How busy was Planet Comicon Kansas City this Saturday? Honestly, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen so many fans eager to get into Bartle Hall and fill the show floor. If you look at the photos, you can see the sheer scale of the crowd—it was a sea of fandom!
Over my years of covering conventions, and Planet Comicon specifically, I’ve developed a few “pro tricks” for navigating the Saturday rush. However, as any seasoned reporter knows, knowing the wisdom and executing it are two different things!
Lesson 1: The Early Bird Gets the Floor
The golden rule for Saturday is to arrive early. As a member of the press, I usually have the advantage of getting onto the floor before the main rush. But today? I’ll be honest—I was just too tired. I knew the lesson, but I didn’t execute the plan. Arriving late meant diving straight into the peak Saturday madness.
Lesson 2: The Afternoon Escape
My second rule is to retreat from the show floor during the Saturday afternoon peak. This is the perfect time to head to the panels, and I did exactly that today. I spent my afternoon in the Grand Ballroom and several other panel rooms taking in several sessions, including a fantastic Q&A with the legendary William Shatner. Stay tuned for deep-dive articles on those coming soon!
Lesson 3: The Hallway Magic
Sometimes the best moments happen when you’re just trying to find a quiet corner. While sitting in the hallway to draft an article, I had a great “only at a con” experience meeting Rodney Peterson (aka Not_Logan_Paul). You can check out my previous post for the full story on that chance encounter!
Lesson 4: Budget Your Time (and Your Patience)
Two final takeaways for the big Saturday push:
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Give yourself a buffer. You aren’t going anywhere fast on a Saturday show floor. If you have a photo op or a panel, budget double the time you think you need to get there.
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Pack your patience. Getting frustrated because you’re stuck in a “herd” of people won’t help you, and it won’t make the experience better for anyone else.
As William Shatner reminded us during his panel today, sometimes things can be a struggle, but you have to look at the positive side. You’re at a geek convention surrounded by like-minded people celebrating the things you love. Don’t let the crowds ruin the magic.
I truly enjoyed every minute of covering this glorious event today. We’ll be heading back for the final day tomorrow—and while I know I’ll be worn out, I also know I’ll start missing the “awesomeness” the moment I begin my three-hour drive home tomorrow night.
Stay Geeky!
