Prepping for PAX East, West, or Any of Them

Can you believe it, Adventurers? PAX is almost upon us again! I can almost feel the crazy rush of excitement, the desire to play every game, and the bliss of being surrounded by your people.

Ahhh… What an experience. Whether this is your first PAX or you're a seasoned veteran, having the opportunity to go to a PAX is the highlight of the year for many. However, as much bliss as a PAX event can bring, it can also come with a lot of regrets.

Adventurers, I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer! But the truth is that once the event has passed and the euphoria has faded, it is not uncommon to feel disappointed by your choices. Since going to PAX is not a cheap expense, it is important to prepare yourself and ensure that both you and your budget are ready for it.

Personally, 2019 was my third year as an Enforcer at PAX East, and I love every moment of it. Being an Enforcer is a lot of hard work, but it is like a mini Side Quest that gives me the opportunity to be part of the Nerdiverse.

#LiveYourBestLife

At this point, you may be asking, “How can I go to PAX if I’m trying to be smart with my money?” Well, #LiveYourBestLife! I am a strong believer that you can’t go through life trying to achieve your ultimate goal without enjoying the journey. That said, don’t go to every event and buy every new thing out there. Something like PAX should be a special occasion, but it’s all about personal priorities.

If PAX is less than a month away, hopefully you have already booked your accommodation and travel. So we won't be concentrating on that right now. Rather, I want to focus on the lead-up, packing, and actually participating in PAX.

The Lead-Up to PAX

To start, the most important thing to prepare for, other than your travel and accommodation, is your budget. Since everyone has their own reasons for going, the budgeting plan is a basic guideline.

Food

First and foremost, food is important, and real food at that. You need to make sure that you eat at least one real meal a day. That means a meal with vegetables and a protein, and your best bet is to get that meal outside of the convention center.

The food served inside the convention center is going to be similar to bar food: burgers and fries, pizza, and even turkey legs. The food isn’t bad, but eating it for multiple days is not going to be the best thing for you. My suggestion would be, if your accommodation allows it, to go and get groceries to make a real meal for either breakfast or lunch or both. This will be both cost-effective and healthier for you, which will allow you to enjoy the experience that much more!

Below is a cost breakdown of what I budgeted for daily meals at PAX East in 2019. Note that the budget only reflects very simple meals, such as a salad from SweetGreen or a sandwich from Jimmy John’s, and not anything extravagant. If you are planning on a nicer meal out, back then you could expect to pay $25 and up, depending on what you order and drink with the meal.

Daily food (2019 prices)

• Breakfast: $10
• Lunch: $12
• Dinner: $15
• Hydration: $10
• Snacks: $10
• Total food: $57

Additionally, keeping hydrated is very important. You can bring your own water bottle or plan on purchasing a bottle there and filling it up. Either way, staying hydrated is probably the best thing you can do for yourself. The convention center is going to be dry inside, and with all the walking you’ll be doing, keeping yourself well watered is a must. There is a reason #HailHydrate is a thing.

Transportation

Boston is a wonderful place when it comes to public transportation. Not saying that the MBTA is without its flaws, but just having the opportunity to get most places by public transportation is great.

Sure, you could take an Uber or Lyft, but why spend that extra $20 on a ride when you could spend it on something you really want, or even save it? The convention center has a Silver Line stop within a 5-minute walk of the main doors, and a few bus stops close by. I recommend using Google Maps to plan the best route, and then working out how much the MBTA will cost.

For example, in 2019 the Silver Line cost $2.75 with a CharlieTicket or $2.25 with a CharlieCard per ride, and transfers within a metro stop were free. If you were planning on doing multiple days, with at least 10 Silver Line/train trips, the 7-Day Pass at $21.25 was the best option, as it gave you unlimited travel within the city for 7 days.

Merch and Big Ticket Purchases

This is the part of the budgeting process you really need to think seriously about. Ask yourself: “Do you really need that extra board game?” “Is that hoodie a good idea?” I hate to be a stick in the mud, but in the moment, all the excitement can cause you to purchase things you don’t really want.

Therefore, it would be best to plan out what you would like to purchase beforehand, and which booths with merch you would like to visit. For example, the PAX Merch Booth is the first place most PAXers will stop. Typically before PAX, a merchandise list will be available on the PAX App and website. This list will show the items you’ll be able to get at PAX, their prices, and what combo deals there are.

Word of warning: if there is something you really want, get it first. I know from experience that items such as the Event Hoodies sell out very quickly, and the exclusive pin is only released in batches each day.

So plan ahead and work out a system to keep track of your spending. I want to say use cash, but the idea of carrying cash, especially at large events, freaks me out. Still, do bring some cash, since not every booth will accept bank cards. My best suggestion is to create a list of everything you want and what you are willing to pay for it, and then print it out and mark it off as you go. Here is a quick example, and here is a more in-depth convention budget plan.

PAX purchase list (my 2019 example)

• PAX Merch Hoodie: $75
• Unstable Unicorns Pin: $15
• Take This Psychomancer Pin: $15

By doing that, you’ll have a quick summary of what you have spent, and what you still want to get. You could also just keep a tally on a piece of paper. The reason for writing it down is that there is going to be a lot going on, and trying to remember what you have already bought is going to become nearly impossible.

The point of PAX is to have fun, and thinking about money is the last thing anyone wants to do. But the number of times I’ve heard PAXers worry about what they have spent and whether they can eat that night is far too many. I say go in with a budget plan, with some wiggle room, and stick to it. If you know you’re not going to be able to stick to a budget, then maybe cash is the way to go. Just be smart about it, and bring smaller bills.

PAX Tips, Tricks, and Must-Haves

Now you have done the prep work, set your budget, and are days away from those frosty Boston mornings. It is time to pack and get ready to go. And yes, I know we are all adults here, so I am going to make the assumption that you know the basics: clean clothes, toiletries, those kinds of necessities.

My fellow Enforcers have helped me put together this list of tips, tricks, and must-haves to get the most out of your PAX experience.

What to pack and bring with you to PAX

• First things first: Deodorant
  • I know we agreed that we are all adults, but let us be honest… Sometimes we forget. Well, PAX is not the time nor the place to forget your deodorant. There are just too many people.
• Extra socks
  • As many as two pairs of socks per day. Since you’ll be doing a lot of walking, it will be nice to put on a clean pair halfway through the day.
• Bring chapstick and even moisturizer
  • The convention center is a dry building, and this time of year in Boston, the air is also dry. After a few days, your skin and lips are going to get dry and chapped.
• Hand sanitizer
  • This is personal preference, but again, there are going to be a lot of people. Reducing the chance of getting sick is a bonus. Let’s keep #PAXPOX in the past.
• Power bank and charging cable
  • There are areas around the center where you could find an outlet to charge your devices, but if you really don’t want to miss a second hunting for one, a power bank will help greatly.
• Good, trusted shoes
  • PAX is not the time to break in new shoes. I know having new shoes sounds like a great idea, but you are going to be walking a lot, and there is nothing worse than getting a blister on day one. Just go with a pair of shoes you trust and have been wearing for a while.
• Water bottle
  • You could buy a water bottle there, but bringing your own is even better. Less cost and waste. Think of the future, and think #HailHydrate.
• Snacks
  • Adventurers, you know what happens when you get hungry. Don’t subject us to that. The food lines are going to be long, so pack yourself some good wholesome snacks. The less sugar the better; nothing worse than a sugar crash.
• Backpack
  • You are going to want a backpack that is easy to carry, has a lot of different storage spaces, and is secure enough to store more valuable items.
• Handheld or book
  • There is going to be downtime. Whether it’s while you are waiting in a line or just taking a break, having something to take you away from all the madness is a must-have.

What to prepare before PAX

• Consider your budget
  • Sit down and plan your budget. PAX should be about the experience and not how much stuff you can buy.
• Plan what you want to do and see
  • PAX is a huge event, and the likelihood of you being able to see and do everything is next to zero. Thus, I would suggest making a schedule before going, either by using the app or the schedule on the PAX website.

Wrapping it Up

I’ll wrap up here for now and continue in the next article with best practices while at PAX. So in the meantime, make a budget and think about what you will be packing. We shall meet next on how to get the most out of your PAX experience.

Till then, what are your must-brings or tips for preparing for PAX or any other convention?