Going to sdcc?

[synch]

http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_reg.php


Hope you got you're tickets ...  I duno whats going on but they are sold out of preview night already  & with that it no longer makes it worth me going for this years  not even 2010 & they are sold the fuck out!  unless this is all just some kind of horrible error on there part...

[Christopher Keszycki]

Shit I did not know they were on sale all ready.

[VinceB]

I'll get there one of these years, if only to give Mr. Loika a big ol' bear hug in his back yard.

...

I didn't mean it like that. Pigs. 

[Adam Besenyodi]

I saw that on Twitter last night (that preview night had sold out, not Vince man-huggin' Pat). Hard to believe that night sold out already and the 2009 show was, what... four months ago?! Crazy.

We'll get out there one of these years... We have multiple friends in SD, plus it would be great to see Pat at his hometown show and in his element!

[Adam Besenyodi]

From The Beat...

It is surreal to be writing stories about San Diego Comic-Con selling out in October. But that is the reality we live in. We asked SDCC PR and marketing director David Glanzer a bit more about yesterday’s announcement that passes to Preview Night had sold out:

Q: What’s behind this shockingly early sell-out? Were fewer tickets available? I’ve heard publishers and other attendees say that Preview night has become the new Saturday, so has there been a need to trim the size of the crowd?

Glanzer: In the past all four-day badge holders could attend Preview Night, though not all did.

This year, however, it seemed more crowded as more people took advantage of that ability.

For 2010 the decision was made to offer an option (of whether they wanted to attend Preview Night) to those who pre-registered for four-day badges. We limited the number of badges for Preview Night to the number of those who attended in 2008.

Q: Does this mean that if you want to go to Preview Night…you can’t any more?

DG: Currently you cannot purchase a Preview Night badge, that is correct. Four-day badges are currently still available.

Q: Should we take this as a clue that four day passes might be selling out soon?

DG: Right now I think we’re okay. But it’s so hard to predict. I think we’re going to try to do a better job of keeping the public informed if those begin to sell more quickly.

Q: Any other changes we might be looking for at the horribly early date?

DG:I think this is pretty much it for now anyway.

*******
The news that the SAME number of preview night passes have been sold as last year may trigger flashbacks and PTSD in some people. As one industry veteran booth runner at a prominent comics company told us recently, “Preview Night is horrible.”

With no programming to distract attendees, and exclusive swag giveaways at the movie booths, Preview Night has been dubbed “The new Saturday,” by most vets. It’s worth noting that this year, (you’ll recall San Diego ended 10 weeks ago) TV/Hollywood programming was added to Wednesday night for the first time, and there were several off-site events. One might expect even more of this in an attempt to thin the crowds a bit.

[Christopher Keszycki]

Shit, shit, shit.  I was thinking of going to SDCC 2010. It’s my 40th birthday present from my wife and kids. Is it still worth going even with no preview night? Would I really miss anything by not going to preview night?

[synch]

so any truth that this may be the last  SD con?

[Lawrence]

At this point I would rather try to make it to Windy City next year then deal with all of this crazyness.

[Pat Loika]

so any truth that this may be the last  SD con?

complete BS.

They're currently contracted until 2012, and since the convention center expansion has been approved, they will be re-upping their deal with the convention center to keep the con here for a longgggg time.

[Pat Loika]

Shit, shit, shit.  I was thinking of going to SDCC 2010. It’s my 40th birthday present from my wife and kids. Is it still worth going even with no preview night? Would I really miss anything by not going to preview night?

Nope. A lot of creators don't even show up until Thursday. If anything, not going to preview night will save you money, and you'll have easier crowds to deal with on the other days.

[thefreakytiki]

It's kinda weird.  I have always looked at the SDCC as the Holy Grail of a comic trip that I have yet to take...but over the last few years I feel like this may not be for me.

 I can't explain it.  It just sounds like it might be too much of a hassle vs. enjoyable payoff.  I do think all the negative news that I have heard the last few years (from the Beat, Bleeding Cool, Blogs and forums) have skewed my vision of the event.   


the Tiki

[Ryan 'gobo' C.]

I think I'm going to wait for the expansion to finish before going, hopefully it will be a little less crazy with the added space.

Plus this having to buy tickets almost a full years in advance is plantanas, although I suppose I could always re-sell them if something came up.

[synch]

I'd double check on that, I thought I read last year that they were going to set something up so that people could not scalp tickets

[citizenDave]

I really think I might be done with this show, and the shows that aim to be like it.

[Ryan 'gobo' C.]

I'd double check on that, I thought I read last year that they were going to set something up so that people could not scalp tickets

If they did, I'd just not buy tickets until I knew for sure I could go.

[Julian Lytle]

dang that was quick, but I kinda stopped going to preview night anyway. But I am going to the show, I love that damn show.

[Pat Loika]

If they did, I'd just not buy tickets until I knew for sure I could go.

You can always get a refund. There's info on their site on how you can get a refund if you can't go.

[BobBretall]

Q: What’s behind this shockingly early sell-out? Were fewer tickets available? I’ve heard publishers and other attendees say that Preview night has become the new Saturday, so has there been a need to trim the size of the crowd?

Glanzer: In the past all four-day badge holders could attend Preview Night, though not all did.

This year, however, it seemed more crowded as more people took advantage of that ability.

For 2010 the decision was made to offer an option (of whether they wanted to attend Preview Night) to those who pre-registered for four-day badges. We limited the number of badges for Preview Night to the number of those who attended in 2008.

No one would pick a badge "without Preview Night" if the one WITH preview night is the same price.

I'm guessing people would want to keep their options open and get a badge with Preview night just in case.

That decision has now been removed.......

[BobBretall]

so any truth that this may be the last  SD con?

That is complete BS.  The San Diego con is non-profit and run by volunteers, the majority of whome live in & around San Diego.  It's not going anywhere.

[BobBretall]

I can't explain it.  It just sounds like it might be too much of a hassle vs. enjoyable payoff.  I do think all the negative news that I have heard the last few years (from the Beat, Bleeding Cool, Blogs and forums) have skewed my vision of the event.   

This kind of thing always amuses me.

People bitch about the crowds, they bitch about the "Hollywood content", etc.....

There is more comics content at San Diego than any other con because it is so massive.  25% of SDCC is bigger than 100% of other cons.   And the comics content in the panels is unparalleled.

That said, if you don't like crowds and want a small con, then SDCC is not for you.

If you want the premiere con out there, SDCC is still the place to be.