#con ref

TIPS

- Don't cosplay anything too crazy for your first con. This is totally optional but I suggest it for first time con goers. The reason I suggest this is because a convention, whatever the theme, is going to be a wild ride your first go around. You'll be getting the feel and the lay of the land, and sometimes cosplay can really get in the way of that if you're not careful!

- Bring snacks. Or better yet, if you're staying in the hotel that the con is being held in/near, bring your own food in general. Eating out gets pricey, and eating AT the hotel can get downright expensive. If you're not staying at the hotel, bring snacks anyway. Like mentioned above, hotel snacks and food get expensive fast. Bring things like granola bars and easy handling snacks like that. Something that gives energy and sustenance without a sugary overload that'll make you crash later.

- Cash is your friend. Pull out plenty of cash from the ATM, but not your entire stash. A lot of booths in the dealer's room now have card readers and Squares they can use, but beware. Not everyone is honest. Cash is safe and easy, and won't put you in a bind if the tech malfunctions on the dealer. Stash your cash in different places on your person, so if your bag gets snatched, you won't be without any money at all. I suggest some in your wallet/billfold/purse, some in your shoe (yep, this works, but only with high topped shoes like boots), and some in your other pocket or your phone case. Ladies, don't hide cash in your bra. Most people refuse cash that comes from there nowadays.

- Bring a sizeable bag, but not a big one. I made the mistake of taking nothing but a small purse to my first convention. I suggest a messenger bag- they're easy to use, can be customized with pins, stickers, and iron-on patches, and they can store flat papers like art prints and fliers. If your bag is too big, it gets hard to carry. Make frequent trips to your room to put your goodies away so you're not lugging that replica Halo plasma sword around all day!

- Sewing kits are your best friend. If you know how to sew, bring a small kit that can be stashed in your bag. That way, if you have a rip or tear, your can sew it right up! Or you can make some fast cash (OR offer your services for free if that's more your speed) by sewing up cosplays that have gone wrong. If you can't sew, do what I did: bring a small box of safety pins and a roll of double sided tape. The cosplayers will thank you, and you may thank yourself.

- DRINK SO MUCH WATER. I cannot stress this enough, especially if you're wearing a hot cosplay or if the con is during a hot month. Drink water every twenty minutes if you've been sweating. Sodas taste great, but the caffeine will dehydrate you. The same goes for alcohol. AVOID ENERGY DRINKS. Gatorade is good in moderation, but be sure to drink plenty of H20 as well.

- Don't be that drunk. You know the one. They get wasted and then stumble into panel after panel making a scene. Or better yet, they get wasted and stumble into panel after panel puking their guts up. No one wants to see that. If you drink too much, drink some water and turn in for the night. It could save you and a lot of other people a bunch of trouble.

- If you see a creep, report him. This one comes from personal experience. If you see someone blatantly making people uncomfortable by making unwanted sexual advances on them, report them. I had to report a guy at a con for putting his hands down girls shirts multiple times. I felt uncomfortable, and so did they.

- Wear shorts under your skirt! Anyone who wears skirts needs to be aware of the upskirt photo problem at a lot of cons. I suggest wearing spandex shorts under your skirt if you don't want some gross perv posting pictures of your clothed naughty bits on the internet.

- SLEEP. I know this may sound weird, but sleep. SLEEP. Even if it's for a four hour stretch early saturday morning, you need to sleep some. Don't try to stretch the whole con with no rest. Your body will hate you for it.

- Carry a small first aid kit. These are really easy to find. They contain band aids and ointment for any scrapes you may get from falling down that step or tripping over the curb. 

REFS

[HOW TO SEW A BUTTON]

[HOW TO MEND TEARS IN CLOTHES]

[FIRST AID KIT]

What to pack

Your full cosplays, obviously. This includes wigs, contacts, clothing, and props. 

A casual outfit for every day at the con, you never know when you'll need to change

PJs for every night, plus a spare.

Extra undies

Needed medications/items

Makeup stuff

Wig styling stuff

Small sewing kit

Superglue

A refillable water bottle. Fill them up at the drinking fountains/bathrooms, and drink 2-4 each day, or you WILL be dehydrated and sick by your last day. It makes post-con depression a LOT worse. 

1-2 extra wig caps

Like a billion bobby pins

Stuff to take care of your cosplay, wig bags, contact solution/cases, wig heads, etc. 

You phone!!

PHONE CHARGERS

Camera and batteries/chargers

Game systems/games

Your badge, unless picking it up there.

A spare lanyard.

MONEY/wallet

Pack various snacks, con food can get expensive. 

Bandaids and other first aid items, like pain relievers and neosporin

Sketchbook/notebooks and drawing utensils to get people's urls/drawings

A medium size messanger bag/backpack to carry your goodies.

How to Pack it.

I usually bring 2 suitcases, one for costumes/clothes, and one for makeup. My costume and clothes bag will also get all my con goodies crammed into it. I drive to my cons, though, so sometimes this method isn't available. Packing in moderation is the best thing a person can do. 

What to bring to the con floor 

I Don't bring a whole lot in my bag when I leave, but the things I do bring are

Badge

wallet/money

phone

chargers for items

Camera and spare battery pack

3DS

Superglue

Makeup wipes

Sealer spray

Chapstick

Water bottle

Various snacks

Bandaids

Con book

Sewing kit

These can all fit in one pocket of my bag, and leaves lots of space for other stuff. 

How to make life easier