FF2011: Liveblogging the Ticket Line

Veterans of Fantastic Fest 2010 may have some … well, let's be honest, less than kind memories of getting tickets. After the online system exploded on the first day, it was all early starts and a lot of lines. True, it meant meeting exciting film fans, but it was harsh on the hangovers. So how is this year's online system working out?

6pm Logged on. Woohoo!

6.01pm What the? Queue number 297? 244 people ahead of me? 48 minute wait time? What the?

6.04pm Text from friend. "Got in. Got all my picks." Joy, means the system has not exploded. Woot!

6.06pm Text from Marc Savlov: "Guh! I'm queue #347 … expected wait time 52 minutes." Sucks to be you, buddy.

6.15pm Huh. Well, after the time jumped up over an hour, back to 6.50pm. One minute creep isn't so bad, I guess.

6.19pm What the hell? Suddenly leaped to 94 minute wait.

6.20pm Phew. Panic over. 6.50, here we come (as long as the remaining 190 people make their picks on time HINT HINT.)

6.30pm So you took the hint, huh? 97 people left and I'm on deck in nine minutes. Lookin' good so far.

6.31pm Checking other people's Tweets. @wanderingbutton for the win: "Would it be odd if I hug the sh!t out of my computer after I book my @fantasticfest tickets? I think not #252 :-D #FF2011"

6.37pm Three people left!

6.39pm Nailed it! Let The Bullets Fly, Kill Me Please, Human Centipede II (Full Sequence) and House By The Cemetery.

So, that's a good sign. The system (which was gonna take its worst pummeling of the festival today) withstood the shock, so that's a very good sign. Now to wring my kidneys out before the full-blown assault. Excelsior!