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Otakon Survival Guide

Postby Razgriez on Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:01 am
So I was thinking, with Otakon officially 1 month away, figure you guys might want to have an Otakon Survival guide for new con goers, with ideas collected from the listeners and you guys.

So I'll start off

Money related
-Bring plenty of money! It is very easy to burn through at least $100 at the con. I suggest you bring at least $120 in cash at bare minimum, and maybe even $150 -200+. The easiest suggestion, is think what your planning to do most of the time also: Are you planning to spend most of it playing games at the videogame hall? Or checking out animes and various guest panels, or are you going to be hanging out at the Dealers room (it's very easy to start creating a list of "oh cool! I want that" and watch it soon become your Con Shopping list)

-Make note, I said bring CASH. As Otakorp staff, and veteran con goers will tell you, within hours of the con, if not by that Thursday, Con goers start picking the ATMs around the inner Harbor area clean with so many withdrawls. Not only that, but most of the dealer rooms stores accept cash only, since they lack the ability to set up full shop there, let alone to bring a secure way of holding Customers credit card information, so for the sake of safety (and to avoid being sued) of the customer's finances, they accept cash only.

-However, both Arimark, which provides food service for the convention center, as well as places outside the convention center, will accept cash or credit

-remember keep an eye out on your money at all times, and keep track of how much you spend: last year, between Otakon, and a vacation the previous weekend to Williamsburg Virginia, I was a little heavy on my bank card, and at Otakon, a simple 3 dollar bottle of mt Dew cost me a $72 Overdraft fee the next week (luckily it was waved latter on)

Photography
-Bring a camera if you can, your going to see alot of cool things at Otakon, and probably going to want to snap a few pictures

-If you want to snap someone's picture, and you don't know them, (This applies even to Cosplayers) ALWAYS ask for their permission first. Yes, even inside the convention center, there are just some that draw lots of attention, many would prefer that the intention was innocent as "Wow! That's an awesome costume!" or the like.

Safety;

-Unfortunetly, a Convention which draws crowds of 20,000+ to a city that is also handling the normal tourist crowd visiting the inner harbor/Camden yards area to see the Bay, or Aquarium or Science center, or just watching a baseball game, also draws a few bad apples as well.

-Beware of Scams. Otakon has seen and had to handle them before: including but not limited to:
-a group of Anarchists that constantly tries to sell their magazines in and around the convention (Their not allowed to, only those approved by the City, BCC, or Otakorp may sell stuff)
- a guy who went about, wearing ACU (Digital Camo) claiming to be a Marine home from the Middle East, who needed money, and that he was friends with Fred "Piro" Gallergher of MegaTokyo, and that you should go talk to him for reimbursement. Fred soon proved this notion false, and the scammer was escorted out soon after
-be wary of those walking around the convention center on Friday, trying to sell you con tickets, especially if their at a "Discounted" price

-That said, Don't worry, the street vendors selling Soda, Water, and occasionally Gatorade or Powerade are safe, their allowed to do so. And let's just admit it, buying 2 or 3 water bottles at dollar each (and some of these guys even offer special deals of 2 for 3) is not at all a bad idea, and one you'll probably be thankful for latter in the day

-As the above should hint at, this one isn't a crime related safety issue, but, remember, Baltimore City is often like any other city in the summer: HOT and on occasion: humid. You can and WILL get dehydrated if you don't have any, even inside the Con center (Don't worry the A/C can handle it reasonably well, and it's often 10-20 degree's cooler inside). Also consider summer gear as need be if you're going to be outside (*cough*conpasspickup*cough*) for along time. Such as Shades (or your transitional lenses/clip ons if you wear Prescription). also, take it from a guy who's waited for 2 hrs in the con line to buy a pass: it's very easy to get a tan (even if your the kind where this is one of the rare times you leave your basement) while waiting outside. so try moving or shifting a little bit during lulls in line movement to get the sun to beat on a different part of your body.

-Baltimore City is also like other city's in another area, crime. Always travel outside the convention center as part of a group. Fellow Convention goers tend to look after their own and will help protect you in most cases.

=Survival: Food and drink
-Remember how I stated you might want to buy or bring a couple bottles of water? Well, heres a nice little trick to pick up on, save at least 1 or 2 of them, scattered all over the center are Water Fountains, and fill empty bottles up using them. Refill as necessary.

-While expensive, and overpriced in some cases, Arimark handles the convention centers food services. and Otakorp has worked with them to also offer foods that con goers may like. The food's decent, and you can always get a small personal pizza for a lunch or dinner at the center, and a soda. They also sell Pocky at about 3-5 dollars a box. There's also plenty of restaurants of all sorts around the Convention center area.

A few more tips:

One cheap way to have food at Otakon is to make ramen using the coffee pot in the hotel room. You can also make hot dogs this way.

I've actually survived a day at Otakon last year with just $30 for food and the dealer's room. Things tend to be cheaper on Sunday.

For standing in line on Thursday: It's best to go with a group of people so you can walk around, use the bathroom and get food and not lose your place in line. Also take umbrellas for shade and in case it rains. It's also a good idea to take a blanket or chairs to sit on.