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Argh...I'm just going to be 17.

eek I didn't think people actually did that....

o.O;; Wow, just wow.

Book's Tips as a 2-time Con Attendee and Local Resident!

arrow Travel, Baltimore, and Hotel Tips

~ Hotels in the immediate vicinity of the con are not neccecary
~~~~~ For the past two years the metro has worked wonderfully. I het on at Owings mills and get off at Charels Center- it's only a simple block to the convention center, we walked, carrying a phearbot costume, and we made it just fine.
~Again, take advantage of what is around you
~~~~~The subway is cheap, and often runs early until late, a train every 15 minutes or so, it works well for travel.
~Baltimore is still dangerous
~~~~~ Though the con is in town, Life outside the convention center iw still dangerous. Do not walk too far from the convention center alone, day or night.

arrow While at the Con
~EAT!
~~~~~Just because people at the con are nice, not many are willing to share their precious food. It is their food, don't take it. Across the street form the con is a small food court- within this food cort there is a Blimpie, Burger King, and a small Italian restaraunt. EAT THERE. Their food is nowhere near as expensive as the con. And Blimpie gives you multiple food groups.
~DRINK!
~~~~~ And not just soda, full throttle, cappucchino, and Ramune soda. WATER. WATER is what you need to drink, and you can carry it around with you. COLD drinks supposedly are better for you, and when carrying cold water bottles, put them in a bag wrapped in a dishtowel to keep your bag dry.
~Don't be utterly annoying.
~~~~~ I know how easy it is to get caught up in the excitement at your first con. I did, and got on alot of people's nerves. Calm down, relax, and act like you've done this before. Don't randomly glomp people, politley ask them first. Just little things will make a big differnce.

arrow All the other stuff.
~Shower
~~~~~We don't want to smell your Otastank
~Sleep
~~~~~ Nobody wants to be exhausted and have no fun or throw a tantrum and embarass yourself
~Meet New Friends
~~~~~Everyone likes new friends, and cons are no fun by yourself (nobody to share the excitement with) Get contacts, stay in tougch, who knows you could share the cost of a hotel room next year.
~Have an ID
~~~~~School ID's Passports, and child Identity cards will work, but it works best to havean ID from the DMV, they only cost $5 if you don't mind waiting in line.


Thats all for now, I'll add more if I think of them.

Unless you're like me and enjoy the night panels and the rave.

That, sir, is amazing. I salute you / proclaim you my hero.

I'm also local, and I can't stress this enough to friends that I have coming from out-of-state. It's too easy to jump a tired, excited teenager in the dark...and because it's a convention, there's bound to be a ton of cash. Never leave the center without at least one other person. Especially at night, and especially if you're cosplaying. (If it's big and bulky, it gets in the way of you running. If you're in something tiny and revealing...all bets are off. sweatdrop )

I also agree with trying to find a hotel a bit farther away if possible. It can save you some money, because you don't have to fight others for a room. And I do not suggest trying to spend the night in a hotel lobby. It doesn't always work the way you plan...

The convention center can be unbearably warm, but it can get really cold if all you're wearing is a miniskirt and a tank top and enough fishnet accessories to catch a whale. So I recommend bringing a sweatshirt or a sweater that zips up the front. That way, you don't mess up your hair, but you don't die from exposure, either.

If you plan on buying a lot of stuff all in one day, bring a large, empty bookbag or something to carry it all in. (Plastic bags tear when over-full...)Then maybe consider taking it back to your car or hotel room so that you don't have it getting in the way all day.

Small snacks like granola bars and bottles of water can save your life in a long line. They can at least tide you over until you get an actual meal. Because you should eat an actual meal at least once a day. Try going to the food court across the walkway. There's different types of food to suit whatever mood you're in, and a lot of places hand out coupons to use during the weekend.

This is something that I've done for myself and my friends, and it really helps move things along quickly when getting your badge. If you pre-registered, get on the website and print out your name, ID number, and registration number. Put all three on an index card, and give it to the person when picking up your badge. I was in a group of 6 last year, and the woman giving us our badges thanked us for making it so easy for her to find our names. I strongly recommend this.

If you're waiting in line on Thursday to pick up a badge, bring umbrellas. Especially if you sunburn easy, like me. ...Unless you wanted to spend the weekend red as a lobster and screaming every time someone bumps into you. Wear sunscreen too, of course. But the extra shade can help. It'll also help keep you a little cooler. But not much. Because Maryland summers are all humidity.

Like a ton of people have said before me, bring a book or game or something to do during downtimes. It's better than staring at the cracks in the ground.

I recommend disposable cameras. It's easy to lose or break a camera, and you lose less money with disposable than digital. And always ask before taking someone's picture, or before hugging them. And if they're buying something or on the phone or are otherwise occupied, wait until they finish before asking. Never get someone in the middle of eating. That's just rude. Wait until later.

Cell phones don't always work in the convention center, so have pre-arranged meeting spots just in case. If you have small children, get one of those leash things that go around his or her wrist and around yours. It's not always easy for them to find the meeting place because of the size of the center, and it's best to just be safe.

Try to deal with elitists and/or noobs patiently and politely. It's not your fault that they act that way, but don't provoke them any further.

Don't be afraid to make new friends! There are a lot of great people to find around the con. I suggest either having "business cards" with your name and email address or IM names, or having a notebook or pack of post-its and a pen/pencil to write this info down.

When you need help, ask. Don't wander around and end up missing something because of your pride.

That's all I got for now, but I'll post again if I come up with more. If you want to know anything about the area, let me know and I'll see if I can help!