Don't forget your toothbrush!

29 July 2018

And after almost two years of anticipation, the 2018 Discworld Convention is almost upon us. We know you're all frantically finishing off those last minute costume tweaks (or, in some cases, just starting the costume); studying the programme trying to work out how you can be in four places at once (whilst suspecting you'll actually be in the bar); wondering how to explain to the boss you might need a few extra days off, just to sleep ...

And in the midst of all that plotting and scheming it's easy to forget the little things^[1]. Not to mention all those things you wanted to bring with you. So, we thought we might help out with a handy last minute reminder.

Where am I going again ...?

Unless you've muddled up your Discworld Conventions, you're heading to the Discworld Convention 2018. It's being held at Chesford Grange Hotel from 3-6 August 2018.

First and foremost, double check you have a valid attending membership. You can access the membership list and check the details of your membership by logging into the website.

If, for some reason, you've still got a supporting membership and want to upgrade that to an attending one, you can throw yourself on the mercy of our Membership Team by emailing membership@dwcon.org.

And how do I get there ...?

You can find information on how to get to Chesford Grange Hotel on our website.

The Convention Hotel Address is:
Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth, Warwick, CV8 2LD

There's plenty of parking available at Chesford Grange for those of you staying at the hotel and for those of you travelling in daily. In a change from 2016 Chesford Grange have introduced security barriers and you will need a code to exit the car park. This code is available at the hotel reception.

When should I turn up ...?

This depends entirely on when you've booked your accommodation for.

If you are staying in either Chesford Grange or our partner hotel Woodland Grange you can check that by logging into the membership section of the website.

You can check into your room at Chesford Grange from 15:00 on your day of arrival. Check in at Woodland Grange is also from 15:00, and is a short drive from Chesford Grange. For those looking to plug details into a SatNav, the address is as follows:

Woodland Grange, Old Milverton Lane, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 6RN

Please make sure you are familiar with our Hotel Policy before checking in, and if you are staying at Chesford Grange and are bringing a dog, please also read our Pet Policy.

If you are camping at Chesford Grange you can pitch your tent from 15:00 on the first day of your stay. You will need to collect your pitch details and camping pass from Registration before you pitch your tent. Camping on someone else’s pitch is frowned upon. Camping without a pass gets a... stronger response.

Please make sure you are familiar with our Camping Policy and that you abide with the campsite rules for the duration of your stay, the most important of which is NO FIRE!

Please also make sure that you bring the basics with you - your tent, pegs and mallet, something to sleep on, or in, that sort of thing. And that the equipment you bring with you is fully functional. Neither Chesford Grange nor ConCom will have any spare camping equipment.

Right, I've arrived, I'm good to go ... yes?

Not quite. Have you been to Registration yet?

Registration is the domain of the Membership Team. Registration will be open in Treacle Mine Road from 09:00 until 18:00 on the Friday and from 09:00 until 11:00 on the Saturday. If you need to register outside of these times, GO TO OPS!

For telling us you're here we will give you a Membership Goody Bag containing your Membership Pack and lots of Useful Things. This includes your Membership Badge, which must be worn at all times on pain of excessive questioning by the Watch (please note that food and drink prices at the Convention are also conditional upon Membership, and you may incur a higher bill if you attempt to purchase either without your badge on display).

And, that thing you're carrying there, yes that, looks a bit like a sword. That needs to go straight to Ops. And that pike you're using as a walking stick. And definitely the morning star. Ops will need to consider it carefully, in line with our Weapons Policy. And to be clear, the word of Ops is final on this.

Can I go and get started now, please?

Yes, off you go!

Details of our Programme are available on this website.

As well as on the website, you can also access programme information through the Grenadine Event Guide app for iPhone and Android . This has several advantages over the website or the paper version in the ReadMe - including the ability to create your own schedule, and notifications when events change!

The event code you need is: DWCon2018.

If you were still signed into Grenadine from last time (or other Conventions!), go to 'Switch conference' in the app menu and search for the event code.

Remember to look out for any important updates and announcements during the Convention! These will be communicated to you in a variety of ways: The Grenadine app, Facebook, Twitter and, of course, good old fashioned notice boards.

If, at any point, you cannot find the information you seek, Go To Ops. They'll know.

Help? I’m new to all of this!

At some point we were all new to this. We even have a session dedicated to breaking you in introducing you to the art of Conventioneering. You can find this programme item listed as “Der Troll’s Guide For Der Confused”.

Signing Sessions

There are scheduled signing sessions with the guests. Please bring a maximum of three items to be signed (and none of these should be body-parts) and be considerate of the guests outside these times. While some are happy to sign things outside sessions, do also allow them to relax and enjoy the Convention.
The Discworld Emporium gang, in their entirety, will be available at their stand during the Convention, pens in hand and ready to write rude things… (But please be patient when they’re busy!).

Please be mindful of others

We know that in all that excitement it's easy to get carried away, but we do ask that all our Members treat each other with respect before, during and after the Convention. Please read our Anti-harassment Policy and our Photography Policy . And if at any time during the Convention you feel uncomfortable about anything please speak to a member of ConCom [2].

I want to get involved!

Absolutely - we want you to as well. Please, please volunteer. We're always looking for extra helping hands as both Gophers and Watchpeople. If you know you want to get involved now, drop us an email at volunteer@dwcon.org and include some idea about what you'd like to help with[3].

Have you been hit with sudden and overwhelming inspiration for the Maskerade? Excellent. You can find out more information about it on this website, including helpful details about the space you have available and the length of each performance, and most importantly how to register.

And if you don't feel like getting directly involved during the Con, perhaps you could help us out in advance, by collecting and bringing some Stuff[4]. The Stuff will be used to make Things[5]. Specifically, for the Hedgehog Race we would like your cardboard, your string, your bits of wire, old egg boxes and anything that can be used to make a Thing, which will be pitted against other Things. Chaos Costuming will take your spare material, beads, thread and other crafty items which can be turned, as if by magic, into beautiful creations.

Chaos Costuming is also the place to go if, on arrival, you suddenly decide you do want a costume after all, or accidentally left yours behind[6].

Who are these people in purple shirts?!

They are the Committee, aka Concom. During the Convention you may see them with their head tilted to one side, listening to the voices in their heads, often with a drink in hand. They may also be running around the hotel like something is on fire. Sometimes they’ll be doing all these things at once! These are committee members and are the people you should ask if you need any help. If they are missing the drink, feel free to offer them one. Just to be slightly confusing, the hotel staff also have a tendency to wear purple shirts. Ours have 'COMMITTEE' written on the back in large friendly letters.

Wow, costumes galore!

A lot of attendees to the Discworld Convention love cosplay. Some start planning costumes years in advance, some like to improvise at the Convention at Chaos Costuming or wear a Watch breastplate with their normal clothes, and some just admire the people who put in the effort (and there's a special token in your membership pack to give to people you feel have made a special effort!). Whatever you decide to do, it’s all fine. If this is your first time, all the talk about pyjamas and onesies for the Bedtime Stories event might give you the idea that it’s mandatory. It is not. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and have a good time, and allow others to do the same.

Important! Weather alert!

The last few weeks have seen a severe heat wave across Europe, and while things are expected to cool down this weekend, the current weather forecasts for the Convention weekend shows it warming up again, possibly even up to 30°C.
The public areas and event spaces in the Chesford Grange have air-conditioning, and we are looking at solutions for hot weather for the marquee, however we would be remiss if we didn’t go over some basic hot weather advice:

Avoid the heat: stay out of the sun and don't go out between 11am and 3pm (the hottest part of the day) if you're vulnerable to the effects of heat.
Have cool baths or showers, and splash yourself with cool water.
Drink cold drinks regularly, such as water and diluted fruit juice. Avoid excess alcohol, caffeine (tea, coffee and cola) or drinks high in sugar.
Wear loose, cool clothing, and a hat and sunglasses if you go outdoors.
Try not to wear a costume which has too many layers or is too warm. Remember, even Granny took off her vest in Genua.
Remember that wigs can be great at transforming your look, but they are like wearing a wooly hat.
Wear sunscreen.

And finally...

And remember, you need to bring:

Yourself, plus any family or friends you’re taking to the Convention.
Your name, so we can find out which membership pack is yours at Registration.
Proof of student or concessionary status.
Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses (especially if you’re camping!).
Your tent and all bits that go with it, if you’re camping.
Cash for the Dealers’ room. The hotel does not have an ATM and does not offer cashback (though they accept cards at the bar). Some, but not all, dealers accept cards.
A highlighter pen to keep track of what bits of the programme you really shouldn't miss. Clean clothes[7], amazing costumes, and your toiletries!
Your fanciest pyjamas, if you decide you want to get in the spirit of the Bedtime Stories event.
If you’re going to feegle up (or use bodypaint for any other reason) or use hair dye please bring your own towels to clean up.
Your first aid certificate, if you have one and want to help as a first aid volunteer.
Delicacies from your hometown to share at the ‘Hedgehog Party’ event.
Your toothbrush (duh!)

See you on 3 August!

[1] Like, for example, your toothbrush!
[2] We'll be the ones in purple. If we look mildly distant we're probably listening to something happening somewhere else - it's all part of the assimilation, I mean, radios, we have radios!
[3] We especially like the emails that say 'I will help with anything at all, at any point, I'm very helpful'. We keep those, and pull them out when looking for new ConCom...
[4] This is a technical term.
[5] Also a technical term, but obviously more complex.
[6] Hopefully not with the toothbrush - unless, that was your costume ...
[7] You will need some, it's not that sort of Convention.