kingofpain26
05-12-2012, 09:16 PM
Many of you people reading this, will be experiencing your first Joecon, I am writing this guide in order to help you acclimate to what you need for Joecon, or most Fan conventions:
1) Pack Light
many people overpack for cons because the mix up Con.. with vacations. usually the forget to factor in several point of conventions:
a) convention swag
you will be getting con sets, vehicles, figures and whatever other swag you get from con, let alone collectibles like signed items or posters that have to be packed carefully. Yes you can ship them from the con, but the shipping service is usually much more expensive than USPS, and you have until Saturday morning at noon to utilize USPS.
b) types of clothing
there's a good chance with Joecon activities, you wont have the opportunely (unless you make time) to do extra activities like swimming, dressing formal, watching DVDs or playing video games. I have made the mistake of bringing such things to Joecon (even once bringing my playstation 2) and NEVER using them. Between Con activities, hanging with friends, and eventually sleeping, you probably wont have time for anything.
also keep in mind local weather. I remember several people who live in the south being totally unprepared for New England weather at the Rhode Island Con. Likewise when it was snowing in Boston before I flew out to the 80 degree weather in Florida last year. Check the weather online before you pack
...keep in mind the last paragraph becomes completely moot if you are traveling with children or a wife/ girlfriend.
c) AIrline fees
the more you pack the heavier your bag will be, and the baggage fees go up over 50 lbs.
basically if you are staying JUST for con, you only need 4 outfits (two of which are the clothes you are traveling to/from in) and whatever costume/ custom/ trade fodder you decide to bring.
2) Incidentals
these are the things you MUST bring:
a) Food Money
Ive seen several people run out of money buying joes and they have nothing to eat.
b) Aspirin/ Vitamin Pills/ Energy drinks
YOU WILL LOSE A LOT OF SLEEP!!! Most con activities start as early as 8:30/ 9 am and don't end until well after 11 (even later if you are hanging with Joebros. so get your sleep early, and make sure you have medicine or energy drinks to keep you sprilley! Also you will be on your feet for extended periods of time, Aspirin helps keep the aches and pains away, and aspirin combined with the vitamin pill and Revive Vitamin water, helps fight hangovers.
c) emergency money
you never know if you have an emergency (flat on the way to con, spend all your cash in the strip club, bail money) so factor in some extra cash... which brings me to...
d) CASH IS KING
a lot of vendors will not have credit card machines, and unless you want to wait in lines at the ATM, its better to have at least a third to half your money in cash to speed up transactions.
e) shipping boxes
the Shipping company on site will most likely charge you for boxes and packing materials, so it may be an idea to bring your own. also remember The USPS provides Priority mail boxes for FREE, and the flat rate box will ship anything that fits in the box for 9 bucks.
3) DEODORANT
THERE IS NO EXCUSE WHY YOU SHOULD BE STINKY!
Between soap/ deodorant and Axe body spray.. Un funk yourself!!!
4) Room to room trading
usually people trade from room to room by posting what you have brought with you via a posting board provided by the club. however you should bring the stuff you KNOW will be sold or traded, so you dont have to drag it back.
5) Notebook or address book
unless you are a recluse or a total douchbag, you WILL make new friends at Joecon, so its good to have an address book or notebook to write down screen names, addresses, phone numbers Etc.
6) Patience
there are times lines will be long, so be patient, and feel free to talk to the people around you.
7) No Board Angst
there's a big difference between talking smack on a board about someone 1000 miles away under an assumed name, and saying the same thing when they are in your face. it also makes you look like a bigger douche. leave the board angst at home.I personally get tired of people coming to Joecon with the "This Board Sucks"attitude, when they a) haven't been to that board in months, and b) have no idea the person you're telling it to is a member of that board. Especially when there are wonderful human beings on every board.
...leave the chip on your shoulder at home.
8) Make a List
Make sure you make an itemized list of EXACTLY what you are looking for. whether it be figures, vehicles, parts or random things for customs, its sometimes easier to make a list not just for yourself, but also for people you are buying/ trading for. This list can guide you in your buying process, and also be posted up on the room to room trading board.
9) Don't be Afraid to Bargain
it is possible to haggle and bargain with vendors. especially the ones who are already going to highball some items (expect a renegades Storm Shadow to match the prices on ebay). Especially as the con progresses, By Sunday afternoon some vendors wont turn away reasonable offers.
10) YOU MUST VISIT MARAUDER JOHN
there are certain vendors who are at Joecon constantly that have great deals. Joearmory, Smalljoes, Broken Arrow Toys, ... but by far the greatest guy out there is Marauder John, the Gun Runner!
He has been selling 1:18th scale guns for 7 years now, and they are awesome products! the prices are great, and most of all, Marauder John himself is the coolest person you will ever get to meet!!!
11) Unofficial Activities
there are several activities that are NOT on the Con brochure because they are unofficial and are run by the Fans. These are the perfect opportunely to make friends and meet people from your favorite boards and Other boards you are unfamiliar with. The People running these events are Friendly people (for the most part) and will welcome you to join:
a) After Registration Dinner
Usually after every con we go to a local spot for dinner. what started as a small group of friends from Joebattleines has evolved into a Multi board, multu collector event! (Rhode Island con we had 54 people) great opportunely to meet people, make friends, and hang out! No one is ever turned away, and all are welcome to come with us!
b) Crappy Figure Brigade Meeting
Run by our Illustrious President Card, the Crappy figure brigade is a group where we get together and have fun while Honoring the WORST that G.I.Joe has provided us. its a fun way to make fun of the silliness of G.I.Joe while making friends (and drinking). we also take a Joecon pic every year after the meeting. No one is turned away and we welcome all!
c) Late Night Hang outs
usually people group up and hang out in the Hotel lobby, or in rooms,... this is also an opportunity to introduce yourself to others, make friends, and otherwise mingle not the Joe community. Very seldom are people complete jerks at Joecon (some are..) so just walk up, introduce yourself, and join the conversation!
1) Pack Light
many people overpack for cons because the mix up Con.. with vacations. usually the forget to factor in several point of conventions:
a) convention swag
you will be getting con sets, vehicles, figures and whatever other swag you get from con, let alone collectibles like signed items or posters that have to be packed carefully. Yes you can ship them from the con, but the shipping service is usually much more expensive than USPS, and you have until Saturday morning at noon to utilize USPS.
b) types of clothing
there's a good chance with Joecon activities, you wont have the opportunely (unless you make time) to do extra activities like swimming, dressing formal, watching DVDs or playing video games. I have made the mistake of bringing such things to Joecon (even once bringing my playstation 2) and NEVER using them. Between Con activities, hanging with friends, and eventually sleeping, you probably wont have time for anything.
also keep in mind local weather. I remember several people who live in the south being totally unprepared for New England weather at the Rhode Island Con. Likewise when it was snowing in Boston before I flew out to the 80 degree weather in Florida last year. Check the weather online before you pack
...keep in mind the last paragraph becomes completely moot if you are traveling with children or a wife/ girlfriend.
c) AIrline fees
the more you pack the heavier your bag will be, and the baggage fees go up over 50 lbs.
basically if you are staying JUST for con, you only need 4 outfits (two of which are the clothes you are traveling to/from in) and whatever costume/ custom/ trade fodder you decide to bring.
2) Incidentals
these are the things you MUST bring:
a) Food Money
Ive seen several people run out of money buying joes and they have nothing to eat.
b) Aspirin/ Vitamin Pills/ Energy drinks
YOU WILL LOSE A LOT OF SLEEP!!! Most con activities start as early as 8:30/ 9 am and don't end until well after 11 (even later if you are hanging with Joebros. so get your sleep early, and make sure you have medicine or energy drinks to keep you sprilley! Also you will be on your feet for extended periods of time, Aspirin helps keep the aches and pains away, and aspirin combined with the vitamin pill and Revive Vitamin water, helps fight hangovers.
c) emergency money
you never know if you have an emergency (flat on the way to con, spend all your cash in the strip club, bail money) so factor in some extra cash... which brings me to...
d) CASH IS KING
a lot of vendors will not have credit card machines, and unless you want to wait in lines at the ATM, its better to have at least a third to half your money in cash to speed up transactions.
e) shipping boxes
the Shipping company on site will most likely charge you for boxes and packing materials, so it may be an idea to bring your own. also remember The USPS provides Priority mail boxes for FREE, and the flat rate box will ship anything that fits in the box for 9 bucks.
3) DEODORANT
THERE IS NO EXCUSE WHY YOU SHOULD BE STINKY!
Between soap/ deodorant and Axe body spray.. Un funk yourself!!!
4) Room to room trading
usually people trade from room to room by posting what you have brought with you via a posting board provided by the club. however you should bring the stuff you KNOW will be sold or traded, so you dont have to drag it back.
5) Notebook or address book
unless you are a recluse or a total douchbag, you WILL make new friends at Joecon, so its good to have an address book or notebook to write down screen names, addresses, phone numbers Etc.
6) Patience
there are times lines will be long, so be patient, and feel free to talk to the people around you.
7) No Board Angst
there's a big difference between talking smack on a board about someone 1000 miles away under an assumed name, and saying the same thing when they are in your face. it also makes you look like a bigger douche. leave the board angst at home.I personally get tired of people coming to Joecon with the "This Board Sucks"attitude, when they a) haven't been to that board in months, and b) have no idea the person you're telling it to is a member of that board. Especially when there are wonderful human beings on every board.
...leave the chip on your shoulder at home.
8) Make a List
Make sure you make an itemized list of EXACTLY what you are looking for. whether it be figures, vehicles, parts or random things for customs, its sometimes easier to make a list not just for yourself, but also for people you are buying/ trading for. This list can guide you in your buying process, and also be posted up on the room to room trading board.
9) Don't be Afraid to Bargain
it is possible to haggle and bargain with vendors. especially the ones who are already going to highball some items (expect a renegades Storm Shadow to match the prices on ebay). Especially as the con progresses, By Sunday afternoon some vendors wont turn away reasonable offers.
10) YOU MUST VISIT MARAUDER JOHN
there are certain vendors who are at Joecon constantly that have great deals. Joearmory, Smalljoes, Broken Arrow Toys, ... but by far the greatest guy out there is Marauder John, the Gun Runner!
He has been selling 1:18th scale guns for 7 years now, and they are awesome products! the prices are great, and most of all, Marauder John himself is the coolest person you will ever get to meet!!!
11) Unofficial Activities
there are several activities that are NOT on the Con brochure because they are unofficial and are run by the Fans. These are the perfect opportunely to make friends and meet people from your favorite boards and Other boards you are unfamiliar with. The People running these events are Friendly people (for the most part) and will welcome you to join:
a) After Registration Dinner
Usually after every con we go to a local spot for dinner. what started as a small group of friends from Joebattleines has evolved into a Multi board, multu collector event! (Rhode Island con we had 54 people) great opportunely to meet people, make friends, and hang out! No one is ever turned away, and all are welcome to come with us!
b) Crappy Figure Brigade Meeting
Run by our Illustrious President Card, the Crappy figure brigade is a group where we get together and have fun while Honoring the WORST that G.I.Joe has provided us. its a fun way to make fun of the silliness of G.I.Joe while making friends (and drinking). we also take a Joecon pic every year after the meeting. No one is turned away and we welcome all!
c) Late Night Hang outs
usually people group up and hang out in the Hotel lobby, or in rooms,... this is also an opportunity to introduce yourself to others, make friends, and otherwise mingle not the Joe community. Very seldom are people complete jerks at Joecon (some are..) so just walk up, introduce yourself, and join the conversation!