Any boardies planning to go to san diego comic con? 2 2

[THB]

Things are falling into place for me to make my first visit.............

[justafan]

I'll be there all 4 days Thursday -Sunday.  My first time.  Got my badge in the mail a month ago.  Staying at a buddy's place outside the city who happens to work near the convention so I got a decent hookup on a ride in and back.  However, since this is my first time is there any advice on best time to show up to get in, where to go for the con exclusive comics and toys, how to avoid the lines or make the lines?  Clueless about what to strategically try to schedule and attend.  I see they have Thursday's programming schedule up but nothing for Friday - Sunday yet.  I see the guest list has Stan and a few other notables.  wondering if there'll be any other major artists or guests not yet listed.

[shortboxed]

@justafan Sent you a DM.

Are there any plans for a boardie meetup during SDCC? My SDCC schedule is very tight (what with lines and panels and offsites and everything else) but it'd be great to meet some boardies in person for a bite and/or a beer! 

[Lethal_Collector]

On 6/15/2017 at 3:13 PM, the blob said:

It frustrates me to no end that I have a buddy who will hook me up with passes but I can't justify flying out there and the hotel bill as I am going to california a month later for my bro's wedding.

Just stay in Cali for the whole month?  

 

Jerome

Edited July 6, 2017 by Lethal_Collector

[thethedew]

A little OT, but...

Mile High Comics backs out of SDCC 2017

[dem1138]

On 6/25/2017 at 8:28 PM, NelsonAI said:

SDCC is only committed to SD thru 2018.  Negotiations will begin again with the city to keep the show in SD.  SDCC probably provides the city with 1/3 their annual revenue.  If Comic-Con leaves, another convention promoter will jump in and immediately try to take it's place (Reed Elsevier or Wizard).  

A lot of dealers already give passes to their best customers, you just have to commit to spending a certain amount of $.  I have not gone since 2009 but it was more about getting a decent hotel room within walking distance than securing a ticket.  For those that have never attended, you should try to go at least once.  It really is a spectacle to be experienced as it literally takes over the entire town.    A much bigger show than NYCC.

For all those attending, have a great show.

Cheers!

N.

Comic-Con Re-ups With San Diego Through 2021

http://deadline.com/2017/06/comic-con-san-diego-new-contract-2021-convention-center-1202123003/

 

[Robot Man]

On July 6, 2017 at 1:14 PM, justafan said:

I'll be there all 4 days Thursday -Sunday.  My first time.  Got my badge in the mail a month ago.  Staying at a buddy's place outside the city who happens to work near the convention so I got a decent hookup on a ride in and back.  However, since this is my first time is there any advice on best time to show up to get in, where to go for the con exclusive comics and toys, how to avoid the lines or make the lines?  Clueless about what to strategically try to schedule and attend.  I see they have Thursday's programming schedule up but nothing for Friday - Sunday yet.  I see the guest list has Stan and a few other notables.  wondering if there'll be any other major artists or guests not yet listed.

Good luck, you're in for a big surprise. Avoid lines? Good luck. Last time I was there I had to wait 20 minutes to take a whiz. Wear comfortable shoes and be patient. The masses of humanity are like nothing you can imagine. If you don't have patience, stay home. That being said, it is still the most amazing experience a comic fan can have. Have a great time!

[shortboxed]

On 7/6/2017 at 1:14 PM, justafan said:

I'll be there all 4 days Thursday -Sunday.  My first time.  Got my badge in the mail a month ago.  Staying at a buddy's place outside the city who happens to work near the convention so I got a decent hookup on a ride in and back.  However, since this is my first time is there any advice on best time to show up to get in, where to go for the con exclusive comics and toys, how to avoid the lines or make the lines?  Clueless about what to strategically try to schedule and attend.  I see they have Thursday's programming schedule up but nothing for Friday - Sunday yet.  I see the guest list has Stan and a few other notables.  wondering if there'll be any other major artists or guests not yet listed.

Do not go to SDCC without a very clear gameplan in place. Know exactly the 1-2 things you want to accomplish each day, and how/where/when to line up for them. Between now and then you need to devote a lot of time to researching all of this. If you show up without a clear daily gameplan, you'll spend your time frustrated aimlessly walking around and accomplishing nothing. 

As far as comics go, just devote some time to only focus on visiting the dealers. 

[justafan]

4 hours ago, shortboxed said:

Do not go to SDCC without a very clear gameplan in place. Know exactly the 1-2 things you want to accomplish each day, and how/where/when to line up for them. Between now and then you need to devote a lot of time to researching all of this. If you show up without a clear daily gameplan, you'll spend your time frustrated aimlessly walking around and accomplishing nothing. 

As far as comics go, just devote some time to only focus on visiting the dealers. 

Copy that, SB. I'm taking that advice seriously and using the links you provided to help plan out my my strategy. 

I'll be happy of I make it into 2 of the activities I'd like to attend/day.  Wish I could just pay someone to stand in line for me. That could get ridiculously expensive quickly.

[nearmint]

Don't spend too much time waiting in line.   I've been going to SDCC for over 30 years, and my best memories are hanging out at dealers' booths talking comics, not spending hours waiting in line for Hall H or Ballroom 20, or waiting in line for a Comic-Con exclusive.

[Awax]

If it's your first time.. you will be overwhelmed.  

Just have fun. You can't do everything    Spend as much time  from now till you get here just reading up on what exclusives there are, what things you want to see etc,.

 

make a list.  

 

Enter the convention center and lose your mind.. it will be like walking into a casino for the first time if you walk in the middle at first. 

 

Check your list and try to do some of it, but you'll probably forget it and just wander around ..  see and buy cool stuff. 

 

And to whomever asked about dropping books at the Cgc booth to be graded.  Best days are Thursday afternoon & Friday. Saturday is just a busy day at the con anyway and Sunday everyone if dropping off last minute buys or just slackers. I stay away on Sunday. 

 

And im here now.. it's hot and humid ( for San Diego ).  So drink lots of water while here and stay  hydrated . 

[comick1]

Hi folks,

This'll be my 38th-ish con. Been going since '75 and missed a couple when I was about 8 or 9 years old.

Love, love, love the SD Comic-Con. Royal pain to get passes, but I always manage. All the cosplayers, gamers, exclusive buyers, Hall-H goers. . .whatEVER.
I just wanna sift through old comics boxes and enjoy the con vicariously through my kids. Gotta attend a small handful of bîtchin' panels (Quick-Draw on Saturday is a classic) that are NOT Hollywood-centric, and I'm good. Speaking of boardees, there's a group of collectors (and a LOT of boardees) that have been meeting for 23 years now. We're the Big-5 War Comics group and we've existed before anybody even conjured the idea of a slab. Basic info is here. More info in the War Comics section of Silver Age area. PM with questions or to RSVP. Hall H ain't got nothin' on us old-timers.

Big-5 War Comics Banquet / Auction (coincides with Thursday of San Diego Con)

Date: Thursday, July 20

Time: 8:00-10:15

Where: Filippi's Pizza Grotto

Address: 1747 India St San Diego  92101

[jsilverjanet]

I'll be there so will @bighairjer and @greggy

[BassGMan]

On 6/26/2017 at 1:27 PM, Flambit said:

I could not possibly disagree with you more.  I have been going for 30 years, and it's extremely frustrating dealing with all the nonsense about the tickets every year, thinking I might not get in.  There is absolutely no "thrill of the hunt" going on for me.  I have people I want to see and things I want to do, plans I need to make, but - oh, maybe I can't get tickets this year so screw all that.  Yeah, there's a lot of nostalgia there for me - 30 years worth! - but I would love to see it move to Vegas or some place that could actually handle the volume and give everyone a shot to attend.  I love SDCC, but as a long time attendee, this whole thing has become absolutely pathetic.  

I don't think guys like you are who he was referring to as enjoying the thrill of the hunt, but rather the newbies going there to see previews, celebrities, and to get exclusives. I do think this is what attracts most attendees as it certainly isn't the comic books. 

As much as I love the entire San Diego experience, this will be my 25th year and I am stressed every year about the ticket process. At least going with early bird hotels I can get that taken care of easily. I would definitely support a move to Las Vegas as long as the SDCC experience stays relatively the same, other than the location of course. I'd also actually like to see the con extended in days. Instead of four days plus PN it would be great if they could add a few more days onto that, which would give more people the chance to go, especially since the longer it is, many will not choose to buy tickets for the entire thing. I know exhibitors would need to support a longer con, so if there is enough support there I'd love to see it, and if not, at least Las Vegas could support the masses, allow higher attendance and certainly getting a room would be an easier experience. 

[BassGMan]

On 7/13/2017 at 8:31 AM, Robot Man said:

Good luck, you're in for a big surprise. Avoid lines? Good luck. Last time I was there I had to wait 20 minutes to take a whiz. Wear comfortable shoes and be patient. The masses of humanity are like nothing you can imagine. If you don't have patience, stay home. That being said, it is still the most amazing experience a comic fan can have. Have a great time!

I have said this before so I may be sounding like a broken record. You can absolutely avoid almost all lines. I have never stood in line for more than two minutes to take a whiz and usually there is no line at all. Do not use the restrooms on the main exhibition floor as those are the ones usually more crowded. Go upstairs to the mezzanine level or the level with all the programming and go to the restrooms at the ends of the hallways. As far as lines to get into the con, do not line up early, plan on arriving 15 minutes after the open and no line. For food and snacks, try to avoid around noon and around 5-6 (typical meal times) and some of the snack and pretzel stands have practically no line while others have long lines. There are really three kinds of lines you cannot avoid, if you choose to stand in them: popular programming, highly sought after exclusives,  and popular autographs. No real way around those, but otherwise you can avoid lines altogether if you choose to. 

[Bunky Brian]

BunkyBrothers will be there, have two booths, # 5521

This year will be bringing 60 long boxes of mostly SA BA, priced from $6.00 to $60.00 !! All neatly bagged, boarded, graded, and priced. BRING YOUR WANT LISTS!

PLEASE STOP BY AND SAY HELLO,

BRIAN KENNY AND BOBO

 

 

[Flambit]

What I have noticed is that, thankfully, the crazy throngs of people seems to have peaked around 2012 or so. Whenever it was the studios pulled out definitely helped the madness abate.  As we walked around last year, even as crazy as it was, we all agreed that it definitely just overall less congested.  Can't really explain why.  But there was a time that if you got stuck in one of those main arteries though the exhibit hall, you would not move unless you could get into a side aisle.  

What made me insane was the photographers stopping traffic to photograph a cosplayer.  No regard for the masses of people behind them.  Sunday, for some reason, was the worst.   

I found the food lines for that terrible convention food have eased up too - but good luck getting a table to sit down at.  If I'm hungry, I'll generally go to the little outdoor pool bar at the hotel next door.  And the bathrooms at the back of the exhibit all are generally ok - just don't use the ones by each hall entrance.  

And something I was curious about - has anyone seen those passes for sale that various ticket agencies have?  Do you think they are real?  My first thought is they aren't, but at the same time, I'm sure there are many people who aren't able to go at the last minute for whatever reason.  They gotta sell them somewhere...

[BassGMan]

33 minutes ago, Flambit said:

 

And something I was curious about - has anyone seen those passes for sale that various ticket agencies have?  Do you think they are real?  My first thought is they aren't, but at the same time, I'm sure there are many people who aren't able to go at the last minute for whatever reason.  They gotta sell them somewhere...

I just looked at the San Diego Craigslist and there are alot of passes for sale there. As far as how legit they are I'm not sure, but one person above said that's how some people get tickets last minute. Of those listings I read, most asked to meet there at the con to do the exchange. At least that way you know you won't be ripped off (assuming you meet in public place and the passes aren't fake) but if the person shows up at all is the big question. Anyway, worth the effort if in need of a ticket. 

[justafan]

3 hours ago, BassGMan said:

I just looked at the San Diego Craigslist and there are alot of passes for sale there. As far as how legit they are I'm not sure, but one person above said that's how some people get tickets last minute. Of those listings I read, most asked to meet there at the con to do the exchange. At least that way you know you won't be ripped off (assuming you meet in public place and the passes aren't fake) but if the person shows up at all is the big question. Anyway, worth the effort if in need of a ticket. 

Are those dealer passes or special passes? I thought the passes would be checked and had to match your license, passport, etc. 

[BassGMan]

11 hours ago, justafan said:

Are those dealer passes or special passes? I thought the passes would be checked and had to match your license, passport, etc. 

Looks like regular passes to me. Last year, which was the first year they used these new scanner passes, I received my pass in the mail and could have given it to anyone. No checks, no ID, nothing. Of course you do scan the badge when entering, and they like you to scan when you are leaving too, but absolutely nothing that I encountered that required the person and the badge to match. Did anyone need to show ID and for any reason? Literally anyone could have used these passes. Maybe they randomly check people for ID, I don't know, but I surely did not see or hear of anything like that. 

Edited July 16, 2017 by BassGMan