Most movies and television shows would have you believe that the convention scene is just a bunch of twelve-year-old kids wearing costumes that are too big for them and trading Pokemon cards. But it's not so my friends. The "con" scene is incredible, exciting, and Comic-Con in particular has more layers to it than you might have ever guessed. Here are 10 things you may not have known about Comic-Con.

1.)    There’s a blood drive. That’s right, Comic-Con cares, and the annual blood drive is done in the name of sci-fi legend Robert A. Heinlein. So swing by and donate a pint. Find more details here http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_blood.shtml


2.)    They just might look over your portfolio. Geeks look out for their own, and this is part of that unique “in-crowd” experience you can have at Comic-Con. They don’t want to keep you at consumer level, the organization as a whole supports aspiring writers, artists, directors, and more. So go prepared to get some genuine advice and be ready to follow it. http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_portrev.shtml


3.)    There’s always more than one thing going on at once. It’s kind of like Disney World that way. You have to plan ahead and decide what matters most to you. Here’s a little travel tip, familiarize yourself with the schedule before you get there, or you could waste precious time catching up and making up your mind.


4.)    You never know who just might be walking around in the crowd with you. Famous people don’t just attend to sit on panel, you know. Play your cards right, don’t do the crazy fan thing, and you could be chatting with anyone from a Next Gen cast member to a summer blockbuster director. Remember, people who are in the business are more often than not fanboys and girls, so they dig this kind of thing too.

5.)    There’s a masquerade.  This isn’t your average party where all the girls are dressed up in drug store cat costumes. The website calls this a “stage-extravaganza”. Because if there’s one thing fans do well, it’s re-create costumes. This is the 35^th year for the masquerade ball. It’s become a talent-show like competition, and while competitive slots are full this year, you can still get on the waiting list.


6.)    There’s an art show. You can see amateur and professional art as well as all the books nominated for the Will Eisner award. See? The culture just keeps on coming.


7.)    Comic-Con is a film festival in disguise. But I tell you more about that on Monday.


8.)    Child-care is available. Look, if there’s one thing that’s true, it’s that the geeks of the world need to procreate. I know, population problems abound. But it may be the only thing that can save the planet. The more geeks, the better our chances at eliminating global warming and inventing workable hologram-phones. If you’re already working on that and you have your own spawn, here is where you can leave them if you need to attend something that may frighten the little tikes. Otherwise, escort them around, teach them our ways… http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_child.shtml


9.)    There’s a preview night. But there are a lot of stipulations about who can attend. But lots of people don’t know about this, and it’s worth investigating. Maybe you qualify for attendance and you didn’t even know it!


10.)You Can’t Show Up At the Door and Get In! Learn this and learn it well. I can imagine that every year, at least a dozen poor souls show up thinking they can buy tickets off a scalper and walk in. But you can’t, registration is a detailed process that needs to be done in advance. Read some of Comic-Con’s fast facts for some more important details. http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_fastfacts_2009.php