Posted in: Comics | Tagged: comic con, Comics, entertainment, indiana comic con, newcastle comic con

Indiana Comic Con And Newcastle Comic Con, Twinned Via Overcrowding

Two comic conventions took place over the last week, a continent away. The Indianapolis Comic Con and the Newcastle Comic Con, in the US and the UK respectively.

WTHR reported,

So many people felt that way that show organizers experienced some growing pains this first year in Indianapolis.

"We expected a big turnout, but we didn't expect as big of a turnout as we had [Saturday]," said Kailee Baylor with Comic-Con.

Leaders had to turn people away that day when they reached capacity of 6,000. That includes Madelynn Ryle from Greensburg.

"It made me mad. It was like a tease. We were here but we couldn't get in," Ryle said.

Comic-Con organizers say they learned an important lesson.

"We've already secured more space for next year when we come back," Baylor said.

Not that this will help those stuck in the lines outside, or those who left the show to return…and then couldn't.

Something similar hapened the previous weeked in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Amy McLean writes,

I'm not going to lie. Standing in line for four and a half hours wasn't the most practical – or even the most comfortable – of situations. I knew entry to Newcastle's first Film and Comic Con at the Metro Radio Arena wasn't going to be instant with an 11:30am arrival, but I certainly didn't expect to have to huddle in a crawling queue until 4pm! Nevertheless, I can honestly say that it was thoroughly worth the wait.

Clubit reported,

If you speak to anyone who attended Newcastles comic convention they will no doubt mention the rediculous queues to get in to the venue.Bumble Bee Camaro from Transformers Thousands of people and families who travelled from all over the UK braved the chill and queued up for up to 4 hours. There were also many disappointed fans that didn't get in to #Comicon even though they had pre purchased tickets.

I'm told by one vendor at the Newcastle Comic Con that the show sold 6000 tickets for an arena that could take 5000, expecting some not to turn up, or turn up at different times. And, as a result, madness, with long lines that never got in the show, including people who had paid over the odds for VIP tickets.

Comic Cons are getting more popular folks. Overselling tickets is a way to bring in the cash but can lead to a terrible experience for some.

Although on the upside, it does also drive demand, if supply is believed to be reduced, which could lead to more successful shows in the future? The first New York Comic Con was also closed by fire marshalls, so even Dan DiDio, DC co-Publisher who, as he is reported to have said "paid for the damn show" was refused entry. And look at them now…

Of course, there are some shows you can't get into months in advance.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK2zGNJP94k[/youtube]

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