BLOG: How to survive the ‘Mother of all Weekends’

For the second year in the row, I attended all three days of Comicpalooza. Texas’ largest entertainment and pop culture event was held at the George R. Brown Convention Center the weekend of May 10-12.

From attending various panels to meeting the stars of HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” I walked away with even more survival tips. Although the “Mother of all Weekends” may leave one wishing they had an iron throne to sit and rest on, here is some advice.

Mother of all Patience

The weekend was filled with celebrity guests including Emilia Clarke and Nathalie Emmanuel, who portrayed Daenerys Targaryen and Missandei, respectively, on “Game of Thrones.” Prior to the weekend’s events, I purchased the Mother of Dragons Speed Pass, an autograph ticket for Emmanuel, and a photo op ticket for Clarke.

While this is not the first time I have received an autograph or photo with a celebrity, it is the first time I had to deal with long and disorganized lines. Although “speed” is in the name, having a speed pass does not mean one gets that much of an advantage.

Aside from getting a good, up-close seat at the “Game of Thrones” Q&A panel, the speed pass only really allows for one being placed in a shorter line for autographs and photo ops. However, those lines were not always made clear. Additionally, because of the stars’ tight schedules, one can wait 40 plus minutes in a line, only to be turned away and asked to come back later.

Yet, despite the mild frustration with the sorting process for autographs and photo ops, being able to meet two of the biggest stars in the world was worth the wait. However, it was not necessarily worth the cost.

Caution: Prepare to be searched constantly

When it comes to big events like Comicpalooza, which sees thousands of people flocking to one venue, safety is a must. Thus, it is understandable to see a lot of security checkpoints to have one’s bags checked.

The only issue is the placement of these checkpoints. Given that the comic con covers the length of the George R. Brown Convention Center, including all three floors, there are times when one has to go through two or three bag checks just to make it from Point A to Point B.

With that in mind, go into the weekend packing very light. Avoid bags and backpacks with too many zippers, as each one – no matter how small – has to be looked into. Further, when one sees a checkpoint on the horizon, start opening zippers and pockets to make the process more efficient.

Final tips and tricks

At Comicpalooza, tons of artists, creatives and vendors set up shop on the exhibit floor for the duration of the weekend. As one of the biggest attractions for who venture out to the comic con, it is important to note there will be lots of people walking about.

If one is not big on crowds, the best days to go to the exhibit hall are Friday and Sunday. Saturday, when the big Q&A celebrity panels are held, tends to be the most crowded.

Thus, it is good to make use of the list on the Comicpalooza website of vendors and creatives scheduled to appear. By checking out their websites and social media pages, one will be able to make note of booths they most want to stop by.

Lastly, make use of the Comicpalooza app. This is one of the best tools to survive even just one day at the comic con, as it contains schedule information and maps of the convention center.

For more information on Comicpalooza, head to www.comicpalooza.com.