Okay, okay, there’s a ton of information about how to survive an anime con; from making sure you drink plenty of water (many US conventions take place in the summer) to don’t overpack.
But there’s also the emotional/mental side of things to take into account.
My first convention was Otakon 2000/2001; at the time, there were about 10,000 attendees, but it was still a huge convention for the time. I was in high school then, shy, and all of a sudden fascinated by this energy of SO MANY PEOPLE gathered together in ONE PLACE that I might, I might have something in common with.
But crowds can be hard. Getting places can be hard. Worse if you have accessibility or disability concerns. Or sometimes, you just want some relative peace and quiet. So here’s some guidelines: feel free to suggest or adapt as needed in your situation.
- Find out who does security at the convention and who you should report harassment or suspicious behavior to. At some conventions, the local police may be at the convention to help; it might be convention’s own security; find this out. Remember: a crime is still a crime.
- If a member of convention staff harasses you, get their names and report them to con security/their department. If severe, report to police, just as you would any other crime, but reporting to con security/their supervisors will ensure that the convention knows and can take action against the person.
- Find and remember vital locations: Information Desk, Security, Lost and Found, elevators/accessible entrances/etc, entrances/exits, bathrooms, whereever you might need to get to in a rush. (You might want to use the safe2pee database to look up bathrooms if there is a gender safety concern.)
- Speaking of safety, see if there are ADA liaisons/EMTs available or ask what access there is. EMTs/medics may also help you if you get onsite injuries, such as blisters, dehydration, and other such things.
- If you are working at the convention (dealer/industry, artist, staff, panelist, whatever), see if there are emergency medical cards to fill out or if you need to alert any supervisors/con staff of any issues that may arise. True story: when I staffed Anime Central, I encouraged my department to fill these cards out, and/or to tell me if there were any issues – if there was an issue that might impact scheduling, breaks, etc.
- Don’t be afraid to take sanity breaks. Go back to your hotel, if you have one, or go to a nearby store/park/open space and walk around.
- DO NOT BE AFRAID to ask questions.