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superbitz · 11-15-2006, 01:19 PM

I think the above review was a little too "optimistic" below is a nice dealer prospective, read and debate:

As usual, the reality that exists for Wizard World and its convention staff differs dramatically from those around them. As a dealer who just returned from WWTX 2006 I can say that this was by far the worst, and LAST, Wizard TX show we will ever do.

I find it highly suspect that Wizard reported 11,500 through the door which just happened to be exactly 1,000 more then they recorded last year. Considering that last year they scheduled the con against a NASCAR event and this year they did so when the COWBOYS played a home game on Sunday, its no wonder they had to fudge the numbers a little bit to save face. It was sleeping room only on Friday and even though it noticeably picked up on Saturday, Sunday was largely unattended as well.

As Matt has already pointed out, Wizard doesn't release how they arrive at their suspect totals, we can only rely on first-hand observations of turnout. As a dealer who had a full view of the floor and suffered a loss for the 2nd straight year of this con, they didn't meet these numbers. No freaking way possible. Thanks Matt for referencing the earlier Nov. press release from the genius that is Wizard when they stated over 25,000 would be expected through the WWTX doors this year.

So here you go, the top 5 reasons why dealers should be abandoning this freakshow of a con in droves:

#1 - Wizard provided no fewer then 3 dealers with FREE TABLES or a BUY ONE GET ONE FREE promo pricing when the show date rolled around with obvious holes in the floor. At the same time, Wizard was telling this dealer that the con floor was SOLD-OUT well over two months before the show. When this news started to leak out on Sunday, dealers were PISSED (especially one who had driven 19 hrs to attend the con at full price rates), and rightly so. Nice business practices on the part of James and his show staff.

#2 - Wizard in its infinite wisdom allowed the Spike TV booth to blare its 12-speaker sound system at an insane volume which contained such family friendly artist tracks from the likes of "50 Cent" and "Ludacris" which played on a continuous loop throughout the weekend. Parents and their small children were not pleased by this at all and complained to dealers in the Spike TV booth vicinity repeatedly. These dealers in turn complained to show staff without much effect. (FYI, the Spike TV booth blew two speakers on their system on Sunday.)

#3 - Wizard's wholesale staff was out in force at the show trying to hawk its show exclusive comics and other baubles to an extent I have personally never experienced before. When it was plainly pointed out that most of their comic-related exclusives required a wholesale price purchase that was actually ABOVE what most dealers could expect to return at retail, Wizard just replied with a blank look on their face and turned and walked off. Nice!

#4 - Wizard/Spike TV after-party -- It wasn't bad enough that Spike TV pissed off most of the dealer floor with their poor music choices throughout the show, they also hosted an after-party with Wizard over the weekend at the Wyndam which slapped them in the face yet again. Although passes were plenty, none of them made it into the hands of the dealers in attendance who ended up forming their own poker parties and attending movies and events outside of the area when it was obvious to them that they weren't "good enough" to attend this industry soire. Again, great job Wizard show staff!

#5 - Wizard's Only Game in Town Attitude -- Wizard routinely dismisses show criticism from dealers and professional types alike due to their overriding belief that they know best. This was evident again in TX when dealers approached Wizard show staff with concerns, critiques and suggestions to improve the current show and future ones and were rebuffed or ignored completely. From the debacle with Spike TV to the neverending comic exclusives shilling to the sham treating of dealers with regards to the Spike/Wizard after-party, one thing is always clear with Wizard. If you want to be treated like a second-class citizen, make sure to mention you are a dealer attending their show.

TX is a a great place to hold a con. Friendly people, great weather, incredible food and lots to see and do. And yet Wizard routinely screws it up each and every year. A word of advice to James and his staff; I may be the first dealer you lose from future TX cons, but I certainly won't be the last. This is especially true if the issues above continue to fall on the usual deaf ears of Wizard conventions staffers.

11-15-2006, 01:19 PM	#18
superbitz	The end of Wizard Texas... I think the above review was a little too "optimistic" below is a nice dealer prospective, read and debate: As usual, the reality that exists for Wizard World and its convention staff differs dramatically from those around them. As a dealer who just returned from WWTX 2006 I can say that this was by far the worst, and LAST, Wizard TX show we will ever do. I find it highly suspect that Wizard reported 11,500 through the door which just happened to be exactly 1,000 more then they recorded last year. Considering that last year they scheduled the con against a NASCAR event and this year they did so when the COWBOYS played a home game on Sunday, its no wonder they had to fudge the numbers a little bit to save face. It was sleeping room only on Friday and even though it noticeably picked up on Saturday, Sunday was largely unattended as well. As Matt has already pointed out, Wizard doesn't release how they arrive at their suspect totals, we can only rely on first-hand observations of turnout. As a dealer who had a full view of the floor and suffered a loss for the 2nd straight year of this con, they didn't meet these numbers. No freaking way possible. Thanks Matt for referencing the earlier Nov. press release from the genius that is Wizard when they stated over 25,000 would be expected through the WWTX doors this year. So here you go, the top 5 reasons why dealers should be abandoning this freakshow of a con in droves: #1 - Wizard provided no fewer then 3 dealers with FREE TABLES or a BUY ONE GET ONE FREE promo pricing when the show date rolled around with obvious holes in the floor. At the same time, Wizard was telling this dealer that the con floor was SOLD-OUT well over two months before the show. When this news started to leak out on Sunday, dealers were PISSED (especially one who had driven 19 hrs to attend the con at full price rates), and rightly so. Nice business practices on the part of James and his show staff. #2 - Wizard in its infinite wisdom allowed the Spike TV booth to blare its 12-speaker sound system at an insane volume which contained such family friendly artist tracks from the likes of "50 Cent" and "Ludacris" which played on a continuous loop throughout the weekend. Parents and their small children were not pleased by this at all and complained to dealers in the Spike TV booth vicinity repeatedly. These dealers in turn complained to show staff without much effect. (FYI, the Spike TV booth blew two speakers on their system on Sunday.) #3 - Wizard's wholesale staff was out in force at the show trying to hawk its show exclusive comics and other baubles to an extent I have personally never experienced before. When it was plainly pointed out that most of their comic-related exclusives required a wholesale price purchase that was actually ABOVE what most dealers could expect to return at retail, Wizard just replied with a blank look on their face and turned and walked off. Nice! #4 - Wizard/Spike TV after-party -- It wasn't bad enough that Spike TV pissed off most of the dealer floor with their poor music choices throughout the show, they also hosted an after-party with Wizard over the weekend at the Wyndam which slapped them in the face yet again. Although passes were plenty, none of them made it into the hands of the dealers in attendance who ended up forming their own poker parties and attending movies and events outside of the area when it was obvious to them that they weren't "good enough" to attend this industry soire. Again, great job Wizard show staff! #5 - Wizard's Only Game in Town Attitude -- Wizard routinely dismisses show criticism from dealers and professional types alike due to their overriding belief that they know best. This was evident again in TX when dealers approached Wizard show staff with concerns, critiques and suggestions to improve the current show and future ones and were rebuffed or ignored completely. From the debacle with Spike TV to the neverending comic exclusives shilling to the sham treating of dealers with regards to the Spike/Wizard after-party, one thing is always clear with Wizard. If you want to be treated like a second-class citizen, make sure to mention you are a dealer attending their show. TX is a a great place to hold a con. Friendly people, great weather, incredible food and lots to see and do. And yet Wizard routinely screws it up each and every year. A word of advice to James and his staff; I may be the first dealer you lose from future TX cons, but I certainly won't be the last. This is especially true if the issues above continue to fall on the usual deaf ears of Wizard conventions staffers.