WALL OF TEXT WARNING!
So you're going to Bronycon? Awesome, can't wait to see you there! Have you been to a convention like this before? No? Well, even if you've gone to a few before, here's some helpful tips to improve your weekend and make sure you get maximum enjoyment out of everything! The best part is, the three big sections are easy-to-remember acronyms:
- D.E.B.S - drink, eat, bathe, sleep
- 3 P's - Preparation, Politeness, Patience
- 3 S's - Surveying, Spending, Safety
Let's start with DEBS, since these are some of the most important things anyone should keep in mind at any large public gathering, particularly one taking place over multiple days.
DRINK: dehydration is a serious risk at big events like this, especially in the summer with lots of warm bodys around you. At a local anime convention I attend, at least two people every year have to be escorted to the hotel infirmary with dehydration or other heat-related illnesses--despite bottled water being available at every panel and in all the lobbies--and we've had paramedics show up once or twice.
Your best bet is to buy a refillable plastic water bottle--at least 20 oz capacity--with a watertight seal-able spout, and drink one entire bottle of water--not soda or juice, just plain water--every two hours while you're out on the convention floor. Yes, you'll have to pee several times a day, but you'll be more alert, your joints will move easier and you'll be less sore. It might sound silly, but check the color of your urine when you pee: if it's darker than Fluttershy's coat, you're already dehydrated and need to make sure you drink a full cup of water soon. If you notice you have a headache and you haven't had a drink in a while, you're in danger of actual sickness and should probably sit down and rest while downing a few cups. If you can't handle tap water, buy one of the more expensive water bottles with a built in filter.
EAT: don't skip meals, and make sure you eat large portions. Walking around a convention this size burns a lot of energy, more than you might think. When you're looking at what panels you want to visit, make sure there's time to get a decent lunch and a filling dinner. Carry snacks with you, preferably things like granola bars or trail mix, or even the 'meal' bars you find in the dieter's section of the store (eat half as a morning snack, half for afternoon). Passing out from hunger can and does happen at things like this, particularly among teens on diets. Seriously, a weekend won't set you back much, order the cheeseburger instead of the salad.
BATHE: The only thing worse than the smell of unwashed geeks in summer is catching "convention flu" because you neglected basic hygiene. Take a shower--use soap!--brush your teeth, put on deodorant, and make sure to wash your hands before eating. One five-year-old with the sniffles can lead to more than half the convention's attendees coming down with a cold over the course of the weekend. Avoid shaking hands with guests, ask for an autograph instead. It lasts longer and doesn't spread germs.
SLEEP: Getting a good night's sleep will help more than you might think. Lack of sleep makes it hard to remember details, so you might come home from the con and wonder what you did with large chunks of your time. Go to bed early enough to get at least six hours of sleep before your alarm goes off--that means time actually asleep, not just laying in bed. If the first panel you want to see in the morning is at eight a.m. try to get the lights out and be in bed by midnight so you have time to fall asleep and then time to clean up and eat breakfast.
Now, on to the next set of ideas, the three P's. These are mostly about behavior while at the convention, and following these will make your experience--and that of others!--go much smoother.
PREPARATION: print out copies of the con schedule before you go, and look at the events and panels you want to see. Figuring out your schedule ahead of time means less time wasted figuring out what to do next, and also less time standing around in the hallways blocking traffic. This will also help you with DEBS, since you'll know when you have time to stop for food between panels and make sure you're getting up in time to see what you want while still getting enough sleep.
POLITENESS: This is an all-ages con, lots of young children will be around with their parents. Don't bully the youngsters, keep your language clean, and don't make jokes that could be taken the wrong way by others around you. If a child is bothering you, ask the parents nicely if they could get their child to stop whatever it is, but remember that you're dealing with children and they just want to play and have fun. Basically, don't be a jerk.
Also, if you happen to spot one of the convention guests--particularly staff who work on the show, voice actors, or other big celebrity types--don't harass them for an autograph right there. Most of those folks will have dedicated autograph meet-and-greet times, and would really just like to have some time to enjoy the convention themselves. Also, anyone carrying an instrument or A/V equipment should be granted the right-of-way, particularly if they look like they're in a hurry. Making a band member late for their set is the height of rudeness.
PATIENCE: Part of any convention is waiting in lines. For badges, for autographs, at vendor tables, at fast-food, sometimes even to get into panels or the bathrooms. Don't get impatient, if you planned your schedule properly you should still have time for everything even if there's a delay now and then. Start up a conversation with others in line while you wait, you might make a new friend or learn something.
Lastly, one of the big draws at any convention: swag. Everybody likes stuff, and we all wish we had more stuff, so here's some tips to help you maximize your swag.
SURVEYING: When visiting the dealer's room, make a complete lap around the entire area before buying anything. Nine times out of ten, the vendors don't give refunds, so make sure you've already seen what's on offer before grabbing something. Want a Luna plushie? Make sure you get the style and price you want by checking all the plush sellers instead of grabbing the first one you see "because omg it might be gone if I don't buy it now there's only one left gotta get it now!". Most sellers keep their extra stock out of sight to encourage that exact reaction, don't fall for it.
SPENDING: Set a budget for your swag purchases. Make sure you have a separate budget for food, and don't skimp on food to buy swag--skipping swag to buy food is okay, but you should have plenty of food money. While surveying the merch on offer, keep a running total in your head, or even take notes! Figure out your highest priority items, and buy only what you can afford while staying in budget. Also keep in mind that a lot of vendors would rather sell their merch at a lower price than get stuck with it after the con, so check the dealer's room again sunday afternoon to see if anything you didn't already get is cheaper now. Saving about a quarter of your budget for the last day isn't a bad idea. If you're planning to get multiple items from one person, ask--politely!--if they've got a small discount for larger purchases; plenty of artists will offer to throw in a freebie if you buy 'just one more poster'.
SAFETY: Any seller can get a credit card reader for their smartphone these days, so expect that there will be a lot of those in the dealer's room. Bring no more than half your swag budget in cash, and never in bills larger than $20. Don't flash large amounts of cash, and keep your wallet deep in a pocket where it can't be snatched easily. another tactic is to keep part of your spending money hidden in your hotel room--this is best done if you have your own lock-box or a combination-lock briefcase.
Locate a couple of ATMs, but be prepared to walk to a nearby bank because the machines tend to run out of money on the Saturday of a convention when the most people are shopping. Pay with a credit card whenever possible, the reward points you earn are worth the extra few seconds and it also means the seller isn't carrying a huge wad of cash to get robbed either.
And there you go, ten things that will make your experience safer, healthier, and more fun for everyone.
tl;dr - just read the acronyms and their meanings, they're pretty descriptive.



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