Post by The Sam Kinnison Corps on Oct 16, 2005 11:19:02 GMT -5
October 15th, 2005. I was in my own element.
Waking up a little before 7, I did my routine of going to the bathroom, watching some TV, eating and getting ready to leave. Go in my car and put in a burnt Thrice CD. I get on the highway, drive about 25 miles, and get to the Palace Theater a few minutes before 8. People were already at work. There was lots to be done for the first comic book convention held in Syracuse in almost 10 years.
We started by setting up tables and chairs. Then unloading my friend's comics (and other miscellaneous items of the man putting this on), my other friends and I started unpacking for the merchants. One store literally brought their entire comic inventory from their main store. Another I helped I later found had the first appearance of Galactus, though for a bit out of my range.
Ten o'clock comes, and the doors are open. People come in, kids are given complimentary figures, and only a few who do not realize the fundraising nature of the $10 admission complain.
Throughout the day I work, making sure all the guests are all right. Scott Beatty, Kevin Conrad, Steve Ellis, and Sean McKeever among others were signing autographs, as well as John Russo and Russ Streiner from the original Night of the Living Dead.
There was a girl (?) in a furrie suit, as well as the usual living-in-mom's-basement crowd. I felt bad for Sara and Stephanie, the two girls I knew that were working, as both are attractive and had to face the wrath of awkward social situations with supreme dorks.
The owner of the theater was a big part as well. When I grabbed food for the guests, I said it was on the promoter. When he went to pay, the owner said it was on him. The Palace Theater is a fantastic place, family-owned since the 20's with a great menu in their cafe.
At 4 o'clock, the vendors had to roll out for the screening. Everyone made out with a profit. With the last one off the stage close to five, it was time for the fan films. First was Batman: Dark Justice. Then Dead End. Then a making of Dead End that was three times longer than the film itself (?!). Due to time constraints, there was only one item left, which was the Transformers episode with the origin of Oprimus Prime/ Orion Pax.
All that said and done, the convention was over. I was invited, however, to eat with some of the guests at a Thai restaurant. Sitting right next to McKeever, I made sure to shut up, or at least not sound like a raving moron fan. Mission accomplished.
And with that I made my way back to school. Not without some grabs, of course:
3/ $1 issues of Gen13, Bone, and X-Force
$1 issues of Green Lantern, X-Men, and Batman
Villains United #5, Day of Vengeance #5, and Rann-Thanagarian War #4 &5 to complete my Infinite Crisis tie-ins
Michael Turner-signed CSN newsletter and Flash # 210
Ed McGuinness-signed Superman #178
Ian Churchill-signed Deadpool mini-series #1-4
Jim Lee-signed Batman #618
J. Michael Straczynski-signed Wizard World Philadelphia edition Fantastic Four #527
Kevin Conrad- autographed KISS: Psycho Circus #1
Sean McKeever-signed Inhumans #1
and more, to boot!
Overall, it was a great day and such a rewarding experience. It is something I would never dare miss to be a part of.
Waking up a little before 7, I did my routine of going to the bathroom, watching some TV, eating and getting ready to leave. Go in my car and put in a burnt Thrice CD. I get on the highway, drive about 25 miles, and get to the Palace Theater a few minutes before 8. People were already at work. There was lots to be done for the first comic book convention held in Syracuse in almost 10 years.
We started by setting up tables and chairs. Then unloading my friend's comics (and other miscellaneous items of the man putting this on), my other friends and I started unpacking for the merchants. One store literally brought their entire comic inventory from their main store. Another I helped I later found had the first appearance of Galactus, though for a bit out of my range.
Ten o'clock comes, and the doors are open. People come in, kids are given complimentary figures, and only a few who do not realize the fundraising nature of the $10 admission complain.
Throughout the day I work, making sure all the guests are all right. Scott Beatty, Kevin Conrad, Steve Ellis, and Sean McKeever among others were signing autographs, as well as John Russo and Russ Streiner from the original Night of the Living Dead.
There was a girl (?) in a furrie suit, as well as the usual living-in-mom's-basement crowd. I felt bad for Sara and Stephanie, the two girls I knew that were working, as both are attractive and had to face the wrath of awkward social situations with supreme dorks.
The owner of the theater was a big part as well. When I grabbed food for the guests, I said it was on the promoter. When he went to pay, the owner said it was on him. The Palace Theater is a fantastic place, family-owned since the 20's with a great menu in their cafe.
At 4 o'clock, the vendors had to roll out for the screening. Everyone made out with a profit. With the last one off the stage close to five, it was time for the fan films. First was Batman: Dark Justice. Then Dead End. Then a making of Dead End that was three times longer than the film itself (?!). Due to time constraints, there was only one item left, which was the Transformers episode with the origin of Oprimus Prime/ Orion Pax.
All that said and done, the convention was over. I was invited, however, to eat with some of the guests at a Thai restaurant. Sitting right next to McKeever, I made sure to shut up, or at least not sound like a raving moron fan. Mission accomplished.
And with that I made my way back to school. Not without some grabs, of course:
3/ $1 issues of Gen13, Bone, and X-Force
$1 issues of Green Lantern, X-Men, and Batman
Villains United #5, Day of Vengeance #5, and Rann-Thanagarian War #4 &5 to complete my Infinite Crisis tie-ins
Michael Turner-signed CSN newsletter and Flash # 210
Ed McGuinness-signed Superman #178
Ian Churchill-signed Deadpool mini-series #1-4
Jim Lee-signed Batman #618
J. Michael Straczynski-signed Wizard World Philadelphia edition Fantastic Four #527
Kevin Conrad- autographed KISS: Psycho Circus #1
Sean McKeever-signed Inhumans #1
and more, to boot!
Overall, it was a great day and such a rewarding experience. It is something I would never dare miss to be a part of.