Con Going Checklist

Convention Check List

Taking Care of Yourself

You know it's out there: the dreaded smell of unwashed bodies. At Sakura-Con, it's called H.O.B.O.: Horrible Otaku Body Odor. We here at Sakura-Con have declared the convention a "No H.O.B.O. Zone." To enforce that, we have provided a checklist that will help you keep that smell to an absolute minimum, and your con experience will be much more pleasant. Please remember to bring these things with you!
The Top Twenty Items Forgotten by Convention Attendees (a Checklist)

1. Personal towel. (We know the hotel provides them, but if you're sharing a room with several people, this guarantees you your very own towel. Also, if you plan on using a lot of makeup for a costume or dying your hair and use hotel towels, you will be charged a hefty fee for damaging hotel property. Please bring your own towels if you plan to do this.)
2. Shampoo and conditioner. (Again, the hotel provides these, but the bottles are quite small. Bringing your own ensures you will have some, especially if you use a lot of shampoo or have long hair).
3. Toothbrush and toothpaste. (You'd be amazed at what going three days without brushing tastes like. Gross.)
4. Deodorant. (If you don't bring and use this, don't be surprised when people start edging away from you in packed rooms and theaters.)
5. Razor and shaving cream/gel.
6. Comb and/or hairbrush. (Some people do use both. You'd be surprised.)
7. One shirt for each day of the convention, plus an extra. (3 days=4 shirts)
8. Pants. (Same number as shirts.)
9. Underwear. (3 sets, plus an extra.)
10. Socks. (One pair per day plus an extra pair.)
11. Swimsuit.
12. Jacket or warm sweater.
13. Shoes. (If you plan on spending a lot of time dancing or on your feet, make sure you have comfortable shoes with you. Your feet will hurt if you don't have comfy shoes to at least change into.)
14. Any prescribed medications. (Make sure to tell your traveling companions/roommates about any medical needs you may have.)
15. Tylenol/Aspirin/etc.
16. Photo ID/Driver's License/Money/Car Keys
17. An extra pillow and blanket if several people are staying in your room.
18. Some non-perishable food from a supermarket. (Like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips, pretzels and bottled water or juice. While there are a lot of restaurants close by, this is an easy way to save money. In addition, you'll be able to have your midnight snack without leaving your room.)
19. Your best public manners. (You'd be surprised how many people forget to bring these along.)

The Ultimate Con Kit – Revised

As someone who packs for any type of situation, some of these items may seem silly and strange in an all-purpose travel kit. You'll never know when this will come in handy. Trust me on this ^_^ Place everything in a small/medium container, sandwich-sized or slightly larger. Those disposable/reusable containers work nicely. You'll probably spend around $25-$35 for everything listed. This is a good kit to take with you to every con you attend.

• Small tube of super glue
• 3 straight pins
• 3 safety pins: 1 small and 2 medium
• Hair pins: 3 medium and 3 heavy
• Small sewing kit (small enough to fit into the palm of your hand)
• Safety matches (1 pack)
• Disposable plastic razor
• Small emery board
• Travel size tube of spot remover
• Spare car and house keys
• Breath freshener
• 6 moist toweletts (for cleaning hands)
• Small pencil sharpener
• Small pen
• 1 small pack of post-it-notes
• Clear nail polish
• Tylenol/Aspirin (travel sized container)
• 6 chewable Vitamin C tablets (at least 500mg each)
• 2 Vitamin B complex tabs, stress formula
• 1 pack Tums/Rolaids
• 6 Bandaids (or a travel sized pack)
• 6 Antihistamine tablets
• 1 travel pack of tissues
• Tube of chapstick
• 6 cough drops or throat lozenges
• Smallest size of tiger balm or camphophenique oil
• Small amount of masking tape wrapped around a short pencil
• 6 rubber bands
• 3 unlubricated condoms
• Small penknife
• Small tube of Neosporin
• 3 garbage bag twist ties
• Mustache scissors (small pair of scissors will work as well)
• Styptic pencil or qwik stop
• Hand lotion (travel size)
• 3 nail polish remover pads


Cosplay/Masquerade FAQs and Checklist

Checklist

If you're planning on wearing a costume to the convention, you'll need to bring some extra supplies with you depending on what costume(s) you're bringing. Here's a list of the basics as given to us by professional costumer Melissa Quinn of Faerie-Fingers.
A Basic Sewing Kit:

• Scissors
• Pins (straight and safety)
• Bobbins of thread of every color used for your costume(s)
• Needles
• Snaps
• Hooks and eyes
• Fusible web tape (Stitch Witch)
• Spare beads and buttons (if your costume contains those)

What if I have props for my costume?

If there are props, be sure to bring with you spray paint, duct tape (or similar strong tape), a hot glue gun, masking tape and anything else you may have used in the construction of said prop. This list will vary between props.

How about wigs?

Be sure to bring silicone spray (not a necessity, but it is a good detangling aid), a wide tooth comb or pick, Aquanet hairspray, a wig cap to wear under your wig (and to help flatten your own hair under said wig), bobby pins and hair combs.