Every time I go go a con, I seem to come out of it thinking, “next year…”  This is my second time putting those thoughts to writing.  Here are the seven things I learned to better prepare for Denver Comic Con next year.

1. Shoes matter – There is a lot of walking at any con, but with the addition of the walk around the building to get inside the con this year good footwear was a must. Before any con, go for a mile walk in the footwear you are planning and adjust with insoles as necessary.
2. Plan ahead– Friday or Sunday are the best for walking around the exhibition hall. If you try on Saturday, you will have a tough time moving. Saturday is great for cosplay. Take a minute to sit and people watch. There are so many amazing costumes. Each day, pick one or two “must do” things and spend time making sure they happen, then let the chips fall where they may. It’s impossible to try to do it all.
3. Bring food – In the con, food is pretty pricey; try a bag of chips and an apple juice for eight dollars. Pack a picnic for far less. It isn’t super fun to carry food around until lunch ,until you look at paying seven dollars for a hotdog. Choices in the con are really limited. Let’s just say by the third day all I wanted was a piece of fruit or a vegetable. Either that or take a break from con life to go eat at one of the establishments outside the con. It can be super fun to get looks from people that have no idea a con is happening nearby.
4. Line entertainment – Let’s face it, lines are going to happen. That doesn’t mean they have to suck up your fun. A group of very prepared girls brought cards, simple to carry, lots of fun. Bless their hearts, they taught our daughter Go Fish. That line was one of her best memories of DCC.
5. Things change – Just because there is a rule on Friday doesn’t mean it will be a rule on Saturday. At least with Denver Comic Con, things adjusted. You could bring fake looking guns on Friday, but not on Saturday. Sometimes we had to show or badges, sometimes we didn’t. Alcohol was allowed in the exhibition area on Friday, but it had to stay in the Beer garden Saturday. The doors didn’t open on Saturday until ten exactly, but on Sunday they let people in before the opening time to help avoid the line issues from Saturday. Some changes, like letting people in early, made things better. Some changes, like the confusion around weapons, were frustrating. Some changes, like the badges, were perplexing. Still, being flexible is a must. Things change, things get frustrating, things are confusing; don’t let frustrating, confusing changes ruin your con experience. It’s always easy to focus on the bad, but if one stops for a second to think, the good always tips the scales from the bad.
6. Stay hydrated – It’s easy to get caught up with all the flashiness of geek culture, but don’t forget to drink water. This is especially important if you are in a hot costume or find yourself standing in the sun in line for an hour and forty five minutes. Ward off swelling and headaches and dizziness with some H2O. Stopping to chug some of this elixir of life will definitely make your con experience more enjoyable…just ask my very swollen feet or my friend’s throbbing head.
7. Bring Bag – If at all possible, incorporate a bag or backpack or gun holster into your cosplay. It will give you a place to hold your cards, sandwiches and water. You might want to throw in some wet wipes, hand sanitizer and chapstick while you are at it.