Convention Survival Tips

Tip #4: Hygiene, health and food

You can't simply forget hygiene and food while at the con.

You have to take care of your own hygiene. You can't go to the entire weekend without bathing or brushing your teeth. Soap and other toiletries aren't that pricey. The con won't disappear when you're taking a bath/shower. It'll still be there. You can easily squeeze 15/20 minutes. Even cosplayers who wear costumes that are heavy, bulky and/or aren't breathable need to bath. They would be stinky and sweaty. Soap is your friend, not your enemy.

Do not, I repeat, do not use body spray/perfume/cologne as a replacement for bathing/showering. It's not a shower in a can/bottle. No one wants to smell a overly perfumed/cologned cosplayer with a side smell of sweat, Doritos, Mountain Dew and some unknown funk.

I know some of you out there were stuck in a funk sandwich (or a perfume sandwich) while waiting in line or somewhere else at some point. I know that feeling.

If you have conditions like asthma or diabetes, bring your inhaler, insulin or any medicine with you at all times if something happens. Plus wear your medical bracelet/necklace at all times. It'll help you in situations if shit happens.

Plus you can't run around on a empty stomach. Bring some food with you like instant noodles, granola bars, some fruit and veg, some snacks and home made sandwiches. Depends on the trip.

There might be restaurants or cafés near where you are, but they maybe on the expensive side depending on what restaurant/café there is. Or if you're on a tight budget, go to your nearest convenience store/supermarket or if you're only there for one day, bring some food from home.

Plus don't forget to hydrate yourself. Bring some water with you at all times. I heard some stories where con goers fainted due to dehydration during the summer. The rooms and halls in the convention centre can be hot and unbearable (plus the smell of body funk would terrible, depends the size of the con) and you'll be more likely be thirsty and there might be no booths, water fountains or vending machine(s) near you with bottles of water (or food). It doesn't matter what time of the year it is.

Before I forget, DO NOT GO TO A CONVENTION WITH A COLD, FLU OR SOMESORT OF BUG! Because if you're still sick with a bad cold, flu, bug or almost recovered from the illness, please don't share it with others.

I know you were wanting to go for weeks or months and you landed with it with just mere days from the con and you don't want to waste the tickets and the bookings and you wanted to show off your new cosplay that you made/ordered. But your health is more important and your wellbeing should come first and the con second. No one at the convention wants the dreaded con plague. You can always go the next time when you are well.