Botcon Returns in 2021

Discussion in 'Transformers News and Rumors' started by neospark1, Jan 27, 2020.

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  1. WishfulThinking

    WishfulThinking The world has moved on...we've always said.

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    I've helped run a smaller convention, TFExpo. The price was cheaper than the protoform package at Botcon, you got to meet two guests who would take time to actually talk to you and take pictures because the attendance was under the 200 mark, you got to go to a dinner with a script reading, the dealers room was every bit as large at Botcons I've been to and there was generally some kind of 3rd party toy exclusive of some sort the years I helped. To be honest with you, the smaller con experience is where it's at if one is going that route - which means for all the hemming and hawing over fans saying they weren't going for the toys - honestly, they were otherwise you'd hit up a smaller local convention that gives you bigger bang for your buck. For what you were getting with Botcon's protoform package, it should have been $50 cheaper...in the realm of $100 or so.
     
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  2. wheeljack01

    wheeljack01 Happiness is a warm gun

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    I will say it once and I will say it again I have faith in Bret, the Hartmans, and Andrew.
     
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  3. stad

    stad Well-Known Member

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    I'd still like to know where all the hate towards Pete comes from, I don't even remember seeing that at BotCons. If it all comes down to that cartoon that he reposted, then it's a load of BS. Is there something else that I'm just missing? The cartoon may not have been that funny, but there was nothing racist about it, or even implying any particular race - unless you're looking to apply a racist stereotype (which itself is demonstrably false) to it, which would make the reader the racist, in this scenario.
    But I freely admit it may be much more than that, I really don't know, and am trying to understand.
     
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  4. Aaron

    Aaron Master of Crystalocution Moderator Content Contributor

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    That answer usually ends up falling into the “Offsite Drama” rule so discussions will be canned.
     
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  5. WishfulThinking

    WishfulThinking The world has moved on...we've always said.

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    I PMed you my response. Best to take those discussions there for now.

    At this point, we might as well shut down this thread as it will always go back to Pete. Maybe it can be reopened once there's new information?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 6, 2020
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  6. G.B. Blackrock

    G.B. Blackrock Autobot Ally

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    May I just add to this that smaller cons, held in more parts of the country (or countries, plural, if you prefer), is something I'm totally in favor of?

    If nothing else, I'm tired of defending the rare occasion when a convention comes to CA (outside of BotCon, there have been VERY few). I'd love to see more smaller-convention action come this way!
     
    Last edited: Feb 7, 2020
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  7. Thylacine2000

    Thylacine2000 Well-Known Member

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    Didn't some of the admins right here used to run Cybercon Expo in NY/NJ? Those were great. Huge dealer room and 2-3 voice actors.
     
  8. WishfulThinking

    WishfulThinking The world has moved on...we've always said.

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    Now, we didn't make money hand over fist when I was helping run it. Most of the time, we came in slightly under breaking even or just slightly above breaking even. It was more of a labor of love and the opportunity to make memories for the local fandom around Wichita, KS while not breaking the bank.
     
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  9. stad

    stad Well-Known Member

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    What are you guys missing in CA? It's the home of the biggest Con in the world, BotCon was all but camped there - especially the last 7-8 years, JoeCon would go their sporadically and there's SoCal Joe Con there now....Is it another toy fandom, or fandom in general, that's missing or ignores CA?
     
  10. stad

    stad Well-Known Member

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    Well said, point taken.
     
  11. G.B. Blackrock

    G.B. Blackrock Autobot Ally

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    Well, that "biggest Con in the world" is very much the kind of thing I wasn't talking about... and it's not particularly TF-focused. I don't even know why a Joe convention is being brought up, as that's completely outside of TF....


    Let me try again, I'm in favor of more, smaller, Transformers conventions, in different parts of the country/world.
     
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  12. stad

    stad Well-Known Member

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    I only brought it up because I wasn't sure what type of cons you were referring to - I was thinking you meant in general. I guess I should've realized it was TF specific. While BotCon was very good to CA, I suppose I haven't heard of any other TF-based cons being there.
     
  13. G.B. Blackrock

    G.B. Blackrock Autobot Ally

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    The context was TFExpo. And this is a Transformers forum. I didn't think I needed to spell it out.
     
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  14. geekatron prime

    geekatron prime The Grammar Police must be on strike.

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    Just going to wait and see what developes over the year. Long way to summer 2021. Hopefully Botcon shows up near my neck of the woods. Would really like to go at least once.
     
  15. Hollywood Hoist

    Hollywood Hoist Well-Known Member

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    but were you and the other organizers making your living on the money made from the con? We all need to remember that people worked full time at FP, that their livelihoods depended on the profits generated by the club and the conventions. For most of us small con runners, it’s a hobby or side business.
     
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  16. WishfulThinking

    WishfulThinking The world has moved on...we've always said.

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    LOL! No. Anyone who tries to make a living off conventions is gambling with their money.
    How many of them were actually full-time? Anyway, I think it just proves my point that smaller local conventions are the way to go if you're not going for toy exclusives. Generally better ran thanks to fewer logistics and more affordable. That's not to take anything away from Botcon...but I think a lot of my best memories came from between 1998 and 2003 when they were more "medium-sized" and not the huge event it became later on.
     
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  17. ShadowMagnus

    ShadowMagnus Sekai no Hakaishin

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    *enters thread to read what people are talking about..:eek: :eek: :eek: ...Leaves thread to never return to it*
     
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  18. Bed Bugs

    Bed Bugs Haven't gone postal yet...

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    I mean, if I could work one weekend a year, have my toys paid for, and collect a 5 figure salary while doing it, I'd do it too. However, those full time employees are exactly why we had $500 box sets.

    It's much better for the fans if the con is a labor of love and not how your make your living.
     
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  19. Hollywood Hoist

    Hollywood Hoist Well-Known Member

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    I have no idea how many were full time, but it’s something to consider when reflecting on their price structure. While not everyone loved the direction FP Botcon went in, it seems like it was fairly successful considering they lasted over 10 years.

    small cons versus large cons, I think each have their pros and cons. I had experiences at Botcon that no small con will be able to do (Hasbro tour, Paramount party), but small cons have that more loose hangout vibe, where you’re not rushing to the next thing.

    It’s not one weekend a year, there is all the leg work setting up two different cons in a different state from where you reside, putting together the magazine working with Hasbro on exclusives, shipping out thousands of items year round. They didn’t show up on Thursday of the con with everything in place.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 7, 2020
  20. WishfulThinking

    WishfulThinking The world has moved on...we've always said.

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    I do think we're overexaggerating how many people not named Brian Savage were full-time employees working on Botcon and JoeCon.
     
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