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tiggzand people wonder why i violently dislike Vulkon. these are excerpts from the mighty </sarcasm> Fernando at his Vulkon board. you can find the original thread here. if you are so inclined.
What is going on in Buffy/Angel fandom? Last year we (Vulkon) had no real problems with attendance at our events, and all of a sudden this year advance ticket sales for all our Buffy/Angel events are terrible?
And we know we are not alone, as Creation had to cancel several of their events both last year and this year, and we understand that Moonlight is also having a tough time with ticket sales to their upcoming event as well?
So why this lack of support I ask?
If something doesn't change soon and if fandom will not come out to support these events, the promoters will be forced to cancel one event after another as they will not be able to cover the expenses of putting on the events without fan support and attendance.
Now as promoters we do understand that there are several events going on this year, and money is tight for some of you, but really how is that any different than last year? (Especially considering that there were more events scheduled last year than this year !)
What is really going to be needed is a grass roots campaign (started by you the patrons) to help spread the word and get people to support and attend the Buffy/Angel events in their area (local support for each event is the most important as only so many fans have the ability and finances to travel to non-local events). So it is going to be totally up to fandom to save Buffy/Angel conventions in the USA (The European events all get huge turnouts it seems. Is overseas Fandom stronger than it is in the US ?).
How can you help you ask? Well you can start by telling and inviting a friend and getting them to invite a friend and so on. You can help get the word about a convention out via email, fan websites, and distribution of flyers for the events in your area. Every little bit helps. I believe if we all do our little parts - we can help guarantee that Buffy/Angel conventions don't go the way of the dinosaur - as it would be pretty sad indeed to not have any conventions to go to and meet your favorite stars and the great friends we have all made at those conventions and online.
Sincerely,
Fernando
now...why, i ask you, should the customers of this con have to promote it so vigouously? shouldn't that be, oh i don't know, the promoters job? it's not like the people who take their own money to make flyers and such will ever see a kickback for doing so.
as if this wasn't bad enough, he also posted this:
The other side of that coin was the "New Faces" problem - we are trying very hard to do just that - bring in new faces, but let me tell you a true story about that: it is very frustrating to ask an actress to attend (who will remain un-named here) and have her say she is not interested, but then watch her accept an offer to do an event overseas, as she liked the idea of going to Europe all expenses paid - better than the idea of coming to Tampa ! And this has happened with more than one actor ! Now we do understand that of course - but we don't have to like it, as it just feels wrong from the perspective of a promoter who is also a fan and really wanted to see that actor/actress ! Plus, the European events, having huge attendances (often in the thousands), pay the actors on average 2-4 times as much as they would normally get to come to a US event - as the actor at a European event has to sign for hours upon hours and often for 3-days running. The problem there though is afterwards the actor asks for the same amount of money in the US but fails to take into account that they will only have to sign for an average of 700 patrons and for only one-day ! So they in effect price themselves out of the market, which is why you see them appear in Europe and rarely if ever stateside.
i have bolded the comment i have the most problem with. am i the only one who sees how completely unprofessional these people are? it's no wonder more of the actors won't do their cons. personally, i hope that post gets back to all the VIPs so they can see just who they are dealing with.
What is going on in Buffy/Angel fandom? Last year we (Vulkon) had no real problems with attendance at our events, and all of a sudden this year advance ticket sales for all our Buffy/Angel events are terrible?
And we know we are not alone, as Creation had to cancel several of their events both last year and this year, and we understand that Moonlight is also having a tough time with ticket sales to their upcoming event as well?
So why this lack of support I ask?
If something doesn't change soon and if fandom will not come out to support these events, the promoters will be forced to cancel one event after another as they will not be able to cover the expenses of putting on the events without fan support and attendance.
Now as promoters we do understand that there are several events going on this year, and money is tight for some of you, but really how is that any different than last year? (Especially considering that there were more events scheduled last year than this year !)
What is really going to be needed is a grass roots campaign (started by you the patrons) to help spread the word and get people to support and attend the Buffy/Angel events in their area (local support for each event is the most important as only so many fans have the ability and finances to travel to non-local events). So it is going to be totally up to fandom to save Buffy/Angel conventions in the USA (The European events all get huge turnouts it seems. Is overseas Fandom stronger than it is in the US ?).
How can you help you ask? Well you can start by telling and inviting a friend and getting them to invite a friend and so on. You can help get the word about a convention out via email, fan websites, and distribution of flyers for the events in your area. Every little bit helps. I believe if we all do our little parts - we can help guarantee that Buffy/Angel conventions don't go the way of the dinosaur - as it would be pretty sad indeed to not have any conventions to go to and meet your favorite stars and the great friends we have all made at those conventions and online.
Sincerely,
Fernando
now...why, i ask you, should the customers of this con have to promote it so vigouously? shouldn't that be, oh i don't know, the promoters job? it's not like the people who take their own money to make flyers and such will ever see a kickback for doing so.
as if this wasn't bad enough, he also posted this:
The other side of that coin was the "New Faces" problem - we are trying very hard to do just that - bring in new faces, but let me tell you a true story about that: it is very frustrating to ask an actress to attend (who will remain un-named here) and have her say she is not interested, but then watch her accept an offer to do an event overseas, as she liked the idea of going to Europe all expenses paid - better than the idea of coming to Tampa ! And this has happened with more than one actor ! Now we do understand that of course - but we don't have to like it, as it just feels wrong from the perspective of a promoter who is also a fan and really wanted to see that actor/actress ! Plus, the European events, having huge attendances (often in the thousands), pay the actors on average 2-4 times as much as they would normally get to come to a US event - as the actor at a European event has to sign for hours upon hours and often for 3-days running. The problem there though is afterwards the actor asks for the same amount of money in the US but fails to take into account that they will only have to sign for an average of 700 patrons and for only one-day ! So they in effect price themselves out of the market, which is why you see them appear in Europe and rarely if ever stateside.
i have bolded the comment i have the most problem with. am i the only one who sees how completely unprofessional these people are? it's no wonder more of the actors won't do their cons. personally, i hope that post gets back to all the VIPs so they can see just who they are dealing with.
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(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-23 06:19 pm (UTC)This guy is soooo full of crap
Date: 2004-01-23 06:53 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-23 07:05 pm (UTC)It's simple you have Creation, Vulkon, Moonlight Rising, European Events and numerous smaller independent events being run. They all invite the same 5 or so stars most of whom are secondary characters. Because there are so many events people will go to the one nearest them. When there were only a few they would be more willing to travel. Lastly, nothing against James Cleary or Iyari Limon but if you saw them last year somewhere odds are you're not going to knock yourself out to see them again. To put it in a nutshell it's your basic principle of supply and demand that any yahoo who took Econ. 101 should know.
Did you save this article: When Trekkie Met Buffy
1) "When Star Trek was dying out," says Motes, "my partner said, 'Let's shoot for Buffy.'"
Sounds to me like they were just looking for the next thing to cash in on.
2) "Buffy creator Joss Whedon has said he created the slayer as an emblem of female empowerment, although Martinez suggests that the show's draw is its "soap-opera effect." "It's like 90210 with vampires," he says."
Yeah big fan.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-23 08:07 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-24 05:51 am (UTC)You know what I think? I think someone should counteract with a campaign to encourage people to NOT attend. Now because of my involvement with 15 Minutes Plus it can't be me- it would just be misconstrued as an attempt to steal fans away from Vulkon for our legitimate, educational event. And we have enough issues with the Vulkon Gang and JCB without adding this to our troubles. However, if anyone wants to spearhead this little campaign, I'm happy to help provide both support and some of the information I have. Just let me know.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-24 08:29 am (UTC)And, yeah, I think he's talking about Amber. To which I reply, Amber Benson is one of the classiest chicks I've ever met and endlessly nice to her fans, even when they're annoying the crap out of her.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-24 09:57 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-24 10:40 am (UTC)Ha! I should convince him I'm a VIP. Uh . . . ME's fluffer. Is that a VIP position?
(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-24 02:23 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-24 03:01 pm (UTC)oh and when you really get to see him kick him in the a** from me will ya?
(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-24 03:03 pm (UTC)And Amber is really one of the sweetest persons ever. She even did a con in germany with only 75 people. And she did the european tour since she wanted to promote Chance.
And why the Vips prefer to go to European Events could be because Sean's Starfury Cons get really good feedback. Besides if we are all honestly we would also prefer to go to cons not in our home country if we were a vip. I guess they might get more paid because its more stress and farer for them.
I agree with ozlady, people really shouldnt go to Vulcan cons and people should spread the word how unprofessional they are.