The Basics
ü
If possible, try to attend the pre-party for the
convention. Usually the pre-party will be held on a Thursday if it’s a weekend
long convention. Some cons have live bands play and others show movie
screenings. Either way it’s always a good opportunity to meet up with
likeminded people and occasionally run into celebrities that have arrived at
the con early. Be careful not to overdo yourself at the pre-party. Remember,
the conventions are usually all weekend and have awesome after parties.
ü
Be prepared for cancellations; try to avoid
buying tickets for a con based on one particular guest, in order to not end up
disappointed if they end up cancelling.
Funds
ü
Try to bring as much cash as possible, in order
to escape the unavoidable, and sometimes ridiculous, ATM charges. In some cases
the onsite ATM’s will run out of cash before the weekend is over.
ü
Be prepared to spend around $20-$40 an
autograph. Be cautious when budgeting for autographs. Some conventions don’t
release larger named celebrities until close to the date of the convention.
Just when you think you know all of the autographs you want, they’ll add
someone you‘ve always wanted to meet. More recently, celebs like Jamie Lee
Curtis have come into the convention circuit and they require a certain amount
of money prior to the convention, almost like a down payment. Also, sometimes
pictures with the celebrity will cost extra, though most will take a photo with
you for free if you purchase an autograph.
ü
VIP tickets are more expensive but usually come
with perks that make it worth every penny. Perks range from a free autograph to
early convention admission to free limited edition t-shirts. Most conventions
also offer VIP ticket holders the advantage of skipping to the front of the
lines for autographs and Q&A panels.
ü
The vendor room is full of things for horror
fans to drool over, but try to hold out until Sunday; usually vendors will
lower their prices then in order to avoid having to bring merchandise back with
them. If you see something you don’t quite have enough money for, try
negotiating with the vendor, some are more flexible than others.
ü
Make sure you bring more than enough money for
food throughout the duration of your stay at the con. Some hotels and
convention centers have a small café or deli where you can purchase sandwiches
or wraps. Almost all of the hotels will have a full service restaurant where
you can get breakfast, lunch, or dinner at a higher price. If you’re lucky,
your room will have a microwave or a refrigerator so ask the hotel staff when
booking your room. If you do, make sure to pack food accordingly to save on
costs.
ü
If you’re not flying to the convention, it’s a
good idea to bring your own alcohol, as the drinks prices at conventions can be
rather high.
Don’t
Forget…
ü
Bring a backpack; this will help limit your
trips between your room and the autographs/vendor rooms, which is very helpful
if your room isn’t close to the convention center, especially if it rains.
ü
Make sure your camera is charged, and if
possible bring extra batteries, nothing is worse than your camera dying before
you were able to get a photo with your favorite celebrity.
ü
It’s a good idea to bring hand sanitizer, in
order to avoid con crud. With so many people in a confined space, it’s not hard
to end up getting sick.
Overall, the most important thing to remember is have fun
and enjoy every minute you can, attending a convention can be one of the best
investments you make as a horror fan and you will be sure to make friends and
memories that will last a lifetime.
No comments:
Post a Comment