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PRIME: A Waiting in Lines Guide for PAX Newbies
Trisha Lynn
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I read Khoo's recap of how bad the lines were last year and what he had thought they could do to fix them, and I'm all for it. However, a forum search hasn't gotten me the right answer to what I'd like to know:
Approximately how early in advance should I line up for something?
Like, if I want to be insane and try to get a bracelet for the awesome Saturday night concerts and the place opens at 10 am, should I get there at 8 am and bring books? (Before you ask, no, I don't have a DS [yet].)
Or if I wanted to get into Wil Wheaton's panel, or the "Make a Strip" Penny Arcade panel...
Any helpful pointers are much appreciated.
Approximately how early in advance should I line up for something?
Like, if I want to be insane and try to get a bracelet for the awesome Saturday night concerts and the place opens at 10 am, should I get there at 8 am and bring books? (Before you ask, no, I don't have a DS [yet].)
Or if I wanted to get into Wil Wheaton's panel, or the "Make a Strip" Penny Arcade panel...
Any helpful pointers are much appreciated.
Trisha Lynn on
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What's the maximum occupancy for the Panel rooms and the main hall?
Is there a limit for the Expo hall or is it once doors open you're free to come/go as you please?
In past years do all the panels usually top off or is this usually only the case for the "big name" panels?
The main hall is pretty large, if I recall. I don't recall waiting in lines for very long at all. Not nearly as long as when it was at the old convention center in Bellview. Really, your best bet is to snag yourself a DS and enjoy the Pictochat. It'll make the time go by much faster, and everyone has one. Even the guys from the Minibosses. Anyone else remember when they took the stage and busted out their DS's and joined pictochat?
If you don't have a DS, the next best thing to do is just chat it up with your line neighbors. All the times I've gone, I've found the whole mood of the expo to be really friendly. Being an anti-social geek, I found it really easy to chat with people there. Plus, you'll probably find some cool people to hang out with for the rest of the weekend.
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However, when it comes to the Panels, it's really dependent on which ones you want to hit up.
The Keynote and the PA panels are always full. So, you'll definitely want to lineup early. Last year, I believe I was lined up about an hour prior to Keynote and ended up near the back of the auditorium...the PA panels are the same way. I mean, most people are there for the video games, but everybody going knows who Gabe and Tycho are and want to see them, right?
Now, i'm not saying line up 2 hours and sit, but I will say there will be plenty of people doing that. It's hard to gauge the panels when they're not static year after year. So, the PA panels and Keynote, which are there *every* year, will be very full. The others, fluctuate based on time and interest.
In Summary: If it's a panel you *really* want to see, head over to the line-up area 1 to 2 hours early and take a look. See what the lines look like and gauge where you wanna be.
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The PA and other special guest panels are a different story, of course, but my experiences with the concerts last year was pretty chill. An Enforcer with a good sense of humor and a utilikilt gave me and my friends bracelets for amusing him outside bandland Friday afternoon, and we waltzed right in shortly after the concerts started later that night. We were in the back half of the audience, but it was a pretty relaxed thing overall.
Saturday we went up to the queue room area about half an hour or so after the bracelets were to be handed out, and several nice Enforcers had what was probably hundreds left to give out to people just walking up. That night I lined up about two hours before the concerts were to start, and ended up right at the very front on the right side, not far from where the sound guy was. To get in the center front would probably have taken an extra hour or so of waiting.
Edit: for reference, friday was The OneUps, Freezepop, Jonathan Coulton while Saturday was Anamanaguchi, The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets, MC Frontalot, and The Minibosses.
Well, don't base anything at all off of last year. Last year, the keynote was the very first thing, and the line at the beginning of PAX was totally messed up. I mean, the line itself wasn't bad - except they didn't block off other routes, so someone showing up one minute late could bypass the line and get in before someone who had been waiting in line for hours.
This year is a different situation - PAX is starting at 10 am on Friday, the keynote isn't until 1 pm, and I'd bet they've got the initial line issue nailed down. Since they've never not started with a keynote, at least since they moved to downtown Seattle, and this year we've got hordes of people coming, we can't really predict how hard/easy it will be to get into the keynote speech.
The other panels, though, really depends on the panel. Some have been incredibly popular, maxing out in the line before even opening the doors, while others there's been plenty of seating. For a normal panel, I wouldn't ever expect to wait in line more than an hour (and that only for a really popular one).
It was less about basing things off of last year and more about pointing out an experience with the lineups and illustration of a point.
If you want to get into a panel, know when it is, know what time it is and you might want to start taking a look and hanging around the area to see when lines form.
It wasn't really a recap, it was one of his first posts post-PAX 08 titled "THANK YOU" where he talked about the line problems, and since it's the only "official" word I saw in my quickie forum search, I considered it to be the last official word and a bit of a recap.
-- Publisher, Saucy Goose Press
-- On Twitter @trishalynn
Since this is my very first PAX and also my very first gaming convention, I really don't know what would be considered popular besides the premieres and the PA-related ones. I guess what I'll do is go with my first instinct to arrive at the convention center early on Saturday (and drag my best friend along) just so I can get a bracelet (and then line up early for the concert so I can get up close too). And I'll probably have to hustle to get from the Loading Ready Run panel (first-timers with a smallish vocal fanbase that may be at the con) to the Wil Wheaton panel (former keynote speaker, apparently last year's panel was a huge success).
Everything else, I guess I'll play by ear.
-- Publisher, Saucy Goose Press
-- On Twitter @trishalynn
My advice would be to have 2-3 things per day that you really, really want to see, and set alarms on your phone for them an hour or two ahead of time. If you aren't in the middle of something insanely fun when that alarm goes off, go investigate the line situation. But don't be surprised if you get caught in some difficult situations. Being surrounded on all sides by fun can lead to a certain kind of agony.
Organizer of the Post-PAX Party. You should come!
Satellite Theater for life!
To date they have not cleared out rooms in between panels. This is often your best bet for getting a good seat.
Also to date the concerts have not "sold out". I would recommend acquiring a wristband if you really want to see the concerts though.
As other people have said, your best bet is to scope out the rooms (an hour or so) before a panel you want to see. If they are filling up or a line is forming up, make your move!
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The first year in Seattle the crowding was not an issue and for the most part it was easy to get into any panel you wanted, but last year waiting in line was no guarantee you would make it in due to those currently in the room not leaving.
The last year at Bellevue they attempted to clear out the room between panels but that created its own logistical nightmares.
As others have mentioned attempt to pick a few panels you would like to witness live as there will be a portion of your day spent waiting in line for them. So don't frett about missing out on a panel as you can always watch it on the DVD, for those moments hanging out with everyone else is what PAX is all about.
Also...cash or debit card??
Most of the merchandising booths accept all major Credit Card Logos. But like for small stuff, anything smaller than $15 total for example, it would be wise for cash.
Also, if you think you'll want to have cash, get it as soon as you get there (or bring it with you)! The ATMs inside the WSCTC get emptied out really quickly, and either they aren't refilled all weekend, or they were used up again almost immediately.
Now I am confused - do you wait outside the panel or in the queue room? How do I know?
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Enforcers usually know the way about, so you would always ask them when you get there.
That is NOT TRUE. I witnessed Enforcers clearing rooms between panels to stop room camping because it was becoming a huge problem. So don't bet that you'll be able to squat from one panel to the next in the same room - plan accordingly!
And really? Don't camp in Panel A you don't want to see so you can scope seats for Panel B, because then you're being a dick by taking up space for someone who really wanted to see that panel.
As Arco said, PAX is 11lbs of win in a 10lb bag. YOU ARE GOING TO MISS AWESOME THINGS because you were doing OTHER AWESOME THINGS. PAX is going to be full of hard choices and sacrifices. This is my 3rd PAX and I still haven't done a ton of things I really wanted from 07 and 08.
PROTIP: Find out where the line is starting/ending before you sit down or line up. Ask people what line they're in, read the signage, and ask Enforcers.
Lastly: Don't eff with Enforcers. If they tell you it's the end of the line, the room is closed, or ask you to leave - please heed them and don't be a dick about it.
p.s. I was in line 2 hours early for the Guild Wars 3rd Anniversary panel last year and it was worth it. Ditto for the Wil Wheaton panel.
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This information is highly relevant to my interests, and definitely tells me that I'm going to be racing from the LoadingReadyRun panel to the Wil Wheaton panel. But I think I'd be okay with a seat towards the back, just as long as no one tall sat in front of me because I am only 5-foot even.
To stay on topic, I got my badge in the mail today and on the page that accompanied it, they say that you can't line up earlier than 8 am and if you choose to, they'll put you in the holding pen. Is that where they'd be distributing the bracelets for the concerts?
-- Publisher, Saucy Goose Press
-- On Twitter @trishalynn
For me though I just get there 5 minutes early and hope I get in, its probably not the smartest stratagey.
Speaking personally, I'll be going to the Brodeo as that's a one off, whilst the Giant Bomb thing is something we hear on a weekly basis anyway! Lesson to be learned here: Know what to sacrifice for you will not be able to see and experience everything at PAX, no matter how hard you try.
My bad.
But yeah, go with the flow and listen to enforcers, they are awesome people.
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Dammit I really want to see the LoadingReadyRun panel, but prior experience says that unless they are close by I will likely NOT make the Wil Wheaton panel afterwards - last year was standing room only. Then again, if I can pull of my The Runners cosplay group then it'll be worth it. (See commodoreHustle ep 5: The Street.)
lulz.
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This year most the panels are close to eachother - all but one of the normal theaters are on the 6th floor (that one holdout is on the fourth floor)
Remember, it's better to be safe than sorry if it's something you really want to see.
Ok, so I went to PAX08 last year so ill throw in my 2 cents. It was unfortunately my first one so I cant really compare it to previous years but I will be there again this year
Ok, so there is a room called the "Line Room" or this year I think they may have called it the "Queue Room", either way, this is the room they use and reuse for all the major events at PAX. Anything going on in the Main Theater will line up in this room as it is adjacent to it, this includes the Keynote, PA Panels, Make a strip and the concerts. They also use this room the for initial line to get into the PAX exhibition hall, which is the giant line you see if you YouTube "Pax08 line". Also last year the Gabe and Tyco Signing was in this room and this year I believe they are using it for the DS world record attempt.
All the other panels are just kinda on a first come, first serve basis whenever you decided to show up. But be aware that most of them do fill up if your not relatively early.
I agree with the previous posts I have read stating a recommended 2hrs before for any of the major events in the main hall. This wont be the case for all of them, but definitely the Keynote and PA related stuff.
The other panels, not located in the main theater, id say be early but your arrival shouldn't exceed an hour before.
Last year they did not kick us out of the main theater. If you saw a panel and wanted to stick around for the next one, they just kinda left you alone. However, looking at the schedule, most of them do have an hour in between them so you may be waiting a little bit. This way you do get a seat as opposed to the floor but I must warn you that they are plastic and not overly comfortable if your on them for hours tho :P.
I hope this has been helpful for you. Remember this is based on last year, so it may be different this year as there is an expected 20k more ppl going. It is also hard to gauge what panels will be more popular than others so even if its a small one, if you think it will be big, swing by and check it out early.
Feel free to send me any more questions if I havent answered them here and I will do my best to answer them.
Have fun guys, hope to see you there!
-Elmayo