(no subject)

[rivka]

"Maybe LJ wasn't the best place to go for impartial advice," I said to curiousangel after a few hours had passed and a few comments had appeared. But by then it was too late. We've decided to go to Worldcon.

Now the attack of anticipatory shyness occurs.

But seriously. Worldcon seems like the kind of thing we should do at least once in our lives, and given that (a) if we miss this year, the next two Worldcons are both thousands of miles away, and (b) we're hoping to be burdened with small, expensive, difficult-to-transport creatures in the not-too-distant future, the Boston Worldcon seems like the one to try. So there we go.

Plus, I haven't seen papersky in way too long, and I want to meet ailsaek, and I want to attend one of marykaykare's famous parties, and I want to hang out with pnh, and so on for probably zillions of other people. And Michael has gaming people he's been corresponding with for years who will probably be at Worldcon, and... and... and so.

My sister lives a bus ride away from the Convention Center, so we're thinking we'll stay with her on Thursday and Sunday nights and get a hotel room for Friday and Saturday nights. (Anyone interested in quiet, nonsmoking roommates who have good personal hygiene?)

Yay! Worldcon! I'm excited.

Anyone have helpful advice for a Worldcon newbie, though? I'm pretty inexperienced with cons.

Comments

[micheinnz.livejournal.com]

1. Remember the 1, 2, 6 rule -- at least 1 shower, 2 meals and 6 hours' sleep in any 24-hour period. (That was my downfall at the Worldcon I went to -- enough food and personal hygine but I ran myself stupid.)

2. Check the voodoo board every time you go past the information desk.

3. If you have time, gopher! You'll have a lot of fun and meet some really nifty people. (Gophering on the info desk was how I ran into therealjae and eck.

There may be other tips later. If you have half as much fun at Worldcon as I did you're in for a great time.

[ckd]

Okay, I've been to, er, one Worldcon.

But 100% of those were Noreascons held since I came to Boston, so I'm clearly an expert on those! :)

Other than the 1/2/6 rule already mentioned, my biggest piece of advice is "pick the panels/items you really must see, then let serendipity handle the rest". Maybe that panel you were considering attending but unsure of will be interesting, or maybe you'll get sidetracked into a mini-blog-meet in the ConCourse; either way you'll have fun.

There's supposed to be some sort of orientation portion of the program for the "Your First Worldcon" crowd, too.

[rmjwell.livejournal.com]

First off, there is too much to see it all and too many people to see them all, even the subset of "all" that comprise your friends and acquaintances. It can be overwhelming (and this is Mr. "I love crowds" saying this).

So, figure out what you are interested in doing/seeing: people, panels. special programs (like the art show or auction, or masquerade), or tourism. Contact the people you especially want to hook up with and schedule your meeting times before the con, heck doing it right now wouldn't suck.

Same thing for programming: check the program guide as soon as it is online and find the things you absolutely wat to see. Don't be surprised when five of them are at the same time. Don't be shy about leaving a panel that trns out to suck.

Check the convention news zines for schedule changes.

Dining at slightly off-hours is not a bad idea (4:30 for dinner, say); you'll cut down on waiting at the restaurant.

Also, the sleeping/meals/shower rule is good, as said elsewhere.

You might also want to e-mail Ruth Anne for her advice; she'll be in Boston, too, and has gone to way more Worldcons than I have.

Oh, final note: if Dr. Bob Passavoy, Bill Roper, or Dave Stein are scheduled to be the art auctioneers, go and catch their schtick.

[lisajulie.livejournal.com]

yes, yes, to the advice about food, showers, and sleeping.

This is the voice of experience here.

Volunteering as a gofer is a good way to get to know the Ops staff and the Tech staff. It is also a good way to spend your entire convention once you are known to be competent (as I'm sure you will be).

Pre-schedule dinner dates, at least as to which day, with people you definitely want to see. Remember that there are at least two (lunch and dinner) eating social events in a day. Breakfast is dicey, depending on people's schedules.

Permit yourself to retreat to your room to a) gloat over your purchases; b) retreat from the teeming throngs; c) take a nap.

Take advantage of Boston cultural amenities - Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Swan Boats, the ducks. Whatever.

Enjoy!

[marykaykare.livejournal.com]

Noreascon is planning a whole bunch of Orientation to Worldcon type things. John Hertz is going to be in charge so it'll probably be very good and very useful.

Don't try to do everything, you just can't. Especially a Boston Worldcon. Don't get frustrated and don't wear yourself to a frazzle. Go with the flow.

The rule we used to use in the Midwest was 5 hours of sleep, and 2 meals, but we were younger than. And don't get the 2 mixed up was usually appended.

I wouldn't commute myself, because I like being out really late to the parties and/or having breakfast in the hotel and being able to go back to my room whenever I want. However, everyone's circumstances are different. I believe at this point all the Sheraton is sold out and the Marriott almost is. Also note that there is a department called handicapped services. I don't know how well you and the SO get around, but I've arranged to rent one of those electric carts for the week. There is a LOT of walking involved, not to mention standing around, and my knees just won't take it anymore though the rest of me is ok.

Try not to be too shy.

MKK--I'm going to get talked into doing another party aren't I?

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

I went to Noreascon II in 1981, that was my only Worldcon (I sat out the one in San Jose ;). Knowing other people there probably helps...

we're hoping to be burdened with small, expensive, difficult-to-transport creatures in the not-too-distant future

Ummm... within, say, nine months? (raised eyebrow)
Did I miss an previous announcement?

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Disclaimer: Never been to a WorldCon, have been to CostumeCon, which has a similar attendee base, YMMV.

What everyone else said, especially the 1/2/6 rule, plus: given a choice betwee sleep and food, always choose food. Number of showers may vary depending on number of people in the room. And, if you're in a rush for a meal con-suite goodies can range from a quick fix to a full-fledged buffet, depending on hosts/fundage/etc. In other words, don't rule them out!

[rivka.livejournal.com]

Ummm... within, say, nine months? (raised eyebrow)
Did I miss an previous announcement?

No, no, the operative word is "hoping," not "planning." *sigh*

advice for first Worldcon

[elisem.livejournal.com]

Go read Janis Ian's account of her own first Worldcon. Then if/when you run into her at the convention, and if it was helpful, tell her so. (I think it's beautiful, myself.)

Other than that, it can be smart to plan a few small things here and there, like meeting a friend for a sit-down and chat. It gives a person a chance to have some islands of calm in the midst of the great ocean of possibility that is a Worldcon.

And come by my table and hang out with me, please please please?

Re: advice for first Worldcon

[rivka.livejournal.com]

And come by my table and hang out with me, please please please?

Well, duh. Couldn't miss that for the world!

Re: advice for first Worldcon

[trinker.livejournal.com]

Um...a guy wouldn't mind if another guy happened to show up at that table, maybe?

[trinker.livejournal.com]

I suspect no matter what you end up doing, it will somehow be a lovely first experience.

--Trinker
who will also be experiencing her first Worldcon.

[timill]

Remember that Worldcons run late into Monday afternoon, and Sunday night is Masquerade night. You might (or might not) want to keep that hotel room for Sunday.

[annafdd.livejournal.com]

I'm just thrilled that I'm going to meet yet another person I know online! yay!

[rivka.livejournal.com]

Oh, you're going to be there? That's excellent!

[rivka.livejournal.com]

I believe at this point all the Sheraton is sold out and the Marriott almost is.

That's what it said on the Noreascon website, but on a whim I decided to check - and managed to reserve a two double bed, no smoking, non-party-block room in the Sheraton. (We decided that it would be better to have a reservation we might partially cancel later, than it would be to want a room later on and be unable to find one.)

MKK--I'm going to get talked into doing another party aren't I?

I certainly hope so, because I've been reading about your room parties for years. I'd be delighted to help out. What do you think, a bloggers' party? LJ? Rasseff?

[rivka.livejournal.com]

I want to clarify that my "sigh" comment wasn't supposed to be sighing at you for asking - it's just the general alas-ness of the situation.

[papersky.livejournal.com]

I might well be on for sharing that if you want a non-smoking room-mate who tends to get up insanely early.

[diony.livejournal.com]

Not really advice, but I went to two WorldCons with a friend, knowing nobody else there and being a pretty shy person, and still had a blast. So I'm glad you decided to go!

Shoes. Comfortable walking shoes.

[hazelchaz]

Two pairs, so you can trade off. You're going to be on your feet a lot.

[elisem.livejournal.com]

The rule we used to use in the Midwest was 5 hours of sleep, and 2 meals, but we were younger than. And don't get the 2 mixed up was usually appended.

That's exactly what Lois said when I asked her if she had any advice to you for your first Worldcon. With the coda about not mixing them up, too. She also strongly recommended stresstabs with zinc. (I had dinner with her and Pat tonight. I can't remember what Pat recommended besides seconding Lois on the food and sleep thing, but I'm sure it was sensible. It probably involved pacing yourself, given the length of the convention.)


Me, I'd also recommend watching out for dehydration, because a lot of hotels and convention centers have very dry air inside them. (This is the one I always forget about until it bites me.)

Oh! I remember what Pat recommended: she said, "Volunteer! If you have any shyness, having a job is really useful, and it's also a nice way to meet people at the convention." She did go on to tell a story about someone who had volunteered for a bag-checking job in the art show, thinking it would be a nice quiet place to hide and be comfortably shy, but that the person found out they wound up checking everybody's bag and getting all endearingly tongue-tied around authors they admired, because of course they all went to the art show too, but then, every job has its downsides, and getting tongue-tied in Pat's presence is not a bad one to have to deal with. She's a gracious soul, and so are most of 'em.

Lois says hi, by the way. She'll be there.

Re: advice for first Worldcon

[elisem.livejournal.com]

A guy is hoping to have an awful lot of visitors at that there table, ya know? A guy is looking forward to it.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

*waving hi to Lois*

I, for one, am grateful that a personal hygiene recommendation has been added to the bit about meals and sleep. I do tend to forget carrying drinking water around with me, so thank you for the reminder.

I should, in fact, volunteer. That would be a sensible thing to do. When I'm not, for example, hanging out at my friends' dealer tables, keeping them company while they sell necklaces.

[marykaykare.livejournal.com]

Well, you know, Lois and I both lived in, or near, Columbus so we were seeing the same people and getting the same advice and so on. You'll note that neither of us lives there now....

MKK