by Jeannie Sather

Created on: May 14, 2009

Conventions can be a lot of fun, however some common mistakes can end the fun. The most common problems are dehydration, exhaustion, and spending all your money too quickly. Here are some tips to help avoid these mistakes.

The most serious and common problem is dehydration, as most of the time convention goers are having too much fun to remember to drink. Also, out of town guests who may not be used to the weather of the host city are especially at risk. To fix this problem, check the temperature before you arrive and again before you go to the con. A good rule is the hotter the temperature, the more you need to drink. Every thirty minutes to an hour, depending on the heat, you should take a drink. Bringing a thermos bottle to drink from or taking advantage of the free drinking water will help. Do not wait until you feel thirsty because then it is too late: you are already somewhat dehydrated. Bringing a rag or bandana to wet and wear around your neck can also help keep you from overheating, especially in out door venues. Always seek medical attention if you start to feel dizzy or really ill.

The next most common is exhaustion. The best solution is to get some sleep. Seeing how long you can go without sleep is not good. This will impair judgment, cause irritation, and weaken your immune system. Just get some rest. There will be a lull in the con, and it will still be there when you get up. Sleep, shower, and get refreshed; you will be surprised at how much better the con will be when you stay rested.

Spending too much money, especially all in one day, is a problem that can be fixed with a little advance planning. Looking around at all the booths to compare prices is always a good idea; often you can find the same items in different booths with different prices or find things you haven't seen before. If you have self control issues, allot only so much money per day and only take that much to the con. Divide the money into envelopes labeled day one, day two, etc. and only take one envelope per day. It is very easy to lose track of money with so much going on. Also, be sure to put money aside for parking. To avoid losing your eating money, buy gift cards for local restaurants near the con. Taking advantage of special con discounts that may be offered at local restaurants or to hotel guests is another money saver. If staying at a hotel, ask the concierge if they have a free coupon book or agreement with local venders; you may be surprised by the answer. Remember that the last day of a con is where all the best deals happen. Be sure to save money and look around; many dealers want to make deals rather than pack stuff to take back.

There are a couple of other things to be mentioned. Convention centers are big, and the temperature can vary from room to room. Some panel or video rooms can be freezing while others are hot. Bringing along a light coat or sweater that can be taken off and put on easily is a big help in staying comfortable. Remember to write down the name of the place and phone number of where the convention is located. If you get lost, people may not know where your convention is being held, but they most likely know where a specific convention hall or hotel is. Grabbing a map of the convention and local area will also help.

The most important thing to remember is conventions are meant to be fun. To keep them that way, always use your common sense and best judgment, along with these simple tips, and you can almost guarantee a good time.

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