We’ve already covered essentials for SDCC goers this year—but here are some pro tips for San Diego Comic-Con that will help your con go as smoothly as possible.

Turn your phone on low-power battery mode at the beginning of the day

You will run out of juice. Repeat: you will run out of juice. Sitting on a hallway floor plugged in is not fun, and even charging stations mean that you’re stuck in one place. If you packed a portable battery you’ll be in good shape, but it turns out that batteries also run out of juice. And, if you are the type of kind soul that will lend your battery to novice con-goers, you might find yourself SOL. Being without a phone at SDCC is an unfortunate experience; and despite the fact that for hundreds of years modern civilization was perfectly functional without cell phones, they have effectively become a necessary tool for contemporary life. Connectivity is essential for meeting friends, staying up to date on last-minute schedule changes, and browsing Twitter. (One of my favorite things to do during a con!) Low-power mode ensures a longer battery life, which is always useful.

Put alerts on your favorite actors/writers/venders/other con-goers and follow the hashtag #SDCC50, #SDCC19, and #SDCC

Twitter alerts can be helpful if a celeb or personal hero does a pop-up signing or event, that piece of fan-art you’ve been lusting after is 50% off, venue changes, etc.

Algorithms are fickle little monsters. We’ve all missed a post from a person we love and later been extraordinarily frustrated about the sometimes time-sensitive opportunities that they offer. Following a hashtag will help relevant tweets and posts come up on your feed.

Download the SDCC App

Do this before you arrive. Everything you will need for planning is here. The conference program is good, but it is bulky and there is a lot of content. The app is much easier to navigate (and you can search for people/events). Download it here.

Take Cash

This is useful for a variety of reasons. All technology sometimes fails us, and good old cash currency is a sure way to avoid this. Sometimes venders will offer cheaper prices if you can pay in cash. Additionally, this helps the smaller venders because they can wiggle cash income on their taxes; and we all know they didn’t go into art for the money. Win-win.

Take a Backpack

The totes you get in the register line tend to break. Don’t leave your prized possessions on the sidewalk somewhere in the Gaslamp.

Make friends with the bartenders

Approximately 130,000 people show up to Comic-Con each year and the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego is simply not built for that kind of crowd. Getting drinks and food can be as difficult as getting into Hall H (okay, maybe not quite). But, when you are hangry after waiting, walking, and being in the sun all day, lacking nourishment is rather unpleasant. By giving a generous tip on your first day hitting a bar, and asking the bartenders if they’ll be there tomorrow, you can make a single-serving friend that can be an important ally. The servers are overwhelmed that weekend and probably a little annoyed, so a friendly customer face can ensure quick service (and sometimes free drinks if you really lay on the charm).

Choose one panel or event that is a must-see for each day of the con and wait in line for the previous panel to get there

The lines at SDCC are a force to be reckoned with. If you haven’t seen it, the line for Hall H extends down the boardwalk and people literally camp there. (It is so outrageous, in fact, that I have never had the impetus to wait in it, even for the coolest panels.) Missing a panel that you really wanted to see because you didn’t get to the line in time can be the stuff of heartbreak. Rather than expecting to get into everything you want to see (impossible), prioritize one event. This will make each day a success, even when you couldn’t see everything you wanted to.

Set up a meeting point and contingency plan

In the case that your phone does die, the internet goes out, you lose service, drop your phone in the ocean, or it is eaten by a particularly scary cosplayer (one of these things will happen to you eventually if it hasn’t already—that’s a guarantee), having a meeting point and time in case of emergency is essential. (If you haven’t heard from me by this time, let’s meet at X place at X time.) Try to make it a spot without a lot of foot traffic; it can be hard to find friends among such big crowds. This is your zombie apocalypse plan should all else go wrong.

Toucan Tips

Read the official SDCC blog with Toucan Tips if you’re still feeling nervous! (Totally okay, I was nervous my first time too!)

Have fun

Duh. See you there!