The Geek Fu Morning Show

More Con Stuff

* If it’s your first time in a hotel, know that tipping the maids is customary. It’s good to go $2 a day, more if you’re a total slob, you host a party, someone horks and misses the toilet, etc. Although it’s convienient to tip all at once when you’re leaving, try to remember to tip every day, since different maids might clean your room at different days (esp. since weekends and weekday staff may be different.) Maids are trained to avoid everything in the room as if it were plagued so that they won’t be accused of stealing, so you can put it in an envelope on the pillow, attach a note, etc. The pillow is a very good place to leave a tip, since you’re unlikely to leave money there by accident, unless it fell out of your ear or something.

* Try not to drink too much on the last night. You don’t want to be traveling with a hangover. Moreover, you don’t want to be driving with a hangover.

* Sex: a friend of mine says if you can’t get laid at DragonCon, you’re not really trying. However, keep in mind common sense: use protection, be courteous to your roommate, and if you’re in a relationship and your SO isn’t at the con, don’t be an idiot. Lastly, when I was in college at a safe sex seminar, I laughed at the advice, “Always know the last name of anyone you sleep with,” but then later realized that some people don’t even bother finding that part out. Think: if you a) get pregnant, b) get an STD, c) fall head over beer in love, you might want to get in touch with them again.

* Like the girl scouts say, make new friends but keep the old. You’ll want to go with friends, but don’t be afraid to branch out and have coffee, beer, dinner with someone new. Having con experiences with only your safe friends from home isn’t really a con experience. But Lordy, don’t invite yourself anywhere - invite others along with you, and if they say they’re doing something else, don’t tag along.

* Again with the common sense: Don’t be rude to people. If you’re rude to a stranger, they might be your favorite author, podcaster, or the sister of the person you slept with last night (didja get that last name like I recommended?) Even worse, they might be an up-and-coming assistant to an agent who has an elephant-like memory who will remember you when you query them in 5 years, completely ignorant of their animosity toward you. True story - in my last job, I turned down a salesman trying to get me to buy advertising on his website. He wrote back to his boss that I was just a young idiot - and accidentally copied me. Six or so years later, he’s still in my database as someone never to work with.

* More con advice from Making Light.

* Con advice for writers from Sherwood Smith. - And additions to that from Michelle Sagara.

* Really, focus on two things: common sense and fun. People are putting on this show as a labor of love; thank them for their work. The maids make crap wages in cleaning up after your ass; tip them. No one likes an asshole; don’t be one. You have spent hundreds of dollars for this trip; have fun!

Filed under General Monday, August 21st, 2006 |
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