Kooky 'Kook' The Pig Packing For The Con!
She Had To Help Pack As She'll Be Attending The SDCC Comic Con International This Year With Us And She Eats Like A Pig!
So many of the program halls at the Comic Con don't have any concession stands, and if you do go to the exhibit hall to buy your lunch or early dinner, you have to fight the exhibit hall crowds each time!
Thus, Tina and I pack snacks for the Comic Con among other things. Which reminds me that I should state what we take to the Con, updated from our blog post form 2006.
We always pack the following:
The Overstreet Price Guide (the latest edition of the BIG BIG Book which is spiral bound with LARGE print, which is easier to read on the convention floor).
The latest Comics & Games Retailer from Krause Publishing to see what retailers say are selling at their stores.
The latest Wizard to see what's 'HOT' in modern comics.
Pocket single use flash camera, (for those impromptu snap shots) up close. PLUS the xtra memory stick for the digital camera.
The receipt(s) for our prepaid 4-day passes, and the last mailer which includes the bar code scan for printing out our passes at the badge pick up area on Preview Night.
Diet tea and water, 3 per day, of which the plastic is good enough for refills from the bottled water dispensers throughout the program halls.
Starbucks cold coffee, ie. Frappucino.... for that time sitting on the sidewalk in the early a.m. waiting for the door to open to go stand in line again, this time to enter the convention hall !
Also for those early attendees.... don't forget to stop off at McD's or J-in the Box, etc to bring breakfast to eat while sitting in line.... don't want to waste valuable convention floor time eating a late breakfast!
Packaged Snacks, for eating during the programs, and on the escalator, so more time is spent checking out back issues while on the convention floor !! It's ok to stop for a 'real' lunch, the prices aren't that bad for convention food, and you can have a healthy salad during the day!
Short Comic Book Boxes, kept in the car trunk, to place the latest purchases, with plastic bags to keep purchases separate, along with comic book box dividers to also keep purchases separate.
Would also say 'bring a want list', which we now have on index cards for general titles we are looking for. We are no longer looking for single issues, but when i was upgrading the collection, I would bring a xerox copy of the issues I wanted to possibly upgrade. Memory is not good enough when upgrading, purchased a few xtra NM- during the years trying to upgrade!
Cash ! Parking is limited under the SDCC convention parking area, so always bring singles in case you are shut out from using below convention parking, and have to park on the lots somewhere in Downtown San Diego! No Kidding !! The main local parking lot company gouges on daily rates on the outside lots ! So use singles for outside parking, bring twenties for the convention floor..... nothing bigger than a '20' or you may spend time waiting for the larger bills to be changed for you...
Credit Card.... yes some of the bigger dealers there do have credit card machines, or access to them to run your credit card, so don't forget to use it when possible.... saving your 'cash' to buy from the little dealers who just might have want you want after you run out of spending cash !!
Contact solution if wearing contacts.... sitting outside in the morning, then moved inside to wait before opening, and then the over air-conditioned program halls affect contacts !!
Toothbrush & toothpaste, and minty gum... (ok that's on the list per Tina's request!)
Sneakers & Dress shoes..... one pair to wear during the day, and one for night more formal occasions.
Deodorant ! (Yeah, that's for you Fanboy!)
Handwipes.... seriously.... as the comic bags at some dealers are overly filthy / dusty/ etc.... when checking back issues...
T-Shirt - Your favorite tee shirt for each day, cartoon or comic character or lately even movie t-shirts, just make sure one for each day, with a spare in the car trunk in case of needing a change of shirts...
Your Business Card, or a personal card made up for this occasion.... you will meet a lot of people while waiting in lines, eating at communal tables, etc. We have made many contacts during the years and it is surprising how often you run into the same people, even though there will be over 125,000 attendees this convention !!
Back Pack, or bag to store all the above items.... when making purchases, be sure to get them down to the car trunk ASAP, before any are damaged in transit.... especially during the standing room only Saturday schedule !!
Whew! Will add more as we double check our list.... (Could there be anymore??? LOL )
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