Important Notes About Attending Programs and Events at Comic-Con
Comic-Con International once again features a massive schedule of programming
events—the largest of any comics or pop culture convention in the country. The
schedule spans all four days and includes 17 separate rooms in the Convention
Center, ranging in size from 280 seats to the massive 6,500-seat Hall H. In
addition, Comic-Con branches out to the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel for
three big days (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) of programs and special events.
The Marriott Marquis & Marina serves as the headquarters hotel for anime,
nighttime films, games, the Hospitality Suite and the Comic-Con International
Independent Film Festival.
Over the past few years, as attendance at Comic-Con has grown by leaps and
bounds, the number of people attending events has also grown. To make everyone's
programming experience as pleasant as possible, we ask that you follow these
guidelines. While they apply to all events and rooms at Comic-Con, including
anime and film screenings and games, they are particularly important in the big
programming venues: Rooms 6A, 6BCF, 6DE, 20, and Hall H. These procedures are
for safety purposes and to help ease line and crowd control issues. They
include:
• In the primary programming room area (Rooms 4 through 9 on the top level of
the Convention Center), the four hallways leading into these rooms have been
designated either as entrance only or exit only. Please see Map #4 on page 6 in
the Quick Guide in the center of this publication and look for the signage over
each of the programming room hallways upstairs.
• In addition, each room has a definite entrance and exit, and some of the
larger rooms have specific areas for lining up. When you're in a room, please
listen for the directions for leaving once a program is over. The various maps
in the Quick Guide show the locations of specific room entrances, exits, and
lines. Also, look for signage that will help you locate the correct line for
each programming room.
• Comic-Con has a 15-minute break between programs in the five largest
programming rooms (6A, 6BCF, 6DE, 20, and Hall H). This break is to help get
attendees in and out of these larger rooms in a timely manner. Rooms will not be
cleared during the break. (The programs in the other rooms—4, 5AB, 7AB, 8, 9,
23ABC, 24ABC, 25ABC, 26AB, 28DE, 30CDE, 32AB, and the Indigo Ballroom—will still
run back-to-back without breaks).
Please keep in mind...
• Seating in all event rooms at Comic-Con is on a first-come, first-served
basis. Because of the sheer number of attendees, simply having a badge does not
guarantee a seat in programs and events or an autograph from a specific
celebrity. If there is a specific program or presentation you would like to see,
it's always a good idea to plan accordingly and arrive early.
• Seating is limited in each room, from the smallest (280 seats) to the
largest (6,500). To help everyone, please:
• Do not put your bags, food, etc. on the seat next to you.
• Please do NOT save seats.
• Don't leave gaps in seating. Please fill in all seats.
• If you are standing in a room, you may be asked to move or find a seat. This
request is for safety reasons and is under the jurisdiction of the Fire Marshal.
Standing in any programming room at any time is not recommended.
• There is no reserved seating for press. Press badges do not guarantee entry to any event.
• Room clearing: Comic-Con does not clear rooms between events; you are
permitted to stay in the same room for multiple programs (with certain
exceptions; if a room is to be cleared, that will be announced).
• Full rooms: Rooms filled to capacity will be closed, and no additional
attendees will be admitted. This policy is under the jurisdiction of the Fire
Marshal.
• Recording of any of the video footage or images projected onto the screens
in any of the rooms is strictly prohibited. Hollywood movie and television
studios go to great lengths and expense to bring these special showings for
Comic-Con. In many cases these are exclusive presentations, specifically for
you, the Comic-Con attendees. Recording of any of these presentations, by any
means, including cameras and camera phones, is a violation of copyright law.
Please don't ruin it for all of us! If any of these special presentations appear
on the Internet, the studios may stop bringing the special presentations we all
love so much. Comic-Con has an exemplary record in this regard, and that's why
you'll continue to see exclusive presentations only at our events, but only you
can make sure that continues.
• Photography: Each program has its own set of rules, and sometimes photography is allowed. When taking pictures, please keep these guidelines in mind:
• Keep flash photography to a minimum.
• Take photographs from your seat.
• Follow the rules of each particular panel. Some events will not allow
photography of any kind. An announcement will be made if that is the case.
• Q&A: When asking questions of the people on stage, please be courteous. For
example, please don't ask for a kiss, a hug, an autograph, a baby, a prom date,
or the chance to give speakers a copy of your script, résumé, or
movie. Such requests stop a program in its tracks. These celebrities are taking
time out of their busy schedules to see you. Please treat them with respect.
Because of time constraints, sometimes not everyone who gets in line will be
able to ask a question. In the bigger rooms (Hall H, Rooms 6A, 6BCF, 6DE, and
20), your question will be screened before you can ask it.
• Cell phones: Just like in a movie theater, please silence all cell phones when
you enter any programming room. If you must take a call, please leave the room
to do so, but be advised if the room is full and closed, you may not get back
in. At all times, please be courteous to your neighbors.
• Trash: Please take your trash with you. Remember that other people will also
be attending events in the room following you. Do not leave trash on the chairs
or in the area around your seat.
• Cancellations: In rare instances, a guest will have to cancel because of a
situation out of his or her control. Keep in mind that all programs, events, and
listed appearances are subject to change.
In Hall H...
Comic-Con is once again using the massive 6,500-seat hall known as Hall H. This hall is so huge that in addition to the notes above, it has some specific guidelines:
• The line for Hall H starts outside the building in Plaza Park. Look for the
sign that reads "Hall H line begins here."
• Please remain seated once an event starts and leave only after the event finishes.
• There are restrooms in Hall H. When you are facing the stage, the restrooms
are to your right. If you leave the hall—for any reason—you may not be allowed
back in or you may have to get in line to get back in. Again, because of Fire
Marshal rules, this policy will be strictly enforced, with no exceptions.
Comic-Con has the best attendees in the world, and comics publishers,
Hollywood studios, and everyone in the pop culture industries knows this. That's
why Comic-Con has the most incredible guests and programs of any convention. We
know you're here because you love this stuff as much as we do. Please keep the
above guidelines in mind at all times, and we'll all have a safe, courteous, and
fun time at the show!
