Tips and Pro Tips make all the difference
The Electronic Entertainment Expo is upon us once again. You probably know it as E3. Is this your first time going to E3? Every year people try and find tips and advice on how to explore the show. Like many others, I too have read these lists, and I have to say...they weren't all that helpful. If you want a great list of fantastic tips, you've found the place. Get ready for some tips and pro tips!
Obvious Tips
These are the kind of tips you are going to find on any and every list about E3. These are the most basic and simple tips that you can find just about anywhere.
What to Wear
E3 is a trade show for business to show off the latest coming attractions in games. Contrary to what a lot of people might think, E3 is not a fan event. There are a ton of business types walking around the convention center. If you are at E3 to just have a good time, dress casually.
If you are going to E3 to network, I would recommend business casual attire. You don't want to bump into someone you want to network with while wearing basketball shorts and a Goku button up! You want to make a good impression! After all you are representing your studio, channel or brand.
If you are going to E3 to network, I would recommend business casual attire. You don't want to bump into someone you want to network with while wearing basketball shorts and a Goku button up! You want to make a good impression! After all you are representing your studio, channel or brand.
Tip: If you are the type of person that sunburns easily, you may want to apply some sunscreen before attending the convention.
My recommendations
- Comfortable shoes (Don't come in toe shoes, you will just look out of place)
- Button up shirt (preferably a light color because it is usually very warm) - Optional tie - Nice pair of Jeans/slacks - Sunglasses (LA is very bright and there is very little shade outside the convention center) |
Dress for success!
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Tip: E3 is a trade show, it isn't Anime Expo or Comic Con. Unless you are being paid to promote a product/service or game, leave the costume at home.
What to Bring with You
Backpack
Cuscus Single Strap Backpack.
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You definitely don't want to show up to E3 without a bag. Chances are, you are going to end up with a bunch of stuff you can't carry.
The first few years I brought a standard Jansport, which had a lot of space, but it dug into my shoulders during the long walks/waits. I tried a messenger bag, but that too became uncomfortable. For the last for years I have been using a single strap backpack. It has enough space for my stuff/swag, while being comfortable enough for a long day's walk. I highly recommend looking into getting one of these bags. |
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An excellent option for a single strap backpack is the KP Sling Bag, The KP sling bag is sleek and stylish, easily meeting the needs of a business casual scenario such as a convention or business lunch.
The KP sling bag is water resistant and features and padded interior great for tablets and other electronic devices. It also has a hidden compartment, great for your wallet/passport. Unlike most single strap backpacks, the KP sling bag can be worn on either shoulder. A fantastic feature for long days at the convention center or traveling around town. |
KP Sling Bag.
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Snacks
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You are going to want to bring water. A refillable thermos/bottle or a couple of plastic water bottles would be a good idea.If you run out, there are a couple of water fountains around the main halls where you can always refill. If water is not your thing, a sports drinks work too.
You are definitely going to be offered energy drinks while you're attending E3. I am kind of against them, since they will just make your thirstier and possible jittery. I wouldn't pack any to be honest. Too expensive and water does the trick for me. |
Refillable plastic water bottle.
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Obvious Tip: Water fountains are located around the outside of either hall. These spots are ideal for getting a drink or refilling your water bottle.
Where snacks are concerned, I usually just pack something simple like Apple/Pear slices, banana or chopped carrots. Healthy snacks that will keep your energy up and not slow you down. Beef Jerky and mixed nuts are also a great option if you want to keep the hunger at bay while also restoring your energy. You also can just pack a home made PB&J. All these items are easy to consume while waiting in line or just relaxing outside the con.
Tip: Don't pack any food items that need to be heated up or cooked in any way. Please don't bring food with a very pungent smell either!
Business Cards
Business cards in a steel carrying case.
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If this is your first E3 I can't stress how important business cards are. If you are an up and coming youtuber/streamer or a freelance game developer, a business card is essential. I would recommend carrying your business cards inside of a steel card case that will keep them safe and allow for easy distribution.
You are going to need to carry more then ten cards with you on any given day. Be sure to keep your spare cards inside of your backpack/purse etc. If you are wondering how many cards you should get printed, I would estimate that 200 would be more then enough for all three days and after parties. Make sure to get them printed a couple weeks in advanced. You don't want to have to pay for rush delivery/printing. |
Know the Halls
Use thisinteractive map and Virtual Tour of the convention center to familiarize yourself with the halls. Just remember, this handy tip, the West hall is the one closets to Staples Center.
Figure out Where to Eat In Advance
In recent years there has been a plethora of lunch trucks that can be found along Figueroa street, across from the convention center. Lunch trucks vary in price, so expect to spend around 8-12 dollars. Sometimes, game studios may provide a lunch truck that will give out free food/snacks as part of a promotion! These lunch trucks are a great way to save some money, but don't count on them being your main source of food.
E3 2010 - Promotional Bulletstorm lunch truck giving out free hamburgers.
LA live, which is near the convention center is full of places to eat. These are sit down places and can be a bit pricy, keep that in mind if you are on a budget. If you had to eat at a place in LA Live I would recommendLucky Strike. It has a nice atmosphere and their lunch menu that isn't too expensive while also being a short walk from the West hall.
"What am I going to eat?"
Whenever people ask "What is good in LA?" you might get an answers like, Pinks, In-N-Out, Phillipes etc. Just be aware that none of these places are near the convention center! Feel free to eat there, but not during convention hours. You will waste a lot of time/gas/money traveling all the way to Pink's.
Make sure to do your research beforehand! Zomato makes it easy to find places around Downton Los Angels with their lunch and dinner search options. Make sure to plan out where you're going to eat before you make the trip to the show floor!
Make sure to do your research beforehand! Zomato makes it easy to find places around Downton Los Angels with their lunch and dinner search options. Make sure to plan out where you're going to eat before you make the trip to the show floor!
Protips
These are the tips that you will only get from someone like me, am E3 veteran. These tips will give you the edge over the unprepared masses that flood the halls.
Networking
Networking is one of the most powerful things you can do while attending E3. You are going to be surrounded by thousands of people in every field of game development. Indie game designer, Concept artist on huge AAA projects, HR and PR personnel. I really hope you brought along your business cards!
But when is networking approriate? How hard should you hustle? When and where is best to meet people?
But when is networking approriate? How hard should you hustle? When and where is best to meet people?
On the Show Floor
Waiting in line is a great time to network. Think of it this way, you and the people in line already have a lot in common.
All you have to do is start up a casual conversation. If the person is down to have a friendly chat, chat away! What are you to talk about? - The demo you're waiting in line for - What game/etc are most excited for? - What do they do in the industry (animator/designer etc)? - ETC When you are about to part ways make sure to seal the deal and hand them your business card. |
Gamedev Drinkup at the Golden Gopher (E3 2014)
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Pro Tip: Read the situation, in a line that is an hour long wait you might not want to be stuck next to someone you angered/annoyed!
At an After Party
The show floor isn't the only place that you can socialize. Every year E3 has a ton of after parties, and most of them are accessible to anyone attending E3. How do you find such parties? One thing that always works for me is to google search "E3 Parties (Year)" and you will find a list of all the parties that will be going on that week.Or better yet you can follow the E3 party guide on twitter or check out their website. Most of these events are fairly easy to attend. Don't be surprised that a few may be exclusive.
One such event that anyone over 21 can attend is the Gamedev Drinkup. I would recommend the gamdev drinkup because it is a great way to network and meet interesting people. This event is very laid back and casual. Just people drinking and talking. This is a great event for people that are just breaking into the game industry or are fresh out of a game design college.
One such event that anyone over 21 can attend is the Gamedev Drinkup. I would recommend the gamdev drinkup because it is a great way to network and meet interesting people. This event is very laid back and casual. Just people drinking and talking. This is a great event for people that are just breaking into the game industry or are fresh out of a game design college.
Tip: Be sure to bring your E3 badge to the party! Most parties require a badge for entry. Don't leave it at your hotel or car!
Get Connected!
If you've been busy hustling and socializing at E3 you probably got a stack of business cards! What do you do now? Simple, start connecting with these people! What I normally do is I find them on Linkedin or twitter. I sit down at my desk and go through the business cards of all the people I met. I send requests to the people I had a good conversation with. It doesn't hurt to message everyone you collected a card from.
The MIX - Media Indie Exhcange (2015)
Pro Tip: Make sure to wait a few days to a week before you try and connect with anyone on Linkedin. People are busy during E3 and are more likely to see your request after the dust has settled. If you want to connect with them right away, follow them on twitter as it is a much more casual means of connecting.
Here is an example of a short message I would send "Danny would like to connect. Great talking to you about your upcoming project! " Keep it short, simple and add a personal touch. The personal touch helps them remember who you are. It is very common for people to get spammed with tons of connection requests, you want to remind this person who you are, where you met (In line, At an after party etc) and what you were talking about. This will build a bond, refresh their memory and ensure that these people will accept your request.
SWAG: Dos and Don't
E3 is a place full of swag (Stuff We All Get), but not all of it is worth it. In fact some of it will just weigh you down and hold you back. One item I learned to avoid are the over sized convention bags. At best they help you carry all of your stuff, at worst they get in the way and the strap will rip causing you to drag them all over the place.
Avoid the large convention bags!
If you are offered something that you don't want, politely decline. It is a major pet peeve of mine to see people receive something and simply toss it in the trash or on the ground. Just say "No thank you". Not hard to do.
DO: Keep An Eye out for Hot Ticket Items
There are some hot ticket items at every E3. The Skylanders booth onced raffled off an E3 exclusive figure that collectors would love to get their hands on. I was fortunate enough to win one. I held onto it for a while and I sold it online for a cool hundred mil.
E3 exclusive patch from Alien: Isolation.
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Hot Ticket Items
- Art books and Art Prints
- Collectible Figurines -Plushies - Patches/Pins and Coins - USB drives
Of course there are a plethora of shirts, magnets, lanyards and novelty items. I still have a can of Overcharge (the energy drink from Sunset Overdrive) somewhere in my room.
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(Please) DON'T: Be a SWAG Hog or a Whiner
Swag is free, but that doesn't mean you are entitled to all of it, nor does it mean you should take more then everyone else. Be aware that most of the time the people working the booths are only allotted so many items to give away each day. Sometimes they run out or are done handing out items for the day.
I bring this up because every year I see someone get annoyed or angry at this fact. I've seen a grown man raise his voice at someone because he didn't get a free T-shirt. Don't be that guy. Don't be the guy who takes too much or whines when they run out. Fact of the matter is, you will survive without a video game shirt.
I bring this up because every year I see someone get annoyed or angry at this fact. I've seen a grown man raise his voice at someone because he didn't get a free T-shirt. Don't be that guy. Don't be the guy who takes too much or whines when they run out. Fact of the matter is, you will survive without a video game shirt.
Not All Lines Are Equal
I have waited maybe, half an hour to an hour before to go into a private theater to play a demo and see some extra footage, and those times have always been worth it. Sometimes they give you a shirt and some cool swag.
Everyone is going to tell you this "Waiting in line is a big part of E3" and "Long lines are to be expected". Don't fall for these traps. One year, there was a huge AAA game I was excited for. My friends and I deiced to wait in the 3 hour line, because you know, it had to be worth the wait. Guess what happened. When my friends and I finally got into the private theater, they showed us the trailer of the game and gave us no new info. No demo, no new footage, no gameplay, nothing. It was a three hour wait! The only thing we go four our trouble was a T-shirt.
Everyone is going to tell you this "Waiting in line is a big part of E3" and "Long lines are to be expected". Don't fall for these traps. One year, there was a huge AAA game I was excited for. My friends and I deiced to wait in the 3 hour line, because you know, it had to be worth the wait. Guess what happened. When my friends and I finally got into the private theater, they showed us the trailer of the game and gave us no new info. No demo, no new footage, no gameplay, nothing. It was a three hour wait! The only thing we go four our trouble was a T-shirt.
Line to Enter the south hall. Photograph provided by Jeremy Lobdell.
How can you avoid a similar fate at E3? Well if you have a press pass that usually cuts waiting in line in half or can even gets you into these private screenings without having to wait.
How does someone with a general access pass avoid this fate? Easy, just ask someone working the booth. Ask them how long the wait is, if you can play the game/if there is some cool swag etc. The people working the booth will fill you in. I've avoided waiting in lines to nowhere ever since.
How does someone with a general access pass avoid this fate? Easy, just ask someone working the booth. Ask them how long the wait is, if you can play the game/if there is some cool swag etc. The people working the booth will fill you in. I've avoided waiting in lines to nowhere ever since.
Lyft/Uber
Are you signed up to Uber or Lyft yet? No? Good! You might want to hold off until the week of E3. Both of these companies offer sign up bonuses for new customers that can be really handy if you ever get stranded in or around the convention center.
First time customers to Uber get a free ride (up to $22) if they use the promo code FEELING22. Uber has also maintained a presence at E3.
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Sign up to Lyft with this link and get $50 in credit added to your account! I would also suggest using lyft line as a great way to get from your hotel to the convention center for cheap.
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Sign up to Lyft with referral code DANNYLV100 and get your first ride FREE.
Get Your Coupons Ready
As a promotion one year, you got to ride in an armored car if you signed up with Uber at E3.
If you have any coupons from Lyft/Uber sitting somwhere, now would be a good time to use them. I have a couple coupons for free rides I got a few months back that I am saving up in case of an emergency scenario. If the apocalypse were to happen tomorrow, guess who has a free ticket out of LA.
Know Your Route: Public Transportation
Everyone seems to have the idea that public transportation in LA is terrible. That is not too far from the truth, but you aren't going to be traveling all over LA, just to the convention center. Lucky for you, there are a couple of ways to get to E3 by public transportation!
LA Metro can help you find a route to the convention center. Give them a call @ 323.466.3876. Let them know your starting position and your destination. The kind folks at LA Metro will be happy to help you plan your route, free of charge!
Public Transportation Routes
Metro Bus 81(orange bus) goes through Downtown Los Angeles and then travels straight down Figueroa. This bus makes with multiple stops near the convention center.
LADOT DASH shuttle bus F will take your through Downtown LA and straight to the convention center for only 50 cents! It stops running around 6 pm, so be aware!
Metro Expo line (light blue train) has a stop at PICO station that will leave you a few blocks away from the convention center.
LADOT DASH shuttle bus F will take your through Downtown LA and straight to the convention center for only 50 cents! It stops running around 6 pm, so be aware!
Metro Expo line (light blue train) has a stop at PICO station that will leave you a few blocks away from the convention center.
Selfie Stick (For the Youtuber/Blogger on a budget)
Selfie sticks aren't just for selfies. Whenever I need to film something out in the field I use my an everyday HD digital camera and my selfie stick. If you are an up and coming channel, you might not have the budget or crew to get the shots you need. A selfie stick is compact, light and requires very little set up. Selfie Sticks are also very affordable when compared to most tripods, boom mics and camera mounts.
Trying to record freehand vs using a selfie stick.
With a selfie stick and some creativity you can take some great shots of the show floor. You can also use it when conducting interviews and filming vlogs. If you see any footage for this site or the youtube channel, you can bet it was filmed with my selfie stick.
Note: The show floor is very loud! If you want to film a vlog or interview, try and do it somewhere outside or away from the show floor.
Portable Charger
Jackery phone charger.
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One thing you might want to look into it is a portable phone charger. You are going to be using your phone a ton. Taking pictures, making calls, texting, networking etc. Your battery is going to die. I've seen it happen every single year.
Sure, they've added some phone charging stations, but did you bring your charger? Do you have time to wait your turn to charge your phone? The answer is no, you want to be on the show floor, playing games, meeting people and enjoying your E3 experience! |
This portable charger is slightly bigger then a lipstick and neatly fits into your backpack or purse (and comes in a few different colors). A portable charger will allow you to charge your smart phone on the go, it can definitely save you or a friend in a pinch! Especially if you are from out of town or country and you rely on your phone to get around (map, travel, etc). Don't be the guy looking for an outlet at the after party! Be the guy who is prepared and makes it back home safely!
Portable Charger Options: Jackery Mini Premium, Anker Portable Charger, Astro Candy Bar Sized Charger
Use this Shortcut!
There is an outdoors walkways that connects both halls. This walkway will take you to the entrance of the South hall and West Hall. Most people are going to use the main walkway, but you don't want to do that! As a veteran of E3 I can tell you that the main walkway takes a lot longer to get between the halls. We are going to be talking anywhere from 10-15 mins if you walk from the south hall to the west hall via the main walkway.
If you take the outside walkway, you're looking at around 5-8 mins. You might be thinking "So what?" A few minutes makes all the difference if you need to get to a meeting or get in line to have an art print signed! Trust me on this one.
See You at the Show!
With all of these tips and pro tips, I think you are now ready for your first E3! Just remember to have a good time. You should have learned to avoid lines to nowhere, figure out where you are going to eat, what to bring and to network.
If you found any of these tips helpful in any way shape or form, please feel free to tweet me and let me know! If you see me at the show don't be afraid to say hi! I really enjoy meeting new people and socializing. You can probably catch me at one of the Gamedev drink ups or Indie meet ups! Have a great E3!
If you found any of these tips helpful in any way shape or form, please feel free to tweet me and let me know! If you see me at the show don't be afraid to say hi! I really enjoy meeting new people and socializing. You can probably catch me at one of the Gamedev drink ups or Indie meet ups! Have a great E3!
Artwork was provided by Xfactor 521. Follow her on Twitch, Twitter and Deviantart! Be sure to give her a follow!
Social Media.
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All photographs of E3 were taken by Dannylv100 except where noted
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