Don’t believe what the amateurs tell you: Comic-Con doesn’t come easy.
You’ve got to work it, you’ve got to plan for it, and train for it. The secret to having a really great Comic-Con is endurance, a blueprint, and the right gear.
(Read also: Comic-Con in Moderation: Advice for Panelists; and What's New Under the Comic-Con Sun?)
A few tips on building a better Comic-Con experience from TheWrap:
PICK YOUR BATTLES — With four days of back-to-back blockbusters, superstars, zeitgeist franchises, parties, Nicholas Cage’s hair, swag, panels, fanboys fawning over G4’s Olivia Munn and well, Olivia Munn — no one person can do everything at Comic-Con. As Munn herself, who will be there in her “Attack of the Show” co-host capacity, said in the Wall Street Journal, the number one mistake I see made is people look at Comic-Con like it’s shooting fish in a barrel.” It isn’t, not for the studios and not for the fans. “You will always leave Comic-Con wishing you'd done more, and you will feel like you're ‘missing things’ the entire time you're there,” says Drew McWeeny, Film Editor at HitFix.com. “Let it go. See what you see. Do what you do. And don't stress.” Amen.
POWER & ACCESS – Whether you’re reporting for TheWrap, posting for the New York Times, or tugging on some superhero’s cape for your own CapedCrusadering.com site, the one thing everybody needs at Comic-Con is power and access – neither of which comes easy. With limited outlets and free (but inconsistent) wireless in the San Diego Convention Center, the committed journalist and blogger must have two things – a power strip and a wireless stick. The former will allow you to recharge your laptop and phone without having to wait for the guy who got there before you unplugging from the wall. The latter will cut through the clutter of too many microwaves and get your “Cowboys & Aliens” panel post up before anyone else’s. Also, be careful where you sit. That producer sitting next to you in Hall H may seem very affable, but as I almost learned the hard way last year, that bicarbonate beverage in his hand could end up getting spilled all over your keyboard (and that just bites on so many levels).
PLAN AHEAD — You know that you won’t see everything but that doesn’t guarantee you’ll get into anything. The big blockbuster panels are harder to crash than a White House State dinner. The parties are mainly invite only. The booths are unmanageable and seemingly never ending. So make a plan. Be strategic and surgical about who and what you want to see and remember that if you don’t get into “Tron: Legacy” now, it’ll be in theaters soon.
BE COOL –What do you do when Milla Jovovich and Ali Larter of “Resident Evil: Afterlife” walk by? Start snapping pics with your phone and getting in their face? Um, no. Put your eyeballs back in your head and Be Cool. What do you do at that Tweet House party and the food and drink is flowing? Remember that open bar doesn’t mean town drunk. Be Cool. What do you do when someone cuts in line in front of you to get into see Kevin Smith? Take a deep breath and Be Cool. “Don’t get annoyed with people cutting the line,” As Give Me My Remote said about Comic-Con etiquette, “It’s a necessity that groups may split up, or people get into place with new friends.” It’s a two-word philosophy. At Comic-Con, between the crowds and the inevitable confusion that ensures, Being Cool is a necessity. And the cooler you are, the cooler you will be – if you know what I mean?
DRESS APPROPRIATELY – No one wears a suit at Comic-Con – unless it’s of the flying or intergalactic space-travel kind – but that doesn’t mean you should look like you’re heading to a frat kegger (especially if you were in college over a decade ago). The basic uniform, unless you are in costume, is jeans, a well-cut but not form-fitting T-shirt and the right kicks. In the comparative casual democracy of Comic-Con, a good pair of Darth Vadar Adidas Superstars will serve you well. Fashion aside, the other big factor is comfort. Don’t wear anything that isn’t comfortable. And prepare for summer and winter – it’s baking hot outside and ice cold inside, thanks to the Convention Center air conditioning. So, bring a sweater or a jacket. Also, bring a strong shoulder bag to store whatever swag you pick up. As for the hygiene thing – well, it’s a running Comic-Con joke. But as Yoda says, “Do, or do not … there is no try.”
