The Casual Otaku

In my last post, I discussed the basics of planning and preparation in terms of budgeting to help make the con a more enjoyable and stress free experience for you.  Well, in the second of this three part series we’ve come to the actual convention itself.  What can you do to make it through the weekend and get the most out of your time at an anime convention while you’re there?

Before we get to the actual convention business itself, let’s back up a bit to the days leading up to the convention.  You’re getting excited (don’t lie, you totally are) about the fact you will soon be spending a weekend with thousands of fellow anime fans and escaping real life for a few wonderful days, it’s only natural.  Even though you’re excited (or perhaps panicking if you’re a cosplayer who still isn’t finished with putting together that costume), it’s important to take your time and make sure you have everything you need ready to go and packed for the weekend ahead.  I recommend putting together a spreadsheet or using an app on your phone or tablet to keep track of everything you need to pack from small (toiletries and chargers) to big (enough changes of clothes or costumes and all the accessories that go with them).  While forgetting something like toothpaste is an easy fix, forgetting one of your devices, a piece of your costume or enough changes of clothes is not an easy fix and a good way to start your con off on the wrong note. Now that you’re packed and ready to head off to be among your fellow anime fans (your people!), let’s look at some pointers on ways to make it through the long weekend intact using the standard 6-2-1 rule:

Six hours of sleep: I’m aware that being at a con is exciting and you want to soak it all in as much as possible.  But guess what? Your body needs some sort of rest in between all the walking around you’ll be doing.  Conventions are marathons, not sprints; the events aren’t going anywhere until the convention is over so trying to top your personal record at DDR can wait. The days of 24 hour conventions are more than likely long gone post pandemic, so unless you’re someone who enjoys the party scene, you really aren’t missing much anyway.

Two meals a day: By meals I mean honest to God food, not pocky, instant ramen and ramune.  While those are good snacks, they are not adequate substitutes for the proper nourishment that your body needs to replenish that lost energy.  A few tips:

• Research the area and find a grocery store nearby to stock up on quick food items like cold cuts and bread to save a little money versus eating out every meal.


• If you’re driving to the hotel, bring a cooler to store food items and drinks (buy a styrofoam cooler if you flew or took the train), many hotel rooms usually have fridges in the room, but they are usually only good for storing a few drinks at most.


• For those times you want to eat out, seek out cheaper options such as Wendy’s or Del Taco, or better yet, seek out places you may not have where you live. Yelp and Google Maps are your friend! 


• While I recommend affordable food options, I also encourage having at least one good meal at a proper sit down restaurant (more if you can afford it, this is a much needed vacation, after all). 


• In between meals, carry around granola bars and maybe even some fruit like a banana or an apple for a quick snack to tide you over between full meals. 


• Try to stay away from soft drinks and energy drinks as much as possible, those will dehydrate you quicker.  Water and Gatorade are better thirst quenching options and most convention centers and hotels have refill stations where you can refill your bottle.

One shower a day: For the love of all that is good and for the sake of your fellow con-goers, take a few minutes out of your day to shower and clean up.  If you are a cos-player making multiple costume changes, wearing a heavy costume or just sweat a lot sometimes a second or third shower might be necessary.  Trust me, you’ll feel better and other attendees that won’t have to worry about another case of con funk will thank you. No one should be able to smell you coming from across the hall; Lord knows I’ve come across some particularly rank attendees in the past!

What’s sad is that the above guidelines are common sense, yet so many con-goers ignore it and try to push their bodies too hard on little sleep and even less nourishment.  Yes, there is a lot to do and see, but as I said before, the convention isn’t going anywhere while you take care of yourself, you’ll enjoy yourself so much more! This is especially true if you plan to drink and attend parties at or around the con; pace yourself, know your limits and be aware of your surroundings. Parties are fun, but not at the expense of missing a whole day of the con with a hangover.

As far as the convention itself, planning goes a long way in terms of events happening at the con.  With smaller cons it’s easier to see a lot of things on the schedule, but a larger convention like Anime Expo is a different animal entirely.  The larger the con, the more going on at any time and the more schedule conflicts there will be, so unless you can clone yourself multiple times, you won’t be able to see everything.  When you get the program guide or download the con’s online schedule online through their own app or a platform like Guidebook, take a look at the panels and events to see what you want to attend and brush up on the convention and venue policies.  Panels get shifted or cancelled or you come across something else you want to see, so allow some flexibility in your own schedule.  I speak from experience as someone who used to pack their schedule full each day and find myself stressing about getting to a panel or cosplay gathering to the point it felt like a chore (it’s supposed to be a vacation, remember). It’s also a good idea if you can to walk around the convention facilities before the convention begins to get an idea where all the programming and convention events are held so you aren’t running around frantically when trying to get to a panel or a gathering.

Now that we’ve covered the basics of taking care of yourself and figuring out a con schedule (or lack thereof, sometimes cons are best enjoyed playing things by ear), let’s close this post with basic common sense etiquette pointers that are too often ignored because some people leave their brains and manners at home:

• Always ask a cos-player before taking a picture of them and thank them after the picture.  If the cos-player turns you down, respect their answer and let them be on their way.


• Do not ask for a cos-player’s picture if they’re eating, talking on the phone or in the middle of a photo shoot.


• DO NOT ask for photos or try to do a photo shoot in a crowded hallway or walkway, find a spot away from the crowds.  Not only will the photos turn out better, but those trying to get to a panel or other event will thank you.


• Abide by posted convention rules as well as all public laws, just because you are away from home or are in a costume, that does not give you license to act like an idiot to put it bluntly.


• Respect the con staff, they donate their time and energy to help make the con run smoothly and often work long hours to do what they can to make the con enjoyable for all attendees.

There you have it, some basic pointers on how to get through the convention unscathed for the most part, though you will more than likely be exhausted at the end of it all. The adrenaline and excitement may help you forget about how tired you are, but you’ll definitely feel it once you’re back home or even as you’re leaving the convention.  Once the exhaustion wears off, that’s when the post con blues kick in and that phase of con-going will be covered in the next post.  Till next time!