Kicking off a blog is always difficult, one never knows the best way they can convey what the essence of the blog is through a single post, but I feel that the topic of my first post on here will help me cover almost all bases. I thought the best way to start off my blog would be with the best of the best, San Diego Comic-Con. Every year, during the Summer in late July, the San Diego Downtown Gaslamp and Bayfront is attacked by an influx of people who can be described in the most general words as rabid fans. In this case, rabid is not an insult, but a fact. You can't survive CC if you aren't a little rabid. These fans have been through a lot of pain and suffering before even stepping onto convention center soil. This year, for the unlucky thousands that didn't buy their tickets on site last year, had to suffer through server crashes, heartache, anxiety, and general fear trying to obtain their tickets. We blamed everyone, moaned, groaned, and bitched until we got our confirmation tickets. Then there was that endless headache of hotel registration, but soon we were on our way!
Autograph Signings
This year, I felt like there were many ups and downs, and it being my second year, I'm seeing it from a different point of view than I did the previous year. The opportunity to compare my previous experiences with this one presented itself. Last year, it was a frenzied two day trip of panels and signings at the WB booth, which was chaos. There were no ticket drawings, no lines, just mass chaos and everyone in everyone's way. This year, WB boned up and got themselves a cemented position in the Sails Pavillion where everyone could stand in line and draw tickets for an autograph signing later in the day.
To be honest, I found this system even more unfair then the previous years. Sure, in 2010 we were a fire hazard every other hour and Elite had their worst nightmare with us, but at least the fans that were true fans got into the signings. In this pick-and-draw raffle style, it was really chance. At a huge signing like Game of Thrones or Chuck, you have one ticket chance and that's it. Dedicated fan of four years or new fan of two weeks, there is no difference. Whether you got in line at 3am or at 10am has no difference. First or last in line, doesn't matter. Lines are capped at around 500 and only 100 get to get into the coveted signings. Although it may seem to be a better idea than just mobbing a booth on the floor, it definitely aggravated a large handful of attenders. It is my personal belief that those people who got up at 3am, and were willing to camp out to get a signature should get the signature. I hate pulling the whiny 'it's not fair' card, but it really isn't. I'm not sure how they formed this idea, but I would prefer they cut it at 100 and just guarantee those 100 get in. Aside from the Sails Pavillion though, there were other lines for ticket drawings and for the less crowded ones, if you don't pick a winner the first time, you can go back in line (if it hasn't already been capped) and draw again until you pick a winner. The only drawing I got into this year was an exclusive Immortals one, but I wasn't as lucky with the Game of Thrones signing (although no Richard Madden or Sean Bean was kind of a comfort). This is all just to prove that in the end, Comic Con is a event of luck and chance. The signing I got into was in it's own private room, very hush hush and kind of awesome, no shoving or flashing from cameras, if only they were all like that.
For the people who didn't get into signings at the WB booth (or any of the main big booths), their best bet is to watch from 10 feet away behind angry guards and other pushy fans. However, if WB keeps their booth where they are now, there is also a vantage point at the Exit door behind the WB booth, which, if you stand by and watch about 30 mins before the signing, you can actually see the stars up close and personal and take videos and pictures of them. I did this both years. The first year, I saw the cast of Green Lantern, Chuck, and Tom Felton up close and personal. This year, I got to see the cast of Game of Thrones and True Blood. When I say close, I really mean close, because this year I got to shake Alexander Skarsgard's hand as he was passing. It's no huge advantage, but you do get a small prize for being there. I personally love signings just to talk to the stars, and seeing them up close and personal is enough for me, if I don't get into the signings.
Panels
This is a smaller section, because I didn't have any time for panels this year! I spent all of my Thursday outside the actual convention center, instead of in, and then half of my Friday outside as well. Why? To be explained below. Anyways, panels, for 2011: all I have to go on is Twitter and my friend, Phil, who got into quite a few this year. So as far as I can tell, Hall H and Ballroom 20 had a switcheroo this year, and 20 got quite a lot of attention, whereas there were points where I was getting texts to go fill Hall H (unheard of!). However, even on one of it's busiest and most popular days, Sunday, when Glee, Supernatural, and Doctor Who were showing in H, my friend still managed to get a seat and got in line around 9, after a party the night before. So, that sounds like a pretty good deal to me. He ended up getting into Glee and got a good seat in the middle of that huge hall. Lines were horrible, but there weren't many complaints on seating. That's all I can say for it, because for me, signings always came first, especially when you can catch all the panels online in your own leisure time without having to stand outside in the sun a mile away from the center.
Walking the Streets
I firmly believe that you do not need to be in the convention center to enjoy CC. Yes, you get shit tons of swag and get access to panels and signings, but in the Gaslamp and Bayfront area, there are plenty of chances. Even the Gold Rush I talked about before, that was available to everyone, not JUST CC fans. The streets of downtown San Diego transform into a carnival for nerds, and probably a headache for the dwellers of the area. Free swag is given out left and right, there are places that cater to the crowds and have free drinks and food for people, and of course a lot of celebrities are wandering around too. If you aren't one of the lucky people who got a ticket to CC, living at the Hard Rock for those 4 days might just make up for it. All the downtown hotels cater not only to Con Goers but also to Con Star Guests. Casts of shows like True Blood or Chuck have rooms in those hotels, and often do interviews in the Hard Rock. In fact, on Friday, while lingering around waiting for texts, we saw Ryan McPartlin (Captain Awesome from Chuck), Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, and Ryan Kwanten (Jason Stackhouse from True Blood). I was even bold enough to interrupt Ryan during a phone call for a picture and autograph. I admit, a bit rude, but I was shameless at CC and HAVE YOU SEEN HIM? Come on. I could not have lived with myself if I didn't. So the general idea is, not everything is in the convention floor. Don't be afraid to venture out and walk around across the street. There are so many awesome things, not just at the center but all around you.
Don't let the only part of Downtown San Diego you see be the Marina when you are trying to get you badge. Because that's just sad.
Swag
Lastly, swag. This is really just a small note, but if you are a newbie at CC, make the smart choice and read what you grab. Don't just grab everything you see that is free, because most of the time it's an ad or something you don't even like, and you grabbing it is just adding more weight to you. This year, I got around 15 posters and they were all free. You grab what is important. I was looking for buttons, posters, shirts, and comics. Nothing else. Make sure to clean out your bags if you can, at the end of the night, because no one wants to lug four bags of shit down to the hotel checkout in the morning. Remember, just because it's design is pretty doesn't mean you need or even want it.
