So, you want to go to a comic con. Congratulations on chosing joy!

I get a lot of questions about comic cons which basically boil down to ‘how?’ Here’s my guide to planning for a weekend to remember.

1. Pick which con to attend:
   There are a zillion comic cons around the world nowadays, so it’s important to make sure you’re picking the right one for you. I would not recommend jumping into a big one like San Diego as your first one, since they are overwhelming and much more complicated on scheduling. Look for conventions near you or in a city you want to visit, and make sure tickets are in your price range, keeping in mind that you’ll spend much more throughout the whole experience than just the entrance fee. Some of my favorites include Planet Comicon Kansas City, Indiana Comic Con, Emerald City, and C2E2.
2. Get tickets
   Tickets go on sale several months before the event, and you can usually save money by buying early. Multi-day and VIP passes are often the first ones to sell out, so if that’s what you’re hoping for, you’re going to want to act as soon as soon as possible.
3. Book hotel accomodations and plan your travel
   If you’re attending a convention in a different city, book your flights and hotels early. Most conventions partner with nearby hotels for discounts, so check the website to see where you can save a few bucks. You’ll also want to look into travel around the area. I’m a big fan of utilizing public transportation when possible since it’s so much cheaper than ride shares or rentals.
4. Book photo ops and autographs early when possible
   Some conventions do allow atendees to pre-pay for some celebrity interaction opportunities. Some celebrities will sell out their photo ops months in advance, so it’s always good to book early when you can. Also, review the fine print. Some photos allow for four people, and I’ve seen some that only allow two. Autographs can also have some fine print, such as upcharges for Funko Pops or large items. If there are spots available, you can usually buy your spot last minute. Some celebrities do allow for selfies at their table for a lower cost, however, you’ll have to spend a lot of time waiting in line to get it.
5. Review the full schedule
   Once the schedule drops, I go through it slowly and note things of interest. I’m a proponent of using spreadsheets for this. My method is to leave the first column open and put everything that sounds interesting on it. These can get pretty wide at times because there’s so much going on at any give time, but don’t skip something because you never know how many backups you’ll need.
6. Pick your priorities
   The downside of there being so many possibilities is that you are but one person and it takes time to get from point A to point B in a crowd. A good rule of thumb is 3-5 priorities per day. I put those in my first column so they are the first things I see on my spreadsheets, then I organize things in decending order of importance. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve shown up to a panel only to find the room is already maxed out, then had to shift into a different plan. Knowing what your top choices are from the jump makes it much easier to plan and adjust as needed. You’re going to be overwhelmed, so anything you can do ahead of time to reduce stress and decision fatigue will help you out on the day.
7. Schedule time to browse the vendors
   One of the buzziest places of a con is the show floor. You never know what you’ll find in the booths. I’m one of those people that will overload my schedule and not have time to look around unless I specifically give myself a chunk of time (or a few smaller chunks) to do so.
8. Set your budget
   You’ve probably seen videos on social media of the ‘how much are you going to spend’ vs. ‘how much did you actually spend’ trend. It’s real life. Money flies fast at conventions. Know how much you want to spend before you see all the shiny things. Pre-pandemic, many vendors only accepted cash. Now, it’s an even mix of cash or card. Card makes it easy to go overboard, so it’s important to know your goal spending limit and your absolute max.
9. Prepare your cosplay, if you want to dress up
   Cosplay is a fun way to get involved in the action, but it is definitely not required. Whether it’s homemade, store-bought, or something straight out of your imagination, wear something you feel comfortable in. You might have other fans ask to take a picture with you, and it is absolutely okay to say no if you aren’t comfortable with it. If you don’t want to dress up, the best thing to wear is a t-shirt representing your favorite fandom. You’ll fit right in.
10. Pack your convention bag
    See my convention packing list here.
11. Make an exit plan
    Phone signal at conventions is notoriously bad. Between all the people and so much concrete, relying on your phone to find your squad when it is time to leave is not adviseable. If you are attending with friends who have different schedules for the day, set your meeting place and leaving time before you enter the ‘wifi sucks zone’.
12. Be flexible
    Things rarely go completely as planned. Accept that you’re probably not going to get to see everything, and enjoy what you can see to the fullest. Live in the moment and be kind to those around you.
13. Make friends
    The truly special thing about comic cons is that you are surrounded by people who love the same things you do. Starting conversations with strangers can be hard, but it’s definitely worth it. I’ve made longtime friends in lines at conventions and book festivals, just by saying something random to the person next to me in line. Bonus: it helps time pass faster.

This is a pretty generic list that can apply to any convention. If you have specific questions about a convention I’ve been to, drop a comment and I’ll do my best to answer.