North East Comic Con: A Report
North East Comic Convention in Boston, Massachusetts took place this summer for one day on Sunday, June 27, 2010. Harrison’s Comics, in Salem, MA, promoted the event. Being my first time there, I was glad that they picked the Radisson Hotel for their location. The place was not only clean but also organized. Everyone there was friendly and for comic book/graphic novel collectors there were enough deals to make one happy.
Unfortunately attendance was a bit low, but that was due to PortCon happening the same weekend. However, comic book fans were able to take full advantage of this and greet artists and creators such as Mike McKone, Mike McKenna, Cesar Feliciano, Adam Miller and head of Zenescope Entertainment Ralph Tedesco. In the dealer room, we had vendors and illustrators like Hannibal King and Sara Richard. I had a great time and look forward to next year’s NECC. Take a look at the pictures below and see what you missed! Included are some cosplayers who are portraying the characters from DC Comics’ Bird of Prey. And check out the guys at Harrison’s Comics when you get the chance.
The low turn out at this convention WAS NOT becuase of any other cons in the region. Ever since Harrision’s comic took over the show almost a year ago attendance by both dealers and fans have dropped.
When primate promtions ran the convention previously in the same location you could expect a minimum of 600 or more people at each show. The space would be packed with dealers and guests. (Summer shows or rough winter weather you still good get a good 300+)
Harrision’s have mishandled promtion for this show,no being able to have access to Primate’s old mailing list, very little advertising,light cross-protions with local shops,especially ones who don’t set up at shows) They have raised admition prices TWICE since they took it over (in less than 10 months )and now there’s talk of moving the show outside of Boston.
Harrision runs good shops – but running a successful comic shop and being able to promote and run a comic book SHOW is two different things. It took less than 3 shows to take a successful comic book con that has been run in that location for 35+ years to ruin and kill it.
I’ve been attending shows there since the 1980’s and it breaks my heart to see it die. I could run a better show.
Actually they do have access to the mailing list. For some reason they refuse to use it.
Everyone knows a show lives and dies by a good mailing list! I can believe they are just not exploiting the old mailing list. I can’t tell you how many people I know who used to go to the shows that didn’t know they were still going on.
Idoits! Harrision kills the show thinking he know how to do it better than the folks who put on successful comic book and record shows for years.
I just hope Primate Promotions got their money worth for the show. 🙂
Primate wanted out and did so on their own terms. They just could not deal with the no ethics whackadoos whose lives revolve around comic books and I am not referring to the attendees whatsoever. It was all about a few bad “dealers” who like to brag about how much smarter they are than the paying customers. It’s the same folks whose Greater Boston stores are going in the toilet. Do a little Google search and it’s easy to find.