SAN DIEGO COMIC CO–what just happened?!
Ever been within inches of a passing semi truck on a busy freeway, whipping past at 70 mph? Even in your car, you get thrown around like a leaf? Yeah, that was SDCC for the remainder of the weekend.
While I’d love to share pics, I’m still on borrowed time — my flight back home departs TODAY, thus I can write to you all, but I have roughly 500 pictures to sort, weed out and organize into a functional blog. In the meantime, let me tell you all — California rolled out the red carpet, and I had THE BEST — excuse me, *ahem* THE BEST time at a convention since the Blizzard of 2003 during Katsucon. That’s no small feat.
This was geek Mecca. Direct your prayers of Dr. Horrible and new episodes of Eureka just south of the setting sun, folks. While no show is perfect, and Murphy’s Laws prevail, I will say that the positives of the experience far, FAR outweigh the negatives. In other words, don’t feel bad. Everyone else is broke too.
So, in the meantime (while I’m 30,000 in the air for several hours) here’s my take on: FIVE THINGS I LEARNED FROM SDCC.
(1): No one in their right mind should ever move an event or convention from San Diego. It’s PRIME real estate. I’m not the man behind the wheel, so there’s no telling what the future holds — but I will say that San Diego embraced the convention with open arms, and there was PLENTY to do and see beyond the convention walls. Go to lunch at the Tin Fish restaurant. Get around on the trolleys. Check out the best damned reuben ever at The Field. Speaking of fields, the Padres play at Petco Park right up the street (say what you like about the Padres.) Even the train station is a photo op waiting to happen!
(2): Your Mileage May Vary. And oh, did I rack up a few. Now, you can actually stop and get a breather throughout a good portion of the con, you just have to be… creative about it. And not have any hangups about sitting on cold floors, corners of huge displays or just around the corner of an artist table.
(3): You have to be extra special, determined or crazy (or maybe a heady combination of the three) to actually get the Rare Collectable Merchandise Given Out Only At The Con Wherein You Must Stand In Line For Several Hours For The CHANCE To Get It.
(4): Besides, there are scores of people hired just to hand out free flyers. Save the earth, collect them all! I bet you could fill a phone book with all the mini posters, cards, flyers, and extra bits.
(5): Some personal tips to share with you all:
-Bring a camera, and break a bank book on batteries.
-When you’re done packing, open your bags again, take out half the stuff you packed. You’re not going to need it.
-Say “yes” to whatever absurd means it takes to get there, short of risk to person or possessions. This place is worth it.
-Water.
-Plan ahead. There is for even the regular attendees, four whole days worth of events to attend and people to see, things to buy (or have a conniption over whether TO buy) and while you CAN do it all in a day, if you’re around for the whole thing, space it out. Get some rest. Eat hearty. Because TONIGHT WE DINE IN — *ahem*
I’ll be back with photos, folks! Sorry for the delay, but right now it’s time for me to say goodbye to perpetually sunny San Diego!
(Oh yeah, and there was an earthquake yesterday. Most bizarre damned thing I’ve ever experienced.)
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