Behind the Scenes at Stuart Ng Books: Comic Con 2015 -- around the halls

Post 4 of 7

Welcome to behind the scenes at SDCC. This show is huge and popular. That's good .. but it also makes it an ordeal for attendees and exhibitors. News stories cover how hard it is to get tickets and hotel rooms to just attend this convention.. and all the horrors of getting into Hall H have become their own trending topic!

Here are some survival tips for attendees:

Wired Magazine

http://www.wired.com/2015/07/nerdist-comic-con-guide/

The Daily News

http://www.dailynews.com/arts-and-entertainment/20150702/comic-con-2015-4-tips-to-survive-the-ultimate-nerd-convention

There's less coverage about how hard this show is for exhibitors. Maybe not for the ever-increasing expanse of deep-pocket corporate pavilions... but for the smaller mom-and-pop vendors, the booth prices continue to rise.. while the wait list for a space lengthens ....and the amount of floor space for smaller shops dwindles...

The logistics at the San Diego Convention Center continue to vex all ... there's not enough parking... the load in and load out takes forever due to the small size and inadequate number of freight elevators... and hotel prices for exhibitors (who typically stay longer than the 4 days of the shows) are reaching the breaking point. Who wants to spend $400 a night for the Motel 6???

Many long time exhibitors have given up... so much so that this emblem was making the rounds as profile pics on social media...

For the brave souls still showing up .. The show really does start with bare bones....

Seems like so much space when you look at the maps....

But it all fills up fast! Especially areas like Artists' Alley .. less expensive to exhibit there.... and less space set aside each year for this core component of the show...

Once the show opens .. inside and out .. YES it does dazzle...

So many activities... programming spills out into ballrooms at the main hotels...

This large booth for a new show "The Bare Bears" got lots of attention...

It featured daily photo ops and button give aways...

Ugly Dolls have always had a strong presence at Comic Con and fans line up for this booth's con exclusives...

They also got the word out about an new film...

Here's a shot early one morning when the show first opened to attendees...

Below, artist Bruce Timm signs sketchbooks...

The booth for AMC'S Walking Dead featured a walk-though with live zombies...

Don't worry ,.,. I took all these pics from the safe side of the rope :)

All of the major studio and toy companies had long lines for their merchandise or signings.

The BBC America booth had a line that wrapped around the booth.. then continued against the wall of the room.. with staff from the booth helping the line move along...

So much love for Sherlock!

The crowds and lines shouldn't surprise me....

Here's the Ant-Man stage during show hours....

Besides all the corporate displays with swag and prototypes for future collecting ...
There's also so much randomness to marvel at...

Superhero bathrobe anyone ..

Steampunk booth...

As the show goes on ... the lines and waits continue..

Managing the Hall H situation continues to be a problem .. so much demand for the big movie and TV show panels...In spite of wrist bands and outdoor lines under tents .. people keep coming and camping out..

More views outside Hall H....

The shuttle buses seems to be handling the crowds better. The waits weren't too long .. and the routes extend far out now... more proof of the reach and area impact of this event...

The entire area inside and around the convention center is swamped all four days...

5th Street/Gaslamp District entrance is shut down to cars in an attempt to handle the pedestrian traffic...

Always crowds for portfolio review..

Also in the upstairs Sails Area ..... autographs...

The art show..

Freebie table..

Attendee badge pick-up...

Artists at this color marker booth made good use of their chance to demo the supplies...They produced these two large paintings on-site, then offered them up for sale...