Getting Ready for DragonCon
Posted By Kathleen David on August 24, 2004
Yep. It is that time of year again. DragonCon countdown. We are starting to get our schedules for this year from the convention. I will be doing a number of panels this year. It looks like Star Wars, and the new costuming and YA tracks. I am going to be in the costume contest this year which is something I haven’t done in over 10 years. A friend needed a warm body for a costume since the previous warm body wrenched their back (not because of the costume). I have to get the baby’s stuff together and make sure I have enough food etc. for her. Fortunately there are grocery stores in Atlanta
A few things I have learned over the years
1)The daily Dragon is your friend. They do try to get as many of the changes in there so you can plan your day
2)Water is very important. It amazes me how dry I get at a Hotel. This is true for just about any convention I go to. They do have water stations set up but a lot of times the larger spaces run out of cups. Bring something to put water in.
3)Comfortable shoes and find a place to sit on occasion (sitting during panels counts)
4)To keep autographs in good condition try a plastic bag and board you would use for a magazine or a stiff portfolio/notebook to put them in. I know one person who had a small binder with sleeves for their photos so they didn’t get bent
5) Always look around an area that you have been sitting before your leave. Have you got all your belongings? I can’t tell you how many autograph pictures and books I have turned into the lost and found over the years. Also put your trash in the proper containers.
6)Eat. Blood Sugar Drops are nasty things
7)Rest. This is suppose to be fun not an Ironman Competition. (OK maybe some of you find Ironman fun to participate in but you know what I mean)
8) If you are going to wear a costume around the convention. Wear it around your house first. Find out what problems you might have before the convention. Finding out that you can
You know, something I’ve always wanted to know. Do you guys get paid for attending all these conventions or do you pay your own way? You attend an awful lot of them, and even though your promoting your self and your work, it seems an expensive endeavor.
It is one of those famous “it depends”. Some conventions we pay for everything and others close to nothing. Some we drive to and others fly. Most conventions will fly us out and give us a hotel room and badges to the convention. Some give a food allowance or feed us (The Italian convention had great food). Sometimes there is a speaking fee involved. We don’t make money really off the conventions but it is a great way to promote our work.
Have fun! I’m so bummed not to be going this year (for the first time in 5 years).
I missed seeing PAD speak last year. This year I don’t get to go… 🙁
It’s just sinking in to me that DragonCon begins next Friday! I’m already getting into geek-out mode.
I also know what you mean by “comfortable shoes,” as this will be my 10th consecutive DragonCon and 12th overall. (I couldn’t make it in 1994.) At this point, it’s like going home again.
I’m fond of the 6-2-1 rule for conventions; each day get at least 6 hours of sleep, 2 meals, and 1 shower. And no, 6 showers, 2 hours of sleep, and 1 meal isn’t a reasonable substitute.
Amen. I’ve had my “list of Stuff That Must Go!” in progress for, well, years; I went to my first DragonCon two years ago, and fortunately I had friends going along who could forewarn me about things like the Shoes Issue.
Alas, every year I get there and think, “I wish I’d used this little empty space here in my bag to pack ___!”
I’m prone to sinusitis, so I’m going to get checked by a doctor at the beginning of the week. I didn’t dare come introduce myself to any of the David Family last year because I didn’t want to risk passing my cold along to a baby’s parents.
Also: Bring extra batteries AND the rechargers for said batteries, enough to swap out everything at once. And film! Lots of film for non-digital cameras! Additional memory chips for digital cameras! Make sure it all fits in a pocket or pouch BEFORE being used, and a different pocket or pouch AFTER being used, because waiting for the elevators to get back up to the room to switch out is a bear.
Hey Peter, do you sell any stuff from your site?I would love to buy something signed by you.
Kathy & Peter:
Glad to see you are getting ready for Dragon Con. Need to touch base with Peter about the Masquerade.
Kathy & Peter:
Glad to see you are getting ready for Dragon Con. Need to touch base with Peter about the Masquerade.