Throughout the year there are many conventions dedicated those fan who can’t live without their video games, comic books and other superhero merchandise and stories. These conventions have typically been part of an underground culture for decades, but now being a geek, or simply being interested in things considered geeky, is now cool. Superhero fans around the world venture far and wide to check out their favorite conventions each year. It doesn’t matter what your niche in the geek world there is a little something for everyone. On the down side, these conventions can be a huge money pit, especially if you’re going to your first convention. If you can remember a few simple rules you can easily make it through the convention without feeling like you need to empty out your wallet to impress your favorite celebrities. So, take a step back and take it all in while letting these tips guide you through your convention experience.
1. Buy Online
Shopping for tickets is one of the first steps to making it to a convention. If you’ve ever tried to buy tickets for major events, such as San Diego’s Comic Con, then you know you have to act fast or you’ll potentially lose out for the year. Buying online for this convention, and others like it, is crucial as it will secure your place at the event. Sometimes these conventions will offer tickets at the door, but it is only if they haven’t sold out already. If you do decide to wait and buy them the day of the convention then you’ll really need to wake up early as you’ll end up spending quite a portion of the day in line, which means you’ll miss out on a lot of what you’re paying for. A lot of tickets are also raised ten dollars per person, so if you’re looking to buy for the whole family then make sure to hurry and get them online or you might miss out on a lot of extra spending money.
2. Bring Snacks
The one thing you can pretty much count on when it comes to conventions is the food is going to be pretty pricey. Most convention centers have a pretty good selection, but the prices are hiked up in order to meet event standards. There are a few vending machines you might want to visit if you’re starting to get really hungry, but going to one of the food vendors could be a huge mistake. In fact, leaving the convention to eat at a restaurant might also be a bad idea, especially if you’re in a big city. Most convention centers are located in a tourist area, which means you’ll be paying a lot more than you should for food. There is one majorly great point about going to a comic convention though. That is, they let your bring backpacks and outside food into the area. So, instead of budgeting for an expensive meal try packing granola bars, sandwiches and a few waters to get you through the action packed day. After all, you might not want to stop and take a lunch break if you have a tight schedule.
3. Show Up Early
The best thing you can do to save money at a convention is to show up early. Conventions can get pretty congested, especially as the day goes on. If you can be in line and ready to go before the gates open then you’ll not only get to see more things for your money, but you’ll be set up to keep more in your wallet than you think. Getting through the lines early in the morning is a bit of a breeze, which means you won’t have to contend with so many people on the merchant floor. With time and space available to you you’ll be able to go through each of the areas without feeling like you’re being rushed. This can be a major advantage to people who are looking to get some unique artwork. Many vendors only bring a certain number of items with them to sell, so if you do end up waiting too long you might miss out on a great piece. This often spooks many people into buying one of everything they wish they could have, instead of taking the time to digest it all and make an appropriate decision. With the floor not crammed like sardine cans you’ll be able to make calm rational decisions. A lot of comic book creators will also give you a free autograph if the line isn’t too long. Make sure you know it is free before you accept though.
4. Plan Ahead
Working out a plan before you show up to the convention can be one of the biggest helping hands throughout the day. Typically conventions will post up a schedule a few days to a few weeks prior to the big event. You will also get a schedule when you pass through the ticket line. It is important to take a few brief moments, or an extended amount of time prior to the event, to work out what is you and your family want to do at the convention. There are many events that clash with one another, or some that might force you to leave an event early, so look at times carefully. This can really save you money as the events are totally free and you might even get goodies when you show up. The more free shows you’re checking out the more time you aren’t spending money downstairs in the merchant area or on food. Panels are what most people want to see when they’re at a convention so get in line early if you can! You might also want to plan out a budget to spend at the convention. This will help you keep spending to a minimum if you typically can’t contain your excitement at these events.
5. Walk
Like many popular events parking at the convention center can be pretty pricey. This price tag only triples if you intend on going every day of the convention. Most people who live in town tend to take public transportation to the nearest area and then walk to the convention from there. This helps cut down on the cost of parking and gives your legs a little wake up before you spend all day climbing up and downstairs and running to panels you have to get a spot for. If you’re an out of towner then try to work out the bus schedule to get to the center. Of course, if you are really planning ahead you might have already booked a room close to the center. This will give you easy walking access to the convention so you can come and go as you please without worrying about paying for parking again.
6. Full Package
Most conventions tend to last for an entire weekend with different events each day, so you might want to check out each day if you have the time. If this is the case then make sure you check to see if the convention offers tickets in a package. Typically this will allow you to save at least ten dollars on your ticket purchase, which could come in handy if you’re buying tickets for more than one person. Buying tickets in bulk also means that you only have to stand in line once! This is a huge time saver and will let you get what you need to get done while everyone else is still stuck in line. The best aspect of the bulk tickets is you typically only spend $30 more for a full weekend and no one has to sacrifice seeing an event they want.
7. Sunday Events
If you’ve never been to a convention before and you aren’t sure if you’re ready for the fandom then you might want to gran a Sunday ticket. Typically Sundays are a cool down day for the convention and they start a bit later and end sooner. You can usually see the same celebrities and catch a few panels, but the crowd has ceased quite a bit. There are some cons to going on Sunday, such as missing out on major panels and limited vendors, but if you like a mellow pace then Sunday is for you. The best thing about Sunday tickets is they are half of the price of Friday and Saturday tickets so you get a pretty good deal out of. If you fall in love with the convention then at least you’ll know you should grab the package next time!
8. Just Say Hi
One of the most appealing things about conventions is the multitude of celebrities that you’ll find walking around. Typically you can get an autograph from just about everyone, but they do come at a price. The average cost of an autograph is about $25, so you can only imagine how much you’d be spending if you got one from everyone you saw. Instead of simple asking for an autograph you might get a little bit more out of your visit if you give the celeb a handshake and strike up a conversation. You might be surprised at how down to earth many of them are and if they like you enough you might get a free photograph with them. Most celebrities are plagued with people looking for autographs all day long, so a nice unexpected statement might be your ticket to a celebrity’s heart. This will give you a memory that might outlast your piece of autographed paper.
9. Cosplay
One big event at the conventions is Cosplay, which is basically people dressing up as their favorite characters. You will see some incredible designs at conventions that might even inspire you to Cosplay yourself. Instead of buying an elaborate costume you should always try to build your own as often as possible. This will save you a whole lot of money and will earn you respect from the Cosplay community. If you don’t know where to start try talking to Cosplayers that you meet and ask them out they got started. Many will be more than happy to point you in the right direction. You can always find a large amount of tutorials online that could have you winning competitions in no time. You should also keep in mind that most Cosplayers don’t mind taking pictures with you for no cost. This can be a great alternative to the autograph dilemma and will make for fun memories in the future.
10. Discounts
From tickets to merchandise, you should be able to find a wide selection of discounts if you’re willing to look. To begin with most children, military and senior citizens will get a discount on their entrance tickets as long as they apply for the appropriate badge when buying tickets. This, of course, isn’t the only place you can find discounts in the convention. A lot of comic book creators and artist really like a great conversation during the day as they mostly only deal with quick sales. Sometimes, if you can strike a chord with some of the vendors they may offer you a discount just for giving them a break from the whole sales aspect of the convention. Some vendors are also great about helping you out if you decide to buy a full collection from them, or if you’ve bought from them before.
Conventions are a great way to bring the family together, but they don’t have to be a money consumer. These tips will help you keep your cool and save some cash while you’re surfing through the convention crowds. While at the convention it is important to remember that the time is meant for having fun and now how many fan items you can find, or what foods you need to try. With this in mind you’ll fall in love with the super hero environment.
