The turnout for Image Expo was very light. With WonderCon exiting Northern California this year one would expect that Image Expo would fill that void. Not even close. Was it a lack of promotion, people not wanting to deal with the Occupy Oakland crowd, the continued shootings or a combination of those things? We will never really know. It was an excellent show for attendees as there was plenty of room to move and view the wares on display.
I don’t know if it was the PA system or the fact that the gentlemen making the announcements was standing inside the room creating feedback, but I actually witnessed attendees cupping their hands over their ears and cringing as the announcements would seem to go on and on without end.
With it being one of the more expensive shows that I’ve attended compounded by the $24 a day parking as well the turnout or should I say lack of, I would be hard pressed to attend again unless I saw / heard something in the way of promoting that would lead me to believe the turnout would be better. I used to attend WonderCon at this same address in the early 1990’s. Back then the place was wall to wall packed. Image Expo? Not even close.
I did get to see and visit many friends and enjoyed every minute of it. My new comic “The Tale of a Well Hung Man” went over very well especially considering the lack of traffic and I was able to pitch some of my other stories. The most fun, perhaps the highlight of the show for me was pitching them to Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go’s, she was reeling with laughter and exclaiming how she loved how twisted they were.
Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the show. I just have to be realistic as to where to spend my convention dollars.
Read the rest of this entry »
