Whether you’re a veteran or a newbie, this convention guide will be helpful in getting you ready for the season! Each week for the next 6 weeks, I will be covering a topic that I have listed below and what advice Yatta-Tachi fans and I have to share. This week’s installment will be a short article, but I will be suggesting things for you to do to prepare for before & after arriving at the convention!
Alright. You have your cosplay. You have your convention schedule all highlighted up. Are you ready to hit the road? Hold up! Here are a couple of things you might need to consider before you head out.
- Bring cash for potential paid parking lots
- Look online or call your hotel front desk to see what time your room check-in is.
- Make a playlist of JPOP music to play in the car or on your flight to hype you up for the trip. If you don’t have one, no worries!I have been compiling a playlist for such an occasion. You just need a Spotify account! Also, don’t forget to select “Available Offline” and sync the songs to your device over Wi-Fi prior to your trip, so you don’t have to use any data to stream it!
Alrighty, NOW you’re ready to go!
If you’re driving:
- Make sure your car is ready for the trip: Oil change, air in the tires, etc.
- Figure out how long it will take you to commute and plan accordingly.
- Check Google Maps or Waze on the quickest route and traffic conditions. If you know a general idea of when there will be traffic congestion, try to time it so you can avoid most, if not all, of it.
If you’re flying:
- Check into your flight 24 hours in advance for a higher chance of better seating!
- Double check flights and see if there are any delays.
- If you’re flying with a company that provides free luggage check-ins, this can make it less awkward than attempting to squeeze your luggage into the overhead storage on the flight, or paying extra simply for taking anything bigger than a handbag with you.
As mentioned before, be sure to read up on airport safety and regulations, and arrive 1-2 hours before your scheduled time to allow for picking up your passes and getting through security. - If you’re cosplaying, I mentioned some advice on caring for your outfits and props in my Cosplay section of this convention guide.
When you get to the con
- Take a deep breathe. You’ve made it, my friend.
- If you’re early, check to see if your room may be available sooner than the original timeframe.
- Review your schedule and get your comfy walking shoes on.
- Assuming you arrived at the convention on day zero, go ahead & save yourself the trouble by going to get your badge. Lines are usually shorter on day zero versus day one.
- Wander around, meet up with friends and be social.
- Now the real fun begins!
You’ve done it! You are now at the convention! Should be smooth sailing from here, right? Not quite. There are still a few more things I need to cover before I conclude this convention guide. Stay tuned to next week’s installment of the Ultimate Convention Guide! Until then, feel free to read up on the other articles I have written for this guide below.
Check out the articles I will be rolling out over the next couple of weeks. This will lead up to the first convention I will be going to this year, A-Kon.
Yatta-Tachi’s Ultimate Convention Guide:
- Introduction to the Series
- Prepping for Your Trip (Research, Scheduling, Meet-ups, Packing List)
- Cosplaying (Tips, Tricks and Do’s & Don’ts)
- Before & Arriving At the Con [You are here!]
- Things to Look out for (Safety)
- What to Expect / Keep in Mind / Conclusion
Big thank you to our supporters
From their continous support, we are able to pay our team for their time and hard work on the site.
We have a Thank-You page dedicated to those who help us continue the work that we’ve been doing.
See our thank you page
