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>>5924822>>5924722>>5924597>>5924527>Information is the most valuable asset to have. Go in person to the event preparation and probably the active day before as well, to take note of the location and setup... and possible escape routes.So much to do and so little time! If there was one thing you cared to prioritize over the others though, then it must be knowledge of the venue and understanding of the crime. Being that you are of course an evil genius, you accept the value of a good plan especially after the admittedly haphazard caper at your high school.
This time, with the stakes much higher you'll need to be much more careful, or at least ready for what may come your way. So for a couple days after work you can use your phone to book a ride downtown. Your first impulse was to rely on Kelly or Chris for this, and to have a nice outing with your friends as a result. But on second thought you don't want them in any way getting suspicious of your motives. After all it may seem a little strange if you wanted to wander around the set-up for the food festival one day, and then the festival itself the next day, only for a supervillain to strike on the third.
<span class="mu-b">"Wow this stuff is great, I love the lobster mac! I should take a bunch home for dad..."</span>
On the first day you can observe in the organization for the event before opening day, even cleverly participate by claiming to be a volunteer based on your past experience with doing just that. The big venue for the festival downtown across Trade street from the culinary university where you can see where everything is going to be situated for the event itself, as well as the surrounding buildings. Then the next day you attend the opening where you can get a sense of the organization and traffic for all the visitors, how security is being managed, and the specifics of how the grand stage for the competition is going to be held... as well as stuff your face with all sorts of snacks and goodies there are to be offered. Also not to mention, your surprise at how big the even has grown to include live performances in a set-up auditorium for various musical acts. All in all the place is pretty packed, and this is before the peak day when the most activity is to take place.
In summation, you gain a pretty good understanding of the event and it's workings, and of particular importance to you the best ways in and out. Naturally you can't account for every little possibility that may have escaped your notice, but you are far removed from simply going in blind. Maybe other preparations instead of this surveillance and casing could have come in handy, but what preparation can compare to known information? Though you expect your crime will be more like a robbery rather than some grand villainous caper, since you don't have the means of accomplishing much else currently, either way the prize money is simply too appealing to compromise your efforts with any other focus.
