Ten Necessary Convention Items

I spent over 10 years attending anime, comic book, science fiction, and other conventions celebrating pop culture and the geek subculture. Based on my experience, I compiled a top 10 list of necessities for a smooth convention experience.

Money

I always give this piece of advice for those attending their very first anime convention, "I hope you have a lot of money." Money makes the convention world go round, whether used to pay for convention registration, transport, lodging, food, or shopping at the Dealers Room. Whichever way you earn your money, save a good chunk of it for convention expenses. I usually require an average of $150 per local convention.

Transportation

Getting to the convention is half of the fun, but without a means to get there, the fun ends before it begins. You will need a car or van to transport yourself, your luggage, and your applicable costume props. If you have a car, then transport is covered. Arranging a carpool with fellow convention attendees-preferably friends-will alleviate transport costs and build camaraderie. Public transportation is a cheap means of traveling to local convention while traveling via airplane is my personal favorite option for attending distant conventions. It is a more expensive than bus, train, and carpool and my costume options are restricted due to luggage limitations. But I arrive at the convention faster and more refreshed. Plan air travel ahead of time to ensure the best ticket prices.

Lodging

During Anime Expo 2002, I was excited to attend my first distant convention that I forgot to book a hotel room and nearly wound up camping inside my car. Luckily, I found some friends who put me up for the weekend. But the important lesson from that experience was to never forget the lodging. Lodging provides the convention attendee with a place to sleep and maintain hygiene-two things often overlooked during a convention. During local conventions I prefer to lodge at home after a long day to save money. At certain distant conventions I will stay with relatives so I can cover the convention and visit family in one trip. But staying at the hotels near the conventions allows you to check the pulse of the convention's nightlife by being so close to the convention. Then there are the room parties at the hotel that add to the convention experience, but those vary by hotel rules and attendee age. To best save money on a hotel room, room with fellow friends.

Photo ID

After paying a large registration fee and airfare to attend BotCon 2009, I nearly robbed myself of the first day of the convention by absentmindedly leaving my wallet at the house where I was staying. Pre-registered convention attendees require photo identification before giving you an admittance badge and without ID, it is really difficult to convince the registration staff that you are who you claim to be. Photo identification is useful to gain access to age restricted areas of conventions and the hotel bar-assuming you are over that age. I managed to eventually convince the BotCon staff that I was myself by calling a fellow attendee who verified my name to them, which brings me to my next necessary item...

Cell Phone

The 21st century introduced use to these convenient communication devices and at a convention, these are an attendee's lifeline. Whether used to contact fellow friends attending the convention, taking phone numbers of new friends met at the convention, or calling for financial or medical assistance during emergencies, the pocket devices make life a lot easier. Other uses for the cellphone include a means to entertain oneself with games while waiting in line, blaring music to dance to among attendees, a flashlight to navigate through a dark hotel or video room, a safer alternative to flicking a lighter during a concert, and a last resort blunt instrument to fend off an annoying attendee who will not take no for an answer.

Camera

You know the saying, "Take a picture, it lasts longer." Conventions are often a flurry of costumes, celebrities, and antics at every corner. Nothing captures the feel of a convention or jogs a memory better than photographic evidence. I stop short of recommending cellphones for their camera functions because digital cameras do such a better job of chronicling the convention better. Just as small as cellphones, point and shoot cameras are relatively cheap and provide better picture quality than cellphones. Pick up a camera, some batteries, and a memory card and start shooting up the convention.

Snacks

Just as an army marches on its stomachs, attendees need food to survive. While nearby restaurants and the convention center food court provide food, their expensive prices can break a budget and their locations can make traveling to them impractical. So I carry snacks with me to nosh on while away from restaurants. Granola bars and dried fruit provide enough sustenance between meals. They pack lightly and are durable enough to store in a small pack. They are no substitute to a hot dinner, but they will last me through the journey across a Dealers Room.

Comfortable Shoes

Every convention attendee needs a good pair of comfortable shoes in which to walk around the convention. Shoes intended for costuming range from impractical to painful, so a good pair of practical walking shoes will come as a relief when walking around the convention.

Note/Sketch Book

As a convention reporter, I often write notes during panels to recall key messages. Note or sketch books are also handy to have for the aspiring artists to practice their drawing while waiting for convention events. Get a few other artists working on one book and you get an interactive social experience.

Contact Cards

After rubbing shoulders with a convention guest of honor, meeting an industry contact, or making a new friend, keeping contact after the convention is the next step to develop and maintain relationships with these encounters. Printing up a few business cards with your name, social networking sites, and personal website. Then you can continue your friendly interactions while expanding your network.