Drarry Time

It’s been a while since I’ve read any fanfics, let alone updated my AO3 lists so I’ll be doing just that here within the next few weeks. I’ll probably stick to Drarry, but let me know if there are any other ships/fandoms you want me to do! Also let me know if there are any specific fics/tags you want to see in here, I’ll be organizing these lists more than the last ones.

This reads like a really fuckin weird YA novel and I apologise. This is the oldest one I have in my notes, and definitely one of the most vivid, they won’t all be this long and detailed lmao

What To Bring

Thanks to @torn-and-frayed for helping me put this together. 

1.  Make sure to print and bring all your PDF’s to the con, it will make registration seamless. (If you forget, all the con hotels have business centers you can use to print).

2.  If you aren’t flying, pack a cooler and bring food. Snacks, sandwich fixings, drinks. All the things. If you are flying, try to make a trip to the market when you get to town to stock up. Food costs can be very expensive at the hotels. It’s always a good idea to bring some food with you to the panels.

3.  Bring a backpack. This is essential!

4.  If you have photo ops, invest in a binder and plastic sleeves to place your photos in.  You can keep your schedule in here as well. If you forget them don’t worry! If Con Quest Journal is a vendor, they have them for $1 a piece.

5.  Highlighters, to help map out the schedule so that you don’t miss anything.

6.  Plan out what you want to wear in your photos. It’s much less stressful that way!

7.  Don’t forget your camera! (And don’t forget to charge it.)

8.  Remember to pack all the cords for your electronic devices. I always pack a power strip as well, as hotels never seem to have enough outlets.

9  A portable battery charger for your phone/camera. You will drain your battery daily, trust me.

10.  Don’t forget props if you plan to use them in photos. Also, please see Creation’s rules on photos:  Due to time constraints, here are some of the things we cannot allow: putting on clothing, blankets, ties etc…, floor poses, handcuffs, rose petals, confetti or anything that creates a mess that requires clean up. Please do not ask to be picked up in the photo. We obviously do not want anyone to get hurt.

11.  Water is available for free in the convention space (with the exception of Pittsburgh this past summer). Cups are provided, but often run out, so bring a reusable water bottle. Don’t forget to hydrate. Water is also regularly lukewarm.

12.  Be sure to pack any medication you require. I always bring ibuprofen with me and allergy medication.

If you’ve ever went to a con with me you’d know when it’s comes to pre-planning and planing for the con I tend to get the queen of organization.    In light of that I’ve always had a packing list for anyone who plans to go to a con with me. I’d thought I’d post for all those forgetful people who always seem to forget at least one thing. 

Overnight bag

PJs or sleeping clothes

Underwear + Socks. 

some ‘normal’ clothes (shirt/pants)

All cosplay ideas (wig,Top,Bottom,props,shoes,etc) 

hygiene products (shampoo, deodorant, etc)

Phone changer

Wig care things, (Plus Wig cap)

Makeup

anything else you may need over the weekend at a hotel or friend’s house. 

Con-Going bag

Money you plan to spend (Con ticket price, plus something for lunch and dinner) 

small makeup bag with only the thing you’ll need. 

Cell phone, 

Wig brush

small snack 

emergency money (This should be about 5+20$ in a different place from your other cash, just in case something happens you can still have some  thing to get food or anything that could come up. 

any kind of medications you’d need though out the day. 

I felt like doing this because I saw a thing on my dash talking about con prices. To anyone who’s never been to a con but plans to go, here are the most important tips that you will EVER GET. PERIOD!  

Number 1:  Everything is expensive. 

Everything. Bring food from home. Bring snack bars (no sweets!), protein shakes, sandwiches, things that’ll keep you going for the rest of the day! AND if you plan to get up an hour early or something so you don’t miss anything than just get some coffee. 

Number 2: Be careful of what you buy!

A normal con will have an artist alley which is basically a huge room with a bunch of booths selling merchandise ranging from fanart to anime/cartoon action figures. This shit is expensive. It just is. However, sometimes different booths will sell the same thing but one will have a lower price.Different booths have different prices. However, 50$ won’t last long in a scene like this, as you can imagine so if you’re planning to go binge shopping… at least take a 100$ AT LEAST ((When I go to cons I take around 200$ with me))

Number 3: Cosplayers, BE PREPARED!

Do not present yourself as a newbie and go to the con unprepared! Get a few poses down that you can do because lots of people WILL be asking to take your picture! You lose a bit of your privacy going to a con in cosplay XD It’s just the way it is but it’s still an amazingly awesome experience. It’s a lot more fun than going without because you make more friends. There hasn’t been one time that I haven’t found a cosplay friend and hung out with them during the duration of the con :) Lots of fun.

But yeah, first time cosplayers, be courteous and if you can’t take a picture at that moment let the person down gently. AND IF YOU DON’T LIKE GETTING YOUR PICTURE TAKEN PLEASE JUST DON’T COSPLAY! It’s not going to work out well for you!

Oh and this is warning for both men and women: If you get harassed in any way tell one of the staff members. If someone takes unwanted pictures of you ((as in inappropriate pictures)) you have the right to tell them to delete the pictures or tell them you’ll report them. 

Number 4: Take Some Spare Clothes!

Just… do it. If the day is hot and you’re in cosplay… it’s not going to be fun. ((Talking from experience here))

Number 5: Know your Schedule

I’m assuming that the con you’re going to has some awesome events that you’ll be going to. Expect long lines and disappointment. Some of the more popular panels will be hard to get into so you might have to wait at least an hour in advance in line to actually get in the room. This is why it’s awesome to have friends. Because you’re going to be bored as hell. That or you can ‘take turns’, as in one person can go explore while the other holds their place in line and then switch. 

Number 6: If you’re with a friend try to compromise with each other and try not to get into a fight

Be nice. Play nice. Respect each others decisions about where you want to go and if you want to be at different panels, split up and agree when and where you want to meet up later. There, problem solved. 

Number 7: Bring a bag or something

You don’t even have to BUY something. You’ll need a bag to put anything and everything given to you. Do it. 

Number 8: IF AN ARTIST OR A COMPANY YOU LIKE HAS A CARD TAKE IT! ESPECIALLY AN ARTIST!

I literally just found this out in my last con. Take artist card so you can find them on the internet later if you want further contact with them or if you just want to look at more of their stuff!! 

There’s probably a bunch of more tips that can help prepare you, but these are the main ones that I have encountered. Thanks for going through all of this and I hope you have a great time at your chosen con! :D

I was asked to put together a convention packing checklist! So here it is, disregard anything that isn’t relevant to you!

TICKETS Make sure you remember to print out all your tickets in whatever format they take! That’s email confirmations, or your PDFs convention tickets, photo ops and autographs, plus meet and greet invoice if you’re doing one. Hotels have printers of course, but it’s easier to have them ready to go, rather than trying to find somewhere to print them out while at the convention – because you’ll be busy!

ELECTRONICS Camera – with spare batteries and memory card and associated cords. Phone Laptop/iPad/iPod All your chargers! All your charger cables! It’s also great to bring an extra battery pack for your phone, because there usually isn’t anywhere to quickly charge your phone without going back to your room, so if you have a pre-charged battery backup with you that can help keep in touch!

* if you do forget something, you always have fan backup – someone will lend you that charging cable that mysteriously got left behind!

PENS A pen – for filling out reupping forms – and for writing down your email or twitter for new friends! Highlighter pens – for highlighting the schedule Coloured Sharpie – if you don’t want black or silver for your auto, bring your own coloured Sharpie pen!

PAPER Always bring some kind of notebook – just in case you want to jot down notes from a panel, or something someone told you, names, emails, twitter handles (as Jensen calls them) etc!

SOMETHING TO PUT YOUR PHOTO OPS IN You need something to put your photo ops in so they don’t bend and get ruined! You can buy hard sleeves in the vendor’s room, but I find that the photos can get stuck in them! A document display folder with plastic inserts, or a ring-binder with plastic inserts is great. Or just a hard plastic document envelope. The photos printed out at the con are 10x8, so anything that fits A4 or larger works.

WHATEVER YOU’RE GOING TO GET AUTOGRAPHED If you have something specific that you’re getting signed, don’t forget to pack it! The Vendors room has photos and books and some other items that can be used for autos if you don’t have something specific.

SNACKS AND WATER Soooooo important! Many of the convention hotels/convention centres don’t have much (or any) food available, or you have to go out to get food (and did I mention how busy you’ll be?), or it’s super expensive. So pack your own. If you’re travelling and can’t pack a sandwich or anything, even if it’s just some fruit or nibblies to take into the convention auditorium, that will help to keep your energy up.

The days are long, you might not get much sleep, you might be drinking more alcohol than usual, the hotels and convention centres are heavily air-conditioned, so it’s also super important to stay hydrated. If you can pickup a bulk pack of water at Target or a supermarket or something, that’s going to save you money and you’ll have water in your room and to take to panels! Seriously, snacks and water. Get on that!

*CREATION CON SPECIFIC - There is also a large water dispenser with cups inside the auditorium. You can use that water throughout the day, and you can also fill up your own water bottle from the supplied water dispensers to save more money. (tip courtesy of Krista)

TWITTER HANDOUTS (tip courtesy of Kate) Print out your Twitter @  or/and email on little pieces of paper that you can hand out to your new fandom friends who want to be able to follow or contact you. You can make them simple, or into cool little business cards!

EXTRA MONEY – BUT BUDGET! Um. Cons are expensive. Outside of the costs of hotel accommodation and all your tickets that you’ve already paid for, you’ll also have to buy food and drinks (unless you packed them as per the awesome tip above!) The Vendor’s room or vendor’s areas at a con has cool stuff, t-shirts, books, stickers, mugs, glasses, posters, standees, all sorts of jewellery, and various other goodies that you might want. There may even be a guest that you didn’t get an op with, but when you see their panel, you feel you absolutely must hug the living hell out of them, (oh believe me, it happens!), so you just have to get another op! So take a little extra money, just in case. But budget…because it’s real easy to get swept up into the con craziness and want all the things and all the ops (speaking from experience), so make sure you set yourself a budget!

YOUR OUTFITS Okay, I know, d’uh, you’re going to pack clothes! But if you’ve decided on a specific outfit, whether something pretty or something cosplay, make sure you have all the necessary bits! I always plan what I’m wearing for each day ahead of time. That way I don’t have to pack loads of options and I don’t have to think about it at the con. Some days (especially Saturday and Sunday) can start quite early, and the last thing you’re going to want to do is be trying on outfits like crazy. 1. You won’t have time. 2. You don’t want to increase your stress! So pre-plan your outfits and pack all the elements you decide on to make them perfect.

CREATION SPECIFIC - CASH FOR CHRIS – the Creation photographer If you are buying JPEGS of your photo-ops you will need $US to give to Chris the photographer. Each photo op you have, comes with 1 10x8 print – but only 1. You can purchase JPEGS of each photo for $10 per JPEG. There is a number on the photo – you give that number to Chris or his offsiders in the photo room and about a week later, you will receive a link from Chris via email to download the JPEGS via Google Drive. Each JPEG you purchase costs $10 and you must have cash for that. So when you know what photo-ops you’re getting, figure out before hand which you may need (if there’s more than one of you in the photo) or want a JPEG of and ensure you have enough $US on you. If you are at a Canadian con – you can use Canadian dollars but as Chris is from the US, US dollars are better for him. The JPEGS are super high quality, large files, which can be printed to LARGE canvas size if you want (speaking from experience).

If you don’t have the cash at hand to buy the JPEGS at the convention, you can still buy them after the con. Go to the Creation website and follow the link and you’ll be able to contact Chris and order them via there. 

TISSUES/VITAMINS/PAIN KILLERS ETC. There’s lots of aircon in the hotels/convention areas and you may get a running nose – you don’t want to be snuffly or snotty – pack tissues. Eyedrops – for the same reason, the aircon may dry your eyes out and make them sore and red. Bring along some anti bacterial wipes or hand sanitiser, because con crud is a thing! Plus you’re in much used hotels, so it’s a good idea just to give your hands a bit of a once over a few times a day! It’s also not a bad idea to pack some Vitamin B or C to keep your energy up and immune system working. Pack some Paracetamol or/and Ibuprfen in case of headache or backache or hangover! I always take hay fever medication with me – I never know if something is going to affect me in a place I’m not used to (Vancon for example, gives me hives…WHY I DO NOT KNOW!). I also bring cough/cold medication. I have got super sick at cons! It sounds like a lot, but seriously, I have got sooo sick and having stuff on hand has been a life saver. I also always travel with Bepanthen because I get tatts when I travel :D Also don’t forget extra contact lenses if you need them, and pack band aids (especially if you have new shoes.)

BREATHMINTS/GUM You’re going to want to pop a mint before you go into a photo op! You’re about to get up close and personal with Jensen Ackles, and you don’t want to breathe coffee breath all over him! Pack mints.

PERFUME/MINI DEODERANT For the same reason as the mints. You’re about to hug the crap outta Misha Collins – you don’t want “been sitting for 6 hours in the same shirt” smell as you squish into him!

LITTLE PURSE MIRROR Perfect for checking your lippy, hair, making sure you don’t have kale in your teeth – as you wait in line for your photo op. Don’t worry, EVERYONE is doing it!