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Convention Survival Guide
A top Eleven list of tips & tricks
1) If you're picking up your badge or event tickets at the show, show up as early as humanly possible. I've seen those lines stretch up and down the length of the convention center several times before going out the doors, down two city blocks, and culminating in more than a three-hour wait, much of it in a scorching midday sun with no shade or refreshment in sight.
That sounds like an exaggeration. It isn't. I stood in that line. People in that line completely missed some of the events named on the tickets for which they were waiting, and then had to stand in another line to get refunds...
If you can get your stuff the day before, show up early and do it.
2) The biggest expense at a big convention is never the convention pass itself, or the food, or probably even the swag you buy; it's the housing. At a multi-day convention in a big city, you generally have two housing options: stay close to the show at huge expense, or pay much less and commute to the convention center. A low-cost hotel within walking distance is the 'holy grail' of conventions; you're better off finding ways to mitigate the expense than trying to find a perfect place to stay. If you want to sleep close to the convention on a budget, arrange to share housing with trusted friends. Splitting the cost of a hotel room four or six ways can make even the most overpriced of suites more affordable.
3) Break in your new shoes ahead of time. There's a lot more walking involved at these things than you expect, and it can be murder on your feet. Don't compound your discomfort by trying to wear a new set of footwear. (New socks are another matter. Bring a lot of those, and your feet will thank you.)
4) Make the exhibit hall your first and last stop. Get in there to get the hot new products that you absolutely must get before they sell out, but be sure to swing by again on the last day--some retailers mark down prices at the end of the show to move as much remaining stock as they can. (Shipping stuff home can be expensive.)
5) Please don't block the aisles, but expect to have to negotiate around those who do.
A. You'll see people in great costumes stopped every few feet for photographs. Go ahead and ask them for pictures, but step aside as you do so that people can still get past you.
B. If you can at all avoid it, don't haul around luggage on wheels within the exhibit hall. It slows you down and slows down those around you. That said, if you don't have a way to leave your stuff in a car or hotel room, at least be vigilant about its placement in the aisles. (The same goes for large backpacks.)
C. Be patient with those who fail at these things. These obstacles can be frustrating, but don't let them drag you down. If you find yourself stuck in traffic, remember to enjoy the scenery: as you wait for the traffic jam to clear, check out all the cool stuff around you that you might not have looked at otherwise.
6) Bring hand sanitizer. At a convention you'll shake a lot of hands and come into contact with a lot of germs from other places--germs that your immune system isn't prepared to deal with. Give yourself a fighting chance to avoid the "con crud" by disinfecting regularly.
7) Try something new. Play a game you've never seen before, playtest something that isn't available yet, or participate in an event that you can't experience any other way. You'll remember that a lot longer than another round of something you could regularly play at home.
8) If there are convention exclusives or freebies you want, go pick them up right away. A lot of those are limited to a short supply, and when they're gone, they're gone.
9) Keep some generic tickets on hand, and don't be afraid to show up at a "sold out" event. More often than you might expect, the people who buy those tickets fail to arrive and a spot opens up for a spectator to become a participant.
10) For goodness sake, have fun! If the event you had your heart set on is sold out, go out right away and find something else to do! If you see an interesting game being demoed and you're able to try it, don't circle back later and hope for another chance...get in while you can! There's no shortage of fun activities to try at a big convention, but there IS a shortage of time. Make the most of it!
11) I strongly recommend the 1-2-5 rule (1 shower, 2 meals, and 5 hours of sleep a day for each day you're at the con). I also have the 5-10-20 rule for food budgeting ($5 for breakfast, $10 for lunch, and $20 for dinner)
Thanks to Christopher West, Patrick Stutzman, Matt and Angie Daley, S-Girl, Tisha Havens, William Lalum and Emily Kremer for their contributions to this episode
