[FlyingElf]

A little reminder to everyone as we approach what is about a week until the convention, some tips and advice on how to have the best convention possible.

First and foremost, you are responsible for your own fun. ACen is a con and a large con. Mistakes will happens, things will get confused. You can either let it ruin your weekend or you can make the best of it. That panel you really wanted to go to may get canceled, but that just means you now have the chance to go to something you wouldn't have otherwise. The cosplay may run late. Now you have the chance to talk to the people waiting in line with you and make a new friend. Basically, make the best of any bad situation.

Second, go out and meet people. While I'm sure the people you came with are pretty cool people, they're likely the same people you always hang out with. Go, make new friends, talk to new people. Start conversations, have fun. And if you're one of those shy people who has trouble with that, attend the forum meet and greet Thursday evening http://www.acen.org/...d-greet-thread/ Everyone is friendly and I get you all to talk at least a little bit that you already have a jumping off point for a conversation with anyone there. You're only as shy as you let yourself be and the more you talk with people, the better you get at it. And if you're that worried about it, you can always talk to me as I'm always willing to talk to new people and make friends.

Third, take care of yourself. Shower and smell nice. #2 is not going to work when you haven't showered in 3 days and smell like crap. Also, make sure you eat and eat something healthy at least once a day. Bring fruit, bring vitamins. You'll be glad you did after the con is over.

Fourth, don't be that guy. If you're not sure who that guy is, let me explain. Have you ever been to an awesome party where the day after everyone says, "That party was great, but what was up with that guy?" That guy never needs to be named. Everyone knows who that guy was. So don't do it. Trolling and ruining people's good times isn't funny. Yelling you just lost the game at the top of your lungs isn't funny. And if you've had a few too many, running around the con, making a fool of yourself, and annoying everyone is the worst thing you can do. Take one for the team, go back to your room, and crash.

Last and for some of you, the most important, don't set expectations for the weekend. So often I see guys especially go into a con with the expectation of getting laid or finding a girlfriend or something else along those lines. Don't do it. If it happens, awesome, but the minute you put that expectation of it happening, you try too hard, come off as a creeper and get disappointed when you can't close. Instead of having a fantastic time partying with everyone, you get disappointed and depressed you didn't close. And now your weekend is worse for no good reason.

In short, next weekend can either be one of the best or worst weekends of your life depending on what you make of it. Are you going to let something stupid ruin your fun and think about how you're going to whine about it on your blog on Monday? Or are you going to say screw it, make the best of a bad situation and have an amazing time anyway?

OH and PS, never whine about a con on your blog. ACen doesn't read your blog. They never will. If you're unhappy with something, tell someone who can make a difference. Post here, email a department, do something productive. Your blog can't fix the problem. Con staff can.

[dorkatlarge]

There's a similar thread at Advice for Convention Happiness, though you might already know that...

I went to the Thursday evening IHOP gathering last year, and it was great. This time, I've already decided to attend the meet-and-greet starting in the Hyatt lobby.

This post has been edited by dorkatlarge: 21 April 2012 - 08:57 AM

[FlyingElf]

Did not know. Still, its mostly regulars who are likely to listen to and respect my advice, so this is probably still just the best place for it. I mean I hardly post outside chit chat.

[Jello]

well said my friend

[TheStrongJaeger]

FlyingElf, on 21 April 2012 - 08:28 AM, said:

First and foremost, you are responsible for your own fun.

Your whole post was spot on but I really think this line needs to be repeated. I've gone to ACen with tons of different people and there's always one person who complains about not having fun and expects everyone else to make something happen or to tell them what to do. And I always tell them this exact line you said.

In my 10 years I have never had a bad ACen. Bad things have happened at ACen but I've still made the convention fun. I refuse to not have fun.

[Saint Pastel]

thanks for posting this!

[STVO]

Well said.

[Visadin the insane]

last year i also went to the meet and greet, worried at first but i got to meet people. and yes don't go to cons for some nerd girl action. flyingelf knows what he is talking about.

[i_like_kyos]

TheStrongJaeger, on 21 April 2012 - 12:03 PM, said:

I refuse to not have fun.

Agreed!

[Visadin the insane]

also to add i am bringing food and trying to not have mcdonlads at all this weekend.

for breakfest i am bringing plan yogert with gornala and bananas to put in there, for launch i bringing sandwich with lanch meat. and i am also bringing snack bars, chips, candy for parties and the meet and greet, ornges and for drinks the big cans of arazonas and coke. for dinner i will most likely eat at the hyaat resterunts for dinner, most likely just a cheesebuger with fries.

trying to really save my money on food and my health.

[JujuFox]

Visadin the insane, on 22 April 2012 - 08:32 PM, said:

also to add i am bringing food and trying to not have mcdonlads at all this weekend.

for breakfest i am bringing plan yogert with gornala and bananas to put in there, for launch i bringing sandwich with lanch meat. and i am also bringing snack bars, chips, candy for parties and the meet and greet, ornges and for drinks the big cans of arazonas and coke. for dinner i will most likely eat at the hyaat resterunts for dinner, most likely just a cheesebuger with fries.

trying to really save my money on food and my health.

Good ideas bringing food, but make sure your perishable items stay refrigerated!

---------------

You don't want to forget all the fun times you had at ACen, right? Don't get so drunk you can't remember! Be responsible and mindful of others.

[Nicholas/Chaos]

agreed. my goal this year is to make new friends, and finally get pictures together with other characters from street fighter, final fantasy and fairytail.

[Femme Fatale]

FlyingElf, on 21 April 2012 - 08:28 AM, said:

A little reminder to everyone as we approach what is about a week until the convention, some tips and advice on how to have the best convention possible.

First and foremost, you are responsible for your own fun. ACen is a con and a large con. Mistakes will happens, things will get confused. You can either let it ruin your weekend or you can make the best of it. That panel you really wanted to go to may get canceled, but that just means you now have the chance to go to something you wouldn't have otherwise. The cosplay may run late. Now you have the chance to talk to the people waiting in line with you and make a new friend. Basically, make the best of any bad situation.

Second, go out and meet people. While I'm sure the people you came with are pretty cool people, they're likely the same people you always hang out with. Go, make new friends, talk to new people. Start conversations, have fun. And if you're one of those shy people who has trouble with that, attend the forum meet and greet Thursday evening http://www.acen.org/...d-greet-thread/ Everyone is friendly and I get you all to talk at least a little bit that you already have a jumping off point for a conversation with anyone there. You're only as shy as you let yourself be and the more you talk with people, the better you get at it. And if you're that worried about it, you can always talk to me as I'm always willing to talk to new people and make friends.

Third, take care of yourself. Shower and smell nice. #2 is not going to work when you haven't showered in 3 days and smell like crap. Also, make sure you eat and eat something healthy at least once a day. Bring fruit, bring vitamins. You'll be glad you did after the con is over.

Fourth, don't be that guy. If you're not sure who that guy is, let me explain. Have you ever been to an awesome party where the day after everyone says, "That party was great, but what was up with that guy?" That guy never needs to be named. Everyone knows who that guy was. So don't do it. Trolling and ruining people's good times isn't funny. Yelling you just lost the game at the top of your lungs isn't funny. And if you've had a few too many, running around the con, making a fool of yourself, and annoying everyone is the worst thing you can do. Take one for the team, go back to your room, and crash.

Last and for some of you, the most important, don't set expectations for the weekend. So often I see guys especially go into a con with the expectation of getting laid or finding a girlfriend or something else along those lines. Don't do it. If it happens, awesome, but the minute you put that expectation of it happening, you try too hard, come off as a creeper and get disappointed when you can't close. Instead of having a fantastic time partying with everyone, you get disappointed and depressed you didn't close. And now your weekend is worse for no good reason.

In short, next weekend can either be one of the best or worst weekends of your life depending on what you make of it. Are you going to let something stupid ruin your fun and think about how you're going to whine about it on your blog on Monday? Or are you going to say screw it, make the best of a bad situation and have an amazing time anyway?

OH and PS, never whine about a con on your blog. ACen doesn't read your blog. They never will. If you're unhappy with something, tell someone who can make a difference. Post here, email a department, do something productive. Your blog can't fix the problem. Con staff can.

[Femme Fatale]

That's very well done and written. Straight to the point.

[Prayer Police]

[redx1]

Hear Hear!

[YoungBirdcall]

Prayer Police, on 23 April 2012 - 09:07 AM, said:

haha I couldn't have put it better myself!

[Visadin the insane]

also to note about not expecting sex at all. if it do come up for be which it won't i am still bringing a condom, it just good pratice anyways.

[Kii]

=_=;;

[Prayer Police]

Visadin the insane, on 25 April 2012 - 12:56 PM, said:

also to note about not expecting sex at all. if it do come up for be which it won't i am still bringing a condom, it just good pratice anyways.

LOLs
I have a condom in my wallet from 2002

[TheStrongJaeger]

Prayer Police, on 25 April 2012 - 04:06 PM, said:

LOLs
I have a condom in my wallet from 2002

Might want to invest in a new one. They don't really last that long, especially in wallets.

[Kyuu]

Quoted for more emphasis:

FlyingElf, on 21 April 2012 - 08:28 AM, said:

Fourth, don't be that guy. If you're not sure who that guy is, let me explain. Have you ever been to an awesome party where the day after everyone says, "That party was great, but what was up with that guy?" That guy never needs to be named. Everyone knows who that guy was. So don't do it. Trolling and ruining people's good times isn't funny. Yelling you just lost the game at the top of your lungs isn't funny. And if you've had a few too many, running around the con, making a fool of yourself, and annoying everyone is the worst thing you can do. Take one for the team, go back to your room, and crash.

Seriously. Save this kind of crap for the Internet.