My Guide to MCM:
Over the years I have attended a lot of conventions. This started when I was at university and wanted to bond with like-minded people, and they have delivered. I’ve made friends from so many different countries, and continents. The one that started it all and that I feel closest to, is MCM. Over the years, the convention itself has changed and has a very different energy to the energy it had 10 years ago. Does that make it any less fun? Absolutely not, it’s all about what you make of it. When I first went, it was small, intimate, and then it felt like it all blew up overnight. Since then, I’ve always had a plan for when I attend, and I would advise the same to anyone going.
Here are my tips to surviving MCM and making the most of it.
Step 1: Why MCM?
The first thing I would ask, is “why are you going?” is it for a panel, a guest, to meet friends? Work out your agenda and how long you want to go for. It will be the basis for your whole plan. A 3-day visit is very different to a 1-day visit. Make sure you’re comfortable with a large-scale convention, as otherwise you might not enjoy it. If you’re nervous about crowds, I’d recommend trying out the Friday or Sunday as a taster.
Step 2: BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION AND TRAVEL!
The hotels and Airbnb’s all fill up really really quickly, and the prices soar around MCM, so book early. The dates for MCM London are usually fixed around the end of May Bank Holiday and the last weekend in October every year. I think that there may have been one year where the May one moved, but it’s a safe bet that these will be the dates. If you’re happy to take the gamble, and know you want to go, book before they’ve been formally announced if you feel brave enough.
Obviously this is up to the individual to risk, especially with non-refundable bookings, but it is something that I have done in the past, and would consider in the future. Personally I’m saving up for the Sunborn Hotel, because who doesn’t want to stay on a yacht?
Booking in large groups can save a fair bit of money in an apartment is a great alternative to a hotel as you might be able to save on food and you can split the cost more. The downside is that you may be further away from the convention halls, and you will be walking a lot, so you might want to find ways to conserve energy.
If you’re going for the Friday, consider checking into your accommodation on the Thursday so you can make a real event of the convention and turn up on Day 1, your best refreshed self.
Check how you’re going to get there. For some reason, there frequently seems to be planned works on the lines around the excel centre whenever MCM is on. Therefore, you should plan for delays, changes in timetables, and for stations to just be closed. As you near the Excel, you will start to see it being announced at platforms, which will help if you suffer from anxiety. You will also start to see people in cosplay on the day(s), which I’ve found to be the most reassuring way of telling that I was on the right train.
Step 3: The Plan
Now, let’s focus on our plan and agenda. If you’re going for one day, you can’t see it all. I’ve tried, but missed out on so much that I wanted to see, I’ve learnt my lesson. If you want to make the most of MCM, I’d recommend a 3-day ticket. If you’re going for longer, you can experience almost everything, and my typical 3-day plan is as follows:
Day 1 is reserved for scouting. Scout the stalls you might want to buy from. Look up the talks scheduled, these can change up to the day before the event due to people not being able to come, or rooms changing last minute (they might even change on the day).
Organise with your group – if you’re going with one. Where are your meeting places going to be in case you get lost or separated. Due to the number of people there on Saturday and Sunday, the signal becomes almost impossible to use, and you will struggle, so plan on using other methods to find each other. There are some quiet areas which you can use to reset, and I would highly recommend using these. Heck, use them anyway if you’re just feeling overwhelmed.
Get your gaming in NOW, you don’t know if that game you’ve been desperate to try out will be unavailable for the rest of the con. There will be queues for these on Saturday and Sunday. I can guarantee.
Meet those creators. Their lines will also grow over the weekend and you might want a bit more of a relaxed atmosphere to meet them in. Walk around and explore, talk to people in the queues…enjoying the peace and quiet that is a Friday, before the chaos that is Day 2.
Day 2 is usually for photography for me. I love taking pictures of the absolutely phenomenal cosplays that people have brought with them. For others, Saturday is for wearing their cosplay (although obviously you can wear them all 3 days). I also check out any talks that might have caught my eye or any celebs that I wanted an autograph from.
I typically leave the autographs and photos for the Sunday, but you can’t guarantee the guests availability.
I tend to split Day 2 into half indoors, and half outdoors at least. I love experiencing the carnival atmosphere on the front steps of the convention. If it’s warm, it’s a great excuse to surround yourself with that summer holiday vibe.
You can sign up for meet ups, and even host your own gatherings. It’s amazing how social the Saturday is.
Day 3 is panels, guests and shopping. I’ve mentioned the autographs above, but that also includes any creators as well that you might not have had a chance to meet. Some creators are only there on Saturday and Sunday. Ask for deals and discounts for stalls looking to get rid of stock. Talk to traders and schmooze for freebies. You never know what you might get.
There will be opportunities for freebies all weekend, and you might regret freebie fever later on down the line, when it comes to packing up to go home, but for now, enjoy the haggle and swag.
Here is my personal checklist of must do activities:
1) Photography (or cosplay/ or both).
2) Panels
3) Meet up with friends
4) Meeting creators (Yes I am going to see another panel by TomSka)
5) Meeting celebs – This can be hit and miss though. It can be a no if there’s a theme I’m not into.
6) Swag
a. Comics and graphic novels
b. Anime
c. Board Games
d. Books
e. Dice
f. RPG accessories or new systems
7) Cry about how much money I’ve spent after I swore I wouldn’t.
No matter what your schedule is like, always leave a lot of time for queuing for panels and autographs. If someone is doing an exclusive autograph without pre-paid tickets, you line up immediately. No negotiation or toilet breaks.
Be prepared for disappointment, that thing you wanted may have sold out, or may not be as expected. I’ve had guests be rude and not turn up, or turn up late, I’ve missed out on autographs, been squashed in a crowd… Fortunately I was ready for most of it, so I could just shake it off, and move on to my next goal.
Plan which bathroom is the easiest and emptiest. The women’s bathroom always gets filled up so fast, but there are those which are faster than others.
If you’re going for one day, then scrap the above. Focus on your main goal/ activity and let everything else be a bonus. You won’t have time for it all. Queuing will swallow up most of your time in this case. Queuing for panels and meet and greets can take anything from 15 minutes to a few hours. This can be okay as long as you are fully prepared.
Step 4: Budget
You don’t have to create one, but the event can get pricey fast. Work out how much you want to spend on food and drink daily, your accommodation budget, and then what you want to spend over the weekend on loot.
Step 5: Packing
So, you now have your plan in place, your accommodation is booked and you are getting excited, the next step is to think about what to take. If you’re planning on cosplaying, you might want to start early with your costume(s), although the time required to complete said cosplay will inevitably expand to the amount of time you have before the convention. I don’t make the rules of cosplay time, I just cry at them.
Then you need to think about other clothes. Plan on wearing layers, the hall will get warm and feel dry, so you’ll also want to take a water bottle. There are free water fountains in the main excel areas which you can use and will save you a bit of cash. Many others will not have received the message about removable layers, so I would carry deodorant with you, a) because you’ll want to use it to, b) so you can cover up those smells if you need it. Be wary of the unsolicited offering to share deodorant, this is not deemed the polite thing to do.
The other key component of your outfit is the shoes. Find your most comfortable pair of shoes, and then ask yourself if they are comfortable enough. You will be walking miles over the day(s) that you are there, and having sore feet from ill-advised footwear is not ideal. If you’re wearing heels or impractical footwear for cosplay reasons, look into Compeed and Scholl pads for extra cushioning. You will thank me later.
If I’m taking makeup, I take the bare minimum. It’s bulky and as I tend to travel there via train, every amount of space saved is worth it. Which reminds me to give an honorary mention to the humble rail card.
Do not forget your ticket.
1) Cosplay
2) Camera (This one is a must for me) – not forgetting charger, SD card, and spare battery
3) Comfortable shoes
4) Layers
5) Water bottle
6) Snacks – You’re going to need something for the queues
7) Emergency Cosplay repair kits – I would recommend having a look online and speaking with cosplayers making similar costumes.
8) Cosmetics – Including deodorant and toothpaste
9) Blister Plasters
10) Rail card (if you can get one)
11) A folder to keep those autographs safe (if you’re getting any)
12) Pyjamas – For any slumber parties you might have with your friends at your Airbnb.
Step 5: Food and Drink.
I always take a packed lunch for at least one day. The food in the halls is always expensive and can taste cheap, so I try and save a few quid here and there by not buying food in the hall. The second cheapest option I’ve found is the small Tesco just outside the Excel centre (If you’re willing to queue to get back in). This is great for the May MCM, as you’re probably going to want to be outside the front, enjoying the stage and cosplayers anyway. The other bonus to this is that you’re absorbing that English vitamin D, rather than being confined for the whole event. You’ll see some amazing cosplayers, dancers, and musicians just hanging out on the steps (weather permitting).
My guilty food and drink secret is the restaurant upstairs in the centre. It’s quieter, the food is quick and well done, and you can grab an alcoholic beverage if you’re so inclined. I’ve relaxed up there a few times and it costs roughly the same as anywhere else in the hall.
No trip to the Excel would be complete for me, without a trip to Zero Sette – the restaurant next to The Fox. The food is good, but the staff have looked after me so well in the past and have been amazing. I won’t post all the stories of my experiences there, they’re all “I guess you should have been there” ones. Which I think says a lot about how much of an intimate place it can be, especially for a convention restaurant.
Step 7: Cash?
These days you don’t really need it, but it can be helpful to have some spare. The cash machines inside are unreliable at times and tend to have a queue. Remember the Tesco express I mentioned above? That had a cash point in the past, and there are others further afield from the excel centre that can be worth hitting up. It might take you less time that waiting in one of those lines. You’ve been in enough lines. Be kind to yourself and skip having to go to this one.
I know that this article can seem like a lot for a first timer, so I will say one last thing. Your goal is to have fun. If you’re prepared, you will have so much more space to have fun and enjoy it. It can be an overwhelming experience with so much to do and I just wish I could go back and experience it all for the first time all over again.
I will be following up this article with a second focused around convention etiquette and the more social side of things.