Post by BIGKEV on Dec 17, 2007 22:20:50 GMT -5
I hear there are changes aplenty for WizardWorld conventions in 2008. They're looking for a more creative route to booking guests rather than the familiar faces. Expect to see MTv guests amongst the usual sci-fi TV actors. And that, and exclusive items, is going to be pretty much where their entire focus will be. The feeling is that other shows get better guests and exhibitors than they do, and they want to reverse this.
There's a push to move as much as they can online, selling the shows, reporting the shows and pushing the guests, exclusives and exhibitors.
The big problem they feel is that the people who run the conventions get older year by year, and each year resemble the demographic of convention attendees less. And now this is a real problem. Either employees must find ways to get into the mindset of their potential customers or... well. Watch for a Facebookisation of WizardWorlds.
Their stats do need a bit of a fillip. Four figure advance sales for Chicago and Philly 2007 were slightly down on 2006, though Texas had a slight rise.
Want a Marvel TPB or Hardcover this Christmas? Why not check the remainder bins at your local chain bookstore? Reports are coming in of a large consignment that's made their way to the pre-pulping position, including early volumes of "Ultimate Fantastic Four," possibly over ordered due to the movie, but also books like "Essential Luke Cage," "District X," "Marvel Monsters" HC and many copies of "Marvel Select" hardcovers like "Young Avengers," "New Avengers" and "X-Men: Deadly Genesis."
In fact, if there are any sly retailers, you could restock a significant section of your Marvel bookshelves for around a third wholesale or a sixth retail.
There's a push to move as much as they can online, selling the shows, reporting the shows and pushing the guests, exclusives and exhibitors.
The big problem they feel is that the people who run the conventions get older year by year, and each year resemble the demographic of convention attendees less. And now this is a real problem. Either employees must find ways to get into the mindset of their potential customers or... well. Watch for a Facebookisation of WizardWorlds.
Their stats do need a bit of a fillip. Four figure advance sales for Chicago and Philly 2007 were slightly down on 2006, though Texas had a slight rise.
Want a Marvel TPB or Hardcover this Christmas? Why not check the remainder bins at your local chain bookstore? Reports are coming in of a large consignment that's made their way to the pre-pulping position, including early volumes of "Ultimate Fantastic Four," possibly over ordered due to the movie, but also books like "Essential Luke Cage," "District X," "Marvel Monsters" HC and many copies of "Marvel Select" hardcovers like "Young Avengers," "New Avengers" and "X-Men: Deadly Genesis."
In fact, if there are any sly retailers, you could restock a significant section of your Marvel bookshelves for around a third wholesale or a sixth retail.