Comic book convention TIPS

[west3man]

I didn't want to hi-jack the convention thread, but I hoped this might be a good place for folks to give or get tips on what I like to call The Art of the Con-vention.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To begin: I've heard that the best deals are available on the last day of a convention (typically Sunday, if I'm not mistaken). Of course, if one waits until Sunday, I'd think there'd be slim pickin's.

The only way I could see that working out really well (as opposed to just HOPING that one of the few items left are ones that you'd actually *want*)... is if vendors don't bring out all of their goodies at the same time. Is this true?

What's the best way to pace oneself at a 'con?

[i_mmmchocolate]

1. Pace yourself, especially if you're planning on staying a long time at the con.

2. Wear comfortable sneakers/footwear.

3. Bring a snack and drink in your backpack.

4. Don't step on anyone's feet.

5. Talk with the people behind the booths that interest you, they're chock full of info.

6. Don't step on anyone's feet.

[Nate C.]

1. Wear deoderant. And no this isn't advice for your buddy. It's for you.

2. Bathe. See #1.

3. Be courteous. It's a packed place, and the fans and pros deserve a good time, just like you; if you sense you are boring a pro or a dealer, you are. And have been for a while; they only just now started showing it.

4. Haggle, haggle, haggle.

5. If you can't agree on a price with a dealer, don't burn a bridge, either he'll come down, or you'll want to deal with him in the future, and you never know when he's gonna have the ONE book you want.

6. Patience, my young one. There will ALWAYS be another. Get the price you want, or as close to it as you can stand, and you'll be able to enjoy it a lot more.

7. Have fun. This is your hobby, not your job.

[Greg Hatcher]

To begin: I've heard that the best deals are available on the last day of a convention (typically Sunday, if I'm not mistaken). Of course, if one waits until Sunday, I'd think there'd be slim pickin's.

Not as much as you might think. Bear in mind there are a LOT of dealers and they are carrying wildly-diverse goods. And most fans have very weird specialties. For example, I like old Steve Englehart GL books. Not too much overlap with other fans there; if there's an Englehart-Staton GL book I'm lusting after, it's probably going to still be there a day later. Likewise, Julie likes Oz things and Peanuts things -- she almost always has that field to herself. (Only at a comics convention is Peanuts not popular, but it's the truth; she has walked out of conventions with incredible rarities bought for a song, because fans aren't interested. Did you know that Dell actually published a newsstand Peanuts comic for a while? And so on.)

Likewise, a dealer discounted a rare old Oz book for me by almost $100 once because he saw we really wanted it, we'd bought a lot of things from him at other shows, and the Oz stuff wasn't moving otherwise. So he got $175 and we got a deal; Julie priced it online the next day and it generally goes for around $250-300.

Anyway. All this is a long-winded way of saying yeah, you might miss something, but it's not all that likely, and if you want a bargain, later is better. On the other hand, some dealers don't like dickering and are annoyed when you push it. So, if something's not being discounted even at quarter to five on Sunday, don't argue with the guy about it. Most dealers that are discounting put up big signs or tell you right away -- they WANT you to know.

[west3man]

1. Pace yourself, especially if you're planning on staying a long time at the con.

*in overly-dramatic voice* But howwwww?

No, really. How? In my case, I'll be there for all three days from start-to-finish (but we'll see how that last part goes).

2. Wear comfortable sneakers/footwear.

I've been thinking about that one. I wanna look decent, but I wanna be comfy, too.

I prefer comfort over style when we're talking about the long-term, so I guess that choice is made. *wipes off basketball shoes*

3. Bring a snack and drink in your backpack.

I MUST remember to do this one. I brought a lil sumpin' sumpin' last year and was very glad for it considering 1) the length of the food lines and 2) the (lack of) quality of the food.

4. Don't step on anyone's feet.

5. Talk with the people behind the booths that interest you, they're chock full of info.

6. Don't step on anyone's feet.

Good luck with that one. :)

Good advice, though.

If I can pull it off, I plan to bring a beach chair, this year. It's light and it folds and slides into a bag, complete with strap. Seating is scarce at these things, the dogs'll be barkin' early. Comfy shoes + portable seat = :D

[west3man]

Most dealers that are discounting put up big signs or tell you right away -- they WANT you to know.

Y'know what I've not seen much of at these things...? The oft-mentioned "quarter bins."

Where are they HIDING these things??

[Ed Cunard]

It depends entirely on what you're going for, you know? I can't offer any back issue advice, or anything like that, because I don't go looking for that.

My only suggestion (of course) is to check the artist alley tables when you get bored, because I've got a very one-track mind.

[Greg Hatcher]

Forgot one. Have a budget and stick to it. Because whatever money you bring, you will spend... so if you want to hang on to a few bucks, don't bring them. Lines at convention ATMS are notoriously long and those ATMS are invariably the off-brand kind with big fees. So just figure out the cash you are spending before hand, bring that amount, and then when it's gone, don't have regrets.

[Puma]

if something catches your eye but you're not sure you want to buy it, hold on to it while you continue to search the dealer's stuff.

I didn't do this last weekend and the young lady next to me snagged a Gaimen GN the moment I put it down and it was the only copy *frowny*

[Dom]

I always use 6-3-1 as my rule.

6 hours of sleep

3 solid meals a day

1 bath or shower every morning.

[DrewTheXenocide]

Y'know what I've not seen much of at these things...? The oft-mentioned "quarter bins."

Where are they HIDING these things??

Under the tables ;)

. I'm guessing they want us to earn the quarter bins by endlessly bending over, looking for something you want.

[Greg Hatcher]

Julie, over my shoulder, adds these two:

1. Don't drive, if public transit is available. Because parking is a nightmare and you have to contend with all the OTHER people jockeying for space.

2. Walk the ENTIRE hall before deciding what to buy. Scout first, in other words.

[Puma]

Under the tables ;)

. I'm guessing they want us to earn the quarter bins by endlessly bending over, looking for something you want.

but they do this with Trades too, getting endlessly run into as I'm hunched over leads to one rule not yet mentioned:

watch where you are walking. there are occasional small children and people squatting down to browse bins that can easily be run over.

[Puma]

Julie, over my shoulder, adds these two:

1. Don't drive, if public transit is available. Because parking is a nightmare and you have to contend with all the OTHER people jockeying for space.

2. Walk the ENTIRE hall before deciding what to buy. Scout first, in other words.

great advice! at SDCC and WonderCon I took the rail transit and it made for a much more relaxing entrance and departure (plus you can read all your goodies on the way home!)- my sword to cause a few stares on the train back to Oceanside though

[west3man]

Julie, over my shoulder, adds these two:

1. Don't drive, if public transit is available. Because parking is a nightmare and you have to contend with all the OTHER people jockeying for space.

My love for this place grows.

Thank you AND JULIE for that one. I've been going back-and-forth between ideas - parking at the hotel then using public transportation (~$1.75, one-way, I hear) to get to and from the 'con VERSUS driving the 2 miles to the 'con and paying for parking, so that my vehicle will be closer and I won't be at the mercy of public transportation.

Last time I walked too long and too far trying to get from the parking garage to the convention... and the sun wasn't playin' around that day. Nothing like starting off sweaty at a 'con. Yuck.

I thought I had this decision made, but I waver once in a while. Anyway, good advice. Thanks.

2. Walk the ENTIRE hall before deciding what to buy. Scout first, in other words.

Oh-so-smart. Nothing like finding SPANDEX GALORE for half price 10ft from where you bought it for cover.