Advice for Your First Con

Before the Conference:

Plan ahead: Start figuring out a budget (realizing that you might not stick to it once you're in the park and face-to-face with that adorable stuffed Fluffy or chosen for the wand ceremony at Ollivanders because you have to buy the wand after that, no matter what they told you at the park, if only so you can wave it in the face of every other HP fan you meet and proclaim yourself the best and biggest fan of them all) and saving money to deal with said budget (and extra for when you go over). Also figure in anything you'll want to buy before Leaky like costumes, accessories, wizard rock (because you have to get in the mood!) and biggies like plane tickets, cab fares, hotel rooms, etc.

Know your limits: If you absolutely cannot stand fangirls and/or nerds, the last place you will want to be is at a HP con. I'm not saying you won't have fun, but you might want to avoid events like Starkid, Potter Puppet Pals, and wizard rock as well as keeping a good distance from any of the Starkid cast for the entire weekend. We all love HP, so just go with it and let the love out! It's your chance to be a total geek and no one will say anything!

Schedule your time (but not too much): Make a list of things you'd really like to do while at LeakyCon (programming, meet-ups, parties, and other events) in order of importance. Look at it for a few moments and realize you will not be able to do everything. Accept this fact and move on. It will not affect how good of a time you will have at the con. Try to avoid scheduling every minute of every day (we don't need to synchronize our watches to meet at The Forbidden Journey at precisely 3:15) so that you can relax, go with the flow, and generally enjoy the planned events of the con as well as the impromptu fun that pops up.

Network: If this is your first (or among your first) con, you are definitely not alone in thinking you won't make any friends or that it will be difficult to do so. Heck, that's the whole reason behind this blog! There are ways to allay these fears. Go to the Leaky Lounge and start talking to people there. Get on Youtube and search for LeakyCon over the past few months (or LeakyCon 2011) to find vloggers who are going (including me!). Find other LeakyCon blogs, read, and comment on them. Jump into video challenges Leaky does on their youtube channel. Join groups devoted to LeakyCon on MyLeaky, Mugglespace, Facebook, and other networking sites. Wherever you see someone discussing the con, try to jump in if it strikes your fancy.

Plan your wardrobe: We take clothing and costuming very seriously here (that's why it's covered so much). Say it with me: Florida is hot and humid. Remember that when packing robes, sweaters, and scarves. It's July, people. It will be sweltering. Think about a battery operated fan (with mister) or something. I'm not saying not to wear your robes, just remember you were warned. Also, if it's that hot outside, think about what that means it's like inside: it's often quite chilly in the hotels and restaurants so wear layers if at all possible. It also tends to rain a bit, so a poncho or umbrella would not be a bad addition.

Be prepared: Yes, I was a Girl Scout and I take this very seriously. Bring things you don't think you'll need (or hope you won't) like medicine for upset stomachs, headaches, and colds. Madam Pomfrey will not be in attendance, and you can't let a little cold ruin your HP fun!

Bring snacks: Now, you don't have to go overboard here and bring enough food to feed the Gryffindor Quidditch Team, but some bags of pretzels and bottles of water are not a bad idea. Food isn't always a priority at the conference, and you might find yourself waiting in a four hour long line with nothing to eat realizing you haven't eaten since breakfast yesterday. Remember, food is the first of the five Principal Exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration so if you're not prepared you'll go hungry or be forced to pay the prices at the hotel and park restaurants, which can be quite steep.

Pack early: The earlier you pack, the more time you have to analyze what you're bringing, think of things you might need, take out things you won't, and so on. We found that when packing for a trip like this, folding a duffle bag flat and putting it in a carry-on is a great idea to fit all the stuff you buy in Florida on the way back without having to pay baggage fees both ways (gosh, it would be nice to do the expanding charm from the books). Other than that, we brought two hanging bags for robes and costumes which we checked and a carry-on with a laptop so that we had our wrock library and a place to download and pictures we took every night so we didn't have to buy extra memory cards or worry about not having enough space when that perfect picture of Lauren Fairweather came around. That said, you might still want to pack as light as you can so that you don't have to worry about buying things and how you'll get them home. Don't forget your camera (and extra memory cards), video camera, possibly a laptop, phone and charger, and any other devices to help you function at the con.

Sleep: It might sound dumb, but four days with HP fans can really drain one's energy, especially with late night concerts, events, movies, and parties. So, try not to arrive run-down. This is not your typical vacation, folks!

During the Conference:

Talk to people: Yes, I'm horribly shy and terrible at this, but people are all pretty awesome there for the most part, and you know you have something in common, after all! So, meet friends! Do it!

Stay in touch: As I said when I discussed having a loose schedule, things pop up and you want to be able to do the fun stuff that's made up on the spot. Perhaps there's a surprise jam session by Darren Criss in the common room or something. How do you hear about that? Well, a great way is to get the twitter accounts and phone numbers of those you meet at the con. That way, if they find something fun, you're just a text, call, or tweet away (note: this is about the only time I approve of twitter). At Infinitus, they also had a twitter account for program and room changes that was pretty important. I'm assuming Leaky will have the same thing.

Squeeze in the boring stuff: I know, I know. You're surrounded by HP fans for perhaps the first and last time in your life, the Wizarding World is just a boat ride away, and there's a workshop on fun things all day, but try to fit in enough time to eat a little something every so often, sleep a few hours each night, and stay hydrated (even if your only option is Squirt)! As we said, Florida is hot and you'll probably be sweating a lot with excitement, because of heavy costumes, and/or from playing Quidditch. You can't enjoy the con if you're passed out, too tired, or in the hospital from heat exhaustion. So, listen to your body and don't neglect yourself for the sake of HP. Also, hygiene is another area you shouldn't skip just to go to that panel on slash or something, especially not if you want to meet friends.

Think ahead: So you want to meet Darren Criss, see the Starkid performance, watch Ministry of Magic perform, and see the Potter Puppet Pals show? That's great! So does everyone else. Expect lines...expect long lines...expect long lines the likes of which you haven't seen since the release of Deathly Hallows. If memory serves, the line for A Very Potter Sequel started at 8 or 9am at Infinitus, and the show started at around 5pm. By the time they opened the doors, the line had wrapped itself around the entire conference space...twice! Think about these things ahead of time so you don't arrive fifteen minutes before it starts and expect a front row seat. Though they're long, lines don't have to take up your entire weekend. Hang out, bring snacks, and bond with those around you or take turns with friends to hold your spot so you can get food, go to programming, take bathroom breaks, and so on.

Speak up about your needs: If you have special needs, make sure they are heard. The Infinitus staff was excellent about this! An hour before AVPS I just went up and said I was legally blind and needed a front row seat for both me and my companion, and they said they'd take care of it. Half an hour later, they tracked me down and escorted us to our seats before anyone else was in the room. So, know that they will help you in any way that they can if you just ask.

Broaden your horizons: Let's say that you don't like wizard rock (for some reason). Go to a wizard rock concert while you're at LeakyCon! It's an experience you won't want to trade, believe me! Just watch some video from conferences past to see fans swaying to inspirational music about Dumbeldore, crying while singing along to songs about Remus and Tonks, or screaming their heads off and moshing to songs about Gryffindor. Just GO! You will not regret it, even if you walk out saying the music was mediocre, you'll have to admit the fans were totally awesome! I'd recommend Ministry of Magic if this is what you're after (or perhaps Oliver Boyd and the Remembralls if you want to cry).

Be smart in the park: If you have limited time in the park outside of the LeakyCon event, try to do your shopping during peak hours as well as ride the smaller rides (as in, not The Forbidden Journey). Yes, the lines to get in shops might be long, but the Ollivander's Experience and ride lines are atrocious! You're better off trying for those during the after hours event. You might also consider getting the app from the Leaky Cauldron that lets you know about wait times for rides.

Costumes: If you dress up in a totally awesome way, people will want your picture and possibly your autograph so don't plan to do a whole heck of a lot if you have a kick butt costume! Just enjoy your Lockhart moment and go with it.

After the Conference:

Share your experience: Next year there will probably still be HP cons happening. Your advice, experiences, and reviews might help people make up their minds on whether or not to go. More importantly, there are ways to keep in touch with those who also attended LeakyCon. Last year, Infinitus put up a gallery online where attendees could share their pictures and videos from the event. This was greatly appreciated since there were a few events that I didn't get pictures at or my pictures turned out all blurry. I'm not sure if LeakyCon will do this or not, but I loved it since we didn't get video of my wand choosing with Ollivander (though we got a few good pictures), and someone ended up posting a video they took of it later (which I promptly lost track of online after my squee moment).

Keep in touch: HP might be ending, but the friendships you make at LeakyCon don't have to. Facebook new friends, call them on the felly-tone, and generally stay in touch. (Are you ready for the cheese?) After all, the HP fandom is all about the friendships we find and bringing people together. Remember, “the weapon we have is love.” (I warned you!)