SDCC 2012 Brand Spankin' Newbie!

Greeting folks!

I'm Erwin from Vancouver. I've been visiting the forum for a while now and like many have found quite a bit of enjoyment, entertainment AND awe from the many creative and talented members here at the RPF.

I've decided to go to my first 'con EVER! And it's SDCC.

I've read and researched the SDCC survival guides and tips prepping for my trip. It's a little intimidating, but my buddies and I are excited as frak!

I wanted to know from the SDCC regulars any other tips and little tricks that we should know about or just not miss during our time in San Diego next week.

Any secret gems that should not be overlooked?

Thanks and cheers!

Come to the RPF get together on Thursday night.

Have fun! Kind of jealous, not gonna lie. You plan on going to any panels?

I've been going every year since 2005.... and there have been a LOT of changes in that time.

Don't really know what kind of info you want so I'll just ramble...

1) To get into panels, you will need to get into lines HOURS in advance. People will get into line for the big panels (Hall H, Ballroom 20, maybe Indigo Bayfront) in the pre-dawn hours. Smaller panels less so, but be prepared to stand in line.
-> This also means you should plan ahead.

2) The Exhibit Hall is mere chaos. Big booths often have big promos that cause their own crowd/lines/traffic jams... Some have line control some don't. Sometimes you will get stuck in lines you aren't even trying to get in, sometimes you'll get yelled at by security for blocking access when you can't move... just stay cool.

3) BYOFood. There are some restaurants nearby, but everywhere will be packed, and its cheaper this way. Unless you want to risk a convention center hot dog...

4) Bring your own poster tube or portfolio case. The big bags they give you have a section to roll up posters, but they'll still get bent. If you are planning on getting any art ( I highly recommend it) you want to keep it nice. There are vendors that sell these things on site but you can save some cash hitting up Aaron Bros. before hand.
-> Be sure to hit up Artist's Ally!

5) When you need a break from the craziness downstairs, check out the goins on upstairs. The Sails Pavilion (which is where registration is) and in the area around Ballroom 20 are places where costume people seem to congregate more. Less crowded than the Exhibit Floor, people are often waiting in lines, or wanting a wall to rest against (and bigger than the main lobby).
In between, there is the Mezzanine. This is where all of the "fan group" tables are. Often overlooked and sometimes there is some cool stuff going on (the SCA group sometimes has sword fighting demos outside, tables often have games or contests). If you see an exhausted looking girl at the Rebel Legion table with a black patch jacket on... its probably me... come say hi!

I could go on about the best places to grab a sandwich (Cine' Cafe' - about a block up from the convention), what to check out, etc. But, the best piece of advice for you if you are planning to stay the entire four days...wear comfortable shoes. No kidding.

Jedifyfe said:

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Come to the RPF get together on Thursday night.

Love too! Where abouts? It'd be great to "jump in" with the big dawgs

Crank729 said:

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Have fun! Kind of jealous, not gonna lie. You plan on going to any panels?

Looks like everything in Hall H should be a MUST.
Sucky that the Firefly panel is happening the same time as The Big Bang Theory

LizardJedi said:

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I've been going every year since 2005.... and there have been a LOT of changes in that time.

Don't really know what kind of info you want so I'll just ramble...

1) To get into panels, you will need to get into lines HOURS in advance. People will get into line for the big panels (Hall H, Ballroom 20, maybe Indigo Bayfront) in the pre-dawn hours. Smaller panels less so, but be prepared to stand in line.
-> This also means you should plan ahead.

2) The Exhibit Hall is mere chaos. Big booths often have big promos that cause their own crowd/lines/traffic jams... Some have line control some don't. Sometimes you will get stuck in lines you aren't even trying to get in, sometimes you'll get yelled at by security for blocking access when you can't move... just stay cool.

3) BYOFood. There are some restaurants nearby, but everywhere will be packed, and its cheaper this way. Unless you want to risk a convention center hot dog...

4) Bring your own poster tube or portfolio case. The big bags they give you have a section to roll up posters, but they'll still get bent. If you are planning on getting any art ( I highly recommend it) you want to keep it nice. There are vendors that sell these things on site but you can save some cash hitting up Aaron Bros. before hand.
-> Be sure to hit up Artist's Ally!

5) When you need a break from the craziness downstairs, check out the goins on upstairs. The Sails Pavilion (which is where registration is) and in the area around Ballroom 20 are places where costume people seem to congregate more. Less crowded than the Exhibit Floor, people are often waiting in lines, or wanting a wall to rest against (and bigger than the main lobby).
In between, there is the Mezzanine. This is where all of the "fan group" tables are. Often overlooked and sometimes there is some cool stuff going on (the SCA group sometimes has sword fighting demos outside, tables often have games or contests). If you see an exhausted looking girl at the Rebel Legion table with a black patch jacket on... its probably me... come say hi!

Totally will! just so you know, I'll be the dude flanked by 4 other dudes in red t-shirts with a Canadian maple leaf on them.

Thanks for the tips! All so very helpful, especially the last Two points. This is the stuff that I haven't read about yet.

Much thanks!

Room8 said:

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I could go on about the best places to grab a sandwich (Cine' Cafe' - about a block up from the convention), what to check out, etc. But, the best piece of advice for you if you aplanning to stay the entire four days...wear comfortable shoes. No kidding.

Checked and double check... Leave stilleto at home.

Thank again everyone

I'm getting so pumped!

Quick question!

What's the proper etiquette in asking/getting pictures taken with cosplayers at Comic Con. Most likely it'll end up being with some of you fine RPF members here.

Does a magic line just materialize?

Again, NEWBIE

Cheers!

Hover hands all day baby!
Would be good to know what the rules are and also were to get contact info for professional photos, RPF photo's...etc.

2007brandony said:

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Quick question!

What's the proper etiquette in asking/getting pictures taken with cosplayers at Comic Con. Most likely it'll end up being with some of you fine RPF members here.

Does a magic line just materialize?

Again, NEWBIE

Cheers!

A simple, "Can I please get a picture with you?" will suffice. Most (if not all) cosplayers at SDCC are more than happy to take pictures with people because it shows you appreciate their work.

If you see an Imperial Gunner or a Kashyyyk scout wandering around that's more than likely me. I'll also be found manning the 501st table Thursday afternoon.

Enjoy the show!

LizardJedi said:

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I've been going every year since 2005.... and there have been a LOT of changes in that time.

Don't really know what kind of info you want so I'll just ramble...

1) To get into panels, you will need to get into lines HOURS in advance.
-> This also means you should plan ahead.

2) The Exhibit Hall is mere chaos. Big booths often have big promos that cause their own crowd/lines/traffic jams...

3) BYOFood.

I've been going since about 1997 and LizardJedi is spot on!

Regarding #1: Even if the panel you want to see is at 2 PM, get in the Hall H/Ballroom 20 line at 7 AM. They do not clear the rooms after events, so that means either sitting in panels you aren't interested in, or getting in, grabbing a bathroom pass, hurrying to something else for 1/2 hour, then returning.

Regarding #2: If you are interested in autographs from the panels, you may have to get a wristband (ie: Warners). This is due to the madhouse referred to here.

With #3: More than food, you'll want water. Nothing like a dehydration headache to ruin a day or two. Can take the body a bit to recover.

Another tip I give to everyone is, download the programs from their website. Open it in Word and delete everything you aren't interested in leaving only what you want to see. Then prioritize those. Keep each days in your back pocket, easily accessible. SOOOO much easier than pulling out their program guide on-site.

Hopefully your going all four days and can chat with others to get tips from them for things your interested in.

Chill, have fun and meet/greet!

Dan
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2007brandony said:

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Looks like everything in Hall H should be a MUST.

For Hall H, you may want to camp out!! Check the Comic-con website for camping out rules.

Dan
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Also, don't forget to check out what's going on around the convention center. The con has spread to most of the Gas Lamp district at this point. In the past they have setup an exhibit for the props from Alice in Wonderland, a working Flynn's Arcade, and a recreation of South Park. You may still be able to get tickets for various parties. They may also run another scavenger hunt via Twitter.

Last year they had the food trucks from the Great Food Truck race serving food for the entire con. This year there will be a semi setup as a bbq smoker. It's supposed to cook 2,000 lbs of meat in one batch! I also recommend the Tin Fish (between the con and the Hard Rock Hotel) if you like fish and chips. I recommend staying away from Cafe Diem (at the Hard Rock Hotel), though. The food isn't very good and way overpriced even if it has been rethemed by the SyFy channel for the con.

2007brandony said:

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Quick question!

What's the proper etiquette in asking/getting pictures taken with cosplayers at Comic Con. Most likely it'll end up being with some of you fine RPF members here.

Does a magic line just materialize?

Again, NEWBIE

Cheers!

Sometimes you will see a crown and realize that there is some sort of impressive group with a ton of people taking picture, often blocking wherever you are trying to go. In that case, just step in.

If you see people out and about, just ask them. Most people are there to get their picture taken. Just try not to block traffic, and post them online so people (like me!) can find them later!

As someone else said, nowadays the big whig companies expand past the convention center... there will be stuff going on outside. Usually some game company rents out a building across the street and has demos and stuff, and there will probably be exhibits for some movies and stuff... worth checking out.

My girlfriend and I will be dressed up as Umbrella Security Service, PsiCops, and Cassie Hack & Vlad on various days. Come say hi!!

Drewid said:

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Also, don't forget to check out what's going on around the convention center. The con has spread to most of the Gas Lamp district at this point. In the past they have setup an exhibit for the props from Alice in Wonderland, a working Flynn's Arcade, and a recreation of South Park. You may still be able to get tickets for various parties. They may also run another scavenger hunt via Twitter.

Last year they had the food trucks from the Great Food Truck race serving food for the entire con. This year there will be a semi setup as a bbq smoker. It's supposed to cook 2,000 lbs of meat in one batch! I also recommend the Tin Fish (between the con and the Hard Rock Hotel) if you like fish and chips. I recommend staying away from Cafe Diem (at the Hard Rock Hotel), though. The food isn't very good and way overpriced even if it has been rethemed by the SyFy channel for the con.

Drewid! Food info was the next on our list! Thanks for the tips. Compiling a list for our resident master planner to incorporate.

My wife and I visited SD two months ago for a quick get-away from the kids and stayed at the Westin in the Gaslamp Quarter. We found Seaport Village a decent area to grab a bite. Having you throw in your 2 cents is giving us more options.

I didn't know about the spill over for con stuff around the area. Would these usually be listed on the SDCC website? Or are these locations viral tidbits we have to scavenge for?

LizardJedi said:

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Sometimes you will see a crown and realize that there is some sort of impressive group with a ton of people taking picture, often blocking wherever you are trying to go. In that case, just step in.

If you see people out and about, just ask them. Most people are there to get their picture taken. Just try not to block traffic, and post them online so people (like me!) can find them later!

As someone else said, nowadays the big whig companies expand past the convention center... there will be stuff going on outside. Usually some game company rents out a building across the street and has demos and stuff, and there will probably be exhibits for some movies and stuff... worth checking out.

Oh definitely will be posting links of the photos. I too love checking the piles of snapshots from past cons. Again, great advice! Merci!

Tenebrae said:

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My girlfriend and I will be dressed up as Umbrella Security Service, PsiCops, and Cassie Hack & Vlad on various days. Come say hi!!

Definitely! I'm sure you guys will rock everyone of your costumes!

*****

Again, thanks to everyone whose given out their bits of advice! It's not feeling as overwhelming and intimidating as I had first encountered.

I appreciate you guys extending the hand of comradeship! Thanks for also describing your costumes! Hoping to catch you guys there (needle in a haystack!) and give you a big Canadian high-five "Thanks!".

5 days folks!

Buy your parking before the con. I will park next door at the Hilton for half the price. Helps when have a place to store your lunch and bring all the stuff you buy.

2007brandony said:

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I didn't know about the spill over for con stuff around the area. Would these usually be listed on the SDCC website? Or are these locations viral tidbits we have to scavenge for?

The spill-over is not officially associated or planned by the SDCC staff so you won't likely find it on their website. They may announce some, though, so it wouldn't hurt to check. Usually these are viral. Some vendors will also do scavenger hunts or gimmicks to get more sales.

I totally recommend taking a day away from the con to tour San Diego. Balboa park is beautiful and a power walk away (depends on how much of a walker you are, but my hubby and I can walk from downtown to Balboa park in about 10-15 minutes). Balboa park has a huge number of museums, parks and the world famous zoo.
There is also an aircraft carrier museum in the harbor on a retired aircraft carrier; the USS Midway. For the price, it's probably the best tour in the city.
There's also Seaworld, which is a full day trip.... lots of fun shows and cute animals.. and when you get too warm you can go through the Penquin exhibit a few times XD

Rod A said:

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Buy your parking before the con. I will park next door at the Hilton for half the price. Helps when have a place to store your lunch and bring all the stuff you buy.

Sound advice bud! However, we're going to be using the shuttle from our hotel.
I appreciate the info and I hope others can use it to their advantage.
Cheers!

Drewid said:

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The spill-over is not officially associated or planned by the SDCC staff so you won't likely find it on their website. They may announce some, though, so it wouldn't hurt to check. Usually these are viral. Some vendors will also do scavenger hunts or gimmicks to get more sales.

I'll keep my peepers peeled. Probably best to also keep tabs on this forum while at Comic-Con

Temperance said:

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I totally recommend taking a day away from the con to tour San Diego. Balboa park is beautiful and a power walk away (depends on how much of a walker you are, but my hubby and I can walk from downtown to Balboa park in about 10-15 minutes). Balboa park has a huge number of museums, parks and the world famous zoo.
There is also an aircraft carrier museum in the harbor on a retired aircraft carrier; the USS Midway. For the price, it's probably the best tour in the city.
There's also Seaworld, which is a full day trip.... lots of fun shows and cute animals.. and when you get too warm you can go through the Penquin exhibit a few times XD

Hey! A fellow Canuck! Thanks for the post Temperance
I agree that SD is a great place to visit besides the Con. My wife and I were able to visit several weeks ago and I was lucky enough to visit all those cool places!

This visit is PURE geek time with my friends

2007brandony said:

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Hey! A fellow Canuck! Thanks for the post Temperance
I agree that SD is a great place to visit besides the Con. My wife and I were able to visit several weeks ago and I was lucky enough to visit all those cool places!

This visit is PURE geek time with my friends

Ah Vancouver, nice. I'm in Calgary :3
Well if you've already done the SD tour, I still suggest hitting some events outside of the con. There's a few which look like lots of fun:

Warner Brothers Extra at Bayfront park: Comic-Con: Warner Bros. Goes "Extra" in San Diego - ComingSoon.net

Walking Dead game at petco park:
The Walking Dead Escape

W00tstock at Balboa Theatre:
w00tstock - A Night of Geek and Music


Also... always make sure you have a plan B and C. Cons are great at ruining perfectly laid out plans >_<

2007brandony said:

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I'll keep my peepers peeled. Probably best to also keep tabs on this forum while at Comic-Con

My friend told me about this site last night:

Upcoming Events

It covers a lot of the events that are going on around the Gas Lamp.

Temperance said:

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Ah Vancouver, nice. I'm in Calgary :3
Well if you've already done the SD tour, I still suggest hitting some events outside of the con. There's a few which look like lots of fun:

Warner Brothers Extra at Bayfront park: Comic-Con: Warner Bros. Goes "Extra" in San Diego - ComingSoon.net

Walking Dead game at petco park:
The Walking Dead Escape

W00tstock at Balboa Theatre:
w00tstock - A Night of Geek and Music


Also... always make sure you have a plan B and C. Cons are great at ruining perfectly laid out plans >_<

Sounds good! Thanks for the info!
Setting up my schedule tonight (with a back up... And a back up for the back up!)

Drewid said:

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My friend told me about this site last night:

Upcoming Events

It covers a lot of the events that are going on around the Gas Lamp.

Nice! On my iPhone now too for any last minute reveal. Thank you!

Drewid, (and everyone else attending on this thread!) get those 501st palm ready for a Canuck high five O' THANKS! We'll be by the booth!
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Thinking of turning this thread into an on-the-fly docu of my SDCC experience. Any RPFers who gets caught in my iPhone sights make sure to SMILE!

Flight to SD leaves on Wednesday! Whoo-hoooo!

Testing out my Tapatalk app for iOS devices (hopefully the image shows up!). I'll be taking a few iPhone shots while live in SDCC and uploading a few more once I get home.

My rolling band of Canadian gents will be sorting this maple leaf themed t-shirt on day 1 of the con. Stop us and give us a high-five or a fist bump! Would love to meet you guys!

This shirt was acquired right here on the RPF from a great fellow Canadian RPFer:
http://www.therpf.com/f13/canadian-p...14/index2.html