DPCC 2019: 5 Keys to a Fun and Comfortable Con
Denver Pop Culture Con starts in a mere three days, and we don’t know about you, but we’re in full on preparation mode! Outfit planning, interview scheduling, panel prepping and much more goes into con readiness for Sisters in Geek. We thought we’d share with you our 5 keys to having fun at Con all while staying cool and comfortable. It’s a long 3 days, and there’s a million things to do and see, so good planning is critical to a successful con experience.
1. Wear Good Shoes.
We can’t emphasize this enough. Wear solid, comfortable and well broken in shoes. I averaged 15k steps a day at Con last year, not to mention all the standing on hard concrete. It’s tough on your feet, and you should do as much as you can to mitigate that pain and suffering. Pro tip: wear different shoes each day if possible, variety helps with the potential cramping and blisters.
2. Eat a Good Breakfast.
Look, convention center food is not the greatest, or the healthiest. So make sure you fuel up before you start your Con day. Whether at home, or at a classic Denver haunt, get some carbs, protein and fat in you before you head out to the con. We are fans of Sam’s #3, right down the street from the Convention Center, but wherever you go, make sure you eat all the good food to start your day! Pro Tip: if you go out near the convention center, give yourself plenty of time to wait for a table.
3. Pack Snacks
DPCC has very kind policies on bringing your own snacks into the con. And you should take advantage. The lines for the food vendors are often extremely long, and it’s easy to sacrifice acquiring a snack in favor of getting into another panel. So, pack those granola bars, trail mixes or energy bars! They’ll help you stay energetic and keep you from getting hangry while you queue for the best panels. Pro Tip: bring your snacks in sealed packages for faster passage through security in the morning.
4. Use Multiple Calendar Reminders.
Cell service inside the Con is notoriously unreliable, which means your lovingly curated schedule on the DPCC app might not load as well as you’d like. Use a second calendar reminder that doesn’t rely on the internet to help you make sure you get to all your favorite panels on time. I also use my phone calendar to plan time to pick up merch, visit specific artists and meet up with new friends for after Con shenanigans. Pro Tip: Use the vibrate notification mode, cause you can’t hear anything on the con floor.
5. HYDRATE!!!
We can’t stress this enough: however much water you think you should drink during Con, you should drink more than that. You will be moving around constantly, it’s hot, you’ll be talking a lot, and you’re in Denver. Bring your own refillable bottle if at all possible, and take advantage of the convention centers many refilling stations. Pro Tip: if you’re not from Colorado, please remember that, technically, Denver is a desert. You need more water than you think. Altitude sickness is no joke.
These are our 5 keys to a fun, comfortable, awesome con experience. Obviously, there are lots of other tips and tricks you can follow, but in our opinion, these 5 are the non-negotiable steps to take every day to ensure maximum fun and minimal crankiness.
Happy Con! We hope to see you this weekend. We’ll be the ones in the nerdy t-shirts carrying full packs of snacks and water.
For more information about DPCC, Pop Culture Classroom and their mission to build a diverse and caring community, visit the DPCC homepage.