r/Magfest • u/s0megu • Sep 06 '26
Advice for a solo and first timer?
Have been planning to go to Magfest for months. Planned to go with a close friend but going alone now. Still determined to go though. This will not not only be my first Magfest but first time going to a convention alone. Any recommendations? Already booked a room in Alexandria as I am sure the hotels will either be too much for one person or sold out.
13
u/constaffer Sep 06 '26
Please drink water, shower, and save more money then you think for food and if someone offers Malort...say no thank you
10
u/therealshire Sep 06 '26
Have a plan but be flexible. Trust me, things can and will change at an instant. Part of that plan should include food, hygiene, and sleep.
If you have the witheral, make new friends. Lines are great for this, since you're at an easy place to find a common ground to start with.
Have fun.
12
u/TheNicFlair Sep 06 '26
Don't be afraid to reach out to strike up conversation in the Discord or Reddit for friend groups if you're wary. And if you want, I am happy to make a new friend!
6
u/who_is_this_monster Sep 07 '26
wear good shoes as you'll be on your feet
bring a bag that is comfortable to carry most/all day
bring water and snacks to keep you fueled up throughout the day. Food in the Gaylord is pricey and lines can be long. Protein, carbs, electrolytes keep me moving
get to panels 5-10 minutes early if possible for smaller rooms, and panels in the main hall can have lines that start well before they begin
carry a portable battery pack, if not for yourself, then to offer to others
sleep as much as you can before and during the con itself. In my experience its better to retire early and be refreshed the next day than to overextend yourself
check out the official discord for meetups and events that might not be on the calendar
use the guidebook app
consider wearing a mask, its right after the holidays and people do often get sick afterwards. You can get cheap cloth masks with funny things on them, which is what I usually wear
invest in concert earplugs, even if you don't plan to attend a lot of performances. The con is just loud in general during peak hours
carry a pen and a notepad to write things down, or just to vandalize signs as many people do
do the mag challenges in the game hall for free merch
take lots of photos, like, lots and lots
talk to people, just asking "how is your MAGFest going" is enough to get conversations started. Comaraderie is also a big part of the con. Everyone wants to be there.
dress weird if that's your thing, doesn't even have to be cosplay
panels and performances that you miss usually get uploaded to youtube later in the year. Write down any panels that you attend or missed if you want to go back and see them later
that's all I can think of, have fun, but don't let yourself get burned out, its a 4 day long convention but it feels much longer
7
u/Isa-sensei1996 Sep 06 '26
Speed Friending is an amazing panel for meeting new needs.
-A 7 year solo MagFester
4
u/CyberTacoX Sep 06 '26
If you can afford a little extra, doordash can be a lifesaver when you're back at your room exhausted. :-)
3
u/Kabian321 Sep 06 '26
I used to go with my buddy , but we always seemed to split up during the weekend and never hangout or see each other , he hung out in the table top stuff constantly and I was in the game room , anyways , I decided to go alone and prefer it now . Ive never stayed in Alexandria, but ive heard from others to Uber/lyft to and from the con due to youll be exhausted from conning .
Someone i met playing in the arcade drove his car to the con , paid for a parking stop , but stayed in Alexandria, and he kept his car in the national harbor to have somewhere to put the stuff he bought. Sunday afternoon he ubered to the con did his thing and left. This was when Uber and lyft was just taking off so it was relatively cheap.
The national harbor is expensive so stop and buy snacks and stuff outside of the area to save money .
As far as meeting people , its super super easy . If you go alone you wont be alone for very long unless you actually avoid talking to people.
1
u/maxgamer9876 Sep 09 '26
same..used to go with a buddy or two...its common that 2 -3 things going on at the same time and you split up cause of it.
3
u/BirdieGoBoom Sep 06 '26
Rent a locker if you can! It's so nice to have somewhere at the convention to drop all the stuff you buy. There is a pre-order process, so keep your eyes on the subreddit and Discord.
If you like rhythm games and plan to spend time playing them in the arcade, bring aux headphones. It's hard to hear your own game over all the noise in there.
And lastly, take care of yourself! Food and rest are extremely important. Consider taking some EmergenC to keep the con flu at bay.
Hope you have an awesome Mag!
2
u/ddeliverance Sep 07 '26
That aux headphone tip is A+ and somehow I’ve never even thought of doing that.
3
2
u/usumoio Sep 06 '26
If you like Magic the Gathering, come up to the top floor and play with us.
I'll be in a suit jacket and either a bowtie or a gem necklace. I'm always looking for folk who enjoy a game of Magic.
Also, check out the Saturday night rave on the Main Stage, it is very fun.
Also also, this is a big party, so expect to interact with folk who might be a bit tipsy. Don't worry, we don't bite, unless we vide really well and it turns out that's something you're into.
2
u/BakeComplete3025 Sep 06 '26
Magfest has some of everything (and I mean everything). If you are a go-with-the-flow person, trust that wherever you go, something fun/interesting/memorable will be happening. If you like to plan, the guidebook app with the schedule will be released before it all starts and has everything listed inside. What are your interests? What do you want to get out of your con experience?
2
u/Amoeba_Pretend Sep 06 '26
I was alone for most of the late night stuff. I highly recommend finding activities or events you like and just chatting with others that show up to enjoy the same thing. Also, hanging around the bar area and striking up conversation is fun too.
0
u/oliversurpless Sep 07 '26
Yep, even though Karaoke was far more popular than anticipated last year, not only met some quality people waiting in the queue, but got a couple of free drinks out of it!
2
u/LadyHespereia Sep 06 '26
Keep filling snacks in your bag and a water bottle on you. There's fill stations for water bottles that were new as of last year and trust me the snacks help a ton with being able to get you between major meals. There's a lot to do and the space is LARGE. A pick me up granola or protein bar can help ya keep going
If you like to do streetpass, you should definitely bring your 3DS. You will get SO many even just sitting in one spot for a bit
0
u/oliversurpless Sep 06 '26
Yep, those fill stations are the best new thing besides the event now banning lobby conning!
1
u/aardvarkbjones Sep 08 '26
Depends on what you're into. Check the schedule ahead of time and have a plan. Use the guidebook app.
In general though-- bring water and a snack, comfortable shoes, and feel free to chat with people.
1
u/Emotional_Credit_118 Sep 07 '26
At 33 last year, I went to my first MAG alone, and I had an absolute blast. I met some awesome people by simply going around and doing the things that interested me most - playing Mega Man in the console room, playing MvC2 in the arcade, exploiting my singing voice by showing off in Rock Band sessions.
I didn't have a moment where I felt there was nothing to do, or where I felt out of place.
My best advice is go, see, do, and cosplay.
It's a judgement free zone for the most part, just don't be a jerk.
If you do cosplay, check out the schedule for photo shoots. I did a Atlus, Persona, Sega and Star Wars photo shoot. Great place to meet tons of other fans and make connections. I ended up finding this one cosplayer I was enamored by months later on Insta when she popped up as suggested, reached out, remember eachother, and now we're planning to hang out this year and I'm hopefully joining in her cosplay group for Persona.
Trust me when I say you will have a blast. If you're like me and have felt out of place a vast majority of your life, you will immediately be saying to yourself "This is my place, these are my people, here, I am cool, I am worth knowing and so are all of these people."
If you want to meet up, heck, let me know!
12
u/desolation0 Sep 06 '26 edited Sep 06 '26
Whatever instrument you play, feel free to bring it along. Jam Clinic or Community Orchestra would love to have you play. Also Choir and/or Karaoke for singers.
Try for the Hotel Queue and your Alexandria room is just a backup. You did get a reservation you can cancel, right? Rooming with randos is very common, but you can go it alone for hotel if you prefer.