The term Comic Con is big business. Selling out convention halls and huge lines are to be expected. Anyone putting on a show needs to take the possibility of thousands upon thousands of attendees seriously…I’m looking at YOU, SLCC. Our local convention that takes place September 5th-7th at the South Towne Expo Center.
Take the Denver Comic Con for example (which I attended this past weekend.) In their second year, more than 48,000 people donned their most outlandish and realistic costumes, brandishing funny books in one hand, money in the other and stormed the Colorado Convention Center-almost doubling last year’s attendance.
48,000 people over a weekend! Last year 27,700 attended, which made for the second-largest comic con opening in history. Numbers like these are a success in and of itself. As much acclaim as the con received, the event was not without criticism and some controversy. So many would-be attendees showed up on opening day Friday that 6,000 were turned away by the fire marshal and convention staff. Those waiting hours in line were livid when they heard the news. It was a surge (understandably) that overwhelmed organizers and created cranky fans in what felt like never-ending lines. Even those who paid extra for coveted VIP passes had to wait.
The layout of DCC 2013 is highly original, with the large Comic Book Classroom area set aside for children’s activities and events near the entry point, and the vendor area and publishers area flanking the entrance, giving way toward the far end of the hall to a large “Artists Valley” that’s roughly two thirds or more the size of the vendor’s section. This is nearly equal to the proportions set out by heavily comics-friendly cons like Baltimore and a greater emphasis on art than the bigger cons usually provide. But while regional cons, as they expand, may seem to become highly similar to one another, losing their identities over time, Denver still has a very strong local accent. Well, in terms of the cluster cuss that San Diego has turned into.
However, once the horde got inside, petulance turned to cheering as attendees engaged directly with their heroes. Felicia Day, William Shatner, Geroge Takei, Peter Mayhew and a iconic con staple, Wil Wheaton. They all drew huge crowds. Hard-core fanboys and fangirls also got to mix and mingle with their favorite comic book creators. After all, it IS a Comic Con.
One of the strongest factors factors for the success was, and continues to be, the charity organization Comic Book Classroom (http://www.comicbookclassroom.org/cbc/make-a-difference/) – This non-profit funds free after-school programs in the Denver area to instruct kids in reading, writing, and comic art and also provides them with free comics. And…a special shout-out to Dee Bradley Baker who donated all of his 2013 proceeds to the charity. If you don’t know Dee’s work, get up to speed (Google).
So, what can Salt Lake learn from the Denver’s, the Baltimore’s and cons like these.
1. Make the ticket price worth it. People pony up extra hard-earned money to have a better experience. So give it to them: Let the VIPs in earlier and keep the doors open later for them. Schedule VIP-only autograph sessions. There needs to be incentive for buying VIP. OR get rid of the VIP tix altogether. You need names to bring people through the doors so bring names. Frakes, Sorbo and Ferrigno are a good start. However, throwing down the WAD for a ‘Neil Gaiman’ would be legit. And keep it about comics. In my opinion this is where Denver excelled. Reach out to local shops like Dr. Volts and Black Cat Comics, utilize their resources, connections and know how.
2. Smarter use of technology. Get rid of whiteboards and con-wide broadcasts to announce changes or cancellations. Instead, push real-time updates through an app for iOS and Android. A RELIABLE app. EVERY badge should have a QR code on the back to download the app. AND PLEASE…for the love of it all, WI-FI should be available for FREE.
3. Take this seriously. If the Salt Lake Comic Con gets over 10K for the weekend in September, I would call it a success. However, plan for 20,000 or even 30,000. Fans like to be engaged with pop culture directly, and take a hands-on approach rather than settling for mass-produced products or rental costumes. The DIY attitude is STRONG in our city and I would like to think that we take pop culture seriously. Well, the like minded people I know. Who knows, it could do thirty out of the gate. Of course that would lead to growing pains but also plenty of praise.
-Dagobot
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