Comic Con is a playground for those who love anything geeky or nerdy. I went to my first Comic Con this past weekend with my fiancé, my family and one of our best friends. It was one of the most eye opening experiences that I've ever had. The number of costumes was an amazing sight, and the time that it took people to make some of the costumes is incredible!

I stuck out like a sore thumb at Tampa Bay Con because it was my first time "cosplaying." For those of you who don't know, Cosplaying is when you become a character from your favorite movie, comic book, anime, manga, graphic novel, etc. I went as Bellatrix Lestrange on Friday, Genderbent 9th Doctor Who on Saturday and myself on Sunday--gender-bending is when you turn a character's gender into the opposite gender.

It was a completely new experience for me. Here are some things that I learned at Tampa Bay Comic Con that can help some of you who are first-time con-goers!

1. Eat a huge meal before going.

The lines inside of the convention center to get food were horrible. Everyone waited a good while before they could be helped and there were very few snack vendors on the floor.

2. You are allowed to take photos with the cosplayers.

It was so weird walking into the convention center and seeing a lot of people asking for photos. I felt like I was walking into a meet and greet area at a theme park, but with better costumes. I felt so bad for the cosplayers who had a line for those who wanted a picture. These poor souls got no breaks like our friends in the parks do.

However, I did get to restart a photo segment that weekend with my tiny T.A.R.D.I.S because it seemed that the cosplayers were very interested in my tiny T.A.R.D.I.S. I used #whereisthetinytardis on Instagram when Peter Capaldi was about to start as The Doctor from Doctor Who, so I continued it while at Comic Con.

3. You're being judged constantly.

As soon as you walk in, you're being judged by your costume. I would walk around and look at the merchandise and see someone judging me on my first attempt at cosplaying. I know my costume wasn't that good, but I tried my hardest.

There was also a lot of judgment for the full-figured girls who would try to cosplay a character that is not full figured. I overheard people talking smack about a full-figured girl who was cosplaying Wonder Woman, and in my opinion, she was beautiful.

4. There are a lot of merchandise vendors.

I thought Comic Con had more to do than just shopping. There were a couple of events happening in another area, but I came to find out that it's really all about the shopping.

There were lots of local artists that came to display their works, showcasing different characters from different fandom universes. There was everything from canvas to printed art and I wanted to buy them all.

5. You meet the best and the worst people.

There are so many people that sometimes you can't move because of the number of people in the area you are looking at. My foot was stepped on constantly as I was looking through the items for sale, or just talking to the vendors.

I had gotten looks about my costume because both of my characters are not full-figured people. However, we did meet two girls from the bar, Zundars, who became the highlight of our weekend. They were the best Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy that we saw that weekend!

6. Meeting the guest actors can be either the best or the most awkward of situations.

There are some people who go to Comic Con to meet their favorite actors and actresses. Our best friend was no exception to the rule. He went to see Nichelle Nichols (Uhura from Star Trek) and Jared Gilmore (Henry from Once Upon a Time) to get their autographs.

My fiancé and I just went to see Jared Gilmore. He was the sweetest human, but I felt so bad for him. He has anxiety and was shaking when he gave us his autograph.

I love how he talked to us about how writing is his therapy. We connected through that because that is what my fiancé and I both do as therapy. His line was next to Wallace Shawn (Rex from Toy Story), and it was amazing to see an actor that I grew up watching.

It was thanks to Princess Bride and Toy Story that I know Wallace Shawn. His laugh was a joy to hear, and it was cool to hear him say "Its inconceivable!"

7. Sometimes it is better to just go for one day.

Depending if you have better characters to cosplay, and depending if you have your social anxiety under control, sometimes it is better to just go for one day. I went all three days, and I could only stay for a few hours before my anxiety got the best of me.

I was tired of the looks that I got, and some of the forced conversations that I tried to have with some of the vendors. I am glad that I experienced it, and I would go again. But unless I have better cosplays, I would go only for one day next time.