Tomorrow is the start of MCM London! Sadly, I won’t be attending this time, but I’ve really enjoyed going in the past. If this is your first time attending or are thinking about attending in the future, here are some tips/tricks I have learned from attending (note: this is my experience and everyone will have a different reaction/thoughts to mine).
If you’re going multiple days, use Friday as your buying merch day
Now, I haven’t necessarily been multiple days to MCM, but I’ve found that when I’ve gone on the Sunday, there weren’t be as much merch to purchase compared to going on the first day of Friday. This seems like a pretty obvious tip, but I think people tend to forget about what they were hoping to purchase and then find out it’s sold out when it comes to Sunday.
BUDGET
Seems like another obvious tip, but it’s important to budget your time/money at MCM. Set a limit for how much you plan to spend on merch and food before going in or else you’re going to get overwhelmed. My first time going to MCM, I definitely spent too much money, but have been a lot better these past times by setting parameters for myself (i.e. only buying from small businesses that I haven’t purchased from before; only buying small things with x character).
Don’t worry if you haven’t got a cosplay!
My first couple times to MCM, I didn’t dress up and felt left out. After the preparation and planning for the last two times for outfits, I can say it’s okay if you don’t dress up! There’s a lot to worry about with your outfit, especially if you’re travelling a long ways. I will say though that it is a lot of fun dressing up and if you feel comfortable with it, go for it! You’ll find lots of lovely people there giving praises and wanting pictures.
Bring a comfy shoes, water bottle and a mini fan
It gets HOT in Excel. Add in the hundreds of people in the building with the noise and it gets overwhelming. I recommend bringing a mini fan (battery/hand powered) and a water bottle. There are plenty of places to fill up your water bottle. There are also some quiet areas if it gets to be a little too much for you to rest and relax in. Don’t forget to wear comfy shoes or have shoes to change into if you’re wearing a special outfit.
Try and plan meetups before the day
I’m saying this as someone who continuously misses friends due the the awful phone signal and wifi in Excel Centre. If you know someone who is going to be there too, try your best to plan a meetup spot and time to find each other. It saves a lot of headaches!
Lastly, have fun!
You’re going to be exhausted and worn out from an overstimulating experience, but it’s going to be so much fun. You’ll meet many likeminded people, see celebrities, and meet awesome artists and small business owners!
xx Hannah
Idealistic Iowan 