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Five Inside Tips To Enjoying San Diego

Published Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:00:06 -0500

I'm still on the aeroplane. Or stuck in a waiting area. One of the two. But just because I'm incommunicado, doesn't mean Bleeding Cool has to stop posting. Lots of places will tell you to wear deodorant, eat properly, be social, go to Sea World, bring snacks and a water bottle, that's all fine. Here are a few you don't see as much. Pointers of advice from seasoned convention goers.

1. Flying in to San Diego or LAX? Taking the AMTRAK? Check your flight of carriage for stars and start your Comic Con experience early. It's true, in previous years I have found I'm sharing carousel or carriage space with Anthony Daniels, Jonathan Ross, Daniel Dae Kim, Kenny Baker, Geoff Johns, Antony Johnston and Gillian Anderson. You just never know.

2. If you absolutely positively have to get into the show first when the doors open, to line up for those limited edition toys you love so much, seasoned attendees tend to queue up at the Sails Pavilion. They usually open that area first, by a couple of minutes. Then how fast you get in is down to how fast you can run!

3. You can't do everything. You can't even go to 10% of what you want. Live with it. Catch up online, on YouTube or on Twitter. Stop panicking at all the things you can't do, enjoy the things you can. Odds are I'll be taking a meeting with a French publisher about Neonomicon while Joe Quesada is announcing that all Marvel comics will now be in 3D. It's what happens. And rather ignore panels for Artists Alley. One-to-one contact with creators you will remember for ever, or the announcement of a new Superman Pop Up comic? Choose the personal touch.

4. Find the bar and set up shop. In past years, everyone would gravitate towards the Hyatt, but that's not happening this year. There's a lot of spread but the Hilton Bay Front and The Field are proving possible comic book industry focus points – you can tell the former by its Scott Pilgrim livery right now. Also a number of the usual suspects, Avatar, IDW, Radical and the like aren't having big parties. Might as well go to Boom's – they're having free-for-all at the Hilton Bayfront Odysea Bar from 9pm. Seriously, I got an invite from Mark Waid. But then again, so did you!

5. Start your diet now. Take a big breakfast. Don't eat for the rest of the day (you'll be too busy, let that tummy rumble), drink water, have a snack at night. With all the walking and carrying stuff you'll lose three pounds a day. It's the easiest way for a geek to lose weight around. And right now I could really do with it.

Bonus: Say "hi" to people you know online. Every time I come back from Con I get emails from people saying they saw me but didn't like to say hello and now wished they had. Say hello! It's much more fun that way!

Don't: Try the bottle trick in Hall H for the day. Get someone to keep your seat and go to the bathroom.

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