The
Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo (May 7th,
2006)
Wow!
What a con!
We
really didn't know what to expect since this was
the inaugural year for this particular show. We were
pleasantly surprised.
We
arrived in Calgary on Friday (May 5th) and were picked
up at the airport by the charming Laurie Breitkreuz,
one of the con's organizer (and talented artist to
boot). We got to our hotel, freshened up
a bit, and headed down to the restaurant for a meal.
There, we were joined by Kandrix Foong (the mastermind
behind the con) Laurie, Peter
Mayhew (Chewbacca) and his wife, as well as producer
Alan Burnett (Batman Animated). It was a fun time
and we ate way too much.
On
Saturday, we were given a tour of the Quickdraw
Animation Society, and hung out around Calgary
with Stephen
Silver, Patrick
Morgan, Alberto
Riuz, and Laurie acting as our guide. The weather
was fantastic and we got a good feel for the city.
The
con started at 10am on Sunday at the Stampede Ground.
We got there at 9:30 as a growing line was forming
outside the building. Good sign! At 10:00am the doors
opened and people started pouring in. It wasn't
long before we realized that this would be a good
con.
By 12:00, we'd
sold out of our most popular book, "Insanely
Twisted Rabbits". A couple of hours later,
we were running low on every title and by the end
of the show, we had an empty table! Next year, we'll
make sure to bring an extra load!
While
at the con, I also participated in an animation panel
with Paul Dini, Stephen
Silver, Patrick
Morgan, Alan Burnett and Bob Bowen. The audience
was captive and asked many questions.
The
charity auction went very well raising lots of cash
for the Christopher
Reeve Foundation. The organizers
put together a really nice limited edition book,
each page featuring a "western themed" art piece
specifically created
for the event
(you
can view my piece here). People bought the book
and walked around getting all the artists to sign
their respective
page. It was a cool idea that made a wonderful keepsake
souvenir.
Of
course, one of the great things about doing cons
is to be able to meet old friends and make new ones.
It was fun chatting with Art
Thibert, John
Giang, Angus
Oblong, Omar Dogan, Jim
Zubkavich and many more.
The
reaction from everyone at the con was very positive.
Artists were busy
drawing and selling their books and merchandise to
eager fans, and retailers had big smiles on their
faces.
Business was good for everyone I talked to. The first
year
of
the Calgary
Comic and Entertainment Expo was a success, no
doubt about it.
After
the con ended, the organizers took us (as well
as some of the other guests) to a wonderful resort
near Banff where we unwound, and spent a wonderful
evening/night
in the fresh air of the Rockies. The following
morning, we had breakfast
in Banff where I puzzled
everyone with a
cool magic trick! The organizers were a class
act all the way, pampering us and making us feel
so welcomed. A big thank you to Cody and John for
driving us around!
Thumbs
up!
Michel
Gagne, May 10th, 2006
