SALT LAKE CITY – This year’s Salt Lake Comic Con runs Sept. 24-26, and soon nerd mecca will decend upon the Salt Palace in the form of celebrities, vendors, artists, and cosplayers. Even though this is a popular event for many Utahns, there are still people who haven’t partaken of this journey. Based on experience and frequently asked questions, use these tips to guide you on your own adventure.
1. There are two phases to get into the convention
Bilbo could set out on his adventure immediately; yours requires a few more steps. Because of the amount of people interested in attending and the fact they sell different levels of tickets, there are two steps to actually getting inside the convention center. You must have your wristband and lanyard to get inside the event. One line is to register for these items, but then you need to stand in line again with the people who already received their items to get inside. Note: for future conventions you can skip the registration line by preregistering when the times are available.
2. Arrive early
Seriously, I can’t stress this enough. One does not simply walk into Comic Con. If you have photo ops or panels you want to get to, arrive at least two hours in advance—three if you can. Don’t forget to adjust for the time it’ll take to find parking too. It’s better to arrive and walk in sooner than expected than to miss what you bought your tickets for. There’s plenty enough to do at the convention if you arrive earlier than planned.
3. Plan ahead
Don’t just plan to arrive early; plan what you’re going to do while you’re there too. There is physically too much to do at these conventions to participate in everything that is available. Seriously, a time turner could keep your there for two weeks. When registering for the con you will receive a book of everything going on while the convention is taking place. Take time to go through and decide what you actually want to achieve before you reach there, so you don’t feel like you’ve missed out.
4. Budget in advance
A lot of the vendors don’t always have an online presence, and they usually produce products specifically for the conventions. Don’t think you can find the items you love later because there isn’t a room of requirement that will find it for you. Take the time to budget for favorite artists or products you may not find anywhere else.
5. Bring cash
As in more than $50. Yes, a lot of vendors do accept credit cards, but along with cash helping with your budget, it also ensures you don’t miss out on anything else important—such as photo ops.
6. There are activities that cost extra
While the celebrities are a huge draw, getting a photo or autograph with them is an additional expense. These only happen at certain times, however. Be sure to check the schedule, so you don’t miss out on your childhood dream. If you’d like to see a more behind-the-scenes look at the same celebrity, check out their panels—which are free!
7. Don’t be too shy to approach vendors and panelists
If you’re into a creative endeavor, a comic con is a great place to learn from the talent that is in the room. The creators are there to answer questions and build relationships with the fans who come to support them. Think of them as a potential mentor. Don’t know how to start a conversation? Start with “I love your work,” and go from there.
8. Balance the panels with walking around on the convention floor
As mentioned there are plenty of activities to do while at the convention, but plan on spending as much time on your feet as the hobbits do in Lord of the Rings. A good way to pace yourself is to intersperse some panels with walking the vendor area. This way you can learn something new while resting your feet in the process.
Although there is a lot to consider, remember the ultimate reason you’re going is to have fun. With these tips in mind, you’ll just be able to maximize it.
Comments
comments