Leviosa is overwhelming!!

[fantasyfiend09]

For those of you attending: How do you choose among all the really cool things happening at the same time? I find just looking at the schedule makes my head spin.

Con veterans: Do you usually plan your choices in advance or do you just follow your whims as the convention goes on? What's worked for you?

Comments

[alisanne.livejournal.com]

So I always think I'm going to try to go to ALL THE THINGS and then what I find happens is I find I want to hang out with ALL THE PEOPLE instead, and we end up going to some of the things but blowing off the rest to hang out and chat and socialize.
YYMV of course, but I have come to realize that planning ahead doesn't work that well for me since I'm just going to decide what to do based on my mood of the moment (and who else will be there) anyway. :)

[lokifan]

Seconded. I'm a planner by nature, so what I tend to do is use a two-colours/symbols system: for YES DEFINITELY I MUST and LOOKS GOOD. That helps me at a glance when I'm sitting in the bar with people and want to decide if I'm staying with them or going off to a thing. But yeah it can all change in the moment.

REMEMBER TO EAT. Easy to forget during a con, but important! The 6/2 rule is good - basically you need 6 hours of sleep and 2 meals, or 2 hours of sleep and 6 meals(/snacks, really, but the point stands). I mean I've done four hours and two meals but I was nineteen and at my very first con so I could fly through on the con energy.

The manic con energy: it is a thing! Often a wonderful and helpful thing, but I also think it's part of how drama flares easily at cons. People are both excited and exhausted, and there's so much build-up that any small thing going wrong can be a big deal. This isn't inevitable, it's never happened to me personally - but I've seen it happen a lot. So if it happens to you, be kind to yourself and throw yourself into other things, you're more likely to have fun and less likely to regret calling that person a flaming cunt in front of a hundred other congoers. (True story!)

[fantasyfiend09.livejournal.com]

I like the idea of having a ranking of what things I really will kick myself for missing vs which just look fun. *nods*

Eep! I'm looking at your 6/2 rule wondering how I can survive on so little sleep and food. I guess that's where the adrenaline kicks in.

Oh my! It's like being on a reality show. I hope there is no con drama, but it's good to be aware that it can happen. I imagine that ties back into your previous point. Tired, hungry people don't act their best. I certainly don't! I think my must-do's are going to be meals and sleep. In fact, I bought the VIP ticket because someone else had said it was her way of forcing herself to eat (because she already paid for the meals).

Thank you for the great information!

[lokifan]

LOL. Well you don't HAVE to live on so little sleep/food - but it's pretty common to forget entirely about sleep and food because you're doing all these things and meeting all these people. That's why 6/2 is a good rule of thumb for minimum requirements!

The VIP ticket to make sure you eat is a VERY good idea.

[fantasyfiend09.livejournal.com]

I did wonder if all of my schedule plans would go out the window once I started hanging out with people. I think I may embrace the moment on this.

Thank you for your insight!

[capitu]

Oh man, you're going to have such a great time. <3

I've only gone to one convention, and I decided what to do once I was there, but I do I remember there were a couple of panels I wanted to assist and they were already filled. My advice would be to check which ones you really don't want to miss and sign up for those (or I don't know how that's working for Leviosa?) and the rest, you know, see what you feel like doing and the people you're hanging out with does. :)

[fantasyfiend09.livejournal.com]

I hope so! I'm so excited, but also a bit nervous. Con virgin and all that.

I don't know if we have to sign up in advance (makes a mental note to learn more), but I really like the idea of starring a few things I really want to do and letting the rest be impulse decisions.

Thank you for the advice!

[digthewriter]

IDK how long the lines will be, I plan with what might have a short line if there are a lot of things happening at the same time - be ready to wait forever to get into something - speaking from star wars con exp. and boston comic con exp. and always have a back up just in case you can't get into your first choice.

[fantasyfiend09.livejournal.com]

This makes me aware how little I know about cons. I didn't even consider the crowds! I know Leviosa isn't a huge con, but I imagine there will be lines and crowding issues. Thanks for pointing that out!

[writcraft]

I pretty much play it by ear - I always know there's loads I want to go and see so I take the time to figure out what's going on and when and maybe pick a couple of 'really must dos' but I leave my schedule pretty open for the most part as I find when you get chatting to people and hanging out you sometimes go along to things other people are seeing.

[fantasyfiend09.livejournal.com]

This seems to be the way forward. Now I just have to figure out what my 'really must dos' are. But if I miss an event because I'm having a great time with people, I can't really be sad, can I? Thank you for sharing your tactic!

[sassy-cissa.livejournal.com]

This will be my 5th HP con...

I generally go through and pick out what I'd like to attend. Pick it all....then go back and look at the overlap stuff and weed things out.

As alisanne said - you can make all the plans in the world, but then you get there and meet people and the whole schedule thing goes out the window.

This time for me the only thing I know I'm attending for sure are the panels I'm on and the H/D meet up that I'm running. lolol

Can't wait to meet/see everyone!!

[fantasyfiend09.livejournal.com]

Pick it all....then go back and look at the overlap stuff and weed things out.

Ha ha. I am still in the first part where I want to do every single event that doesn't involve Snarry or a fandom I don't know. That narrows it down to me being four places at once instead of five. I think I need to do more of that weeding things out part.

It's good to hear so many people say that their plans go out the window. Now I don't feel so bad for not having a real plan. :) Thank you for the advice!

[piratesmile331.livejournal.com]

I feel the same way! It's been such a pleasure to meet you!