Rumiko Takahashi Signing at San Diego Comicon
The Feddie Punk of Solomon
ComiCon"
This is the sad account of my attempt to get a autograph from the revered
Rumiko Takahashi at the San Diego ComiCon.
Day 1 - I was wandering around in the dealers room when the tickets were
handed out. I have heard some people say that that the Capital people
where handing the tickets to dealers. One dealer was later reprimanded
for attempting to sell a Rumiko Takahashi autograph ticket. Oh well, I
was in the wrong place at the wrong time. 25 tickets gone... 75 more to go...
Day 2 - Stood in the long line to get into the dealers room again. After
approximately an hour, I finally made it into the dealers room and rushed
over to the Capital City booth. There was a near riot in progress as the
Capital City staff chose to give away the next batch of 25 tickets to
dealers, SDCC staff and "Professionals" even before the regular members
where allowed into the dealers room. I dont know if the SDCC staff asked
Rumiko Takahashi to provide 25 additional tickets, but after the
bruahaha, they Viz announced that there was an additional 25 tickets to
be given only to regular members on Saturday. 25 tickets gone... 75 more
to go...
Day 3 - With only 75 tickets remaining, I and a large bunch of people
decided to stand in line at the convention center at 3am. I arrived in
the line around 4:30-5am and I was 20th in the line. When SDCC security
staff arrived, we were told that our line was going to be the first once
and the only ones let into the dealers room at 9:45AM. 5 hours to go.
The SDCC security wandered by from time to time, reassuring the people in
the front of the line that they would be the first people to be let into
the dealers room for the Rumiko tickets.
9:45AM... The line was let loose and briskly walked through a gauntlet
of SDCC security saying "no running... walk" As I rounded the corner to
the Capital City booth, I was shocked to see that there was already
approximately 50 people already standing in line for the Rumiko Takahashi
autograph tickets. It turns out that the SDCC security staff has also
opened the door to the "professionals" line and since the professionals
door was a straight shot to the Capital City booth, they reached the line
way before the regular members could even get close to the booth.
Various people had stated that some "professionals" had gotten in with
their professional badges and quickly replaced their pro-badges with a
regular badge.
A huge confusion of people ensued. A feeding frenzy would describe the
scene. By the time SDCC security had reformed the line, I was pretty
close to the cutoff point and with people cutting in line, I didnt make
the cut.
Now, at had the ticket selection process been fair and square and
everyone had an equal chance of scoring a ticket, I would have walked
away with a feeling that I had tried but because of luck, missed out on a
chance of a lifetime. Instead, because of the bungling of the SDCC
staff, Capital City staff and Viz, I walked away with a sense that I had
been cheated, that I had wasted money coming to my first SDCC (The plane
ticket, car rental and hotel costs were not trivial). If I had known
this fiasco was going to happen, I would have just stayed home.
I condemn the San Diego Comicon staff, Capital City Distributors and Viz
for this fiasco. My impression of San Diego ComiCon, Capital City and
Viz are forever tainted...
--
Albert "Mr. Surly" Wong
Elayne Wechsler-Chaput
: The Rumiko Takahashi Fiasco or "How I wasted four days at the San Diego
: ComiCon"
Albert, your story pretty much corroborates other "horror stories" we
heard about this (pardon my french) fucked-up situation during the con.
I'm just glad I didn't have my heart as set on meeting Takahashi as you did!
: I condemn the San Diego Comicon staff, Capital City Distributors and Viz
: for this fiasco. My impression of San Diego ComiCon, Capital City and
: Viz are forever tainted...
I don't know that I'd blame the SDCC folks, as it's doubtful how much
control they had over the situation. I think you're damn right to
condemn Cap City and Viz, however. This whole situation was deplorable.
- Elayne
Jeffrey Koga
>Albert, your story pretty much corroborates other "horror stories" we
>heard about this (pardon my french) fucked-up situation during the con.
>I'm just glad I didn't have my heart as set on meeting Takahashi as you did!
Well, I hate to say it, but a "me too" would apply in my case as well. Though
I didn't get in line nearly as early as Albert did, I figured with 125 tickets,
and with most of them being taken by "pinkies" and what-not, I didn't stand a
chance. Sure, I could've gotten up really early, but I was going to sleep at
2:00 AM to wake up at 7:30 to get in line at 8:45. I didn't think it was worth
it (that wasn't a jab at Albert, BTW). I was just trying to be realistic.
I did try to get tickets on Friday, and when I got there, they had already been
given out, even though the schedule said otherwise. And there was one Rumiko
fan in particular who was PISSED OFF! I decided that rather than stick around
to find out what happened, I'd harass some artists for sketches. ^_^
>I don't know that I'd blame the SDCC folks, as it's doubtful how much
>control they had over the situation. I think you're damn right to
>condemn Cap City and Viz, however. This whole situation was deplorable.
Oh yeah! Deplorable indeed! They didn't even give out the tickets at the right
time! And they didn't give any of the FANS a chance to get tickets.
BTW, did anyone bother to check out Rumiko's signing up north on Monday(?)? I'm
wondering if that was better handled.
Yep, Viz won't be getting any of my money anymore. As for Cap City, well, I get
my stuff thru Diamond Distribution. ^_^
--Jeff "Koganuts" Koga
--
Jeff "Koganuts" Koga uk...@mcl.ucsb.edu ** "So...five-card stud, nothing
Head of the Terry Farrell Internet Fan Club ** wild--and the sky's the limit."
(c) 1994 Koganuts Production Studios ** "All Good Things...", "ST:TNG"
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