Hi onsenmark, I have a question...what do you do that requires a long time to prepare for attending an anime convention?

I went to a local anime convention many years ago and because I didn't want to pay the entry price I volunteered as a staff and my task at that time was to supervise a screening session...volunteers had got together to arrange who was to do what but that was my prep for attending...the rest of the time after the actual supervising/task was done, I'd just enjoy the convention for what it was...merchandise, people dressed up in cosplay and quiz night...