Comic-Con International > CCI General Discussion
Tips/Advice for First Timers and Veterans
chocolateshake:
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Register or LoginI feel like we've experienced just about everything there is to offer over the years. What are we missing?
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Have you ever volunteered? It's a different comic-con experience. I realize it's not for everyone. I like it. Other people really like it and it's all they do for hours on end, day after day. They might make it down to the exhibit floor for a couple of hours over the course of the entire 5 days.
Do you do the offsites? Pretty much every year, my favorite thing is an offsite. This last year, the Severance offsite was spectacular. During previous years it was BladeRunner, Mr. Robot and the best offsite ever Conival.
marcia29:
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Register or LoginThis upcoming SDCC will be 20 years of attending for my wife and I. At SDCC 2022 however, my wife confessed that she wasn't enjoying it anymore. I kind of agree. We used to have tons of fun but now it seems we attend out of habit. We are getting older so less stuff on the exhibit floor appeals to us. We stopped going to panels because waiting in long lines (sometimes in the sun) feels like a waste of time. We do cosplay, but we end up just aimlessly walking around in costume occasionally taking pictures and seeing the same stuff over and over again. Fewer of our friends are attending than ever before. We used to meet up with lots of friends and hang out. Now it feels like we barely see anyone.
I feel like we've experienced just about everything there is to offer over the years. What are we missing?
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Register or Login - Ideas
1. Split up for part of the time--if you don't already. Go on a quest to find something the other one may like but missed.
2. Go to a few smaller panels. Drop into a random panel to two.
3. Yes, to the volunteer idea. Helping to bring the show can be fun...and you see things from a different perspective.
4. Make a riboon or button or small craft as a giveaway to hand out. It could be a pic of you both in costume, or a fave quote, or a thank you...anything.
5. Wear a button/sign that says you are SDDC veterans..Ask me anything :D
Refresh, refresh, refresh...hope you have a super time!
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highgiant:
You are not allowed to view links.
Register or LoginThis upcoming SDCC will be 20 years of attending for my wife and I. At SDCC 2022 however, my wife confessed that she wasn't enjoying it anymore. I kind of agree. We used to have tons of fun but now it seems we attend out of habit. We are getting older so less stuff on the exhibit floor appeals to us. We stopped going to panels because waiting in long lines (sometimes in the sun) feels like a waste of time. We do cosplay, but we end up just aimlessly walking around in costume occasionally taking pictures and seeing the same stuff over and over again. Fewer of our friends are attending than ever before. We used to meet up with lots of friends and hang out. Now it feels like we barely see anyone.
I feel like we've experienced just about everything there is to offer over the years. What are we missing?
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It might be worth taking a break tbh or just trying out something a little different like New York Comic Con.
perc2100:
You are not allowed to view links.
Register or LoginThis upcoming SDCC will be 20 years of attending for my wife and I. At SDCC 2022 however, my wife confessed that she wasn't enjoying it anymore. I kind of agree. We used to have tons of fun but now it seems we attend out of habit. We are getting older so less stuff on the exhibit floor appeals to us. We stopped going to panels because waiting in long lines (sometimes in the sun) feels like a waste of time. We do cosplay, but we end up just aimlessly walking around in costume occasionally taking pictures and seeing the same stuff over and over again. Fewer of our friends are attending than ever before. We used to meet up with lots of friends and hang out. Now it feels like we barely see anyone.
I feel like we've experienced just about everything there is to offer over the years. What are we missing?
--- End quote ---
2023 will be my 22nd SDCC (23rd if we want to count 2021 SDCC SE), and there have been some recent years where I've felt similar: there are definitely some summers where SDCC is off-the-hook good/fun/exciting, and others that feel a little more 'meh.'
One thing that was a game-changer for me was joining a Line-Up group. The one I joined several years ago does line-ups for Hall H, Ballroom 20, General Line and others as needed. I have one, may two shifts of a couple of hours each, and I get to see whatever huge panels I sign-up for (for the line shift). BUT, the really cool things I've found is the communal aspect. I've met so many wonderful ladies and gentlemen (and some younger kids) with similar interests who are fun to hang-out with. This has 'spilled over' into the rest of the year via a Discord chat, and the last several SDCCs there have been members who do other fun things together such as a weekend trip to Disney before the Con (this year a group is going to Universal Studios the weekend before - they rent a B&B house they all pitch in for, as well as a van or two as needed, and plan all sorts of fun events before the Con week). I've gone to panels with some of those folks I might not have normally gone too, and there are always either people to meet or old friend to reacquaint with. And there is a wide variety of interests within the group; in our line-up group, the passions run deep, though a LOT of people still want to be in Hall H for the BIG panels of the week on Friday and/or Saturday.
Of course, there are other benefits, like help with exclusives and autographs, offsites, etc.
Also, as others have mentioned, there are always a plethora of fun smaller panels (or at least non-big panels that are still crowded/popular). The Starship Smackdown (is that what it's called?) is always a fun one, and it feels like most years there are always smaller panels that don't get a lot of press but are always fun. As my second kid has gotten old enough to experience SDCC, it's been fun seeing things 'fresh' through his eyes. I hang out a lot in Artist Alley & the Small Press, and other areas on the Exhibit Hall not in the center crazy section. I don't care as much about autographs or exclusives anymore, so I'm rarely on a massive hunt for things (I say that now, but it _might_ be different when the exclusives portal opens up :-X ). But I guess for me the game changer was joining the group and meeting new people, and meeting new people annually (as the group changes a little annually with new folks added).
There have been years where I've legit thought "maybe this is my last SDCC..." and while having kids 'complicates' that sort of thought (they look forward as much/more as I do, and the 8 year old can't go on their own the way the 21 year old could), I always come back around to "_this_ year will likely be better" in those circumstances.
Regardless of your decisions in the future, I hope you enjoy yourself at SDCC, or feel good about a decision to stop going. WonderCon is a lower-key/cheaper event in the spring that I attend and also really enjoy so maybe as others have suggested changing things up might help the mindset.
MaestraMissJ:
Hello everyone. I have followed this forum for many years. I have been to SDCC in 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2014. I went in 2022 as a professional guest. This year will be the first time I attend as a professional. I had a lot of fun last year. I picked up a lot of goodies and attended some cool panels. I cosplayed as classic Harley Quinn and got stopped many times. LOL! At the same time, I won't lie, last year's SDCC felt off and I think it came down to DC not being there. (Now we all know why). I know Warner Bros was there because the Rock/Black Adam but there was a noticeable absence of WB content. I am very excited to attend as a pro. I would like to connect with other professionals, especially teachers. Since I have been to a few cons, does this make me a veteran too? ;D
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