Cosplay 101 with Mango Sirene's Room Rules

mango Sirene's Room Rules

Mango has some great tips and sounds nice while giving them, vs me, Rusty Needle or Mystery Needle who tend to sound like someones mothers....in stereo. Mystery is much more of a con-mother than I am however do has a bit of a "live, let live, and bring extra dark colored towels" kind of traveler. For a lot of people sharing the con hotel is part of the fun. If you're like our group however, we're all a high stress, edgy bunch and the last thing we need is one more variable in our lives! We're on the team of "only share rooms with close friends you know in person". If you're of the OCD variety, or of the "older con goer" variety, or the Road Warrior group here's a few OTHER tips I like to give!

1. For payment: PAY WITH A CREDIT CARD! What you say? YES! Why? Because if there are illegal charges, the hotel screws up and loes your info, or bullshit gets charged to your card...your credit card company will go to bat for you. Your debit company doesn't give a shit. Am I going to give any company full access to my bank account? Shit no! But they can charge to my visa and if they start shit, my credit card company don't want to pay either. Been there done that. Also (Believe it or not) paying in cash, check, or debit raises eyebrows and can get you hit with fees. Why? Because hotels know there is a limit to your dinky bank account and people who pay in cash are up to something. But your credit card...they feel more comfortable with. Up until pretty recently you couldn't book a hotel or a car with a debit card or cash. Your roomies can pay you back in cash or check or you can split the bill at check out if you must at the risk of your hotel hating you. 
2. Beds and The Taco: We typically have 3 people in a room (gasp I know! We're old and can afford it) so that works well with two beds. I've had to share co-ed rooms at cons before however and despite my progressiveness, many people may be totally uncool with this. If you must have coed rooms maybe offer girls in one bed guys in the other or whatever suits your group. If tho you are sharing a bed with someone due to rooming difficulties there is what I like to call 'the taco' method: ask housekeeping for an extra sheet and extra over blanket and make a blanket taco on your side of the bed. In this way nobody is touching! So very Amish I know but some people don't want to risk spooning each other or in the case of a few trips I've been on, getting punched all night by your restless leg afflicted bedmate. This also keeps people from hogging the covers or bitching about too may blankets on the bed: each person makes a taco with their amount of 'toppings' (blankets/sheets) and less angst! Note: I've been to events where we had 6 people in a room...not fun, or the 4 girls and a photography guy in a room, but the way old Rusty sees it, if you gotta pack more people than the fire code allows into a room to afford it, it's time to think about a cheaper hotel. If the hotel finds out about room packing, and they will btw...they can kick you out.
3. Bathrooms: if you know you're going to be taking off a ton of horrible makeup, try and bring a hand towel of your own with you. I forget many a time but I also have basic makeup and not full on body paint so it's no worse for house keeping than any other 30  year old lady with troweled on makeup staying. Also instead of fighting over who gets to use the two towels, just call downstairs for more alright? It's no big deal, even in a roach motel. Seriously.
4. Keep yer shit organized: Do try not have your bag explode too much in a shared room. None of us want to step on each other's stuff, and if you're rooming with a control freak or suzie-q-anxiety (ie you're rooming with Rusty needle >.>) it'll make life better for everybody. Ever been rushed to get ready to go and can't find your shit because your ocd roommate put it away while sleep walking? Prevent this; just toss your stuff in your bag or in your section of the closet. Less change of everybody putting on the wrong parts of their costumes.
5. Stress Free Checkout: Alright the NIGHT BEFORE check out pack all your shit but what you're wearing to leave and your "overnight bag", make sure all room keys are accounted for and set near the door, finalize accounts if anybody owes anybody else money, set your alarms for when your check out is..and double check if you're not sure. Not all hotels are 11am! Then go to the con or go to bed resting easy, knowing you won't be running around like a nutjob in the morning trying to clean up and get packed at the last minute.
6. Leave a tip: if you made a huge mess...wig hair everywhere, you were a Home stuck, leave a damn housekeeper tip.

Other Travel/Con Tips:
House of Broken Needle's Guide to Road Warrior Travel