08/08/2024
It is that time of year again to provide some good ideas for new volunteers and veterans alike.
I have put together what I think is a pretty good starting list after over 25 years of doing this thing. If you have other useful adds, please feel free to add em in the comments! Any particular product links I am providing are just a generic guide. I am not necessarily endorsing any particular product or brand, unless otherwise stated. You can get what works best for you.
Wolfman’s Top 25 (and then some) tips to surviving Dragon Con:
1. 3-2-1 is bare minimum requirement – 3+ hours of sleep, 2 (hot) meals, and 1 shower DAILY. THAT MEANS EVERY DAY, NOT AVERAGED.
2. Hydration – a Camelbak or personal hydration bladder of some variety, or a trusty water bottle that you can clip to your beltloop. There are water stations in all the major ballrooms. Stay hydrated!
3. Food -- Make a plan to get real food every day. Not just fast food.. eat your fruits and veggies too.
4. Rest – in addition to getting adequate sleep daily, stop when you can. Try to elevate your feet. Take a power nap in a corner.
5. Snacks – Yes there is Volunteer Village on 10th floor Marriott and the Satellite location in Westin Savannah, but I highly recommend keeping some calorie dense and variety of snacks on your person like CLIF bars, fruit roll ups, nuts, trail mix, jerky, etc.
6. Safety and Support – back/knee/ankle/elbow/wrist braces or wraps or anything that helps protect your joints when you are actively moving around heavy things or are just on your feet a lot. If you are moving any equipment, composite-toe shoes and work gloves are also HIGHLY recommended. If you are wearing open-toed shoes for load-in/out, we will ask you to step off the loading dock. Look up when moving equipment in to ballrooms that are being actively rigged as there will be stuff in the air. If something is falling, let it fall. Equipment is a whole lot easier to replace than people!
7. Supplements – start taking your vitamins NOW. D3, Zinc, Vitamin C, etc. Emergen-C is a good C boost as well.
8. Shoes & insoles – Don’t buy new shoes the day before Con. Break in your shoes NOW. Good hiking shoes or something that offers a fair bit of support are highly recommended. Many of us walk 5-15 miles per day. I also recommend custom insoles or at least gel heel supports.
9. Multiple pairs of shoes – something to change the pressure points hitting your feet
10. Compression socks/stockings – As weird as it sounds, will help with the edema in your legs from being on your feet so much. Compression socks
11. Foot spray / powder – especially for those of us that tend to sweat a lot, having some good foot powder in your shoes will help stave off some Athlete’s foot
12. Anti-chafing stick – This one I will endorse: Gold Bond For those of us wearing skirts, kilts, or other such outfits where your thighs rub. This feels like it would do the opposite when applied, but I assure you that it works.
13. Basic First Aid – it is a great idea to have the most basic of first aid equipment even if just some bandages. We DO have first aid kits on site, but just a good idea to have. If you see me with my Camelbak on, I have basic first aid on me.
14. Mole skin – Especially if you are prone to blisters, having a variety pack of moleskin pads is a great thing to have.
15. Hand sanitizer – I recommend having a personal container of some kind on your person Travel size Silicone
16. Ear protection – for any of the crew working in ballrooms, especially for sound checks or during concerts, please consider ear protection. If you also need to be able to clearly hear, I recommend something like these: Eargasm
17. Leatherman/Gerber/Multitool and/or small utility knife – they come in super handy
18. Flashlight – because the night is dark, and full of terrors
19. A personal storage container of some variety that you can keep ON you – small backpack, hydration bladder with storage, Drop Leg Bag, or belt pouch. Stuff gets stolen at Con. Keep important things ON YOU at all times like your meds, ID, credit cards, cash, etc. Ask Waffles about the first year we had the Imperial ballroom. . .
20. Medications – your medication, and ONLY your medication, as prescribed by your medical professional. This can also include over the counter anti-inflammatories, allergy, or antacids.
21. More clothes than you think you will need. . . days are long, you will probably go through more than 1 day of clothes per day.
22. Lotion – Hotel air is often dry. Lotion for your hands, face, skin… I also HIGHLY recommend peppermint foot lotion or some other curative location for your feet at the end of the day.
23. Eyedrops – A high quality eye drop like Blink or Refresh Optive (I recommend AGAINST Visine or other vasoconstrictors)
24. Sharpie / Pen / Personal writing instrument
25. 1 luxury item for yourself – a special blanket, stuffie, notepad, whatever it is that makes you happy
26. Bandana/sweatband – something multi purposed that can help keep sweat out of your eyes or help you cool off
27. Hair ties / clips – to help keep longer hair out of your face when you are trying to focus on a task or assemble something you really DON’T want your hair caught in
28. Makeup removing wipes for your end of day
29. Mints / Gum / Listerine strips – something to make your breath fresh when you have been going all day
30. Photocopy of your ID to leave in your room, just in case.
31. Download the Dragon Con app – there is a TON of useful information in here. It will generally update about 2 weeks from the first day of show.
32. Make sure you do at least 1 fun thing every day.
33. Fans – Manual or battery powered to help you cool off.
34. Don’t share drinks where you can avoid it. Con Crud is a real thing.
OPTIONAL FOR 2024 (CURRENTLY AS OF THIS POSTING):
1. Masks – There is no mask mandate in place this year, but if you feel better wearing one, I advise something that works for you and fits well.
2. Ear Savers - As an excellent companion to #1, these things make masks sooo much less fatiguing on the ears.
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