Less than a week from now, the most amazing thing is going to happen – Awesome Con.
Awesome Con(con) is Washington DC’s comic convention. Unlike the Baltimore Comic-Con, which is focused on comic books and the New York Comic Con which has television and movie stars, DC’s Con is a nice mix of popular TV shows and comic book writers. I like to think of it as having the best of both worlds without the distraction of movie superstars. (Don’t get me wrong, I’d knock Gramma over for a Comic-Con International: San Diego ticket.)
This year will be my third comic convention. My first was the Baltimore Comic Con several years ago, where I was able to purchase an early edition of the original Wonder Woman comic book, a lovely hand-engraved leather notebook. In addition, I had the opportunity to see new comic book authors. Last year, I attended Awesome Con, where I saw The Ponds (If you don’t know, you don’t know), Allison Mack from Smallville (TV Series), and Spike, Anya and Tara from Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV Series). I furthered my collection of comic books and novelty tees. And while I was able to hear an engaging panel discussion on diversity in comic books I missed out on board games and speed dating.
Awesome Con ’16 will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center from June 3 to 5, 2016. On top of all that goodness that is Awesome Con, there will be a live taping of, wait for it … wait for it… Star Talk. (Yeah baby!) Bill Nye the Science Guy will at Awesome Con and taping Star Talk (take a moment to let that sink in). If you aren’t familiar with StarTalk you can listen to episodes on Itunes and Stitcher. For Saturday attendees there will be a special stand-up presentation by Eugene Mirman. There are so many reasons to come to Awesome Con that I could write a whole post, but that’s not what this is about. With the con less than a week away, I wanted to share my seven tips for making the best of the day(s).
Here are my 7 tips for making the best of your day(s).
1 ) Bring H20. Staying hydrated keeps you focused and energized. The convention center is recycled air, so depending on your sinuses the water can make a difference. Plus, dehydration is not cool.
2 ) Bring a cell phone charger. While the convention center has charging stations, they are closer to the exists and further away from the action. There are outlets in the hallways and the smaller rooms, but bringing a portable charger allows you to get a fuller charge than a few minutes here and there by using the wall charger or charging stations.
3 ) Wear comfortable shoes. I walked 13304 steps last year. The activities are spread out through both buildings with the expo covering the largest area. Your feet will thank you.
4 ) Know what you want to buy. I know that seems impossible, but here is the thing- there is so much to buy that the vendors can be overwhelming. I only purchase a one-day ticket and stay till I can’t move. But with talks to hear, games to play, and things to buy you need a game plan. There will be a number of comic book vendors. Knowing what you are looking for will allow the vendors to better help you. That goes for novelty items too!
5 ) Have some cash. My beef with credit cards at the convention center has nothing to do with the vendors and everything to do with the Wi-Fi signal which can be spotty and slow. Cash just make transactions easier and faster.
6 ) Use the Guidebook app. There are two ways to get a schedule in print or online. You can download a PDF of the schedule online or Guidebook an event app that offers a range of interactive features. You can add sessions to your personal schedule with a reminder and learn more about the sessions.
7 ) Bring the fun. Last but not least, Awesome Con is about acceptance and fun. You will indulge in all things geekdom and pop culture. Families come together, creating memories to last a lifetime. For those brave enough you will meet like-minded people.
Alright those are my tips for having a great con. Do you have other tips? I’d love to hear them.
You can still buy tickets online or the day of.
