10 Tips for Surviving Comic Con the Nice Girls Way

It’s that time of year, when Nice Girls around the world descend on San Diego for the annual geekfest known as Comic Con. This will be the Nice Girls fourth year covering the event, and we’ve learned a few things along the way. Here are some tips from us on how to survive Comic Con with your Nice Girl status intact, complete with training options to prepare you.

NOTE: We’re assuming you already have your pass, lodging, and transportation sorted. If not, then you’re clearly a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of person and thus will probably thumb your nose at our tips.

1. Plan, Plan, Plan! If you’re an Excel geek, this is your time to shine. Get the official schedule and start writing down all the panels/events you want to attend. Now put them in a spreadsheet and shake your fist at the scheduling gods because you have 3 things scheduled for Saturday at 11AM and 4 on Friday at 3PM. It’s OK, this is Comic Con, you’ll always have conflicts. Prioritize your choices, then pat yourself on the back because you may not get into your first (or second) choice, but you were smart enough to have a backup! Training: Organize a wedding. With 2 weeks’ notice.
2. Be Prepared To Throw Those Plans Out The Window! As carefully crafted as your spreadsheet may be, it’s not going to be entirely accurate or comprehensive. Timing snafus, longer then expected lines, and last minute opportunities for something else awesome are bound to throw a wrench into even the most meticulous schedule. Accept it. Roll with the punches. Go with the flow. Some of our best experiences weren’t on our schedule. Training: Plan a day at the beach with 15 of your closest friends, then ditch those plans at the last minute and come up with something equally exciting.
3. You Can Have Comfort AND Style. Most Comic Con tipsters will tell you to sacrifice style and go for comfort. “Wear comfortable shoes!” “Don’t dress up!” “Come in your pajamas!” OK, that last might be an exaggeration, but really? We can be stylish AND comfortable. Obviously don’t wear a miniskirt and stilettos because none of us want to see your naughty bits when you topple over, but jeans, a cute top and flats? Can’t lose. Also, “cute top” includes both your favorite Wonder Woman t-shirt and that peasant blouse you’ve been wearing all summer. Sneakers are acceptable as well, although we prefer something we can slip off during a panel. Training: Put on an outfit you plan to wear at Comic Con, climb 5 flights of stairs, walk a mile, then sit for 3 hours. Still bearable? Take it.
4. Get Over Any Personal Space Issues. For real. Americans are known for desiring more personal space than a lot of other cultures, but that particular quirk is illogical at Comic Con. You’ll be crammed, jammed, bumped, jostled, and crowded. And you’ll probably do the same to a few hundred other people. Rarely is this the result of rudeness, so no glaring or snide comments, Nice Girls. Just accept that you’ll be getting to know your fellow geeks better than you probably know any of your other friends. Training: Volunteer at a pre-school, in the 3-year-old class. Hide cookies in your pockets. Prepare for the stampede.
5. Bring Your Own Noms. Here’s what your food options are in the convention center: hot dogs, nachos, giant cookies, muffins, pretzels, tiny bags of chips, and some candy bars. And they’re extremely overpriced. Do yourself a favor and pack a lunch box with power bars, fresh fruits & veggies (it’s SoCal, you can totally afford to eat healthy here), even a sandwich and chips. Be creative, but don’t forget that you have to lug around whatever you packed, so don’t go overboard. Also, unless you like paying $4 for a bottle of water, bring your own. Training: Read up on the “nutritional value” of the food offered at the convention center. Cringe. Add a lunchbox to your packing list.
6. Bring An Extra Bag For Swag. We always swear we’re not going to succumb to the siren song of the swag bags and merchandise that are so freely available at Comic Con. But we’re lying to ourselves. Leave room in your suitcase, or even bring an extra one, for the goodies you didn’t know you needed. Training: Ship a heavy box to yourself via UPS. See how much that cost? Bring another suitcase.
7. Sleep When You Can. It’s a well-known truth at Comic Con: sleep is overrated. Whether you need to get up before the crack of dawn to go stand in line, stay up until the wee hours attending various events, or both, your regular sleeping patterns do not apply here. Training: Spend a week going about your regular routine of work, school, family, etc. but on only 3 hours of sleep per night.
8. Bring Extra Batteries. And your camera. And your laptop/iPad. And your cell phone. And chargers/power cords. You’ll be really pissed if you miss the chance to get your picture taken with Nathan Fillion as he strolls around the Gaslamp District because your battery died. Training: Attend an important family function (wedding, graduation, grandma’s 80th birthday party) and “forget” to put batteries in your camera. How pissed are you now?
9. Make Friends. See those people standing in line with you to get seats in Ballroom 20? See those people sitting in the row ahead of you in Hall H for 6 hours to see the panel they really wanted? Those are your people. You’re all fans or you wouldn’t be here. Say hi. Share your experiences within your fandom. Offer them some of the noms you so wisely packed. You may end up with a new BFF. Training: Strike up a conversation with someone in that slow line at the supermarket. You’ll be amazed at how much more you enjoy waiting for the woman with 87 coupons to checkout.
10. Have Fun! Remember, you’re here because you’re a fan! You’re coming to see people from your favorite TV show, or that movie you’re anticipating, or the graphic novel you love. Enjoy yourself. Revel in the celebration of popular culture. Stand in awe of the sheer amount of creativity on display, not just from the artists but from the fans. And don’t forget to get your hug from a cosplayer. Training: Rewatch episodes of your favorite show. Remember why you love it. Descend on Comic Con in a cloud of euphoria and love.

The Nice Girls will be bringing you live coverage of Comic Con 2011 from panels to press rooms to parties. Be sure to follow us on Twitter – @NiceGirlsTV, @TVWatchtower, @RuebenRambling, @PrlsOfLizdom – to get the latest scoop!