Broadway Legend Joined: 5/2/14
This seems like a bad idea.
http://www.playbill.com/article/broadwaycon-expands-to-javits-center-for-2017-with-parade-of-stars
and no change in ticket pricing.
Much better to have it at a convention center for the event itself, but when you want to go to bed at midnight after a number of panels, you can't simply go upstairs and go to sleep—it becomes a whole schlep.
Hard pass.
At least it's more of a space conducive to a convention, though. The majority of attendees weren't staying at the same hotel last year, anyway -- I think it balances out. Even though the neighborhood's food options will still be limited, there may actually be more if we're stuck inside again in 2017.
I'm definitely going, but considering only getting the regular pass this year. VIP probably isn't worth it
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
It's definitely a good idea in terms of overcrowding.
The Javits Center is literally minutes away from Midtown on foot, it's hardly an inconvenient location.
Or the new Hudson Yards station if you do need/want to take the subway. No, you can't just go back up and down from your room and back, but most of us didn't anyway!
Don't base your decision off this, but I think that they may make the VIP more valuable this year, so it could be a good idea.
I'm planning to go again. I do think the change in venue will help. I brought snacks for myself on the 2ND day after learning my lesson on the 1St. A much better idea. And it helped me not just pick up junk.
The Vip passes seem like a better deal versus this years. I guess just use your discretion with what you expect.
Stand-by Joined: 11/29/10
It's still over priced
and selling tickets in April for an event in the middle of winter is stupid
new York comic con which is at Javits also is in October and tickets are not even on sale yet.
They did it in 3 batches last year. And I recall the 1st batch sold in a couple of hours in March of 2015. So, it isn't stupid to start selling now.
Honestly, I have a feeling the VIP tickets will be gone by 1:02 on Monday.
Broadway Star Joined: 9/22/14
What if there is a 24+ inches snowstorm like this year?! Is the new location easy to get to??! The advantage for the out of towners (like me) was it was convenient. But I thought it was so disorganized and a waste of time/money that never again!!! I already had show tickets for the Saturday and not planning to go to the Con, then snowstorm and travel ban. At least it was something to do while stuck in the hotel
Stand-by Joined: 11/29/10
Marianne2 said: "They did it in 3 batches last year. And I recall the 1st batch sold in a couple of hours in March of 2015. So, it isn't stupid to start selling now.
Yes it is If it wasn't the middle of winter it would be a good idea but if you don't live in NYC you don't buy tickets for something in the middle of winter in April
benmangini said: "Marianne2 said: "They did it in 3 batches last year. And I recall the 1st batch sold in a couple of hours in March of 2015. So, it isn't stupid to start selling now.
Yes it is If it wasn't the middle of winter it would be a good idea but if you don't live in NYC you don't buy tickets for something in the middle of winter in April
"
I would think it's better for those people, as they can start looking for the best hotel and flight deals.
Broadway Star Joined: 9/22/14
I did and I live in Iowa. We bought our Con tickets in the first batch in the first hour last year. Lesson learned and never again. I wonder if other people learned a lesson too lol
Stand-by Joined: 11/29/10
And then you waste your money if there's a snow storm and can't make it
horrible idea.
Broadway Star Joined: 9/22/14
There were 3000+ people at the Con in Jan 2016 with the snowstorm. The out of towners arrived well before the snowstorm hit. The Con has to improve content and organization and make sure location is convenient, with or without a snowstorm to make this work better for future
I wonder what the breakdown is for out of town vs. New Yorkers/East Coast attendees to this event??!
benmangini said: "And then you waste your money if there's a snow storm and can't make it
horrible idea.
"
Except they won't know when a snowstorm is going to hit until a week (at most) beforehand?
Hey, idk where else to ask this...I got the promo code for being an attendee of this year's event entitling me to a free show on BroadwayHD. Is the NYPhil Candide (with LuPone/Chenoweth) a good pick?
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/1/14
(Was this the location I saw suggested in an article somewhere that reviewed the last one?) Just a couple random thoughts: Most major conventions I know of start selling passes at discount very, very early, and if they don't sell out, remove the discount later towards the convention date. They should have a more solid "inclement weather" policy and process for the next convention, including forms and very public notification of required proof or whatever. Not having it attached to a hotel is inconvenient, but I don't know how close other hotels are.
As for demographics, as was posted in the 2016 experiences thread (from NYT): Nearly 80 percent of the registrants are female; 75 percent are from outside the state of New York; and 50 percent are 30 or younger.
Broadway Star Joined: 9/23/11
A good idea if there's some one (or many) performers you'd like to meet for sure and to have a short conversation with them in a protected space. It can be very irritating for an actor to have be trapped outside a stage door when they may just want to get home.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/1/14
Tom5 said: "A good idea if there's some one (or many) performers you'd like to meet for sure and to have a short conversation with them in a protected space. It can be very irritating for an actor to have be trapped outside a stage door when they may just want to get home."
I agree it's likely a lot less stress for the performers when they can actually set aside planned time for this, and that was the general sentiment for the previous con, however I still question the entire lottery system; that was for autographs, I think, and I don't even remember if there were actual meet-and-greets.
And then there were the few con participants who clearly didn't understand propriety, like don't run onto the stage when they're not invited, but I expect that to be very rare. There should still be security, though.
Broadway Star Joined: 9/22/14
Thanks for sharing the Con demographics Pootie!
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