First off, the Volunteer staff at this show is STELLAR. However the showrunner is abrasive and stuck in his ways. Thats how that rating was done.
The venue is intimate and I really enjoy the ease of access, however the actual convention center staff are a bunch of jerks. They've gotten better, but its always been a back and forth.
Overall the guests have been way downhill since Barrowman came a few years back, there's not much for the attendees to do, especially when Supercon is right next door. The S word is something you do not mention here, or you'll get in trouble.
Tables are $300, which is the same cost for Heroescon, which is at minimum 10x larger in attendance. Most artists are LUCKY to make their funds back. Sadly, this show used to end my year and be a happy thing, but it has become a shell of itself and once folks should actively avoid...
For being a 3rd year of the con, it was well ran in terms of organization as its a branch of the NC comicon people who do Bull City and Greensboro. The load in was very smooth and awesome, no issues as you drive in, park in the open bay, park, setup, and leisurely drive away and find local parking. It was relaxing and stress free, but that ends the good parts about this con.
Overall, it was a terrible show financially. The cost for the AA areas was too high for only having a few thousand attendee's, fewer of which we saw in the dealer's room. The lack of programming was appalling as the con book literally was only 4 pages. I've been to a 300 person con that had 10x more panels and programming. The ticket prices for the public was too high as well at being $40+ for a 2 day event. For not a lot of attraction, it was mainly a vending con; not a partially a good thing.
I barely made cost of my table and food. The most part, it was boring and empty. You got pretty close to all of the other vendors nearby. The staff was great and professional, but they would need to do 2 of 3 things:
- Half ticket price
- Add more programming (celebs?)
- Turn back into a 1 day con
To hear that they will be adding Friday to turn into a 3 day con when it barely works as a 2 day is just silly. Until they get their act together. I'd say stay clear of Oak City Comicon and just go to the real one, Bull City; the actual fun one... If you can get in as a vendor.
