In the spring of 2015, armed with a duffle bag and the wild, adventurous stories of cons past told by my friends, I took the train from Chicago to the suburb of Rosemont, where Anime Central, popularly known as ACEN, was taking place. During college, I had fallen into a group of friends that had shown me that in fact, anime and gaming culture was more than my brother’s Call of Duty nights on Xbox One, or Naruto reruns on Cartoon Network. Anime Central, they said, was the perfect place for a newcomer like me to both have a great time and learn a bit more about the wide world of creativity anime had to offer.

My first ACEN experience was a wild ride of both fun and mistakes, and now I’m giving you the top five things I found out as a con newbie, now prepping for my third con. So before you take your first steps into the venue, check out the top five tips for newcomers:

1. The obvious one, keep your badge stuck to you like glue

Ever heard of “line con”? It’s where you’ll spend about an hour and a half, give or take, if you show up to the first day of a con expecting to buy your badge there. Or if, like me, you paid fifty bucks for it and then left it in your desk because you did all your packing at three in the morning. Your badge is your access to pretty much everything at the con for the weekend, so consider picking up a lanyard to wear (trust me, you won’t want to reach for your wallet every time). And don’t worry, badge lanyards are the height of con fashion.

2. Flat shoes only!

How much walking do you do daily? And how much of that do you do in heels? Now, imagine for a second that for three days, your level of walking is multiplied by three and the only options footwear-wise are wedge heels or barefoot. Yet another consequence of my hasty packing job was a pair of very sore, swollen feet from forgetting my trusty Nike sneakers. My black wedge ankle boots went from being a staple in my wardrobe to the bane of my existence very quickly! Convention centers aren’t exactly small, and depending on how quickly you hop on hotel deals, you might not get one that’s super close to the venue. I recommend one pair of sneakers and maybe one pair of flats if you want to dress it up a bit.

3. Rave responsibly

Most cons, if not all, will have one or two raves that go on at night. Day-Glo clothes or cosplay, the dance floor is open to all. How can you not have fun? This is where we get a little “safety PSA”, but trust me, it’s necessary. My first year at con, I got a little taste of how easy it is to overdo it; I think I counted seven ambulances on the first rave on Friday, and that probably wasn’t even all of them. That’s probably why when a friend of mine attempted to sneak a flask into the rave venue, it didn’t make it past the front door. Con safety doesn’t mess around, and you shouldn’t either when it comes to your well-being! My advice: when drinking, stop at around “buzzed” level, and let yourself coast along there for a bit. This way it’s easy to pace yourself without having to spend the entire next day with your head in a toilet.

4. Get creative!

Cosplay = costume play, the art of making costumes of your favorite anime, video game, comic, or movie characters and rocking them for the weekend at con. My first cosplay wasn’t until my second con, and it consisted of throwing on a red wig with some black clothing already in my wardrobe and calling myself Black Widow. But I got to see my roommate and friends styling their wigs, making garments from scratch, and prepping their makeup for months before the con, and you will be amazed at the creativity you see! That said, whether you choose to go all out or follow in my footsteps and just take it all in your first time, no judgment! Always check out the photoshoots, though, if you want some epic pics of your favorite characters!

5. Don't let the merch eat your wallet

You’ll likely spend a significant portion of your time wandering what’s called the “dealers’ hall,” a place where independent artists and merchants can sell everything from DVDs to handmade steampunk gear to figurines. This is also where I managed to go from having 200 bucks in my wallet to around -20. Believe me, it’s easier than you think, even if you do get some kickass souvenirs out of it. Save your cash and shop around, that lifelike replica of Ned Stark’s sword isn’t going anywhere!

Mistakes can land you in some sticky situations at cons, but they can also serve to better prepare you for events ahead. Through both the highs and lows, you’ll get a glimpse into a world of amazing creativity and community, so take full advantage of the weekend and have fun! My goofs aside, I know I did. In 2017, I’ll be making the trek to Milwaukee for my third con, armed with sneakers, extra bagels and bottled water, and all of the knowledge I gained from that very first ACEN. Maybe I’ll see you there!