Bill Mimbu wrote: Definitely. Anime Expo, A-Kon, and Sakura-Con as well...

I may reconsider my decision not to attend Otakon in Baltimore, if they rescind their prohibition against purchasing single-day tickets.  That was a rude surprise back then.  1998 was the final year that I was able to attend the full convention due to the pricing of hotel rooms, my need to concentrate on finishing my college studies, and the fact that my part time job then wasn't paying well enough to cover the combined costs.  When I went back a couple of years later for just one day, I got the surprise when the person at the welcome desk asked me to pony up the funds for all three...

My crew was once told we organize cons like we're preparing for a military expedition. (And it's always big news when Heroes posts the floorplan and we can start mapping our plan of attack.)

But we always get out sketch.

Joe, I have a few easy tips for sketch collecting at cons.

• Start looking to see if any of the artists have websites, blogs or Facebook accounts. Send them off a message to see if they do advance sketches or take an early list. I've landed some bigger names this way. At the very least you can get price info, if you have to wait to get sketch and if they take one big list or make a new list every day.
• As Popa said, map out the layout of the con floor. Most cons put up a website version a week before the show. Find your favorites and make the easiest route to them. Hopefully some are clustered together and make it easy to hit.
• You won't get everyone you want. Make a list of who your favorites are. Try and get your top guys and hope the others pan out.
• Bring a friend/relative/hobo off the street who has little to no interest in comics. They can help you cover more ground. Just give them a name of an artist, character name and cash to get you on a list. They are also great for waiting in lines. Pay their way in, buy them lunch and whatever favor you can return.
• Talk to the people in line with you. I've met plenty of other art collectors who are willing to help get on lists. You help them get artist x and they help you get artist y. They will also save your spot if you need to move around to a few other guests.
• If they offer an early entry ticket, buy it. Always get there as early as you can. Show opens at 10, it would seem smart to get there at 7. You would be wrong, be there by 5AM.
• Be at the con the first day. Most sketch lists are filled within the first two hours of day one. That is for the entire weekend.
• Most important, even though you may be rushing and trying to do multiple things, be courteous to those around you and feel free to take time and talk with the comic artists. A sketch is nice, but having a real conversation with someone whose work you admire holds a better memory than just a sketch of Wolverine. The art can serve as a reminder of a wonderful time at a convention.