Sakura-Con "Taking Care of Yourself" List
Taking Care of Yourself
You know its 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 ring 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. Don't forget the strange looks and cringed noses you'll begin to see.)
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 comfie shoes to at least change into)
14. Any prescribed medication. (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 / Checkbook / Car keys
17. A phone card. (not only is this cheaper than having calls charged to your hotel room, but having several people using one phone can lead to billing confusion with long distance calls. Bring a phone card so you can let your parents/significant other know you made it to the con safely)
18. An extra pillow and blanket if several people are staying in your room.
19. 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.)
20. Your best public manners. (you'd be surprised how many people forget to bring these along)
This list is meant as a guide to those "extra little things" that veteran convention goers have found are handy. Use it as a kind of "prompt" to your own planning. For example, perhaps you don't have a mustache--no need for a mustache trimmer. But perhaps you do have really chapped lips--aren't you glad we reminded you about some lip balm? Many of the items listed are costume-repair essentials that you'll be glad to have on hand--if not for yourself but for your friends who'll thank you for your foresight! Of course, Sakura-Con doesn't recommend the use of any particular medications and/or cosmetics--please use your best judgement and advice of your personal physician.
* 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
* Tylenol/Aspirin (travel sized container)
* 6 chewable Vitamin C tablets (at least 500 mg 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
* travel size tube of spot remover
* spare car and house keys
* breath freshener
* 6 moist towelettes (for cleaning hands)
* small pencil sharpener
* small pen
* 1 small pack of post-it-notes (the square ones work fine)
* clear nail polish
* small amount of masking tape wrapped around a short pencil
* 6 rubber bands
* 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)
* aloe vera gel (travel size)
* 3 nail polish remover pad