Heading to your first 90s Con?! We’ve learned a few things along the way, so here’s our unofficial BSBFangirls survival guide.
1. HAVE YOUR SCHEDULE READY
Download/screenshot your schedule before you get there. Between panels, photo ops, meet & greets, and everything happening around you, it’s easy to lose track of time. Don’t get stuck in a selfie line while you’re supposed to be at an op!
2. COMFY SHOES. SERIOUSLY.
You’re going to be walking and standing a lot. Cute shoes are great, but let’s be real…some of us have outgrown our cute shoes for events like this.
3. BRING A PORTABLE CHARGER
Between photos, videos, checking schedules, texting your friends, and documenting ALL the nostalgia, your phone battery can disappear fast. Have something as a back up just in case.
4. HAVE A PHOTO-OP PLAN
Know where you need to be, what time you need to arrive, and what you want to do for your photo. If you have a pose in mind, don’t be afraid to go for it! Plan that out ahead. We find the celebs are more open to fun and silly poses at the cons, so ASK! The worst you get is a no, and then you can just ask for a squeeze. 🙂
5. GIVE YOURSELF EXTRA TIME
Lines happen. Crowds happen. Panels run long. You may get distracted by something amazing three aisles away. Build in some breathing room whenever you can.
6. BRING A BAG YOU’RE COMFORTABLE CARRYING
Because you WILL acquire things. Merch. Autographs. Photos. Random treasures you absolutely did not plan to buy.
7. PLAN YOUR SPENDING
It’s very easy to get caught up in the excitement, so decide ahead of time what you really want to prioritize, tickets, autographs, photo ops, merch, etc. Wracking up a high cost is very easy to do at these events.
8. TALK TO PEOPLE!
One of the best parts of 90s Con is being surrounded by people who understand exactly why you’re freaking out over Nick Carter. You might make some fun connections!
9. YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING
This one took us a while to learn. You cannot see every panel, meet every celebrity, buy every piece of merch, and experience everything happening at once. And that’s okay!
Pick the things that matter most to YOU and enjoy them. And even then be prepared to be pooped out by dinner time.
10. TAKE THE PICTURES… BUT ALSO PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN SOMETIMES
Capture the memories, but don’t feel like you have to document every second. Some of our favorite convention memories are the moments we weren’t trying to record.
11. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A FOLDER TO KEEP YOUR PHOTO OPS SAFE
If you are getting any photo ops, those are printed immediately after they’re taken. You’ll want to have some kind of folder (trapper keepers!) to keep them from bending or folding. Something that can be slid in and out of your bag is perfect.
12. THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY AHEAD OF TIME
If you are anything like me, walking up to a celeb you have looked up to can be intimidating. If there’s anything you really want to share, make sure you think about that ahead of time and (I know this sounds silly) rehearse it. To yourself, to a friend, doesn’t matter, but the more you say it over again, the easier it will be when you’ve got the celeb staring at you.
13. BE PREPARED FOR FOOD TO BE A CHALLENGE
If you’re a picky eater or you have any kind of food restrictions, think ahead. The food options aren’t always diverse and you can get stuck with nothing if you haven’t scoped out options ahead of time. Depending on the venue, there may be just about nothing on the inside you can get, so just be prepared and have back up options.
12. LET YOURSELF BE A FAN
This might be the biggest one.
If you’ve waited 20, 30, or even MORE years to see someone you grew up watching, let yourself be excited. Get the autograph. Wear the shirt. Make the sign. Take the picture. Scream internally.
You’re there because you LOVE this stuff, so enjoy it.
FIRST-TIMERS: WHAT ARE YOU MOST NERVOUS/EXCITED ABOUT?
And veterans… what do YOU wish someone had told you before your first 90s Con?