#cons 101

[ephie-ubc-science]

q:  was cons101 a very time consuming course?

a: CONS101 is a 1 credit course, with a single 1 hr class per week. It’s not too much work, and it’s got a very high class average (if I remember correctly, about 86% for our midterm). There’s a project where you go out and take pictures of invasive species, but I remember studying minimally for the exams. 

[conspiracyofcrows]

Convention Care 101:  How to Avoid Con Plague

Hello again, and welcome to another tutorial!  I know the convention season is mostly starting to wind down, but fourth-quarter cons have the unfortunate addition of cold and flu season coinciding with their dates.  Having worked conventions as long as I have, and having gotten con plague more times than I care to admit, here’s what I’ve found really works for avoiding it.  These tips are applicable to every convention, no matter what time of year, are good rules of thumb if you’re travelling in general.

The 1-3-5 rule:  One shower, three real meals (not consisting of pocky), and five hours of sleep for each day at the con -- minimum.  Not only do showers keep you from contributing to con funk, they can help keep you from getting sick.  People don’t wash their hands at conventions (Which is gross on its own), but combine that with people who don’t bathe, are running on fumes (which depletes your immune system), and are in close proximity, keeping clean and well-rested and fed can help prevent you from getting sick.  If you wear body paint for cosplays, you will need two showers for each day you paint -- before you put it on, and when you take it off.  Having clean skin without excess oil helps it go on easier, too.

HYDRATE:  I cannot emphasize this enough.  Drinking enough water is SO CRUCIAL at conventions.  My own home convention actually puts up PSA posters about drinking water.  I have a reusable water bottle I got for five bucks at the grocery store that holds 24 ounces of water.  Snag one of those, and clip it to your belt loop.  You will thank me for this.  This is ESPECIALLY important at summer cons/cons in hot weather, while wearing cosplays of any kind (but especially heavy ones), or any of the above.  Staying hydrated keeps your immune system functioning at its best.  RAMUNE IS NOT WATER.  SODA IS NOT WATER.  BEER AND ALCOHOL ARE NOT WATER.

Wash your hands:  With real soap and water!  Purell only goes so far.  Our first response team has told us that CDC regulations say hand sanitizer is only good for three or four applications before you need to wash your hands.  You should be singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star twice to yourself, which works out to 30-40 seconds of real washing.  Do this every chance you have, and not just when you use the restroom.

Medications:  If you’re taking anything, be it prescription or over the counter, continue taking it.  It’s no fun having to leave a con because you forgot to take your meds, and suddenly you’re super sick/non-functioning without them.  If you’re able, flu shots are also worth it if you can get them a couple of weeks before your event.  The immunization takes 3-5 days to become fully active in your body.  Remember:  Mild fever, nausea, and soreness at the injection site, is NOT the flu!  You cannot get the flu from getting your flu shot!  Anyone wanting to argue this point with me can meet me in the pit.  Also, things like Emergen-C, Airborne, and other supposed “immune boosters” are a waste of money.  Getting adequate sleep, hydration, and meals will go a lot further to keeping you healthy than any of those will.

Nutrition:  My last two cons that I staffed and vended at, my roommates and I kept things like grapes, a big bag of baby carrots, apples, and Wheat Thins in our hotel rooms/cooler at our table.  Cotton Candy grapes, if you can find them, taste like honest to god cotton candy, minus all the sugar of actual cotton candy.  The point I’m making is, if you eat a balanced diet during events, you will feel so much better on Sunday, or whatever day you head home.  Most of these things don’t need to be refrigerated or microwaved, which means your accommodations shouldn’t get in the way of storing things like bananas and apples.  Bottled water is dirt cheap, too.  Store brand 36-packs of bottled water will run you like $3, which you can afford.

Physical Contact:  Remember:  People at conventions are gross.  This isn’t me being a jaded staff member who’s been running cons for too long.  This is me seeing people sneeze, cough, wipe their faces/noses, and more with their hands, and then they reach out for high fives and handshakes.  People forget basic hygiene as soon as they walk into a convention center with thousands of other nerds, and combined with illnesses like the rhinovirus and influenza being airborne, touching people is adding another way to spread infection.  Give hugs, high fives, and bro-fists at your own discretion; just because you wash your hands, doesn’t mean everyone else does.

Other Things I Keep On Me:  Chapstick (Because the climate control dries the air out super quickly; I like Blistex and Burt’s Bees in particular), MiO (Water flavor enhancers, which come in caffeinated varieties), Tylenol/Ibuprofen/your painkiller of choice (always take according to the instructions), and a good supply of tea in my hotel room (To help soothe your throat after yelling over every other nerd all day).

What are your tips for avoiding con plague and con hangover?  I love seeing what methods other people use, especially with the way the convention scene is growing!