San Diego ComiCon

[furtech]

A friend asked for advice for her first SDCC and here's what I said (sorry for the repeat post, Kim!)

Friday's the best shopping day: Thursday is the busiest day (people rushing to be first to buy "X"); Saturday is like human head-cheese: a mass of bodies jammed together barely able to move and stuck together with sweat (they had to stop selling memberships on Saturday for the first time last year); Sunday is pretty good (crowd-wise)-- but a lot of stuff is sold out by then. Friday is the only real "dead day". This has been learned by having a dealer's table there for 15 years.

Stuff to know:

Things that can get you injured/killed: Standing in a busy aisle talking on a cellphone. But people will let you know that you are blocking the path by simply rolling over you. Eventually you will become part of next year's carpet.

Beware of mega-backpacks: owners will spin unexpectedly and knock you silly. People trying to squeeze in front of you going sideways-- when they're wider with the backpack this way and take your face off.

Don't be short (sorry, s'true!).

SUV-strollers: WHY do people bring babies/infants to ComiCon?!? And then expect you to make way for them (when you can't move yourself)!

Food: the stuff in the convention center has gotten better (won't make you sick), but is also $$$. You can do a LOT better walking across the street/trolly line to the fish-taco place or the Quiznos. Save your money for dustcollectors and get better food to boot!

You will never get a seat alone on the shuttle. Rather than look for an empty row, pick a seat next to a skinny person with no bags. On the other hand, if you are skinny/small, a fat guy with huge bags will sit next to you. Hello.

Water-water-water: hydrate! Carry a bottle or hit the drinking fountains. Often.

Wear the most comfortable shoes you own-- it's like walking a marathon every day on hard, unforgiving cement.

A comfortable shoulder bag or backpack with help avoid having your fingers cut off by the multiple razor-edged bags you will end up carrying.

Network: talk to friends often-- you'll find out where the cool freebies are being given out!

Comments

[laragoth.livejournal.com]

There's a thread on the sd_comic_con community as well within the last week or so with some good tips too. I even threw in my sub-section on photographing costumes as well. Said friend of yours might want to peek at that :)

PS: The splicing of the packs was successful. One fits in the corset front safely (read: it'll fit without significant risk of damaging pressure). I think the other two will just go under my arms or in the sleeves when I'm offstage. I'd put one on my lower back, but with the lacing tightness, that's a squoosh/puncture/damage risk.

But they're awesome, though. HEE!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Fantastic! Looking forward to seeing how they do for you.

[okojosan.livejournal.com]

a mass of bodies jammed together barely able to move and stuck together with sweat

Ugh! And true.

[amarafox.livejournal.com]

Ewz0rz. D:

[didjiman.livejournal.com]

*Poke* Karisu has some pics of your nine tailed fox: http://didjiman.livejournal.com/284032.html

[waynekaa.livejournal.com]

Ou nice! Thanks for the link! Been too busy otherwise.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Neat! Thanks a bunch!

Also, while I (sort of) have you, Dany said that you had some good shots of D as Snape from (I think) Loscon 2005. I poked through your folder but could only find one black and white photo: did you get any others of D as Snape? Thanks!

[didjiman.livejournal.com]

You found this one?
http://www.dragonsgate.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=5954

http://www.dragonsgate.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=5965

http://www.dragonsgate.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=5914

I guess not too many....

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Two of those I hadn't found-- my friend will be thrilled!

[brerandalopex.livejournal.com]

Last year I helped out at the Sofawolf Press table, and ended up getting rather tired of the food in the building by the end of the con. It was decent stuff, but limited variety, especially if you wanted to eat healthy. So I decided to hit the restaurants across the street to get some stuff to bring back to the folks at the table. Bad mistake. I found very few restaurants that weren't sit-down style eating, and the Quizno's had a super-long, super-slow line that I decided to wait in anyway, for lack of better options that I could see. And then there was the task of carrying all the food back through the head cheese of humanity (love the imagery!) to the table.

I suppose most people won't be in my position of wanting to bring the food back into the convention hall, but thought I'd toss my experience out there as a cautionary tale, anyway.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

You're right about the Quiznos, now that you mention it. The fish-taco (they had other stuff) had a line, but it wasn't bad. Best bet is to go down the main Gaslamp quarter street (the light in front of the convention center is that street--5th ave?): anything after a few blocks should be cheap, better and have smaller lines.

[sailortweek.livejournal.com]

I'm taking notes for next year! ^_^

[crocuta.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tips! Wes and I had the chance to go this year via his company but too much other RL things coincided so we're now planning on going next year.
The idea of human head-cheese disturbs me.

[card1shark.livejournal.com]

Great primer. I'll see you at SDCC. I'll be the short guy.

[spunkywulf.livejournal.com]

Wow, considering how small/short I am, I could never survive this con :( Bummer... I've always wanted to go :)

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but you're tiny enough that you can probably shoulder-ride (and only risk brain damage from the low doors). Or we'd get you an SUV stroller and mow people down!

You gotta come out for this sometime: it's the ULTIMATE fan/geek/otaku shopping experience!

[spunkywulf.livejournal.com]

I know, I'd TOTALLY love it I'm sure. Except of course, the hoards and mounds of flesh that I'd have to fight through to find toys :D Do they have cute round birds?

[nerfcoyote.livejournal.com]

Dang... yeah, it was crazy last year, tho I can't imagine trying to negotiate the Saturday head-cheese in costume, so I'm glad I left my hall-wander to Sunday.

I'm staying home this year. Pity, I was hoping to do that suit of Justin for the 25th anniversary of Secret of NIMH. Well, there's the 30th in five years.

If you see my housemates with SofaWolf, say hi! :)

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Aw, I didn't remember it was the 25th anni of NIMH. You'd've done a great Justin!

[skiefire.livejournal.com]

'Death by backpack' is a common theme on the London Underground. I think some of the people on it are actually going mountaineering judging by the size of their packs. Either that or they are highly evolved snails.

[missmonstermel.livejournal.com]

"SUV-strollers: WHY do people bring babies/infants to ComiCon?!? And then expect you to make way for them (when you can't move yourself)!"

Agreed. At my very first convention, a woman tried to mow me down with her stroller...dinged my ankles and everything. I moved for her and muttered something rude as she passed. A minute later I felt a very firm tap on my shoulder. I turn around and there is a man ( her husband) jamming his middle finger into my face shouting at me, calling me a very vile name. This man had his one year old child astride his shoulder..very wierd experience! I laughed at him and my freind was mad because he couldnt punch him ( baby on head).

Strollers take up alot of room and people expect you to treat them with such care and consideration. Get a baby
sitter...everyone will have a better time!

I learned my lesson last year about attempting to costume saturday. Not a good idea! I felt really bad as my armor turned me into a walking hazard. This year i'm jusy gonna costume in the hallway saturday and let people take photos...shop friday, costume inside sunday....

[t-h-squirrel.livejournal.com]

I took a friend to Rockin Baja Lobster where he got 3 chicken tacos with guacamole on top, spanish rice and beans. Also a salad bar for $9.50. Better that a $8 personal pizza at the convention center. I was there on Saturday. My friend, Ardy worre my suit around.

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

eeep!
I went looking for ya around the show Saturday, but no could find ya this year!... I hope it was fun!

Also, I'd have to say all on this list was funny/helpful.. but the Sunday rule is probably over... seems like everyone from the other days PLUS Sunday's new attendees came back that day!

I like traditions, usually, and I love th weather down there.... but considering what hell it was to park this year, and the everpresent fwy traffic thing (this year's number for me = 4.5 hours one way) ... I am really looking forward to Vegas in 2010 ...! (not set, but a possibility to open up the aisles a bit more).