Panel Lineup Tactics Part 2 – Getting Badges and Seats

Disclaimer:
All information is based upon the previous years’ experiences. Comic-Con may completely change their process whenever they like. I base my information based on policies and practices provided up to the previous year and current online OFFICIAL documentation provided by Comic-Con International.
If I say that you should line up for Hall H under the white tents and they end up being blue this year, don’t lose your cool. The information is still valid. But if you do get confused, don’t be afraid to ask someone already in line about where to go. Most people at Comic-Con are a friendly lot and will help you in a pinch. There is no shame in being a newbie.

1. LINING UP WITHOUT A BADGE – Yes, you can get in line at any time even if you don’t have badges (this doesn’t apply if the lines are currently inside the building in an area that requires a badge to access it). Once you’ve established your spot in a line for Hall H or Ballroom 20, half of your group should head over to the badge pickup line at the time that Comic-Con says it’s okay to start lining up. Once the first group returns with their badges, the other half goes to pick theirs up. The retrieval process is actually pretty quick as long as everyone has their ID and registration barcode page in their hands. They scan, print, hand you a bag with your program, some swag, and a lanyard, and you’re done. The whole process can usually take less than 30 seconds per person if done right. Even though the purchasing process has a way to go, at least they have the pickup process down to a science. Just announced on 7/12 – Official Badge Pickup Policies
2. GET READY TO MOVE… LITTLE BY LITTLE – Your group should be all together and ready to move forward as the line moves forward in increments as people bunch up in anticipation of the doors opening. When they do, do NOT push or run at any point on the way to your seat. Some security will look for a reason to pull someone aside and you don’t want it to be you.
3. SCATTER AND CLAIM – Once inside Hall H or Ballroom 20 (the other rooms just aren’t big enough to bother with this tactic), depending on how many people are in your group (for example: 4 or 6), I would break up into at least 2 people per aisle, each ready to hold the same amount of seats as soon as you get to something that’s good. Try to keep an eye on each other. Whoever has the best selection of seats out of your group should be who you head toward, one at a time, until you’re all in the best location. I say 2 people per seat scouting group because one should be looking for the best seat while the other keeps an eye on the other group(s). Once the seats are held, the group watchers meet up and decide which seat selection is better and call the other person toward the better seats. If there’s just 2 of you, try to keep at least one eye on the other person or work out a system of communication so that you can find each other in the crowd once you each find your seats. A system of hand signals (or text messages if you have a signal) can help you argue which of you has the better pair of seats and call one to the other. If you have one of those massive hordes I mentioned in the earlier post, don’t try to grab a large collection of seats unless you’re one of the first thousand people through the door. If you keep your groups small, you have a better chance of getting good seating.
4. NO SAVING FOR THE MAYBES – Don’t be the guy who is holding an entire row for a dozen friends who *might* make it into the room, but are actually 4000 people further back in line. There’s no guarantee they’re going to make it in. You’re not allowed to hold seats (especially in large chunks) except for short periods of time while someone goes to the bathroom or gets food. The only other exception is when claiming seats at the beginning or between panels. You should hold them only long enough for your friends to make it from another point in the room, not the other end of the convention center. If you call them for a status update and they say that they just left the hotel room, forget them. They’re not getting in. Give those seats to someone who stood in line for 5 hours.
5. BIG SCREEN POSITION – In the big rooms like Hall H and Ballroom 20, even if you’re in the back of the room, you will still be able to see things on stage clearly, thanks to a number of large high definition digital screens hung from the ceiling. If you’re one of the last few able to get in, you won’t have much of a choice, but if you can, grab a seat about 10 or so rows in front of a screen for a great view of the panel discussion and the great footage they’ll be showing off throughout the week.
6. JUMPING TO BETTER SEATS – Between panels, you’ll find an opportunity to possibly get a better seat. You’ll know it’s time when you suddenly see a bunch of people around you suddenly clutching their bags and leaning forward in their seats, just waiting for the panel moderator to say “thanks! bye!” A great wave of people will rise up at once. Some will wait until they see a lot of people leaving. Others won’t give it a second thought, especially if they’re alone and already have their eye on the seat (or general area of seats) that they want. If you’re in a group, send 1 or 2 scouts out to snag a better position while you hold your current seats. Until your scouts report that they have a new spot, either by hand waving and jumping up and down or by phone, don’t give up your spot or you could lose all of your seats, both current and potential. This is the most brutal battle you’ll face in the whole panel seating process.

NEXT: Deciding WHEN to Line Up

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