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*This is a continuation of a previous article. To read the Part 1 of this article, please Click Here

Let’s move on to the however many minutes (or hours) later when you have your convention badge in hand. Before you leave the registration area, you’ll definitely want to be sure you have all of the literature provided by the convention. Usually, you’ll be able to pick up a program which will have all sorts of information. If it’s not contained inside the program, (or even if it is) you’ll usually also be able to find a smaller, pocket-sized schedule of events. Though the program will serve as a nice souvenir, the schedule is the most important thing you’ll need to have on you.

After you’ve snagged a copy of the convention schedule, it might be a good idea to sit down with your friends and plan some stuff out. This is especially the case if you’re all there for the same reason (i.e. you’re all there to play Dungeons & Dragons or some other game) or if you’re part of a larger group that has scheduled events. Either way, if you’re going to be so bold to actually try to make plans and stick with them, now is the time to do it. Look through the schedule and make notes in your schedule (having a highlighter on hand is a good idea for this) to help you remember what panels or events are going on at what time and at what location. Keep this schedule on you at all times and check it regularly. If you’re anything like me and you tend to have a solid buzz going on by noon, this will be invaluable. (Article continues after the cut)

Speaking of getting your drink on, let’s talk about that for a bit. I’ve talked a bit in earlier articles about bringing your own alcohol and such to save you from paying the outrageous prices they charge at the hotel’s bar. If you read carefully, you’ll also remember that I mentioned having a 32oz-44oz insulated cup (with lid) in your Con-Box. Are you starting to put the pieces together?

So between all the alcohol you sneaked into the hotel, mixers, your big ol’ insulated cups, and your tools (bottle openers, corkscrews, straws, drink shaker, etc.) you should basically have a small bar set up in your room. It’s time to party! Needless to say, the reason I’ve recommended such a large cup is because you don’t want to be running up to your room every 20-30 minutes to make another drink for yourself. It might not be that bad if you have a room on floors 1-4, but anything above that means you’re going to have to hike stairs or wait for an elevator. Furthermore, do you really wanna leave a 2-hour panel to go refresh your booze? There are other reasons the cup is important as well. For instance, it’s a lot easier to move from place to place with such a beverage if no one knows what it is. If you’re walking around with some little, translucent, plastic cup with fruit and a straw sticking out of it, pretty much everyone knows you’re on the sauce. But if you’re carrying an inconspicuous black cup with a lid, people strangely pay no attention. I’m not going to advise you run around in the street with something like this, but ya know, technically, it’s not public display. Either way, it will help ensure you’re not hassled too much when you’re walking around the con. Another thing that using a cup such as this does is that it allows you to make your own drinks. No one in the world can make a drink for you better than you can and that’s the truth.