I second #9... You are more likely to get laid if you are prepared: ) My camp has a functional condom machine and I tend to give any of the idio... college guys in our camp at least enough quarters for one each. They take the hint from there on out!

I have to agree with wildcat on all of the above. On top of this, I've got some more suggestions:

- Leave a clean change of mundane clothes in sealed bags in your vehicle. This is for your ride home.

- If you're not used to walking, start now. Depending on what aspects of Pennsic you're into, you will potentially be walking many, many miles a day. Uphill. Both ways. (I kid you not - Pennsic is weird like that)

- Do. Not. Drink. Anything. Called. "Surprise". I know many people who have fallen victim to that one.

- If you like to walk alone, or in small groups, at night, then orient yourself to landmarks to get back to your camp. This can be much harder than it sounds for your first Pennsic. I am fortunate enough to be able to direct our camp's fledgling members back pretty easily due to some damned simple landmarks. You'd be amazed how many people get lost walking around a lake... *sigh*

- Hydrate. With something in a bottle. And remember to eat. I will save your ass.

- Multiple pairs of footwear. While this one's not strictly necessary, swapping off worn, suddenly-painful sandals for a sturdy pair of boots when you're going to slogging through mud can be a godsend. Having said boots when the swamp EATS one of the aforementioned sandals is a lifesaver.

- If someone tells you that something is more alcoholic than it tastes, it probably is. If that person is feeding you Rescue Ranger punch, or is one of us folks from House Three Skulls, it definitely is. Some of us make such drinks taste as mild as possible.

- Likewise, if someone flatly refuses to tell you what is in the drink they're offering you, use your instincts. See the references to strawberry suprise.

- Unless you're sleeping directly under a tree, you WILL get cooked out of your tent at some point. It's just gonna happen unless you wake up earlier.

- Finally, a piece of more personal advice that has helped me over the years. When in doubt, follow the drums. You're very likely to find whatever it is you were looking for in the first place.