Robserecaps Thirty Eight – Con Men! The Convention Culture Explosion!
After about three weeks off, I’m back! We haven’t missed much, other than a few Frank Miller episodes, the Rob reviewing the Star Wars Christmas Special and AI art, but this episode title called to me! Now, the Rob has stated he’s doing no conventions this year and has been very critical of the FaxExpo conventions, even before they took over all the Wizard World ones, so let’s dive in!
- The Rob starts by saying many of these stories are NOT from a vindictive place, because they are entertaining
- Before getting into how social media connects us better than conventions, the Rob gets distracted talking about Wesley Eure from Land of the Lost and travel issues Wesley had getting to a convention recently
- I did not know Bill Laimbeer was one of the sleestaks, but the Rob did not know he played for the Pistons
- There are no plans for the Rob to work any conventions this year or next, but the Rob will be attending some California cons as a patron
- No conventions will be named in telling these bad convention stories
- The Rob has heard of big name celebrities coming in for a two day convention and getting a $650,000 pay out, guarantee, but that is someone who garners $250 an autograph and a separate $250 for a picture
- The Rob is working REAL hard not to incriminate anyone promoter here, but name dropping Jeremy Renner in Poughkeepsie has me thinking…
- A convention promoter told the Rob that ‘soccer moms’ coming for photo ops with folks like the Twilight cast has helped boost sales
- The Rob’s tells a story from 1991 where multiple passes and lodging were provided for the Rob and six of his best guy friends by adding one dollar to the over convention ticket
- A horror story was more recently where the Rob, on his first guaranteed appearance, had his family and helpers for four rooms for six days at one conventions, but they ended up charging the Rob’s debit card that was supposed to be used for incidentals, which was more than his guarantee!
- the Rob should have mentioned this up front but the convention people made it VERY clear to the Rob, they didn’t WANT him at the convention, but NEEDED him there
- On day one of the convention, the promoters had someone handling the Rob’s money (they didn’t want the Rob skimming off the top) so after this hotel charge, the Rob said he would handle his own money for the rest of the con and they told him no!
- Then, after this, the convention people ‘forgot’ to come get the Rob for his photo ops so the promoters tried to take those missed opportunities out of what was owed
- Another convention horror story was the Rob being told at the hotel check in the convention promoters were tapped out and the hotel would no longer be offering rooms to talent unless the talent pays for it
- The Rob does cite the Reed Pop folks as the best folks doing conventions currently
- Also, in 2015/2016, the Rob mentions a Philadelphia show who put him up in the best hotel he’d ever been in, a Holiday Inn three blocks from the convention center
- Advice for other creators from the Rob is to book your own travel and hotels, don’t let your management do it for 25%
- If you see the Rob at your local comic store, know that the store paid the Rob zero dollars to be there, travel there, any of it, and if it is the same weekend the Rob has a new book out, the signature is free as well
- the last eight minutes are plugs, including for CGC the best grading company in the world.
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