[Writer Post][Conventions] Weatherford Comic Con
Sorry I’m late… stuff happens. This is the story of Weatherford Comic Con. That as last Saturday (April 2) we trekked out to have a vendor table at this first year event. For those who are unaware of this area’s geography – Weatherford is on the far west side of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex (40-45 minutes from Arlington) and the opposite direction of most fandom activity. Which is one of the reasons I did the show.
The western part of the area is underserved by the fannish community – by just about EVERYONE, if I’m honest. People are under the impression that if it doesn’t happen in Dallas (City or County) or maybe Collin County, it either doesn’t matter or no one will come. I call bull pucky. Tarrant, Parker, and Denton Counties COUNT, y’all. So do the Mid Cities. And yet those fans are constantly expected to travel great distances EAST because “people in Dallas won’t come West” – BULL PUCKY. And if they won’t, SO WHAT? Right now, the Dallas scene is saturated. Fort Worth, Denton, Weatherford? Not so much.
Weatherford had its challenges – every first year does – but I think they’re not insurmountable. Just things to watch for.
Accessibility – there was none. This is the biggest weakness. The site was a historic building over 100 years old. Gorgeous, but there was a flight and half of stairs just to get to the front doors then the room they had in the building was on the second floor – no elevator. The vendors found (some at the end of the day) a ramp in the back that was neither marked nor advertised. And parking was…on streets, driveways, and I think a block or so away at a school with no shuttles I saw. Hike.
Only a handful of vendors were there (they tables were pricey for those). The rest of us were on the grounds out front and across the driveway (no curb cuts). Vendors had a much more affordable choice of being outside or in a tent. I had no real expectations – I actually rabble roused to make sure they had a weather plan – so I was very pleasantly surprised to find the tent wasn’t and Eas-E-Up but a big event tent with 8 foot tables. BUT it was on a baseball diamond down a hill and around the Wrestling Ring (yes, farm league wrestling – AGAIN). The ring was set TOO CLOSE to the entrance of the tent, blocking access to the tent during their performances. Logistics…
RULES – nominally enforced. I remember reading posts about there not being music or effects at tables/booths. Which apparently didn’t apply to the Visual/Sound Effects vendor – who had to blast music ALL DAY LONG. By about 2 – 3, there was a DANCE PARTY going on in the aisle, blocking access to the tent and shutting down (basically) every single vendor around them from crowd and wave of sound.
We would’ve complained to staff – except we have no idea what happened to them. Saw them first thing in the morning on the steps. Were given a phone number (that the music would’ve drowned out any conversation), but I NEVER EVER saw a staff member after the show started. No one.
But I do give credit to the original organizer, when this show took off, he got help from an event management organization. I think that’s how we got the decent tent and tables. And in that, this was awesome. Lots of room between tables. Good traffic flow (for the most part) and ventilation. Could use more food vendors – if someone didn’t eat meat, you were stuck with chips and snacks. THE food vendor was an excellent barbecue truck – oh, and an ice cream truck. And there were portajohns.
On that note – that’s the one good thing about it only being 11-4, we went straight to a clean restroom. And if I’d noticed that time in set up, I may or may not have done the show. That’s a long way to go for only a handful of hours (literally), but sales bore out the time. And I was VERY PLEASANTLY surprised by the NUMBER and excitement of the people who were there. Lots of costumes as well as little league kids, jocks, and cowboys. They were all mostly lovely people – and very few were familiar looking.
I know it sounds like nitpicking, but this is how we learn and grow. If they decide to do another show, I’ll consider getting a table. And it’s always good to see (however briefly) Lloyd and Genevieve Dodd with Tea Punk Teas.