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What are you doing different for next PAX?
Posts
1. Lose weight. I tried before prime last year and didn't do well. but this year I have more of a head start.
2. Get to Seattle Earlier and spend more time enjoying stuff (also staying later so I don't have to feel rushed home.
3. Spend a little LESS time in tabletop and more time checking out some of the other stuff. I spent a huge amount of time with the SJ Games Team (not that it was bad at all, but I really want to get into more of the Con Stuff.)
4. Take some of the other suggestions I've seen people listing and do them as well (comfy shoes/athletic tape is a great one)
Prime:
I don't want to derail this thread, but what is the recommended packaging method, especially for the monitor, if you don't have the original boxen/material? I've shipped beer through FedEx/UPS before and you have to pack it up extremely well to prevent breakages - putting "delicate" on a package is goggles (it does nothing), and I would consider my computer parts to be of a similar frailty.
I took the Acela up with 3 other enforcers. We didn't really see anyone on the way up, but on our return trip Tuesday morning I ran into a couple of attendees, as well as Gabe and Tycho (they were going to NY for the book tour) which was awesome, they each stopped and talked with us for a few minutes, and allowed me to extend the wonderful PAX experience (as well as debate as to who was favorite [Gabe won this year]). The train ride from Philadelphia was around 5 hours, and was decent enough. It is a bit pricey and the wifi isn't worth a whole lot (slow, spotty connectivity, but fine for web browsing with patience). I'll probably go this route for the next East as well.
I think I may dress up this year. It sounds like a new experience to have as a PAX attendee-one I haven't had yet. :whistle:
Had to take a 15 minute bus ride last year.
That doesn't sound too bad, but you have to get up earlier to catch a morning bus, and then you can't just run back to the room during the day... Carrying a bag full of stuff (getting fuller as the day goes on) for 12 hours at a time is brutal.
This year I can just take a 5 minute walk back to the room, drop it off, and go back.
Make friends with someone who is staying in a nearby hotel. Ask them if you can stash some of your swag there, until it's convenient for you to take it all back to your hotel. OR get a BYOC pass, bring your computer, and use your table/chair space to stow some swag there.
If I HAD to stay further away I would probably do it the same way.
But I don't HAVE to. So I decided far in advance this year to pay a couple extra bucks and stay right across the street. The extra convenience and extra 40 minutes of sleep each day will be more then worth it.
truth. i had to go back to the hotel atleast once each day to deposit swag, you don't think about it but shirts and other crap can get annoying to hold while waiting in line for hours. i'm glad i had a backpack but man everyone wanted to store their jacket in it.
If your in a group having someone with a backpack is great. Yeah don't stuff it full of crap like jackets and such use it for swag. Also jackets are pretty much useless in Seattle during September unless of course it's raining.
<Qs23> I just need to get my dicks in a row
<prox> i work for dicks
#paforums_pax, all about the dicks.
1.) No more lines for panels. I messed up my hip big time last year due to sitting/standing on concrete and I felt like I missed a huge chunk of PAX due to it. This time, I'll catch it on DVD.
2.) Less scheduling, more going with the flow. It's lame if PAX is stressful the whole time, worrying about being in three places at once.
3.) Be early for the PubCrawl.
And possibly,
4.) Learn how to play D&D
http://prime.paxsite.com/schedule/panel/standard-action-the-webseries
1) Get started on my costume well in advance. Last year I went as Altair, and the costume was finished two days before PAX started. Learning from that, my costume is almost done for PAX 2010 already.
2) Water. Lots of water. In bottles. I was way too thirsty at the concerts last time, partly due to the heat. I had to go around asking random people if they could spare a bottle of water. Next time, I'm bringing tons of water. Of course, I've got to store these somewhere, which brings me to...
3) Bigger bag. Last year I had nothing but a small bag(that went with my costume) and soft-sided lunch box. The backpack held swag, water, and equipment (camera, DS, etc). This year, I'm looking into a backpack/duffel bag, and a side pack. The side pack will hold things I need to access quickly, like electronics. The backpack will hold my food, water (LOTS!), and lots of SWAG. I ran out of room during the Sunday SWAG rush, and didn't get nearly as much as I could have.
4) Poster storage method. Last time I had issues carrying posters around; I had to get yet another bag. My brilliant "roll up the poster and stick it in an empty water bottle" idea gave me three ruined posters and a nightmare carrying them around still. This year I plan to work a capped PVC poster carrier into my costume or bag.
5) Excercise. Get ready for walking around and more importantly (for concerts) standing around for a while. I'll probably use my duffel bag for a small bench on occasion, provided I can get it packed with enough free t-shirts on Saturday. I'll probably look into some inexpensive orthotics to give my feet some cushioning.
6) Panels. I tried to get into some panels, but I always underestimated how long the lines were going to be. I'd like to catch a few more of those.
7) Signatures! I'll bring my Dr. Horrible Blu-ray and see if I can get Felicia Day to sign the case insert.
8) Waiting-in-line activities. I'd love to bring my Uke and play some songs once I'm good enough and my costume allows for it, but for now I should just bring some highly-portable games to amuse those around me.
This year, I'm bringing some of my vintage games (I say that in all seriousness, some of them are first editions published in the 1970s) and try and get the designer's/programmer's/publisher's autograph. I was surprised how accessible and findable some of the "big names" in gaming were at last year's PAX and hope that the trend continues.
I am pretty sure that is what PAX is all about
All you need is a bottle. There are drinking fountains to refill at.
I would avoid the duffel bag though... Seriously. Just look for a backpack with some comfortable padded straps. You are not going to want to be carrying a duffel bag in your hand or wearing unpadded straps during this event.
Last year I took a simple messenger bag that didn't have a padded strap, had a 2in wide nylon strap (like what you would find on a duffel bag) and by the end of the weekend both my shoulders were killing me. And I wasn't even using it for more then a bottle of water, DS, 2 Red Bulls and 2-3 swag shirts.
I had a friend who did bring a normal school backpack and even he was hurting at the end.
Unfortunetly when you carry something for 12-14 hours a day and are on your feet for a lot of that, it is going to suck. So try to make it suck as little as possible.
I am seriously thinking about bringing my camping daypack this year. Has a bladder pack for water, thick comfortable straps, and if I feel I need them a waist belt.
Yes, but I consume water very quickly. (7-10 seconds to down a standard bottle.) In concert situations, I need a steady supply of water. Yes I can refill one throughout the day, but I'll need a small supply (3-4) I can eat through when I can't access a fountain.
Ah, good point. I'll bring a decent-sized backpack instead. That would be better anyways if I were to add wings to my costume.
Ploogle, when I saw you say how much water you go through, the first thing I thought of was what is quoted above. If you need that much water, you'll do far better with a hydration pack than bottles. A 100 ounce pack (5 x 20 oz bottles) takes up way, way less space than those bottles do and if you have a backpack designed to hold the hydration pack it is a much better distribution of weight than bottles tossed in the bottom of a backpack.
I'll definitely look into that, seeing as how I'm still shopping around for my pack.
My only concern now is trying to find the balance of panels, tabletop gaming (something I don't have a lot of experience with but want to try), and all the other stuff going on. It seems that everyone has different ideas on what to prioritize. My first day tentative plan is to hit the merch booth to get the cool, limited stuff then jump in line for the opening ceremony/keynote stuff. Does this make sense? Is this a waste of my time? What should I do the other two days?
Sorry for the PAX noob questions, it just seems like this is the place to ask them since you all seem grizzled and experienced.
The unfortunate thing is that you can't really know what to expect, what you'll like the most and all that, until you've experienced your first PAX. Sample everything; go to a few panels, play some tabletop games, go to the expo hall, see a concert or two...you'll have a blast regardless and know all the better how to get more out of PAX the next time.
Now one thing PAX has that we didn't is the Cookie Brigade. If you are really hurting for a snack, the Cookie Brigade will help you out, I'm sure.
Pick the things you MUST see, and show up early. I arrived 30 minutes before one panel thinking it would be fine and just managed to get in the last 2 rows of seating.
And yes... Get merch early... I learned my lesson from last year and will get a shirt this year...
There is a ton of food with in just a couple blocks and a subway in the building so food isn't tough. Last year I also saw a cart being wheeled around upstairs with sandwichs, drinks, and snacks for sale.
Also, push come to shove, search the exhibit floor. You can get some energy drinks and other such pretty easily, and for free.
Does anyone know of any good meal replacement bars that could be easily carried around in a purse/bag? I'm not looking to beef up or lose weight. I want enough vitamins, carbs, fibre, and protein to keep me going on those l-o-n-g PAX days without a ton of sugar so I don't crash on it later. My goal is also to avoid the long food lineups when I'm already ravenous and possibly save some cash as well.
http://prime.paxsite.com/schedule/panel/standard-action-the-webseries
<@zerzhul>; you win at twdt
I've found clif bars to be a decent hold-me-over between meals. While NO packaged product is a 100% meal replacement, the clif products ave a nice healthy balance of micronutrients that will do in a pinch. The only real problems are that they are "only" 250 calories, so you might want to supplement them with some hard candy, and they are rather dry so you are going to NEED to drink some water with them.
I love Luna bars. They're pretty much the only ones with protein in them that doesn't taste like chalk to me. Plus, the whole 'nutrition for women' thing scared my husband off of them until I gave him one when we were desperate for food. Now I have to pick up flavors he doesn't like if I want to make sure they don't disappear.
Mojo bars are pretty good as snacks too. But for all my love of both of those, I can't choke down a Cliff Bar even when I'm starving.
I am not sharing my room with my friend who assured me his friend in Washington was going to put him up for the weekend. Ruined any chance I had of enjoying my time at PAX.
Also not telling relatives I have in Washington State that I am going. Nothing like missing Day 3 of PAX to be bored by family.
PAX '09 taught me you have to go to PAX like a ninja, arrive and leave silently leaving no one that can annoy you knowing that you were there ... and party like a rock star!
Ricin
For my part, I think I did pretty well at PAX 09, for my first time. I wore thick socks and comfortable boots, brought my big water canteen and snacks (including Clif & Larabars!) and planned out all of the panels and presentations I didn't want to miss, leaving plenty of time for exploration.
However, this time I need to research how all the tabletop stuff is coordinated so I can participate in that. I shunned all of that because I didn't want to walk in cluelessly. Likewise, I need to seek out the free play rooms this time. In hindsight I know I didn't have the time, but I wish I'd been able to spend some time just goofing off with random games.
I also need to talk to more people (that seems to be common among us!) as I only approached people I knew to some degree via the Internet. Except the flustered woman who traded camera duty with me at Wheaton's table. You were great, whoever you were. I'm so glad you didn't bolt when you accidentally scampered off before taking my picture and I called you back.
I'm likewise going to bring cards. I probably should have done it last year to spread the word about my fledgling music blog, but that implied I would have to approach strangers, and I didn't even pretend I was up for that.
I let my wife talk me into using her (unisex, mind you) messenger bag rather than my laptop backpack (sans laptop). This time I'll choose the padded, buoyant straps and well-distributed load over the lean profile.
And finally, exercise. My health (and appearance) were at an all-time low at PAX last year. Nevermind how I looked, my stamina was pathetic. If you stacked the hours up, I basically did one day of PAX, and I was beat at the end of it. If I want to get more out of PAX, I need to prepare my body to enable it. I've shed a visible amount of weight since then, but I'm only exercising casually and that's probably not good enough to counter the effects of having almost my entire life revolve around sitting in front of a computer.
Hit backpacking forums up for these types of recipes.
Backpacker.com cooking forum has some good ones.
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