Over the past few years, as attendance at Comic-Con has grown by leaps and bounds, the number of people attending events has also grown. To make everyone’s programming experience as pleasant as possible, we ask that you follow these guidelines. While these apply to all events at Comic-Con, including gaming and anime screenings, they are particularly important in the big programming venues: Rooms 6A, 6B, 6CDEF, Ballroom 20, and Hall H.

Because of the huge crowds experienced in programming the last few years, Comic-Con has instituted a few procedures for safety purposes and to help ease line and crowd control issues. These include:

• In the primary programming room area (Rooms 1 through 10 on the top level of the Convention Center), the four hallways leading into these rooms have been designated either as entrance only or exit only. Please refer to your Events Guide onsite, and look for the signage over each of the programming room hallways upstairs.
• In addition, each room has a definite entrance and exit, and some of the larger rooms have specific areas for lining up. When you’re in a room, please listen for the directions for leaving once a program is over. The maps in your Events Guide shows the locations of specific room entrances, exits, and lines. Also, look for signage that will help you locate the correct line for each programming room.
• Comic-Con has a 15-minute break between programs in the five largest programming rooms (6A, 6B, 6CDEF, 20, and Hall H). Rooms will not be cleared during this break. This break is to better get attendees in and out of these larger rooms. (The programs in the other rooms—2, 3, 4, 5AB, 7AB, 8, 10, 30AB, 30CDE, and the new room 32AB—used on Thursday and Friday only—will still run back-to-back without breaks.)

Please keep in mind...

• Seating in all event rooms at Comic-Con is on a first-come, first-served basis. Because of the sheer number of attendees, simply having a badge does not guarantee a seat in programs and events, or an autograph from a specific celebrity. If there is a specific program or presentation you would like to see, it’s always a good idea to plan accordingly and arrive early.
• Seating is limited in each room, from the smallest (125 seats) to the largest (6,500). To help us all, please:
• Do not put your bags, food, etc. on the seat next to you.
• Keep seat saving to an absolute minimum.
• Don’t leave gaps in seating. Please fill in all seats.
• If you are standing in a room, you may be asked to move or find a seat. This request is for safety reasons and is under the jurisdiction of the Fire Marshal. Standing in any programming room at any time is not recommended.
• There is no reserved seating for press. Press badges do not guarantee entry to any event.
• Room clearing: Comic-Con does not clear rooms between events; you are permitted to stay in the same room for multiple programs (with certain exceptions; if a room is to be cleared, it will be announced that we’re doing so).
• Full rooms: Rooms filled to capacity will be closed, and no additional attendees will be admitted.
• Please…absolutely no recording of the video footage or images presented by the studios on the screens.
• Photography: Each program has its own set of rules, and sometimes photography is allowed. When taking pictures, please keep these guidelines in mind:
• Keep flash photography to a minimum.
• Take photographs from your seat.
• Follow the rules of each particular panel. Some events will not allow photography of any kind. An announcement will be made if that is the case.
• Q&A: When asking questions of the people on stage, please be courteous. For example, please don’t ask for a kiss, a hug, an autograph, a baby, a prom date, or to give them a copy of your script, résumé, or movie. Such requests stop a program in its tracks. These celebrities are taking time out of their busy schedules to see you. Please treat them with respect. Because of time constraints, sometimes not everyone who gets in line will be able to ask a question. In the bigger rooms (Hall H, Rooms 6A, 6B, 6CDEF, and 20), your question will be screened before you get to ask it.
• Cell phones: Just like in a movie theater, please silence all cell phones when you enter any programming room. If you must take a call, please leave the room to do so. Be courteous to your neighbors.
• Trash: Please take your trash with you. Remember that other people will also be attending events in the room following you. Do not leave trash on the chairs or in the area around your seat.
• Cancellations: In rare instances, a guest will have to cancel because of a situation out of his or her control. Keep in mind that programs, events, and listed appearances are subject to change.

In Hall H...

This year Comic-Con is once again using the massive 6,500-seat theater known as Hall H. This hall is so huge that in addition to the notes above, it has some specific guidelines:

• The line for Hall H starts to the left of the escalators outside of the entrance to Hall G.
• Please remain seated once an event starts and leave only after the event finishes.
• There are bathrooms in Hall H. When you are facing the stage, the restrooms are to your right. If you leave the hall—for any reason—you may not be allowed back in or you may have to get in line to get back in. Again, because of Fire Marshal rules, this policy will be strictly enforced, with no exceptions.

Comic-Con has the best attendees in the world, and Hollywood studios, comics publishers, and everyone in the pop culture industries knows this. That’s why Comic-Con has the most incredible guests and programs of any convention. We know you’re here because you love this stuff as much as we do. Please keep the above guidelines in mind at all times, and we’ll all have a safe, courteous, and fun time at the show!