Before I go on with this post poking Behind the Scenes of Comic Con, I want to make it clear that I am extremely GRATEFUL for the opportunity to get to be in San Diego at the biggest comic convention in the world with some of my dearest friends each and every July. Seeing friends I talk to online but only see during this one week in July, being around so many fans of so many things, getting press opportunities and sneak peeks of the next big TV shows and movies, seeing celebrities in the flesh and being in the center of pop culture for 4-5 days is an incredible opportunity I know a lot of people would kill for. I know that because I worked really hard to get the opportunity to be there – from building a site that gets us press access, covering stuff while there and writing featured content (and killer Instagram Stories..!) It’s work to be at Comic Con- albeit FUN work.
And so with all that said, I have a few opinions on things at Comic Con:
Hall H
Hall H, for the uninitiated, is THE place where the biggest shows and movies premiere new content, new clips and parade out their stars to entertain 6,000 + fans who have literally spent their con waiting in a line. If you’re an OG, you probably remember stories from the 3-4 day long camp out for the Thursday Twilight Hall H panel each and every Comic Con. THAT doesn’t happen anymore. At least I don’t think.
A few years ago they started giving out wrist bands for certain days in Hall H which is what you now line up for, often overnight (Other-times, though I don’t know that it happened this year, you can just walk into Hall H- we did it last year!) This year in Hall H after the Stranger Things panel, I asked a couple how long they had been waiting to get to their fairly up close seats for Saturday’s panels- they said they have been in line since Thursday.
I asked them to explain how it works. They said they start handing out wrist bands for the next day’s Hall H the day before (or maybe 2 days before) so you have to line up for that. Often waiting over night (or nights). And then once you have the wrist band, you can get in line for that day’s panel, often waiting over night (or nights). Confused yet? I still don’t understand how it works.
People make friends. People hold spots for their friends and sleep in shifts (going back to a hotel room for breaks) It’s a bonding experience. But if I understood them correctly, and I think I did, this couple has spent their entire con waiting in line and then got into Hall H on Saturday. And Saturday was a big day— Marvel, DC, Stranger Things… but you don’t get to meet the cast or get autographs (to do that, you have to stand in long lines ON the convention floor). And the exclusive clips generally get released online within minutes of airing in Hall H*
I think the people dedicated to their entire con being in line and eventually inside Hall H, know that that is what their con will be and are okay with it. They bond with new friends and friends they met last year in line. But I can’t tell you how many conversations I had with people new to the experience who assumed they were going to just have to wait in a line for a little bit to get inside Hall H. I can’t imagine the disappointment of thinking you’ll get up at 3 am on Saturday morning to get in line to see Gal Gadot at 11 – and finding out people were waiting since Thursday and there’s no way you’re getting in.
*When long parts of shows or movies (or entire episodes like Outlander) are shown, they are generally exclusive!
On the Floor
The convention floor is incredible. It’s PACKED wall to wall with geeky goodness. There are… comics (Ask someone else about those), publishers featuring books from artists of all genres, autograph signings, geek merch, costumes, replicas, hard-to-get items and exclusive comic Con toys. The big studios have interactive experiences, like Outlander’s screen printing “print shop” this year (giveaway coming soon!), and the talent comes in to do autograph signings you can win tickets to (if lucky) or wait in lines (that line up the night before, usually) to score access to. They give away exclusive swag or sell limited edition items. There is a section for artists and artisans where they’re set up on tables like your local town craft fair, featuring their art and other items for sale.
There are SO MANY Cat-artist vendors. Geeks love cats. Last year I found this awesome vendor who sold cartoon pins that looked like different parts of the female anatomy (like ovaries, boobs, and a uterus!) It’s so fun to discover a new artist and explore the people making really creative art inspired by some of your favorite franchises.
That is, if you have the patience to walk the Con floor. Comic Con has felt busier each year since my first, but this year, by far, was the most crowded. It is near impossible to walk at any sort of pace that a snail couldn’t match. And if you do walk the floor, stopping to browse unencumbered by someone’s tail or sword is not gonna happen. The noise in the Hall rings in my ears for an hour after I leave. If you do find an item you want, it’s probably sold out. Forget stopping to chat with a friend you run into and haven’t seen since last year. The security inside yells at anyone, not at a booth or table shopping, who doesn’t keep moving at that snails pace. And rightfully so- if they didn’t it would be even more of a mess inside. And then in the areas where you can’t even cross a section on the floor because the cross traffic is so thick of people stopping to photograph the cosplayers dressed as something I don’t recognize, there’s not a security guard in sight to keep the line moving.
I usually walk the floor on Preview night (the opening night and least busy) and attempt one other time. This year I bought 0 cat things.
Outside the Con
So if you don’t get in Hall H and if you’re tired of running into someone’s Negan bat on the floor, there’s PLENTY to do Outside the Con. This year Netflix had a big experience Beth and I waited an hour to get into and spent an hour in another line to walk through inside. I came out with a Barb Keychain, so maybe it was all worth it. Kingsman was giving away whiskey and burgers every day at 4, but the line was hours long to partake. I know in years past there has been zip lining by the Hilton, but it takes so long to walk there because of the crowds that I never saw if that was happening this year.
I saw a Walking Dead experience which actually didn’t have a line when I considered entering, but a guy coming out of it said it was boring. ENTERTAIN ME PLEASE.
There is so much outside of the con: costumes, experiences, IT walking around terrorizing people, pedi cabs decorated like the throne from Game of Thrones and people. everywhere. People hand you advertisements for Sushi, People hand out Comic Con exclusive issues of their magazines, Fundamentalists protesting the Con, Protestors protesting the Fundamentalists, Families with strollers, People with tiny tea cup poodles in their arms wearing “service animal” on their back (eye roll)
There’s so much to do that you don’t even need a pass to experience Comic Con. And that’s great. Because getting passes is so difficult or impossible for a lot of people. But it adds to the traffic and makes the whole experience more difficult, preventing you from seeing much of anything when all Is said and done.
I’m tired. I was up too late last night when I had to get up at 5:30 for my flight. I had too much Champagne. Our late night team dinner’s pizza was too salty. I could use some alone time (but hey- another year surviving with 5 roomies and friendships intact!) and not be in a crowd again for a LONG time.
What I’m trying to say is: There are too many people at SDCC. The people are what make SDCC amazing, but it’s gotten to a point where the people are starting to detract from the experience . If you can’t see the big panels without spending your entire con in a line, and you can’t buy your favorite cat toy or something much geekier because the line is too long or it sold out within minutes, and if you can’t even do anything but wait in a line once you leave the convention Center, (or if you can’t even score a place to stay —) what is the point?
Clearly people disagree with me because they come back and wait in the lines and fight for that toy and eat the free Netflix hot dogs year after year . They pack their 100 pound costume and parade their 7 foot frame covered in fur and wear steel boots, carrying a sword around in 88 degree weather. And people like me stare at them wondering if I’m supposed to know what he’s dressed as (I am.)
Comic Con is hard. Comic Con is exhausting. Comic Con is something magical and terrible and wonderful and as you can see by the pictures I featured throughout this post, it’s something worth doing with the right people. But gosh darn I wish there were less people.
I’ll be back next year San Diego Comic Con. That is, if we can find a place to stay….*
What do you think? Still dying to go even though you have to deal with PEOPLE?
*Nikki has great thoughts on what COULD Change at Comic Con to make it a better experience for everyone involved. Ask her to share them!*
Team TN at SDCC 2017!
