Supplies For a First Timer

[Dustin]

Kumoricon 2004 will be my very first convention (I found out about the last one two days after it ended, while reading an issue of Animerica).

I am sure many of you have been to other conventions (most likely Sakuracon), so I am asking for advice from those more experienced.

I was wondering what I should bring with me, aside from the obvious stuff, but what should I bring for the con.

A friend of my said I should bring a Backpack to carry arond merch with, any other advice for us first-timers?

Thanks in advance!  

[SailorNaboo]

The advice really depends on if you are staying at the hotel or not.  Then, if you are not staying in the hotel, it depends if you have a place to store stuff (like a car trunk or a friend with a room).

Let us know what position you are in, and if you answer soon, I'll jump right back in and answer right away,

[Dustin]

I will have a place to store stuff, as it is right now, its really up in the air whether I will stay at the Hotel.

I looked up rooms, and it would be around $109.00 a Night, whereas I can stay somewhere else for Free, but the place I would be staying is in St. Johns, so it might be a bit of a drive.

Either way, I would have room to keep my stuff (if not the room, in my truck, because its a Quad cab truck, with plenty of room for four people, so I have room).

[SailorNaboo]

OK,

That will make things much easier for you.  When you do put stuff in you truck, try to keep it covered and not look tempting to people that steal stuff.

I heard they were still giving out con rate if asked (at least the other day) you might check on that.

Anyway.  I wouldn't overdo it on backpack size, but yes a backpack is good.  The art show should have a place to put it down when you go in (they don't let people bring in that kind of thing).  Security might watch you a bit more in the dealers room because with a backpack, you have a place to put stuff (nothing personal...) and also you want to be careful not to knock anything over in the dealer's room if you turn around quickly!

Females need all that mysterious girl stuff that I doubt a "Dustin" needs to worry about.  Since we don't know the weather yet, I'd have an extra pair of shoes and socks stashed in the truck.  That way if you walk someplace to get something to eat, you aren't stuck with wet socks back at the con (I hate that!).  Dress comfortably.  I'm a cosplayer so I tend to change clothes thoughout the day so if something gets uncomfortable, I'm back to my room and changing.  If you're planning on spending a lot of time gaming, wear stuff that's comfortable to sit around in.  

(Wow, it must really be easy to just get dressed in normal clothes and go to a con...I've never done that!)

Having some snacks with you is a good idea.  Also, as a gamer, I'd bring my memory cards.  That way if you have something unlocked that we don't, you can help out, and the other way as well.  You can grab a save of a game you don't have yet, and you can have it all opened up once you get it.

I'm sure some others will chime in with their suggestions as well.

[Dustin]

OK,

That will make things much easier for you.  When you do put stuff in you truck, try to keep it covered and not look tempting to people that steal stuff.

I heard they were still giving out con rate if asked (at least the other day) you might check on that.

Anyway.  I wouldn't overdo it on backpack size, but yes a backpack is good.  The art show should have a place to put it down when you go in (they don't let people bring in that kind of thing).  Security might watch you a bit more in the dealers room because with a backpack, you have a place to put stuff (nothing personal...) and also you want to be careful not to knock anything over in the dealer's room if you turn around quickly!

Females need all that mysterious girl stuff that I doubt a "Dustin" needs to worry about.  Since we don't know the weather yet, I'd have an extra pair of shoes and socks stashed in the truck.  That way if you walk someplace to get something to eat, you aren't stuck with wet socks back at the con (I hate that!).  Dress comfortably.  I'm a cosplayer so I tend to change clothes thoughout the day so if something gets uncomfortable, I'm back to my room and changing.  If you're planning on spending a lot of time gaming, wear stuff that's comfortable to sit around in.  

(Wow, it must really be easy to just get dressed in normal clothes and go to a con...I've never done that!)

Having some snacks with you is a good idea.  Also, as a gamer, I'd bring my memory cards.  That way if you have something unlocked that we don't, you can help out, and the other way as well.  You can grab a save of a game you don't have yet, and you can have it all opened up once you get it.

I'm sure some others will chime in with their suggestions as well.

That helps out a great deal, thank you.

Yes, I am a "Dustin", a male, LOL.

I'm not too worried about getting ripped off, my truck has a great security system, its loud as hell too, but, I will probably get a dark blanket or something to cover stuff up with, thanks for the advice!

[princessfrodo]

Bring duct tape.

That is all the advice I can give. ^.^

[Radien]

Having some snacks with you is a good idea.

This is where I jump in...

I've had a lot of trouble in the past with such issues as getting enough to eat, having the type of food I'm likely to eat, affording eating out, and getting indigestion from the extremely abnormal sleep and activity schedule that most people adopt during con weekend. Here's my advice:

1. Bring food that you can grab and go. Stuff that requires preparation will likely be eaten last, because there's always something cool going on that you will want to rush to your first year.
2. Bring stuff that is somewhat nutritious, BUT...
3. Make sure the stuff you bring is not drastically different from your daily diet. Even if you bring apples and carrots and bananas and cold cuts, it may throw off your body chemistry, especially if you do something demanding like go to the dance or play lots of DDR.

Also, as a gamer, I'd bring my memory cards.  That way if you have something unlocked that we don't, you can help out, and the other way as well.  You can grab a save of a game you don't have yet, and you can have it all opened up once you get it.

I did that once. Drive-by memory carding. They were playing Soul Calibur 1 with no unlocks. So I ran back to my room, got my mem card, gave it to them -- they stuck it in, loaded it, pulled it out, and gave it back. I understand they used the save all day.

Oh, and one final bit of advice:

SLEEP.

Sure, stuff happens late at night, but it's the stuff during the afternoon, evening, and sometimes morning that you want to be awake and ready for.

[Dustin]

Unless you guys plan on playing any of the PS2 DBZ games or PS2 WWE games, my saves would be useless (if you guys wanna use the DBZ games, let me know, I have both, though I have more unlocked on the second one (about 99%, including all characters having their breakthrough capsules), so I can easily bring them along for Con usage).

My daily diet, LOL, two meals a day, usually not much nutrition in that either.

So, maybe I will carry some pocky around with me (side note, will the con be selling Pocky? and if so, are there any current prices avaliable?).

As for dancing, I don't dance, LOL. Girls don't wanna dance with me, and thats ok. I tried DDR once, man did I stink....


Sleep is the best thing I can do, LOL.

Thanks for all the advice, I hope to get alot more good tips before the convention.

[EvilMonkey]

The con will actually have a consession stand selling some of your favorite japanese goodies, including pocky!

[Dustin]

The con will actually have a consession stand selling some of your favorite japanese goodies, including pocky!

Good to know. Now I can just pick up some stuff at the con and not have to worry before hand.

Thanks!