So you’ve recently watched the “Smash Documentary” or you may have been entering your local tournaments for a while, but now you’re kind of feeling an itch to be a part of the exciting moments: the large projector screens and crowds chanting the names of their favorite players. Maybe you want to be a part of the moment instead of being a spectator at home. Where do we go from here?

If you’ve never traveled for a tournament before, it can be intimidating, so let’s outline what you need to do to prepare (aside from practicing of course!)

1.       Traveling
2.       Hotel/Housing
3.       Tourney Fees
4.       Food
5.       Hygiene

Based on the typical demographics of an average Smasher and some stereotyping, I have noticed that people are in general, fairly awful, at planning and coordinating logistics for these types of events. Most will rarely plan ahead and rely on others to take responsibility for their own well-being. Careful planning can not only save you some potential grief, but also save you money and awkward scenarios. Budget ahead of time, these can be quite expensive, but the experience is always worth it.

1.      Travel

One of the biggest costs of a national is transportation. Ultimately, the most common ways are driving, public commuting or flying. Factors for deciding how to travel should be based on:

1. Costs
2. Time
3. Distance

If you can drive to the venue within a day, getting a car together with some local smashers can be very cost-effective. Renting a van and splitting the costs between five to seven people can save money as opposed to flying.  Having a car also allows for your party to go to the local groceries or shops to get much needed supplies at a cheap rate. For longer trips, you may have to sacrifice a great deal of time, travelling to and from the venue, if you don’t have work, this may not be an issue. However for people who need to get back to work or school, this may be an issue. Sometimes, the value of a vacation day can outweigh the benefits of saving a few books, so keep this in mind. Also on that note, let your boss/work know ahead of time to get the necessary days off of work.

Once in a while, there may also be amazing deals from companies such as Megabus and the local trains that can take you at an amazing rate. Look out for these deals.

For longer commutes, flying is definitely the best way to go. The costs of plane tickets rise as it comes closer to the departure date, so plan ahead. Frequently check sites such as Google Flights or Expedia to look for good deals. Once in a while, airlines such as Southwest and Virgin provide awesome deals. I was able to get roundtrip tickets from Los Angeles to Newark for $250.

1a.) Miscellaneous Travel logistics

If you’re flying, you should plan ahead and find rides for the following

a.)    From your home to the airport

b.)    From the airport to the venue

c.)    From the venue to the airport

d.)    From the airport to your home

Commonly, people forget to do this and are often left to the mercy of another smasher for rides for a.) through d.). Keep in mind, this can also drive up your costs in the form of taxi’s, parking costs, and subways, so prepare well.

2.      Hotel/Housing

For regional tournaments, there are usually smashers in the area that can provide housing. If this is the case, this can save you a significant amount of money for your group/car. If you are fortunate to have friends that can house you, please be courteous to your hosts or you may never be invited back. This includes cleaning up, using common sense, and not being a douchebag.

For larger nationals, the general consensus is to stay at a nearby hotel. Look for hotel deals or coupon codes to save on costs. Although it’s technically not kosher, you can normally cram a room with extra people to make the costs cheaper. If you are cramming, I recommend bringing extra sleeping bags/towels/pillows.

3.      Tourney Fees

Plan ahead and do your registration early (See a theme here?). Most tournament organizers will raise the prices over time. If we’re being thrifty, why not sign up early? This also makes it easier for the organizers to properly seed players in their respective pools.

4.      Food/Beverages

Now, let’s be real. It is really hard to stay disciplined and eat well at a tournament amidst the slew of burgers and fast food. In addition, eating out three times per day will add up in costs. If you are being thrifty, I recommend bringing some of your own food and snacks to munch on throughout the day. Having some healthier food will also keep you more mentally focused when you play your tournament matches. Look into going into a local Rite-Aid type of store to get fruits to eat and water to drink throughout the tournament.

5.      Hygiene

It always bugs me to bring this up, but please shower every day and wear deodorant. I’m not sure where people, especially gamers, learned about hygiene, but we honestly really stink. It’s hard to be self-aware of our own body odor, but trust me, it’s there. People will notice and give you the stink eye. Or at the very least, you’ll have the reputation of being the guy that smells like ass.

Hope this helps and see you guys at Apex!

MIOM|Tafokints