mail, website and otherwise -- on them are current.

You can never have enough business cards, just be sure the contacts are current.

Nothing is worse than forgetting that the email address on the card is to a gmail address you've been locked out of because you neglected to have a recovery email address registered with it.

> Carry your wallet and checkbook in your front pants pockets. This makes
> life miserable for thieves. They know congoers are loaded with cash and
> credit cards. It may be uncomfortable, but consider the alternative.

Better yet, use a theft-resistant neck pouch. Pickpockets hate these for a reason.

> Leave the bathroom light on at night and the door ajar. It provides a
> convenient night light.
>
> Turn some of your money into small bills before you get to the dealer's
> room. You can't count on every merchant being able to break a twenty.
> If you're a dealer, be sure you've got plenty of change before the doors
> open. Try to use the ATM when everyone else isn't.

There is never enough cash in any ATM within walking distance.

Bring credit cards if you can't bring small bills.

If you need to accept credit cards, use a Square or other portable card accepter.

Some con-goers use bitcoin. Make sure you can accept these delicious bitcoins!

Make sure a bitcoin address is printed on your business cards, or better yet, put a AR code on the back, along with a QR code for your current email address! Most con attendees have smartphones and aren't afraid to use them!

> Trust me -- your luggage will be impossible to identify at the airport
> without marking it in some unique way. Wrap colored tape (such as
> day-glow orange or yellow) around the handle, and/or use colored tape to
> form some kind of a pattern on both sides that will pick at your eye for
> a long distance. Put your name inside your luggage as well as on the
> outside.

Make sure to include a tag with contact information, in case it gets lost. Most people are decent folk, and might go out of their way to let you know they found your luggage.

> If you've never used traveler's checks before, they are easy to buy at
> your local bank for a small fee. (I'm told that the AAA offers them for
> free.) They are much safer to carry than large amounts of cash and can
> be redeemed anywhere. Keep a record of the serial numbers -- you won't
> be able to get your money back without them if the checks are stolen.
> Keep this record separate from the checks.

For most purposes, bringing a combination of a few credit cards and a debit card can be a lifesaver. Just don't forget to bring a stack of small bills in cash, since not all dealers and artists can afford to accept cards.

> You can ship stuff to the hotel in advance, such as boxes of comics.
> This eliminates a lot of headaches and you don't have to carry it all
> with you.

If the hotel doesn't, get a large PO box or ship this to a friend that happens to live nearby!

> Better call the hotel first and ask about their policies.
> This also alerts them to expect your stuff and they can notify you if it
> doesn't arrive.
>
> It's easy to lose track of how many personal checks you have left until
> you suddenly find you're down to your last one. Count them before you
> leave.
>
> If you're printing up flyers for other events to hand out at the
> convention, have someone else proofread them. You may have forgotten to
> include something vital -- such as the date or the location. A fresh
> pair of eyes will spot this immediately. Better than printing out an
> expensive pile of paper that no one can use.

Fliers are not a great way to advertise. Using pens and pencils, notepads, hand fans (con hotels are often really really hot from mass body heat) and other useful items is a much more cost-effective way to advertise an event. Just be sure to include time, date, location and basic contact information!

> Don't open Rapidograph technical drawing pens on airplanes. The air
> pressure makes them explode and the waterproof ink is a bear to clean
> up. Keep them in a plastic bag inside your luggage until you arrive.
>
> Airport security may ask you to boot up your laptop computer.
> Therefore, keep the batteries charged. (And for crying out loud, don't
> joke around at the checkpoints! Hassling the guards never got anyone to
> a con any faster.)

It is generally a good idea to take out the hard drive, and back this up in a way that you can recover.

The best protection for your laptop is not to use an airline. If you can avoid using an airline, do so!

Airport security are meaner than ever, now that the patriot act and 9/11 gives TSA an excuse to be a bunch of jackasses.

> If you plan to drive to the convention and your car needs servicing,
> don't wait until the last minute. Get it done at least two weeks in
> advance. This gives everything a chance to break in and you're less
> likely to end up stranded in the middle of nowhere. Give yourself and
> your car plenty of rest breaks during the trip. Do you know how to
> change a flat? Practice before you go. Carry lots of water -- both for
> yourself and for the car.

Remember, kids. Ass, gas and grass! Don't offer one, offer all three! (unless you don't know your vanpool, in which case, offer the latter two.

> If you're flying to the convention, keep your plane tickets in a safe
> place. If you're flying with a group, appoint one person to be in
> charge of the tickets. Make certain that everyone knows where they are
> kept. Don't lose them! Keep airline tickets inside an envelope of an
> unusual color, so you can find it in a hurry inside a crowded folder or
> briefcase.
>
> Moderation in all things: don't overfill a hotel room. Sure, 20 people
> for a pizza party is fun, but it's absolute misery for all involved when
> it's time for lights out. It'll overload the bathroom, and it's also
> against the fire codes. (The nearest fire exit should be the first
> thing you look for as soon as you get into your hotel room. Make sure
> your roommates know where it is, too.)
>
> Like it or not, as soon as you set foot into the convention, you become
> an ambassador for your fandom and a newbie's first impression may come
> from you, your behavior, and your personality. The same goes for the
> mundane hotel guests -- ordinary folks who have no idea what your con is
> all about. Try to make everyone feel welcome. Will a new fan join the
> fun, or will he run screaming into the night? We're all supposed to
> have fun at a convention, not frighten people away forever.

There is a reason many conventions, conferences, festivals, carnavals and faires are held on private property, a very, VERY good reason!

Hotels are considered public property in many regards, and you must be on your best behavior at all times! Leave the diapers at home, kids! (unless you actually need them, obviously)

> By the same token, if you're new to fandom and are a bit timid around
> strangers, don't worry. You will see and meet all sorts of people.
> Take heart in knowing that they are all there for the same reason you
> are. That means you have something in common already.

It can be an awfully nice feeling, being with a massive group of people you belong to, a feeling of suddenly not being alone. There's a reason post-con depression exists!

> If you need help
> with anything, ask the convention staff. They are ready and willing to
> help first-timers as well as seasoned pros. They can introduce you to
> other fans, and that's one of the main reasons why we go to conventions.

Con staff are extremely important to a full con experience. If you are a timid person, volunteer!

Volunteering at a con is a great way to meet people!

> Tell yourself over and over that you WILL have a good time, because you
> will -- if you let it happen. If you're convinced that you'll have a
> lousy time, you'll probably find a way to make that happen, too. It's
> fun! Enjoy it.
>
> Above all, don't forget the most important thing to bring to any con: a
> sense of humor. Go out of your way to thank the convention staff and
> the hotel staff for their hard work and tell them how much you enjoyed
> it all. Now have fun.

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