Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Mar 25, 2015 10:42:59 GMT -6
Oregon’s Cherry City Comic Con has a new owner and a new attitude. The con fell on hard times last year, and at one point this year’s show was canceled. New owner John Roache bought the show when he heard that news; he and his wife, artist Nicole Brune, had been to last year’s show and enjoyed it. He’s keeping the name but changing the format to more of a pop-culture convention, with a long list of entertainment guests, and he has expanded the number of slots available for vendors. The show is scheduled for April 11-12.
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/life/2015/03/25/new-owner-local-comic-con-digging-event-pit/70332762/
Embracing the slogan of "Salem's First Nerd Fest," Cherry City Comic Con will return April 11 and 12 to Oregon State Fairgrounds.
Under new ownership, the pop-culture convention has reinvented itself into a multi-faceted celebration of comics, movies, costumes, art and more.
Show owner John Roach moved to Dallas from California just over a year ago. Roach, who has a background in marketing and live event production, acquired the event in January.
His family is not new to the comic con world. His wife, pin-up oil painter Nicole Brune, has been a guest at shows around the country. That is how he originally discovered Cherry City Comic Con. He and his wife attended last year as artist exhibitors.
"When I heard it was originally canceled in December, I was pretty disappointed," Roach said. "As small as a show as it was, it was a very good show for us. Proportionately, it could have been our best show of the year."
When Roach took over ownership, he paid off the debt from the previous show, then went to work repairing damaged relationships.
"There were a lot of people I talked to that were angry about the topic of Cherry City Comic Con in general," Roach said. "There were around 60 or 70 people that were pretty upset about this, about not getting money back and that kind of stuff."
Changing the name of the show was not an option for Roach.
"My belief is that it is a community show. It is for the city. It shouldn't have another name," he said. "If I have another name, I have no responsibility to the people who were left without a refund. I took that upon myself to do. With my marketing background, I viewed the bad press as something I could leverage and turn into positive traffic.
"My intention is to grow this beyond a comic con. It is a nerd culture festival."
Roach has been going to comic conventions for 20 years.
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"My first was San Diego Comic Con. I have been an exhibitor for almost 10 years," he added. "When I am putting this show together, priority one is for attendees to have a great show. Secondary is for exhibitors to have a great show. Third priority is that we have a big successful show, but I believe if the first two things are covered, the third will happen automatically."
For his first year at the helm, Roach aims to provide a show that appeals to a broad audience and maintains its affordability.
Roach had a number of guests in mind, and after checking with other friends who are connected in the pop-culture world, he found out a number of them were accessible.
Special guests include world-class martial artist, actor and director Michael Jai White ("Spawn," "Dark Knight," "Black Dynamite"), Naomi Grossman ("American Horror Story"), Deep Roy ("Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Never Ending Story"), Vernon Wells ("Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior," "Commando"), Don Pedro Colley ("Dukes of Hazard," "THX-1138"), Honky Tonk Man (The longest running WWE Intercontinental Champion), Kayla LaFrance ("King of the Nerds") and Parker Jacobs ("Yo Gabba Gabba!," "Welcome to Goon Holler.")
"There is also a great list of artists coming up," Roach said. "A lot are making exclusive art for the show."
Some of the artistic talents include Emmy award-winning artist Joel Adams ("King of the Hill"), Marat Mychaels ("Deadpool Corps"), sculptor Tim Miller ("Sideshow Collectibles," "McFarlane Toys") and multi-Emmy award winning commercial artist Buzz (DC Comic's "JSA," "Vampirella").
Some of the local celebrities include pin-up oil painter Nicole Brune, Randy Emberlin ("Amazing Spider-Man," "GI Joe"), Emmy award winner Keith Tucker and author Adam Gallardo ("Zomburbia," "Zombified").
Cosplayer AZ Powergirl and charity cosplay groups Portland Superheroes Coalition, United Heroes for Hope and Star Wars Oregon also will be available for photo opportunities.
"We also have a wide range of vendors, from craft stuff to weaponry, comic book shops and all kinds of clothing."
"The amount of vendors they had at the show last year was under 70," Roach said, "Our artist alley section alone is 64 table spots. We have almost as many people in the artist alley as they had at the whole show last year."
"It's going to be a fun show for everybody," Roach said.
cwright2@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6671, find her online at Twitter.com/CarleeWrightSJ and Facebook.com/CarleeWrightSJ
Cherry City Comic Con
When: 10 a.m to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 11-12
Where: Oregon State Fairgrounds, 2330 17th St. NE
Cost: $15 Saturday, April 11, and $10 Sunday, April 12, plus $20 two-day pass and free for active military with ID. Children ages 12 and younger free with paid adult.
Information:cherrycitycomiccon.com
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/life/2015/03/25/new-owner-local-comic-con-digging-event-pit/70332762/
Embracing the slogan of "Salem's First Nerd Fest," Cherry City Comic Con will return April 11 and 12 to Oregon State Fairgrounds.
Under new ownership, the pop-culture convention has reinvented itself into a multi-faceted celebration of comics, movies, costumes, art and more.
Show owner John Roach moved to Dallas from California just over a year ago. Roach, who has a background in marketing and live event production, acquired the event in January.
His family is not new to the comic con world. His wife, pin-up oil painter Nicole Brune, has been a guest at shows around the country. That is how he originally discovered Cherry City Comic Con. He and his wife attended last year as artist exhibitors.
"When I heard it was originally canceled in December, I was pretty disappointed," Roach said. "As small as a show as it was, it was a very good show for us. Proportionately, it could have been our best show of the year."
When Roach took over ownership, he paid off the debt from the previous show, then went to work repairing damaged relationships.
"There were a lot of people I talked to that were angry about the topic of Cherry City Comic Con in general," Roach said. "There were around 60 or 70 people that were pretty upset about this, about not getting money back and that kind of stuff."
Changing the name of the show was not an option for Roach.
"My belief is that it is a community show. It is for the city. It shouldn't have another name," he said. "If I have another name, I have no responsibility to the people who were left without a refund. I took that upon myself to do. With my marketing background, I viewed the bad press as something I could leverage and turn into positive traffic.
"My intention is to grow this beyond a comic con. It is a nerd culture festival."
Roach has been going to comic conventions for 20 years.
STATESMAN JOURNAL
Salem artist finds success in comics, stamps
"My first was San Diego Comic Con. I have been an exhibitor for almost 10 years," he added. "When I am putting this show together, priority one is for attendees to have a great show. Secondary is for exhibitors to have a great show. Third priority is that we have a big successful show, but I believe if the first two things are covered, the third will happen automatically."
For his first year at the helm, Roach aims to provide a show that appeals to a broad audience and maintains its affordability.
Roach had a number of guests in mind, and after checking with other friends who are connected in the pop-culture world, he found out a number of them were accessible.
Special guests include world-class martial artist, actor and director Michael Jai White ("Spawn," "Dark Knight," "Black Dynamite"), Naomi Grossman ("American Horror Story"), Deep Roy ("Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Never Ending Story"), Vernon Wells ("Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior," "Commando"), Don Pedro Colley ("Dukes of Hazard," "THX-1138"), Honky Tonk Man (The longest running WWE Intercontinental Champion), Kayla LaFrance ("King of the Nerds") and Parker Jacobs ("Yo Gabba Gabba!," "Welcome to Goon Holler.")
"There is also a great list of artists coming up," Roach said. "A lot are making exclusive art for the show."
Some of the artistic talents include Emmy award-winning artist Joel Adams ("King of the Hill"), Marat Mychaels ("Deadpool Corps"), sculptor Tim Miller ("Sideshow Collectibles," "McFarlane Toys") and multi-Emmy award winning commercial artist Buzz (DC Comic's "JSA," "Vampirella").
Some of the local celebrities include pin-up oil painter Nicole Brune, Randy Emberlin ("Amazing Spider-Man," "GI Joe"), Emmy award winner Keith Tucker and author Adam Gallardo ("Zomburbia," "Zombified").
Cosplayer AZ Powergirl and charity cosplay groups Portland Superheroes Coalition, United Heroes for Hope and Star Wars Oregon also will be available for photo opportunities.
"We also have a wide range of vendors, from craft stuff to weaponry, comic book shops and all kinds of clothing."
"The amount of vendors they had at the show last year was under 70," Roach said, "Our artist alley section alone is 64 table spots. We have almost as many people in the artist alley as they had at the whole show last year."
"It's going to be a fun show for everybody," Roach said.
cwright2@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6671, find her online at Twitter.com/CarleeWrightSJ and Facebook.com/CarleeWrightSJ
Cherry City Comic Con
When: 10 a.m to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 11-12
Where: Oregon State Fairgrounds, 2330 17th St. NE
Cost: $15 Saturday, April 11, and $10 Sunday, April 12, plus $20 two-day pass and free for active military with ID. Children ages 12 and younger free with paid adult.
Information:cherrycitycomiccon.com