lazypadawan (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
lazypadawan) wrote2010-08-09 07:08 pm
lazypadawan) wrote2010-08-09 07:08 pm
Entry tags:
And One More Thing...
Actually, two more things for you Celebrationers....
1. Use cash for things like tips, cab fare, bus fare, and small incidentals. Put the bulk of your purchases (anything over say, $20), your hotel room, car rental, airline bag fees, etc. on your credit card or debit card. Finding an ATM might not be easy and the ones inside the convention center might run out of cash quickly. It's always better to have plenty of cash on you just in case you need it.
2. I hate to say it, but not even a Star Wars convention is safe from crime. A friend had her purse, along with her wallet and passport, stolen at Celebration IV. Another guy related a tale about a poster he had several of the celebrity guests sign. He was carrying it around in a poster tube. When he saw a friend of his, he set it down a second to shake his buddy's hand. When he turned to pick it back up, it was gone. There are less-than-honorable fans among us. There will be people at the con whose only purpose in attending is to buy exclusives and re-sell them on eBay and other outlets...if that guy couldn't get a whatever-it-is and you managed to snag one, and you turn your back on it for a second, it'll be tempting for someone to snatch it away. And there will be people who will attend the convention knowing there are thousands of fans carrying cash, credit cards, iPhones and other smart phones, Blackberrys, iPods, laptops, digital cameras, etc. with them. It's easy to get distracted at Celebration and crooks will take advantage of that. My advice is to never let anything valuable out of your sight, ever. Don't set your purse beneath a chair and keep it closed at all times. Don't flash money around. Dudes, don't let your wallet dangle out your back pocket. If you are waiting in a line alone and have to use the potty, most fans are kind enough to hold your place but don't leave anything valuable alone with a stranger. You don't know if that person will help himself to some 20s or your credit card number. Even if your line mates are honest, they may not watch your stuff all that carefully. If you have leave a place holder in a line, leave something like a goodie bag with flyers.
Lock up any valuables you aren't bringing to the convention center in your hotel room safe. If your room doesn't have a safe, lock valuables inside your suitcase. Lock your room with the deadbolt at night and if you're not expecting someone, don't let him into your room. Never invite somebody you've just met into your hotel room. Be equally cautious about going to the room of someone you don't know.
While out on the town, please, please, please don't wander the streets alone at 1 a.m. drunk out of your gourd. Go out with friends and stay together. Leave no one behind on his or her own. If you need to leave alone early, take a cab straight back to your hotel. Keep an eye on your surroundings. Be aware if someone is following you. If you're getting freaky vibes from someone, get away from him as soon as possible and get your cell phone ready to call 911 if necessary.
Finally, people tend to be rather genial and courteous at Celebration. SW fans are good at policing themselves. But everybody's anxious to do, see, and buy what they want and the problem with these kinds of conventions is that most of the attendees are going to be interested in the same thing. It's going to be hot and tempers can flare. If somebody can get stabbed at Comic Con, it can happen at any convention. Beware of situations escalating out of control. Try not to break up fights yourself; call security or a cop. If someone is being especially bellicose, get away from that person, even if you have to change seats or leave the line. It's much easier to live with disappointment than it is to live with a pen in the eye.
Good luck!
1. Use cash for things like tips, cab fare, bus fare, and small incidentals. Put the bulk of your purchases (anything over say, $20), your hotel room, car rental, airline bag fees, etc. on your credit card or debit card. Finding an ATM might not be easy and the ones inside the convention center might run out of cash quickly. It's always better to have plenty of cash on you just in case you need it.
2. I hate to say it, but not even a Star Wars convention is safe from crime. A friend had her purse, along with her wallet and passport, stolen at Celebration IV. Another guy related a tale about a poster he had several of the celebrity guests sign. He was carrying it around in a poster tube. When he saw a friend of his, he set it down a second to shake his buddy's hand. When he turned to pick it back up, it was gone. There are less-than-honorable fans among us. There will be people at the con whose only purpose in attending is to buy exclusives and re-sell them on eBay and other outlets...if that guy couldn't get a whatever-it-is and you managed to snag one, and you turn your back on it for a second, it'll be tempting for someone to snatch it away. And there will be people who will attend the convention knowing there are thousands of fans carrying cash, credit cards, iPhones and other smart phones, Blackberrys, iPods, laptops, digital cameras, etc. with them. It's easy to get distracted at Celebration and crooks will take advantage of that. My advice is to never let anything valuable out of your sight, ever. Don't set your purse beneath a chair and keep it closed at all times. Don't flash money around. Dudes, don't let your wallet dangle out your back pocket. If you are waiting in a line alone and have to use the potty, most fans are kind enough to hold your place but don't leave anything valuable alone with a stranger. You don't know if that person will help himself to some 20s or your credit card number. Even if your line mates are honest, they may not watch your stuff all that carefully. If you have leave a place holder in a line, leave something like a goodie bag with flyers.
Lock up any valuables you aren't bringing to the convention center in your hotel room safe. If your room doesn't have a safe, lock valuables inside your suitcase. Lock your room with the deadbolt at night and if you're not expecting someone, don't let him into your room. Never invite somebody you've just met into your hotel room. Be equally cautious about going to the room of someone you don't know.
While out on the town, please, please, please don't wander the streets alone at 1 a.m. drunk out of your gourd. Go out with friends and stay together. Leave no one behind on his or her own. If you need to leave alone early, take a cab straight back to your hotel. Keep an eye on your surroundings. Be aware if someone is following you. If you're getting freaky vibes from someone, get away from him as soon as possible and get your cell phone ready to call 911 if necessary.
Finally, people tend to be rather genial and courteous at Celebration. SW fans are good at policing themselves. But everybody's anxious to do, see, and buy what they want and the problem with these kinds of conventions is that most of the attendees are going to be interested in the same thing. It's going to be hot and tempers can flare. If somebody can get stabbed at Comic Con, it can happen at any convention. Beware of situations escalating out of control. Try not to break up fights yourself; call security or a cop. If someone is being especially bellicose, get away from that person, even if you have to change seats or leave the line. It's much easier to live with disappointment than it is to live with a pen in the eye.
Good luck!