Ron Weasley Made Me Sad (Fan Expo Story)

[SainthoodDenied]

We have Dragoncon here every labor day wekend just over an hour west of me in Atlanta, I stopped going when it got so big the local small dealers I buy from couldn't afford tables anymore. If you don't support your local people then don't expect my support. Those guys were the dealers there when it was small and trying to stay alive from year to year. Now it's all movie and media and corporate stuff

[Brazoo]

I think my point outside of this article wasn't that it's wrong per say or whether people can afford it or not, it's that it's just really getting out of hand.

Cons are supposed to have panels, when you have VIP seating and then charge admission for everyone (who already paid admission) that's gouging.

For the record, I agree completely with the point you made. That's sounds like a pure bait-and-switch scam to me. Even though I think the author Jonathan Kay's point was related to your thoughts I think his specific viewpoint regarding the experience he paid for was less valid. I guess it's a symptom of the same issue, but I think that if the issue is about the monetization of "fandom" then I don't think it's fair to blame the actors for their part in this without also blaming the fans. In your case I think the issue is crooked event promoters, which is why I think it's a slightly different issue.

[huedell]

I get it. I skip Cons nowadays. I just don't see the value in them. Price doesn't equate to experience.

And that's that.

As is common with a thread with multiple posters attempting to challenge the market on setting a price for something in the entertainment media industry---a small summation like Goblin19's says it all.

Irritation over paying a set price is understood, but claims that those prices are inappropriate are empty claims.

Times change---the market changes---but, what doesn't change is that the market dictates reality, not arbitrary assumptions and/or perceived consumer entitlements .

That said: I do understand that misrepresenting what an event is for deception to nab extra cash's sake (as in what Brazoo noted) is unfairly frustrating.

[daz71]

Guess you never heard of meet and greets with musicians before their concerts? They have a mini fan expo with fans paying a ton of cash to get autographs and pics.

that's awful i've met quite a few people in bands and they were chatting to people signing autographs having pictures taken never asked for money.i once met u.s. hardcore band agnostic front walking around my city lost .

[Mr.Marion]

Those panels are complete mark-fests. Dorks laughing at jokes that aren't funny. I'd like to go the motor city comic con but $30-40 admission a day is a little much.

[Brazoo]

Times change---the market changes---but, what doesn't change is that the market dictates reality, not arbitrary assumptions and/or perceived consumer entitlements.

Good point.

[Brazoo]

I used to love the Motor City con, but I haven't been in years.

[palitoy]

I love Motor City, it knows how to treat people as opposed to Fan Expo. I was once berated by a FE employee to "Get the **** out of his way" at the top of his lungs. I fought the urge to relieve his shoulders of his tiny head.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I was actually a "guest" at Motor City for two years in a row in the late 90s. Tiny comic outfit I was working for set up there. Somehow, we were treated (very undeservedly) as real professionals. Very relaxed atmosphere back then. Got to go back to the complimentary room and eat chili two tables over from Billy Dee Williams. Literally almost ran over Kenny Baker coming out of a men's room. It was all very surreal.

My friend Mitch and I were the only folks in the room when a group of people walked by, staring into the room and assessing the situation. You would have thought it was the secret service, prepared to evict us from the premises. Turns out it was just Jonathan Frakes' entourage. Apparently Number One likes to eat nachos alone.

Chris

[Brazoo]

I love Motor City, it knows how to treat people as opposed to Fan Expo.

Even when it was swarming with people I don't remember feeling like cattle there. I had so many fantastic encounters with comic legends there too; Will Eisner, Jim Steranko, Al Williamson, Don Heck, Martin Nodell...

The movie/TV celebrities seemed really accessible compared to Fan Expo as well.

There's no reason I stopped going, except for my own laziness and lack of budget. I should check it out again.

[Wee67]

This is just the other side of the coin of Geekdom becoming more and more popular and, hence, more profitable.

We all enjoy seeing are bits of nerd subculture finally getting turned into major projects. Its great to be able to see stuff I love getting made on all different levels. Heck, even accessibility to those things is much, much easier.

Of course, the other side of that is things like this. But Huedell is correct- this is just the market determining that there's gold in them there hills. It's hard to blame the miners or even the gold.

Even understanding that and not wanting it to change, I do sometimes miss nerd culture being our little secret.

[MIB41]

You know, there’s this old business axiom that states what someone charges for a product is a direct reflection of what the market will bear. And while there is an ugly truth to that, one can’t help but wonder where that line should be drawn when it comes to meet and greets. I certainly hope one day people wake up to the outrageous prices celebrities are charging to essentially do nothing more than notice you for five seconds and pretend like it meant something to them when in fact they were only keeping a running tally of their net profits as each fan walked by.

Fortunately I’ve be able to witness some wonderful examples of restraint and good will in my experience working conventions. There are some people of noted fame who use these events to give back. Some have even taken the money they’ve earned and donated it to charities. So while this field is littered with has-beens displaying their shame for greed, there ARE some good people who get past their name recognition to find sincere gratefulness for someone showing up to say, “Thanks”. It’s a rare breed in this industry but they are out there.

I understand and realize all of this ultimately is a business transaction, but it would be nice to see more people of noted fame stand up and recognize there is a human emotion in this that should be recognized and nurtured to a higher standard than just picking their pocket.

[johnnystorm]

that's awful i've met quite a few people in bands and they were chatting to people signing autographs having pictures taken never asked for money.i once met u.s. hardcore band agnostic front walking around my city lost .

We were recently at a concert by the band Heart Awesome show, but the meet & greet thing prior? $250.00 per person, and from what I was told, it was basically a lineup and the band went down the line, signed a picture, shook hands, quick selfie, and gone, all over in 15 minutes.

[palitoy]

We were recently at a concert by the band Heart Awesome show, but the meet & greet thing prior? $250.00 per person, and from what I was told, it was basically a lineup and the band went down the line, signed a picture, shook hands, quick selfie, and gone, all over in 15 minutes.

My wife is a huge Heart fan but she'd never pay that. They were kind of crappy to her in the mid 90s, she was one of like four people waiting backstage after a show. Hardly a mob, but they just refused to sign anything and left.

[Gorn Captain]

Last year Carrie Fisher came to my town. It was $70 for a photo. No, thank you!

The saddest moment was when a six year old boy presented his drawing of 3PO to Anthony Daniels, and asked to sign it "C3PO". The answer was "that will be $60"...

My personal sad memory is when Peter Mayhew misspelled my name (even though I wrote it down first), then proceeded to scratch out the unwanted letter and handed me the messed up photo. I could have torn his arm out of the socket....

Never meet your heroes...