Now that it’s fall and convention season has officially started in Atlanta, it’s important to know exactly what you’re getting into when you opt to spend your afternoon- or entire weekend- surrounded by people with interests ranging from Doctor Who and Homestuck to Pokemon and Fire Emblem. Consider this your handy dandy checklist/guidelines for what to bring to your next con in order to have the optimum convention experience.

Things to consider: What season is it? What temperature? Is your costume, if you’re wearing one, appropriate for the weather conditions? In all my experience of going to cons, overheating is probably the prime suspect for spoiling a con experience. Also lunches. How big is the con? This is important, in terms of how prepared you need to be, and how easy it is to walk around. Small cons can be fun, it’s just a matter of taste.

All that settled? Good. Now for the safety section. These are generally accepted rules for most conventions in the metro Atlanta area, with a few exceptions.

1. Stranger danger. Granted, this rule is a lot more lax here, but make sure you stay far within your realm of comfort. A convention is not the place to take risks socially, especially if it’s larger, and you’re not with many people you’re good friends with.

2. Communicate with your convention buddies. This is very important as well. Tell them where you’re going, and although it’s preferably not on your own, if you’re just jumping to the bathroom before a panel, tell them. This can prevent a number of heart attacks and spikes of unnecessary panic.

3. Know how you’re getting to and from the convention. Speaking from experience, you do not want to be in high heels at eleven o’clock waiting for your friend’s parents to come pick you up last minute.

4. Tell someone if you feel unsafe. Believe it or not, most of these freaky people aren’t actually freaks. Yeah, they’re quirky as all heck, but they’re interested in people’s safety as well. If something bad happens at a convention, it will be shut down if they severity of the offense is high enough. It’s everyone’s job to keep the convention safe to express yourself and mingle with all around you. Tell someone you trust, a convention/hotel manager, or even ask that super nice Super Sailor V cosplayer you saw earlier to walk with you because you’re a little frightened. There’s safety in numbers.

There are a few other general ethical codes ( such as asking before touching the cosplayers, not being a total creep just because of the character they’re dressed as, ask for pictures, credit cosplayers if possible, seal your body paint please I am begging you, etc. ), but they’re sort of common sense.

As for what you’ll need to actually bring to the convention, it’s pretty simple. It’s handy to bring a purse or a bag of some sort, or even just make sure you have all this in your care.

These items include, but are not limited to water, money ( depending on the size of the convention, anywhere from $30-$200 is a safe bet ), money specifically for lunch, snacks, any medication/inhalers, a cell phone charger/power cell, comfortable shoes, and batteries for any camera that you may be using. Keep these items near and dear to your heart, because they’re the equivalent of currency to a convention goer.

If you’re wearing a costume, recommended additional items are a change of clothes, especially shoes, bringing your bag and phone around, a basic emergency sewing kit, and your makeup, because smudges will happen. Towels, spirit glue/remover, and q-tips will get you points from the cosplay gods if you bring them to share.

With all of this listed, I hope you heed the advice given and feel a little more prepared for visiting your next con! Make sure to have fun, and spend within your budget. Do not do anything you would not do normally, but don’t be afraid to relax and let your hair down!