[Groop] San Diego Comic-Con

[rufferta at cox.net]

Just to let you know that I had the same miserable experience as Chris trying to get tickets by following directions. At least you got something - I wasn't able to get any tickets at all.  One thing my "conspiracy theory" mind has been asking is "Why did you know to go directly to the website rather than using the link sent in the email?" Had you tested the link earlier and realized it was the weak part of the chain, or is it just common sense "techy" knowledge? 

Sorry to be so grumpy, but Comi-Con was one of the high points of my year. In my "real life" few people I know like comics - ever fewer know who Sergio is.  Oh well.


---- "Senkpiel wrote: 
> I have been to the Motor City Comic Con (Detroit) and the Emerald City Comicon (Seattle) and had the opportunity to meet Sergio Aragonés at both, but I have never been to the Comic-Con and have wanted to go for some time.  (Being in Canada makes that a little more difficult.)  I tried last year to no avail.  This year the process for me was much like it was for you except I went to directly to the Comic-Con web site a little earlier, at about 8:08 a.m.  My number in line was about 21000.  I was hoping, like most, to get a four day pass, which I didn't, but I did manage to get tickets to Thursday and Sunday. 
> 
>  
> 
> From: groop-bounces at groo.com [mailto:groop-bounces at groo.com] On Behalf Of Chris McCollum
> Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2012 1:21 PM
> To: groop
> Subject: [Groop] San Diego Comic-Con
> 
>  
> 
> I usually buy my tickets for the next years Comic-Con during the first day I attend the convention. There have never been any lines during the first few days of the con and I like to get it out of the way. It was very convenient doing it this way for the last 10 years or so.
> Last year the Comic-Con committee took that option away and made that almost impossible to purchase a on site registration.
> You had to wait in line for hours, at a off site hotel, to get a chance to buy one of 1500 tickets. The line was forming at 4 am or earlier, and opening the line at 8am,they sold out in less than a half hour, leaving thousands without anything to show for their 4 to 6 hour wait each day. I decided not to waste my morning like this, when I was told on line registration would come later. 
> Months later, after signing up for a twitter account to get updates, I was told I needed to sign up for a member ID, which I did, and wait for the on line registration. Meanwhile, I watched their video telling how to maximize my chances of successfully purchasing a ticket, and down loaded their pdf file, giving further important instructions. 
> Finally the day came to register for a ticket. At 8am on 3/3 I was at my computer and hit the link at exactly 8am. I got a "site unavailable" or "error" window. I tried again with the same result. I tried my lap top and hit the link to the site like I had been shown in their video, again the same result,site unavailable due to too much activity or site wasn't yet up. I tried my lap top again with the same results. I went back to my desk top and tried one more time, same thing. I finally wised up and disregarding the instructions they gave me, I went to the comic con web site directly, and immediately got through. My number in line was 30948. It was 8:11am. After staying on hold for a little over one hour my number came up. I entered my ID number and was informed that everything was sold out except for a one day Sunday ticket. I quickly decided that this was the best I could do, so I clicked to purchase and was quickly told that this ticket was sold as well, and there were no further tickets available. I was shut out. I've been going to this, my home town convention, for over 20 years without missing, and I was not able to purchase a ticket.
>  I hate that comics have taken a supporting role to the movie and TV industry making this their showcase, taking over our convention. I mostly hate the over crowding it has created, and the back seat comic books have had to take. But I could still enjoy the show. I could still attend most of the panels that I loved, Quick Draw, Voice animators,Sergio Aragones, Scott Shaw!s oddball comics presentation, all of Mark Evanier's Golden and Silver Age tributes and of course the Groo panels. 
>  I had thought about not attending for the past several years as the crowds grew, but I still came. I couldn't help myself. I attended every Groo panel with many lasting memories, but I feel an era has past. The death of the Comic-Con I once loved. I don't think that will be attendaing another. 
> Chris McCollum, Garden Grove
>