CREDIT: SAMANTHA KACZALA
Cosplayers group dance in front of the Toronto Congress Centre at a previous year of Anime North.

It's time to suit up geek adventurers and take a trip to the fantasy land of conventions.

These events are the crèmede- la-crème of must dos for any geek and with a fantastic choice of conventions in Canada coming in the next few months (YetiCon, Fan Expo, etc.), the hype is all too real. Are you ready to begin your journey? Afraid to face the dragon alone? Fear not. Below is a list of tips and tricks to a successful convention quest for the new and the experienced.

Keep your health bar high

Conventions can be very exciting, too exciting in fact, which is why it is easy to neglect your health in all the thrills. Health is your number one priority, so don't forgo sleep or food for some extra time to enjoy the excitement. Always remember to stay hydrated and put on sunscreen, especially for those boiling hot summer conventions. Wigs and full face masks can get hot, so if you're wearing either one or both, remember to take them off at some point to breath in some fresh air.

Maneuvering the crowds

Some conventions can get pretty crowded. You are probably going to be bumping into people constantly. Remember to always be courteous to other convention goers by remembering your manners and not shoving through the crowds. Usually, flow of direction happens in crowded areas at conventions, be the fish that follows it to get to your destination. Don't be the Magikarp jumping back-up stream. Cosplayers, be careful of anything that sticks out on your costume. Most likely, it will get ruined and all your hard work will go down the drain. To avoid this, take some time to make the cosplay easier to maneuver with or have parts that you can take off and carry.

Bring the right equipment

You will be standing, all the time. Make sure to bring the right footwear. Comfortable sandals or flats are the best for summer. To all those cosplayers staying true to their character's look — you know, the one's with the killer heels — carry a pair of cheap flats around or make sure to take sitting breaks to rest your tired feet. If you wish to leave your hands free of holding items, bring a bag or fanny pack to carry items in.

Plan out your day

Got any panels you want to attend? Schedules are readily available on any convention website, so take a look beforehand to get an idea of what you want to do. If one panel or event isn't what you expected, make a backup one to go to instead.

Lines, the “bane” of all conventions

There will be lines, lines and more lines. It's expected at bigger conventions. To get ahead make sure to be in line early, especially if you know it will be a popular event or panel. If you're not sure, swing by the area about 30 minutes beforehand and see if a line has already begun. If it doesn't have one yet, stay close in the area to keep an eye out for people lining up. The worst lines tend to be for the dealers room and any big events being held like cosplay contests. Be extra sure to line up early for those.

Allocate your money

Don't go crazy and spend all your money on one rare item. Most vendors at the convention will only accept cash, so you'll be more prompted to having a limit. Allocate your cash beforehand. Tell yourself, “I'll only use x amount of money on artist vendors, and I'll use x on store goods”. You'll avoid crying later that you used all your money on one product when you could have bought five other things you wanted.

Photo taking

If you're like me, you become a little hopping rabbit when you see cosplay and just need to take a photo right that second. Don't be shy, simply go up to the person and ask politely if you can take a photo. You'll 100 per cent get a “yes” as your answer and photos are the reason cosplayers dress up after all. If the person is already posing, join the crowd of cameraman/ camerawomam and snap a picture to take home. Remember your surroundings. If you're in a small hallway trying to take a picture, you are going to get in the way of other convention goers, so ask the person you are taking a photo of if they can move with you to an open area.

For people with special needs

All types of people come to conventions. From the young to the elderly. If you need to be accommodated for any reason, conventions will do so. Some accommodations may include front of the line access to panels or events, areas of rest or accessible parking spots. Make sure to check the website of the convention you are planning to go to and see what accommodations they have. If it is not on the website directly, contact the convention organizers through their contact information to get details.

Finally, the most important rule at any convention quest is to have the best time and make sure you have FUN.