Date: Mon, 16 Dec 1996 11:48:37 -0800
To: [comics pro] at [netcom.com]
From: Penguin Palace <[p--gu--o] at [connectnet.com]>
Subject: COMICS-PRO: Las vegas ComiCon Review (rambling, venting)

If you're going to a convention for strippers you woulda had fun.
If you were going to a convention to laugh at the promoter for fuckin up,
you woulda had fun.
If you were going to a convention to see a parking garage, you woulda had fun.
    Overall, the con sucked. It wasn't really that horrible because there
were lots of companies there.. but no fans. One guy counted 12 kids on
Saturday. Probably 200 people showed up; the other 200 people at the con
consisting of vendors and their friends, and porn stars and stuff. If you
went to sell books, you wouldn't have done too well, even if it looked
incredible. Think of it this way: No line to Verotik, small line to Crusade
for a while, no line to Wildstorm or Extreme. That's pretty pathetic, huh?
    I didn't like the promoter not acknowledging the existance of the
comicon. I mean, maybe I just imagined going to there. For one.. no signs.
Just HUGE banners for the Western Con that took up the entire convention
hall at the Sands Expo (can we say inbred rednecks?!). Alright, so theres
no parking available. Why? The COmiCon, Eroticon, AND computer show was in
the parking garage. It coulda been worse. There coulda been cars parked
there with us. *sigh* Okay and some chick was handing out flyers for a
party hosted by the con, with Deja Vu showgirls. mmm... lots of us were
from San Diego.. so were the strippers. No big deal there, you can pay $5
for a lapdance in SD, not give the con $10. The flyers said "Eroticon" and
"Computer show" venders. Uhm.. do we comic people not exist?! (the thing
sounded lame so I wasnt going anyways.. saw Mars Attacks instead) its the
principle of the matter that bothered me.
    Another thing was that I was told my booth would be on the main aisle..
it wasn't. A retailer I know was told to set up in one area and after
checking twice, got relocated. He was pretty pissed off because his comic
book stands (walls?) were tied together with a million twistie ties. Other
people had similar problems.
    We also (everyone) had to park aboveground and pay $4. I think the
convention made more money on parking than anything else. Unlike San Diego,
Vegas city parking is free, so that was pretty cool. 
    The con structure, besides placement in a garage, was messed. It was
obvious that the con was like a big minicon (san diego monthly show, kinda
depressing). What was really sad was that the computer show people weren't
happy either and in san diego the computer show does pretty good. Anyways..
the aisles were too spread apart. I like having room to walk, but I
shouldn;t have enough room for a basketball game on the main aisle (no i
didnt try, Im just thinking of a size comparison). Wildstorm was placed in
the computer show, outside of the comic con partitions (and a nice trot
away).. the seminars were hidden; they shoulda had a sign in the
registration area telling you about the whole 3 they had to offer. 
    People came from vegas, San Diego, San Fransisco, Ontario (CA),
LA,maryland.. quite a representation. It seemed like a quarter of the
venders from saturday didnt even show up the next day. I feel sorry for
people who travelled from the east coast.. 
    It wasn't a complete loss for me to be there. I tested a few new ideas,
tested a booth setup, got retailers interested in Avalanche, got more stuff
to offer in Avalanche (like Pirate Press's Joshua, that book looks
awesome.. Myth.. Verotik Comics =), invincible studios, arachnis).. and I
got to see mars attacks for only $6.50.. and I got to fulfill my life dream
which was to ride the inclinator on the luxor. wewp! It was cool meeting
people, but I shouldn't have bought booth space (I originally went because
First world (the promoters) were sayign i was going to be there. I dunno
why they were saying that, but free publicity sounded good).
    What else? It coulda been worse. it started out really bad for us cuz
the guy who was gonna go with me had massive family problems (mom and bro
died :~( not good).. and we had to leave early cuz 1) i ran outta avalanche
copies 2)an artist had family stuff and needed to be in san diego. I
recommend boycotting Paul Martinez and First World cons.. like go to them i
guess, but dont set up a table. theres better cons in better cities. seeya!
-pinguino
Avalanche Distribution
http://www.uia.net/penguin/avalanche

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