For anime fans across the country, summer doesn't just mean vacation and no school, but it also means convention season is here. Anime conventions are for nerds to gather and share their common interest with other people. Going to an anime convention can be overwhelming for first timers, so here are some tips I think will be helpful before venturing into the world of nerdiness.
Know which convention you want to attend. Depending on where you live, there are many anime conventions of different sizes. There are small conventions that can take place in local libraries or schools. These types of conventions have a very relaxing atmosphere and are good for people who are uncomfortable in large crowds.
On the other hand, there are larger conventions such as Anime Expo in Los Angeles. These type of conventions are usually held in large convention centers and have an extremely fast-paced atmosphere. It can be very intimidating for first-time attendees but still very fun on a large scale.
Don't get too overwhelmed. For first time con-goers, it's easy to drown in all of the excitement of attending your first convention. But planning ahead of time can really ease the feeling of being overwhelmed. Don't feel pressured to cosplay or dress in a certain way. The point of the convention is to have fun, not stress over unnecessary things. Whether you choose to cosplay or not is completely your choice, but feel free to just dress casual and comfortable.
Wear sneakers or comfortable shoes. You will definitely be on your feet for a long time so make sure you wear shoes that you're comfortable wearing. If your cosplay requires you to wear heels or uncomfortable shoes, bring comfortable shoes to switch out.
Plan your day ahead of time. Most conventions will upload a PDF of the event schedule on their website before the day of the convention.
There are so many things to do, such as attending panels, autograph signings, cosplay gatherings, and my personal favorite, the artist alley. But it's impossible to attend every event, even when you're attending for multiple days. Choose the events you really want to attend but also set aside enough time for you to walk around and explore the convention.
From my experience of attending different anime conventions, big and small, there is one thing you should expect. That is you will be spending a lot of money. You will most likely spend a lot of money, even when you didn't plan to. So save up money in advance. You will need money for food, transportation, artwork from artist alley, fandom merchandise, and a lot more expenses. Anime conventions can be very fun but it's not cheap. Trust me, there were times where I told myself I wouldn't spend a lot of money and then went broke by buying posters and buttons.
Stay hydrated and remember to eat. The excitement can cloud your mind to the point where you might forget to drink or eat something. Carry a bottle of water around with you, especially when attending a convention during the summer. From all the walking and the heat from the crowd of people, it is very common for people to pass out from dehydration. I know everything can be so exciting and you don't want to miss anything, but make sure you set time aside to sit down and eat something.
These were some of my tips on surviving an anime convention. Hopefully, you will find these tips useful to have a great and safe convention.
