mutantxproud t1_j9mdzgp wrote on February 23, 2023 at 12:34 AM

I enjoyed the show well enough, but I traveled from coast to coast attending the biggest comicons in the nation for work for many years. What really disappoints me is that absolutely nobody will show up to support the local con (VisionCon) but can come out in droves to support a traveling con that does nothing for the community.

Everyone comes out of the woodwork for a show like this but can't be bothered otherwise. Just shows you aren't there for the fandoms, you're there for the celebs. Most local vendors (and I know of at least a dozen, especially local authors) weren't even given consideration for panels or booths. Local shops weren't given the opportunity to exhibit either.

Not the Cons fault by any means, but I'm disappointed in Springfield as a whole. We need to do better to support our own rather than throwing more money at the void.

Just my opinion.

That being said, Planet Comicon in KC is next month and it's one of the best in the Midwest. All you con-lovers definitely should make your way to KC!

DoYouNerd OP t1_j9p1jkj wrote on February 23, 2023 at 3:43 PM

We share many sentiments as we are super supportive of local conventions and events. We haven't gone to Planet Comicon as we try to help build up some promotion for things in about an hour radius of Springfield.

Though in an unofficial capacity, we've showcased many such as Tremendicon, Dragon's Brook (previous Dragonfest), Neosho ArtCon and even some of the sadly defunct Cave Con and BransonCon shows. VisionCon, especially has seen tons of support from us. Last year we showcased them though many videos, including promo spots for local artists, authors, creators, and shops. We usually avoid celebrity spotlighting outside of maybe a panel so that our videos really show off the floor setup and vendors and creators on hand; we like to give an idea to attendees and potential vendors both what to expect from an event beyond the headliners that bring in the crowds. We'd like to see more people on hand in support of the event itself, but unfortunately it often is the celebrity guests that get the attention. Hopefully, showcase videos like ours can show there's so much more to do though.

We saw lots of familiar local faces at MCC like Forged in Foam, Nathaniel Toines, Ghostbusters of the Ozarks, Garrison 66, and even shops like Leveled Up Loot at this show, but we're always down to see more. Tremendicon had a table, as did Springfield Cosplay, and Pop Goes the Culture, Nerd Informant, even Hawk with his Geekmas event--lots of local love, but don't stop MCC--bring in more, MORE!!

Again, rather than being disappointed in Springfield, we're going to do our best to show off great things to do in the greater Springfield radius, outside of the big boys like KC and STL, because there's tons going on around here too. Here's hoping our local events continue to grow.

Something I'd really like to see from VisionCon, I'll say it, is a rebranding. It's an amazing convention with incredible staff and volunteers and a heartfelt charity each year, but that name conveys the wrong idea. "Comic Con" is used as a branding anymore, like calling tissues "Kleenex." As is, it comes off as something to do with eyewear and it deserves so much more attention. They can always have that vision, but play up to their available strengths with something simple like "Springfield Comic Con." Also, don't shy away from celebrities; like it or not, they DO help, and sadly it's not always easy to push voice actors. Though fun, and ridiculously talented people, it's weird going for a photo op with a face most people don't know or recognize and a name many haven't heard.

Sometimes it's about playing up to our strengths and no doubt a rebranding of Visioncon could make it as incredible and formidable of an event as it absolutely deserves to be. Regardless, we'll keep attending them and showing off what people are missing out on if they skip it!