Sam's Patented 'Do Not Bitch List' for Comic-Con 2009

Posted for my lovely co-travelers next week (because facebook has a limit to size on messages), compiled by Sam (and her sister Allison) with some minor additions by me. Travelin' buddies, message me via Facebook if you have questions / anything you want to add to this epic list.

And please do read it; it is not only entertaining but crazy useful, meaning Sam = goddess and Balthier Cosplayer extraordinaire!

Anyhoo; here it is!

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THE DO NOT BITCH LIST

- Wear comfortable shoes. We are walking just about everywhere.
- There will be lots of people and crowds at the con. This is a fact of life.
- There will be lots of waiting in line, especially for things like panels.
- Waiting outside a room for an hour, hour and a half IS necessary, especially for über popular panels such as Stargate or Supernatural.
- Our days will be LONG. To get there and find parking, we will leave early, and the con has events into the wee hours. We won’t stay late every night, but when we do, be prepared.
- WE WILL NOT GO TO THE SAME PLACE TO EAT EVERY NIGHT, AND WE WILL NOT GO TO CHAIN RESTAURANTS IF IT CAN BE AVOIDED!!!
- There will lots of squeeing, fangirling, and insanity.
- Conserve your money until later in the con unless you come across something that will NOT be there the next day
- Leave room in your suitcase for souvenirs.
- We will not be in a giant pack constantly. This is not a school band trip! That said, use common sense. Don’t, say, leave the con without telling anyone or wander down any dark alleys (and keep your phones on at least vibrate, and check them regularly in case someone thinks you're dead and is trying to track you down).
- Sketch out plan of attack using schedule (which is online here - do check it out before we leave).
- Bring barcode registration with you, two copies, one to keep with you and one in your bags (I have a printer if you guys want me to do it for you the night before).
- Bring your cell phone and charger. We are depending on having a cell network so we can be independent, but still keep track of where everyone is.
- Don’t be afraid to try new panels that you would never normally go to. You paid an ass load to get in. make the most of it!
- Certain panels WILL fill up. There’s nothing you can do about it. Just let it go.
- Do not be inflexible with your plans. There are unexpected occurrences of all types, that can screw up even the best made plan. Be loose.
- Set times for lunch and dinner. This is another big part of why we can roam around separately a lot. DO NOT skip meals without telling anyone. We will assume something happened to you, get worried, then beat the crap out of you when we find out you’re fine.
- We don’t all have to eat at the same place. Don’t like sushi? There’s a pub across the street. Don’t feel like Italian tonight? There’s a Cajun place up the block. There’s lots of choices!
- Bring a camera and an extra memory stick/film.
- Bring a swimsuit for a trip to the sea! Or, at least, some denim shorts and a bra that can PASS as a swimsuit top. XD (NOTE: We WILL Be going to the beach. Con is over by 5PM on Sunday. Mission Bay is gorgeous. Beach is a fun way to end a vacation. Bring beach gear).
- Trolley passes. Public transportation. We will use them. Parking is a bitch. No, really. It is. This is the best bet, trust us.
- Food prices will be REDONKULOUS, especially at the con. Bring some snacks, like granola bars, fruit snacks that you can smuggle in with you to minimize how much you have to buy at the con (there's a Wal-Mart near our lodgings).
- Don’t be afraid to carry multiple bags, but at the same time, don’t go overboard. It will be crowded (and bags get heavy).
- Persistence is good. Go back to booths you like- Many of them have different freebies depending on the day or even time of day.
- Pick up as many buttons and as much free swag as you can. You can easily walk out with over $100 of free stuff that you can’t get anywhere else, and all your friends will be jealous.
- Have things in mind that you want to do when the con is not going on, or when the crowds and busyness are getting to you. Cons are exhausting, insane alternate realities of pure caffeine and geekdom. If you’re not used to them, it can be rough.
- Bring sunscreen.
- There will be interesting things to eat and try. No bitching (not even for the whiny vegetarian *points at self*).
- There will be lots of traffic and people drive like psychopaths. It’s California.
- Keep yourself hydrated, even if you’re indoors at the con, and especially if you don’t travel well. There’s a reason they yell this at you on school trips, it’s true. You’ll be so much happier and less likely to get sick (I'm considering buying a huge 24-pack of water bottles before we leave for the car ride. Anyone wanna pitch in?).
- There will be ATMs at the convention. Not all vendors, especially art vendors, take cards.
- We will print a parking lot map (and a bunch of other maps. I love maps).
- Do NOT be afraid to talk to people! People at booths generally LOVE to talk to people that are genuinely interested in what they do, even if you don’t buy anything. This is especially true of art booths. And talk to other con goers— you may learn about something cool that we missed an announcement for!
- There will be things. Weird things. People dressed oddly. Daleks. Just accept that you’ve stumbled into another world and run with it.
- Wander around EVERYWHERE. You will trip across things that you never knew were there, never knew existed, and have always wanted. Go to the artist’s alley, even. A lot of them will do commissioned sketches, talk to you, and the artist’s alley is generally a little calmer than the rest of the con if you need a rest.
- Pick out what you want to go to, and don’t be afraid to go to anything in the con alone! People are nice, and we have cell phones. If you lose us, or need help getting away from rabid comic fanboys, just call.
- Bring anything you want signed by people.
- It’s a big city. There are homeless. There are street preachers. There are freaky guys that talk to themselves. Just look through them. Walk past them. It’ll be okay.
- Don’t buy more than you can carry. We won’t carry it for you, and if you were paying attention, you know bringing multiple bags is encouraged to thwart this common con problem.
- Do NOT expect to be on the phone with people in Omaha/Lincoln for hours. You won’t have time. Call to check in, say hi, but don’t expect to discuss the finer points of the rise and fall of Marxism in communist Russia.
- There is a time difference. Nebraska is 2 hours ahead of San Diego.
- BRING YOUR PRESCRIPTION MEDS IN YOUR CARRY ON. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH TO LAST THROUGH THE TRIP, PLUS TWO DAYS EXTRA TO BE SAFE. (Note to self: Lora needs to go get her meds a week early >_>... thanks for reminding me of this one!)
- Saturday we’ll eat at The Field for breakfast. We’re going. Nothing will keep us from it.
- We WILL eat breakfast. Collapsing is bad (NOTE: Breakfast can be spaghetti (*glares at John*). I don't care. Just eat something, as emergency rooms are hella expensive).
- People will not be wearing much. It’s California, and not only that, a comic con. Cosplayers will be running rampant, and people at beaches… well, don’t care.
- This trip is about the convention. That is where we will be the bulk of the time, and what we will plan other activities around.
- Bring a light hoodie/sweater/cardigan etc for cool mornings and cold panel rooms.
- THERE WILL BE NO DRAMA. TELL YOUR FRIENDS WITH BOY AND GIRL TROUBLES TO SHOVE IT. TELL YOUR RELATIVES YOU DIED. WE ARE ON VACATION. WE ARE HAVING FUN WITHOUT THEM, AND THEY WILL NOT STOP US!
- Bring lots of Tylenol/Advil to help with aching muscles, headaches, and any bugs you pick up at the con.
- Make a list of what you’re bringing beforehand 5 days in advance and triple check it.
- There will be no diets (Vacation is not compatible with Diet).
- Bring an alarm clock.
- BRING A PHOTO ID (Driver's license or similar works fine).
- No hookers in hotels or houses.
- No strippers either.
- Some people will be bitchy and grouchy when they first wake up. Chances are, it’s not because of you. It’s the waking up part.
- Bring something to put dirty clothes in.

SPECIAL CAR RIDE SECTION!
- Be aware of the moods of other people around you. You can usually tell when someone is close to wanting your head on a pike. Don’t provoke them, please.
- We all have different musical tastes. That’s totally fine.
- Bring headphones and batteries/charger for your music listening device of choice.
- Just because have control of the radio doesn’t mean you get to be a jackass about it.
- Keep music at a fairly low volume. If we can hear what you’re listening to a little, cool. But when we can understand every word, for sake of your hearing, turn it down. O.O
- DITTO for the radio. Keep in mind you have some damn powerful speakers to listen to your music on, while other folk have dinky headphones. At best, shift the speaker balance in your car so it plays through the front speakers only, but if that’s not possible, please keep it at a reasonable volume.
- KNOW THE RULES OF OTHER PEOPLE’S CARS. Some people don’t allow eating. Some people don’t allow gum. If you’re ever wondering ASK, and remember that this person is being kind enough to let us use their car for our epic journey to the geek holy land. Be nice.
- Don’t backseat drive. It pisses everyone off.
- Cellphones in cars. Yes, you’ll have them. We know. WE KNOW. Please be polite and have them set on vibrate or silent to avoid driving people crazy. And try not to have conversations on them when other people can’t escape (NOTE: We don't mind hanging out at rest-stops for an extra ten-fifteen minutes so you can call your boyfriend/girlfriend/mom, but again, none of the Marxism in Russia madness. Try to keep it short so we can get back on the road).
- Space is at a premium. It is highly, highly recommended you bring a suitcase/bag that only has enough room for what you need and then just ship souvenirs back. It was done last year, and they have a post office IN THE CONVENTION CENTER. Seriously. It’s much easier that way.
- DRIVERS: Don’t be tyrants.
- PASSENGERS: Don’t be jerkoffs. Or jerk off. Either.
- Don’t purposely annoy other passengers, for the love of god. Or the driver.
- Keep noisemaking objects such as cellphones, computers, portable game systems, etc. silent or use them with headphones.
- If other people are sleeping, let them sleep. Enjoy how cute they look. “Aww” quietly. Do not draw on or otherwise torment them.
- Fights will happen. You’re in an enclosed space with a lot of other people. Tempers will flare. Just everyone be mellow. Breathe in. Breathe out.
- People prefer different temperatures. Some people overheat very easily. Bring something light to put on/toss over you if the airconditioning bothers you. It’s much easier to fix being too cold than being too hot. I’ve been overheated just sitting in a car before. It’s not fun (This is important as we will be driving through LOTS of desert).
- Ear plugs could very well be your friend. Feel free to buy some.

SPECIAL HOTEL/LODGINGS SECTION
- Figure out spots for everyone to keep their things in the room FIRST THING.
- If it isn’t yours, don’t touch or move it unless it directly impedes your progress (ex: A chair in the middle of the floor, suitcase in the middle of the floor) and even then, don’t make a fuss about it, just move it enough to get it out of the way and let it go.
- Recognize that some people get very, very upset about their things being moved or touched without their permission. ALWAYS ask. Even if it’s as minute as borrowing a comb.
- Don’t hog the bathroom. If you take a long time to shower, you may want or need to go last.
- If someone on this trip, for any reason, becomes sick, let them rest. And if it is sickness that requires a bathroom, be mindful of that.
- Please, PLEASE try not to leave the bathrooms a mess and/or smelling gross. Please? Fans are your friends.
- For much of this trip, we are in John’s parents’ house, which they have been wonderfully kind to let us stay in. Always be mindful of that. We will be taking John’s family out to dinner in thanks, and also, his mom’s birthday is the 22nd, so a present wouldn’t go amiss. She likes cats (NOTE: She's also a big fan of Star Trek, so any con goodies we find would be a good idea too).
- Say please, say thank you, and generally remember common acts of courtesy.
- Some people will get homesick, miss their boyfriends/girlfriends. Some people won’t. No bitching or mockery, please.
- What you do with your section of the room is your business until it directly affects/impedes passage in and out of said room or to the bathroom. Don’t leave stuff out for people to trip on.
- If you’re sharing a bed, please keep in mind people can only control so much of what they do when they’re asleep. I have a tendency to snuggle up next to whoever is in bed with me or steal coverlets and, I’ve been told, occasionally make little whining noises. I have no control over it. Keep that in mind with whatever weird quirks people have.


SPECIAL COSPLAY SECTION!
- Be prepared for pictures, especially if your costume is easily recognizable/ really really nifty and complex.
- Bring an emergency sewing kit with extra closures for your costume, thread that matches your costume, and hand sewing needles.
- Bring full costume in your suitcase.
- Bring a change of clothes to the con, and a change of shoes if you need, to the con on the days you cosplay. It may be too hot, something could spill, a thousand things could happen. Be prepared.
- Have fun, for fuck’s sake, and if those of us that cosplay get into character and speak in an Archadian accent at you, don’t hit us. Some of us have fun wearing more than just the character’s clothes when we cosplay.
- Don’t hog the bathroom on cosplay days, no matter how tempting.

PLACES I’D LOVE TO SHOW YOU GUYS!
Little Italy- the food is amazing.
The Field- a fantastic pub where the barkeep drinks Guinness and mutters about soccer at nine AM. And the food is BRILLIANT! It has breakfast on the weekends and it is amazing. It’s in the Gaslamp District and I’ll be going at least one day while we’re there to eat there, even if I have to go alone.
RA- A sushi joint with techno music, great endame and tasty rolls. If we have the money, cool, if we don’t, we don’t need to. Just somewhere neat. :)
Ghirdelli Store- Do I really have to explain? CHOCOLATE, PEOPLE!
ALSO:
Chevy's: awesome mexican restaurant near John's house - we will take his mom out there for her birthday. They have EPIC homeade tortillas that are delicious and fresh.
Mission Bay Beach: Awesome beach with sand, ocean and firepits of epic doom. We WILL go there and have epic beach times of doom.

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So that's Sam's illustrious list. More information will be sent later this week regarding timing, luggage, packing etc.

And, just in case you guys missed it: the Con Schedule. Look at it and make note of the main things you really want to see. We'll have a print copy, but it's your job to keep track of the things you want to go see.

<3,

Lora