by Matthew Russell - Posted 2 years ago
Welcome my CryptoComics Compatriots. Comic Convention season is just around the corner and we are getting our Go Bag ready. This is a complete list of everything that you will need to take to a comic convention as a fan.
If you are a vendor or panelist, that's an entirely different list that all depends on what you are selling.
Now, this list will be broken down into several different categories; health, storage, wearable, and other.
First things first, health. There are several items that you will want to bring along to a convention to keep up a healthy lifestyle.
Having a refillable water bottle will save you a ton of money throughout the convention. I have personally seen prices for a small bottle of water run for $7 each. This is absurd, especially since most venues have a drinking fountain.
If that brings back trauma-inducing PTSD flashbacks of elementary school when little runny-nosed Johnny is slurping on the fountain with his lips smeared all over the nozzle, rest assured that most fountains have been upgraded to a clean “bottle filling station” to avoid the nastiness that is Johnny.
Luckily, if you forget to bring along your own, you may be able to find one at a vendor's booth. Hopefully, you can find one that holds enough water and is decorated in your favorite fandom, but please don’t rely on this.
SNACKS
Once again, for your wallet’s sake…bring your own snacks. 1 stop at a grocery store or even a gas station along the way will save you a ton of money. We convention regulars often laugh at the newbies that are forced to wait in a long line and spend upwards of $10-$15 for a single slice of pizza.
Don’t be that person. Bring your own snacks. It is cheaper and you can still fit into any diet, assuming that you have those restrictions.
Try to stick to a healthier snack such as an apple, string cheese, low-sugar granola bars, mixed nuts, or even a homemade sandwich. All of these are better choices for you than candy or the typical food prepared at the events.
Jared and I once took a backpack full of yogurt. It was a delicious convention.
Frey always brings trail-mix, and I will always have some jerky on me. Trust me, this will save you time and money. Snacking while you’re standing in a line for a photo-op, vs standing in a line to get some overpriced food…you decide which is a time saver.
GARLIC
Ok, I will admit, this idea came from Jared. Normally I laugh at everything he suggests and dismiss it as either a conspiracy theory or voodoo babble, but now I am hooked on garlic.
Garlic has been proven to boost immune function due to its antioxidants and sulfur compounds like allicin. It supports heart health, stabilizes blood sugars (as a diabetic, I need all the help I can get with this), and protects brain health.
I hate it when I am meeting someone and they reek of garlic, so I don’t want others to suffer that same fate, that is why I go to the store and buy Garlic capsules. They have the same function without the smell, and you take it as a pill.
I used to only take it around the con season to avoid con-crud, but now I take it every day, year-round! Trust me, this will help.
It just occurred to me that some of you might not be familiar with the term Con Crud. Well, let me break it down for you.
If you pack several thousand people from different walks of life, from different regions of the world, into an enclosed space…people are going to get sick.
Most of the time, you will walk away with drained energy and feeling like crap. You might even associate this with simply being on your feet all day running around like a mad man. But there is more to it.
People tend to not have strong immunity against diseases that they do not typically run into. Even if you are not sick, this doesn’t mean you are not a carrier. This means that when you run into someone from “Out Of Town” they get your germs, and you get theirs. Sharing is caring.
You might start to feel it by day 2 if you are still suffering from jet lag, but by day 4, it hits you hard. You are sick!
EMERGEN-C
I like this Immunity-Booster! Once again, I started taking this after Jared’s suggestion, but it really works. There are alternatives such as Airborne, but my money is on Emergen-C. I actually like the raspberry flavor drink packets, and my kids love the orange gummies.
Once again, this is for the fight against concrud. I typically start taking it about 2 days before I travel and once a day until 2 days after returning home. It tastes good and helps prevent sickness, what more could you ask for.
HAND SANITIZER
You will be touching a lot of surfaces during the event, so you had better protect yourself. Aside from washing your hands every time you touch anything, the best way to protect yourself is to bring along some hand sanitizer.
I have a bottle that ties onto the outside of my bag and it is a lifesaver. I also keep one in my car.
FIRST AID KIT
I have a very small first aid kit that contains various stuff like aspirin, bandaids, eye drops, other useful items. If you are allergic to anything, keep that EpiPen in your first aid kit.
You never know what you're going to run into so I tend to always be prepared. That might be the boy scout in me, but I don’t like to be caught unaware. I figure that it is better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them.
If I am flying to an event, I might leave them in my hotel, but if I am driving, I will most likely leave them in my car, just outside the event.
While you are walking through an event, one of the biggest things you will need to take along with you is some type of storage.
A GOOD BACKPACK
Have a backpack that you can take with you that has plenty of room and is comfortable. This will be the key to a happy event or a miserable one.
Not only do I recommend that you bring along a great backpack, but insist that your entourage do as well. It never fails that one of my friends will need me to lug something around for them. My stuff is heavy enough, now I have to carry stuff for them!?!
You will need a backpack that will be able to hold a lot of new swag. Every time I hit the convention floor, I am bombarded with figurines, lightsabers, funko pops, shirts, shorts, belts, socks, lamps, mystery boxes, and more. That's not even counting the comics.
Bring along a backpack that has a hard laptop sleeve. This is a great place to protect your new comics and smaller artwork. Make sure the backpack sits high on your back in order to help distribute the weight evenly.
ART STORAGE TUBES
I have purchased so many posters and prints that are simply far too big for my backpack. This is why I try to bring along an art storage tube. Everything can be rolled into it safely and securely without creases.
They are surprisingly durable. I have a hard cardboard tube with two end caps. I have seen hard plastic tubes with screw-on ends that are actually waterproof. I just can’t afford it, but the cardboard ones have never let me down.
Many people don’t talk about money when going to an event like a convention, but this is something that should be discussed regularly.
BUDGET
Before you go to an event, budget out what you can spend each day. I recommend budgeting for things such as
Food
Travel (to get there and back)
Comics
Artwork
Celebrity Guest signatures and photo ops (this can usually be purchased before you even go to an event)
Souvenirs
Gifts for those back at home
Cash
Budgeting all this out will help prevent you from going crazy and spending all of your money on day 1. I have actually been to a 3-day event and blew all of my money within the first hour of day 1. The rest of the time was spent walking around being both jealous and miserable.
CASH
Many vendors will still take credit cards, but that can often become a hassle. If you are a card-only person, make sure that your bank knows that you will be out of state, as often credit card companies might think that a fraudulent charge is being made. The same thing can happen if a vendor is from another state as well.
There was a time that I went to Salt Lake City for a con and I had informed my credit card company that I would be in Utah using the card. The vendor was from Hawaii and so the charge said that it was being used in Hawaii, so the card was blocked and I had to call the fraud department to let them know that it was really me.
As we were trying to figure this out, I had to step to the side to prevent the vendor from having to deal with all this. They are there to make money, after all.
This all could have been avoided if I would have just brought cash.
RFID BLOCKING WALLET
These days scammers are everywhere. Make sure that your money is secure. I sounded like a banking commercial there.
I joke, but it’s true. Make sure that you have an RFID blocking wallet that will help you from this new electronic pickpocketing known as skimming.
Basically, people can scan your cards and receive the information needed to verify your card without even needing to swipe your card.
RFID blocking wallets are relatively cheap and can easily protect you. My personal recommendation is to keep it in a separate pocket than usual as well. Most people carry around their wallets in their back pocket, this means traditional pickpockets know what to train for. Keep it in a side pocket or front pocket. Don’t let pickpockets win!
What you wear to the convention can be just as important as what you purchase there. These simple tips will help you on your journey through the conventions.
BADGE CASE & LANYARD
Every time I get to go to a convention, I exchange the lanyard for my personal one and throw the new one in my pocket.
You see, I save the lanyard and the badges for my room. I have a collection of badges in my room from every convention I have ever been to. When I am home I will put the correct lanyard with the badge and hang it up.
I just do the first switch because the lanyards tend to be cheap and I have lost several badges during events that need to be replaced before can continue. I grew tired of this so I purchased a very durable lanyard and badge case to use during events.
Also, I can’t stress enough, make sure that you have this one BEFORE you leave your hotel room. Nothing is more stressful than having to Uber back, just to get your badge. Pro tip, Tie your lanyard and badge to your backpack to keep from ever forgetting it.
COMFORTABLE SHOES
Just because a pair of shoes happens to be your favorite, doesn’t mean that you will still like them by the end of the convention. Shoes are a situation where comfort trumps fashion.
I’ve seen a girl walk around the convention in 6 in heels and I asked her how she was doing on the last day. The string of obscenities that flew out of her mouth rivaled the dad on the Christmas Story while fixing the basement furnace.
Have a pair of shoes that are worn in. DO NOT purchase a new pair of shoes just for the event. Spend some time breaking them in. Make sure they have enough cushioning that they will keep you walking on clouds the entire time. Also, the lighter, the better. The last thing you want is a 10 lbs Doc Martin brick on each foot.
COSPLAY REPAIR KIT
Many of you will be cosplaying as your favorite character. I encourage this and love to see it. If you look at our youtube videos, we have several that are dedicated strictly to cosplayers. Although this is not required, it is highly encouraged as part of the fun!
If you are cosplaying, make sure to bring along a cosplay repair kit. This will contain things such as
Double-sided duct tape
Scissors
Needle and thread (matching the various materials)
Bobby Pins
Elastic Hair Bands
Safety Pins
Super Glue
Spirit Gum (not to be confused with spearmint gum)
Stain Remover wipes or pen
Makeup Remover
A wide-tooth comb
And a multitool
There are often “Cosplay Repair Stations” at various events, but not always. For that reason, always make sure that you bring your own. No want wants to see a sad single-winged angel.
LIGHT JACKET
If you are not cosplaying, even in the scorching heat, cons can get cold. As a way to prevent Cod Crud, the air is circulated fast, and the AC is cranked to prevent people from overheating.
For this reason, I recommend that you bring along a light jacket such as a hoodie or sweater. Don’t bring along a heavy jacket or winter coat, as you might either overheat or need to carry that around with you long after you take it off.
MASK
Many events are setting their own rules dealing with the Corona Virus. I will not be drawn into a debate here as to their legitimacy or not. I will simply state that many events still require masks to be worn during the event.
The last thing that you want is to refuse to wear it and not be let in for not having one. Bring one in case the venue requires it.
Last but not least, in the wearable section…cargo shorts/pants.
CARGO PANTS AND SHORTS.
It’s like a tactical dad trick. Snacks, tissues, whatever. It will all fit in your pants and even the weight load of your backpack as you Sherpa boobs through the depths of Nerdvana.
Those extra pockets might be considered “purse-pants” as my wife calls them, but you will be thankful for all that extra space for business cards and extra freebies. I don’t care what my wife calls them, I will wear them anytime!!
There are a few other things on my list that I have to bring to every event but they just don’t seem to fit into any of the previous categories.
MAP OF THE EVENT WITH A LIST OF PANELS
Many comic conventions offer this as either an app or list everything on their website. Have this handy so you always know where to go and you can better plan out your experience.
Having the panel listings along with times will help you to get the most out of your experience. Plus picking out a designated section on a map for your party to meet up will ensure both safety and better time management.
COMICS OF YOUR FAVORITE CREATOR
If you are on a budget, check the websites or guest list beforehand so you can find your favorite creator.
Hit social media so you know who will be attending in Artist Alley. Creators will tend to share out their booth number and if you have the aforementioned map, you can find it easily. Find the event/creator/celebrity hashtag for social media, and be sure to tag event pictures on social media.
Show up with your own comics from your own collection to get a signature. This can help cut costs significantly. Just don’t be surprised if a creator still charges for this signature, they still have to eat too.
Another Pro Tip; Learn to pronounce the names of creators or celebrities beforehand. It will save you some embarrassment.
A HARD COPY OF A FRIEND PHONE NUMBER
If you are like me, your phone’s camera is going a mile a minute. Not only am I taking pictures, but I love to take video footage as well. My phone dies a lot during events.
It is for this reason that I have several hard copies of info with me such as the phone number of someone in my party.
Do you remember the days when you used to have to memorize EVERYONE’S phone number? I’ve lost that skill with the invention of smartphones. But, if your phone is dead, what to do?
In case of emergency, have that notecard with that phone number and head to the event info center. They can either let you use a phone or point you in a direction of a phone. If your convention is at a hotel, the front desk might be willing to help as well.
PHONE POWER PACK
As I mentioned above, I drain my phone's battery faster than a toupee in a hurricane. I always have a power bank with me now. In fact, I often have to carry 2, but that's because Frey makes me record video on several devices almost 24 hours a day during events.
These Power banks are relatively cheap. I recommend having a few fully charged in that comfortable backpack that I told you to take along. It will be a lifesaver.
SHARPIE
Nothing is more embarrassing than standing in line for a signature, only to not have anything to write with. BRING A SHARPIE!!! It’s easy and cheap.
Also, don’t forget to test it beforehand. Having a dead dried-up sharpie is just as bad as not having one at all.
ANTI-STENCH TOOL
Last but not least, bring deodorant, and use it…please. This happens often enough that it needs to be mentioned.
Don’t insult the sensitive nasal sensibilities of your fellow attendees. Bring it and wear it, generously.
