Alas, no conventions in Austin

[Matthew_tx]

In my relatively new job, I have the entire two weeks off for the weeks of Christmas and New Year's. This has been my first consecutive two weeks off since the early '90s and I am kind of at a loss of what to do with myself. Therefore after having spent the first part of this time thoroughly annoying my wife, I moved on to annoying my daughters. Having successfully completed both of those important tasks :D, I have been spending a lot of time with comics.

In thinking about comics, I have been trying to figure out why there is no comic con here in Austin, TX - or even anything remotely close (mini-con, collectors' con, etc.). It's a literate city with tons of geeks and 3/4 million people in the city limits and a million and a half people in the metro area. Several years ago, there was a quarterly collectors' exposition. I sold at this a couple times, but this included everything from movie memorabilia, to sports collectibles, to avon bottles. There were no more than a dozen comic dealers. But even that collectors' expo has been gone for a few years.

I am curious if anyone knows of other cities of comparable size completely devoid of any kind of comic con.

Any entrepreneurs out there want to make one happen here in Austin? It's a great city (other than the lack of comic conventions, of course)!

[Quato]

Cons don't usually do very well when they are held too close to Christmas. Too many people are spending their money on gifts for others rather than on their own collection. I would not want anyone buying me comics at a convention. My tastes are too specific and the odds of anyone being able to pick out something I want is almost nonexistent.

Q

[Matthew_tx]

Q,
Apparently my stream of consciousness rambling was a little confusing...I agree that cons shortly before Christmas is not good timing; but there are no comic cons here in Austin EVER.

[marvelguy]

You could start one. It takes planning and marketing, who knows, it will take off!

[Matthew_tx]

You could start one. It takes planning and marketing, who knows, it will take off!

MG, I have actually thought about it. I think I could do it very well - IF I could commit the necessary time to it. Unfortunately, with all of my other committments, I am not able to make it happen.

[fulltimer56]

If I'm not mistaken there really hasn't been any cons in the Austin area but there was always one happening in either Dallas or San Antonio! Of course that was back in the 70's and 80's. But you might keep an eye out since you are between them two cities on I-35.

Just keep an eye on this website:

http://www.comicbookconventions.com/conventions.htm

Linda

[fulltimer56]

Plus you should check out this thread:

http://www.comicscorral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3886

[Matthew_tx]

Plus you should check out this thread:

http://www.comicscorral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3886

Since that was the previous thread in this forum, that's actually what got me thinking about a con in Austin. In fact, I checked out the website of that convention to get more information about the very slim possibility of selling there, but they were sold out of spaces.

As a buyer I love comic cons for lots of reasons (besides buying stuff for my own collection, I love to see what others are buying and selling, to get recommendations for other stuff to read, to meet artists and writers, and I just love the feel of a room full of comic fans). As a seller, I currently don't have enough stuff to warrant a table at a full convention, but I would love to find a one-day mini-con or something similar where I get a table for $50/$75.

[Matthew_tx]

Fulltimer, that link of http://www.comicbookconventions.com/conventions.htm (http://www.comicbookconventions.com/conventions.htm) included a listing for the "JMV comic show" here in Austin, TX. It's been a couple years and I had forgotten about it, but if it were well-run, it would suit my needs exactly ($50 per dealer table for a one day table with a few hundred interested buyers). Unfortunately, I am not totally comfortable with the likelihood of any buyers showing up. Anyone have any experience or have any knowledge of JMV?

Also, following is an email exchange I had yesterday regarding this one day show. The response to my email did not exactly thrill me. What do y'all think?

Hi,
I am interested in potentially having a table at the JMV Comic Book
Show on January 25, but I have a couple of questions.

I tried attending a JMV comic show a year or two ago here in Austin
and showed up in the late afternoon (but well before the scheduled
closing time). The hotel staff at the front desk initially had no
idea what I was talking about, there were no signs, and when I finally
found the room it was completely empty. Can you explain what happened?

I am somewhat familiar with the comic world, but until I did a pretty
detailed web search, I was unaware this one day show was happening in
less than a month. Can you please tell me about any marketing you
have done and what you plan to do? (I am hesitant to get a table if
there will not be a healthy turnout of buyers) Any idea on an
approximate expected turn out?

Will any of the Austin comic stores (Austin Books-Comics, Dragons
Lair, etc.) be there as "anchors?"

Thanks very much.
-Matthew-

Dear Matthew,
Thanks for your interest in our show.Our previous attempts to put on a show in Austin has been hampered by lack of dealer interest.The Jan 25 show is listed in Wizard magazine,Comics Buyers Guide,and Comic Book Conventions.com

Flyers will be sent to local shops and they will be invited to set up however this does not mean they will participate in a local one day show.This is not Wizard World and should not be held to that

[fulltimer56]

I see what you mean about that reply!! I guess they really don't give a "rat's ass" if it works out or not. Or that's the way I see it!

Wish you luck, anyway!

Linda

[Quato]

Fulltimer, that link of http://www.comicbookconventions.com/conventions.htm (http://www.comicbookconventions.com/conventions.htm) included a listing for the "JMV comic show" here in Austin, TX. It's been a couple years and I had forgotten about it, but if it were well-run, it would suit my needs exactly ($50 per dealer table for a one day table with a few hundred interested buyers). Unfortunately, I am not totally comfortable with the likelihood of any buyers showing up. Anyone have any experience or have any knowledge of JMV?

Also, following is an email exchange I had yesterday regarding this one day show. The response to my email did not exactly thrill me. What do y'all think?

Hi,
I am interested in potentially having a table at the JMV Comic Book
Show on January 25, but I have a couple of questions.

I tried attending a JMV comic show a year or two ago here in Austin
and showed up in the late afternoon (but well before the scheduled
closing time). The hotel staff at the front desk initially had no
idea what I was talking about, there were no signs, and when I finally
found the room it was completely empty. Can you explain what happened?

I am somewhat familiar with the comic world, but until I did a pretty
detailed web search, I was unaware this one day show was happening in
less than a month. Can you please tell me about any marketing you
have done and what you plan to do? (I am hesitant to get a table if
there will not be a healthy turnout of buyers) Any idea on an
approximate expected turn out?

Will any of the Austin comic stores (Austin Books-Comics, Dragons
Lair, etc.) be there as "anchors?"

Thanks very much.
-Matthew-

Dear Matthew,
Thanks for your interest in our show.Our previous attempts to put on a show in Austin has been hampered by lack of dealer interest.The Jan 25 show is listed in Wizard magazine,Comics Buyers Guide,and Comic Book Conventions.com

Flyers will be sent to local shops and they will be invited to set up however this does not mean they will participate in a local one day show.This is not Wizard World and should not be held to that


It sounds like his only goal is to make table money. He should be marketing to the comic collectors so that shops will want to support his show. I think $59-$75 is pretty cheap for a one day show. It tells me the owner can't sell tables. Even bad shows used to cost more than that when I was setting up.
I've been to only one show where the room was close to empty when I got there. I think that guy had advertised in Wizard also. Comic collectors don't look in Wizard when they are planning which local shows to attend. His chances of getting attendees that way is just luck. With no customer walking in, it's stupid for a retailer to buy a table.

Your best bet is to contact all local retailers & convention dealers within a 200 mile radius. Presell all the tables you can. Calculate it so you can use that money to afford a guest artist people have heard of and a hotel convention room with tables & chairs. You'll need to take in enough money to pay for some advertising and flyers. I would plan to just break even on my first show but you have to advertise where collectors will look. Money at the door should be the profit money. If you charge $5 at the door, your flyer can be a discount coupon for a dollar. You can print up specific flyers for each retailer and pay them $1 for every one of their customers that uses a coupon. That's an incentive for them to promote the show. The main thing is to get people coming. If your first show is a success, retailers will want to buy tables for subsequent shows and you might be able to charge more for the tables or hand pick better dealers that will attract the most customers.

Q

[Matthew_tx]

Q,

You sound like you know what you are talking about. How about coming down and running a con here in Central TX? http://www.comicscorral.com/forums/images/icons/icon7.gif