Salemzorro

The Dome Cinema in Worthing is looking for Marvel cosplayers for an Avengers Age of Ultron event so if you want to show off your great costume please get in touch with them or Uncanny Comics for details.

Another forum I'm on was like this, it's pretty dead these days & the event has sadly seen attendances drop in the past few years.

I go for the comics side & have pressed for bigger name guests for quite a while and when this does happen all hell breaks loose. Getting more comic dealers would also be good news. Maybe it's time for the comics and film sides to be split into 2 separate events?

Glad to hear it! I totally agree with all of your post!

You aren't being forced to come a day early though?

Oh I'm on that side of the fence still really. For the extra costs of venue time, crew, having to start setting up thursday instead, paying guests for an extra day and anything else you can think of, the amount of attendees who could actually make it all day on a friday (due to work, school or whatever) would seriously hinder SM costs-wise. The big US cons are already at 4 days, they wouldn't do so if it wasn't financial viable. Turning people with cash to spend is a bad business move. But they dont have as many costs, and their venues are made for big events, as I said earlier. Their guests are mostly US-based, and so flight/travel prices arnt as much as SM have to pay to get people over here. And also you never know if agents/managment ask for more due to it being overseas work, and therefore taking more time out of a guests busy schedule to attend the event. And we have no idea how much venues cost in the US. It might be way cheaper in comparison to the UK's venues. US guests still have to fly to shows and there seems to be an insatiable demand for cons over here. It would help those who work weekends or who have other commitments at that time or who want to take a day off work to go. The way forward would be to let the market decide and give potential customers more choice.

Oh I'm on that side of the fence still really. For the extra costs of venue time, crew, having to start setting up thursday instead, paying guests for an extra day and anything else you can think of, the amount of attendees who could actually make it all day on a friday (due to work, school or whatever) would seriously hinder SM costs-wise. The big US cons are already at 4 days, they wouldn't do so if it wasn't financial viable. Turning people with cash to spend is a bad business move.

How much did Showmasters lose in turning people away? Cons are only going to get bigger and the capacity needs to adapt to match. Longer shows increase costs but revenue too, festivals have added additional days to cope with demand so it can be done.

theres no way accessible fire exit doors were locked when the show was open in EC2, which ones are ppl saying were? It's come up in a couple of threads that there were locked escape routes but I'm not sure which ones.

I too want reassurances that proper Health & Safety procedures are being met, locked escape routes is shocking to hear.

At least 50% more capacity would resolve so many of the issues that were had on Saturday.

The obvious issues are with capacity and venue. As pointed out, Earls Court may well be closing at the end of the year, is the con still going to be at EC? Has LFCC outgrown it anyway? Opening for a 3rd full day is essential, it will spread the crowds out allowing for a more pleasurable experience. How much money was lost from those who didn't get in or those who didn't even bother trying to? The other issue has to be real time updates via social media and your website. If the event is full people need to be told, allowing many to wait for hours with little hope of actually getting in was very unfair.

The redevelopment of Earls Court is widely opposed and with a change in council leadership and the upcoming Mayoral election expect very little progress to take place. With the redevelopment of the equally historic and run down Smithfield Market being rejected, Earls Court will continue to deteriorate. They said on the radio this morning that Earls Court would be closed for events by the end of the year. There is a band playing there and they will be the last ones. I thought Labour had campaigned against the redevelopment & wanted to renegotiate the deal? Would this then mean that LFCC 2015 is under threat if Earls Court is closed? Where could it move to Olympia? Does that have the capacity to deal with an event of this size?

The redevelopment of Earls Court is widely opposed and with a change in council leadership and the upcoming Mayoral election expect very little progress to take place. With the redevelopment of the equally historic and run down Smithfield Market being rejected, Earls Court will continue to deteriorate.

Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld, Marc Silvestri, Todd MacFarlane, John Byrne, George Perez and any other big name American comic creators.

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/141346169180?nav=SEARCHEnjoy this £1500 Stan Lee Bargain Autograph from LFCC Pretty much sums up what I thought. Greed only fuels more greed.

You suggested that Showmasters don't have a duty of care to the staff, volunteers, guests & customers while attending the event & that locked fire doors isn't their responsiblilty.If there was a fire there & the escapes were locked Showmasters as well as the Earls Court would be in serious legal trouble, especially if there had been fatalities. As I mentioned your interpretation of my comment was misunderstood. Additionally the moderators, as has been mentioned many times, are volunteers. We are not employed by Showmasters. You seem to be implying that I/we are. You seem to be speaking on their behalf and made a statement that was untrue. If you are unaware of the law it's probably best not to make comments like that. I did not - you misunderstood my statement as I have pointed out.As could a lawyer looking back at it from a later date. You obviously mean well but the legalities in regard to Health & Safety are very complicated and points raised in a public forum need to be crystal clear. I am just trying to help.

You suggested that Showmasters don't have a duty of care to the staff, volunteers, guests & customers while attending the event & that locked fire doors isn't their responsiblilty. If there was a fire there & the escapes were locked Showmasters as well as the Earls Court would be in serious legal trouble, especially if there had been fatalities. As I mentioned your interpretation of my comment was misunderstood. Additionally the moderators, as has been mentioned many times, are volunteers. We are not employed by Showmasters. You seem to be implying that I/we are. You seem to be speaking on their behalf and made a statement that was untrue. If you are unaware of the law it's probably best not to make comments like that.

That is down to the venue not event organisers.Oh well, thank god we didn't have a fire then! Are you serious? It should be one of the main things that should be checked! If an emergency arose (like a fire) how many people would of found a safe fire escape? They put us in serious danger Hmmm, you all appear to have misunderstood me. I was simply saying that any chaining of fire doors would have been done by Earls Court not Showmasters. Just curious, did any of you actually speak to a member of Earls Court or Showmasters about your concerns regarding chaning of doors.There were still mutliple exit routes available, including the massive loading doors at the back of the venue which could have been opended easily if needed Why would I check my lawers? You suggested that Showmasters don't have a duty of care to the staff, volunteers, guests & customers while attending the event & that locked fire doors isn't their responsiblilty. If there was a fire there & the escapes were locked Showmasters as well as the Earls Court would be in serious legal trouble, especially if there had been fatalities.

If Showmasters are genuinely interested in making the event better then, as festival organisers learned many years ago, they have a great resource here to help. As part of the festival build up there was a fan forum, held in a pub with some members of their forums and event management to discuss the plans & offer solutions to issues raised the previous year. It was amazing to see how much better the festival was after the promoter had taken on board the feedback in an open but dedicated way. Tweaks were made to avoid bottle necks, eliminating long walks, improving security etc. Not everything has to cost the earth if anything but all the hard work is there to be seen each year.

The information on Twitter leading up to the event is great, thanks for your efforts but without real time updates for those actually there on on their way to the venue something is missing.

How much signed stuff from the weekend is on eBay today?

Are there to be guests at the upcoming Marts?

Good point, I just hope that Showmasters take on many of the suggestions being out forward to make the Con better for both the public & the staff. Fans want to attend a well run convention with great guests, talks and displays of course. It also needs good communication, space to move & to shop, clearly defined waiting areas, easy entry throughout the event, places to relax & buy refreshments all while feeling safe. I really don't think this is too much to ask for.

That is down to the venue not event organisers. This is quite concerning. Are you saying that in the event of a fire & the escapes being locked you believe that Showmasters would have no responsibility for any loss? Have you checked this with your lawyers? Especially with all of the social media reports of overcrowding that would also be your responsibility?