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How much money should I bring to PAX?
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This is my first PAX that I have been too and as a college student I don't have a lot of money to begin with but I want to start saving some money to set aside for PAX east. How much money is enough because I don't want to go with too little and end up being poor after the first day and I also don't want to carry around too much. What is there to buy at PAX east and what do you usually spend your money on? What is a geek to do?
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As for stuff to buy inside the expo, can't say with any certainty since the exhibitor list hasn't been released, but I'd eat my non-existant hat if the PA store didn't show up. There you can buy basically everything that's in the online store (obviously no comic prints) and a few exclusive goodies as well. However, the past couple of years they've had lines for plastic and cash, so I'd imagine that'd hold for PAX East. Whatever else you might want to buy in there depends entirely on what you like and who's selling stuff.
tl;dr version: Carry enough for food, hit up ATM for merch if you can't pay with plastic.
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i.e. companies setting up booths to demo stuff and give away or sell some swag. Should I also expect a presence from booths not affiliated with any company but just dealers that are strictly there to sell games and game-related merch & collectibles?
Not particularly. The only "we're really only here to sell stuff" exhibitors that I recall were from PAX '09 were PA (of course), Pink Gorilla, Sweet Kitty and Mana Potions. Some of the other exhibitors sold stuff, but that was secondary to demoing stuff.
O yeah, I had about 180 dollars left over, so I didn't spend it all.
Like Wormdundee, my biggest expenditure was on food and alcohol. I probably spent $700-$800 at Prime between air fare, train ticket, hotel, PAX badge, various community events, food, and drink. That's what I'm budgeting for East.
Organizer of the Post-PAX Party. You should come!
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/puts pinky to mouth
There is Penny Arcade Merch (shirts, hoodies, books, prints and posters) and a few other merch booths that have their own things going on. If you find a list of vendors, you can probably get in contact with them and ask what they will be bringing.
No idea if Pink Gorilla is going to make the trek to Boston but they carried everything from PG Thongs to classic console games to plushies. It really depends on who the vendors are going to be.
http://www.pinkgorillagames.com/
http://www.sweetkittyanime.com/
and http://www.manapotions.com/
The first two seem like very cool stores from the Seattle area, local to PAX Prime, therefore I doubt you'd see them flying all of their wares across the country. Perhaps some local Boston stores will show up to sell stuff? Being in it's first year, though, they might not be aware of PAX East. Not sure if floor space is at a big premium, or if more money could be made selling the space to one of the big companies, but maybe the PAX staff could reach out to some of these local shops?
I've only been to Boston once but when I was there I did randomly stop at this store: http://www.funusual.com/ It is just full of odd and witty stuff, none directly game related, but all stuff the PAX crowd would appreciate. I bought a dog toy shaped like a giant rubber tongue, so you know, it looks like my dog has a novelty size tongue when she chews on the end of it. You get the idea. Weird fun stuff.
As has been stated before, the floor at PAX is more for companies to come and promote their games, while occasionally selling you some themed merchandise for their company or said game which they are promoting.
However, one of my favorite things about conventions is looking at booths full of odd collectibles, rare items, and things I generally just didn't know I ever wanted before. Sure you can find all this stuff on the internet but sometimes it's just more fun to browse in person!
I went to the Fangoria (horror movie magazine) convention in NYC this past summer and they had a booth there almost exclusively dedicated to patches. As a good example of stuff I never knew I wanted before, I picked up Dharma Initiative patches from Lost at a booth dedicated to selling patches. Slap it on a tan jumpsuit and you have an instant Halloween costume. At a convention a few years prior there was a guy selling nothing but rare video game soundtracks on CD, and I picked up Streets of Rage 2.
PAX seems like the gold standard of gaming conventions, so perhaps this flea market feel is a little below it, but I'm just saying don't underestimate the little guy!
To stick closer to the thread topic, even if everyone here says there won't be much to buy, still budget a little extra in case you see something really cool. Don't carry a huge wad of cash, just plan to have a little flex room in your bank account. Besides, if something is that expensive you should probably take the time walking to the ATM to consider if you really want it or not.
My best friends brother is autistic, and he loves board games, so you'll be seeing me.
Bring an extra $40 and buy one of my lanyards. You know you want tooooo.
Haha, I was going to email you and ask you your prices. Now I know.
If you plan on going out for drinks or whatever, then make sure you have enough money. Most bars in Boston will cost you. I usually spend $100 or more at the bar (that's in one night).
The problem with ATMs is ATM fees. As a matter of principle I don't use ATMs if I'll be charged a fee. My checking account is with Chase, and I'm almost positive there are no Chase banks in Boston.
Also, I do not find ATM fees to be much of a problem if only visiting once or twice at most. Please do not be like some people I see and pay the fees just to get out a single 20 and then they are back doing it again later.
<Qs23> I just need to get my dicks in a row
<prox> i work for dicks
#paforums_pax, all about the dicks.
Well I know a lot of meals in Seattle consisted of Subway and the burritos downstairs in the lobby. That would only be 7 or so a meal. I guess I try to eat cheap and enjoy a few good meals instead of going all out the whole time.
The food court in the Pru (The Prudential Center) will be your friend. They do have quite a bit of selection, but it's been over a year since I've been there so things might have changed.
Please don't give inaccurate information. There are NO chase atms or banks in Boston (and probably none in Massachusetts or anywhere farther Northeast). The main national bank in that area (basically north of New York) is Bank of America, so yes, there will be BoA ATMs all over the place.
Well it seems we are both right and wrong it seems that Boston does lack chase ATM. They do have banks and office space in Boston but nothing that would out a pax person. Also as i stated google maps stated it was a CHASE bank I as any rational person would think it would be at least relatively accurate also bing says it's there so this is a problem with chase not me disseminating inaccurate information.
<Qs23> I just need to get my dicks in a row
<prox> i work for dicks
#paforums_pax, all about the dicks.
chupamibure is correct
according tp google it does say there is a chase close by.
dardor is accurate though
"Unfortunately, this Chase location is only a corporate office. It does not act as a full branch or ATM. There are no ATMs or full Chase branch offices in MA." as quoted from the google site
So to put this thread back in order if you use chase expect an atm fee or bring cash.
Secondly to address the original comment really enough money is based on the individual how long you there how much food you plan to eat and do you want to by stuff from booths unfortunately till we know what booths specifially one can only guess as to what will be available to buy.
Thanks for reading and play nice