With Otakon coming up quickly, many of our readers will be attending their first anime convention in the upcoming weeks. Here are some helpful tips on having a fun first convention experience:

• Be sure to explore the city by visiting low-income and gang-infested neighborhoods in full cosplay.
• Do not approach anyone offering free hugs. You want to splurge on the $2.00 hugs.
• Wear appropriate footwear. Remember, comfortable shoes are a sign of weakness.
• Cosplay should be as thick and bulky as possible, as conventions tend to be very cold this time of year.
• Don’t bother with showers or deodorant; everyone is having such a great time that they won’t notice your smell anyway.
• Use real weapons in your cosplay for maximum authenticity.
• When waiting in lines, be courteous to others in line by entertaining them with loud, obnoxious music.
• Remember, cosplay is not consent unless that guy dressed up as a girl is like… super cute.
• During Q&A sessions, make the most out of your question by asking several long-winded questions in rapid succession while speaking as quickly as possible.
• Anime conventions also double as furry conventions, so go all out.
• If nothing else, remember 6-2-1. Six alcoholic beverages, two sexual harassment charges, and one trip to the bathroom per day maximum.