Gareb Shamus announced today that he will produce a New Jersey Comic Con Wizard World Convention this fall.
In a statement released via Geekchicdaily.com as well as the company's facebook page he has announced that the weekend after the "NYC Comicon" ; the same weekend he has announced his "Big Apple Comic Con" will compete for limited fanboy dollars in Manhattan ; the New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center (NJCEC) will host a "Wizard World Convention".
He was quoted as follows:
“Much of my family lives or has lived in the Garden State. All my hometown friends there were bugging me to do this for them and their kids.” said Shamus, CEO of New York-based Wizard Entertainment. “Launching this event is exciting because it gives our fans in New Jersey a show to call their own.”
Edison NJ is about a half hour from NYC. That is three MAJOR Comic Book/Science Fiction conventions competing against each other within two weeks. Conventions are EXPENSIVE for fans. Just walking in the door can cost you upwards of fifty bucks after tickets and travel. Add to that the fees charged by artists for sketches and picture fees from B list celebrities and the average fan is lucky to be able to afford one good day, let alone two weekends full.
By putting them all in the same area and in the same month, Artists and Guests are forced to choose which shows to do and which to alienate. It makes for three weaker shows and dilutes the fan base.
I would be all for Wizard doing a show in NJ as long as it was not so obviously trying to cash in on the Comic Con frenzy that they have already "dented" with their Big Apple Comic Con aquisition. Why not do a show in New Jersey in the Summer and add to the fan community instead of attacking it?
It shows a lack of respect to their base and I imagine if it continues they will be hurt by it.
Wizard World New Jersey October 15-16-17, 2010
FRI-SAT-SUN
97 Sunfield Avenue
Edison, NJ 08837
NYC Comic Con October 8-9-10, 2010 FRI-SAT-SUN
655 West 34th Street New York, NY
Big Apple Comic Con October 7-8-9-10, 2010 THUR-FRI-SAT-SUN Pier 94-55th at 12th Ave New York, NY
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