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This...I remember my first time I turned around after getting my badge and saw the signs for the next years'. I was like "well, am I really coming back again" (mind you this was the day I picked up the badge and haven't done anything yet), then I'm like 'who am I kidding" and bought right then and there. From that year of getting the next year's badges right there, to the couple years of hanging in line on the promenade for a shot at buying next year's badges in those long lines, to the lottery that is today...what a wild ride it's been!
They even had little percentage bars to that would show you when they would get close to selling out.
I wonder when I'll post my story on the "So, Tell Us of Your LAST SDCC..." At what point do I get too old for it? Never? 10 years? 20? Till death?
I’m going to be 62 this year. This is my 10th SDCC, and I attended WonderCon (from Minnesota) for the first time this year. I’m not planning on slowing down anytime soon, and you shouldn’t either. Excelsior!Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That's the spirit!!!Maybe the better question at what point am I too old to be camping out, waiting in line for hours and sleeping on sidewalks! How much longer can I do that?!
My first year was 2012. A friend (that I met at another convention) and I decided to go because I knew it was going to be Merlin's last season and I figured I'd never get the chance to see the cast again, and this was kind of a bucket list thing for me, so we made the effort. Both of us struck out on tickets but luckily her mom was able to come through for us and we were lucky enough to get all four days.We came in a few days early because I'd never been to San Diego and we did touristy things. We did the beach one day and Old Town another. We stayed in a hostel that I had booked in December because neither of us knew anything about hotels.It was amazing. Since I only cared about Merlin, we put 100% of our effort into that. We did a signing at the BBCA booth with Katie McGrath and Colin Morgan, and even though it was supposed to be photos or autographs, they did both for us. We got up early on Sunday to get good seats for the panel and were in the 4th row. Everything else we did was bonus after that. We tried to do at least one panel a day. My friend was a big fan of Lost Girl and she got to do a signing for them. We did the WB autograph draw and got The Following so we got to meet Kevin Bacon. We randomly saw Shawn Ashmore in the Gaslamp and got pictures with him. It was just such a great experience. I never thought I'd be able to go back, let alone go as often as I have (this will be my 5th).Also, I have since gotten to see Colin Morgan at other conventions. ;D
My first SDCC was in 2000. I was 25. I had heard it was big but I wasn't expecting the mammoth con that it was even back then. Badges were only $60 for all four days including PN, parking was $9 at the convention center, and I walked right up to the Volunteer booth which was held underneath the escalator in front of Hall C and got in for free. In order to save more money to spend on comics I would quietly pull my Mustang into the parking lot of the Hilton on Harbor Island. It was gated. I'd roll down the windows and fall asleep under the cool ocean air - I guess you can do anything when you're 25. In the morning I would drive over to the Denny's on Rosecrans and order an omelet which kept me full all day. At night I would park at Hotel Circle and soak in their jacuzzi before heading over to the Hilton. I racked up so much on my Discover card that year, met Jae Lee and numerous other artists, saw Danzig walk onto the convention floor, made a few friends ... oh and had a really disappointing signing with Simon Bisley.When I heard he was at the Heavy Metal booth signing, I rushed over to get in line which was already huge. I had so many questions about how he created his masterpieces! I was so pumped. I snagged a copy of Fakk2 for him to sign. The line was moving fairly fast but I was in line for about a half hour. Excited I walked up handed him the book ... and he just stared off into space.Keeping it cool I say, "Hi, Mr. Bisley. Really dig your work." I stood there holding out my book for him to sign. He doesn't grab it. He continues to stare off into space. Dead quiet for what seems like 15 minutes. I begin to wonder if he's tripping.Just then an employees runs up with a bag from Ralph's. He whispers that they were out of whiskey and all he could get was a couple 6 packs of Addams."He's drunk?!," I think to myself. It's not even 10am!?!He snaps to life, "Oh, thanks mate!"I continue standing there holding out my book for him to sign. He continues to stare. The employee/enabler pours him a beer into a coffee thermos.I stammer, "So, um ... can you ...""Oh, yeah," he slurs. Grabs my book and quickly scrawls out a bunch of loops and hands it back."What the ..." I think to myself. All my hopes of picking his brain and learning all of his techniques ... gone. I can't make heads or tails of his signature. His bud says, "All right, man. Move along we got a line."I nearly threw the book in the trash. My depression lasted only a few seconds as I saw more comics for me to buy.That was a minor hiccup for my first SDCC. I was an addict after that and this year will be my 16th? As Sunday brought the con to a close, I saw that badges were for sale for $55 for 2001. I passed knowing I could just walk up and volunteer next year which I did.
oh and had a really disappointing signing with Simon Bisley.
Oh man, I've had these before. Nothing like having someone you like and/or respect being either rude, lame or straight up ignoring you that can put a damper on your con experience. Never had drunk, but I suspect a few signings I've had involved people on other substances. Glad to hear it didn't sour you to Comic Con in general.
I get the feeling that those people who work the autographs are allowed to tell the fans the rules, but the stars can do whatever they want. I can't remember if it was my first SDCC. If not, it was one of my first SDCCs when I got in line for an autograph from Mark Hamill. They said no posing for photos; we could only take them as he's signing. Well, he saw my husband taking pictures and then asked us if we want to pose. Heck, we weren't turning that down and no line guards were going to stop the star who offered! Not sure if everyone asked to pose after that.Anyway, seeing the prices he charges for photos nowadays, I'd say we got a deal.