Comic Cons (or comic book conventions to give them their full title) have become one of the most sought after tickets on the event calendar, with some Cons outselling major music festivals 2 to 1. 

The rapid rise of Comic-book Cons are just one reason why an increasing number of organisers have turned towards RFID technology to help ‘Pow!’ the counterfeiters, and ‘Wow!’ their fans... in true superhero style.

 

What is a Comic Book Con?

In their classic, most simplistic format, fan conventions were a gathering of comic book and cult film enthusiasts - commonly in the genres of sci-fi and fantasy. 

But, social media 'geek chic', Disney's (relentless) Marvel franchise and various other spin-off superhero media has given birth to a new breed of super-sized ‘Fan Con’.

With categories dedicated to Anime, Sci-fi, Gaming, Comics, Furry and Horror, there's an estimated 400 pop-culture conventions in North America alone.

Jump through time to 2017, and these events challenge major music festivals in their size, attracting thousands of attendees and generating millions of dollars in ticket revenues. 

When it comes to size, stalwarts San Diego Comic-Con and New York Comic-Con are among the undisputed ‘king of cons’, with some 400,000+ annual visitors between them. 

But, rival Conventions in L.A, Chicago, Calgary, Salt Lake City and Cincinnati have become huge attractions in their own right - further cementing the niche as a behemoth in the live events industry.

The Power of RFID Credentials

So, how do these Comic Cons sustain a kick-ass fan experience during a time of unprecedented growth? 

The answer? RFID event technology. 

This contactless technology is quickly changing the way in which fans access events. 

And, Comic Cons are among the first to realize the true potential of introducing RFID credentials to their attendees. 

RFID laminate badges are the kryptonite to the ugly face of counterfeiters. 

But, eliminating fake tickets is only the start. 

With RFID technology in attendees’ passes, convention organisers are presented with a whole world of game-changing opportunities.

New revenue streams, out-of-this world sponsor activations, and super-speedy entry are all going to impress your fans.

 

6 Ways RFID Event Technology Is Improving Comic Cons

  • Monitor attendance and keep lines moving quickly

RFID makes it simple to handle even the most complex multi-day events. 

It makes re-entries a breeze and even allows you to offer VIP upgrades on-the-fly.

  • Simplified scanning

Scanning an RFID badge or wristband is 10x faster than scanning a barcode, making it perfect for dealing with large crowds.

  • Immersive experiences between attendees and vendors 

With just one touch, there are no limits to how creative you, your vendors and sponsors can be to draw your audience in. 

From live Instagram posts, to real time gamification, you and your partner brands will be closer than ever to your fans. 

  • Gain real-time insight

RFID gives organizers immediate access to how foot traffic flows. 

This allows organizers to flexibly adapt on day two of an event if they need to. You can also see which speakers or areas of the event were most popular.

  • Make counterfeits a thing of the past

We’ve mentioned it before, but RFID laminates will reduce fakes by 100%. 

Every embedded RFID tag is unique to each ticket holder, making them impossible to duplicate. 

And, if someone loses their ticket or badge, you can easily deactivate and reissue a new one without worrying about whose hands it’ll fall into.

  • Grow your online audience with ease

RFID systems not only help incentivize your fans to share their experience online, but they make it super easy to. 

RFID touch points and check-in stations enable audiences to instantly post to their social channels, growing your online reach exponentially.

 

Conclusion

RFID event technology is changing the way events are operated, for the better.

Using RFID for conventions will help you understand your audience on a whole new level and improve the experience for your loyal fans. 

Where will RFID technology and Comic-Cons go next? The possibilities are endless, and probably out-of-this world!

Photo credit: Amy Ever After.com