Any seasoned Dragon Con-goer will tell you it takes at least a few years to fully get the grasp of the monstrosity (dragon-osity?) of all that is Con weekend. Con elders gathered in the first panel of the Alternate and Historical Fiction track to help alleviate the pressure often felt by first-timers of doing ALL THE THINGS ALL THE TIME in “Dragon Con 104: Tips & Tricks from Con Elders,” in Courtland Grand Augusta on Thursday at 7PM. 

Panelists Debra Plosky, DragonConDad, Miles Bondurant, and Paige (Cosplay Medic), along with moderator Laura Houser, started the panel off with practical tips for Con Survival. We should all know the 6-2-1 rule (for those not in the know: the bare minimum of Con Survival is 6 hours of sleep, 2 meals, and 1 shower a day, every day); on top of that, several panel attendees stressed that the CVS has deodorant.

Some other practical tips included:

• Bondurant suggested that when you’re in the vendor hall, instead of buying everything, take pictures of the items, their prices, and where the booths are located (with permission of the vendor) until you’re through the hall. Once you’re at the end, go through your pictures, decide what you actually want, and what is in your budget. This helps prevent finding something awesome after you’ve blown your budget!
• Paige said don’t get wrapped up in the Fear Of Missing Out (or FOMO) of it all. Listen to your body, when you need to sit, eat or rest—otherwise you may use all your energy day one, and have no choice but to spend the rest of Con in your hotel room.
• For our friends who can’t take hills as easily as others, Plosky’s hot tip was that going through the Hub will eliminate any and all hills on your walk between hotels. Check out this handy YouTube video for handi-accessible tips: WHEELCHAIR-FRIENDLY Guide to DragonCon: Secret Habit Trails Revealed!
• Houser emphasized the necessity of water, protein, and sleep. She also threw in a plug for the IV station, if you’re into that sort of thing. For our after-hours crowd, she and Bondurant recommended prebiotic shots/powder to beat the post-party wind down.
• Bondurant followed up with the importance of taking breaks. He recommended the Charity Coloring Room and a nice corner (Poplar and Broad) that’s an easy 10-minute walk away that’s filled with quiet restaurants.

Wondering how to get in on the socializing that is rampant at Dragon Con? Bondurant sayid the easiest way to make a friend is to start with a compliment. “It may keep going, it may not. It’s no big deal, but the worst thing you’ve done is make that person feel better.”

Among the other social tips given were: don’t be bougie about hotels (amazing things happen in all of them, even the far away ones) and don’t be afraid to join in an activity if you see something weird.

If you leave with nothing else, here are a few items that came up that every Con-goer should hold as absolute truth:

• Don’t take photos of the celebrities while you’re waiting in line to meet them. Pay for a selfie and don’t be tacky.
• Always ask a cosplayer if it’s ok to take their photo, which gives them the space to say no, or the opportunity to look their best.
• For the love of all things Dragon Con, FOLLOW THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC!!!!!!
  • Do NOT stop to talk to someone
  • Do NOT stop to take photos in the middle of pathways
  • Do NOT pass go unless you’re already going that way on the board

Finally, be sure to thank everyone who helps make Dragon Con as magnificent as it is. A ton of work goes on behind the scenes and a small thank you to a volunteer, the hotel staff, bathroom attendants, or any one on the event team will go a long way.

To our newbie con goers, I leave you with this profound quote from Wicked: “Strangers are just people [you] haven’t met yet.” Get out there, be you, and be safe. Your Con family is waiting to meet you.