(1) ATTEND ON A SUNDAY — The crowd is huge, but much more tolerable than Saturday, which was unbearable last year. Based on anecdotal evidence at THIS convetion, this year’s Saturday attendance was nearly riotous!
(2) PRE-PURCHASE YOUR TICKET ONLINE — the line up to enter is smaller, quicker, and your life will be MUCH easier in the long run. Last year, I stood in line for two hours with my VERY pregnant sister…on a SATURDAY! I will never make such a mistake again.
(3) ARRIVE REASONABLY EARLY — even with the pre-purchase, you’ll still find yourself in a line. Make it as short a wait as possible.
(4) TAKE LOTS OF CASH — the autographs and photos cost money, and they expect you to have it READY at all times (convention staff specializes in shrewishness). Many of the dealers don’t take credit cards, or charge American prices…cash will be your saviour.
(5) MAKE PEACE WITH PARTING WITH YOUR CASH — you think getting an autograph and/or a photo with James Marsters or William Shatner will be free? If you want the goods, resign yourself to purchasing them.
(6) MAKE PEACE WITH LINE UPS — anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours, if you’re lucky. Take (or buy) some reading material.
(7) GO WITH FRIENDS — they can help with line ups (nothing beats taking shifts), and if it’s their first time EVER at a convention, their unabashed joy at discovering the Mecca of geekdom will rub off on you!
(8) TAKE A BAG OR THREE — many of the dealers don’t provide them.
Follow these instructions, and you will have as pleasant an experience as you can possibly imagine. It was 11 exhausting but worthwhile hours…and it was MUCH better than last year’s gong show extraordinaire! Now, all I have to do is relax and wait for my picture with William Shatner to arrive in the mail…
