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Professionals get a chance to connect with their
fans at Comic-Con International.
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The Comic-Con 2013 professional application period closed on December 10, 2012. We are not accepting any professional applications for 2013.
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Trade professional badge registration for Comic-Con 2013 is NOW OPEN! Click here to register for your badge.
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The Comic-Con 2014 professional application period is now open! The deadline to submit an application and verification materials is October 17, 2013.
How do I sign up for a Member ID?
Click here to create your Comic-Con Member ID. A Comic-Con Member ID is free and available to all adults and juniors (ages 13 to 17) with a valid email address.
I already have a valid Member ID, but I have never attended as a professional. How does my Member ID change from an attendee member class to a professional member class?
If you have already submitted an application, your member class will change to a professional member class if you are approved. You do not need to sign up for a new Member ID if you already have one. Your existing ID will automatically change to a professional member class once you are approved.
How do I apply as a professional?
Complete the "Comic-Con and WonderCon Anaheim Application for Professionals" found in the downloadable "Information and Application for Professionals" PDF. Mail the application and your verification materials to:
Professional Registration
Comic-Con International/WonderCon Anaheim
P.O. Box 128458, San Diego, CA 92112-8458
OR
Email the application and your verification materials to: pro_applications@comic-con.org.
Be sure to include your MEMBER ID on your application or it will not be considered.
Can I fax my professional application and verification materials?
No. All applications and materials must be sent via email or post mail.
Do all qualifying professionals get a badge?
The number of professional badges is limited. Professionals may register until the professional capacity limit has been reached. After that, no additional professional badges will be issued.
Who qualifies as a professional at Comic-Con?
Comic-Con International and WonderCon Anaheim welcome professionals and executives in the comic book, book publishing, animation, film, television, gaming, and related industries. ("Related" refers to those who produce material based on comic book, graphic novel, comic strip, animation, or fantasy/sci-fi properties.)
Professional registration has two badge categories:
The Creative Professional Badge
The creative professional badge is a complimentary badge offered to professionals who take an active role in the creation, design, writing, editing, or production of comics, animation, films, books, video games, or toys. Job titles might include writer, artist, penciller, inker, colorist, letterer, animator, designer, sculptor, editor, publisher, producer, actor, etc. This category includes retired career professionals from comics and related popular arts field. The creative professional badge is also extended to those responsible for the content of websites that promote the historic or ongoing contribution of comics to art or society.
Unfortunately, we cannot extend complimentary professional badges to support staff, including sales, marketing, accounting, managers, testers, analysts, administrative staff, IT, facilities, operations, and others who are not directly involved in the creative process.
The Trade Professional Badge
The trade professional badge is offered to agents, publicists, managers, executives, marketing, sales, business development, advertising, legal representatives, and other industry professionals who need to attend the convention for business reasons. Comic-Con trade professional badges are available for purchase to those who do not qualify as a creative professional.
Creative professional and trade professional badges are limited, and not all applicants who meet the guidelines can be accommodated. Professional verification and approval is ultimately at the discretion of Comic-Con International.
How do I indicate whether I am applying as a creative professional or trade professional?
You do not need to specify which type of professional you are applying as because there is only one professional application. Comic-Con's verification team will make the determination and notify you after reviewing your application and verification materials.
Why do I need to send in my verification materials?
As a nonprofit organization, Comic-Con International is able to provide a professional badge to individuals who meet the published guidelines and who provide verification materials of qualifying artistic credits or proof of employment with qualified job titles.
I am a well known comic professional. Why do I need to send proof of my work in the industry?
Comic-Con International processes over 12,000 professional applications every year. With this kind of volume, we need to employ temporary staff that may not necessarily be familiar with your personal credits.
How often do I need to send verification materials?
Comic-Con International requires that all professionals resubmit verification materials every three years with continued qualifying work.
I am either a first-time applicant or it is time for me to submit my verification materials. What should I submit?
Because Comic-Con International gets so many applications to attend Comic-Con as a professional, we ask that applicants supply verification materials as proof of occupation in the industry. Verification materials can include credited or uncredited work. If the work is uncredited, both proof of employment and job title. If you are not sure exactly what to submit, send information that verifies your qualifying job title, position or type of work. Here are some suggestions to help you. Your own verification documents may not be these exact documents, but use these examples and suggestions as a starting point:
For credited work:
If your work appears with credits, please circle where your name is credited, and mark the page clearly so we can easily locate your credits. Do not send a URL or link. You must print the webpage and circle your name. You can submit an original or a photocopy of the credits page, a sample of the work, a screen capture; photocopies of SAG, Writers Guild, or Directors Guild cards; end credits of a game, freelance contracts, proof of membership in the National Cartoonists Society or CAPS, or a printed-out webpage such as IMDB, MobyGames, etc. that clearly displays your name and title as an artist. Photocopies must be readable or your application will be returned.
For uncredited work:
Please submit two forms of verification that show your job title and the company you work for. These may include a business card AND an employee badge, a printout of your company webpage listing you as a principal or executive of the company, or a letter from the company stating your name and your job title as an artist or company executive. If your job title does not clearly explain the work and how it qualifies for a professional badge, include a detailed description of your work. If your job title, position, or type of work would normally fall in the credited work category, submit your credits, or an explanation why you are not submitting credits.
What if I cannot provide verification materials supporting my work in the industry?
If you cannot, or choose not to, provide the required verification materials, we suggest you purchase a badge through general attendee registration. Your application as a professional cannot be processed if you do not provide verification of your work as a professional in the comics or related popular arts. Listing your work projects on your application is not considered verification. You must submit qualifying verification materials to support the projects on your application.
When will I receive a response to my application?
Please allow 3 - 4 weeks to process applications and verification materials. All applications are processed in the order in which they are received. If you do not receive a response within 4 weeks, please send an email to proreg@comic-con.org that includes your Member ID. Also include the date your verification materials were mailed and describe the materials you submitted.
I sent in my application and was approved for Comic-Con 2013. Now what?
EPIC Online Professional Badge Registration will open January 28, 2013 at 10:00 AM Pacific Time (PT). You will be sent a registration link at least 48 hours before badge registration opens via the email that is linked to your Member ID account. Please check your email frequently for this notification. We also suggest that you log in to your Member ID account and confirm that you did not opt-out of email correspondence. This information is found in the "Change My Preferences/Unsubscribe" section once you have logged in.
When do I register for my Comic-Con 2013 badge and guest badge?
EPIC Online Professional Badge Registration will open January 28, 2013 at 10:00 AM Pacific Time (PT). At that time, you will be able to register Comic-Con badges for yourself and guests, if badges are still available at that time.
Do all attending professionals get guest badges?
All registered professionals are NOT guaranteed a guest in either category, paid or complimentary. Guests of professionals may be registered until the capacity limit has been reached. Comic-Con International cannot predict or determine when this limit will be reached, and complimentary guest of professional badges reach capacity very quickly.
What is the professional guest capacity limit?
To prevent overcrowding, the number of guest of professional badges will be capped. There is no deadline for registering guests and we cannot predict when the limit will be reached. Once guest badges have sold out, no additional guests—paid or complimentary—will be accepted for professionals, even if they have not yet registered their free guests. Please request only the number of guest badges you are certain you will need, and promptly cancel registrations for your guests if you learn they will not be attending.
How many guests may I register?
When EPIC Online Professional Badge Registration opens on January 28, 2013, each verified professional may request a complimentary Comic-Con 2013 badge for one guest, with the option to purchase one additional guest badge at the regular 4-day badge price of $175, until capacity is reached. Each verified trade professional may purchase one additional badge at the regular 4-day badge price of $175. Guest badges in each category are limited, and not all guests can be accommodated. Professional guest badges can be used to register an adult or junior guest (age 13 to 17). The badge price is the same whether the guest is a junior or an adult when purchased through professional registration.
To receive the attendee junior badge pricing of $87, we recommend purchasing a general attendee junior badge. Children age 12 and under are free with a professional badge and do not count toward your guest limit. Child badges must be registered onsite at Industry Registration. Please click here for details.
Guest badges are limited. Once the guest limit is reached, no further guests can be registered, even if you have not yet registered a guest. Registered professionals are not guaranteed a guest badge.
Will onsite registration be available?
There will be NO onsite registration for professionals or guests.
What happens if I lose my badge?
Lost badges will be charged a replacement fee of $175.00.
Do my guests need a Member ID?
No, professional guests do not need a Member ID.
I missed the professional application deadline. What can I do?
Because of the high volume of applicants, applications and materials submitted after the deadline will not be accepted under any circumstances.