Mermaid Conventions

Alright my fishes, today we are going to break down some of my key tips for getting the most out of your mermaid convention experience. Let's dive in!

1. Take Breaks
One of my biggest pieces of advice, when it comes to attending a mermaid convention, is to take breaks when you need to. Try to catch yourself before you become overwhelmed. Don't worry about missing out when you take breaks. Think of what kind of a long break you would need to recover if you get TOO overwhelmed, right? Can my fellow spoonies relate?

2. Cover Up!
If you are attending a convention outside in the sun, make sure you are using a good quality sun screen, wear a hat, and sunglasses. I know these things don't always work well with your aesthetic as a mermaid, but as a 30+ year old woman I am grateful to my younger self for being smart enough to protect my skin. You also have to know that heat exhaustion/sun stroke, sunburns, not to mention the damage you are doing to your eyes, just isn't worth it. Take your photos, shoot the underwater footage you want, then cover up. Not only will you mentally last longer, you will feel better and the experience will be more enjoyable overall.

3. Bring the KEY Items Only
Really assess the situation beforehand and bring only what you need. There is nothing worse than having to walk around with a bunch of extra stuff in your bag(s). Some of the things that I had with me aside from the mermaid gear I knew I was going to need for swimming, was water (oh so much water), snacks, my phone/camera (always bring extra batteries/chargers/sd cards), my wallet, business cards, and a change of socks (I'm a weirdo with socks).

4. Use a Bag with Wheels
If you need to bring a lot of items with you, for a photoshoot, or accessories for swimming etc, check to see if they have a tail-check where you can leave your tail bag, and also opt for using a bag with wheels if you can. Nowadays they make backpacks with wheels too that could be helpful if you are carrying extra goodies with you.

5. Bring Help
I brought my husband Eric along for the ride because I knew I was going to need help with my tails and my gear as well as filming/content for my channel.

6. Save Money Before You Go
Leading up to the convention, do yourself a solid and save as much money as possible because I guarantee you when you get there and you see all the goodies our amazing community has to offer you are going to want to buy it all. It's a wonderful thing to be able to support your fellow mermaids and creators and you will feel even better for it if you were able to save a few sand dollars beforehand. 

7. Stay Close to the Location
If you are able to choose a hotel or a B&B close to the location, I highly recommend it. You are going to be exhausted by the end of day one and absolutely destroyed by day two so if you can stay on-site, or withing 5 or 10 minutes, do it!

8. Don't Go to Conventions When You Are Sick
This goes without saying, especially given the state of the world, but don't go to a convention if you are sick. I know it can be horrible to miss out on activities due to illness, I've been there, but it isn't just your well-being your are jeopardizing. The community will thank you for keeping them safe.
 
9. Hand Sanitizer, Mask, Wash Your Hands!
Another important thing to pack with you is hand sanitizer and masks. This is something I've added given the state of the world. Also, make sure you are washing your hands often, between each event, each meeting, and each new location. It's the best thing you can do to keep not only yourself healthy, but your fellow fishes too.

10. Stay Hydrated, Make Nourishing Food Choices
As mermaids it is so important for us to stay hydrated anyway, but when you are out in hot weather and doing a lot of swimming, dancing, etc, it is SO IMPORTANT to stay hydrated. Yes it sucks to have to run to the washroom every five minutes, but it is worth it for the benefits!

Also think about your swimming experience and the foods that will fuel you and keep the discomfort and anxiety away. Whole foods, not heavily processed, not too many simple sugars, complex carbs, protein, and good fats are something to think about. I don't say it up here on my high seahorse, I say it from personal experience as someone who lives with chronic pain and anxiety (and as someone who loves McDs and chocolate).

Those are my tips on how to get the most out of your mermaid convention experience! Which conventions have you been to and which did you enjoy the most? Comment below!

Happy Swimming!
Courtney Mermaid

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 conventions mentioned in the podcast

https://californiamermaidcon.com/

http://mermagiccon.com/welcome/

watch my california mermaid convention 2019 playlist