Guys,
I have NEVER been to a con before - and being a big fanboy myself, that's pretty lame.
Attending Comicon has become more and more a dream of mine, but I would like a little primer on how to plan on attending one year - what are the costs and other details I need to get in order? How do I secure any special passes for meet and greets with stars?
Any advise will be helpfull!
-Jimmy
My first time was two years ago and I seriously didn't know what to expect...it truly is a sight to behold. Honestly? All you really need is a wallet full of cash, your Con ticket receipt and a camera.
After making your way through the lobby, you'll have to travel up a few escalators to get your Con badge. The line moves pretty quick there...just show your receipt to get it scanned and they'll hand you a badge and a holder.
Before you start nosing around the booths, you should check to see if there are any screenings or discussions in the other rooms. The bigger, more star-studded panels will have a line out the door. There's no special passes that I know of that will ensure a meet and greet with the celebs...just waiting patiently to get into a panel room. Some people "camp" during panels...meaning they go to the first one of the day and just stay in the room as different panels/celebs/screenings pass in and out.
Usually a company there will provide you with a huge bag to hold your goodies (me and my girl still use the huge red Smallville bags WB was giving out for our laundry). Goodies include whatever toys, statues, comics that you decide to buy...as well as all the free stickers, magnets, keychains, mini-posters that companies are giving away.
Food there sucks (somewhat predictably). This year, I'm filling up at a McDonald's for breakfast, bottled water throughout the day, and finishing up with a slab of ribs from Dick's Last Resort down the street from the con.
But before you do ANYTHING...if you're planning to stay all four days and the Preview night, get your tickets ASAP. I waited until April to get mine and could only snag a single day. If you happen to be in the art/film/comics industry, you can apply for a pair of 4-day Professional passes for free. All you need is a pair of W-2's or pay stubs detailing your work. And what's phucking with me now is finding a decent hotel that's walking distance to the convention center. Me and my lady decided we didn't wanna room with six other people so she's currently calling every relative she knows who works in the hotel industry to get us a room that won't eat up my entire toy budget.
There's no shame in not going to a Con. Hell, it took ME 26 years to finally go to one. But since I only live two hours away from San Diego, I decided to make it a yearly trip. Hope you make it out next year, brother!
lol:lol LMAO
