Big Apple Show Reviews....................

[Comcasthawk]

Where are the reviews of the past weekends shows....??

[g-man]

i heard it was brutal.

[Foolkiller]

It was definitely dead this weekend. Saturday was pretty weak, and Sunday it was a ghost town. It was a beautiful weather weekend in New York City, so I'm sure that contributed to the problems with attendence. But I'm also sure that the dealers did not do very well based on attendence.

 

Now of course, we can all hear about how the Big Apples are so great and their "great guest lists"

 

At any rate, the Big Apple was on a poor weekend this go around. Part of it was the fact that, as I've maintained, is that it is not run very well in terms of generating excitement. It's also done so that the people going just sort of feel blah about the whole show like been there done that.

 

Plus, Baltimore is coming up, a much more attractive show. And it was Sept 11th weekend, and there were tons of sports on, the US Open etc.

 

Not a good mixture for a big hitting Big Apple show.

[blazingbob]

From a selling show it was very weak, from a buying perspective I had a great time.

 

I have felt that my NY show sales have gotten worse after moving from the Church to the new location. The reason the show was moved was because the church was offended to find out that porno chicks and adult material was being advertised and sold while in the church. So while some of you need those snatchshots to keep you going it resulted in a show being moved.

 

I totally agree that the Hotel Pennsylvania ambiance is something lacking. To me it's an industrial park under a roof. Add a few unbathed fanboys and I might as well be in a garage. Throw the chinese chick selling her snatchshots with that wonderful entourage of Porno handlers and we've got the makings of a great show.

We might as well setup at the Peep show across the street.

 

That being said I hope many of you will consider attending the Comic Con at the Javitts show in February. Hopefully, the show will put a more positive spin on what a NY Major show should be like.

[shadroch]

Bob,

Have you bought a table for that show?

Do you think it has a chance of being successful? Perhaps things have changed,but their initial asking prices for an unproven show were insane,in my opinion.

Throw in the Javits labor bs,the unpredictable NYC weather and the remoteness from mass transit and I can understand taking a wait and see attitude.

[blazingbob]

I'm buying a table for the show.

 

I've spoken to the promoter. They are not "new" to running tradeshows. They are partnering with a lot of NY Local Comic stores as well as Mike. In addition they are also using their customer mailing list which opens the possibility of new customers.

 

$1000 for a 10X10 booth is not unreasonable.

 

San Diego costs more. It's $300 more than a Wizard show. If Wizard were doing this show I would sign up.

 

I've done the MSG show and had the same questions with Richard Brandisi who nobody knew either.

 

The data is actually a very good date for doing a show. Fred Greenburgh used to run his Javitt show in Feb/March. He had one blizzard. There have been other big NY shows going back through the 80/90's that were in the same Month range.

 

Remoteness from Mass transit - Can't argue with that.

[Foolkiller]

what I would like to see happen is for the Javitz show to be a huge success. Have Wizard move WWEast out of Philly and to New York (if you want a Wizard World to approach the kind of recognition you get in Chicago, you need NY) and then have the National.

 

I'd like to eliminate all these Big Apples that are frankly run sometimes like the Mickey Mouse club. I think if they had only one show to concentrate on in a nice venue they might actually succeed. Frankly, it'd be better if Carbonaro and crew lost control of the national and if the Javitz organizers can pull it off, have them take over the Nov. show as well. And yes, for a well run show with better organization in a better venue that was held three times a year, I would fork over wizardesque admission at $20 or $25 a day.

[chrisco37]

From a selling show it was very weak, from a buying perspective I had a great time.

 

I have felt that my NY show sales have gotten worse after moving from the Church to the new location. The reason the show was moved was because the church was offended to find out that porno chicks and adult material was being advertised and sold while in the church. So while some of you need those snatchshots to keep you going it resulted in a show being moved.

 

I totally agree that the Hotel Pennsylvania ambiance is something lacking. To me it's an industrial park under a roof. Add a few unbathed fanboys and I might as well be in a garage. Throw the chinese chick selling her snatchshots with that wonderful entourage of Porno handlers and we've got the makings of a great show.

We might as well setup at the Peep show across the street.

 

That being said I hope many of you will consider attending the Comic Con at the Javitts show in February. Hopefully, the show will put a more positive spin on what a NY Major show should be like.

 

Best Con Report ever!

[shadroch]

I hope the Javits show is a huge success. I also have talked to the promoters as well as Mike C.,but was quoted $1200 for a spot. Perhaps they've gone down or they started giving selective discounts.I'm well aware of their track record but this is still a new,therefor unproven show,imo.

I think the timing is bad,as people from out of town can't be sure of the weather,and even people like 'hook will wait until the weekend to see if a 100 mile drive is possible.

I'll be going by LIRR,and will most likely take a taxi to the center,adding an additional $15 roundtrip to the cost. But trying to catch a taxi by the Javits is often an exercise in futility.

[Foolkiller]

why, is carbonaro involved in the promotion of this show? if he is, I'd be questioning its success immediately.

[Red Hook]

I hope the Javits show is a huge success. I also have talked to the promoters as well as Mike C.,but was quoted $1200 for a spot. Perhaps they've gone down or they started giving selective discounts.I'm well aware of their track record but this is still a new,therefor unproven show,imo.

I think the timing is bad,as people from out of town can't be sure of the weather,and even people like 'hook will wait until the weekend to see if a 100 mile drive is possible.

I'll be going by LIRR,and will most likely take a taxi to the center,adding an additional $15 roundtrip to the cost. But trying to catch a taxi by the Javits is often an exercise in futility.

 

That's a show I'd take the train from Poughkeepsie to.

[shadroch]

Besides, the location is much too far from Virgils.

[Red Hook]

What the hell is over that way? The heliport luncheonette?

[OldGuy]

I have felt that my NY show sales have gotten worse after moving from the Church to the new location. The reason the show was moved was because the church was offended to find out that porno chicks and adult material was being advertised and sold while in the church. So while some of you need those snatchshots to keep you going it resulted in a show being moved.

 

As long as the kids can still get to the porn, that's what's important.

 

[esquirecomics]

I totally agree that the Hotel Pennsylvania ambiance is something lacking.

 

Oy, I remember going to shows there in the early 1980s as a teenager.

[shadroch]

What the hell is over that way? The heliport luncheonette?

 

Scores is a short walk,28th and 10th,I believe.

Sabretts,if the weather holds.

[Red Hook]

Never, never underestimate the power of a good dog!

[burntboy]

What the hell is over that way? The heliport luncheonette?

 

Scores is a short walk,28th and 10th,I believe.

Sabretts,if the weather holds.

 

and a big on both accounts..................

 

i'd probably just take the ferry over from a couple of spots in jersey. in fact Hoboken has a ton of great eateries and cool pubs...................... and you can see the Javits across the river. could be a might cold out on the water for you southern types........(Philly, Baltimore,etc.)

[the blob]

the javitz show they had in the mid/early 90s was right after a blizzard (I remember dragging boxes through the snow because I helped a friend with his table) and was pretty packed. of course, there was a lot more excitement about comics back then.

 

i missed this big apple this weekend. we just got back from the hospital with the baby and there was no way i was going to get out of the house. not to mention there being no room in the house now that all the baby stuff is out.

 

my main issue with the church shows was the lack of air conditioning could make it a sticky situation. plus, it had to have less space than where he's at now.

 

OTOH, if you're coming in from long island or NJ or PA, the present location is pretty good. and the port authority buses to other locales are less than 10 blocks away. both places have a fair amount of parking within 5 blocks if you know where to look. the subway situation was probably about even.

 

honestly, i don't remember there being much, if any, porno at the church shows. or they did a better job of segregating it.

 

i guess the shows are too small to do much co-marketing. the 250 or so out of towners who show up aren't enough people for other entities (hotels, restaurants, etc.) to cut special deals. 5,000 people showing up at javitz is another story.

[crazeecreator-migration]

Unfortunately, I could not make the show this time, but my team was there. I've always liked the Big Apple Shows and have attended them for years as a fan and collector. Yes, it is no Wizard but it is our local show which is consistent. Could there be improvements, certainly, but I know the guys are trying. Karen, Al, Mike and Rich are consistently seeking feedback and ideas. That in itself means alot.

 

It's New York! Home of high rent rates, unions and all of those misc fees. That is a major reason why Wizard won't come down. At least the guys at Big Apple are giving us something to do five times a year. Catch up with friends, creators, great bargain prices on back issues and just have a good time. I beleive it will grow and become what its name implies BIG. Hey Rome wasn't built in a day.

 

Time will tell and we will continue to debate. But at least we have something to talk about. Long live comics....