My sister and I get asked about how to comic-con from a lot of friends, so we made a list of things that have been helpful for us in San Diego and other comic cons:
DO bring cash. There will be lines for ATMs, and card transactions will be slow for vendors using SDCC wifi or data.
DON’T use the bags SDCC gives you. By all means, get one, but don’t use it every day. They’re big and unwieldy and could be hard to identify from other people’s bags. Bring your own (smaller) bag and keep the free one as a souvenir. Don’t like the bag they give you? Swap your bag with strangers either onsite or via Twitter.
DO bring chargers for all your devices. There are generally no charging stations, and plugs are few and far between.
DON’T wear open-toed shoes. Unless you want trampled-on toes.
DO bring your own food (breakfast, lunch, snacks, water bottles, etc.). Food at the convention center is expensive and not very good. Find the closest convenience store/Target/grocery store beforehand to load up.
DON’T trust anyone except a volunteer or line monitor about lines: where they form, what they’re for, etc. There will be two lines in the early morning: One for Hall H and another for everything else. In the “everything else” line, you’ll eventually break off into lines for Ballroom 20 or the floor, etc. once you get inside. (The main two rooms at SDCC: B20 for most TV shows; Hall H for movies and big TV shows.)
DO identify your priorities before you arrive on-site. Know what you most want to do/see every day. Make sure you have a plan (and backup plans). The official schedule will be released two weeks before the convention.
DON’T be too focused on your schedule, though. Allow some room to fly by the seat of your pants. Some of the unplanned sessions or activities can turn out to be the most interesting.
DO look for offsite events. These can be really fun. You won’t have to look hard in San Diego; know who to follow on Twitter to find out this info.
DON’T expect to just walk into anything and everything. There will be lines. For anything and everything.
DO bring something to sit on, even if it’s a newspaper. The ground will be dewy; sometimes the sprinklers turn on.
DON’T rely solely on your phone. You’ll waste batteries, and with so many people around, mobile Internet will be slow. Also reception in the halls can be spotty. Have paper copies of anything you need (tickets, schedules, etc).
DO bring hand sanitizer and/or vitamin C. Lotsa people = lotsa germs. Don’t get the dreaded Con Flu.
DON’T forget to check social media. Follow/make a list of your fave celebs, studios, etc. Sometimes people will announce surprise signings, giveaways or other happenings on Twitter; you want to be able to react quickly. @HallH and @Ballroom20 have status updates on lines. Get the latest news from outlets such as @SD_Comic_Con. Check the #SDCC hashtag.
DO study the map of the exhibit area and make a list of the high-priority exhibitors you want to visit on the floor. Note their booth numbers and have at least a vague idea of where they are on the floor, so you can zip right over.
DON’T expect to flit from one panel to another. Panels fill up (they do NOT clear rooms between panels), and it can take a while navigate crowded halls.
DO bring a light jacket: Either in case it gets cold or to use as shade in the sun.
DON’T assume anything until the schedule’s out. But you can guess when shows/movies might show up: Saturday is prime time, so the major studios will show up that day. Sunday is a lighter day for major movie studios but it’s family day; big TV shows (Game of Thrones, Walking Dead) tend to take over Hall H on Sundays.
DO expect to get in line early for everything. But sometimes you get lucky and there’ll still be seats for something you want to see. You just never know until you try. This is where monitoring social media will help. Check the hashtags for #HallH or #B20/#Ballroom20, etc. People will note online if there are still seats in any room.
DON’T forget to claim any swag tickets for fun stuff.. Sometimes panels will give out tickets for swag instead of swag itself. You have to claim them in other locations. (However, more and more “swag” means “experiences” instead of material objects.)
DO rip out the schedule from the convention book so you don’t have to carry the whole book with you.
DON’T stalk celebrities, obvs. But if you want to spot them, try the lobbies and bars at the Hard Rock, the Marriott, the Hilton Bayfront. Also the boats in the marina behind the convention center, where outlets such as TV Guide and IMDB usually do their interviews.
DO know where the bathrooms are for Ballroom 20 and Hall H. Know the bathroom policy for Ballroom 20, where the bathrooms are outside the room. There are bathrooms in Hall H, on the right side of the room as you face the stage.
DON’T burn yourself out. Pace yourself: at the con, at parties. Know your limits so you can enjoy the con.
DO be careful crossing the trolley tracks. The walkways outside the convention center will be VERY PACKED.
DON’T get bogged down with stuff. Pack light and be as mobile as possible — so you can make a mad dash for seats closer to the front as people leave panels.
DO be careful about props for cosplay. Remember: You’ll have to carry them all day.
DON’T take photos of cosplayers without permission. Be respectful.
DO remember to save time for the floor. It will take time to see it all.
DON’T forget to bring a poster tube (or buy one in San Diego) if you collect posters.
DO note where the convention’s shipping center is (or the nearest FedEx/post office/UPS to your lodgings) if you need to ship things home instead of packing them.
DON’T forget to visit artist alley on the floor. It’s small but very cool.
DO keep in mind the line procedure for wristbands for Hall H.
DON’T forget sunscreen, a hat, fan, etc. It can get warm, and you could be sitting outside for a while.
DO have an “if all else fails” meeting place in case you get separated from your group (and your phone is dying).
DON’T wing it when it comes to exclusive collectibles. Before you get to San Diego, research the policies and procedures for any companies you’re hoping to buy collectibles from.
DO keep printouts of signing schedules and locations for any artists or publishing companies you’re interested in.
DON’T assume you know where the end of any line is. Oftentimes, lines are broken into sections to prevent logjams on the floor; outside lines are often segmented to let thru any cross foot traffic. Find a monitor and ask. On the floor, look for someone holding “End of the Line” signs.
DO tip your hotel cleaners each morning — you have a lot of trash (food, fliers, candy wrappers, etc.) that will accumulate daily.
DON’T forget you will be surrounded by people. Watch your stuff. Guard against thieves — but also be mindful that you’re not taking up more space than you need. And mind you don’t hit anyone with your backpack.
DO ask your Uber/Lyft/cab driver to drop you at either end of the convention center (depending on where the line is — again, check social media).
DON’T abuse people’s kindness by saving space in line for your army of friends. Just a handful is enough per person. There are specific rules for how many people one person can save space for in the Hall H line.
DO bring Sharpies — preferably black and silver — for signings or random autographs. Celebs will have their own, but do you want to be caught unawares?
DON’T use accessibility access if you don’t have accessibility issues, and don’t presume to judge people; not all disabilities are visible. This should go unsaid, but accessibility access is accessibility access. That’s for life, not just cons.
DO keep your eyes and ears open. One of the joys of cons is that anything can happen. Maybe you’ll run into Tom Hardy on the floor, or see Misha Collins jogging along the marina with a gaggle of Castiel fans chasing him. People watching is the best in-line activity.
DON’T be that person saving half a dozen seats for friends who didn’t wait in line with you (or, at other cons, didn’t pay for early access like you did).
DO go to Richard Walker’s Pancake House (early) and Skybound coffee (early). Lines are long and they are good.
DON’T hate on other people’s fandoms or judge their level of “true” geekiness. Most everyone is there because they love something. Keep debates over Star Wars vs. Star Trek (and the like) civil — don’t insult someone’s passions. You may need your neighbor to watch your stuff while you hunt for food/bathrooms.
DO try to go to a few smaller panels. Marvel, Warner Bros., etc., get the most attention, but the best panels are sometimes the smallest ones.
DON’T trash your files/lists after the con. Keep your lists in Google Docs or online somewhere so you can copy and paste schedule templates, packing lists, lists of exhibitors, etc., from one con to the next.
DO download the con’s app for late schedule changes and announcements, but, again, don’t rely on it as your sole source of information. Save your battery!
DON’T lose your badge. Put it in the same place when you take it off so you’re not always hunting for it.
DO link your social media accounts so you can post to several places at once.
DON’T panic if you’re far from the front of the line, especially if it’s early and the line hasn’t condensed yet. (Lines can stretch the length of the convention center all the down to the water.) Hall H fits about 6,500 people; Ballroom 20 about 4,800. That’s a lot of people.
DO ask yourself frequently: Do I really want to wait in this line? Is whatever giveaway or experience a booth is offering worth the wait? Is there a panel you’d rather see instead of waiting in line for Hall H or Ballroom 20? Manage your time wisely.
DON’T forget to use your common sense. Don’t walk alone in a secluded area late at night; don’t keep your wallet where people can grab it, etc.
DO have a line buddy. If you’re with friends, take turns holding down the fort so the others can explore the con. If you’re by yourself, befriend your neighbors.
DON’T make a personal request (for a hug or signed nameplate) if you’re going to ask someone a question during a panel Q&A. Ask a substantive question.
