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:
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:
Now … go forth and frolic. But have a good breakfast first.
Lots of good tips there. I especially like the cooler idea! A certain spouse of mine gets very whiny when his tummy gets empty, and we all know what the concession lines can be like, not to mention how crappy that $8 pizza is. Ugh! There’s only so many mustard dogs a girl can eat without wanting to chuck them out the window, too.
If you’re disabled, make sure to visit Disabled Services early on, to get a disabled pass, and an assistant badge if you have someone helping you. Security can be hit or miss, but if you’re trying to get into Hall H or Ballroom 20 for a big shindig, they have been known to turn away assistants who don’t have an assistant badge or stamp on their regular badge.
Also, if you’re not disabled, please be courteous of those who are. It’s really a pain to get a wheelchair or mobility scooter through the crowds in the Exhibit hall; I speak from plenty of experience! And remember, we’re people too, and don’t want you winding up in our laps because you just *had* to dash in front of us in that little bit of space we’ve been given to get through a tight spot.
P.S. If you’re in a wheelchair or other mobility device and have mechanical issues, there are some *fantastic* folks at Disabled Services who can possibly help you out. One year we popped the tire off one of the casters on my chair on a bad pothole out in the Gaslamp district, but they got it back on and got me rolling again.