The simple answer is yes. But let me explain that with a really long post.

Today’s the day, Day 1 of San Diego Comic-Con. Next week I’ll be talking about all the news that came out of this jam packed event. Today, however, I wanted discuss the importance of this event, why I love it and, hopefully, give you some food for thought about why you should give it another chance if you have dismissed it as a sweaty mass of overhyped nonsense. I’m going to do that from my post all the way across the country, NOT unfortunately from the Floor of the Convention Center. Where, to be honest, I probably wouldn’t be able to find a spot to sit down and type this all up and I would be utterly distracted by all the shiny things. It’s going to be kind of a Q&A format because I think that may be funny. We will see…

Disclaimer: Living most of my life all they way across the country, I’ve only been to one SDCC and I did not have the best time. That said, this post is going to go into why I didn’t have fun and why I would now. So keep reading to learn more of the Tale of Daphne.

I’m sure if you found this post, you’ll know most of the stuff at the beginning, but I like to start with the basics. And here we go:

What is a Con?

A Con is any kind of convention that gets likeminded people together to celebrate the thing they like so much. This conventions happen all over the world, all year long, about all kinds of topics. You have your normal professional conventions where all the lawyers and doctors and accountants meet up and talk shop (and usually have a fun time too…). You also have events that are more ostensibly about entertainment. Chief among those are the geeky themed conventions and the king of those is San Diego Comic-Con.

What is San Diego Comic-Con #SDCC?

It’s this giant geek, pop culture, comic, movie, tv, internet spectacular that’s been happening in San Diego since the 70s. It was tiny thing just starting out, focusing just on comics. As the 70s progressed it began to expand with costumes/cosplay and later movies (a little movie called Star Wars was there…) The 1990s were marked by the move to its current home (the ginormous San Diego Convention Center) and its continued growth.

I went to SDCC in 2008 and because I wanted to extra careful, I bought my pass on April 14, 2008 (I know that because I still have the email, is that weird?). There were three months to go until the actual event, but it didn’t sell out for quite awhile. Last year or the year before I toyed with going and checked pass availability in April or May and it was SOLD OUT. In fact the last few years I believe it has sold out within a day. You have to register to register. WHAT???? But more than 130,000 will be attending, so I guess we need some sort of system.

But why are so many people going?

Folks get “exclusive” access to new movies, tv shows and other geeky things. Companies like Marvel, DC, WB, Sony, Universal, etc. screen pilots and clips and trailers way before the rest of the world gets to see it. There’s all kinds of booths (that’s the best word I can think of, but they are so much more than that) with exclusive merchandise and freebies galore. You also have a chance to listen to your favorite actors, writers, and creators speak on panels and sometimes even catch a glimpse of them running around the convention itself. And finally the costumes. If you want to see a steampunk my little pony, this, my friend is the place to go.

You’ve convinced me, I want to go!

That’s not a question.

Fine then. What are the reasons not to go? Why I am seeing all these articles about people giving up on SDCC? Why didn’t you have a good time when you went?

That’s better! Lots of questions!

Let me start with the first question. There are reasons not to go to SDCC. 1) It is expensive. The Badges are expensive, the hotels are expensive, the parking is expensive (though they do have public transportation that was pretty convenient when I used it), the food is expensive, the merchandise is expensive and meeting your favorite actors and creators can be expensive. 2) It is a hassle. You have to wait in a virtual line to get a pass. You have to wait in a lot of actual lines to get into a lot of the most popular things. You have to wade through a sea of sometimes smelly humanity to do just about anything. 3) It is the perfect example of commercialization. Hollywood descends on force with all the marketing glitz and glamour they can. If you don’t have to funds and/or can’t deal with crowds and/or hate the game that Hollywood plays. Maybe this isn’t for you.

As for your second question, some of the complaints are legitimate. I outlined that above. But I also see a ton of stuff about SDCC not living up to the greatness of the past. It used to be about the comics and nostalgia and all that jazz. Sorry folks, times change. It’s true Comic-Con has expanded to exclude stuff it didn’t before. We can’t recapture the ambiance it had in the past, in the same way that we can’t watch Star Wars for the first time again. You have changed SDCC has changed. That said, that doesn’t mean there aren’t places that don’t cater to your desire for a simpler time. Check out smaller, local cons. I promise you will find a place that is right for you, if you put in a little effort.

Another gripe is that people wish it was still just for the true fans and as one article I read said “the people who have a hard time making eye contact.” (I won’t name names.) This is something I take real issue with. Exclusion because someone doesn’t meet your standard of cool isn’t right; the same is true for geeks. So don’t try to exclude people from Comic-Con just because they aren’t “on your level.” My passion about this stems from my own insecurity. I spent years thinking I didn’t belong because I wasn’t a big enough fan or whatever. I’m trying to overcome it on my own end and for the most part do what I want because I am a 30 year old woman who likes what she likes. So don’t believe the hype about people not accepting you at SDCC because you aren’t geeky enough. There maybe people there who want to do that, but remember that it comes from their own insecurity about being different and now their geek cred let’s them be the excluder. I also know, though I’m not there, there are plenty of people who champion the cause of acceptance in the geek world. You do you, boo. And party they way you want.

Despite my current hype-(wo)man role for Comic-Con in this post, I know that it’s not for everyone. And I know I didn’t have the best time there in 2008. There were three things that made it a lackluster trip for me. 1) I didn’t go with friends. I was on a family vacation and my brother and father basically ran away and left me to wander the convention alone. That doesn’t mean you can’t have fun when you go alone. My dad had the BEST time and has wanted to go back ever since. I, however, like to have friends with me when I’m out doing stuff, especially when there are so many other people around me. 2) It was pre-”Daphne is an extroverted introvert” phase. So I didn’t bring friends and also didn’t know how to go up to people and just talk to them. Everyone seemed have people, but me. 3) I didn’t plan ahead. I knew a couple things I wanted to see, but had decided mainly to wing it. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. It was so overwhelming that I just shut down and kind of wandered. I found some cool stuff, went to a great Doctor Who panel. SDCC could have been so much more fun if I had a better plan of attack.

Wow! You have a lot to say. Despite all your crazed blathering, I think it sounds like SDCC is overall a positive thing. Would you agree?

Yes, I would! I never said, I didn’t like it when I attended. I just know it could have been better. Despite all the negatives, I look back at my time with fondness. I got to go to the panels I wanted to. I experienced the madness that is Hall H. Felicia Day ran past me with a giant box, probably with some Guild related things. And the was pre-geek fame Felicia Day, SO I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO RECOGNIZED HER! I saw lots of cool costumes. I got some swag. I got to do something on my Bucket List that I had spent years wanting to do.

For me the positives outweighed the negative, then and now and I can’t wait to have the opportunity to go back. That balance might not be the same for you and that is ok. I just hope that you don’t let the naysayers tell you that Comic-Con isn’t worth the hype. That many geek and geek-adjacent folks in one place with that much stuff happening around them, just think about that. So cool.

If we could just get them to think about the sustainability of such an event…but I won’t start on that here. It’s too complicated to get into, but I can feel a post coming on! Keep an eye out on this blog.

Final question, have any tips for me?

Of course!

Bring food and water. You’ll be in lines getting hangry and that is no fun. Or you’ll be forced to buy expensive and icky (if I remember correctly) convention snacks. Or you’ll pass out with dehydration. (Does that really happen?) It is ok to splurge on a post-con dinner or whatever. I remember there being some tasty places further into the Gaslamp Quarter, just across the street from the Convention Center.
Plan ahead and make yourself a schedule. It doesn’t have to be a precise schedule and book yourself solid. That is not fun. But knowing generally “I want to attend these panels and I know that I’ll have to wait for this panel.” You get the idea. Make sure you factor in time to just walk around and experience all the booths and the costumes.
Go with friends. I wish I had friends with me, but maybe you hate doing things with people. Or have a particular plan that you don’t want to compromise for other folks. All understandable. I just think most people will have fun with friends.
Bring your phone. Your charged phone. But don’t expect it to work terribly well. That’s why I recommend you download anything you need handy, maps, schedules, etc. beforehand.
Know the terminology. The Floor is the main convention floor. Hall H is the giant 6,500 person theatre where all the big things happen. Toucan Tracker is the wristband thing that gets you into Hall H. Artist’s Alley is where all the artists hang out and show how awesome they are.
It’s more than Hall H. The Floor is cool. Lots of big exhibitors with lots of stuff on show. The smaller panels can be great too. Smaller and more intimate with more specialized topics. So didn’t limit yourself to Hall H.
Stay to the end and buy your bulky stuff at the end of the day. If you’re there on Sunday stick around to the very end. You can get some deals because the dealers don’t want to bring everything back with them. The same goes for you. You don’t want to lug merchandise through the crowds. If you can, just wait until later in the day to buy those big items.
Be a normal courteous human. Don’t push or shove or knock people over. It will not be the end of the world if you don’t sit in the front of a panel. Courtesy extended to the atmosphere, so don’t smell it up or fill it with smoke. Always ask if you want to take a picture of someone or their awesome costume. And show your appreciation to everyone. From the cosplayers to the special guests to the convention staff to the person who held the door for you. Everyone likes appreciation, so don’t be stingy.