The inaugural C2E2 convention in Chicago has come and gone, and it went pretty alright. This was the first “big time” mainstream convention I’ve done other than Wizard World Chicago, and a lot of the experience for me came down to comparing how the two shows stack up against each other.
I think that the consensus among artists and exhibitors was that the aesthetics of the show were great (giant windows for natural light, great high ceilings, big aisles, no funk in the air, an appropriate focus placed on comics, and so forth), while attendance was the only real disappointment. So it was probably a great experience for attendees, if disappointing for artists and dealers in that there were fewer attendees than expected. I think they chalk some of that up to being a first year show and getting their legs, and I anticipate they are probably right, and that it will only improve with time.
Having said all that, I got to talk to a number of great people at the table, and being situated in the “Webcomics Pavilion” was a nice way to entrench myself a little further into that community. And this may sound funny, but “niceness” was one of the key words I’d use to describe the weekend. Both the C2E2 folks and McCormick Place (the venue) folks were extremely pleasant and helpful, without any trace of weariness or apathy that is not too uncommon to encounter at your average comics convention. This “niceness” also applied to everyone who came by my booth, not to mention my booth neighbors– not a psycho in the bunch!
And get this– I signed up for a 6 foot table, so imagine my surprise when I showed up to find that not only was my table 8 feet, but it was an 8 foot table within a 10x10ft booth! Needless to say, there was lots of space to relax in, and personal comfort like that can go a long way in making a pleasant weekend at a comics convention. Overall, it was a dandy time. Thanks again to everyone who helped make it that way. And as usual, for a more in depth look at what it was like, check out my flickr gallery.
