What to take to a convention?

[Kobuk]

EDIT:  This thread to be heavily revised in late 2013.


What to take to a convention.

So you’re all set to go to your first furry convention…….or your second……..or even your hundreth. But are you REALLY sure you’ve got everything you need? Maybe you do and maybe you don’t. But if you don’t, then let me step in and give you some help on what you may need to take to a con as well as some other helpful advice. As I list a bunch of items that you may or may not need, I want to let you know that taking any of these items is OPTIONAL only. You don’t have to if you don’t want to. What to take and how much to take is your decision only. Also, whether you buy some of this stuff before you go to a con or after you get to the con is up to you. There will probably be convenience stores, Wal-Mart, or some other places where you can pick up a lot of this stuff. In order to keep this thread somewhat short, I may or may not make a few comments on some items that are important. If I don’t make any comments, then I’ll leave other people to chip in with any thoughts that they have.

TOILETRIES AND MEDICINES:
* Toothbrush and toothpaste
* Mouthwash and Dental Floss
* Combs
* Bar of soap
* Shampoo
* Shaver/Razor
* Hair Dryer
* Deodorant/Cologne – Very important if you’re a fursuiter!
* Prescription medicines – Very Important if you have any serious illnesses! Make sure you talk to your doctor and stock up!
* Think you might be sick? Then take along some cough drops, Nyquil, Dayquil, Pepto Bismol, Antacids, Aspirin, etc. Don’t give the rest of the attendees con crud! >.<
* Towels/Washcloths. Sometimes, the hotels never have enough. Or the maid service might not be at your room at a certain time to restock. Never hurts to bring an extra towel.
* Extra pair of eyeglasses, contact lenses, extra contact lens cleaning solution, etc.

CLOTHES
Depending on where the con is located and the weather they may have, make sure you dress appropriately. Check the local and national weather reports if you can. http://www.weather.com/
* Jeans
* Short sleeve shirts
* Long sleeve shirts
* Shoes – Make sure you take a pair that will be very comfortable. There can be lots of walking involved at a con.
* Socks
* Undergarments
* Shorts
* Swimwear – You never know if there’s a pool around.
* Light or heavyweight jackets
* Sweaters
* Raincoat
* Never hurts to take a slightly more formal change of clothes along in case you go out to dinner someplace nice with friends.

SLEEPING BAG / AIR MATTRESS
Not enough bed space in the room? Afraid you’ll have to sleep in the bathroom tub? Make sure you sleep comfortably if you have to sleep on the floor.
* Extra blankets
* Extra pillows
* Don’t forget an air pump too if using an air mattress!

RADIO / WALKMAN
Never hurts to have some decent party music to listen to for the room party or for when you buy any CD’s in the Dealer’s Den. Just remember to keep the noise at a respectable level. You also might want to think about some earplugs. If someone in the room is snoring too loudly or if the music is too loud while you’re trying to sleep, then earplugs will come in handy.

FOOD / SNACKS
Don’t feel like eating at the hotel or other restaurants due to high prices? Then maybe you might want to consider bringing a cooler with snacks, lunchmeats, drinks, etc. for yourself and also sharing with your other roommates. Things to consider/bring:
* Ice/Cold packs to keep things cold in the cooler. Though most of the time, you can get ice from the hotel if they have an ice machine there.
* Cans of soda or fruit juices.
* Potato chips, cookies, lunch meats, fruit, Single serve size Jello or pudding cups or other items, trail mix, granola bars, beef jerky, raisins, etc.
* Look for “All you can eat!” buffets at restaurants or other special "meal deals" that might help you save a buck or two.
* Paper plates, napkins, paper towels, disposable plastic cups, disposable plastic forks, knives, and spoons.
* If you don’t want to bring your own stuff, you can also do grocery shopping after you get to the con.
* It’s easier to buy small packets of mayo, ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, etc. than it is to buy and travel with large bottles of the stuff. Next time you go to a fast food place, just grab an extra handful of those small packets to take with you.
* Try not to bring too much stuff that is perishable and will easily spoil if it needs refrigeration. This is especially true of any dairy products such as milk, cheese, etc.
* Garbage bags. Don’t forget to clean up your mess!
Also check this thread here for helpful tips:
http://forums.furtopia.org/index.php/topic,32049.0.html

LOCK BOX
Carrying any valuable items with you or large amounts of cash? Then consider having a small lock box with you to safely and securely lock those items up. Or sometimes the hotel rooms might have small safes in the rooms (Westin at AC) to lock stuff up or you can take your valuables to the front desk and they will store them for you if the hotel has a large safe room.

FLASHLIGHT
You never know when the power will go out or when you need to look for something in the dark or if you have to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.

CELLPHONE
You never know when you might need to contact someone or someone wants to contact you.

EXTENSION CORDS/POWER STRIPS/BATTERIES
Thinking of bringing a computer or other electronic devices along? Then don’t forget these extra items in case your comp cord or other device cord doesn’t reach all the way to the nearest wall outlet. If any sort of electronic devices take batteries, then make sure you stock up or at least charge up the power packs/batteries of those items before you go.

MASKING TAPE & MARKING PEN & LABLES
You never know when you might have to price something in the Dealer’s Den if you’re a dealer, or you want to put your name on your items in your hotel room so that nothing gets lost or stolen. This is especially true of sketchbooks. I’ve heard too many horror stories of people losing sketchbooks at cons.

WANT & NEEDS LIST
Need something at a con? Can’t remember where something is? Forgot a person’s contact info.? Make sure you write it down! Always carry a small notepad and pen with you in case there’s something important you need to write.

DRIVER’S LICENSE AND EMERGENCY CONTACT INFO.
Always keep your ID with you at all times. If possible, try to bring along a secondary form of ID too. Also keep your passport with you at all times if you are from another country. If you get into any sort of medical or other trouble, make sure there is contact info. in your wallet so your family and/or authorities can contact the right people to help in whatever way possible. Might also be a good idea to give the hotel addy, con website info., room number, and any important phone numbers to your parents/relatives in case they need to contact you in an emergency and vice versa.

CAMERA
Telling people about your adventures just isn’t that good unless you have some pics to go along with your story.
* Camera
* Carrying case
* Tripod
* Extra film, memory sticks, batteries, etc.

WATCH/ALARM CLOCK
Sounds obvious, but you won’t know when something starts without one. May also want to bring an alarm clock too in case you need to get up in the morning at a particular time to go to an event or catch something else.

OTHER HELPFUL ADVICE:
If your home will be empty while you’re away, ask the Post Office to hold your mail and ask your relatives to check on the pets and water the plants.

Check under the bed before you leave the con to go back home. The monsters that live there love to eat books, socks, etc.

Take advantage of pre-con registration and early hotel room registration. The earlier you register, the cheaper the prices will be. Just be sure to bring along any paperwork or other proof of your registrations. Con and/or hotel staff can sometimes lose stuff or computers may crash and records can get lost.

Budget your time as well as your money. You can’t see everyone and do everything, so don’t kill yourself trying. (Too bad I can’t seem to follow this rule myself.)
Also, follow the 6/2/1 con rule: At least 6 hours of sleep, 2 meals a day, and 1 shower (More if you’re a fursuiter.) REMEMBER: Soap and water are your friends!

Illness can spread quickly throughout a con. When this happens, it’s known as con crud. If you’re feeling sick before a con, then DON’T GO! And if you still insist on going, then take plenty of medications along with you.

Be careful what you take to a con and also how much, and also how much you bring back from a con. Airlines, buses, and trains are implementing tighter restrictions on baggage amounts, sizes, and weights for checked luggage and carry-ons. Check with individual carriers first about what is and isn’t allowed.

If you’re driving to a con, make sure your vehicle is in good condition and properly maintained at least two weeks before the con. If your car needs servicing, then get it done early. Don’t wait till the last minute. Don’t know how to change the oil or fix a flat tire? Better start learning. You never know when an emergency might happen. Keep maps, extra gas can, and some tools in the car when you need them.

If you’re flying, taking a bus, or taking a train to a con, then keep your tickets in a safe location. Don’t lose them!

If you’re printing up flyers for other events, please make sure you have the following on them: Who is organizing it or sponsoring it?, What is the event about?, Where is the event located?, When is the event happening? The more info. you have on the flyer, the better informed the public will be and they can come to your event.

If you want people to remember who you are and to contact you, try making out some small business cards to hand out with your name, email, and/or LJ info. on them.

MONEY ISSUES:
I don’t know that much about money issues when traveling to a con, but I’ll offer what I can. If someone has more info. about using credit/debit cards, traveler’s checks, etc., then those people can offer more advice.
* Don’t bring a lot of money to the con. Only take what you need. If you need more, then seek out an ATM. But remember, ATM’s charge a fee if the ATM is not part of your banking system and you’re from out of state.
* Keep your wallet and/or checkbook in your front pants pocket where thieves can’t get at it.
* Don’t bring or use a lot of large bills ($20’s or over). A lot of dealers won’t be able to break large bills and/or carry change. If however, you are a dealer, be sure you do have plenty of change before the Dealer’s room opens.
* If you lose your credit/debit card, then report it IMMEDIATELY to your banking institution! Don’t wait until you get home!

As soon as you set foot into the convention, you are an ambassador for your fandom and a newbie’s first impression will come from you, your behavior, and your personality. The same goes for the regular hotel guests that have no clue what furry is all about and are not involved in the con. Please try to make everyone feel welcome.

If you need help with anything at the con, then please see the hotel staff, the con staff, and the security staff. They are there to help you and make sure you have a fun time. If you see anything bad happening at the con, then please report that to the con staff so they can take care of that and correct any issues to make the con more enjoyable.

And this is something from Santa Fox’s LJ I’d like to add: “No matter how big a problem at a convention may feel to you, always remember that in less than sixty short hours it won't matter at all, for in just the blink of an eye the con will be over. Relax and enjoy those precious minutes while you can, and save your worrying for when you go back to work the next week." In other words, Don’t worry, Be happy, and above all, Have fun!

FURSUITING AT CONS
Going to be suiting at the con? Here’s a few things to think about.
* Either bring with you or buy later plenty of water and/or Gatorade. Granted, there will be a headless lounge with these items already there. But when you get back to your room, will you have the water you need? You may be thirsty again when you get back to your room.
* Bring along a fan if possible to dry your fursuit parts in your room.
* Some airlines and other transportation carriers won’t allow aerosol cans packed with luggage, so check first before buying and taking along any End-Bac or other disinfectants for your fursuit. If possible, try to buy them at the con at the nearest Wal-Mart, Target, or other store.
* Sewing kit. If a rip, tear, etc. happens to your suit, then what are you going to do? Best to take along a small container with various colors of thread, glue gun, glue stix, needles, pins, tape, and any other items necessary for repairing your suit. Might also be handy to take along some small scraps of fur that you have leftover from building your suit too. May also want to check this thread too on packing a fursuit maintenance kit when going to a con:
http://forums.furtopia.org/index.php/topic,31805.0.html
* Traveling to a con with suit, see this link:
http://forums.furtopia.org/index.php/topic,26939.0.html

Well, that's all I can think of at the moment for this list/guidelines. For those that have been to more cons and have more experience than me, please chip in with any extra info. you may have. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[Corbenik]

This is very good information.  I'll be sure to use this as a type of check list before I go to FC2008.

[Mazin]

That's a very good list, Kobuk. I'd like to add a few things I learned from attending RF:

- Bring items that can serve multiple purposes. For example, a backpack is an excellent way to keep a lot of stuff on you, such as extra clothes, sketchbooks, art, sandwiches, water, etc. so you don't have to keep on going back to your room/car to get things, and it can serve as a makeshift pillow if you're sleeping on the floor for the night.

- Drug stores often have a section for trial-size goods such as deodorant, soap, and other toiletries. Most cons are only three days long, so there's no sense in bringing full-size stuff. Smaller items are easier to take with you, and it's no big deal if you lose them.

- Bring a sketchbook with you! Even if you're not an artist yourself, sketchbooks are nice and stiff and will help protect any art prints you buy in the dealers' den. And who knows? Maybe you'll make friends with someone who *is* an artist and they'll want to give you a little sketch. '>

- Look up places to eat *before* you go. You need to eat, and the hotel's restaurant will probably be quite expensive, so scope out your options ahead of time. It might turn out that the hotel's in the middle of nowhere and the only place within walking distance is Denny's or something, so check out places that deliver, too (and make sure the hotel's not too far away for delivery). Keep in mind that people of all beliefs, customs and tastes come to conventions, so try to find places that have vegan/vegetarian/kosher/halal options as well. Google maps is a very handy tool for this sort of thing, along with the websites for the convention and the city it's held in.

Basically, travel light since you're likely going to be far away from home, and try to prepare yourself to be flexible. Having a plan is a good thing, because it saves you from aimlessly walking around the convention halls without anything to do, but don't expect to follow your plan to the letter. Event schedules can change at the last minute, and if you're going there alone (like I did), what you actually end up doing will depend on who you meet and hang out with at the con. Above all, it's a chance to have fun and do things a little differently, so expect the unexpected, as they say.

[Kobuk]

Those are some good points, Mazin. '> Thanks. I'd like to add a few more if I can. '>

Quote

- Drug stores often have a section for trial-size goods such as deodorant, soap, and other toiletries. Most cons are only three days long, so there's no sense in bringing full-size stuff. Smaller items are easier to take with you, and it's no big deal if you lose them.

If you don't plan on buying stuff when you get to the con but rather take a bunch of stuff with you in your luggage, please read the individual airline carrier guidelines carefully about what you can and can't take for aerosols, liquids, and other products in your luggage and especially your carry-on bag. Carry-ons are limited to ONE small ziploc bag that you can put 3 oz. containers of liquids or other products in. For specific rules, please see the following link: http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm
Also be sure to check the full Transportation Security Administration website for further travel details located here: http://www.tsa.gov/
Also check with train and bus services too as they may have different policies. '>

I'm not sure how accurate this is, but I have heard a few stories in past years about hotels not allowing guests to bring their own food and beverages into the hotel/rooms. Does anyone have any information or details about this? If this is the case with any hotel, best advice is to always ask first and check what the hotel's policies are.

If anyone has further information and tips that they can give to the MONEY section listed above, that would be really great as that section needs a bit more improvement. Thanks. '>

[Sheeta]

Also, if you plan to buy prints/posters/artwork, make sure to bring something that will protect your purchases in case the seller doesn't have anything.  All of my small prints come inside protective envelopes, and for my larger posters I sell reusable poster tubes for those who need them.  You have no idea how many people thanked me for having those.

[Twizler the skunk]

2 lessons iv learned. If your set money aside for gas to get home keep it LOCKED in the car like in the glove box ..ie not on you.. its to easy to spend or lose.  

If your fursuit uses bateries for a cooling fan or light try to bring at least double the amount you think yourll need. it takes away the stress of running around memphis looking for a radio shack

[WildbillTX]

If you using a airline's website to print out your boarding pass, make extra copies of it and stick one in your suitcase and any luggage you're bringing along. It makes it easier for airlines to get lost luggage back to you.

Write your name/address with a good magic marker on and inside ALL your luggage!

Its also a good idea to scan/photocopy all your credit cards, drivers license, ID's and also take pictures of anything important you're taking before you leave.

If you're traveling by car, stop by the tourist bureau-visitor center when you enter the state and get a free state or city map. Most have brochures about places and restaurants you might want to check out with coupons. Mapquest and Google Earth are nice, but it's always handy to have a map if you want to go somewhere else off the main highways.

Don't always listen to CD's/Mp3's/Sirius-XM while traveling...tune into a local news station now and then and try to get a weather forecast. (Weather can change fast in the south and midwest! )

Always keep anything valuable out of plain sight in your vehicle when it's parked at the hotel. Hide it in the trunk even if its little stuff like cameras, sunglasses, CD's, paperback books and even loose change in the ashtray.  

And DONT hang any clothing and especially Fursuits on the hotel room's water sprinkler heads!

[Kobuk]

If anyone would like to add info. about the following few things, that would really be helpful as we could all make this thread the "one stop source" so to speak for convention planning and what to take and how to prepare. '>

Further items to possibly discuss:
* How to book and plan airline flights/reservations or reservations by train and/or bus services.
* How to book/plan hotel room reservations
* How and When to start registering for a con.
* What to do for airline and hotel room cancellations or switches.
* Getting and using a rental car.

[Corbenik]

I use Yahoo! Travel.  I looked at other sites and and found tickets for a friend that cost nearly $500.  Then I looked at Yahoo! Travel and found tickets for $260.

[Kobuk]

Here's another bit of advice I've been thinking about. Now I could be wrong on this and I'm sure other people will have better advice, but..........

When you go to offer rides or roomshares with other people, it may be advisable that you ask for advance payment up front first. Don't offer a ride to someone if they aren't going to help pay for gas to get to the con or back home. Also, don't wait till the end of the con when you're paying the hotel bill to find out that one or more people that shared your room aren't able to pay their share of the expenses. Ask for payment up front right away and preferably in cash. Checks, credit cards, etc. will take too long to clear by the bank. Put the money in an envelope and put it someplace securely until it is needed to pay the bills. '> If you've got roomies who are only there to welch off of other people, then they shouldn't be there at the con at all.

[Black Foot]

Just like Kobuk said don't take alot of cash with you because you might loose a good bit of it try and take some cash, checks (depending on the dealer that is if they accept them) Travelers checks in case they won't take regular checks and if you do take alot of cash put some into a lock box and keep the rest out )depending on how much your gonna spend during your visit to the con.

[Nikko]

Touch overkill... but I'll be honest... if you have all you put down you can't possibly go wrong... DON"T FORGET SOAP... EXPECIALY IF YOU FURSUIT!

[guf]

I always bring my own soap, because I don't like most hotel soaps for actually cleaning up.  Too much perfume, not enough scrub.  A lot of hotels will discard "your" soap when they clean the room -- and since I have all my stuff in there anyway and just for a couple days, I put out the "do not disturb" sign and just leave it at that.  Besides, my collection of hotel soaps is a nice memento, and better for a relaxing soak at home after the con!

I bring a spare roll of TP.

I always have a con-bag, which is my walkaround bag.  Pens, pencils, a few dice (also for more gaming/less furry cons I go to), etc.

Always know where your towel is.  Preferably with you at all times.  Trust me.

Small umbrella.  Small flashlight.

I always have some duct tape in the room, just in case.

I have a Dopp kit with all my toiletries in it.  Wikipedia has a nice entry, if you're not sure what I'm talking about...  ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopp_kit )  The matches and hangover cure from the article don't apply to me, though.

Big zip-bags.

Spare bag, like a soft-side duffel.  Useful for extra conloot, or if you need to separate your packing into smaller bags to fit in a vehicle.

Foot powder.  I get the non-medicated stuff because it also works as body powder. 

I plan my snacking like this: 
 * I usually will want just a snack in the afternoon on the way down.  I like to just relax in the room to start off with, while I let work and Real Life fade away a little bit.  So, one heavy snack's worth.
 * Figure one light snack's worth per day, except for the last day.  I can either have a sweet tooth or a protein craving.
 * Figure one box of pretzels or similar starchy, salty stuff, in order to have a *light* handful before going out costuming.
 * One pack of serving-size gatorade bottles will last me through all my costuming opportunities... I personally like water before and during costuming, with gatorade after while I'm resting/cooling/cleaning up.
.... for a weekend con, one box of pretzel sticks, one package of cookies, one can of slim jims, and one pack of gatorades will be enough for me and to share.  I'll usually have some to bring home.

[Kobuk]

Adding this topic about rental car information.
http://forums.furtopia.org/index.php/topic,30782.0.html

[Kobuk]

Another important item I'd like to mention is about hotel reservations. Anthrocon, and perhaps a few other cons, are implementing new hotel reservation policies where if you need to cancel your room reservation for any reason, you will be charged a one night's fee plus tax to your credit card if you cancel after a certain day or period of time. That fee though, is NON-REFUNDABLE. Hotels in the past have lost too much money from people canceling their reservations. To get a better understanding of what I'm talking about, please see this link here as an example:
http://www.anthrocon.org/hotel

Whatever con you go to in the future, please check their hotel reservation policies very carefully. Make sure that you and your friends are 100% committed to going BEFORE you put down the money towards your room reservation.

[Acton]

Well this is good place as any.
Has anybody have problem with hand carrying art supplies. I haven't flown post 9-11 and I do not want to leave my prismacolor and wanter color pencils in check baggage.

In addition you might want to check with your anilines on their second  bag policy.  The will seen start charging for the second  and additional bag. 

[Kobuk]

Acton: I just checked with the TSA Prohibited & Banned Items list which is found here:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm
.......and I could find nothing about carrying pens and pencils in a carry-on bag aboard flights. Though, you may want to check with individual airline carriers just in case. But I seriously doubt you will have any problems.

You are also correct about charges for checked second bags with airlines. For anyone that is flying and you have more than one checked bag, some airline carriers are now charging an additional fee of anywhere from $20-30 for each additional bag beyond your first checked bag. Please make sure you check with your individual carrier if they have this new policy implemented before you fly.

[Kobuk]

Adding this thread:
http://forums.furtopia.org/index.php/topic,33103.0.html
.........to my pinned thread here due to all the money advice offered within.


P.S. - *makes mental note to completely revamp this entire thread sometime in the future*

[489109]

I have a little something to add to this phread:

This past weekend, I and about 2,000 of my closest friends attended the Midwest FurFest 2010. I had this phread in mind when i was packing up to go home and I saw the mountain of stuff I had to move out to my car. So i thought, this would be a perfect way to help Kobuk really get the idea out of how to pack for a furry con. Now, I didn't take every thing I packed out for this pic, but just imagine most if not all of what he mentioned is in one of them bags.

Take a look for yourself.

[Kobuk]

In case anyone is confused, Liedt's stuff is sitting in front of a mirror which makes it seem like he has more stuff than he does.

[489109]

Oh, spoil the magic why dontcha?

[Arbutus]

In case anyone is confused, Liedt's stuff is sitting in front of a mirror which makes it seem like he has more stuff than he does.

I actually was confused, haha. I was like "good gravy, how did you get all that up to the room???"

[Shim]

In case anyone is confused, Liedt's stuff is sitting in front of a mirror which makes it seem like he has more stuff than he does.

I actually was confused, haha. I was like "good gravy, how did you get all that up to the room???"

Pack Mule.
See what I did there?

[Kobuk]

Oh, spoil the magic why dontcha?

LOL    Usually when I go to a con, I can fit my entire fursuit (plus a few accessories) into a similar duffle bag (#7), and my regular clothes and personal hygiene items into a bag similar in size to #4. I almost never take anything else unless I need a sleeping bag if rooming with other people. And I try not to bring too much stuff back home either. I try not to buy anything in the Dealer's Den if I can help it since I may not have the luggage space.

P.S. - For those wondering how to pack and travel with a fursuit, I'm already working on a tutorial for next year.

[Rocket T. Coyote]

I brought a battery-powered boot/glove dryer, with AC power unit, to dry out my fur boots after the day's activities. Also obtained a compact hose-type hair dryer to blow cool air into the head piece. I use my downtime to dry these parts of my fursuit.

It's nice to have the dryer set-up in the headless lounge, but bring disinfectant towelettes or spray if you plan to use it. It's the same reason behind the disinfectant towelettes the grocery stores provide to wipe down shopping carts. Your handpaws and headpiece may come into contact with stuff left by other folk's sweaty handpaws and masks.