Shouting into the Wind Saying my piece in a windy world.

Welcome back!  Now, where were we…?

First, let’s address some questions in the comments for Part One:

Bentoboxx June 19, 2009 4:09 pm

hand sanitiser is also great to have. I dunno how many peeps got “Con Crud”. So many people there…someone is gonna show up sick! protect yourself before ya wreck yourself! Word!

Okay, not so much a question as an astute comment.  Yes, by all means, bring anything that you feel will get you through the con!  Hand sanitizer, Advil/aspirin/Aleve, tums…whatever it takes.  If you are unfortunate enough to come down with a cold just before or during the event, I know you’ll try your best not to pass around your germs.  You don’t need to wear a mask *coughswineflucough* but do remind yourself occasionally to wash your hands.  Last year, there was an estimated 126,000 people at Comic Con.  Try to take home only swag and memories…rather than any nasty bugs.

mm June 19, 2009 4:21 pm

i would add to carry a water bottle at all times & you can fill them in big halls. any advice on how to learn more about the super secret events, esp movie screenings?

Again, another great piece of advice — water bottle. That is one of the great ‘free’ things at the Con — water in the convention rooms! If you don’t want to pack a water bottle to bring, at least refill a bottle you purchase on the first day, and keep it filled. Some enterprising young people made a killing selling water outside the convention center for $2 a bottle while we were trapped in line for Hall H and it was 80+ degrees outside.

As for the question posed here…keep reading. This will be addressed shortly.

Coraline June 19, 2009 5:15 pm

Would really love to see some suggestions about avoiding Con waste! Every attendee should try to keep their con print as small as possible. Take only the flyers and swag that you know you’ll use. Pack out what you bring in. Don’t just grab items because they are free and shiny. ComicCon and DragonCon have huge environmental footprints, and it would be great to see the geeks lead the way in “greening” the Cons.

This is so very true.  When you enter the exhibit hall, there is an alternate state of mind that most attendees slip into.  It involves picking up every single piece of paper or trinket offered in the hall.  It never fails — I go every year saying ‘not this time — I’m gonna be picky about what I take.  Inevitably, I end up each day with a bag full of postcards/stickers/fliers/mangas/catalogs that I will never look at again.  While the freebie table can be a fun place in the Sails Pavilion (as Julie mentioned in her post), usually there isn’t a whole of great value to be found there.  Does that mean you shouldn’t take anything?  Of course not!  If you want that shiny postcard at the WB booth, take it!  But don’t think you need to join every mob of people with arms outstretched grasping for anything.  Yes, you may be excited about the 300 life size shield you score, but how will you get it home (and what will you use it for?  Note: I actually got one of these 2 years ago.  It sat in my bedroom for months until I finally threw it out.  Why I grabbed it, I’ll never know.)

tezero June 19, 2009 7:39 pm

We are signed up as volunteers as well. Anyone have any advice for THAT?

First off, I’ve heard nothing but good things about the organization of the con.  While it may seem scary and overwhelming to you, don’t panic.  The con will instruct you on what you need to do as a volunteer.  My only additional piece of advice is, try not to let the idiots and negative people ruin your volunteer experience.  I haven’t volunteered at Comic Con before, but having volunteered to work other types of events similar to this, it can be very challenging to deal with difficult people all day.  Remember that some people are just lost and frustrated, and are not directing any hostility they may have toward you specifically.  As attendees, we should also remember that the people directing us into and out of places and barking instructions are doing their best.  Even if a volunteer gets frazzled, try to be a pleasant convention guest.  What I’m trying to say is, courtesy in all things, whether you are working at the Con or just attending.  Can’t we all just get along?

Jon Reeves June 19, 2009 11:25 pm

- Charge your batteries every night, even if they aren’t dead yet. Laptop, camera, cell phone, etc. Then again, you probably won’t be taking 1000 photos a day, so this may not be as important as it was for me…
- If you need some quiet down time (and you don’t have a Pro or Press badge), two words: Con suite. Admittedly, SDCC’s con suite is a big disappointment to people who are familiar with SF conventions, and it’s inconveniently located, but that just means it’s really quiet and laid back. And still stocked with free sodas and light munchies.

 I’m really grateful to all of you who added such great suggestions in the comments!  As an addendum to the second item, the con suite is usually located in the Marriott hotel adjacent to the convention center.  Again, when you receive the convention guide at check-in, you’ll find all of this information with maps and directions.

Krys June 20, 2009 2:23 am

- Under your ‘General Dos and Don’ts’, you said that the convention hall doors open at 9AM. I’m particularly paranoid about going to one panel (my initial and biggest reason for buying a pass this year), so I’m planning on waking up extra, extra early. My question (and I’m sorry if this sounds incredibly dense – good thing I’m not planning on trying to ask a question at any Q&A sessions!) is: if you get there early, is there just a mob of people waiting outside the convention hall doors? Or is there some semblance of organization and lines are formed? I’d hate to get there early, only to get stampeded on my way (once the doors open) to whatever room is holding the panel I’m interested in. Thank you so much if you can answer this! I really appreciate it!

 I’m really excited about the number of first timers who have commented! I think you will all have a fantastic time, so don’t be too scared by what I’m telling you. It is all a matter of priorities. If you are going for something very specific (say, the ‘New Moon’ panel, which I know has brought a lot of people to Comic Con who have never attended before), make that your priority. If that means camping in line for a few hours before that one panel, so be it — that’s why you came to the Con, right? Why risk missing the one thing you really want to see and do? Now, more specifically about the lines…

Yes, there is a line for everything, which can seem really daunting, but is far better than a mob of people rushing through the doors.  When the doors open, the line moves in an orderly fashion — no stampede.  If you aren’t sure what the line is for, ask.  You don’t want to find yourself in line for the wrong room for several hours.  Even if it feels like you are too far back in the line, remember that the largest room, Hall H, holds a lot of people… A LOT.  You can be snaked around the back of the building outside and still get a good seat in there (provided this is before the Con opens for the day.  All bets are off at any time during the middle of the day if you find yourself in that same place in line).  When in doubt, ask the volunteers.  They may not have all the answers (remember, some of them are newbies too!) but there’s a good chance you’ll find one or two vets who can advise you on where to go.  It is not unheard of for people to line up at 5 or 6 AM for a 9 AM panel.  In fact, you’ll find people camped out (literally) all night for Hall H.  That doesn’t mean you have to be one of those people, just know that no matter how determined you are to see something, I bet you’ll find someone else even more committed to it.

(Whew, are you still reading? I think I’m getting long-winded.  I’ll try to shorten up my answers going forward.  Of course, if you print this out, it’ll take up lots of time to read while waiting in line!)

Gillian June 20, 2009 4:20 pm

Overall good tips. As a female that has attended for over 12 years, I wanted to add that as a grown up you should not only try to avoid stepping on children, but short people as well. As a 5′2” female I spend most of my time on the convention floor being mowed over by tall guys. By Friday I’m ready to hit back. By Sunday they may find bodies stuffed under unused booth tables during teardown.  IF YOU HAVE A BACKPACK, please try to mentally add it to your perception of the space you take up. You are now a cloth turtle, please don’t go around whacking everyone with your shell when you move. Hardback books HURT. After 4 days of this people start looking at my boyfriend like he beats me.

Bathe, every day, more if needed. It used to be Saturday or Sunday before people started smelling like an open sewer. In the past few years the strong scent of convention hygiene has been overpowering during preview night.

Take a few extra minutes each day for common courtesy. Letting someone cross an aisle that intersects yours when they’ve been trying to for 5 minutes, answering a question you overhear when you know the answer, giving someone directions, leaving the front seats open on the shuttle for someone less mobile, not shoving your way past people, etc. 99% of the time you won’t be missing out of a vital part of the convention experience and one act of decency per attendee would make this a whole diferent ballgame. The Convention Center is packed to capacity and hell really can be other people.

 Awesome advice.  Reprinted your comment in full because I agree 100%.  I was sitting at my usual cafe yesterday and I noticed a family at another table, who looked very confused.  At this particular cafe, you order at the counter and they give you a number so the food gets delivered to your table.  The family was sitting at a table with menus, as if waiting for someone to take their order.  I got their attention and instructed them on what they needed to do.  Did I save the world?  No, but I did save them many minutes of confusion and frustration (I actually wish I had noticed them a few minutes earlier!)  Be generous with others.  It’s amazing how much positive energy you can create if you go through your day seeking opportunities to be helpful rather than trying to shut out the rest of the world around you.  I’m gonna say it again — TALK TO PEOPLE!  A convention is by nature a way to meet other people like yourself.  There are 126,000 other people at this convention for you to meet.  In my opinion, it would be tragic to attend the event for 4 days and NOT meet anyone new!

While working on this, I thought of a few other things to mention:

Parking. There are lots of parking structures.  They are NOT created equal.  The closer you get to the convention center, the more expensive the parking.  Take note of the operating hours of the parking structure or lot.  Some are flat fees for all day, others are by the hour.  It is common to park 7-8 or more blocks away and walk toward the convention center.  The structures next to the con fill up very early and very quickly.  If you are staying at a hotel on the bus route, I encourage you to take advantage.  If you are staying further away, make use of mass transit if you can (just add lots of extra time to get to and from the convention center).  Last year I stayed many miles away from the convention center and found it easier to drive in and pay the parking than deal with the trolley.  Consider all of your options and then make a plan.

Parties and Evening Activities.  Okay, you’ve heard there are all kinds of events after the con ends each day…and there are!  Some are well publicized in the Convention guide – screenings, the masquerade party, and official SDCC events, for example.  Others take a little more research to find.

First, check the Exhibitor list on the SDCC site.  Large and small you’ll see a myriad of companies will be represented at the Con.  Also, check your favorite fansites and or news sources ( G4, Cinematical, etc) for upcoming contests or promotions.  Last year there was a panel for several different websites.  If you attended the panel, you had a chance to recieveaticket to an exclusive party sponsored by those sites/publications!  Very often the way into special events is about being in the right place at the right time.  If trying to attend these kinds of sponsored events is a priority for you, have some patience and be methodical.  Keep your eyes and ears open — watch Twitter feeds for contests and special invites.

Many fansites will also plan meetups.  They may not be lavish affairs, but they are usually well attended and a lot of fun.

If all else fails, make your own party!  You’d be amazed how many other people will join you to watch Torchwood in your hotel. (Just follow the rules of your hotel of course.)  Also, I’ve been banging the drum to meet lots of people.  You never know who you might meet and what they might be doing.  Last year a friend of mine was hanging out in the hotel bar at the Hyatt (a popular evening hangout) chatting with someone he had met earlier in the day.  As they were talking, friends of this new acquaintance joined them in the bar.  Turned out they were a bunch of comic artists and writers!  Not only did he get his own private time with people he had seen at Q&As earlier in the day, but he was able to get invited to a party with them!  It can happen (usually when you aren’t looking for it, of course).  The key is to be open to opportunties.  Some events will fall in your lap.  Others you’ll have to search for.  The larger your network of contacts at the convention, the more likely you are to hear about some cool evening event.

Since writing part one, I discovered other EXCELLENT guides online to the Con.  It would be silly of me not to point them out to you, as they contain their own insights and fantastic tips. 

The Comics Reporter 100 tips to surviving Comic Con!

All Things Fangirl (I think this blog writer and I may have been separated at birth — eerie similarities in tips and prose!)

POVOnline - a good general guide to convention going.

Wikipedia - lots of good history and general information about the con too! (Just don’t live by all it says…it is Wikipedia after all).

Feel free to add links to any other guides you may find useful in the comments.

I hope that this information has been useful to you.  Thanks to all who have read it, passed it on and provided their feedback!  Now, let’s all go to San Diego and have a fantastic time!

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