My first trip to San Diego Comic Con was three years ago, in 2012. Back then, I was a “full-time” tech writer working from home and I was writing freelance (emphasis on free) for Gaming Angels. My fellow con-goer, Erin, and I agreed to go as it was on our bucket list, so to speak. We wanted to experience this massive geek con at least once. We both went on Wednesday, and by Friday, we were both done with it. We were done with the crowds, the lines, the pushing in the Exhibit Hall, and the retailers’ crazy rules for purchasing con exclusives. We did go on Saturday for about half day until the vast crowds made us flee for fresh air.
I swore I would never go back. I absolutely swore this oath.
Did I have fun there? Of course I did. However, the crowds were too much for me. I get claustrophobic in thick crowds easily, which is one reason why I haven’t ever attended Mardi Gras in New Orleans. It was one of those situations that I was very glad I went, but I never wanted to go again.
So fast forward to last year, as I’m watching the press releases come down from the convention, I realize that maybe I probably need to go to witness these announcements first hand for work. A few games that weren’t available at E3 were present at SDCC; maybe I need to be there to catch that coverage. I talked to Erin about going, and we both agreed that we had fun three years ago so we should go again.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to get a pass. I ended up going with another friend, I had my calendar set with some awesome appointments, I was ready to shop for toys, and I was armed with a good attitude. This was going to be fun. I had flipped out last year for no good reason.
By midday Thursday, day one of the show, I was ready to go home. The crowds were already getting to me, and Thursday is one of the least populated days. I had meetings during all of the panels I was interested in, of course I’m going nowhere near Hall H, so it was me, some meetings, and an Exhibit Hall to go shopping in. I was invited to a press party that night, and I agreed to go because 1) PR and 2) free food. I knew no one there, and I’m too much of an introvert to go meet new people by myself. I stayed in one section, ate my food, drank one glass of wine, and then left when I felt too lonely to stay. It didn’t help I was already bummed that the one appointment I was really, really looking forward to, an interview with Chris Sabat, was canceled.
Oh yeah, lonely texts went out to friends. Some of these texts included the words, “I am never coming back here again.”
Already swinging around that promise from three years ago.
Since my interview was canceled, Funimation asked me to come to a DBZ party that night as a VIP (guaranteed entry) and have some fun on them. I was really excited about leaving one lonely party for the next, but I made myself go anyway, and it’s a damn good thing I went. I had no idea that Chris Sabat, Sean Schemmel, and the other DBZ voice actors would be at the party. I was able to meet Chris Sabat in person, introduce myself, tell him what a raging fangirl I was, and then take a photo with him. After I did that, I ran right up to Sean Schemmel and did the same thing. Once my one drink and the high from meeting Chris Sabat wore off, the loneliness set back in and I left for the night. But it was a good night, despite how sad I was when it started.
I woke up Friday swearing I would have a better attitude, and what a difference that made. I went to a couple of panels that I wanted to, I had some great interviews, and I had dinner with old cel collecting friends I hadn’t seen since Gabriel was born. Even though I was leaving on Saturday and I went nowhere near the chaos of the convention proper (Saturday is the worst day for crowds), I had another incredibly great day. All memories of Thursday were mostly gone.
Oh yeah, I’m going back next year if I still have this job. The labor of that first day wasn’t too bad. As long as I stay away from the Hall on Saturday, it’s all good. It wasn’t that painful. Really, it wasn’t.
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