Dragon-Con (and general con) Tips and Hints by techiecl

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Dragon-Con (and general con) Tips and Hints

POSTED BY: TECHIECL
UPDATED: Monday, August 29, 2005 08:35
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Saturday, August 27, 2005 12:03 PM

I've been hitting cons since 1996. 16 conventions in total. 4 of them Dragon-Cons. 5 come 2005's. Here's some hints and tips gained through the years.

All con veterns, please add any tips and hints I missed.

Travel, Room & Board
* Book hotels early. They go pretty quick once the convention publishes the discount codes for the convention hotels. Keep a copy of the confirmation code on you if you booked online.

* Parking. Parking garages and valet parking, while more expensive are much safer than outdoor lots.

* Most conventions are in urban or downtown areas. Just because a con is occuring and there is more police and security about doesn't mean you should let your guard down. Always be aware of your
surroundings.

* Know how much gas money you need to get home, then keep that money seperate from your spending money. Hotel safes are a good place for that. Nothing is worse than realizing you have to sell back goods you've bought to get home.

* If your flying to the con, always have photocopies of your travel documents and ID on you (especially important if going to a con in
another country) just in case you loose them.

* Never buy more than you take home or afford to ship home

The Con Itself-
Always download a copy of the convention schedule if it is availabe. Also, get a copy of the schedule at the convention itself. Schedules
are always subject to change. Spend some time deciding where you want to go, and develop a loose schedule for yourself.

Never carry all your money on you at once. Always have emergency money.

The Dealer's Rooms
* Dragon-Con have several areas where you can purchase merchandise: the Dealer's Room (smaller retailers), the Exhibition Room (major companies and publishers), Artist's Alley (comic creaters and artists), the Art Exhibition (home of entries to the art compeition, many works are availbe for sale as well).

* Shop smart. Make a lap of dealer's room. Often you can find the same item for sale for cheaper. Mentioning the cheaper product at another
booth to the seller may get you a matching price or better.

* Haggle when appropriate. If your buying a lot of merchandise, you might be able to get a discount. But don't go to the Wizard's of the
Coast booth expecting to get 25% off a single card just cause. One thing I do is observe to see if the dealer haggles with other customers.

* Don't steal. You might be tempted considering the often chaotic atmosphere, but the dealers are more savvy and experience than you think.
Apologies for this stating of the obvious to all law abiding readers.

Discussion Panels
* Show up early (depends on the popularity) to guarentee yourself a seat.

* Only ask questions when recognized by the moderators or the panelists.

* When asking a question, NO SPOILERS. You might meet some very very pissed off fans when you step out of that room.

Costumers/Cosplayers & Photography
* Costumers LIKE to be photographer and complimented on their costume;
don't be shy.

* It is polite to ask if you can take the person's picture first before
doing so. Thanking them is also a common courtesy when done as well.

* Don't be offended if they say no. They may just be wanting to get to
the bathroom ASAP.

* Never touch a costume or the person wearing it without permission. Costumes may be fragile, and its just rude. This includes if you are taking a picture with them. Just cause they may touch you does not mean you can touch them back (i.e. hugging poses). Yes this includes men/women in skimpy outfits. And just because they may give your permission, doesn't mean their in love with you ;)

* Costumers range from the skill level of poor amateurs to people with professional costuming experience in the movies, don't be an ass and
ridicule a "bad" costume especially if its just a kid.

* Be mindful of other photographers.

* Take your picture or pictures (if you have a motor driven camera or 1
messeed up) and step aside.

If you are costuming
* Stay hydrated if you have a bulky and hot costume.

* You do have a right to say NO to photographers and people with roaming
hands.

* Have handlers if you have a massive or ackward costume that limits your visibility or makes walking difficult.

* For the love of god, wear costumes only for a maximum of one day. Just cause you look great in your costume doesn't mean it can't accumlate an
odor. Or at the very least change the costumes shirt, let it air out, and use Febreeze or any other air freshener on it.

* NO GLOMPING (an anime fandom term of a tackling-hug combo) anyone who does not give you permission or to anyone you don't know. It does not matter if the character you are representing glomps the character they are representing, it is dangerous to come out of nowhere and tackle/hug
someone (and bystanders) who aren't expecting it.

Health and Hygine
* Shower and brush your teeth at least twice a day. Hats off to you if you use mouthwash and floss.

* Breath mints are great to to carry around.

* DEODORANT IS YOUR FRIEND. If its a hot day or you've been particularly active, there's no shame in refreshing your application.

* If unable to access a shower, baby powder, talcum powder, baby wipes, or wet naps are a substitute. Its better than nothing.

* Changing socks prevents blisters. Having extra pairs of shoes to wear prevents blisters.

* Eat and drink. You may not feel hungry, but the human body does not suspend its dietary needs just cause you've got the con adreniline rush for the whole weekend. Take advantage of the many water fountains and complimentary pitchers of water. There is always some sort of food in the onvention suite.

Some handy foodstuff to have on your person are-
Cereal, Granola, Protein/Energy Bars
Trail mix
Jerky
Dried Fruit (Raisins, cranberries, bannas, apple chips)
Nuts
Bottled water, sports drinks or juices

* The human body is not meant to run on just junk food and soda. Try to get some real proteins, vitamins, fruits/vegies, etc etc into your body.

* If on medication, always have it on you or accessible. Continue to take the medication as instructed.

* In event of emergency, call 911 as well as contact on premise staff

* Do not assume some called or went for the appropriate staff. ask the crowd/those arround if not sure. If nobody is sure, call 911 and contact the staff.

* Only peform first aid and/or CPR if you are comfortable doing it.In certain cases one can do more harm than good. Do not worry about the law when helping most states have "Good Samaritan Laws"

* If you have no first aid or cpr knowledge or are not a friend/relative of the victim, you have no reason to hang around (unless witness to some sort of illegal activity). Give the victim
and whose assisting room to work.

* If you have a cell phone, it is a smart idea to have a listing in ther labeled I.C.E (in case of emergency) or EMERGENCY. The number should be to
someone who can assist emergency personel or needs to be contacted if you are in an emergency.A paramedic or police officer or bystander can easily find that number and call it if you are incapacitated.

Partying, Alchohal, and the Con "Hook-up"
* The legal drinking age is 21. Do not be surprised if your under 21 and get caught for public drunkenss by a cop or secruity.

* Certain drugs in the world are illegal. We all know the ramifications of doing them (legal and health); those don't go away just cause your at a con.

* Getting drunk around strangers can be dangerous for women and men too.

* Party with friends and always make sure people know where you are.

* Respect hotel employees, security, and cops if they inform you your party is too loud. It is not fun bailing out friends at 4am in the morning for
irritating a cop at one such party. Hotel staff does have the legal right to kick you off the premises as well.

* Hooking up at a con is not as rare as "normal" folks think. Dragon-Con has a largeand wild party scene. That doesn't mean you should forget about things like CONTRACEPTIVES & STD's.

* NO MEANS NO. No exceptions.

* Their is such thing as an age of consent and statchatory rape laws. Those do not get suspended just cause your at a con.

And most important of all, have fun.

__________________________________________________
Dogbert: Try not to think of yourself as an organic pain collector hurtling towards oblivion

Dilbert: Too late...

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Saturday, August 27, 2005 12:43 PM

NXOJKT

I have a friend who has a pretty good way to make sure he doesn't over spend.

Take whatever amount of spending money that you have and divide it up over the number of days you have.

In the case of DragonCon, if you're coming in Thurs night and leaving Mon afternoon, you're planning on 4 days of Con (Thurs doesn't really count).

So, in this scenario, if he is bringing $200 in spending cash, he would get 4 envelopes and put $50 in each envelope.

Use the hotel safe and put Sat, Sun, and Mon's envelopes in the safe, taking only the $50 from Fri with you when you go down to shop/eat. This will keep you from overspending on any one given day. If there's something that you see that is $100 and you just have to have it, wait until later in the Con. Almost all of the dealers and exhibitors have business cards with their web addresses, so you can pick up something week or months after the con if it sells out there.

If you make it through Friday with $15 left over, then just shift it back to Saturday, and combine it with the $50 for that day. So you've got $65 to spend on Sat.

If you're cautious with your money, and are able to push back $10 or $20 every day, you might find that on Monday you've still got the $100 to buy the bigger item.

As you suggested, putting gas money in a seperate place altogether is a pretty good idea. That's not spending money for the Con. That's necessary money to get home.

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Saturday, August 27, 2005 2:14 PM

LITWOLF689

Though Im not a con expert, let me make some sugestions for newbies:

~Wear comfortable shoes. Cons are very large and you walk around A LOT!

~If your traveling with a group or even just one or two friends, make sure you specify a meeting place should you become separated. Though I dont know any land marks at this con, front desks, statues, your own hotel room, or anything else large and staionary are good ideas. Dont pick a crowed room like the Dealer's Room.
(This is a VERY good idea. Some friends of mine went to Otakon ((anime con)) and they lost each other near the end of the day. The older sister driving them home got so mad because they were 20 min late looking for the rest of the group.)
Dont relly on cell phones because the con is inside and you dont get the best service inside.

~Its smart to carry around a bottle of water and other small snacks in case you get hungry. There are many other hungry people so there will be long lines for food. But junk food is not the best idea.

~Maps are a very good idea!

~Camera's are a must! You never know who you will meet or what you will see. If its disposable, I suggest at LEAST (but you might need more) one camera a day. Dont be shy to ask costumed people for their photo. I was shy at my anime con several weeks ago and Im still regreting it.

All in all, enjoy the con!!!

"Two roads diverged in a wood and I took the road less traveled by and they CANCELLED MY FREAKIN' SHOW! I totally shoulda took the road that had all those people on it. Damnit." ~Joss

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Monday, August 29, 2005 6:19 AM

XANDERLHARRIS

Also plan for travel time within the con. The elevators are always in service and later in the evening it could take a half hour to get on one. So plan accordingly so that you can get to events on time.

Ash

-----

For all information on the NC Firefly group please go here:
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/fireflync/

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Monday, August 29, 2005 8:35 AM

PATMAN

Print out the grid of scheduled events (or utilize the one they give out at registration). Personally, I like the print-out better because the newsprint used in the hand-out gets pretty nappy after repeated use. There's a link on the www.dragoncon.org website, the 2nd row of links at the top of the page.

I highlight all the panels I'm interested in, and then start prioritizing because there are bound to be scheduling conflict and some things have to be sacrificed.

I will note that the Serenity panels will be at 4 p.m. on Friday/Saturday/Sunday in the Centennial Ballroom, and at 1 p.m. on Monday in the Centennial Ballroom.

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