Attending Comic Con in San Diego is an art; for some, it comes naturally. But for most of us, it requires practice and preparation. Comic Con is a crowded hodge-podge of Stormtroopers, Klingons, that chick from Star Wars, and geeks from every walk of life. If you’re not prepared (or have forgotten how crazy it can be), Comic Con can turn frustrating whether you’re on the Convention Floor or spending most of the weekend at panels. So if you’re a Comic Con protegee, and can handle the insanity first time, more power to you! But for the rest of us, here are some tips and tricks to make your time at Comic Con a lot less frustrating!
Arrive In Style by utilizing public transportation. Unless you purchase a parking pass from ComicCon.org in the weeks to come, DO NOT try and park downtown during the weekend; it’s probably one of the single worst ways to start your day. San Diego has a spectacular trolley system – a special “Red Line” (the event line) can take you from various locations around San Diego to [literally] the Convention Center’s doorstep. Three locations on the Red Line offer massive parking space: Qualcomm Stadium, Fashion Valley Mall, and Old Town. If you do take the trolley though, plan for the time it will take. Generally though, it’s a great way to relax and chat up some other riders before the day even starts. Information about transportation can be found on the main Comic Con website. Additionally, many hotels have free shuttles to the Convention Center. You don’t have to be staying at the hotel to use the suttle. More info on shuttles, and parking permits, will be released closer to the Con date.
Plan Your Day BEFORE you get to the Convention Center. The final schedule for panels and evening events won’t be released for a few weeks, but once it is, use the cool little buttons the website has to make your schedule, then upload it on the mobile device of your choice. Know when your favorite panels starts and where it is. If you want autographs, be sure to check out the autograph area at the Center for schedules and changes; be aware, the only way to get into many of the very popular autograph sessions is by attending a lottery earlier in the day (information can be found in the Con book, which you’ll get on entry). And have a plan B, C, and D as well, because I guarantee you won’t get into everything.
Pop Your Personal Space Bubble. Comic Con is notorious for its huge crowds and long lines. You will bump into someone on the floor, sit uncomfortably close to someone in a panel, and note that not everyone is accustomed to “excuse me”. So be prepared for the massive amount of people and aliens on the floor. And while you’re in line, on the trolley, or waiting for a panel to start, strike up a conversation with the people around you! You’re all there for the same reason, so you automatically have something in common. Being social at Comic Con is an absolute blast and helps pass the time; plus, with twitter and other sites, you can stay in contact after the Con is done without having to share any personal info!
The line outside the Convention Center for Hall H.
The Early Bird Gets Into the Panel, and the rest get sunburned. Many of the most popular rooms (the largest are in Hall H, Ballroom 20, and Room 6) fill up an hour or two into the day – and never completely empty. You may be waiting in line for many hours, and if you’re waiting in line for Hall H, you’ll be experiencing Southern California weather at it’s shiniest (so pack sunscreen and WATER). For many panels, if you want a seat, your best bet is to get there hours (or 2-3 panels) AHEAD of the one you want to attend. Not all the panels of the day pack the room, especially if they’re in the smaller rooms, but any it’s a safe bet that Hall H, Ballroom 20, and Ballroom 6 require early arrivals. And remember, don’t get discouraged if despite all your planning, you still don’t get in. A Finally, take advantage of Twitter. Use your phone or laptop to search #SDCC and see what the buzz is; you can also search the panel you’re trying to get into. People from inside the rooms (which you can’t see) will tweet as to the space left in the room. Plus, if you tweet to them, they’re likely to respond if it’s between panels (usually about 30 minutes of sheer boredom).
The Floor Isn’t Going Anywhere, I promise you. While there are some cool events going on at certain times on the Convention Floor, those booths aren’t going anywhere. For the most part, any events (such as booth signings or appearances) taking place will be mentioned in your big Comic Con book. If you’re worried you have to see it all as soon as you walk in, don’t be. You many not think it, but you’ll have a lot of free time between panels and you WILL see it all. So don’t panic.
Shoes, Food, and H20 – the common necessities you don’t always thing about. First off, wear COMFORTABLE shoes. If you’re wearing a costume that necessitates heels or heavy boots, just remember you’ll be on your feet almost all day, so pack some arch-supports or a change of shoes. Also, don’t forget WATER! The water at the Center is grossly overpriced, as is the food. Snack packs of pretzels, almonds, fruit, and veggies are a good (and healthy) way to keep the edge off you hunger until dinner on the town or back home. If you do choose to eat dinner downtown, choose someplace with reservations, and book it NOW. When you’re hungry and cranky, the last thing you want is MORE lines, so bring a few munchies to keep the edge off (or if you’re like me, pack a whole picnic).
Seriously, do what the Comic Con Elite tell you.
Heed the Security Gods and Comic Con employees (the big time security is marked in red shirts…ironic). If they tell you to move, move. If they ask you to turn off your video camera, turn it off. If they tell you there is no more room, then there really isn’t. The security guards placed outside the center and each panel room are there to adhere to the Convention guidelines, and they cannot bend the rules, no matter how nicely you ask. And if you choose not to be nice to them, you’ll only make a scene and make them very, very angry. The Center does everything it can to fit as many people as possible in each panel, but even they have to bend to the will of the Fire Marshall. Additionally, Comic Con has strict guidelines against the recording of footage released during panels. They CAN kick you out of the panel no matter how long you’ve been waiting, so if you value your seat, don’t do anything to jeopardize it.
Bring Chargers for your phones and laptops. You never think of it until your Smartphone-with-the-not-so-smart-battery dies on the floor and you’ve lost your group. There are plenty of places in the Center lobby and upper floor hallways to plug in your laptop or Smartphone for a few minutes. The second floor hallways are also a good place to nap, but don’t tell security I told you that.
Don’t Forget to Sleep when you get home. A day at Comic Con is an adrenaline rush, so when you get back home, you may still be wide-awake from the days events. However, if you stay up late tweeting, blogging, uploading pics/videos, or partying till your neighbors complain, you’ll regret it the next morning. Plus, once exhaustion hits, it’ll hit you like a Callahan full-bore auto-loc gun and you’ll wish you were in bed. So take advantage of the few hours you have before the next day, and get some sleep. You won’t regret it.
Have any tips for surviving Comic Con? Post them in the comments below, and share your knowledge!
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