BroadwayCon10 Must-Haves to Pack for BroadwayCon 2017The list of obvious and obscure convention essentials for each day at the Javits.
By
Ruthie Fierberg
January 20, 2017
What to Pack for BroadwayCon
BroadwayCon is almost here, which means it's time to PACK! Grab your hat and coat and get outta town.
Tickets You MUST have your printed ticket from Eventbrite to get in to BroadwayCon and a photo ID that matches the name on that ticket. Attendees under the age of 18 also need a signed permission slip notarized if their parent/guardian is not attending.
Also: All autograph and photobooth sessions require a ticket printed in advance. So be sure to have all of your tickets and confirmation pages printed out. We’re not requiring that you put them all in a folder in your backpack, but it wouldn't be the worst idea.
Show shirts
And hats and aprons and track jackets. Basically anything you’ve ever bought when you’ve seen a Broadway show. It’s time to get into the spirit! Let your fandom fly! (Outside of the convention, it is January in New York, which means it’s cold. Make sure you’re prepared for winter weather!)
Fresh factor It’s going to be a lot of people crowded together (not to mention you might work up a sweat in any number of our awesome workshops) and you want to be smelling fresh as a daisy when you meet your stage crush (*wink* Jeremy Jordan *wink*) so don’t forget that deodorant! For those of you getting involved in elaborate cosplay, this is especially important.
Comfortable shoes You are going to be ON YOUR FEET (see what we did there?). New York is all about walking, and you’ll be spending a ton of time running from awesome panel to crazy cool photo-op at the convention center. No matter how stylish you want to be, we promise that comfort is the way to go here. No one will judge you.
Snacks Be sure that you’re fueling up while nerding out. It’s not a terrible idea to keep some snacks on you in case you don’t want to leave the cornucopia of activities at convention. Each day of BroadwayCon starts early and goes until late, so pack some power foods—granola bars, protein bars etc.—for a midday pick-me-up.
Water bottle Did we mention you’re going to be running around? You need to stay hydrated. Bring an empty water bottle that you can continue to fill up during the day.
Hand sanitizer If you’ve ever been to a big convention, you may know about “con flu.” We want you to be your best and healthiest self, so bring some hand sanitizer to spritz on every now and again. (Wash your hands thoroughly and often, and keep from touching your face, too.)
Electronics Do not go anywhere without your phone and your camera. Did we mention that your favorite celebs will be at every turn? You need to stay at-the-ready to document this amazing weekend. Best plan? A portable charger. It could be tough to find an available outlet, and you won’t want to be stuck babysitting the wall instead of soaking up the amazing offerings. Remember, always ask permission before taking someone’s picture!
Paraphernalia and a pen Playbills, posters, cast recordings, oh my! Don’t forget to bring along Playbills, for both signing and swapping. It can’t hurt to have a marker or two on you at all times. You never know when you’re going to need fresh ink.
Spending money There will be tons of merchandise on sale to celebrate Broadway! Be sure you have the dough to get all this great big stuff.
BONUS TIPS: If you bought tickets to see any Broadway shows while you’re here for convention, bring/print those tickets, too. Even if you think you're going to head back to your hotel room to grab them between that Hamilton panel and showtime, you might be in a bigger rush than you think. Best to have them on you.
Between your money, your electronics and your invaluable show souvenirs, we want you to keep an eye on your bag. BroadwayCon is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.
*
For tickets, full details on participation options and special hotel rates for the convention, visit BroadwayCon.com.
BroadwayCon has also announced a 25 percent student discount offer for individuals with a valid student ID. The discount applies to general weekend passes and single-day passes for the three-day event that runs January 27-29 at the Javits Center in New York.
Use code BCSTUDENT to access the discounted rate. Students will need to provide a student ID when checking in to the event.
BroadwayCon takes you through the stage door to be part of the excitement that happens onstage and behind the scenes. It is a place where Broadway fans come together to celebrate the shows they love with people who bring them to life.
Co-presented by Playbill, Mischief Management, and Anthony Rapp, BroadwayCon 2017 will include stars and artists from A Bronx Tale, Bandstand, Frozen, Hamilton, Significant Other, War Paint, In Transit, The Great Comet, Waitress, School of Rock, Newsies, Dear Evan Hansen, Once On This Island, Hedwig, Fiddler on the Roof, Phantom of the Opera, A New Brain, Wicked, Allegiance, Grease, Cinderella, If/Then, Something Rotten!, Rent, and many more.
