Welcome to Gaia! ::

2007, the new year is coming soon and besides the newest year starting so does a new convention season for FL! It also brings newer convention goers and to survive them here are some tips. ^^

1. Order your wristbands/badges in advanced! The thing is once at the convention registration lines are long and also a long wait, at Megacon, they go from the booths and extend into the next hallway! It's better to do it in advanced.

2. Make sure your cellphones aren't on the prepaid plan! I went through this past year and man did it suck! When I was looking for pins in the dealer room and I had to call my ex and it gave me the message of refilling my minutes. >< If you are on the prepaid plan, get a card that has more minutes than what you usually get, it might cost more but you can call your lost group members to find where they are!

3. Set your cellphone to vibrate! This one is pretty important, in dealer rooms there is a lot of noise with vendors speaking in loud tones, loud cosplayers, and even crying kids if people brought their kids along, you can't hear your cellphone ring. Even on the loudest volume, you can't hear it! So set the thing on vibrate. With the vibrate mode you can get to your incoming calls without missing them.

4. With autographs, don't take things beyond the express lane. -_- Seriously, a lot of people bring so much and actors have panels and other events to go to and also it makes the lines go slow. Like the FMA cast signing at AFO7, it took so long and the line was long! A lot of people had tons of things and the actors had to go to the dodgeball tournament. So 10 items or less...

5. Take extra batteries. A lot of con goers have digital cameras and the cameras run out of battery power depending on how long they use them, so just in case, carry an extra pack of AA's (or whatever your camera takes take extra batteries anyways) cuz it will save ya time in trying to find a phot place near the convention area.

6. When it comes to wearing wings, use the messager bags. Because it's a little comfier to go that route and also put the bag on first and put the wings on which will make taking off your wings more convenient, if you're a Sephiroth, that might not be necessary unless you have someone carry your bag for you or a rolling bag.

7. When holding swords or staffs, keep them close to you. Because in case people run into it or something and it breaks, they keep walking. So hug it close to you or at least on your shoulder unless it's plastic.

8. Hold onto your signs. Some cosplayers hold signs and a bad thing is to have a paper sign taped to you which rips off easily. (seen that happen!) so use poster board and make sure to hold onto it or go the sandwich sign route!

9. Don't trust Convention Center food! I know a lot of con goers come from all over and have lots of money to spend on food but the food's EXPENSIVE! (at OCCC I mean and anywhere else) and also you don't know what's in the food or they might use expired food or frozen food. And also the sodas usually suck! And sometimes you have to pay extra for toppings for burgers. For example: Two hot dogs and two sodas came out to the total of 16 dollars, I rather sneak my own food. ^_~

10. WATCH OUT FOR CAT GIRLS! (aka the really hyper fangirls) They can chase any cosplayer they are a huge fan of. If you get chased, make sure you have good running shoes and enough gatorade that will last you until you get to safety.

Those are my tips see ya!

All of this is covered in the Extensive Convention Guide, so while I appreciate it, reiterating it is not necessary. Also, I too disagree with combining cat girls and rabid fans, there IS a difference.

And the comment about prepaid cell phones, that's a bit assuming. What if that's the only kind of phone a person can get? confused

As such, I cannot justify allowing a repeat thread - especially when it's a repeat of a sticky.