50 Days of Dragon Con Day 8

Podcasts

In my preparation for Dragon Con I listen to a lot of podcasts.  I find anything and everything that I can get my hands on.,  There are some that are informational and educational and there are those that are more just entertainment.  I have been listening to different ones all year and most especially for the last several weeks. 

So my favorite two podcasts have been the Needless Things podcast and Debriefing Dragon Con.  These are totally different from each other.  Needless is put on by Phantom Troublemaker on the ESO Network and is the more entertaining of the two.  He has guests and tidbits of what is to come at con.  Debriefing is put on by the leaders of the Dragon Con for Newbies Facebook group.  This podcast while entertaining, is more for informational for con newbies than anything else.  Having con to con for many years some of the information is kind of redundant BUT every year I get new tips and find out about some changes that are coming to con this year.  Both are amazing and great to listen to.  Debriefing is about 15-30 minutes whereas Needless is usually over an hour.  I recommend checking out both of them.  They are available on iTunes and Stitcher for download. 

Thank you to all of those who put these podcasts on.  They are great to listen to and oh so much fun.  I appreciate all of the information. 

Have fun and you can NEVER be too prepared for con.

50 Days of Dragon Con Day 10

Newbies

There are a lot of people that make their first journey to Con every year.  There is a Facebook group that is dedicated to helpful hints and tips for anyone in the group.  There is a plethora of information.  There have been dozens and dozens of questions and everyone is so very helpful in answering any and all questions.  Everyone wants to know what are the things that they can not miss.  I stand by my answer to that question.  I always answer that the con is an individual pleasure.  I can tell you what I think are cant miss things but to someone else they might be meeh.  I think that each individual has to figure out what their things to do are.  I have been going to con and every single con I find something new that is a can't miss thing to do.  People say that the parade is can't miss.  I have never been to the parade and do not think I am missing out.  I think the Voltaire concert is can't miss but others I know could not care any less about going to the concert.  Dragon Con Newbies.

There are also frequent questions about what are essential things everyone needs to know.  I have some helpful hints for EVERYONE at con not just the newbies.

1) Comfortable shoes...you will walk and you will stand and wait.
2) Hand sanitizer.  Con-crud is a very nasty flu and hits you as you leave the con and lasts a week after con.
3)  Stay hydrated...The host hotels all provide watering stations with paper cups and you can fill a water bottle there if you have one.
4)  Do not forget to eat.  Whether you take travel sustenance with you through your travels or if you stop at a cafe or food court..do not forget to eat.  I have forgotten to do this from time to time and by Monday you start feeling it.
5)  Shower every day.  Your fellow con attendees will DEFINITELY appreciate it and you will appreciate it from them as well.
6) Try something new.  Do not get stuck in a rut...you are not there to do the same old thing.
7) Talk to someone-meet new people.  You never know, you can meet a life long friend.
8) Take time to relax.  Whether it be in a panel or in the morning before you leave your room..take 10 minutes to decompress.
9) Go to con a day or two early to get your bearings on where things are and how to get form one place to another efficiently.
10)  HAVE A GOOD TIME