2019 Nickel City Con Report 2 2

[BlowUpTheMoon]

31 minutes ago, Grib said:

Try Gabriel's Gate as well.

Actually Gabe's Gate is my favorite place for wings. Tough parking on Allen, though. 

[the blob]

1 hour ago, RCheli said:

I think that nearly every medium-to-large sized city could stand to have a one-day show 3-4 times a year. I think that it makes the hobby stronger. Now, obviously, New Jersey has a few things going for it -- it is very densely populated, it has a lot of high earners, it is very close to two very large cities -- but I am always surprised when I see large cities not having something more often. 

Is there a regular Nashville show? Or Phoenix? Or Las Vegas? 

They are very inexpensive to put together. A small hotel ballroom or a VFW can cost as little at $800 on a Sunday (when they usually struggle to fill spaces). You sell 25-40 tables at $50-75 each, spend a little money on fliers and a website, $3 admission... PROFIT.

Frankly I am at a loss as to why they don't do more in NYC. Almost 9 million people. Shops are hard to find. Brooklyn and Queens, on their own, would be the 4th and 5th largest cities in the USA population wise. There's NYCC at Javitz and the Wintercon out by the casino/racetrack in Queens, but krapola in between.

[the blob]

1 hour ago, Grib said:

Try Gabriel's Gate as well. Wings are killer and near to the conversion center. Duff's are good too, but in the Suburbs.

Thanks for the suggestions. I spent a week up in Plattsburgh (not known for its cuisine) 2 years ago, I'm sure I'll be in the other corner of the state soon enough. 

 

[RCheli]

4 hours ago, the blob said:

Frankly I am at a loss as to why they don't do more in NYC. Almost 9 million people. Shops are hard to find. Brooklyn and Queens, on their own, would be the 4th and 5th largest cities in the USA population wise. There's NYCC at Javitz and the Wintercon out by the casino/racetrack in Queens, but krapola in between.

Because cost of putting on even a small show is ridiculous. Plus, Northern Jersey is really close to Manhatten and the Bronx and Queens and Brooklyn are close to Long Island. 

[Grib]

4 hours ago, the blob said:

Thanks for the suggestions. I spent a week up in Plattsburgh (not known for its cuisine) 2 years ago, I'm sure I'll be in the other corner of the state soon enough. 

 

There is no shortage of great food in the area, P.M. me when you are coming and I'll make a list for you.

[Grib]

I was just talking to a dealer/friend who I was surprised said the sales were up this year. He felt there was less people but the people were buying more cause they weren't fighting the crowds and feeling rushed. Interesting to me, not what I expected.

[the blob]

On ‎5‎/‎21‎/‎2019 at 8:32 PM, RCheli said:

Because cost of putting on even a small show is ridiculous. Plus, Northern Jersey is really close to Manhatten and the Bronx and Queens and Brooklyn are close to Long Island. 

Thing is there are lots of church basements and school gyms/cafeterias. It's not like you need to do it at a convention center or hotel. If you don't have a car (and most people in the city don't have one...heck, half of them don't even have a license) you don't go out to LI or NJ.

 

[1Cool]

1 hour ago, Grib said:

I was just talking to a dealer/friend who I was surprised said the sales were up this year. He felt there was less people but the people were buying more cause they weren't fighting the crowds and feeling rushed. Interesting to me, not what I expected.

The number of people thru the door may have been down but with only 4 dealers in attendance the ones who showed up had everyone's attention.  The key market is so hot that even nose bleed prices at cons are pulling buyers just because everyone wants to have them.

[RCheli]

27 minutes ago, the blob said:

Thing is there are lots of church basements and school gyms/cafeterias. It's not like you need to do it at a convention center or hotel. If you don't have a car (and most people in the city don't have one...heck, half of them don't even have a license) you don't go out to LI or NJ.

 

There was the Michael Carbonaro church basement show that he put on for a few years. I'm not sure why he stopped. I know the load in/out for that show was a pain the butt. I will do just about any show within two hours of my house, and I wouldn't do a Manhattan show -- the logistics just sound terrible, regardless of the potential for great sales. 

Also, while I think Manhattanites don't have cars, all the other boroughs are full of them. 

[seanfingh]

On 5/18/2019 at 3:56 PM, BlowUpTheMoon said:

http://www.nickelcitycon.com

$32.50 for Saturday admission.  Buffalo Convention Center.  
Five comic dealers.  A zillion booths selling t-shirts, nuts, car insurance. 
Marky Ramone was there.  People didn't care. 
A lot of "celebrities" canceled in the last week, making me wonder if they ever intended to appear in the first place or were just announced to pre-sell tickets. 

I hope you had a great time at the show.

[the blob]

15 minutes ago, RCheli said:

There was the Michael Carbonaro church basement show that he put on for a few years. I'm not sure why he stopped. I know the load in/out for that show was a pain the butt. I will do just about any show within two hours of my house, and I wouldn't do a Manhattan show -- the logistics just sound terrible, regardless of the potential for great sales. 

Also, while I think Manhattanites don't have cars, all the other boroughs are full of them. 

I think the church just didn't want him there any more. That is a very wealthy church, I am amazed they ever had him and comic dealers selling porn in their basement. I did one show there. I only had one table, so in and out was easy enough. Yeah, manhattan is a PITA, although really, most places have an early bird special for a one day show you can probably park for under $25.

 

[ygogolak]

On 5/21/2019 at 2:14 PM, BlowUpTheMoon said:

This three day show was at the Buffalo Convention Center.
I only showed pictures of the convention center main room, where most of the vendors were.   The con also used other meeting rooms for exhibits and such.

But still, only five comic vendors. 

Do they still have the gaming room and the singles meetup?

[BlowUpTheMoon]

1 hour ago, ygogolak said:

On 5/21/2019 at 2:14 PM, BlowUpTheMoon said:

This three day show was at the Buffalo Convention Center.
I only showed pictures of the convention center main room, where most of the vendors were.   The con also used other meeting rooms for exhibits and such.

But still, only five comic vendors. 

Do they still have the gaming room and the singles meetup?

Yes to the gaming room --> http://www.nickelcitycon.com/experiences/gaming/

Unsure about the dating thing. 

[blazingbob]

On 5/23/2019 at 4:31 PM, the blob said:

I think the church just didn't want him there any more. That is a very wealthy church, I am amazed they ever had him and comic dealers selling porn in their basement. I did one show there. I only had one table, so in and out was easy enough. Yeah, manhattan is a PITA, although really, most places have an early bird special for a one day show you can probably park for under $25.

 

Yes, because of one dealer selling undergrounds and who wouldn't cover them up plus some of the "stripper guests" the church did get tired of the shows.  In addition the basement did not have A/C which limited dates on when shows could be done.  

which is why the show moved eventually to the Hotel Pit,  I mean Hotel Pennsylvania.