#like idk how to distribute my weight in in my heels

[kikuism]

time to workout

[astoria-moon]

DragCon 2017 Tips!!

Ok y'all so DragCon 2017 LA was my FIRST DragCon and here's some things I picked up and that I think could be helpful? Maybe idk, GOODLUCK BARBRA!! • it's okay to go alone!! I DID!! SERIOUSLY. I flew alone, I stayed in a 2 bedroom hotel (don't ask) I took cars alone and there were moments where I was fully alone... but honestly you meet people there you do. When I was waiting for the door to open on the first day, this girl and I struck up a conversation and then her friend joined in and BOOM we spent the WHOLE day going around to booth and keeping each other company we even had another guy (who went alone) join our little "group". Long story short- if you're going alone, don't worry, and don't be afraid to talk to some people and make some friends. • DONT WEAR HEELS. Ahhh!! I wore heels during preview night and it was the biggest mistake of my life. The floors are concrete, it's a big venue, and there's a lot of walking/standing (plus there are stairs). Even in flats your feet will hurt, but imagine 8 hours. 8 HOURS. Of walking in your heels. When even the queens aren't wearing heels. You'll look good but I doubt anyone will be looking at your shoes 80% of the time. •GET VIP- if possible get VIP. I got VIP and it was SO worth it. We got a 2 hour preview night on Friday which was basically all the booths with barley any lines and people still setting up, and a lot of queens were there out of drag (example: Farrah, Sasha, Shea, Aja, Trixie was there in full drag) and then on Saturday and Sunday we got to go into the venue 30 minutes before everyone else so we got to get a head start at the lines which helped A LOT. (I.E. Adore - Valentina- Violet- Alyssa etc) it's worth it. If you can get your hands on one... grab it, if not it's literally not that big of a deal were all doing the same thing. •Don't go to Panels- they were so unorganized and honestly they were a mad house. On the first day people were lining up at the escalator for the UHNNN panel which I thought was the dumbest thing because it was the opening day WHY WOULD YOU WAIT TO GET A SEAT AT A PANEL THATS GOING TO BE ON YOUTUBE TOMORROW. (no judgment just saying don't @ me) also it was 105 degrees up there and it was a very small room. Just go and live it up and the watch or the next day and truly enjoy it and not die from heatstroke or a riot. •Some of the lines are 2+ hours long! Sasha / Violet / HELL ALYSSA EDWARDS' LINE WAS LIKE 3-4 HOURS LONG. Ok but yeah, some of the lines are really long- sometimes they take breaks in between to go to the bathroom or to eat something real quick... BE PATIENT. Seriously. They are sitting, standing, laying, whatever for 8 hours talking to 4,000+ people let them have a second to take a breather or if they are just taking their time with fans LET THEM. You want that special moment too. You never know what it could mean to someone. •SOME WILL CHARGE FOR A "M&G"- Its a "CON" this is how money is made. Did you know those booths are 800 dollars AT LEAST If they don't charge for the small things they don't make a profit. And you have to remember- this is their job- this is how they pay RENT, FOOD, HOW THEY PAY FOR DRAG. Just shut up and pay the 5 bucks and take a bomb ass picture and get all your cool stuff signed. ( not everyone charges but some do) •Bring small bills- $5 $10 are really easy , especially for the m&g charging, use your $20 on merch like t-shirts and stuff like that. TRY NOT TO BRING $100 Because that takes all their change and then screws everyone else over. (Or they might not even take it) •Credit Cards- OK THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. BEFORE YOU GO TO DRAGCON CALL YOUR CREDIT CARD COMPANY AND TELL THEM YOU ARE GOING (ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE TO FLY TO LA) BECAUSE So I flew to LA. And I tried to check into my hotel and the card was declined and I was like um WTF?! And so I found out they thought I stole my dads credit card and ran away (even though I'm a god damn adult) SO after that was settled during DragCon my friend from was trying to buy a wig from Wigs and Grace and his card was declined too and he called and they thought his card was stolen BECAUSE OF ALL THE STRANGE CHARGES. So just let them know what's going on just so no bullshit happens. • WALK WAYS- If there is a walk way... USE IT. They create specific paths for people to walk don't be the jerk that tries to squeeze through a meet and greet line when the walk way is literally 2 steps away. I mean. •TRAVELERS- always bring the bigger bag!! BUT be careful when you buy things. Whatever you buy you have to bring back, and when you bring a big bag, it's going to have to be checked, so carefully pack whatever you buy in case it's breakable or bendable you don't want to ruin something you spent your money on/something you care about before you get a chance to fully experience it. •BAGS- I brought a backpack and that I thought was the best option because I could zip it up and I could distribute the weight evenly instead of carrying one bag on one arm and continuously switching. And then I carried my wallet and a small plastic bag on one wrist. The only thing that sucked is when you have to take all of it off (some of the queens want you too) and then you have to try and put it all back on quickly, like at the grocery store when the person gives you the change and receipt and you try to shove it in your wallet while walking so the person behind doesn't judge you. It's kinda like that. But I say bring a backpack. •Bring Water and a Granola bar- BRING SOMETHING. They dont check bags (which I found very weird) but there was a girl in line for Violet and she had a bottle of wine in a Starbucks cup. If you want to see all the people you want to see you're not going to have to to stop and have a full meal so throw a bottle of water in your bag and a fiber one bar or a sandwich or WHATEVER tickles you and you'll be good. You're going to be waiting in lines anyway. Take a second and don't pass out if you're that kind of person. • SIT DOWN. Literally. If you're waiting in a 2 hour line sit the fuck down. We know your feet and back hurt. If the queen isn't there... SIT DOWN. THERE IS NO REASON TO BE STANDING. If no one else is sitting, sit first I guarantee that people will follow seconds later. You have to take those opportunities. They matter. • SAVE MY SPOT? Again if your stuck in a two hour line and the queen isn't there use that opportunity to meet other queens, do it one at a time though, if your with a group take shifts, if your alone ask the people around you ( try to befriend them first) if not say "will you save my spot real quick" I DOUBT THEY WILL BE LIKE NO *hiss* and go to a queen with a short line when you come back tell the people around you "hey ____ has a really short line right now if you want to go meet them real quick I'll save your spot" BE SMART •GAME PLAN- go in with a game plan. "I'm going to see 1 2 3 this day and X Y Z tomorrow" at least go in with a solid " I HAVE TO MEET THESE PEOPLE" and get those done and then who ever else you meet will just fall in line, and you can always go into someone's line more than once, which is great. was DragCon overwhelming YEAH. but honestly it was one of the realest things you could ever imagine. So much drag- love- art- passion in one place. You can't get anything like it.