[dorkatlarge]

Last August, after the Friday and Saturday events of Chicago Comic Con (Wizard World) winded down, there was ACen Aftershock. I missed it, but I know it included several discussion panels.

However, I don't know if Aftershock will happen this year. With about two months until CCC, is there a chance it will happen in 2010?

[Bloo09]

Sadly no it is not happening this year. Panels were pretty much barren, some had no attendance at all. A few events worked but we are focusing on other roadshows this year that have more turn out. Our list will be posted soonish.

[MsLovelyCookie]

AW no fair, I was on my way to work when I notice people going to the after shock when switching trains at Rosemont and when I checked the website I notice I missed the opportunity to get my badge for a low price back then. If I had known I would have gone for a while before work.

[Bloo09]

I'm sorry you didn't get a chance to go. We'll look into doing something at another convention though The highest attendance i heard for a panel was 9 >.< 2nd highest was 7, other were empty >.< we are planning on doing many more roadshows this year though

[dorkatlarge]

Bloo09, on 12 June 2010 - 01:18 AM, said:

Sadly no it is not happening this year. Panels were pretty much barren, some had no attendance at all...

Thanks for clarifying this. It is disappointing to hear this, but at the same time, I recall that Aftershock happened during one of the few heat waves of summer 2009. I did my best to enjoy the comics convention, but after a few hours, I wanted to get out of the heat, so I left Rosemont.

(Incidentally, the last time I went to a con with little-to-no panel attendance was Ikasucon 2008.)

[sweetbeanpaste]

I've never been to comic-com. What's it like in relativity to acen?

[Unka Josh]

sweetbeanpaste, on 15 June 2010 - 09:39 PM, said:

I've never been to comic-com. What's it like in relativity to acen?

Very, very different. (Take some of this with a grain of salt, though-- I've been there once, staffing Aftershock.)

--It's mostly all about the dealers' room, which is huge and crowded. There are some panels, but not on the Acen scale. (Some of these are amazing, though-- a costume construction panel by the 501st? Oh, yeah...)

--There are guests of all kinds and all descriptions, from comics pros to actors from various sources to pro wrestlers to candidates from "The Amazing Race." However, almost everything that you do with them-- autographs, particularly-- costs money. (It's still possible to meet them now and then, of course-- I wound up fixing Greedo's purse.)

--There isn't a lot of programming that goes on after the convention center closes.

--The male/female ratio among congoers is rather different.

[sisterdiscord]

Edward James Olmos took a couple turns in one of the Battletech pods, and signed a door. Propwash was giggling all night Saturday.

Echoing Josh, it's a different kind of event. The dealer's hall is heavily populated with comics and figurines, and some vendors have three or four locations around the hall. They FILLED Hall A (our hall) with just vendors, and 10ft wide aisles. (ours are 20ft, for reference.) This meant lots more things to see, but serious, serious crowds. It took me 45m to get to the expoteria at one point.

It's also a corporate event, which isn't a bad thing, it's just different. Industry panels, more large high-profile events.
I found there to be less costumes, and the hotel isn't busy after hours, which was very strange for me, being used to the packed house for ACen.
I found the Wizard guys great to work with, enthusiastic, smart, and dedicated like mad to making their show work well and rum smoothly. Nothing but good things to say about their team, and about the show they put on. Their fandom average age is older than ours, skews more male than female, and the tone of the show is a little more...reserved, I guess? They do put on a heck of a show, and their live events were, as said above, pretty incredible.

[CurseOfTheLeek]

What they said above is all very accurate.
At ACen everyone is excited to be at ACen, at Wizard last year, everyone seemed more excited about their purchasing power.
I don't recall much cosplay except for storm troopers, the Hyatt feels more like a fancy hotel (there are chairs and couches during Wizard that can not be found during ACen).
Like sisterdiscord said, it's not that any of this necessarily a bad thing. It's just a different experience. I met up with a bunch of my friends from work who were so thrilled to be there they were a pleasure to be around. It all depends on what you're looking to do at the convention. Expect to haggle for great deals on comics, and spend hours searching for them; not to spend hours roaming Rosemont taking pictures of cosplay. But still, if you're into American comics or collectibles, it can't be beat; the amount of vendors and people that pack the dealer's room alone is remarkable.

[mmy-sama]

I've never been to the con, but I've been to the Hyatt on Saturday night during it. A LOT different from Acen. Seriously different. Theres hardly any night life at all. there where still a few people around having fun. there was some sort of panel happening and there where a lot of people at that expensive bar. Still pretty fun, kinda aceny but WAY smaller and absolutely no single ladies.

The thing I miss most is the single ladies.