Knowing when a line is worth it

23 JULY 2024

If there's one question that has dominated our Comic-Con season, it's this: "will there by a standby line?"

With so many offsites and exclusives becoming ticketed or lotteried, people are loathe to give up hope on their SDCC dreams. I think there can be a misguided but plucky belief that persistence always pays off in the end and some kind-hearted staffer will see your line time and sneak you in. 

But this doesn't always (or often) happen. Ask veterans about the Game of Thrones experience from years ago, when people waited 12+ hours in line for naught. One True Blood panel - now I'm really reaching back - had people waiting in the hot sun for an entire day, even though it was clear from the volume that most weren't getting in. Don't count on someone official managing lines and making calls on where the cut-off should be based on room capacity. Often, you're on your own. 

I am a big believer in enjoying the Con you're at - and it's hard to do that if you spend all of it in a line. So try to be realistic about when a line is worth it. There is always something else to do. And so many attendees (including yours truly) have spent hours in line for an offsite that turned out to be 10 minutes of mediocrity.

Your decision will, of course, hinge somewhat on your fandom level. But you also need to ask yourself if:

• You'll be disappointed if the offsite experience is over with in 3 minutes and doesn't offer significant swag
• You would prefer to do 3 C-list offsites than wait hours for 1 A-list offsite
• You would be okay seeing the panel on YouTube or in the Playback room
• You'll feel let down if your favorite cast member only speaks once, while the director dominates the panel
• You'll be disappointed if you get stuck so far back in the room you have to watch the panel on a screen anyhow
• You haven't gotten a chance to thoroughly explore the Exhibit Hall
• There's anything else going on at the same time that you really want to see

If you answer yes to most of those - I wouldn't spend significant time in that line.

Always check socials for real time updates on lines - not just for what you want to do, but what you've already written off. Hall H and Ballroom 20 may become surprisingly walk-in at some point. A line might dwindle at your dream offsite or you may hear a rumor they're letting people in for an additional hour than was posted.

Make smart choices - and good luck.