2013 Calgary Comic Expo Thread ! 3 days of Nerdom!

[MrMastodonFarm]

I'm an ideas man, dammit.

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by Julio

Tens of thousands of dollars for three hours of panels (as today was the only time there was an issue with the Corral? I don't see the need.

Alternatively, if they keep the big events in the Corral, they should try a ticket system similar to what the Stampede does for Super Dogs

[FlamesAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by boogerz

Alternatively, if they keep the big events in the Corral, they should try a ticket system similar to what the Stampede does for Super Dogs

Can you please elaborate? I am unfamiliar with the set-up for Super Dogs but I myself like the Corral as a venue for the bigger panels. Improvements could definitely be made but I still find it relatively intimate considering there were probably a few thousand people at the panels this afternoon. So if there is an already existing way to make it work better I am all ears.

I appreciate where people are coming from regarding using the Dome (I didn't get to experience the mess outside the Corral this afternoon but there were definitely a few empty rows in the upper rear sections) but think the Dome would almost be too big for these sorts of panels and it's a bit off the beaten track.

[Zarley]

So many nerds. Everywhere.

I was wondering what was going on at the Stampede grounds - I had no idea this event was so huge.

[cDnStealth]

Originally Posted by fotze

Booo to you now.

You obviously misunderstand. I haven't read the books and neither had the guy asking the question.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by boogerz

Alternatively, if they keep the big events in the Corral, they should try a ticket system similar to what the Stampede does for Super Dogs

You say that like the stampede super dog ticket system is as common knowledge as ordering from a hot dog stand.

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by boogerz

Alternatively, if they keep the big events in the Corral, they should try a ticket system similar to what the Stampede does for Super Dogs

Originally Posted by flameswin

You say that like the stampede super dog ticket system is as common knowledge as ordering from a hot dog stand.

iirc, they release a limited number of tickets an hour or two before a show. People get a ticket, come back to the venue at a specified time, show the ticket to the attendant to get into the Super Dog show. It's sort of like the fast pass system at Disneyland/world

It's not a perfect system and would need tweaking to solve some of the problems (e.g. getting people out of the Corral when the panel is done, people getting tickets as a means of saving a spot and balking before panel time, staggering the ticket release or panel times, etc.), but it would have worked a lot better than whatever they were doing today.

[SebC]

Getting the Saddledome, putting in a fast-pass system are both overkill for today's problem (and might introduce new problems - particularly fast-pass). Unless they expand the total admissions (which I don't think they can do given the size of the BMO Centre), the solution is simply to let people fill the seats that they have.

Anybody who might have looked inside the Corral and at the crowd outside it could have figured that out in a second.

[Rhettzky]

The ushers needed to cram people in a bit better. Plus add a few more floor seats and open up the two sections adjacent to the stage and that would probably fix the issues. Every panel except the game of thrones one was easy to get in and out of so a few more seats and organization would have helped.

Overall I felt that the expo was organized much better this year. Getting around was a breeze and spreading people out into the big four really helped.

One complaint I have would be the prices. Everything seems to have steadily increased in price to the point now that it feels like a bit of a ripoff. I heard booth prices have risen as well so this might be the key reason.

[The Goon]

I'm kinda sad it's Monday morning and it's all over.

[KTrain]

It was a much improved event over last year. I didn't take in any of the talks but toured the booths quite a bit and took my kids for a photo-op with Stan Lee.

I visited Bertuzzied on Sunday and picked up a few Uncanny X-Men's to fill some gaps in my collection.

Aside from the guy who literally pooped his pants in line on Sunday, it was a fun time. Lots of great costumes and everyone seemed to be enjoying the event.

Looking forward to next year.

[Hack&Lube]

They just need some kind of online registration system and printed tickets that give admission to events you register for. That way they will have a realistic estimate of the demand of each show and what needs to be done to coordinate that venue and you don't get an overcapacity line snaking all around the halls of desperate people trying to cram into a panel at the last minute and causing frustration for staff and for fans alike when it has to be managed and people have to be turned away.

[cDnStealth]

Originally Posted by KTrain

Aside from the guy who literally pooped his pants in line on Sunday, it was a fun time. Lots of great costumes and everyone seemed to be enjoying the event.

Looking forward to next year.

LOL WHAT?

You know, after all of the craziness last year I wasn't too interested in going this year. However, after going to the Weird Al concert I felt some pretty huge remorse about not getting tickets. Luckily I managed to go yesterday and had a great time. I couldn't bring myself to buy anything though. I've come to realization that I'd much rather pay for a photo op or autograph than some merch I could buy off the internet. Would have been nice to get a photo with Nathan Fillion.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by cDnStealth

A million thanks to you. I managed to grab a ticket for today and made it down for both the Game of Thrones panel and the Nathan Fillion spotlight.

No worries - glad it worked out well for you! Though to be honest, it was more a "WTF?" with them telling everybody it was sold out, their organizational issues and overselling last year, etc.

Originally Posted by KTrain

Aside from the guy who literally pooped his pants in line on Sunday, it was a fun time.

Looking forward to next year.

Speaking of which, WTF?! What line was that?

[cDnStealth]

Originally Posted by chemgear

No worries - glad it worked out well for you! Though to be honest, it was more a "WTF?" with them telling everybody it was sold out, their organizational issues and overselling last year, etc.



Speaking of which, WTF?! What line was that?

They must have had fewer people show up yesterday then they had expected. The fact that I could actually walk through the expo floor without being crammed next to other people made the whole thing a heck of a lot more enjoyable then last year.

I am actually blown away at how fast the Comic Expo has exploded. I remember how small the first one was. It's crazy how popular it has become. Nice to have such a huge event in Calgary that manages to draw some really big names. Now all we need is to host a Star Wars reunion!

[polak]

I need to thank the comic book expo for inspiring Cowboys to have a costume night on Saturday. I have never seen so many hot women in skimpy latex costumes. It was glorious. I never thought I'd say this but fell inlove with Capitan America.

[KTrain]

Originally Posted by cDnStealth

LOL WHAT?

Originally Posted by chemgear

Speaking of which, WTF?! What line was that?

A guy two people in front of me appeared to have soiled his pants. He was about 50-60 and wasn't in costume. It looked like it happened before (the night before) he was in line but it was coming out of his pants and all over his shoe. Thankfully the wind kept the smell away.

[cDnStealth]

Originally Posted by KTrain

A guy two people in front of me appeared to have soiled his pants. He was about 50-60 and wasn't in costume. It looked like it happened before (the night before) he was in line but it was coming out of his pants and all over his shoe. Thankfully the wind kept the smell away.

That's disgusting.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Yes. Weird Al was incredible. I haven't been that entertained for a long time.

As for the opening act, I thought the songs were good, but the music was kind of that generic grungy rock sound. Not that I should criticize, but if they came up with something more unique and catchy for the music, they could be up there on the "they might be giants" level, because the lyrics that I could understand were pretty clever.

I didnt go to the expo but I did go to Weird Al.

The warm-up band music was just to loud. I couldnt understand 3/4 of the lyrics which disappointed me because the song I could understood I bought that evening on iTunes (its comfy pants oclock).

Weird Al was amazing, never been to a concert before but I was a guy who had his hand up for the owning 5 albums.

[manwiches]

still curious to know how many fat ninjas there were...