Attending a sci-fi convention is always exciting, but it can also be a stressful experience. There are so many logistics involved in planning a trip to a convention, especially when you’re staying at a hotel so you can attend multiple days. However, there are ways to make the process smooth and easy.
If you’re stressed out about planning your next sci-fi convention, here are some ideas to make it easier.
1. Hire group transportation
Whether you’re going to a convention with a couple of friends or a large group of people, hiring group transportation is the ideal way to get to your destination. If you plan on driving yourselves, you can almost count on breakdowns happening, like someone making the group late, last minute pit stops, or an unexpected vehicle repair.
When you hire a private car for group transportation, your driver will pick up your group at a specified time and take you straight to your destination. As long as you can get everyone together before the driver shows up, you won’t be left waiting for anyone. And if someone is late, you can have an established rule that after fifteen minutes, they’ll have to find their own transportation.
Some other benefits to group transportation include riding in comfort, privacy, and having certain amenities. For instance, private car services utilize comfortable luxury cars, whether you opt for a sedan or an SUV. Also, your entire group will enjoy the ride in a comfortable, semi-private environment with snacks and beverages.
2. Set rules everyone agrees to follow
Nothing derails group plans like unreliable people or not having a definite plan for possible situations that could go wrong. You’d think driving a group to a sci-fi convention would be a simple endeavor, but it still requires planning and setting rules.
It might seem silly to set rules with your friends, but they’re necessary if you want your trip to be smooth. If you don’t like the idea of having rules, think of it as creating an agreement rather than rules.
The point is to create an agreement with each other that keeps the group on track and on time. For example, if you don’t explicitly state that the group will only wait fifteen minutes if someone is late for your departure, people won’t push themselves to make sure they arrive on time.
While you’re planning your group adventure, plan for all possible scenarios that could throw you off course. What will you do if you get separated at the convention? What will you do if someone needs an extra hour before you all leave? Will you reschedule your ride and have that person pay any associated fees? Or is that completely off the table? Who will be the designated driver if you drink alcohol? What does the group think?
3. Manage your anxiety
If you suffer from anxiety, manage your anxiety as best as you can. Even though sci-fi conventions are fun, they can be quite stressful, and your anxiety could rub off on the group.
Do whatever you can to manage your anxiety, whether you need to take some CBD gummies with you, carry a fidget spinner, or step aside and take some deep breaths. Try to keep yourself calm as much as possible. If you’re struggling, tell a friend in your group and they might be able to help you relax a bit more than you could on your own.
4. Find a convention near you
Okay, there are some conventions you just can’t miss, even if you have to fly there and get a hotel for the weekend. However, there might be other, more obscure conventions closer to you that you can attend in place of one that’s slightly out of your area.
The closer the convention, the less stress you’ll experience. Traveling seems to be the biggest source of stress for most people, so when you can keep your conventions as local as possible, it will be easier.
For instance, if you can hop on a city bus to get to a convention, you won’t have to deal with the added stress of flying or taking the train.
Check out the events calendar on Scificons.com to see if there are any conventions in your area.
Enjoy your adventure
The best way to avoid stress is to enjoy yourself and not take breakdowns too seriously. Life is full of surprises, and it can’t be perfect all the time. However, you can enjoy your experience despite minor breakdowns if you take things lightly and stay focused on having fun.
