Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Nov 20, 2014 10:44:01 GMT -6
Last year’s Grand Rapids Comic Con was unexpectedly popular, so much so that organizers had to turn thousands of people away at the door. This year, they are moving into a larger space and expect a crowd of about 30,000. The eclectic lineup includes Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura from Star Trek), the voice actress who plays Naruto, the producer of Sharknado, one of the actors from Power Rangers, and comics creators James O’Barr, William Messner-Loebs and Tony Isabella.
www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2014/11/grand_rapids_comic-con_expecti.html
Grand Rapids Comic-Con expecting 30,000 attendees in second, significantly expanded year
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Mark Hodges always knew participants in “nerd culture” were passionate. But last year, he underestimated just how passionate.
The co-event coordinator and owner of the Grand Rapids Comic-Con scraped together $9,000 for the 2013 event, booked a Saturday afternoon at the 1,500-capacity Home School Building in Wyoming, set a $5 ticket price, and couldn’t even begin to accommodate all the attendees. A line of fans, some dressed in character costumes, snaked through the parking lot and all the way down Burlingame Ave. SW.
Hodges said organizers held the line so the event didn’t exceed the fire code, and ended up sending “thousands” of people home. He couldn’t even begin to estimate how many people showed up for the event.
“Between 7,000 and 10,000, but that’s a wild guess,” he said. “We have no idea.
Hodges credits the overwhelming response to last year’s event to good weather, underestimating the value of popular guests organizers brought in (such as “Captain America” comic artist and movie consultant Alan Bellman, and kid-comic artist Robert Pope) and greatly underestimating the demand for a geek-culture gathering in Grand Rapids.
“We realized, obviously, there’s a market for this! Duh!,” he said with a laugh.
It prompted a significant expansion to three days, Nov. 21-23, at the much roomier DeltaPlex. Hodges said he expects 30,000 people in and out of the facility over the course of the weekend; some tickets have been sold to people outside of Michigan. He added that three northeast-side hotels have been booked up because of the con, and he hopes to see a couple more filled before it’s over.
West Michigan hasn’t hosted a convention on this scale in more than two decades. The G.R. Comic-Con is loosely modeled on similar conventions – e.g., long-standing Midwest destination events Motor City Comic Con and Wizard World Chicago – that bring together the gaming, comic-book, sci-fi/horror movie and Japanese-anime niches. They offer autograph signings by comic artists and TV and movie stars, panel discussions, anime film screenings, vendors selling books and memorabilia, costume contests and more.
Hodges implied that the Grand Rapids con is more family-friendly than other conventions, with several events geared toward young fans, including how-to-draw sessions and a kids-costume contest.
Notable among the few dozen guests are Nichelle Nichols (Uhuru from the original “Star Trek” series), “The Crow” creator J.O. Barr (a native of the Detroit area), “Naruto” voice actress Maile Flanagan, veteran DC/Image comic artist William Messner-Loebs, “Black Lightning” creator Tony Isabella, “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” star David Yost and “Supernatural” and “Smallville” actress Alaina Huffman.
IF YOU GO
Grand Rapids Comic-Con
When: Nov. 21-23, 2014
Where: The DeltaPlex
Tickets: $12 for Friday, $15 for Saturday or Sunday, $35 for weekend passes, $5 for children ages 5 to 12, available via Etix, or at the DeltaPlex box office and numerous stores across Michigan
Info.: grcomiccon.com
Paul Bales, a southwest Michigan native and Three Rivers High School graduate, will speak about his work producing the pop-kitsch “Sharknado” films and many other “mockbusters.” His appearance will coincide with the reveal of the first image from 2015’s “Sharknado 3.”
“You want a hint?” Hodges asked. “Sharks in space. It’s epic.”
Hodges said organizers held an informal Facebook poll asking what TV show was a favorite among the event’s followers, and the overwhelming majority chose “Supernatural,” prompting Huffman’s booking – which is representative of the convention’s goal to bring in new, popular guests for autograph signings and photo ops (some of which will demand additional cost; prices are set by the artist).
“We look for stuff that’s fresh and new and different,” Hodges said. “I go to a lot of (conventions) in this field, and it’s a bunch of guys who haven’t worked since the ’80s. We’re not against that, but we feel the market wants stuff that’s new, fresh and hip, and on TV right now.
“Nichelle Nichols covers (all interests) pretty well, because it’s a classic thing. Everybody sticks with ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Star Wars’ – those franchises are going to outlive all of us.”
If the event’s popularity continues to build, Hodges hopes to eventually book bigger and better stars, and bring it to a downtown venue. He currently leads 15 volunteer staff members (“I hope to pay them next year,” he said), and one day hopes to make the con one of Grand Rapids’ marquee events.
“People are tired of driving to Detroit and Chicago to go to a good show,” Hodges said. “We get a lot of people who are real passionate – which makes it neat, because deep down people involved in this culture appreciate it.
“Everybody’s got an escape. That’s all this is for a lot of ‘nerdy’-type people. For a weekend they can do their own thing and have fun. That individuality is going to be celebrated,” he said.
John Serba is film critic and entertainment reporter for MLive and The Grand Rapids Press. Email him at jserba@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter or Facebook.
www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2014/11/grand_rapids_comic-con_expecti.html
Grand Rapids Comic-Con expecting 30,000 attendees in second, significantly expanded year
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Mark Hodges always knew participants in “nerd culture” were passionate. But last year, he underestimated just how passionate.
The co-event coordinator and owner of the Grand Rapids Comic-Con scraped together $9,000 for the 2013 event, booked a Saturday afternoon at the 1,500-capacity Home School Building in Wyoming, set a $5 ticket price, and couldn’t even begin to accommodate all the attendees. A line of fans, some dressed in character costumes, snaked through the parking lot and all the way down Burlingame Ave. SW.
Hodges said organizers held the line so the event didn’t exceed the fire code, and ended up sending “thousands” of people home. He couldn’t even begin to estimate how many people showed up for the event.
“Between 7,000 and 10,000, but that’s a wild guess,” he said. “We have no idea.
Hodges credits the overwhelming response to last year’s event to good weather, underestimating the value of popular guests organizers brought in (such as “Captain America” comic artist and movie consultant Alan Bellman, and kid-comic artist Robert Pope) and greatly underestimating the demand for a geek-culture gathering in Grand Rapids.
“We realized, obviously, there’s a market for this! Duh!,” he said with a laugh.
It prompted a significant expansion to three days, Nov. 21-23, at the much roomier DeltaPlex. Hodges said he expects 30,000 people in and out of the facility over the course of the weekend; some tickets have been sold to people outside of Michigan. He added that three northeast-side hotels have been booked up because of the con, and he hopes to see a couple more filled before it’s over.
West Michigan hasn’t hosted a convention on this scale in more than two decades. The G.R. Comic-Con is loosely modeled on similar conventions – e.g., long-standing Midwest destination events Motor City Comic Con and Wizard World Chicago – that bring together the gaming, comic-book, sci-fi/horror movie and Japanese-anime niches. They offer autograph signings by comic artists and TV and movie stars, panel discussions, anime film screenings, vendors selling books and memorabilia, costume contests and more.
Hodges implied that the Grand Rapids con is more family-friendly than other conventions, with several events geared toward young fans, including how-to-draw sessions and a kids-costume contest.
Notable among the few dozen guests are Nichelle Nichols (Uhuru from the original “Star Trek” series), “The Crow” creator J.O. Barr (a native of the Detroit area), “Naruto” voice actress Maile Flanagan, veteran DC/Image comic artist William Messner-Loebs, “Black Lightning” creator Tony Isabella, “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” star David Yost and “Supernatural” and “Smallville” actress Alaina Huffman.
IF YOU GO
Grand Rapids Comic-Con
When: Nov. 21-23, 2014
Where: The DeltaPlex
Tickets: $12 for Friday, $15 for Saturday or Sunday, $35 for weekend passes, $5 for children ages 5 to 12, available via Etix, or at the DeltaPlex box office and numerous stores across Michigan
Info.: grcomiccon.com
Paul Bales, a southwest Michigan native and Three Rivers High School graduate, will speak about his work producing the pop-kitsch “Sharknado” films and many other “mockbusters.” His appearance will coincide with the reveal of the first image from 2015’s “Sharknado 3.”
“You want a hint?” Hodges asked. “Sharks in space. It’s epic.”
Hodges said organizers held an informal Facebook poll asking what TV show was a favorite among the event’s followers, and the overwhelming majority chose “Supernatural,” prompting Huffman’s booking – which is representative of the convention’s goal to bring in new, popular guests for autograph signings and photo ops (some of which will demand additional cost; prices are set by the artist).
“We look for stuff that’s fresh and new and different,” Hodges said. “I go to a lot of (conventions) in this field, and it’s a bunch of guys who haven’t worked since the ’80s. We’re not against that, but we feel the market wants stuff that’s new, fresh and hip, and on TV right now.
“Nichelle Nichols covers (all interests) pretty well, because it’s a classic thing. Everybody sticks with ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Star Wars’ – those franchises are going to outlive all of us.”
If the event’s popularity continues to build, Hodges hopes to eventually book bigger and better stars, and bring it to a downtown venue. He currently leads 15 volunteer staff members (“I hope to pay them next year,” he said), and one day hopes to make the con one of Grand Rapids’ marquee events.
“People are tired of driving to Detroit and Chicago to go to a good show,” Hodges said. “We get a lot of people who are real passionate – which makes it neat, because deep down people involved in this culture appreciate it.
“Everybody’s got an escape. That’s all this is for a lot of ‘nerdy’-type people. For a weekend they can do their own thing and have fun. That individuality is going to be celebrated,” he said.
John Serba is film critic and entertainment reporter for MLive and The Grand Rapids Press. Email him at jserba@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter or Facebook.