Unauthorized San Diego Comic-Con Survival Guide http://sdccsurvivalguide.com Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:48:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Get Your SDCC Member IDs at the Official Site NOW! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SDCCSurvivalGuide/~3/iKHnQOzpwX8/ http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2012/01/17/get-your-sdcc-member-ids-at-the-official-site-now/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:48:35 +0000 doug http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/?p=1188 Get Your SDCC Member IDs at the Official Site NOW! I’ve been out and about in Las Vegas this last week covering the Consumer Electronics Show for PopCultureGeek.com (also battling a sickness that may have had something to do with being within 5 feet of Snooki), so I apologize for not sharing this information sooner.

It’s now time for you to head to the official Comic-Con website and snatch up a Member ID before February 28th! I had been notified last week that it was open for the returning press, but I had not realized that it was available for everyone else as well. I think it was kind of a quiet rollout as they didn’t want a million people clustering onto the site all at once and taking it down. From what I can tell, the order in which you sign up for a Member ID does not have any bearing on your ability to acquire a ticket to San Diego Comic-Con. It is just necessary in order for you purchase a ticket at all. So there’s no rush, no need for panic, but you do need to get this done BEFORE February 28th. You have been warned. You will NOT be able to get a ticket when they go on sale unless you have a Member ID.

If you have other questions, they can be answered at the official site. Anything I tell you would be gotten from that location or would be complete speculation on my part. But feel free to comment here or leave a message on Facebook or Twitter if you have any questions about the process.


]]> http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2012/01/17/get-your-sdcc-member-ids-at-the-official-site-now/feed/ 0 http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2012/01/17/get-your-sdcc-member-ids-at-the-official-site-now/ Black Friday Sale Extended – Buy 2, Get FREE SHIPPING! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SDCCSurvivalGuide/~3/sMVRswSvHHU/ http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/11/29/black-friday-sale-extended-buy-2-get-free-shipping/#comments Wed, 30 Nov 2011 05:35:04 +0000 doug http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/?p=1181 SDCC Survival Guide 2011 Holiday Sale! The Black Friday sale went so well, I’m continuing it through the end of the year, just in case you missed it since you were busy standing in line at the mall all weekend.

For those of you in the US and CANADA, you just buy 2 or more books (it’s the season for sharing) and shipping is FREE! If you live outside of the US or CANADA, shipping is only $3 for 2 or more books, no limit on how many you buy. Buy 2 or buy twenty, shipping will remain either free or just $3 total!

But if you really wanted to buy a bunch of copies for your organization or to sell for a profit in your local store, I can give you a wholesale discount that will make it even cheaper to get my book in your gift giving hands! Just contact me if you’re interested.

So if you’re ready to buy, just head over to the PURCHASE page.

Thanks to everyone who’s bought the book so far! I hope you get a lot out of it and have a great time at San Diego Comic-Con 2012 (if you can get a ticket, of course)!


]]> http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/11/29/black-friday-sale-extended-buy-2-get-free-shipping/feed/ 0 http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/11/29/black-friday-sale-extended-buy-2-get-free-shipping/ The SDCC Survival Guide BLACK FRIDAY Sale is On NOW! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SDCCSurvivalGuide/~3/Is5cdK1MIE8/ http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/11/24/the-sdcc-survival-guide-black-friday-sale-is-on-now/#comments Fri, 25 Nov 2011 05:00:01 +0000 doug http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/?p=1158 The SDCC Survival Guide BLACK FRIDAY Sale is On NOW! Here’s your chance to get the last remaining 1st edition copies of the San Diego Comic-Con Survival Guide for you and your friends!

Buy 2 or more and get them shipped anywhere in the US and Canada for FREE! And it’s only $3 shipping to anywhere else in the world!

Please use the appropriate purchasing button or your order may be cancelled.
Orders will be filled in the order they are received. In the event we sell out prior to your purchase, we will attempt to fulfill the order as quickly as possible or you will receive a full refund.

* Only use the special buttons provided at the designated time to get the shipping discount. If you want to purchase a large quantity of books larger than 4 at a time, just contact me through the contact page and I’ll send you a special link with the discounted shipping!

And if you BUY IN BULK, you may qualify for additional special discounts. Again, contact me for any special requests!

The deal will be good from Friday, November 25th at Midnight US Eastern time through Cyber Monday evening, November 28th at 11:59pm US PACIFIC time.

US and CANADA – $4.99 each + FREE shipping! – No maximum
Select a quantity and click BUY NOW.

Buy 2 or more books and shipping is FREE in the US and CANADA!

INTERNATIONAL – $4.99 each + $3 shipping (outside of the US and CANADA) – No maximum
Select a quantity and click BUY NOW.

Buy 2 or more books and shipping is only $3 internationally!


]]> http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/11/24/the-sdcc-survival-guide-black-friday-sale-is-on-now/feed/ 0 http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/11/24/the-sdcc-survival-guide-black-friday-sale-is-on-now/ SDCC Survival Guide BLACK FRIDAY Deal Only a Day Away! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SDCCSurvivalGuide/~3/sPpDCAelEMA/ http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/11/23/sdcc-survival-guide-black-friday-deal-only-a-day-away/#comments Thu, 24 Nov 2011 05:31:31 +0000 doug http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/?p=1146 SDCC Survival Guide BLACK FRIDAY Deal Only a Day Away! Starting Friday, November 25th at midnight Eastern time (9pm Pacific), I will be offering a special deal on the last remaining 1st edition copies of the Unauthorized San Diego Comic-Con Survival Guide!

US and CANADA FOLKS:
Buy 2 or more copies and ship them anywhere in the US and CANADA FREE! No matter how many you buy, the shipping is FREE!*

EVERYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD:
Buy 2 or more copies and ship them anywhere OUTSIDE the US and CANADA for only $3! Again, no limit on the number of copies! Shipping will remain $3 no matter how many copies you buy!*

* Only use the special buttons provided at the designated time to get the shipping discount. If you want to purchase a large quantity of books larger than 4 at a time, just contact me through the contact page and I’ll send you a special link with the discounted shipping!

And if you BUY IN BULK, you may qualify for additional special discounts. Again, contact me for any special requests!

The deal will be good from Friday, November 25th at Midnight US Eastern time through Cyber Monday evening, November 28th at 11:59pm US PACIFIC time.

The books are ready to be shipped to anyone anywhere in the world who has hopes of going to San Diego Comic-Con and getting the most out of it.
Did I mention they make great stocking stuffers for the Comic-Con geek in your life?

Have a happy thanksgiving!


]]> http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/11/23/sdcc-survival-guide-black-friday-deal-only-a-day-away/feed/ 0 http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/11/23/sdcc-survival-guide-black-friday-deal-only-a-day-away/ San Diego Comic-Con Ticket Registration – Now with Member IDs! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SDCCSurvivalGuide/~3/jRJvEWysbyo/ http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/11/04/san-diego-comic-con-ticket-registration-now-with-member-ids/#comments Sat, 05 Nov 2011 00:42:43 +0000 doug http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/?p=1131 San Diego Comic-Con Ticket Registration - Now with Member IDs! Comic-Con International just posted a notification on their Facebook page regarding the introduction of Member IDs for Comic-Con 2012 badge purchasing. They say this information has been on there for awhile, but I’ve never seen it when I’ve poked around over the last few months. Either way, if you’re wanting to get a ticket to San Diego Comic-Con 2012, this is the information you NEED to know! (READ CAREFULLY!)

And this is the page you’ll go to when you are allowed to register a Member ID (currently open only for those who pre-registered at SDCC 2011).

You’ll need to keep your eyes open in the next few weeks for the Member ID registrations to go live. These are NOT ticket sales and there is no immediate rush to snag one all at once. But what this does is allow INDIVIDUALS who want a ticket to be NOTIFIED when the tickets become available in 2012. YOU MUST HAVE A MEMBER ID TO BUY A TICKET TO SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON 2012! While this process won’t prevent another crushing attack on the servers the day that the tickets go on sale, it should expedite the process by allowing people to have their registration information already in place, giving CCI an easy way to categorize and manage all ticket purchasing. And odds are good that the actual on-sale days won’t involve trying to submit credit card information through secure connections (the very thing that slows down and collapses under the weight of 100,000 people trying to buy tickets all at once). From what I’ve read, you’ll just submit the Member IDs of the people you want to purchase for and submit your request when the tickets go on sale. And just as they’ve done with the hotel purchasing, you’ll get a notification when you’re able to pay for the tickets if your request is accepted.

Yes, it’s more complicated than it should be, but considering how intense the whole process has become, it’s necessary. And, no, not everyone who wants a ticket will get a ticket next year. That can’t be avoided. It will sell out again very quickly, probably faster than even last year. Good luck!

p.s. Did anyone else notice that they cancelled Marvel Monstergeddon that was running the same weekend as Comic-Con?


]]> http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/11/04/san-diego-comic-con-ticket-registration-now-with-member-ids/feed/ 1 http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/11/04/san-diego-comic-con-ticket-registration-now-with-member-ids/ Head to the Long Beach Comic & Horror Con This Weekend http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SDCCSurvivalGuide/~3/c5WVyZmb674/ http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/10/28/head-to-the-long-beach-comic-horror-con-this-weekend/#comments Fri, 28 Oct 2011 22:11:23 +0000 doug http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/?p=1124 Head to the Long Beach Comic & Horror Con This Weekend! If you’re local to the Long Beach and greater Los Angeles, California area, you have to come by the Long Beach Comic and Horror Con this Saturday and Sunday! I’ll be there with the Survival Guide and taking pictures for Cosplay of the Day and Pop Culture Geek.

Now this convention is not associated with the folks that put on San Diego Comic-Con, but they do comic conventions right! If you like a good convention but hate the insane crowds of San Diego, this is the place to be! There will be lots of folks there, but you’ll have room to breathe and see everything you want to see. There’s lots of comics dealers and creators plus tons of stuff that will thrill any fan of pop culture, comics, toys, movies, television, and, of course, HORROR on this Halloween weekend!

If you want one of the last copies of the Unauthorized San Diego Comic-Con Survival Guide, you’ll be able to pry one from the hands of Luis Calderon, creator of Space Johny, in booth #1201B in the Artist Alley. I’ll be at the table to sign anything you hand me (except legally binding documents) when I’m not roaming around taking pics of people in costume. Don’t be afraid to say hi!

The books are only $5 bucks and there’s no need to pay for shipping! We’ll be giving away cool Comic-Con related prizes all weekend too! Stop by to see what we’ve got!

But I know you’re not coming to the show just for me… Check out everything that’s going on at the official site!
Here’s just a sampling of what they have in store:
Seth Green and the guys from Robot Chicken will be there, Felicia Day and the cast of the Guild, Iron Man 3 director Shane Black, horror master John Carpenter, and comic creators J Scott Campbell, Georges Jeanty, David Finch, Bernie Wrightson, Steve Niles, Whilce Portacio, Scott Lobdell, and many more will fill the floor between WoW gaming tournaments, battling wizards, lightsaber duels, zombie attacks, autograph signings, and deals galore in every booth! Wear your costume and bring the whole family this weekend!

And I know it’s been awhile since I’ve updated. I hope to have lots more news items to come as we head into 2012, including information on WonderCon, now taking place in Anaheim, which will surely be a huge event next spring!


]]> http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/10/28/head-to-the-long-beach-comic-horror-con-this-weekend/feed/ 0 http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/10/28/head-to-the-long-beach-comic-horror-con-this-weekend/ The Good and the Bad of San Diego Comic-Con 2011 was All in the Timing http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SDCCSurvivalGuide/~3/CvtVnR_sEAA/ http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/08/01/the-good-and-the-bad-of-san-diego-comic-con-2011-was-all-in-the-timing/#comments Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:44:31 +0000 doug http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/?p=1103 SDCC 2011 It’s been more than a week since I got home and I still don’t think I’ve completely recovered from San Diego Comic-Con 2011. There are times I wish I could just live in the Gaslamp Quarter, just in hopes that walking out my door on any given day just might slip me through a wormhole fissure in space/time and bring me back to the weirdness of that week in July. Admittedly, there are times I was so wiped out that I just wanted it to all be over with for the year, but then the next morning would come and I’d pull myself out of my hotel bed and make the early morning trek down to the convention center as if it was my sole purpose in life to do so.

Did I see and do everything I wanted on my primary to-do list or my back up list? Not even close. Did I discover new things and experience some amazing once-in-a-lifetime moments? Absolutely. My motto this year came down to “it’s all in the timing”. That applied to everything from getting into a panel to grabbing a hard-to-get freebie to snapping that amazing pic of cosplayers or creators or celebrities when you least expected to. While we all try to plan to arrive early enough to get access to panels or swag lines or autographs, it seemed that none of the usual rules applied. Ballroom 20 was bigger than Hall H this year in many ways when it came to fan demand and sheer spectacle. Half the goodies I got came down to standing in the right place at the right time and barely standing in line. When it came to poor timing, believe it or not, this was the first year that I didn’t run into Joss Whedon anywhere. Or Nathan Fillion. And I would run into them EVERYWHERE in past years, randomly, not including their panels. It all seemed a bit empty without seeing them face-to-face. However, I did keep running into Chevy Chase at my hotel (along with most of the cast of Community), so that kind of made up for it. Best of all, I accomplished a personal goal this year just minutes after the Preview Night doors opened: I got Stan Lee to sign something in person for me. Yes, I’ve gotten his autograph before, but it was never specifically acquired directly and just for me and never on something that I’m not about to re-sell on eBay in a moment of financial desperation. I simply never will. I immediately grabbed the Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope book at the Sideshow Collectibles booth and had him and Morgan Spurlock sign it. Primary mission accomplished and the con wasn’t even an hour old.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to do a number of things that I really wanted to do even though I knew there was a time limit on them: the South Park Experience and the Monstergeddon exhibit. Both were off-site, and even though I walked close by them, I never stepped inside since I was always late for something else I wanted to see or do. I was also sad that I didn’t get to hang out with a number of friends who had come from across the country to experience the show for the first time. At the same time, some other friends of mine from LA drove down for the day and brought their 2 year old boy, slapped a homemade cape on him, and introduced him to the wild world of Comic-Con. Between monster trucks and Spider-Man wanting to give him a high-five, he was blown away. Next year, his parents might even get tickets! Yep, they experienced Comic-Con without ever stepping inside the convention center and had an amazing time.

When the sun set, despite my exhaustion, I was happy that I got to experience more of the Comic-Con nightlife this year more than ever before: Comic creator parties, movie studio parties, video game parties, even a professional wrestling party! Honestly, tell me you’re serving free food and drinks and I’ll come to your freakin’ Comic-Con party! I pretty much scratched “dinner” off my expenses list this year, even if dinner routinely consisted of chicken and beef skewers, lemon bars, and double gin & tonics (repeatedly).

San Diego Comic-Con 2011 - Jake stands above the masses San Diego Comic-Con 2011 - 3 Captain Americas San Diego Comic-Con 2011 - me and Luis with actress Ayanna Berkshire (Twilight, Grimm, Curb Your Enthusiasm) San Diego Comic-Con 2011 - the Adventures of Tin Tin panel - Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson San Diego Comic-Con 2011 - Slave Leia, Jessica Rabbit, Wonder Woman San Diego Comic-Con 2011 - Captain America: the first Avenger Military Salute - Stan Lee poses with servicemen San Diego Comic-Con 2011 - the Hall H line

Of course, in the past week, I haven’t even had time to post all of my pictures (600+ so far), much less all of the video I captured throughout the week. One clip I’m so happy I was able to grab and post the same day was the moment Andrew Garfield surprised the room by showing up in a store bought Spider-Man costume to share his love of Spidey with the crowd as a fan. Yes, sure, the cynical amongst us screamed out that it was just a PR stunt, but honestly, what ISN’T at Comic-Con? Isn’t that what the whole thing is about? Promoting your product, whether it be a comic book or a movie or a tv series? Give the guy (and the studio) some credit for doing it in a fun and creative way. I, for one, believe he’s a genuine fan and that it was a big deal for him to be there. And if he wasn’t genuine, then kudos to him for being a really great actor and fooling me and thousands of others…

 
Sure, the cynics are never fooled by such expressions, but they also never really enjoy anything. Pity them, for theirs is a sad and lonely existence full of doubt and needless anger that they try to pass off as wit and wisdom.

But for all of the exhaustion and debates with security over lines that aren’t really lines but will be lines when a magical moment ten minutes before the official moment arrives, I had an incredible time and I can’t wait to go back next year (let’s just hope they get the non-line issues figured out).

When it comes to the Survival Guide both in print and online, I’m currently mulling over some ideas for 2012 that will hopefully expand nicely on what I’ve already accomplished so far. I know it seems like we have more than 11 months until San Diego Comic-Con 2012, but when you’re working on a project like this, it goes by way too fast. And that’s nice if you can’t wait to get back to Comic-Con, but it’s hell if you just aren’t ready to provide what people expect from you. I hope I can get my act together enough next year so that I can assist all of you, current and future readers, in having the best Comic-Con you could possibly have in 2012.

Speaking of YOU, did you have a good time at Comic-Con? Did you accomplish what you wanted? Discover new things? Hit some dead ends? Collapse in a heap crying for your mommy when it all started to become too much for you? What did you go for? What did you avoid? What surprised you and what disappointed you? Everyone’s experience is unique. Feel free to tell YOUR story, good or bad, here in the comments or on the SDCC Survival Guide Facebook page (Twitter just doesn’t have the space to do it justice).

There’s lots more to come from this end. Don’t think that just because Comic-Con 2012 doesn’t start for almost a year that I won’t be here to answer questions and pose some of my own. There’s no reason why this network of Comic-Con fans can’t build upon itself in the coming months to make next year’s experience even better than this year’s for everyone. Talk to you soon and thanks to everyone for your support for the Unauthorized San Diego Comic-Con Survival Guide!


]]> http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/08/01/the-good-and-the-bad-of-san-diego-comic-con-2011-was-all-in-the-timing/feed/ 0 http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/08/01/the-good-and-the-bad-of-san-diego-comic-con-2011-was-all-in-the-timing/ SDCC Gaslamp Special Attractions Guide http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SDCCSurvivalGuide/~3/WIqU9RnfkdM/ http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/07/20/sdcc-gaslamp-special-attractions-guide/#comments Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:42:41 +0000 doug http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/?p=1092 SDCC Gaslamp Special Attractions This is a collection of special attractions taking place all over the Gaslamp Quarter during San Diego Comic-Con. Since they aren’t focused around a specific event and are often open throughout the day (though sometimes only on specific days), I separated them out from the regular events. However, expect a few of these to have special events periodically. Check in at each to find out what they have to offer.
This same information can be found in the official iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch mobile app so you can take it anywhere!
Note that not all events are open to the public and dates, times, and locations are subject to change.

Gaslamp Special Attractions


]]> http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/07/20/sdcc-gaslamp-special-attractions-guide/feed/ 0 http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/07/20/sdcc-gaslamp-special-attractions-guide/ SDCC EVENT GUIDE – Saturday http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SDCCSurvivalGuide/~3/z6sJAnXiON8/ http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/07/20/sdcc-event-guide-saturday/#comments Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:32:39 +0000 doug http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/?p=1081 SDCC Gaslamp Events This is a collection of events taking place outside the convention center Saturday at San Diego Comic-Con.
This same information can be found in the official iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch mobile app so you can take it anywhere!
Note that not all events are open to the public and dates, times, and locations are subject to change.

Saturday Events


]]> http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/07/20/sdcc-event-guide-saturday/feed/ 0 http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/07/20/sdcc-event-guide-saturday/ SDCC EVENTS GUIDE – Friday http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SDCCSurvivalGuide/~3/wrlYGhjx_Ds/ http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/07/20/sdcc-events-guide-friday/#comments Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:29:55 +0000 doug http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/?p=1075 SDCC Gaslamp Events This is a collection of events taking place outside the convention center Friday at San Diego Comic-Con.
This same information can be found in the official iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch mobile app so you can take it anywhere!
Note that not all events are open to the public and dates, times, and locations are subject to change.

Friday Events


]]> http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/07/20/sdcc-events-guide-friday/feed/ 0 http://sdccsurvivalguide.com/2011/07/20/sdcc-events-guide-friday/