San Diego Comic Con has become a nearly impossible event to
attend. The comic book and pop culture event puts a cap on attendees of
130,000. Tickets for Comic Con 2014 sold out in approximately two hours.
With this many attendees and this high of a demand, crowd
control is important. Attendees, volunteers, and guests all need to be kept
safe, and this can be a challenge with so many people in one area. This
challenge has been met in many ways, such as capping attendance, managing
traffic movement, having lottery systems, and more.
Event organizers should take a good look at how Comic Con
manages crowd control. While the organizers are far from perfect, their methods
work fairly well considering the scale of the crowd. Certain corridors are
transformed into one-way walkways to make pedestrian traffic more manageable.
Comic Con also has events in more than just the convention center. Utilizing multiple
venues can help diffuse crowds.
But there’s only so many volunteers and officers to police
the crowds. One of the largest complaints with Comic Con itself is the lines
for panels. Specifically, lines for the large panels. Getting into Hall H is
considered something of a miracle, and it’s almost necessary to camp out
overnight to get a spot in the hall.
However, Comic Con does have some strict rules when it comes
to lining up for panels to help with crowd control. If you are an attendee
planning to try for Hall H, take a look at our tips below. This will not only
help the staff trying to keep the event running smoothly, but it will also
ensure that you won’t be removed from the line or have your badge revoked.
Comic Con Tips
~ Line up Early. If you want a chance of getting into one of
the larger rooms like Hall H, plan to be there at least four hours early….but
really it should be more. Some people line up before midnight the night before,
and while that’s not necessary it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the line
overnight.
~ Camping is not allowed in line. This means no tents, cots,
heaters, large fans, open flames, and more. Do not bring these items as they
take up a large amount of space and you will likely be removed from the line.
~ Do not save space for friends to join you in line. The
attendees around you may report you to a line monitor, and you will all be
removed. That’s not to say you cannot take breaks if you are waiting in line.
Have your group arrive together and take turns having food and bathroom breaks.
~ While camping is not allowed, some items are. A “normal
sized” chair, blankets, and sleeping bags are all allowed as long as it only
takes up the space of one person.
~ If you plan on staying in line overnight, keep it down.
You will be waiting in a public area and making a large amount of noise,
dancing outside of the line, and running around creates traffic issues and unnecessary
noise.
~ Respect the grounds and do not leave garbage and
belongings behind.
~ Be polite to those around you. It is understandable that
tempers may flare while waiting in line and surrounded by people, but starting
arguments will only cause more problems. Don’t make another problem where there
doesn’t need to be one.
~If you don’t get into the panel you want, don’t throw a
fit. With as many attendees as there are, it is simply not possible. Go out and
enjoy other parts of the convention. Not everyone makes it into Hall H, but don’t
let that ruin your experience.
Comic Con is not for the faint of heart. While the
convention itself is organized as best as can be expected, the heavy crowds and
packed schedules can be too much for some people. Know what to expect before
you try for a ticket, and use common sense while attending the convention. This
will make the experience better for everyone.
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