C2E2 + April 13-15, 2012 + McCormick Place Chicago

[Ant-Man]

Congrats Mark!

 

Also, I hear this show is a MADHOUSE!

 

Saturday, of course & Sunday with kids/strollers, but I thought Friday was most enjoyable. It's nice walking down a wide aisle & not bumping elbows everytime you stop or turn around.

[Yodude]

O'Hare Airport does not seem that big when you are walking around waiting to go home and random people tell you they were at C2E2 and really liked it; even a TSA employee asked how to buy a VIP pass now for next year.

 

We thank all of you that worked hard to exhibit at the event and all the professionals that came for business where I met a lot of key people in our industry and most importantly, the great fans that came to the show to have fun. - Thank you.

[VintageComics]

You guys have done an exceptional job of building the convention up a year at a time.

 

There was heavy advertising in downtown Chicago as all the lamp poles had C2E2 flags down Michigan Ave.

 

I also really like the convention floor layout with a food court downstairs, away from the convention floor. The hotel location was a 5 minute walk through the Mccormick center and they also had decent food at the hotel restaurant.

 

Traffic seems to be heavier every year on the show floor as well. This is starting to look like it will rival some of the largest shows in the country (and already is).

 

Job well done.

 

 

[TheWatcher]

There was heavy advertising in downtown Chicago as all the lamp poles had C2E2 flags down Michigan Ave

 

This was the first year I saw a TV commercial for the con (locally?) during shows like The Walking Dead and Comic Book Men. Although it didn't contain specifics regarding guests (to the best of my memory,anyway), it was a smart move that probably paid off

[DrWatson]

Where were you?

[DR.X]

Where were you?

 

He was in the shadows.........................watching.

[mschmidt]

Having been to all three C2E2s so far, I figured I'd throw my $0.02 into the mix …

 

Like Roy also mentioned traffic was pretty heavy this year - Friday was busier than normal, and Saturday was packed; particularly in the side aisles (near the celebrity tables) and the main aisle. Can't really speak to the volume of sales - from what I heard most of the SA/GA dealers seemed happy whilst it was more of a mixed bag amongst the CA/Modern crowd.

 

From a personal buying perspective, the show was a bit weak - there seemed to be fewer CA/Modern dealers this year and the pickings were slim; unless, of course, you were in the market for Walking Dead priced at about 150% of current eBay rates. If one didn't know better, it would be easy to assume that Walking Dead is the only comic of note published in the last 30 years; it was pretty funny to see a huge display rack of high grade silver & bronze keys with a single row of random WDs smack-dab in the middle. I think it's a safe bet to say that every LCS within 100 miles of Chicago had had their WD back issues raided prior to this show.

 

The food situation, with vendors located off to the side of the convention hall, turned into a nightmare on Saturday - waiting in line for an hour for a lukewarm slice of pizza is not my idea of a good time.

 

The comic book guest list was so-so - it was a slight improvement over last year, but nowhere near as good as the first C2E2 back in 2010. What annoys me the most is that they were still announcing guests up until a couple of days prior to the show; this might work for an established show such as SDCC or NYCC, but for a new-ish convention, it smacks of arrogance (eg "people will go to this show no matter who's coming") and makes planning a pain.

 

The celebrity guest list - for a show billing itself as an "Entertainment Expo" - was laughably bad. Yes, pats on the back for getting Chicago-native John Cusack to show up for a panel & signing on Sunday - but, again, asking people to queue up in the convention hall at 8:00 am Sunday morning for a chance to get one of the 100 signing tickets with no word as to when the signing would actually take place and what he would be allowed to sign was lame.

 

CGC seemed busy all weekend - the CAWs and employees worked their azzes off, running back & forth for pickups all over the show, with the new "no books held at the booth" rule ensuring that popular creators like Neal Adams received somewhere in the region of 20 visits over the weekend; JJ looked like he was ready to sleep for about a week at closing on Sunday which is always a good indicator of how a show went.

 

It's odd, really - I would like nothing more than to gush profusely about how awesome C2E2 is, and how bad WW Chicago is in comparison, but the truth of the matter is that WW Chicago is a better show; it's more well-rounded, gets "better" and more high-profile guests, and doesn't play the "oh, let's hold off on announcing Creator X for a while to build up some excitement"-game. With C2E2 you get the feeling that Reed has forgotten what it's like to build a new show up from the ground - NYCC has become such a huge success for them that they don't realize what works for NYCC doesn't necessarily work for C2E2.

[TheWatcher]

Where were you?

 

It happened to fall on the Orthodox Easter this year and I couldn't get out of prior commitments

[VintageComics]

 

It's odd, really - I would like nothing more than to gush profusely about how awesome C2E2 is, and how bad WW Chicago is in comparison, but the truth of the matter is that WW Chicago is a better show; it's more well-rounded, gets "better" and more high-profile guests, and doesn't play the "oh, let's hold off on announcing Creator X for a while to build up some excitement"-game. With C2E2 you get the feeling that Reed has forgotten what it's like to build a new show up from the ground - NYCC has become such a huge success for them that they don't realize what works for NYCC doesn't necessarily work for C2E2.

 

Interesting. I don't look at it from the perspective of the guest list or coppers and moderns so I suppose that although the show looked impressive for me I can see how it might not have been for some people.

 

As far as the vendors on the side, I don't even bother going anymore. I'll just eat at the Hyatt/Mccormick hotel (stunning buffet for $20 a head and it's a 3-5 minute walk away).

 

Regarding Chicago buyers and dealers, I hear over and over from the vintage comic book dealers that C2E2 does not draw the same crowd that WW Chicago does, and part of the reason for that is likely that many people don't want to come to the south side of Chicago (travel through or around Chicago) to get there.

 

Rosemont is good in that it is out of the way so you get to avoid all that Chicago traffic.

 

It's a shame as Chicago is a town with serious cash (Lou and I saw a Bugatti Veyron at a dealership...that's a $1.5MIL car...I've never seen another in real life) but getting serious spenders to the show does seem to pose a problem.

 

Still, for a 3rd year show (from a vintage comics guy) it seemed decent.

 

What was the Javits show like the 1st 3 years it opened?

[Foolkiller]

While I think Reed Chicago is a better show, because it's simply better produced and more professionally run, I think mschmidt's take is an extremely thorough and well thought analysis and raises a number of very thoughtful insights on things I don't necessarily consider in evaluating a show.

 

For whatever reason, I find Wizard Chicago more fun each year, but walk away feeling like Reed Chicago is better run.

[Ant-Man]

I think Mike and Roy have each made astute observations, both from different con-going expectations.

 

While the CA/Modern selection may have been weak for some, I can't fault a dealer for riding the Walking Dead phenomenon. Why not put out books that are selling at ridiculous prices (to me, anyway) while you can? The coppers, for the most part, have had a chance to level out & will be selling at similar figures next year. Not sure the same can be said for WD. I overheard a dealer or two mention that they could have left after Friday & been happy on their WD sales alone.

 

I, myself, have never eaten at a con. I'm just weird that way. Eat beforehand, pack a granola bar or something small for breaktime & eat when I get home. Once I've got the blinders on, it's longboxes or bust.

 

Guests (comic-related or not) have never been a determining factor for me. I was unaware of the circumstances for Mr. Cusack & think that 'lame' is a kind way to describe the situation. Same goes for not being able to make announcements sooner. If Reed is intentionally holding back to create drama & excitement vs making a splash early so people will buy tickets, they should reconsider.

 

If the Wizard show is really #2 behind SD (or maybe even #1 for comics alone) as I have read on these boards before, than asking any show to be at that level, let alone surpass it, after three years is setting the bar rather high. Even though Wizard didn't start it, that show has been built over 30+ years and may never be matched. I remember when Reed announced C2E2 and everyone was waiting for them to crush WWC. I, for one, am happy as hell to have two major shows in Chicago (or one major & one up-and-coming).

 

Location plays a part as well. While many people like downtown, I don't know that it will generate as many "walk-up" customers as a suburban con, especially families. If someone decides to attend the day of the show, it's a big difference between a 5-10 minute drive vs 45-hour heading into the city. Even for a parent to drop off their teenager, it's a hassle. I can't imagine that I would have been to many cons in my youth if they hadn't been at the Ramada O'Hare.

 

Reed seems receptive to both dealers & fans, so I'm willing to see how the show evolves as they become more familiar with the midwest.

[HOTFLIPS]

Quick question for you Chicagoans?? What is the population of the City of Chicago as opposed to the suburban areas of Chicago??

[Ant-Man]

Was pondering the same as I was typing. Don't have the demographic breakdown.

[DrWatson]

While I think Reed Chicago is a better show, because it's simply better produced and more professionally run, I think mschmidt's take is an extremely thorough and well thought analysis and raises a number of very thoughtful insights on things I don't necessarily consider in evaluating a show.

 

For whatever reason, I find Wizard Chicago more fun each year, but walk away feeling like Reed Chicago is better run.

C2E2 is in a poor location. It's inconvenient to and for anything and everyone.

[seanfingh]

While I think Reed Chicago is a better show, because it's simply better produced and more professionally run, I think mschmidt's take is an extremely thorough and well thought analysis and raises a number of very thoughtful insights on things I don't necessarily consider in evaluating a show.

 

For whatever reason, I find Wizard Chicago more fun each year, but walk away feeling like Reed Chicago is better run.

C2E2 is in a poor location. It's inconvenient to and for anything and everyone.

 

Everything should be in Rosemont. That Rivers Casino is so frickin' awesome. <3

[Transplant]

While I think Reed Chicago is a better show, because it's simply better produced and more professionally run, I think mschmidt's take is an extremely thorough and well thought analysis and raises a number of very thoughtful insights on things I don't necessarily consider in evaluating a show.

 

For whatever reason, I find Wizard Chicago more fun each year, but walk away feeling like Reed Chicago is better run.

C2E2 is in a poor location. It's inconvenient to and for anything and everyone.

 

Everything should be in Rosemont. That Rivers Casino is so frickin' awesome. <3

It lacks a cardroom. Therefore, it is wholly inadequate.

[seanfingh]

While I think Reed Chicago is a better show, because it's simply better produced and more professionally run, I think mschmidt's take is an extremely thorough and well thought analysis and raises a number of very thoughtful insights on things I don't necessarily consider in evaluating a show.

 

For whatever reason, I find Wizard Chicago more fun each year, but walk away feeling like Reed Chicago is better run.

C2E2 is in a poor location. It's inconvenient to and for anything and everyone.

 

Everything should be in Rosemont. That Rivers Casino is so frickin' awesome. <3

It lacks a cardroom. Therefore, it is wholly inadequate.

 

The two W-2G's i got last year say you are full of it.

[DrWatson]

While I think Reed Chicago is a better show, because it's simply better produced and more professionally run, I think mschmidt's take is an extremely thorough and well thought analysis and raises a number of very thoughtful insights on things I don't necessarily consider in evaluating a show.

 

For whatever reason, I find Wizard Chicago more fun each year, but walk away feeling like Reed Chicago is better run.

C2E2 is in a poor location. It's inconvenient to and for anything and everyone.

 

Everything should be in Rosemont. That Rivers Casino is so frickin' awesome. <3

It lacks a cardroom. Therefore, it is wholly inadequate.

I believe what's truly lacking is talent.

[TheWatcher]

Quick question for you Chicagoans?? What is the population of the City of Chicago as opposed to the suburban areas of Chicago??

 

Chicago proper is 2.7M and Chicagoland/Chicago Metro area (city + surrounding suburbs) is over 9.8M

[HOTFLIPS]

Quick question for you Chicagoans?? What is the population of the City of Chicago as opposed to the suburban areas of Chicago??

 

Chicago proper is 2.7M and Chicagoland/Chicago Metro area (city + surrounding suburbs) is over 9.8M

 

Ok, next question smarty pants. How accessible is the city of Chicago from the suburbs?? Trains, Buses, Car travel (i know traffic stinks so you might want to leave the car part out.)