by Josh
As many of this year’s Hall H’ers are aware, Comic-Con decided that they wanted to try something new out this year, to hopefully make the line process a smoother one. The big question is, was it a positive or negative experience? I should preface this article: I appreciate Comic-Con trying to make the line experiences more manageable. It is a very difficult job to do, when you have thousands of diehard fans lining up insanely early to see panels that are two days away. This article is intended to shine some light on the positive and negative experiences this new policy had.
Explanation and Experiences for SDCC’s Hall H Line
So for those who were not a part of the Hall H lines, Comic-Con was going to have staff hand out wristbands to people in line, starting with wristbands labeled “A” going through to “D”. The idea was the line would be divided into quarters, with one quarter of the line being assigned a letter. People given those wristbands were supposed to get into the hall. An A wristband obviously would be a better situation than someone with a D. Comic-Con was sure to cover themselves with a “disclaimer” on the wristband stating, “wristband does not guarantee entry”. The wristbands would start being handed out the evening before the panel, then stop at 1:00am. Handing out would resume at 5:00am, until all wristbands were gone. Anyone who did not have a wristband would have a slim chance of getting into the hall, for the first panel at least.
I did not experience any day other than Saturday and Sunday for this new wristband policy. Violet however, did experience it for Thursday night/Friday. As I understand it, Thursday night was a bit hectic. People had crammed tightly into the tents, causing a lot of congestion in the tents, and people were unable to make their “camps” until the line was expanded. Also, the process for Thursday night took a very long, with “B” wristbands not being handed out until 12:30am. This meant no sleeping until you had your band!
Friday night/Saturday seemed to go a little smother, but it still had its hiccups. The wristbands were all handed out by midnight. When “D” wristbands were beginning to be handed out, I counted roughly how many people were in front of us, and estimated roughly 800 people in front of us. Considering the Hall holds 6,500 people, are chances seemed very good to receive a wristband. We did not, however, and they ran out about 70 people before us. Being concerned we might not make it in, we asked the staff who were finishing up handing out the wristbands how many they handed out, but they had no idea. That really put Violet, I and our group in a tough spot–we didn’t know how many wristbands were handed out, so we didn’t know whether we should stay in line or not. Wasn’t that the point of the wristbands, or am I missing something? Add to that the wristbands saying, “does not guarantee entry” puts even the people at the tail end of “D” in the same spot!
Pros for Wristbands for Hall H:
No Hall H Line Cutters
The best actual benefit to the wristbands was reducing the ability to cut in line. Without a wristband, it would seem impossible. Also, you do not have to worry about someone holding a spot for 25 people in front of you. That is certainly a big plus for the wristbands. Of course, cutting past people who don’t have wristbands would be possible, but since those people’s chances of getting in are slim, I guess it isn’t a big deal.
An “Okay” Indicator
As quoted from the Toucan Tracker Blog regarding wristbands: “Our goal is to help attendees get a better idea of the length of the line for Hall H…In order to help you manage your valuable time Comic-Con.” If a person had an “A” through “C” wristband, they were all but in the Hall. People with “D” wristbands on the other hand…
Ability to Leave Line
Since having a wristband allowed you to leave the line (given that at least someone in your group remained in line), groups could alternate people in and out to shower, grab food or do whatever else they needed to–as long as they already had their wristband.
Cons For Wristbands for Hall H:
The Cyclical-Panic Effect
This is my biggest issue with the wristbands. Comic-Con’s Hall H has already had this problem without the wristbands. Every year, it seems attendees get in line earlier and earlier. Why do they get in line earlier? Because they noticed the year before that people were in line earlier than them. Then the next year, people realized how early everyone else got in line, and they get in line earlier. This cycle seems almost never-ending. Then the wristbands are introduced, which seems to incentivize getting in line early. Not only did you have to get in line now, you had to get something while in line.
Being an “Okay” Indicator
Yes this was in the positives as well, but it is also a negative. Being only “okay” makes it hard for the people near the end of “D” and the people after “D” to know whether they should say or not. Unless you go through the line and accurately count how many people are in line, you still will not know if you are going to get in or not. That seems to kind of defeat the purpose of the wristbands.
Stranded in Hall H Line
Once you’re in line you have to wait for the wristband to be handed out. Until the wristband is on your wrist, you are chained to the line. That means not even going to the bathroom–for potentially hours. It also means no sleep until you have a wristband. If you get in line around 12:00am, you have to wait until the wristbands get around to you before you can sleep.
Final Thoughts on the Wristbands for Hall H:
Again, I appreciate Comic-Con trying to make the line experience a better one. I personally feel that the wristbands were probably an unnecessary addition. I do not think there are that many people allowing people to cut in line, and it really did not give a great indication as to how likely we were to get in. Veterans of Comic-Con have a better idea based on where you get in line at than what the wristbands indicated. If they decide to continue with the wristband policy next year, they should certainly look into tightening up the process in order to make it go much smoother.
Poll: What Did you Think of the Wristband Policy?
So, what did you think of the implementation of the wristband policy? Check out our poll below. I am very interested in seeing what other Comic-Con-ers think!
From the initual descriptions by CCI of what they planned to do with the bands, it went about how I expected it to: not very well. Given that I heard people referring to themselves as being trapped or held against their will (in reference to not being *allowed* to leave until the wristbands were handed out), I don’t know how they can continue forward without a major overhaul of the process.
Even though I did not go to this Con, I still believe every Con has its flaws, no matter how may ways they try to please everyone and make it smoother. It’s only safe to say that the wrist bands are a good idea, so you can enjoy other aspects of the con instead of waiting in one line all day. But it’s still a work in progress.
It made the lines longer and they weren’t 100% on their game every night. If they do construction and they do the wristbands next year I am hoping for wristbands but instead of camping each section is given a window to return by to avoid waiting/camping. That would make the wristband system almost perfect.
Couldn’t make it this year
I appreciate comic com trying to do something about hall h , but it seemed like it caused a lot if panic. I know people who never camped out before for hall h did this year for the first time since they started giving wristbands out in the evening. By giving wristbands out early, it seemed like comic con was promoting camping, I have gone to hall h on Saturday every year and have always gotten In being there by 7am. This year I didn’t even try ( and since all wristbands for Saturday were handed out by midnight Friday good thing I didn’t have my heart set in going). I hope comic con can continue yo try to address line cutting, but this system caused a lot if panic. Someone slready died a few years ago neigh hit by a car in their attempt to line up early for hall h for one of the Twilight movies panels. Seems like something else bad could happen one day so maybe comic con should think about other strategies ( but it is hard to stop the people forming pre-lines in their attempt to be first in the real line).
I was not able to attend this year. It sounds like they are trying at least, so I like that.
I had a huge problem with the wristbands. There were supposedly an an extra amount of wristbands given out one day (around 200 extra). Also staff was uncooperative and even lied, in response some questions that I asked. In think there should be more colors on the bands to better indicate likeliness of getting inside. Two different colored wristbands was not helpful. Lastly, someone brought up to me that this was good for SDCC because people getting early in line brought media attention and weeded out the somewhat fans, which made the hardcore fans more loud and pumped inside Hall H. This sounds like it was a believable plan by SDCC, and I have mixed feelings about it.
The implementation was weak. They also need to focus on a new location, I heard that 2015 is the last year they have their contract with the convention center so there are rumors they may move to a larger location.
Been going since 2003. Last year hall h wasn’t nearly as bad as this year. I need my sleep so that I may enjoy the con. They should implement a non crazy time that people can start lining up. Five pm the day before is not reasonable. I do like the idea of wristbands so that ppl don’t cut
I like wrist bands for identification!
i think if they give out wristbands, anyone should be able to leave the line without having others in their group; i go to SDCC alone, so even if i got a wristband it would be pointless since i wouldn’t be able to leave!
It was a poor attempt to reign in the masses. The event staff were of no help (one of them didn’t even know how to use a walkie-talkie!) and it was just complete chaos.
Wristbands seemed to cause even more panic because now people had to worry about getting a certain letter and color! I feel like it would help a little with people line cutting but people in Hall H line are vicious and will kick people out. Hopefully CCI will modify it a bit next year.
I think that once you’ve received a wristband you should be able to leave the line and come back later.
Once you had the wristband you were allowed to leave you didn’t have to stay the whole time that was the point of the wristbands. It kept people from saying that you were cutting hence the wristbands having different colors.
Well, if you were there by yourself you still had to stay in line regardless of wristband. I just wished the wristbands had some sort of number on them so that you could leave and then come back at that specific place in line.
I think the idea the wristbands was was good. But one day they’re not letting anybody have a wristband unless you were physically there, then another day people say will my wife is not here and there and they give them an extra wristband. If you were going to implement something follow through 100% not 50/50. That’s what made a lot of the attendees upset, was the lack of follow through. It was worth the shot. See what happens next year.
Hopefully I can go next year. I normally like the idea of wristbands, but it looks like the implementation wasn’t the best.
It is a good idea in theory but they needed to do more about making sure people do not start lining up before they are supposed to. I heard all sorts of things about ‘unofficial’ lines being formed in the middle of the afternoon on Friday for Saturday. Personally I stuck with getting into Ballroom 20 but if I go again I would like to get into Hall H at least once.
The 1st in line for this years Hall H Saturday Pannels started the unnoficial line by Thursday night! How insane is this???
At least you can get out of the line and take a leak.
I hope this is done again next year.
I wasn’t able to go this year. I do not have much to say.
Could not attend this year sadly 🙁
I couldn’t attend, so I can’t say how I feel about this either way.
I wasn’t there this year, so I feel I can’t decide if this is a good idea or not.
Anybody know their policy on wheelchair admittance? I don’t know how many wheelchair spots they have, and I never try to actively leverage my disability in situations like this, but it seems like this system wouldn’t take that into consideration.
Didn’t manage to get in at all this year, but had a tonne of fun in the smaller panels!
A better solution to the Hall H line/every comic con line problem is to… Wait for it…….. SELL LESS BADGES!!!!!
I agree with you. I think SDCC biggest problem is the number of badges sold. If they cut the number to, lets say, 75% of what they are today, the Con would improve enormously.
Agreed. The overall experience of all attendees would be vastly improved if they’d stop overselling the badges. The crowds are brutal, unforgiving, & start earlier & earlier each year. If you want to get into anything cool, win something cool, draw for something cool, you need to be young & willing to sleep on concrete for 2 days, get cooked in the sun, have your belongings stepped on, &/or walk several miles each day. I would gladly pay more for a badge, & draw from a smaller pool of available badges, to lessen the physical stress of attending. Show me a VIP fast pass & I’m all in for it.
What if CCI split all of the awesomeness of Comic Con between Comic Con and Wonder Con? Less people at each event and a more enjoyable (less crowded)experience for all.
Couldn’t make it this year
I wasn’t there this year but my cousins told me all about the Hall H moster (line); it seemed that this new policy worked fine for them but I heard of some people losing their wristbands during the night (whaaaat) … We’ll see how it goes next year
I thought they were good in theory. Hopefully next year some of the bugs are ironed out and it can be smoother. I am all about no line cutting 🙂 xo
I didn’t go but it sounds as though it has the potential to be a good system. Being able to leave the line and no one cutting in are definitely very good pros. Maybe next year they’ll have worked out an even smoother system. Overall, if I make it next year I’d be for the bands.