The fantastic antics of Comic-Con are back! From July 25th to 28th, the iconic San Diego Convention Center hosts the ultimate gathering for comic enthusiasts, drawing up to 150,000 eager fans. As the pinnacle of comic culture since 1970, San Diego Comic-Con presents unparalleled opportunities for brands, especially in the tech, entertainment, and gaming sectors.
Exhibiting at such a well-known and well-respected event demands an event staffing agency with brand ambassadors who know their stuff. In our latest blog, we explore the essential strategies for maximizing your presence at Comic-Con. Discover expert insights and three top tips for making waves in this vibrant landscape, along with highlights of impactful activations we’ve supported.
Top tip #1 More immersion = more connection
Bringing your brand activation into this space can make it hyper-effective. At an event like Comic-Con, where massive stars are literally brought to life, fans are hungry for interaction. Tech, gaming and entertainment products are often confined to screens, so transforming them into a 3D, interactive experience is thrilling.
We realised a prime example of this when we partnered with Epic Games. Even if you’re not a gamer, you will probably have heard of Fortnite; launched in 2017 and instantly a blockbuster success. Fortnite fans are already passionate, so providing real life versions of game elements generated a real buzz.
At the E3 Video Game Conference in LA, fans of Fortnite could step into the game. Our event staff supported E-Sports competitions, a Lazy Links mini golf course, mechanical Loot Llama ride, and the Battle Bus. Thousands of Fortnite fans were thrilled by the activation, and our event staff were even more excited to bring it to life.
Top tip #2 Take to the streets
The Convention Centre will be at the heart of Comic-Con. But fans will be coming for miles around. This provides brands with a broad arena for activations. San Diego will be abuzz with people willing to try new things and expecting the unexpected. This is the ideal time to introduce street teams!
In 2024, we supported a heartwarming campaign for our client, on behalf of Disney+ and Hulu. Across New York, Philadelphia, and California, our event staff distributed pizza to passers-by, creating memorable moments with a simple yet impactful gesture. By spreading kindness and informing people about the new promotion between Disney+ and Hulu, our team successfully built brand awareness in a positive and engaging way. Events like Comic-Con draw crowds who are famously creative and open-minded so it’s a great place to cement your brand in hearts.
Top tip #3 Select staff with superpowers
We are an event staffing agency who pride ourselves on our staff selection. Not least because we know that genuine passion gives you the edge. We select staff that are actively excited to be part of the event. This guarantees that they will add to the magic. When we’re working with technology brands, we make sure our experience as a tech staffing agency sets us apart from the competition.
In 2023 we worked with three different tech brands at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany. The enthusiasm that our staff brought with them wasn’t something we could teach. It came from a serious appreciation for the products they were there to represent. This approach maximises the engagement consumers have with the brand. Genuine interaction creates long-lasting memories.
And finally… Make the marketing fantasy a reality with Elevate.
At Elevate Global, we are pioneers in global event staffing and our event services range from specialist staff selection to general logistics. We provide useable evidence metrics with our brand intelligence platform, Impact.
We’re no stranger to providing large-scale staffing solutions for conventions and trade shows; so we’re ready to make your Comic-Con activation the best one yet. Whether your brand is big or small, and no matter the impact you aim to achieve, reach out to our team today to learn more about what we can accomplish together.
