The Other 10 Essentials of Comic-Con
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 Posted in Comic Con 2009, Travel | No Comments »You know what to pack on vacation. You know to bring your camera, spare batteries, and a bottle of water. But here are ten things you might not think of that will come in handy at a comic-con.
- Medical tape – preventing blisters from costume shoes. (Also, repairs in a pinch)
- Extra lanyard for your camera
- Umbrella for outdoor lines
- Costume-appropriate bag
- Insoles – you’ll be walking a LOT
- Burt’s Bees Res-Q Ointment for sunburn in case your sunscreen wears off or otherwise fails
- Safety pins
- Reliable writing surface (in case you have paper but not a notebook)
- Napkins or paper towels (especially if you’re bringing your own food)
- Extra shirt to go over tank tops to prevent sunburn or backpack friction
Read more Tips for Comic-Con.
Tips for San Diego Comic Con
Saturday, July 14th, 2007 Posted in Comic Con 2007, Comics | No Comments »Update July 2009: I’ve got a new list of Comic-Con Tips over at Speed Force, and I’m posting new ones each day to @SpeedForceOrg on Twitter.
So, you’re thinking about going to Comic Con International this year, or you’ve already got your tickets, but you’re a bit apprehensive about some of the stories you’ve heard, and you’re not sure where to start with a convention this size.
If so, this post’s for you.
We’ve previously posted 11 Suggestions for Comic-Con. Some highlights: Go more than one day if you can, and do the main floor on some day other than Saturday. Don’t forget your camera, with lots of film/memory and a spare battery. Get a trolley pass so you won’t have to drive around downtown. Plan ahead for dinner: make reservations early.
Comic Coverage is about halfway through A Newbie’s Guide to Surviving San Diego, which is shaping up well.
Also, if you’re there for 3 or 4 days, get out a bit. You’re in a major city. Take an afternoon (or even a whole day—Saturday is usually packed) off to explore Old Town San Diego or the Gaslamp District. Tour the historical ships at the Maritime Muesum. Go to the beach. Visit Sea World or the zoo. See a play, like Avenue Q or the Too Much Coffee Man opera. If you’re wearing a costume, wear it to dinner at a nice restaurant. 
One more thing: if you haven’t already ordered your tickets for the 2007 con, buy them now. For the first time in the con’s history, they’ve sold out of 4-day memberships. So head over there to the con website and sign up! Update (July 23): The Beat is reporting that Saturday has sold out as well. Thursday, Friday and Sunday are still available, but who knows for how long?
