I also just wanted to say thank you for the positive feedback regarding our London MCM Expo show.

As Brian has already said we are striving to help the comic community within the UK to grow as are others, I personally extend back to heady years of UKCAC and the comic marts at the TUC in London.

I can see what people are saying about the genre being London centric but that seems to be the case for many genres, although with our acquisition of the MEMORABILIA event at the NEC this may no longer be the case where we are concerned.

We have consulted and looked at how we can help the market in our own way and with again the positive feedback from both small press and the fans from the recent London MCM Expo a couple of weeks ago hopefully we have begun to achieve this with the help of a great team with in our ‘Comic Village’ section.

I was having a brief chat with Warren Ellis over the weekend he made a comment saying that he felt the time he had spent at the event reminded him of how UKCAC used to be and the atmosphere which I felt in some ways was quite a pat on the back.

Over the coming months we will offer further opportunities for small press, webcomix and also of course the main stream comic industry to exhibit and attendt a London event and hopefully extending that in some part to our MEMORABILIA event at the NEC cost affectively for all involved.

Thank you for allowing me to chime in with my little piece.

I echo Brian’s words

Hope to see you in October.

Paul
MCM Expo

Serioulsy though, I think it’s great that you are making this move for comics publishers. I hope this extends to your Telford Shows too, as I’ll be wanting to exhibit again. Who knows, with these prices I may be able to afford a London show now too. I’m really glad you are in the position to offer these discounts to small pressers Brian, wish we could possibly do the same.

Andy, as always you get in free as a volunteer mate! Or did I work you too hard last year??

S.

Just wanted to say we are pleased that so many of you chose to attend the recent London MCM Expo. While it is true to say that in past years the comic audience has not been that big, anyone who was at the recent event will know that has and is changing in a big way.

The turn out over 2 days past 30,000 not 10,000.

We have worked hard to attract a broad audience which ultimately will benefit the comic press by exposing artists and their work to more people. Guests have included Adam Hughes, Brian Bolland, Ben Templesmith, Steve Niles, Ethan Van Sciver, Warren Ellis and many more…

Our table costs have a simple formula and have been worked out to cover our costs and help support the small press, creators, writers to the show and if anyone is interest in attending please do email the team at comicvillage@mcmexpo.net. The prices are going to stay LOW.

The area is actually filling up quickly as most people who did attend are signing up right away.

If anyone has any questions the guys and gals are there to help.

Hope to see you in October.

Bryan
MCM Expo

I will be at Brum this year because I love the city and I love the people. You know I can’t afford exhibiting, I wonder if my morals and interest can afford the entry fee?

What BICS lack is that ‘free open door without charge’ that Oli Smith pointed to. The 9yr old who has just seen Wolverine and the 310 per family member. You can’t expect to attract new alternative art in a country with little to no comics publishers. You can’t attract subcultures because kids on giro or McJobs can’t afford to take their poor quality photocopy runs to big shows like BICS.

We’re seeing a greater divide between giant festivals – BICS, MCM and more and more the previlaing likes of Oli Smith and Jimi Gherkin. Shane defensively imports this notion of London-centric comics festivals, and hes quite right to do so. Were you aware comics-only festivals in Derry are the first in Northern Ireland? All through the UKCAC years we did without.

But if the small press want to be a part of these gigs they’re going to have to work as collectives with people like Shane and Mike. British comics are small press, festival organisers need to adapt or fall, or British comics need to publish big again.

(and doublethanks, Shane).

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Phillip said: “I’m curious after doing the maths of the visitors+ticket prices why the table prices are so expensive, especially for small press people like myself, which to be fair has put off myself and other people from attending such a great event this year. Even with the ‘discount’ it’s still twice as expensive as any other con, even in comparison with similar sized events such as the MCM Expo/Thought Bubble.”

So what figures did you use in your maths? Are you privy to our venue costs, flight costs, hotel costs, advertising costs or to the number of hours we put into making the show the best it can be for the benefit of exhibitors and visitors alike?? Why did you place “discount” in inverted commas? Do you not think £40 off is a discount?
Also, which “other” exhibitors are you presuming to speak for? Obviosly not any of the 40 small pressers already booked in for the show. Believe me, I want the tables to be cheaper too, if I had my way they’d be free but they are not. The price is what it has to be and we think it’s good value for money, I fail to understand why you feel the need to make negative comments and unqualified assumptions just because you see the tables as expensive.
Which show’s on a par with BICS (so that leaves out The Wonderful Thought Bubble, The respected Bristol or any of those big “third wookie from the left” car boot sales as they are either larger, smaller, not specifically comics, or one day events) are we twice as expensive as?? Enlighten me at: chebbo@aol.com

Sean said: I have attended all three Brumcons, but will
Not be bothering this year. I have no beef with Shane
but it is too expensive. After paying £40 for a weekend
at the MCM expo, and a crowd of 10,000, or Leeds, again
a cheaper option.
But it’s not just the money. These two events seem to care
A bit more about the people that have bothered to participate.
I don’t feel as though I am there to fill up space in a convention
hall. Leeds had a wonderful mail out, lovely passes, and a personal touch
on the day.
But also, they seem to be steering the ship in the direction I would
like to travel. So I will be buying my ( cheaper) ticket for the journey.

You suprise me mate.. you really do. I totally understand you not being able to afford hotels, travel and tables etc. That’s your personal dilema, and I wish it wasn’t the case, and although it’s certainly nothing to do with whether or not BICS is value for money, I very much sympathise as it’s the reason I find it hard to do London events.

However, do you honestly think I don’t “care
A bit more about the people that have bothered to participate” to put it in your words?
I thought you knew me better than that. I hold my hands up in despair to think you could even think such a thing.
True MCM does attract nearly 10,000 to it’s London event, but as a past exhibitor at their shows I can tell you a very small percentage of those people are into comics. All the same they do a great job at what they set out to do and I think that’s just dandy!
As for the passes etc: Yes Leeds do create lovley passes, I’ll agree with that. What was wrong the BICS passes designed by none other than Michael Golden especially for the show? What about the Show guide that included a 3D map of the venue and full events schedule that was given free to everyone who entered the show?? What about the 500 free goodie bags that were double the value of the entry free?? We don’t care??
I’m sorry you won’t be at BICS 09 Sean I really am. You know I’m a big fan of your work, so I hope you are able to make it another year it won’t be the same without you.

David said: I would also like to add to the chorus of people saying that the exhibitor price does seem awfully steep- although, as with similar past complaints about the Thing in London, the most obvious answer to such critics does seem to be “try doing it yourself”. I have no idea how much the venue costs to hire, or how much the organisers are spending on marketing and so forth, or indeed how many working hours the organisers themselves are putting into the enterprise. I can conceive that, from the organisers’ point of view, the price may seem perfectly reasonable- however, the fact is that many small press exhibitors will be put off (as demonstrated in other comments here), and that this will drastically effect the nature of the con. I hope they’ve thought about that, and are comfortable with the implications.

Thanks for your more balanced comment. (So does two people constitute a chorus now?)
Believe me we give every aspect of the show deep consideration, including pricing. We had to add two pounds onto our entrance fee and £10 onto our table fee because of increased costs. And we had to give slightly lower discounts to smallpress and creators. We’re sorry if this makes it hard for some small pressers to attend,(you could always skip three pints in the bar ) but we have almost booked up on small press this year so I think they will be well represented at the show and that’s the important thing as far as I’m concerned: making sure the small press is given a good representation at the show alongside all the other exhibitors.

Matt: (Not going to paste in your comment.)
Just want to say thanks for your kind words, and that I have actually penciled you in already for a table as I thought you’d already been in touch, so you certainly do have your space reserved, so don’t worry.

Jon: We are not competing with any other show. Our aims and how we do things are totally differnt to other shows and we are happy to stand alone. Take us as you find us. Most of all I hope everyone who comes along has a great time!!

Finally Remember folks, I’m a small presser myself, so I do understand your point of view.
An interesting point: Not one retailer, dealer or pro publisher has complained about the table prices. Not only do they pay more, but they are also having a hard time at the moment and have to consider every single expenditure they make in these hard times. Yet almost every professional exhibitor has increasd their booking.
Being self published or small press should not mean being unprofessional in my humble opinion. Why do small press publishers think they are even entitled to a discount when being given an even playing feild?? Try asking for one at MCM OR Memorabilia. I know you won’t get one, because I’ve exhibited at MCM for three years now and I’d certainly never moan if I couldn’t afford the tables. It’s not their fault!

I’m taking a leaf out of my old friend Mike Alwood’s book, making this comment my final word on the subject of pricing, and not making any further comments. I should have listened to the wisdom of Mike long before this.
Thanks everyone for all of your comments.
If anybody has any questions about the show please feel free to email me at: chebbo@aol.com
We are greatful for all feedback and ideas and take them all into account I promise you.

Love to all
Shane
http://www.thcomicsshow.co.uk