The two trips I have made to New
York City Comic Con have easily been two of the best weekends of my life. The
first year I had a regular three-day pass, like many of you probably do, and
the second year I scored a press pass, which granted me some special perks
(meeting three of the Mythbusters? Yes please!). Anyway, I am currently on the
other side of the globe, and will therefore not be able to come this year.
However, that won’t stop me from writing this little collection of tips that I
definitely could have used my first year. I hope that they prove helpful to
some of you!
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| Proof: I'm obviously the one with the fantastic beard. |
1. BYOB – Bring Your Own Bag: There is
no assurance that you will be able to snag a swag bag once you get to the
Javits Center, either for free or purchase, because several thousand people
will probably be looking for one too. Bringing your own bag also allows you to
match your costume. Going as Han Solo? Nothing wrong with a Chewbacca or
Millennium Falcon backpack (look here and here). A Hogwarts student? You can
bring something in your house colors rather than shoving everything into a
bright orange shopping bag. Also, bringing your own bag gives you the chance to
pick one with maximum comfort. If you plan on carrying any bag around for an
entire day, it probably shouldn’t cut off your circulation.
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| They all need bags too. |
2. Pull a Mary Poppins: Inside
that bag, it’s a very, very good idea to have a collection of “emergency”
supplies.
- Reusable Water
Bottle – this is probably the most important thing you can bring. Water is
disgustingly expensive anywhere in NYC, but especially in the Javits Center
(although, no restaurant can deny you free tap water if you request it). The
tap and water fountain/bubbler (for you New Englanders) water in the city is
far from disgusting, however. New York City has some of the tastiest and safest
tap water in the country. Once you finish the water you have, fill up your
bottle again in any bathroom sink, and you’ll be good to go.
- Snacks – I’m
not talking chips and cookies. Bring stuff that will fill your stamina meter:
nuts, granola bars, dried fruit, dark chocolate. And bring enough to share.
It’s a great way to make—or keep—friends.
- First Aid –
My first year at NYCC, I had a horrible sinus infection, and therefore brought
a boatload of painkillers (ibuprofen and acetaminophen). I ended up
distributing quite a few to my companions, who were suffering from sore feet
and headaches. Also, foot bandages and antibiotic cream. One out of one people
at NYCC will get blisters. Be prepared.
- Chap stick –
Trust me.
- Ear plugs –
Once again, trust me.
- Sewing kit –
This one is most necessary if you plan on wearing a costume, especially a
homemade one. You never know what get tugged, stepped on, pulled, or somehow
maimed.
- Sturdy folders –
These are really good if you plan on purchasing any artwork, prints, or
autographs. Paper objects can get bent and mangled pretty quickly, so it’s best
to protect them if they’re precious.
3. Costume Considerations: So, you’ve
made a costume this year. Good for you, that’s awesome. But is it awesome
enough to spend 8 hours in? When designing a costume, remember that conventions
are hot, sweaty, crowded places. Masks, hats, and tight clothing can be your
worst enemies in such circumstances. Think also about shoes. This might be the
most important consideration for your own comfort. There’s nothing worse than
trekking across the Javits Center and NYC back to your hotel or apartment,
pulling off your shoes, and being greeted by bloody toes. Also, costume
considerations don’t apply just to yourself. Consider the effects of too large
or too small of a costume on other con attendees…and their children.
4. Rendezvous Point: This is for
if you’re attending with friends. You probably won’t all want to attend the
same panels, so chances are you’ll split up. Pick a time to meet back up at a
pre-selected spot, preferably in a less crowded part of the center. My friends
and I had a very convenient spot by a less-frequented bathroom. Mobile phones
rarely work in the Javits Center, and the WiFi is mad expensive, so preemptive
communication is key.
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| They're all looking for their friends too. |
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5. The Living City – New
York: NYC is an entity unto itself. And you will have to spend some time
in its veins or bowels no matter what…okay, dropping that metaphor. Outside
the convention bubble, the rules are very different. People are often less
trustworthy and less friendly. If this is your first or second visit to the
Big Apple, it wouldn’t hurt to brush up on how the subway system works –
taxis are too expensive. Try to avoid big tourist traps if you need to get
somewhere quickly: Times Square, Rockefeller Plaza, any Starbucks. Also,
remember that the weather in October is highly changeable. Don’t sacrifice a
coat. The Javits Center has a coat check that costs $3 per article, which
might be the best money I spent at NYCC my first year, when the temperature
dropped into the forties at night. You don’t want to be caught in only a
Slave-Leia bikini in that kind of weather.
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6. Manage your dough: It’s a good
idea to bring a set amount of cash to spend each day, in addition to a card.
Limiting your cash will help to keep you from overspending, which is very easy
given the amount of vendors and cool stuff. A strategy that has worked for me
has been to walk around the entire floor, taking a mental inventory of what I
would like. Anything limited edition, I snag immediately. Everything else can
wait. Vendors often lower their prices on Sunday. Also, remember that NYC is
expensive if you eat mainstream. However, once you get off the tourist streets,
you can find $1 pizza places and mom&pop delis that have excellent food for
very affordable prices (I mean, $1 for a slice of pizza? Yes please!).
7. Explore the Floor: The Jacob
Javits Center is massive. MASSIVE. There are two exhibition halls, an artists’
alley, and an autograph hall, in addition to the panel rooms. Don’t stay in one
place for the whole weekend! You’ll start to notice that a lot of big stalls
have all the same merchandise, so browse the tables of small artists and comic
writers. There is so much talent, you’ll want to buy everything.
8. Celebrities are People Too!: There are
a lot of famous people at NYCC. And chances are that you’ll probably meet a few
of them. It is very difficult not to fangirl/boy over the first two or three
that you meet. But after that, as hard as it is, play it cool. If you keep your
calm and say something meaningful to them, they might say something meaningful
back. They hear a lot of people tell them how much they enjoyed their work, or
how much they looooooove them, so they dole out a lot of “thank you”s and such.
It’s nice to get back a non-generic response, and I’m sure it’s nice for them
to hear something different.
- Story Time – At last year’s NYCC, I had the great pleasure
of meeting Max Brooks, author of World War Z, and son of Mel Brooks, one
of the greatest comic directors of all time. When it was my turn to get my
autograph, I told him how my father was a big fan of him, but especially of his
dad. He gave me a big smile, and said: “Well, I wish that both our dads were
here, because I know mine would be very flattered to hear that.” Just a little
comment, I know, but when I called my father later, it made his day, and that
in turn made mine.
9. People are People Too!: - Celebs are
not the only people at NYCC who deserve your respect. Everyone else, all
119,999 of them, deserves it too. Pay attention to wear lines begin and end,
and try not to cut in front of people. Everyone else has the same right to be
in that line as you. Don’t be greedy when collecting free swag. Just because
it’s free doesn’t mean it’s unlimited. Don’t judge other people for their
costume choices. We’re all geeks here. Having a deluxe handmade cosplay
versus a store-bought costume versus something you obviously put together the
night before…everyone’s trying to have fun. Wearing a costume can give you a
mask of bravado, but it can also make you particularly vulnerable to
criticism and mockery. Race, weight, and gender are often subjects of cruel
remarks. Don’t say anything to anyone that you wouldn’t say to your
mom/sister/brother/best friend/priest/rabbi…you get the idea. Also, remember
that Sunday is Kid’s Day, so it might not be the best day to break out your
Pennywise the Child-Eating Clown costume.
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Seriously, would you mess with Rick and Daryl just because they're standing in line for the ladies' room? No, you wouldn't.
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10. Plan Ahead: Plan
ahead, but be flexible. Look through the website and try to figure out what
panels you would like to try and attend. Make a list with your first and
second choices for different time slots. Keep in mind that the “big” panels
(i.e. anything involving The Walking Dead) fill up hours and hours and
hours in advance. Others might fill up one to two hours ahead, while with
others still you would be safe strolling in half an hour before. Don’t let
missing your top choice panel break your heart, because you never know what
adventure you’ll have instead.
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| A typical small panel. Bonus: can you find Waldo? |
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11. Pro Tips: Okay, I
know this is kind of cheating, but here are some important points that I
wanted to let stand out a bit.
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- Water bottle
– you want to be the only one that’s sweating. If you have a very cold water
bottle, it will start to gather condensation in your bag, which can wreak havoc
on any papers, cameras, or delicate objects. Room temp is the way to go.
- Publisher’s
Alley – hit them up for tons of free books. Just remember you’ll have to
carry them around after that.
- Small panels –
at a lot of small panels, you can chat with the speakers afterwards. Some,
especially with authors, will have scheduled autograph sessions following the
panels.
- Autographs and
Photographs – meeting your favorite stars can be very tempting, but it
often comes with a high price tag. Photo-ops give you no time to chat – it
moves like an emotionless machine. Autograph lines are a little better, but
still just as expensive. Look around the website to find free autographing
sessions. Just remember to get in line early.
- App – If you
have a smart phone or tablet, download the NYCC app beforehand and set up a
schedule for yourself. You might not have WiFi in the Javits Center, but the
app will help you keep track of panels and such.
- Cards –
Collect business cards from artists and vendors. If you see something you like
but can’t carry or afford, many of them have online stores or means of
contact. A creative way to store business cards is to hole punch them and
string them along a ball chain or ribbon.
- Just Ask – If
you really like someone’s costume, ask them if you can take a picture.
Almost everyone will say yes. Just be considerate – some people in amazing
costumes can’t make it five feet without someone bugging them for a photo.
- The Best
Sandwich in the World – Okay, this is super subjective, but I’ll tell you
guys anyway. In the far back right corner of the Javits Center food court, my
friends and I found a counter making sandwiches. They were a decent price for
convention center food (around $5), and man, were they tasty. My personal
favorite was banana, honey, peanut butter, and BACON. If you’re vegetarian,
tell them to hold the bacon, and it will still be just as good.
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| Can you resist this? |
12. Have fun!: I know this
is an obvious one, but there will be points where you have to remind yourself
(for example, if you miss that panel). Talk to the other attendees. You all
have things in common, on that you can be certain, and it will help queues to
be less tedious. Take photos to show to your friends and family. And buy gifts
and collect autographs for people. Getting my friend’s favorite author’s
autograph ended up being one of the highlights of my weekend last year. Bring
the fun back home with you, and maybe you’ll have a new companion to go with
the following year.
I know this was a super long
post, but I really hope that it proves helpful to some of you! Live long and
prosper, may the force be with you, and try not to get hit by a taxi.
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| Form friendships as solid and long-lasting as carbonite. |
