Has everyone bought their tickets to Wizard World Philadelphia yet? Have we out-of-towners reserved our hotel rooms? Great! This year’s Philly Con will feature huge guests such as Michael J. Fox, Norman Reedus, Stephen Amell, Christopher Lloyd, and the biggest Marvel lineup since San Diego Comic Con: Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Hayley Atwell, Dominic Cooper, and Stanley Tucci! To say that we are so excited is an understatement, but before we get too excited, it’s important for everyone, including newbies, to have an essential guideline to surviving your first con.
Plan and strategize.
Your first con will be extremely overwhelming. Between the exhibitors, the panels, and the celebrity guests, you may find yourself running around the show floor like a chicken without a head. To avoid this, it’s best to plan and strategize ahead of the con, if possible. The con will always have its show floor hours, panel schedules, and photo op times on their site, but if you can’t get to a computer, don’t worry. Just use your mobile browser or download the con’s app, if available, to get their complete schedule, the show floor map, and any last minute updates.
Pack essentials.
Whether you buy single or four day admission, chances are you will be spending your entire day at the con, which is why you should pack essentials like water, snacks, chargers, etc. We learned this lesson the hard way during our first con a few years back. Not only did we not pack any of the above mentioned things, at the end of each con day, we were so dehydrated and hungry, our mouths felt like we had just walked through the desert. I think on the last day we made a dash for 7-Eleven and stuffed our faces with Funyuns and Arizona Lemon Lime Rickey, which tasted more terrible than it sounds. True story.
Carry cash with you.
It’s good to carry cash on you even if you have a debit/credit card because you never know when the situation will call for it at the con. Food booths will always accept debit or credit, but not all exhibitors will. We overheard one exhibitor tell a customer “cash only.” Having cash on your person also saves you from having to stand in line to use the ATM. Time better spent engaging in memorable con activities or waiting in line for something you actually want to do.
Wear comfortable shoes.
Like we said, you’ll probably spend your entire day at the con, which means you’ll spend hours standing and walking on the show floor, which can be murder on your feet. As cool as Converse are, they are not made for standing for long periods of time. Invest in super comfy shoes or sneakers like Skechers with built-in memory foam. They don’t have to be expensive or attractive. They just need to provide support and comfort for your feet. You could also sit on the floor (preferably on a blanket), carry a lightweight chair, or bring a sleeping bag and catch some Zs like the folks pictured above.
Keep yourself entertained.
Waiting in line for hours at the con can seem like an eternity, especially when you’re alone. Besides being patient, you should keep yourself entertained at all times to better and quicker pass the time. You can only stare at the crowd in front of you for so long before you get restless and bored. Listen to some tunes, binge watch the new season of House of Cards, bring reading material, or strike up a conversation with someone else on line. Better yet, attend the con with your bestie/besties in tow!
Be courteous and respectful.
Unfortunately, not everyone at the con will be filled with sunshine and rainbows like you. While it may not be a big deal to some, rudeness can make or break the con experience for newbies. Even staff members can be rude! If that happens, try not to let it affect you. You have just as much right to enjoy the con as they do. If their behavior persists or worsens, report them so they can get the message once and for all: Rudeness has no place at the con.
Have fun!
After you’ve followed the above guidelines, go on and have a blast! You’ve earned it and you most certainly deserve it! Instead of rushing to get from point A to point B, take your time and savor every bit of the con as you possibly can. Take the time to readjust your plans if lines take longer than normal. Snap lots of pictures, get as many collectibles/souvenirs as you can, and flash those pearly whites during your photo-ops! If you’re feeling really bold, you could always cosplay!
All righty then! Now that we’ve laid out some helpful tips, be sure to follow TV After Dark on Twitter for live Philly Con updates from cosplayers to panels and maybe even some surprise guests!
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