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Commission Status Update + The Agent's Guide to AC
13 years ago
General
I'm closing down AC Pre-Orders since I can't guarantee, at this point, that any new orders will be completed by AC. If you will be attending AC, swing by my table (M14) and you can place an order on-site. For those not attending AC, I still have two slots open if you'd like to place a mail-order (to be fulfilled after the con). Prices and ordering info can be found here.
And now, seeing as this is my *counts* fourth AnthroCon, I thought I'd share some of my lessons learned from previous trips to the Steel City.
1. Kage isn't lying about the 6-2-1 rule…
For those of you just joining us, the 6-2-1 rule is: 6 hours of sleep, 2 square meals (not the kind that comes from a cube), and 1 hot shower every day at least.
Now, in my experience, unless you're doing something particularly sweaty like fursuiting, one hot shower either in the morning before breakfast or in the evening before bed is sufficient for personal hygiene. Just pack in the deodorant appropriately.
However, I find that I can't get by on just two meals. I generally need a good breakfast, lunch and dinner, with some snacks in between. This could just be my metabolism, but I would advise others to see that they eat well at the con. Don't just live off of maple-bacon donuts, chips and sodas from Fernando's. Last I checked, he had some nice yogurt-and-fruit concoctions in his fridge, and you can't beat a good sub with lots of greens and veg. Consider ordering a lunch to-go when you go in for breakfast, so when you get peckish but you have to run to make that concert/panel/LARP you had your heart set on you can whip it own and inhale it on the go. Finally, make time for dinner. I usually try to round up a few friends and take a good hour, hour and a half to find a nice place, sit down, and eat. Downtown Pittsburgh is replete with restaurants for all budgets. Go there, have a good dinner. Being well-fueled will not only allow your body to keep up with the hectic pace of the con, but will help it fight off the inevitable con crud. This brings me to my last item…
6 hours of sleep is really the minimum you can get away with. Even so, you're pushing what your body needs to stay healthy. Lack of sleep can contribute to high blood pressure, lack of good judgement, and—yes—a weakened immune system. Weakened immune system = better chance of catching con crud. I recommend 8 hours of sleep minimum if you can manage it. If you're starting to feel woozy or have a scratchy throat, make that 9 or 10 hours. It's amazing what a good night (or afternoon)'s rest can do to nip a virus in the bud.
2. Don't set your heart on hanging with one particular person for the entire con.
AnthroCon moves FAST. Unless you are physically holding onto someone, I've found, it's almost impossible to stay together for more than a few hours. There are so many people, and so many people who all want to visit with each other, that it's easy to lose someone and then find an old friend you haven't seen in months and then start hanging out with that person.
If you're the person left in the lurch, don't be offended. It's just the way this con goes. My advice is don't cling; just go with the flow. Enjoy the time you can spend with a person, but if they need to take off—if they need alone time—let them go. They will like you better for it. If you're ever feeling bored or lonely go wander around the Zoo until you find a table with some awesome friendly people and chat with them. This is the way I've met about half my friends at AC. If there is no awesome friendly table, start your own! I can guarantee there will be other bored onsies wandering around looking for a friend. You'll find them.
3. Ignore the party poopers who say you shouldn't spend the whole con hooking up.
If that is what you're into, go for it. Just be safe, be consensual, and DO IT IN YOUR HOTEL ROOM. (Also, if it is between the hours of midnight and 8 AM, at least TRY to be quiet, eh?)
4. Ignore the party poopers who just want to spend the whole con hooking.
You can have sex with your significant other/FWB/hookup any other time of the year. This is ANTHROCON. Go to sleep at midnight, get up bright and early, hit Fernando's before the 10 AM crush, check out the morning programming (the panelists will love you for it). Maybe volunteer around the con. It's an experience that happens only once a year, go for it!
5. Buy something in the Dealer's Den/Artists Alley.
I don't mean this as self-promotion. I do this. I always try to purchase at least one thing as a memento of this con. Whether it's a commission, a gewgaw, a hairclip that looks like an antler—there is a plethora of talented artists, artisans and musicians in the Den and Alley. Go there, find something you like, buy it, and get it signed.
And finally, and perhaps most importantly:
6. It really is faster to go OUTSIDE the Westin, along the street, in through the DLLC lobby, up an escalator, and along to Halls C and B, than it is to cross the skybridge, labor up the stairs/wait for the elevator, down a hallway, detour through the main ball room, down along another hall way, down an escalator, past reg to Halls C and B.
I hope this has been of help, I hope to see you there, but most of all I hope you have a great AnthroCon.
And now, seeing as this is my *counts* fourth AnthroCon, I thought I'd share some of my lessons learned from previous trips to the Steel City.
1. Kage isn't lying about the 6-2-1 rule…
For those of you just joining us, the 6-2-1 rule is: 6 hours of sleep, 2 square meals (not the kind that comes from a cube), and 1 hot shower every day at least.
Now, in my experience, unless you're doing something particularly sweaty like fursuiting, one hot shower either in the morning before breakfast or in the evening before bed is sufficient for personal hygiene. Just pack in the deodorant appropriately.
However, I find that I can't get by on just two meals. I generally need a good breakfast, lunch and dinner, with some snacks in between. This could just be my metabolism, but I would advise others to see that they eat well at the con. Don't just live off of maple-bacon donuts, chips and sodas from Fernando's. Last I checked, he had some nice yogurt-and-fruit concoctions in his fridge, and you can't beat a good sub with lots of greens and veg. Consider ordering a lunch to-go when you go in for breakfast, so when you get peckish but you have to run to make that concert/panel/LARP you had your heart set on you can whip it own and inhale it on the go. Finally, make time for dinner. I usually try to round up a few friends and take a good hour, hour and a half to find a nice place, sit down, and eat. Downtown Pittsburgh is replete with restaurants for all budgets. Go there, have a good dinner. Being well-fueled will not only allow your body to keep up with the hectic pace of the con, but will help it fight off the inevitable con crud. This brings me to my last item…
6 hours of sleep is really the minimum you can get away with. Even so, you're pushing what your body needs to stay healthy. Lack of sleep can contribute to high blood pressure, lack of good judgement, and—yes—a weakened immune system. Weakened immune system = better chance of catching con crud. I recommend 8 hours of sleep minimum if you can manage it. If you're starting to feel woozy or have a scratchy throat, make that 9 or 10 hours. It's amazing what a good night (or afternoon)'s rest can do to nip a virus in the bud.
2. Don't set your heart on hanging with one particular person for the entire con.
AnthroCon moves FAST. Unless you are physically holding onto someone, I've found, it's almost impossible to stay together for more than a few hours. There are so many people, and so many people who all want to visit with each other, that it's easy to lose someone and then find an old friend you haven't seen in months and then start hanging out with that person.
If you're the person left in the lurch, don't be offended. It's just the way this con goes. My advice is don't cling; just go with the flow. Enjoy the time you can spend with a person, but if they need to take off—if they need alone time—let them go. They will like you better for it. If you're ever feeling bored or lonely go wander around the Zoo until you find a table with some awesome friendly people and chat with them. This is the way I've met about half my friends at AC. If there is no awesome friendly table, start your own! I can guarantee there will be other bored onsies wandering around looking for a friend. You'll find them.
3. Ignore the party poopers who say you shouldn't spend the whole con hooking up.
If that is what you're into, go for it. Just be safe, be consensual, and DO IT IN YOUR HOTEL ROOM. (Also, if it is between the hours of midnight and 8 AM, at least TRY to be quiet, eh?)
4. Ignore the party poopers who just want to spend the whole con hooking.
You can have sex with your significant other/FWB/hookup any other time of the year. This is ANTHROCON. Go to sleep at midnight, get up bright and early, hit Fernando's before the 10 AM crush, check out the morning programming (the panelists will love you for it). Maybe volunteer around the con. It's an experience that happens only once a year, go for it!
5. Buy something in the Dealer's Den/Artists Alley.
I don't mean this as self-promotion. I do this. I always try to purchase at least one thing as a memento of this con. Whether it's a commission, a gewgaw, a hairclip that looks like an antler—there is a plethora of talented artists, artisans and musicians in the Den and Alley. Go there, find something you like, buy it, and get it signed.
And finally, and perhaps most importantly:
6. It really is faster to go OUTSIDE the Westin, along the street, in through the DLLC lobby, up an escalator, and along to Halls C and B, than it is to cross the skybridge, labor up the stairs/wait for the elevator, down a hallway, detour through the main ball room, down along another hall way, down an escalator, past reg to Halls C and B.
I hope this has been of help, I hope to see you there, but most of all I hope you have a great AnthroCon.
-Xydexx, who's been to every Anthrocon since it began in 1997, back when the Masquerade consisted of a dozen fursuiters and the sound system was a boombox. And the Fursuit parade was two miles long. Uphill. Both ways. In the snow. In July.
I heard it was over five miles long back in those days. Of course, the archeological records are known to be somewhat inaccurate.
Otherwise totally awesome advice.
thanks Elrond and see ya next week
6 hours sleep
2 meals a day
1 shower with soap
and for fuck sake, Brush your teeth!
You wouldn't believe how many people seem to forget that last part. And they always seem to be close-talkers, too.
yup, outside is much faster- but somewhat hotter and sweatier depending on the weather.
a possible addendum: If people insist on taking the longer but cooler route, they should use the stairs to come up through the ballroom, and leave the elevator for the fursuiters. The elevator is slow and smelly (thanks to the half floor difference between the DLCC and the Westin) and you will save a couple minutes taking the stairs- better exercise, too.