A student’s survival guide for Comic Con
Maybe you’re like me, a seasoned veteran of Comic Con. Or maybe you’re considering going for the first time this year. Either way, this article will tell you the in and outs of surviving Comic Confrom Sept. 24-26.
1. Buy your tickets early. Like concerts, games and other events, the price of the tickets raises the closer you get to the event. Make sure you buy tickets early in order to get the best price possible.
2. Use a student discount. You can save up to 25 percent if you just use a student ID. You can also get a discount for serving in the military or being a senior.
3. Getting there. Parking for the event is crazy and expensive. Either carpool so you can save money or take the Trax or FrontRunner.
4. Get your wrist pass early. The longest line you’ll wait in is to get a wristband. If you get your wristband early early — at the convention center or through the mail — you can change an two hour wait to five minutes.
5. Get the right apps. Download the Salt Lake Comic Con app. This app gives you a map, list of events panels and even helps you make your own schedule. I would also suggest using the app Find My Friends. This app will help you find your friends, as its often too noisy to call them.
6. Cash is king. When you get to Comic Con you’ll be amazed by the art, collectibles, shirts, etc. Although many places take cards, some don’t, and cash can be super fast.
7. Eat outside the Con. Food is expensive there — I mean, really expensive. If you have your wristband, you can just walk across the street and go to the City Creek Mall’s food court. This saves money, and you still get good food.
8. Don’t be afraid to dress up. If you think you’ll look weird at Comic Con in a costume, you’re wrong. The convention is like Halloween, but the costumes range from hard-core anime to superheroes to even cartoon characters. Make sure you’re costume is comfortable, and if you have a replica weapon, make sure it is in compliance with convention rules (saltlakecomiccon.com/cosplay-costume-play-rules-2015 ).
Me as the Ice King on right from last year's convention.
9. Have Fun: The number one thing I could say is take time to enjoy yourself. If you don’t have time to go to every panel or see every booth, that’s okay. There is always next year to look forward to.
—Riley Thompson studies marketing and is the marketing director for Aggie Radio and The Statesman. He enjoys everything about pop culture, but especially likes to write reviews on comics, movies and apps. He claims to be the No. 1 Disney fan at Utah State University and will challenge anyone who says otherwise. Contact him at rileymcmurdiethompson@gmail.com or on Twitter @RileyMthompson.