Are you ready for Returning Registration?

 16 SEPTEMBER 2024

One of those most stressful days of the year is almost here: SDCC Returning Registration! For you 2024 first-timers - and there were a lot of you - this day probably seems like the bonus of all bonuses. An extra bite at the apple! And it does double your chances (mostly) but it's not a guarantee.

For instance. Behold last year. It was for me, and many others, a jumbled, error-prone badge sale. I let out a mighty scream at one point when it kept wiping out people I was trying to buy for and eventually, cost me Preview Night badges entirely. (Which was made up for in Open Reg - but still.) Nothing, and I mean nothing, amps my blood pressure like an SDCC badge sale.

People also observed - and I have zero data, math, or stats to prove this - that it seemed fewer than usual Preview Night badges were sold during Ret Reg and more sold than usual during Open Reg. That was my experience as well. I also met an incredible number of first-timers this summer, more than I've met in many years. 

Given that CCI and their processes are (again mostly) a black box - who can say how it will go this year? Not I. The advice remains the same:

~ If you're comfortable doing so, enter your payment method in your Member ID account now to make your buying group experience easier. I know not everyone is thrilled by the idea of their credit card sitting in CCI land. But it does make things easier.

~ Make sure your buying group comrades understand how a badge sale works and that they've verified their information. If you have a first-timer, second-timer, or even third-timer who's not bought a badge before, walk them through the process. It's so frustrating when they are the one who gets picked right away and then flail around, not understanding what to do.

~ Make sure you have the cash or credit to buy badges. Again, if everyone else in your group has entered their payment information, you shouldn't have to pony up for 3 badges - but it's good to be prepared.

~ Be careful who you trust. I've seen a lot of random people announcing the formation of new buying groups online and inviting strangers to join; a random Discord channel I'm in suddenly announced it was now a buying group and requested everyone to submit their last names and Member IDs. I get that this kind of invitation can feel comforting to solo travelers but it's important to work with people you know at least somewhat. 

~ I'm going to ruffle a few feathers here and ask you to consider if you really need a full badge. Because in recent years, I've noticed more and more people who are skipping Con programming in favor of offsites and maybe 1-2 runs through the Exhibit Hall. And yet they feel they must pursue a Preview Night or 4-day badge simply because, well, that's the "best" badge. If this is you, please remember there are many people dying to attend panels and portfolio reviews and comic creator connection who get shut out every year. If you really only need Thursday and Sunday, or could happily skip Preview Night, save yourself some $$$$$ and let someone else grab that day.

Talk to you Saturday.