It appears that JumpCon is headed for the same kind of meltdown as FedCon USA, but on an even larger scale. JumpCon promoted itself as a new kind of experience with a line up of over a hundred Sci-Fi stars (including many Trek celebrities) to appear at over a dozen different cities during the Summer and Fall. However, TrekMovie has learned their first stop (in Boston) this weekend may be cancelled and that future JumpCons are also in serious doubt.
For months there have been questions in the convention community about whether or not this ambitious project could actually get off the ground. JumpCon was a new company and yet their plan called for the con to ‘jump’ from city to city with an aggressive line up of stars. Each city would have a different line-up but many stars would appear over multiple weekends. The guests included nine Trek series regulars including Conner Trinneer and Nichelle Nichols as well as over a dozen more Trek guest stars. In addition to the Trek stars, other big sci-fi celebs for JumpCon include Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell (from Battlestar Galactica), Kevin Sorbo (Hercules, Andromeda), Claudia Christian (Babylon 5) and many many more.
Stars not planning on going
JumpCon has already cancelled their first two small events and was putting all their chips on a big event this weekend in Boston. Olmos and McDonnell headline the sci-fi stars for Boston, with a Trek celeb line-up that included Trek stars Nichelle Nichols, Robert Picardo, John Billingsley, Conner Trinneer, Jeffrey Combs, and many more. However TrekMovie has spoken directly to all of those celebrities or their representatives and as of now none plan on attending the convention in Boston (or any future JumpCon). All tell the same story, which is that the convention organizers have not met their contractual obligations and problems have persisted for months. Billingsley tells TrekMovie that as of last Friday he had enough and asked them to remove his name from the website (which they did). Last week Bob Picardo announced on his website that he may not go due to the contractual problems which led to JumpCon removing him as well (even though he tells TrekMovie he would like to go if JumpCon just fulfilled their agreement). All of the other guests are still hoping to attend, and are willing to go if JumpCon would just meet their obligations (deposits, tickets, hotel rooms, etc.). The representative for Olmos and McDonnell tells TrekMovie they still very much want to go and have bent over backwards to try and ensure that the fans do not get hurt.
Organizer admits financial trouble
TrekMovie spoke to first time convention organizer Shane Senter, the man behind JumpCon, who admitted that they have had financial problems. Senter actually tried to lay the blame on FedCon USA, saying that one of his sponsors backed out after that convention went under. However this was contradicted by others who tell TrekMovie problems started well before FedCon USA. On Monday night Senter said that he was still holding out hope that a new financial backer would provide the funding needed to pay all of the celebrities and that a deal would come through Tuesday morning. "We are trying to do everything we can to get this resolved, I am just waiting for one phone call," said Senter. However as of Tuesday morning Senter was still waiting and did not sound optimistic, noting, "I am not giving up until I have exhausted every last resource I have, and I am almost on that point." Senter hopes that the situation will be resolved one way or the other some time today, however after delaying for so long many of the celebrity guests are getting concerned about fans getting hurt and more and more are likely to make announcements shortly on their own websites that they will not be attending.
Do they even have the hall booked?
The Boston convention is supposed to be held at the Sheraton Hotel in Boston. Senter assures TrekMovie that they have secured the room and paid for it. However a spokesperson for the Sheraton would not confirm this and stated for now they had "no comment" regarding JumpCon. The Sheraton spokesperson did say that they would get back to TrekMovie to provide more details, we will provide an update if and when that happens.
Unclear if fans will get refunds
Senter tells TrekMovie they had sold 500 tickets for the Boston event (and many more for future events). He said their policy would be to provide full refunds within 14 days to anyone who requests one, but when pressed he admitted that "as of this moment" they did not have the funds to provide the refunds. Senter stated that the funding he is seeking now is for both paying celebrities and dealing with potential refunds. He also admitted that if the Boston convention does get canceled he would likely have to cancel the remaining JumpCons, saying "who would buy from me after this?"
TrekMovie.com will continue to monitor this breaking story and will provide updates as more information comes to light.
UPDATE: Boston JumpCon Cancelled
Shortly after TrekMovie published this article, JumpCon made it official and cancelled the Boston event. In the statement on the JumpCon site, Senter states:
I regret to announce the cancellation of our Boston event. Many factors that needed to come together to make it happen simply did not. We tried everything humanly possible and were unable to overcome the insurmountable obstacles. This is not to say that I don’t take the blame myself, I do. I wanted to see this succeed so badly that I was blinded to some warning signs that should have been obvious. If I have learned anything through this process it’s that running a convention business is far more intricate and fraught with peril than it seemed at the outset. I fully apologize to all the fans who’ve been inconvenienced by this late announcement and assure them that we’re in the process of getting you all refunds.
UPDATE 2: Comment From Star Rep
Erin Gray, who represents Olmos, McDonnell, Nichols and others has sent TrekMovie the following statement on behalf of her clients:
It is with great disappointment, and deep regret that they find themselves in this unthinkable position of announcing that they just don’t see how Jump Con is going to happen. For weeks all of my clients done everything in their power to accommodate Shane Senter at Jump Con, from renegotiating contracts to extending deadlines, all in the hopes of salvaging the Jump Con events. They were looking forward to attending and meeting the fans. However, at this late date, no moneys have transpired and no tickets have been sent. Unless this changes they will not be attending. Although we were in constant communication with Jump Con, and many promises and assures were made, unfortunately, none were kept. Certainly by now, three days before the event, we’d hoped and prayed things would be rectified.
We just don’t feel it’s fair to the fans to keep silent and not let them know what has transpired, or rather not transpired. It’s unfortunate but Jump Con events were the only events in the US that Mary and Edward were scheduled to do this year. Edward and Mary trust the future will provide the perfect event where they can meet with fans and friends and thank them for their support. We are currently looking at other alternatives.
We send our blessings, and apologies,
A final note: Don’t let this sour you on conventions
Although 2008 has two new high profile conventions run into trouble, that should not dissuade people from continuing to attend conventions. As pointed out by John Tenuto in his recent “Conventional Wisdom” column, these kinds of problems are actually quite rare. There are many trusted conventions that people should not worry about, like Dragon Con and the official Trek conventions from Creation. As advised in that column, for new conventions, fans should do some research before buying tickets in advance.
Never been to a convention. Don’t plan on ever going to one.I never got the whole SF convention thing. I love Trek, but have never been compelled to go to a crowded room with a bunch of rabid fans to see the same people I saw on the tv or the silver screen. Looks like this is one that I won’t miss either.
Wow, sucks for everyone involved
Sounds to me like avarice is taking hold somewhere for some people. It’s a shame because it sounds like the celebrities want to interact with their fans, but why should they become out of pocket for doing it?
I blame the soaring cost of dilithium crystals. Families just have to watch every quatloo. Thank goodness, the council president has just lifted the ban on off-galactic rim drilling. Still, with the Klingon and Romulan Empires becoming ever more competative in their bidding for Federation energy resources, this is a really good time to invest in latinum strips.
He’s so…. human.
Nobody’s perfect, Saavik.
If only these folks had learned the lessons FROM FedConUSA. Just cancel the thing BEFORE it starts, apologize, refund, and move on.
LOL CmdrR, well said :)
I’m in San Diego, 10 mins away from the ComiCon…..I guess I have been spoiled with this annual, huge, successful, fun event. When I read about the struggles of these other Cons, I’m saddened :(
Krik#1- Conventions are great fun – hearing the guests tell behind-the scenes stories, seeing original props and costumes on display, costume contests and fanmade gagreels and videos, real “rocket scientists”, physicists, etc. giving informative talks, partying with fans and guests at the hotel bars until the wee hours. I think the recent FedCon debacle and now Jumpcon prove that established cons are the only way to go, as the new kids on the block seem to have no idea as to how a good con should be run.
CmdrR… you’ve been in tha’ sun too much, mate. We use OIL,not some fictional phony crystal; thar’ be POUNDS and DOLLARS, not “quatloos”, and there be no real Kling-yons or Rommies… sheesh!
Now, if ya’ will excuse me, gotta’ watch me shuttlepod as it’s wedged in tha’ bay doors so tha’ Andorian convention delagates havta’ beam aboard and not take me good parking spot wit’ thar’ impulse shuttle… me parking spot which, I suppose, I could save by parking in it instead o’ jammin’ tha’ doors… now then, replicated me quardotritocale biscuits and gak fur lunch…
I’ll put me lefovers in a sock ta’ save fur TXH and tha’ World Cup…
Or take as a snack ta’ conventions I never go ta’… sorry mates.
OH- I can dress as “stars” and do a clever little dance… no one’ll notice… I do a mean Sponge-Bob, mates…
Well, back ta’ tha’ sun fur me now… it’s… it’s so yellarrrrr…
Arrrrr…
I know some folks involved in the convention business (not Sci Fi by and large) and there are always horror stories about some of the cons. The larger, well-established, and well-respected cons, as stated in the article, rarely experience problems. But there are others that, through lack of experience on the part of the organizers or plain old shady dealings, are infamous for trying to weasel out of contractual obligations (I am NOT saying that is what is going on in this case). I don’t blame the talent for avoiding what looks to be a problem. It’s often very difficult to recoup fees later if the con goes bust. And, of course, it’s ultimately the fans who are disappointed.
The article gave the best advice: Do your homework before attending a con and parting with your hard-won quatloos.
Thanks, Anthony!
#7 Denise,
I suppose you have a point there. I never gave one a chance. There are so many things I would rather do with my time that I never really gave it much consideration. Maybe someday I will check one out – if they can put one on that doesn’t go bust before it starts that is.
Spockanella
well that was John’s advice so I cant take credit. But I am glad to get this story out today instead of ending up doing another story like we did for FedCon where we were reporting on it dying after people showed up.
I truly hope that these guys can pull of a miracle today, and if not I hope the do the right thing and let everyone know before they show up.
Krik#10- The con in Vegas usually has activities for kids as well. The Experience has always been a great draw insofar as the family aspect of the con is concerned. That will, however, be changing after this last one in August, of course. Who knows what Creation will planning for next year, although wherever they take it, chances are it will be even more successful considering the movie premiere in May.
Boston even canceled…
http://www.jumpcon.com/?q=node/604
Good, full and fair reporting. Thanks.
What the hell is a Jumpcon???
Does anyone believe that this is a sign that sci-fi is dying out or going through a cooling off period? Wil Wheaton in his rather controversial post a week or so ago pointed out that we’re in the “Post-Phantom Menace period”. Fans are growing increasingly disenchanted with what’s being produced from the major sci-fi franchises (Trek, Lucasfilm, etc.) There hasn’t been a really successful Star Trek film in a decade.
Either way, it’s really disappointing that this type of stuff is happening, I’ve never been to a convention and I’m hesitant because it seems so risky.
Not surprised. Very ambitious to do a con a week especially in this economy.
When I first heard about this, I was very leery.
Yes there are some great cons out there that are reputable and established. I hope FedCon USA and Jumpcon don’t sour fans that have never attended a con. They truly are a great experience. Starland in Denver, Dragon Con in Atlanta, Creation, Shore Leave in Baltimore are examples of cons that have been around for awhile.
First two banks and now two cons. The country is headed for a depression.
#16: “Does anyone believe that this is a sign that sci-fi is dying out or going through a cooling off period?”
No, actually these kinds of convention flame-outs tend to happen more during periods of growth in fannish enthusiasm and activity. To some extent they may result from attempted scams, but they’re largely born of inexperienced promotors trying to jump into what they see as windows of opportunity to get involved in a “growth market” for these kinds of events.
Lots of convention failures in the late 1970s and early TNG era, for example.
Creation is where its at. All these tiny cons always fold up.
@ 20
Nonsense, Jerichon, the convention based off the show Jericho, has been pretty successful lately, although the max attendance this year was around 50 people, it is still considered to be a success, thanks in part to fan support. I am both a Trekkie/er and a Jericho Ranger and having attended Star Trek conventions, there are usually 5000 people in one day, and these new companies always want to try and start big. I have to say, to start big is almost a planned failure at times, mainly because they either dont have the money to stage a big event, or no one has even heard of them. Thats why these small con companies should follow what the Guardians of Jericho did, and start out small. Im sure within a few years or so, Jerichon will have a bigger convention to fill at least 1000 people. And hopefully, these other convention companies will be able to grow too.
There’s a convention in Orlando this weekend. I wish I could go, but funds are tooooo tight right now. Real bummer, I really wanted to see Riker, Kira, and the Duras Sisters. :(
Yeah, but that’s Jericho. Who watches that? Trek and BSG are the driving shows these days.
Sad. The first I heard of Shane Senter, I understood he was a millionaire and that was how he was able to pull off all these conventions. Was that ever true? I’ll probably never know but he hurt a lot of fans who had a tremendous amount of belief and faith in him. He should have known that fans aren’t dumb and are going to investigate before they start giving you money… hope those refunds happen for the unfortunate few who did pre-pay.
1,000 people? Uh, The Dark Knight gets more people than that and that’s just a movie.
It’s a shame. But let’s be honest, this is a rather poor time to be trying to launch something this ambitous. Rising fuel costs and a slumping economy are making people stick closer to home and enjoy more localized entertainment. I can appreciate JumpCon’s desire to create a new type of convention experience, but it sounds like it may have been doomed from the start.
Sorry to double-post, but now that I think about it, this might be the first I’ve heard of JumpCon. I don’t know how conventions are promoted, but I would think they would really push to get the word out, especially on something like this that’s so ambitious.
As to the so-called “established” conventions, can anyone here give me a ballpark figure on how long they’ve been around, and maybe as to what they do that’s given them such longevity?
The cons that have longevity played it smart and started out small. They built up their fan base and provided a good value and a good time. They have a built in fan base that return every year and word of mouth is one of the ways they grow their show. Each year they would add to their guest list and/or add new programming tracks and attract new fans.
To start out with 60+ actors and a show every week did not make good business sense. It would be like a new hamburger joint or coffee joint trying to compete with McDonalds or Starbucks out of the gate by building as many locations as they both have in the first year.
Plus, they were holding a convention in Boston the weekend after Shore Leave which is a very established and respectable con held in Baltimore.
Basically, they broke every best business practice that you would find in any first year college text book.
Shame on EVERYONE involved with Jumpcon. Many of us fans saw this day of cancellation coming from the first day the events were announced. It was a ridiculous idea and venture from the beginning. If it was so clearly obvious to many of us fans from the start that this concept could not work, why would celebrity booking agents (such as Erin Gray, Julie Caitlin Brown, Lolita Fatjo and others), convention organizing “experts” (such as Fernando Martinez) and celebrities get in and stay involved with such a “company?” They may try to wash their hands of this, but they are just as bad as “The Emperor” Shane Senter. Greed is what drove them and they need to take responsibility for getting and staying involved with Jumpcon. So shame on Jumpcon organizers ans staff, booking agents, celebrities and others who Jumped on the Con!
#28
That’s exactly right. I deal in theatre festivals and I see the same thing all the time. Some festivals start small and within their means. If they have good people, the continue to grow. Sometimes overreaching their potential slightly, but overall in a positive way.
Other groups promise the biggest festival in the world on their first try, and they always collapse on themselves.
It’s just like any other business. Know what you are capable of.
Stick with the San Diego, Atlanta, and other cons. They’re always professional and have tons of stuff to do.
28. Thanks, Trekkie16. It does seem like JumpCon (and FedCon USA for that matter) were doomed by the organizers’ not having a clear vision of their ( and their cons’) capabilities. Shane Senter even admits that he was so driven tosee JumpCon succeed that he was blinded to some obvious warning signs. So, perhaps the problem is not so much trying to launch a new convention at this time, but by trying to do something so big right out of the gate. I strongly suspect that there won’t be a JumpCon ’09, at least not in its’ current form.
I just came back from Shore Leave 30. It was wonderful fun, not merely having people sit in an audience and stare at TV stars, but to get an opportunity, in many cases, to interact with them. It also includes authors, astronomers, and a whole large crowd of fans of all ages. It typically reaches its registration limit of 1,500 persons (the max the hotel can safely contain), and it is a very well-run, enjoyable gathering of fans and friends.
It might be dismaying to read of other convention teams who are having troubles, but Anthony’s right. This is not typical of the convention experience, and there are many fine conventions, some large, some smaller, which are highly worthy of our patronage and support.
Shore Leave is a highlight of my summer every year! I’d hate to have it go away…
Never invest your money in anything called a “con”.
You’re just asking for it.
Wow. Saw this coming the first day they announced but that’s irrelevant. As many have said, there are plenty of wonderful conventions out there and it’s up to you as individuals to check out a “brand-spankin’ new” group before you pluck down your hard earned wages. This is not an epidemic of sorts, just a coincidence. Two inexperienced groups in a month. If the signs were there, they should be spanked for their ignorance. The fans suffered but the fans will return.
I believe most of the talent and their agents took Shane at his word that he would provide the things he had promised. Not only did he not come through with his promises to the talent and their agents he also didn’t come through for the fans. From the get go they were double billing people, he’d offer packages for one con and then discontinue them for others, he announced cons that he had made not hotel arrangements for. The guilty party here is Shane and his employees. No one else.
I went to Megacon in Orlando about 3 months ago and got everything and more than what was promised. I was very pleased with the experience. I wasn’t able to book anything for Jumpcon and now I’m seriously glad that I wasn’t able to.
#32 Thomas – Yes you are correct. It isn’t that new cons can’t succeed, it was the failure of these two organizers to understand their capabilities. I attended a new con this year “the Wrath of Con” in FL and had a wonderful time. They had a few actors and kept everything small and personal. They had about 350 attend and it was very successful and they are doing it again in 2009. I know I will go back and quite a few fans I met there plan on returning as well. Bigger isn’t always better; quality over quantity.
Both Fed Con and Jumpcon overextended themselves financially and couldn’t pay for the show. If you have a few actors and rent out a small space at a hotel, then your expenses are manageable.
#33 – I agree – I attend Dragon Con and San Diego Comic Con every year and I would be VERY unhappy if they ever went away. I always try to attend one or two new cons a year. This year I tried Starland in Denver and Wrath of Con in FL. They were both good cons and I would recommend them.
@ 23
Well apparently 10 million+ watch jericho DVD’s and reruns when it comes on, not to mention that Jericho was the #1 most downloaded tv show on iTunes, and to top that off, its the only show thats been cancelled… TWICE! And to top THAT off, there are talks going on with other networks to bring Jericho back for a THIRD season, thanks to the fans who want to see it to continue. The fans of Jericho are probably the most devoted fanbase in TV history. I havent seen this much devotion for something since… well ever! We are talking about sending nuts to CBS and having commercials to save jericho pop up in LA based channels, not to mention sticking a billboard in CBS’ face to see if any other networks would be willing to buy the rights to Jericho. I gotta say, after the cancellation of Enterprise, and after discovering Jericho on TV, i’ve lost some hope for Star Trek’s fanbase, since it seems to be split into many factions and there tends to be some hostility going on within the fanbase. Jericho has shown me what it means to be a true fan of something and how to live in harmony once again with fellow fans. This does not mean that Star Trek is out of my head, oh no! I still have a great devotion to Star Trek too, I just hope that all trekkies/ers would one day decide to stop being hostile towards one another, and become that friendly fanbase that ive come to know since i first got into Star Trek.
Oh and Anthony:
PLEASE DONT DELETE THIS COMMENT! IT HAS VALUE TO IT!
Eh, Jericho. I’d rather watch Lost.
Creation conventions have held the best cons by far. Been to 6 since the 80’s & they have never let me down.
#29
Shame On YOU!
So you are blaming Every single person on staff for the failure?
How nice of you, if this thing folds then these people will be out of a job!
They (and I know one staff member) got offered a job doing something that
they had only dreamed of, and even if they were not directly involved in the
decision making process you are going to blame them?
You may as well say SHAME on everyone employed at ENRON.
Please people… think before you slam “EVERYONE” at JumpCon
I for one do not know who is to blame or if it is any one person, so
please spare a thought for those who were just doing a job.
Ahhh…. I remember the days when Creation conventions were all of $12 to get into, autographs and pics with the stars were free, and there wasn’t any tiered pricing for seating and special events (I was second-from-front row, center aisle seat to see James Doohan way back in ’89 in Washington DC). Just a thousand fans packed together in a convention room to listen to the guests chat away. Oh, and you could freely mingle with the guests on the floor. They weren’t tucked away in some private dressing room somewhere.
I paid $4 to see the Creation-organized comic conventions that came through every other week, too. They occasionally had Trek stars at them along with the obligatory comic book guests, booths, and panel (Chris Claremont, Mike Zeck, the original Robotech artist, etc.).
Shore Leave I never get to go to. Couldn’t afford the $30 and travel expenses at the time, being in high school and all. :P
It’s ironic that these conventions are huge now that in the last few years being Trek being in its declined state, and have been since boosted with the success of the sci-fi genre, yet these big Creation conventions still promote Trek bigger than ever before. I’d have been thrilled to have had the Pocket and/or Trek authors at the regular conventions I attended in the late 80’s. They hold more appeal for me than the actors.
So to that end, I like the ‘little’ conventions myself. More interactive and somewhat intimate. Far more than these multi-thousand amusement park ones where you have to count your pennies and play eeny-miney-moe to choose who to spend your cash on. It’s a huge thrill to run into the guests from all genres being regular joes like ourselves checking out the goods on the floor. :)
It seems like these guys [FedCon and JumpCon] thought it would be easy cash to just waltz in, do a convention and go home rich and respected.
Can’t happen for several reasons-
1. The economy is fully trashed- to the point of a Depression- a fact that the Republicans are doing their best to conceal until after November elections, just like they tried to hide the energy crisis in 2006. Unfortunately, the Democrats don’t have any answers either.
2. Most of the Trek bouquet is dead or dying on the vine. If Abrams can pull off a miracle and get Gens Y and Z into the fold, hope could spring anew. Remember- $100 million US Ticket sales denotes a blockbuster. By this definition only TMP [I] and TVH [IV] have met this criteria. Trek is big, but not as big as we all would like to believe and with inflation, the $100m goalpost is easier to reach these days.
Obviously conventions like the Creation events, San Diego Comic Con and Dragon*Con in Atlanta have their loyal followings and attract tens of thousands of people. But I’d just like to say, for the people that doubt the smaller fan-run events, there are hundreds of them in the USA every year, and many more abroad, conventions that don’t have any problems. I go to both Star Trek and Dr Who conventions in the USA – I have been to Shore Leave (Trek) convention in Baltimore and have had a wonderful time, and I go every year to the Gallifrey One in Los Angeles (Dr Who) and have been for over 10 years, and both of these conventions give me everything I pay for and much much more. Don’t give up on the fan-run conventions, just do your homework on them.
When Creation stoped doing regular conventions in every major (and a few mid-size) cities, it really changed the convention lanscape.
But then,Creation became smart – cut back to a few big shows a year in Key cities and get into the merchandise end of things!
A City Like Boston needs a REAL Scifi Convention – we have one major Anime Con yearly, (10,000+ and it’s fan run!) and a handful of one-day Comic Shows (Now we have two rival outfits going head to head ) – We haven’t had one in years. Sure there’s Bos-Con and Arisa but those are more ‘high-class’ bookish scifi and not media shows.
#38: Trek was cancelled four times now. Once after TOS-1 (saved largely by Isaac Asimov, IIRC), once after TOS-2 (saved by Bjo Trimble and fans), once again after TOS-3 (saved by fans after ten arduous years), and once after ENT-4 (unsaved, despite TrekUnited’s controversial attempt).
Rumor has it that it was to be cancelled yet a fifth time, after ENT-3, but network execs stayed their hands after the preemptive strike of SaveEnterprise’s letter-writing campaign. And that it was going to be cancelled after TNG-3, but for luck and a brilliant little thing called “The Best of Both Worlds”, and after TNG-6.
Trekkies are many things, and one of them is certainly fractious. But don’t call us undevoted, don’t call us unsuccessful, and, above all, don’t call us unaccustomed to fighting cancellation. We’ve put in more man-hours fighting for our show than most Jericho fans have been alive.
No offense. Just sticking up for my fandom.
Shame about JumpCon. I’m afraid these two cancellations in a row are going to shake my faith in cons, despite Tony’s plea of reassurance.
For those interested in a con that WILL happen (and the best ones ever…. http://www.vulkon.com The Orlando Summer Show this weekend, from my email, the following
Greetings!
Due to the unfortunate and recent problems with Jumpcon, Vulkon is offering all of those patrons that bring a valid JumpCon ticket to our Summer Sci Fi this weekend, July 18 – 20, 2008, a one-helf discount on our Bronze Weekend tickets and general admissions.
Also, the Altamonte Springs Hilton has extended our Room Rate up until the first day of our convention, “Friday, July 18”! Thank you Hilton!
So, if you haven’t already booked your room, please do so ASAP and get in on the fun here at Vulkon Entertainment.
Hotel info:
350 Northlake Blvd
Orlando, FL 32701
(407) 830-1985
Also, Announcing Four (4) more guests for our Summer (July) Orlando Sci Fi Expo. Join us for a fabulous weekend.
“Does anyone believe that this is a sign that sci-fi is dying out or going through a cooling off period? ”
It’s cyclical and there’s always the risk that people just get in over their heads with the thing. There’s also a percentage where greed rules the day. Creation has been smart although they take a lot of flack for how they do things. It’s been fun watching CC get so large. The World Science Fictions cons were awesome if you are more than just a Trek fan. I’ve been part of a couple of fan run cons (not Trek) and it is a ton of work. We planned for 1.5 years and tried to cover every contingency so people wouldn’t be disappointed. I’d never do it again!
@ 46
Yes, but technically, im speaking on one series of a show, not the spin off series. Trek season 1 and 2 happened without major conflict, and i dont beleive that it was cancelled TWICE. Neither has Enterprise. Enterprise was having rocky times, but right when it was getting good did CBS/ Paramount (JERICHO’S and STAR TREK’S enemy!) decide to cancel the series. However, the only fight i remember seeing or hearing about was when protesters decide to hang in front of the studio to protest the cancellation. And I am certainly not saying that the Trek Fanbase is UNDEVOTED and UNACCUSTOMED to cancellation, I have not said that. But, if the fanbase wasnt so fractured, there might of been a great chance that Enterprise would of returned. But there is one thing we all should agree on, THE NEILSEN RAITING SYSTEM IS OLD! ITS ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF PREMATURE CANCELLATION! Anyways, i just want to make it clear that i did NOT say that us Trekkies\ers are undevoted.
I’m registration chair for ConCarolinas (www.concarolinas.org), which has been in Charlotte, NC now since May 2002. We started out VERY small, with a two-day prequel and one author Guest of Honor. And the start-up money we received from SECFI (which was originally organised to put together a WorldCon Charlotte 2004 bid) was all of $750.
2003 was our first three-day event and first time we had a media guest. ONE media guest! The most we’ve ever had was two. Why? Because we’re a small con and we just can’t afford more. Even a relatively minor guest is usually a $2000 autograph guarantee, plus room nights, plus flight, plus per diem (per day food and incidentals money).
This year, we had 700 people total. We eventually may get to 1000 or even 1500, but we don’t WANT to be bigger than that. We’re totally fan-run. None of us makes a dime off the con. We do it because we love it. We must do, having done seven of them now!
BTW, WorldCons have been going on for over 70 years now, started back in the late 1930’s. ShoreLeave is now 30 years old and StellarCon (in Greensboro, NC) is about that old, too.
Just watch out for the sleazebags (like Slanted Fedora) and those with plain old poor business sense. If it costs a bundle and it’s not CreationCon in Las Vegas, look at it three or four times. And use your credit card so you can dispute the charges! I know.. I had to do that with Slanted F!
PS: Hi, Alex (#33)