questions about comic conventions (I'm new to it)

[nateslate8]

I'll be attending the Wizard Comic-con in Chicago in August. I've never been to one before, so I have some questions I was hoping someone who has been could answer:

1. What should I bring into the convention? Or better question might be what CAN I bring to the convention? (can I bring own food/drinks, comics for artists to sign, etc)

2. How long should I expect to stay there? Is there enough to keep me entertained for hours?

3. How much spending money should I bring?

4. Are there usually big discounts at cons or do they jack up the prices?

5. When will I usually know who the guests are? I don't want to buy tickets until I know who will be there on what days.

Any input will be greatly appreciated.

[i_mmmchocolate]

1. What should I bring into the convention? Or better question might be what CAN I bring to the convention? (can I bring own food/drinks, comics for artists to sign, etc)
Yes. Put it all in a backpack.

2. How long should I expect to stay there? Is there enough to keep me entertained for hours?
2-4 hours.

3. How much spending money should I bring?
As much as your heart desires. But it depends on what items you're interested in.

4. Are there usually big discounts at cons or do they jack up the prices?
Plenty of discounts.

5. When will I usually know who the guests are? I don't want to buy tickets until I know who will be there on what days.
Check the website.

[nateslate8]

how long are the lines for your Jim Lee's and Mark Millars for autographs? I once stood in line for about four hours for a Gary Carter (NY Mets) autograph.

And about website updates. When do they usually put up schedules? A month before? A week?

OH, and here's a big question: Cameras/camcorders, do they allow them?

[Jeff Brady]

You can expect the lines for such high profile creators to be extremely long. Please only bring one or two comics for them to sign. Do not bring three long boxes of comics for one person to sign, or else the three hundred rabid fans behind you will bite you.

Websites are updated whenever new information is known. Check often.

Cameras are generally welcome. Try to ask a creator for permission before taking their picture.

[west3man]

This thread should help, also: Comic Convention TIPS (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=44605&highlight=tips)

As the thread progressed, more and more helpful tips were added.I'll be attending the Wizard Comic-con in Chicago in August. I've never been to one before, so I have some questions I was hoping someone who has been could answer:

1. What should I bring into the convention? Or better question might be what CAN I bring to the convention? (can I bring own food/drinks, comics for artists to sign, etc)

2. How long should I expect to stay there? Is there enough to keep me entertained for hours?

3. How much spending money should I bring?

4. Are there usually big discounts at cons or do they jack up the prices?

5. When will I usually know who the guests are? I don't want to buy tickets until I know who will be there on what days.

Any input will be greatly appreciated.

[shaxper]

The most important unwritten rule about prices at a comicon is that most of the venders are expecting to haggle. If you're willing to drop $50 or more at a table and aren't buying the hottest/ most in demand back issue of the month, most dealers will cut you a break if you ask.

[gary bolt]

My wife and I went to SDCC last summer and enjoyed it a lot. We estimate that there were around a billion people there. It was sometimes pretty tight to manuever in the isles. I would suggest a good courier type bag that you can wear over one shoulder. You can access it's contents without taking it off and you don't become 3 feet thick when you turn sideways to look at displays.

[Puma]

I would suggest a good courier type bag that you can wear over one shoulder. You can access it's contents without taking it off and you don't become 3 feet thick when you turn sideways to look at displays.

excellent suggestion. last year at WOnderCon I was continually pummelled by backpacks as people turned. It wasn't so bad at SDCC, because the aisles were wider but it still happened on occasion.

[Sir Tim Drake]

1. What should I bring into the convention? Or better question might be what CAN I bring to the convention? (can I bring own food/drinks, comics for artists to sign, etc)

You can certainly bring comics for artists to sign, and food and drink is probably okay as well. Sometimes I buy a bottle of water beforehand, and fill it from the water fountains when I get thirsty.

I don't remember what the food is like at Wizard World Chicago, but if it's anything like the food at SDCC, then it's probably very bad and overpriced. It's a good idea to leave the convention center at lunchtime and get food from a nearby restaurant or grocery store.

2. How long should I expect to stay there? Is there enough to keep me entertained for hours?

At SDCC, I can stay at the exhibit hall from the moment it opens to the moment it closes, for all four days, without exhausting all there is to do. Again, I don't know if Wizard World Chicago is quite as interesting, but there probably will be enough there to keep you busy for many hours.

3. How much spending money should I bring?

A few hundred dollars maybe. It's probably best to set a budget and stick to it, but I never do that. :) If you need to use an ATM, by the way, it might be best to use the one at your hotel/place of lodging before going to the convention center. The ATMs at the convention center often have long lines.

4. Are there usually big discounts at cons or do they jack up the prices?

I suppose it depends what you're looking for. If you're buying older back issues, you can often find some incredible deals; check the 50%-off boxes and the 50-cent or dollar boxes. I don't know what the situation is with recent back issues.

5. When will I usually know who the guests are? I don't want to buy tickets until I know who will be there on what days.

A guest list is usually posted on the website.

I hope this helped!

[Jeff Brady]

There are two rules that haven't been mentioned, mostly because 1/3 of con-goers don't follow them.

1) Bathe right before you go to the con, and apply lots of deoderant.

2) Watch your diet for two weeks before the con. Pay attention to what causes toxic waste, and AVOID those foods at all costs. You do NOT want to go into the men's room at a con.

[nateslate8]

There are two rules that haven't been mentioned, mostly because 1/3 of con-goers don't follow them.

1) Bathe right before you go to the con, and apply lots of deoderant.

2) Watch your diet for two weeks before the con. Pay attention to what causes toxic waste, and AVOID those foods at all costs. You do NOT want to go into the men's room at a con.


Now that's funny.

By the way, thanks for all the helpful tips. My wife and I are planning our first vacation as a married couple and we're first hitting up Toronto and then Niagra Falls before heading to comicon in Chicago. It should be fun- well for me at least. The wife doesn't dig comics that much. She did read Kingdom Come and Ultimates vol. 1 so I can't complain.

That leads me to another question: for those who aren't interested in comics, what is there that might entertain them for awhile? Books? Music? Movies? and booths related to those?

[Jeff Brady]

Now that's funny.

Laugh it up; I'm not joking.

That leads me to another question: for those who aren't interested in comics, what is there that might entertain them for awhile? Books? Music? Movies? and booths related to those?

Nope, your wife will be surrounded by geekery of the highest order, and bored out of her mind. And she will be gawked at by people who only see women on the computer screen, or their mom.

[bert]

Now that's funny.

By the way, thanks for all the helpful tips. My wife and I are planning our first vacation as a married couple and we're first hitting up Toronto and then Niagra Falls before heading to comicon in Chicago. It should be fun- well for me at least. The wife doesn't dig comics that much. She did read Kingdom Come and Ultimates vol. 1 so I can't complain.

That leads me to another question: for those who aren't interested in comics, what is there that might entertain them for awhile? Books? Music? Movies? and booths related to those?


The Wizard cons, to me, are really *underwhelming*. . only because they never have programming that interests me (WW Texas, in the couple of times I've been, has interested me in exactly ONE panel. . . .SDCC or Dragon*con on the other hand have me going to multiple Panels thruout the day). (a bigger con will also feature evening programming - such as dances or parties, as well as video and Anime rooms).

the Wizard cons DO tend to have a very good variety in the Dealer's Room tho. . so there is a lot to browse and look at besides comics.

and even if she's not interested in Comics, there are always tons of cool things to watch in Artists Alley (and you can even buy a sketch from some of them. . I have several characters from Batman: the Animated Series, that I've had done for me in this way)

[nateslate8]

Thanks, bert. She'll dig the dancing n stuff. Does that stuff cost extra?

I only plan on spending about $100 on comics (and if you think I'll go over budget, you don't know my wife). So how much would I have to bring for the other "fun" booths?

[Joe no Sleep]

Only approach a guest for their autograph at a table, not when they're walking around the show floor.

Brush your teeth, or don't , since so many attending won't. Fight fire with fire.

Look around. Do not spend everything at one or two tables.

[bert]

Thanks, bert. She'll dig the dancing n stuff. Does that stuff cost extra?

I only plan on spending about $100 on comics (and if you think I'll go over budget, you don't know my wife). So how much would I have to bring for the other "fun" booths?


Well. . . again, I don't consider the Wizard cons to be "bigger" cons. . so I really doubt they will have dances or even night time programming.

You never know tho. . check the web-site for con programming, and be sure to check the program guide you get when you enter the con -- schedule changes CAN and DO happen

all that said, at most conventions, most all of the "main" programming is free -- in other words, if you've paid your admission, and you have your badge, that will get you admission to the Dealer's Room, Artist's Alley, and Retailer rooms (at Wizard World Texas, these are always together in the same room, but at bigger cons they can be separate), the Art Show (if there is one), panels, and usually some of the free autographs. If a signing is posted for a certain time in the program, odds are it's a free signing. If it's at a booth during the show -- don't be surprised if many of the guests charge for autographs (it's how they make thier money). If there are dances or video rooms, or parties, those tend to be free as well.

If there is an awards banquet, or presentation dinner. . that kind of thing usually costs extra, and will require a ticket. If something like that is going on, I'm sure it will be mentioned on the website.

At Uncommon*con many years ago, Slick and I went to an awards banquet (at least, I think he was with me that night), and although I can't remember which guest we sat with . . . I'm pretty sure our table had a couple of Babylon 5 guests.

so if there is an awards or banquet.. it might be fun to go to, and be worth the extra money.

As to how much money to bring?

I can't answer that.

other than to say, bring however much you are willing to spend.

Personally, I bring a few hundred to Dragon*con every year. . but that's because I'm comfortable spending that much money.

[nateslate8]

Is there a website I can go to with a list of all the comicbook conventions in the country?

[Lubichev]

Wear comfortable shoes. And try to get your autograph early in the hunt. You don't want to be holding the 400th comic that Jim Lee has to sign. At that point, all signatures look like a squiggly line.

[Michael P]

OH, and here's a big question: Cameras/camcorders, do they allow them?
They're allowed, but you may be asked not to use them at certain panels or booths. When this happens, comply.

[Ray R.]

Is there a website I can go to with a list of all the comicbook conventions in the country?

http://www.comicbookconventions.com/conventions.htm

Enjoy.