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This is my first stab at a con report and this was my first large con that I
have ever been to. Our intrepid editor and her daughter made the trip up to
Dallas to attend, and local column writers Joe Singleton and myself attended
as well. We were there to hand out fliers and to introduce new readers to
the site. We took turns manning the table, while some of us took off to
wander about the con.
Day #1
We arrive an hour early for the con to get set up. Sher did not have the con
badges, so we had to get some from the "main office" that was nothing more
than a small room. After getting our table assignment cleared up with the
guys at the front door, we get set up. This, for some at the con, meant
large banners, and setting up boxes of comics or toys. Not for us, all we
had to do was crack open the Kinkos box and put fliers onto the table.
Immediately, we stick out because we have no sign, I dont know whether to
take that as a good or bad sign.
Before the con opened to the public, I managed to wander around the Dealers
room where we were located. It was a rather large place that reminded me of
a basement because of all the exposed ducting on the ceiling. They had
something for everyone. There was a table of someone selling bootleg videos,
including the Star Wars Christmas Special (I so wanted to get one), comics
and toys to chainmail and leather items. I looked at one vender and he has a
sealed GI Joe Skystriker. Causing this GI Joe fan to become a drooling
idiot.
Sidra and I man the table for the first hour or so as our intrepid editor is
out and about. People seem interested in the fliers and read them when we
offer the fliers to them. Hopefully some of you that are reading this right
now are here because we handed out the fliers, and for that, we thank you.
Joe shows up and puts out some of his artwork. I look at it and I am vary
impressed. Joe does outstanding work, and if you have not read his column
before, go and read it now. Throughout the day, representatives from various
smaller comic companies that are there come by and look at Joes artwork. It
appears that they like what they see because one company has him do his
version of one of their characters. They are just blown away when he takes
it to them later.
We have our first major star sighting as Lou Ferrigno arrives, who is
supposed to be signing autographs three tables away from us, but I guess he
has some pull with con officials and he gets moved to a better location.
Whats the matter Lou, dont you want to be around the common man just
trying to push our little web site? Or the guy next to us just trying to
sell his game?
The table next to us seems to be in a state of flux. At first, theres one
guy there whos working on his masks for something, but shortly after the
con opens, he leaves the table. It stays empty until a few hours later when
another guest who is supposed to be signing autographs sets up and then
leaves his table empty with a sign that says hell be back by 1:00pm. We
never see him return again.
In my wanderings through the con, I happen upon a dealer that has some
things that I am looking for. So I go buy some from him. Later after manning
the table for a while, I go back and get some more things from him. Later in
the day as Im coming back from the restroom, I pass by his table and hes
bugging me to buy more stuff. I politely say no and take off back to the
table. I felt kind of bad, I think I was the only business that that guy had
all of the first day of the convention.
They had two banquet style rooms made up like movie theaters for convention
goers to watch various movies in one and anime in the other. Neither room is
all that full when I go to see what is playing. The only thing I really
wanted to see when it was playing was "Mars Attacks," but that was playing
while I was at the table, so I only got glimpses of it.
The first day of the con wraps up about 7:00 pm, with us giving out maybe
100 flyers and my spending way too much money in one day.
Day #2
Day two starts out much like day one. We get in about an hour early and
thanks to some planning on our part, we have some posterboard and markers so
we can have Joe make us up a sign so we do not look as out of place as we
did yesterday. Fliers go out and we sit and wait to let the masses in.
About two hours into handing out fliers, it seems like everyone around us
has stopped talking as these two people walk by. When they get to our table,
Sidra gives the male in the twosome a flier and I talk to him about the
site. He says something like, "Neat," or "Thats cool," and then they take
off again. Sidra and I look at each other and I say "I just talked about the
site to Ted Rami." I could have died right then and there. So Ted, if you
are reading this, thanks for stopping by the site and please e-mail the
editor and tell us what you think.
The guys from the comic company that had Joe do that one piece of art for
yesterday, had him do a couple more, and he just cranked out another two
characters while sitting there. I just cannot say enough about what Joe
does. I just wish we had them, so we could have scanned them in for all to
see. Joe is a great guy, so if we are ever at a con and you are too, stop on
by and see all of what he has done.
Im pretty bored after about half a day and about the only thing that I have
not done is get autographs from the stars that are there. I go to the
autograph line (its relatively short right now but by the end of the day,
it had gotten really long. Alas, Ted Rami was not there when I got in line,
but two of the three people from the television show "Babylon 5" are there.
I got an autograph from Patricia Tallman (Lyta Alexander) and the gentleman
that was inside both Kosh suits. Guys, if you ever have the chance to meet
Patricia Tallman, do it. Shes a whole lot better looking in person than on
television.
The day is pretty much uneventful outside of those few things. We take off
after seven oclock and go have something to eat, and come back because our
intrepid editor wants to see the costume contest. Weve pretty much seen all
the costumes already, but there were a few that we had not seen that were
absolutely funny and creative. We should have them posted if you want to
take a look.
Thats the con in a nutshell. Overall it was done vary well for the two days
I was there. We got to meet some people, including the one reader that had
attended the con on Saturday.
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