The art of waiting in line

Beth Goza has waited, waits, and will wait in lines.

After being spotted in numerous lines around Seattle (as well as her notoriety for being a veteran Seattle-area geek) she was even asked to talk about the art of waiting in line at Ignite Seattle.

But why does Goza do it? To do something, see something, or buy something.

“If I think there are lots of other people that want to do, see or buy these things, then there is probably a line.”

Goza breaks it down:

Doing something: Buying tickets to Comicon or a movie’s premiere midnight showing. Seeing: Once you’re at Comicon, or at an event where there is a session or panel you want to go see. Buy: You want to be the first to get the latest gadget or among those folks getting a limited edition item or collectible.

What draws these patient people to a line is necessarily what keeps them there. You have to want what you’re waiting for.

Goza’s experiences at Comicon have particularly been well-worth her multi-hour wait times.

This year she saw Peter Jackson and Sir Ian McKellen on a panel for the “The Hobbit.”

Another year, she saw the creator and cast of a favorite, already canceled show.

For the price of 10 hours in line, she saw the reunion panel for the cult hit show “Firefly.” She said there was even a moment where creator Joss Whedon was brought to tears. She saw it from the front row. “That’s a once in a lifetime experience; and those 10 hours, they flew by.”

In the buying scenario, she finds it more and more difficult to justify the wait because it’s usually about one of two things: Impatience or scarcity. As an adult, she’s grown more patient, which only leaves one legitimate reason to wait in line, the actual fear a product will be gone before you walk in the store door.

As for the first item on Goza’s list, the “do,” it’s a line GeekWire’s Todd Bishop says it should be a problem technology is solving. Paying online for movie ticket, concert tickets, and for Goza – Comicon.

When Goza went to the website to purchase her Comicon tickets for next year, she encountered another hurdle: a virtual waiting room.

Once you’re in line, it’s easy as long as you follow Goza’s guidelines: It’s about making friends, appropriate provisions and the entertainment you bring.

Waiting in line isn’t for everyone. Adam Tratt, CEO of Giant Thinkwell says there are three different reasons to wait in line when you’re starting up a small business: food, drinks, and more food.

By Alyssa Kleven