Bristol Comics Expo 2009: Reports

[John Freeman]

Two very different takes on the Bristol Comic Expo now feature on downthetubes. On the main site David Baillie argues that while the knock on effects of the global credit crunchie made this year's Bristol Comics Expo a slightly reduced affair, smaller is sometimes better, on the downthetubesblog Kev Sutherland feels the small size has dam.... But what do you think?

[joel meadows]

It was actually the 11th Bristol show…

[Adam Grose]

I thought so... I remember last year they said that was the 10th Year, because I remember saying at the time how amazed I was on the numbers of people that turned up for it. I thought I was going mad.

[Paul Scott]

We've had these big 'kerfuffles' before and it's just a doorway to hell in my opinion. So I'll take anyone running around saying 'Bristol's doomed!' with a huge sachet of complimentary Ramada salt and try and be positive.

As I was planning a year off this year or next from the festival circuit (and the messageboard circuit, this is hopefully a one-off), I chose this year as Bristol was downsizing and someone else could better use the table.

It seems to me without the Commonwealth Hall it was always going to be a different Bristol, so to knock it for not being the same as last year (or better!) seems a bit silly. This is a new situation, it needs some adjusting to and if the hall isn't free next year, I'm sure everything learnt this year will go into the next one.

I know people who did go and had a great time, and you know, these festivals are always as much about who you meet up with and what you do as the festival itself. I'm sure it would have put a dampener on it for me if I couldn't get in (although if you e-mail Mike before hand, he can fix most things I've learnt).

I think we've seen enough criticism of festival organisers past and present (I certainly remember sticking up for another organiser taking flack a few years back) and I think it's worth bearing in mind that a festival is never going to be run the way you want it (even if you are running it!) and it's possibly worth sticking to a few positive suggestions so that an organiser can act on them, or actually offer help.

My only suggestion (in absentia) is that the Eagle Awards should have gone ahead regardless. It's a bit of fun, and the size of venue wouldn't have reduced that.

As always, happy to turn up next year if Mike will have me. I love going to Bristol, just as I've enjoyed Caption, Kev's London events, Leeds Thought Bubble and loads of others. They are all different, all have their flaws and strengths. I've had good and bad times at these things regardless of who was running it, size of venue and sales. It's what you make of 'em that counts.

Cheers!

Paulvonscott

[Adam Grose]

I thought this years was good. I spent most of my time at the SP Expo and thought this was very well run. You will see from my blog this evening that I found it a postive experience with only a few probs, mainly in the Ramada. Personally I feel the whole Expo should be at the Mercure next year, this way all of us are together, rather than split. I think they did a fantastic job in the short space of time available. Clown Press will be there next year. I took this year off to concentrate on other projects, appearing on Insomnia's table and giving them my support and get a table for Birmingham. ;) I was very happy because I got to meet lots of people including Kev O' Neill, Shakey Kane (He bought a copy of Cosmogenesis and thought it excellent - cue big smiling face ;)) and Paul Gravett. Everyone I met was brilliant and I got a chance to see all the faces behind the names on the emails ;)

[Paul Scott]

Ah, now I know you... I don't think you had your beard last year, when I chatted briefly to you, Adam.

Despite making the choice not to go, a big part of me wished I had. Would have liked to have seen both the Expo and SP Expo. This Mercure place sounds interesting.

Cheers

Paul

[Adam Grose]

Yes, I didn't have a beard then ;)) The Mercure was brilliant, lots of space. The only drawback was no advertising/ banner on the front of the Hotel. I nearly walked past it. Unfortunately how many people may have walked past without knowing what was going on?

[Adam Grose]

http://adgros.blogspot.com/2009/05/bristol-comic-expo-and-sp-expo-2...

I have just uploaded my write up about Bristol. It's a long one - so I apologise now if you get a little blurry eyed ;)

[Nic Wilkinson]

Great write up on your blog there, Adam. In fact it covers most of what I would have said myself.

The event was fantastic overall, and hopefully next year the longer organisation time will only improve things, tying the two events closer together.

As a venue the Mercure seemed much better than the Ramada - lighter,brighter, wide corridors between rooms etc.

I have heard quite a bit of griping about how "Bristol is not like it used to be...", but the world is not the same as when the con was launched, and so, availability of the Commonwealth Hall as a specific location aside, the shape of the show was bound to start changing.

When the event was first launched cons were the only chance many people got to meet up, talk to their personal heroes, buy copies of books they would not have found elsewhere, make deals for work and all of that - but now people are in contact all the time online, the lines are blurring between creators and readers, people are working cross media, geogrpahy is no barrier, the hierarchies are dissolving and all of that kind of thing.

I for one find this incredibly inspiring and hope it is a sign of things to come.

Report on what Insomnia got up to is on our blog here http://theredeyed.blogspot.com/2009/05/in-red-eye-of-storm.html

[Adam Grose]

Cheers Nic. I tried to cover all aspects as best I could ;)) - much appreciated.

[joel meadows]

I have put a small report up too: http://joelm1-joelmead.blogspot.com/2009/05/avon-calling-so-i-said-id-put-post-up.html