So you’re headed to Comic-Con

So you’ve decided to head to San Diego Comic-Con this year. Again. Or for the first time in a long time. Spiffy! Many things await you to see and do and revel in. You’ll meet friends and weirdos and celebrities like the guy above.

Matt Goldberg has some pretty good suggestions for you in his Tips For Comic-Con First-Timers. Give it a read. It contains some valuable information on getting around.

I’m going to go a little further, expound a bit on his piece and pass along some good old fashioned, field-tested, been-there-done-that experience for your dining and dancing pleasure. And I’m going to go point by point off his post:

1. Do It for the Experience and not the Panels All depends on what panel you’re going to see. If you’re headed for Hall H or Ballroom 20, you better have a battle plan intact. And that battle plan better include standing or sitting around until you’re bored stiff. Even then, the savvy Con goer knows there are ways to combat the boredom. Hey: It’s Comic-Con, originally born and bred on — Hello! — comics. First and foremost: Read. It’s good for your mind, good for your body, good for your soul. You want to ward off the Ahlzheimer’s, don’t you? Super! Than get a jump on it and read, read, read, read, read! Read comics. Read the Con program and see what there is too see later that afternoon … tomorrow. Step out of your comfortable and imaginary little box and discover something different. Cripes! There’s an entire long weekend to absorb and experience like you never have before! You’re at a venue perfect for this opportunity. That’s part of the joy of Comic-Con.

2. Snacks I’ll go further than Matt here. Bring something decent that will nourish you … nuts, fruit, drink of choice. Yes, keep some light stuff in the backpack you’re schlepping around, but also put stuff in a cooler and part with a couple bucks to have it stored at the “coat check” areas at The Con. You can retrieve it whenever you want, complete with in and out privileges. Or, you can do what I do: Suck it up by not being a big weenie thinking about your stomach all the live long day. (Face it — if you have that delicate constitution, you shouldn’t be at Comic-Con anywho.) Get up early, go have a nutritious, delicious and fueling breakfast that will take you through the entire day (Breakfast: The Most Important Meal Of The Day … remember?) and eat when you finally leave the convention center. You’ll survive. Especially if you have some decent snacks in tow. (Skip the Cheez Doodles and pork rinds, Bobbo.) Huff it over to the Marriott next door for an excellent buffet breakfast or make plans to head over to Perry’s near Old Town for breakfast before getting to The Con. Dollar for dollar, Perry’s has the best breakfast in San Diego. The portions are overwhelming and I guarantee you won’t leave hungry.

3. Comfortable Footwear Yep. No complaints about solid, comfortable footwear. Just do it.

4. This Is How Rooms Work Matt’s dead on correct in his advice here. And as well in …

4a. Regarding Thursday’s Breaking Dawn panel *shiver*

5. Do You Really Need to Buy That? And if you just have to have it, remember those coat check areas I mentioned above. Invaluable.

6. Keep Your Cool Common sense isn’t so common when there are crowds. This goes double at The Con. Remember that and be wary of it. Matt’s right — there will definitely be asshats (and plenty of them) roaming the aisles and the halls. They’re unavoidable. Best thing to do is steer clear of them … or call them out if you can, especially when security is nearby. You’ll be doing someone a favor.

Miscellany:  Wet Grass – If you’re planted on wet grass outside Hall H early in the morning, that’s your own choice. Boring Conversation – See item #1 above regarding a battle plan. Battery Life – Stop texting, stop playing those stupid games. Socialize! Talk to someone before your vocal cords atrophy from disuse, for Pete’s sake. Heaven forbid you learn something. Strike up a conversation. Or take a freakin’ nap if you feel the need while you’re in line, you big baby. Do any of these things, but quit taxing your phone’s battery. And don’t whine. It doesn’t do you any good. Free Hugs T-shirt – Hey … wear one if you want to be left alone. It works. Yes, you look creepy, but no one bothers you.

Michael’s Additional Tips For Your Dining And Dancing Pleasure:

• Utilize the trolley. Trolley parking areas outside town are free, free, free and free trumps paying $25.00 – $30.00 per day for parking any day of the week. And twice on Tuesdays. You’ll shell out a measly $2.50 for a one way ticket. Or go wild in the streets and purchase a 4-day pass with all the riding you can stand for $15.00 for the week. Best deal in town.
• Use that Boy Scout motto: Be prepared. Pack hand wipes, batteries for your camera, an autograph book for the signatures and sketches you must have and a notepad and pen in the event you need to jot something down. Toss a tooth brush and miniature toiletries in there, too. You’re welcome.
• Go give blood. The blood drive needs it, you’re doing a service and a good deed, you get niftily rewarded for your efforts with special swag and you’ll feel better about yourself. If you’re afraid of needles, get over it. You’ve stubbed your toe worse, trust me.
• Head over to the art show in the Pavilion area at some point. Peruse the wonders there. Get inspired for next year. Contact the artists as they’re usually somewhere on The Con floor and say hello. Talk them up when you see them. They appreciate it you gandering at their wares.

Lastly, you want to see something different, unique and fun while you’re at The Con? Head to these panels … you won’t be sorry:

• Thursday, 2:00-3:00 Bill Plympton: Independently Animated — The two-time Oscar nominee (Mutant Aliens, I Married a Strange Person) celebrates the release of the new Rizzoli Press book Independently Animated: Bill Plympton and will discuss the recent release of his animated feature Idiots and Angels.
• Saturday, 11:45-1:00 Quick Draw! — It’s the annual Heavyweight Championship of Cartooning as three of the fastest minds (with the fastest pens) go mano a mano to create cartoon mirth before your very eyes! Be there as Sergio Aragonés (MAD magazine), Scott Shaw! (The Simpsons), and Mike Kazaleh (Futurama) are put through their paces by the Quizmaster of Quick Draw himself, Mark Evanier!
  
• Saturday, 1:00-2:30 Cartoon Voices I — Meet some of the folks who speak for your favorite animated superstars.
• Sunday, 11:30-12:45 Cartoon Voices II — It’s another panel full of amazing folks who provide voices for animation.

Now … go forth and frolic. But have a good breakfast first.

Clacked by Michael Noble
on Jul 17, 2011 @ 12:55 EST5EDT