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Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Figured I'd post this to the blog, rather than my traditional mass email - It's time for my annual survival guide to the San Diego Comic Con. Feel free to forward this to any of your friends who you know is going. Since I've been going to this thing since 1997, I thought I'd share with you some tips that might make your experience a little nicer. Some of these are no-brainers, but it never hurts to get a little reminder. Once again, the official website for Comic Con is http://www.comic-con.org. The seminar schedule is already up. Thursday is here: http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci09_prog_thu.php Friday: http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci09_prog_fri.php Saturday: http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci09_prog_sat.php Sunday: http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci09_prog_sun.php It's a good idea to at least glance through these schedules and copy down the ones that you may want to go to. Don't worry if the times overlap, nobody will stop you getting into a seminar late. And obviously, you're not bound by what your list says you have to see. Be sure to show up early to these things, especially if they'll be popular; lines tend to form. Remember that there are three floors in this convention center. The first floor, the dealer room, is where all the money's spent. Here you'll see all the exhibitor and retail booths, as well as the auction tables. Expect to spend a lot of time here. The mezzanine level is actually only accessible through the escalators at the back of the dealer hall. It's really kind of a half floor, with only a few seminar rooms and a food stand. Generally, this is where smaller presentations take place and where fan clubs have some of their booths. If you see a listing that you don't recognize the numbering system of, chances are it's here. The second floor is where everything else happens. Registration is funneled through here, and most of the seminars take place in the adjacent halls. The large presentation hall and the anime rooms are actually located in the opposite direction from these. (You'll understand once you're there.) It's a bit of a walk to get to these rooms, but it's a nice place to relax. If you're curious, this is the dealer hall map: http://www.comic-con.org/cci/forms/cci09exhib_map.pdf Wednesday night is the preview night, wherein they open the dealer room in the evening only to those attendees who have signed up for all 4 days (like me). Therefore, if you aren't getting a four-day pass, do yourself a favor and skip the hassle of driving down through the traffic and wait times, only to find you can't go inside. The wait time to get in on preview night can be very long, so if you are going to go, bring something to keep you occupied in line. The registration process can be a tad long if you haven't already purchased your tickets online. That's generally what makes the line. Dress comfortably. You'll be in San Diego in the summer. You may need a light coat for the night, but other than that, you should be fine. The convention hall can quickly warm up with all the people inside, so take that into consideration ( i.e., no leather jackets or wool clothing! Unless, of course, you're cosplaying...). Wear comfortable shoes. The convention hall is unbelievably big, and walking around in it for hours can take its toll on your feet. Bring a backpack. Nothing sucks more than having to hold a bag for eight hours. Likewise, bring a poster tube. Posters tend to be a given when it comes to freebie handouts. The tubes keep them from tearing, bending, or unfurling. I generally find a way to attach the poster tube to my backpack, thereby getting another item out of my hands. Chances are it's also the best way to find me in a crowd. Look for a black backpack with an orange poster tube sticking up from it. Make a list of things to buy. Of course, a shopping list isn't and shouldn't be the only thing you can get in your convention buying experience, but it helps to have a goal in mind when attending the con, especially for first timers. There's so much stuff available, it can be a little daunting deciding where to begin. Having a list helps with this, and keeps you a little more organized. Keep in mind, too, that there are a lot of convention exclusive items here. A comprehensive list of these can be found here: http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci09_actionfigs_1.php Bring a camera. Cosplayers, celebrities, displays, and even just friends all make for good memories. 2004's con had a full-size X-Wing on display. 2005's had a big rig covered in a tarp advertising the Transformers movie. The 2001-2004 cons have seen props and costumes from the Lord of the Rings trilogy in the New Line booth. You never know what you'll see. Bring a cell phone, or stay near someone with one. It's how we keep in touch. Now, the cell networks get severely crowded there, so putting calls through can be a chore. Text messages may be a better option, since those don't have to go through immediately. Might wanna keep the phone on ring AND vibrate - it's noisy in there. Restrooms in the dealer room are located just outside the front entrances, and in the rear wall alcoves. Trust me, this little bit of info comes in real handy. Bring snacks, drinks, and your own lunch. Convention food sucks, is expensive, and there's always a line. You're just better off bringing your own food. I generally don't leave the convention hall for lunch, but I do for dinner. The hall's smack dab in the middle of downtown San Diego, so nearby there's the Gaslamp district, Horton Plaza, and Seaport Village - all good places to find some grub. All right, I think that just about does it. I hope you take these tips to heart, and have some fun once the convention rolls around, huh?
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| The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of Phillip Donnelly. Unless explicitly stated, all statements are those of Phillip Donnelly. So there! |
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