I have been attending the full weekend
at Motor City Comic Con for the past 6 years now. As my home
town convention, the show will always have a special place in my
heart and the weekend is certainly something I look forward to every
year. They definitely seem to be putting special attention to
ensuring that the show grows bigger and better with each coming year,
and 2019 was no exception.
2019 was Motor City Comic Con’s
30th anniversary and it was clear that the show management
wanted to really kick things up a notch with this event. The show
floor had undergone an impressive expansion which allowed the
convention to both increase their exhibitors and the room attendees
had to wander about the show floor. The expansion certainly allowed
the show to feel larger and offered a more cohesive, less congested
Artist Alley arrangement. Expanding both exhibitor booths and artist
alley was a necessary addition, as prior years set up tended to often
feel confusing and chaotic. There is something to be said for the
fact that for the most part, the team that runs Motor City
does seem to listen to the constructive criticism they receive and
work toward making it even better each year; something I hope they
will continue to do.
Parking and extensive lines for advance ticket
holders still seem to be a large issue for the convention.
Unfortunately, because of the location it is held in, I do believe
that the management does the best they can with the parking
situation, as it is wildly limited. Without larger structures, con
goers will always be forced to either get their extremely early or
understand they may have to walk for a good half hour to get to and
from the Showplace. It is certainly my hope that eventually the show
will either move to a location that is both larger and offers more
expensive parking situations or the Showplace will possibly build
some kind of structure that offers more convenient parking. I also
believe sending out wristbands and badges in advance could really
benefit the show, as I know how frustrating it can be to wait in a
line wrapped around the building, particularly after you already
purchased your ticket in advance.
The 30th Anniversary show
offered a wide range of guests from all areas of geekdom. Big names
such as David Tennant, George Takei and Pauly Shore drew a large
number of fans, as well as stars from hit series such as Lucifer,
Sons of Anarchy and The Office. There didn’t seem to be
a standard policy when it came to guest interactions with fans as
some offered selfie style photos with fans while others required a
specific photo op package to be purchased. I believe signage with
this information as well as pricing information at each guest’s
booth could have been really helpful, as I saw a lot of people asking
volunteers for all of the specific information. Overall I experienced
a lot of positive feedback when it came to fans and their
interactions with guests. Though the lines for some of the more
“A-List” celebrities were long, it seemed like they had their
hands wrapped around the best ways to ensure that things ran smoothly
and efficiently. Because prices are negotiated by the actors and
their managers, the prices on autographs and photo ops certainly
varied, as is quite common with all conventions. The team at Motor
City definitely did their research when booking guests this year.
I have felt in the past that some years tend to focus on just one or
two shows and trying to bring in multitudes of actors from that
limited number of shows and films, where this year there really was
something for everyone.
Because this is a
home town show that I have been attending for many years, it was nice
to see so many recognizable faces in both the exhibition floor and
Artist Alley. Motor City boasts a plethora of local and
national guests with a variety of products, books and art. Jim Lee’s
attendance at the 2019 Motor City Comic Con was an impressive
hit with many fans, as a multitude of people were getting into line
extremely early to get a signature on Saturday morning. I am always
happy to see my favorite creators and guests return to Motor City
as well as all of the new faces that the expanded layout allowed. I
have to say the biggest problematic issue that I came across at the
show this year was the issue of internet and Wi-Fi access. While for
me personally it was just a matter of inconvenience, for many
creators it was a real hit to their sales. Although many attendees
bring cash and there are ATMs located within the building, the
convenience of being able to utilize a credit or debit card when
purchasing something is one that many con goers expect and it allows
them to spend their money more easily. Without proper internet access
using a card reader or Square is next to impossible. I spoke with
several creators and artists who said that unfortunately because of
the issue, it caused massive lines for the ATMs; lines that many
people just didn’t feel like waiting in, thus cancelling out sales
that may have taken place had a card been able to be utilized. Though
I am unsure exactly what caused the internet issue, it is definitely
something that those who manage Motor City will have to figure
out by next year. Keeping exhibitors and creators and their sales in
mind is incredibly important and being able to utilize their card
readers to make sales is necessary for the show to run smoothly and
for them to continue to return to this fantastic convention.
Overall I had a wonderful experience at
Motor City Comic Con this year and greatly look forward to
what next year holds. I am always impressed with how open they are to
feedback and how they strive to make each year better and better. I
would love to see Motor City continue to expand and grow and
offer even more spaces to talented artists, creators and celebrities.
Though I would definitely be interested in seeing the show move to a
location that offers more space, both onsite and for parking, I
believe that it is possible to continue utilizing the Showplace if
some of the kinks are ironed out in the coming years. It was very
clear that this year the staff had considered the attendees’
wishes, as there was more space, more show floor activities and the
after-hours events were better than ever. I am excited to see even
more awesomeness from the 2020 Motor City Comic Con.
-Rachel Rutherford