The massively popular Wales Comic Con returned once more to Glyndwr University in Wrexham. We were there over the weekend, meeting the stars and enjoying the great merchandise and incredible cosplay.
The event celebrated its Tenth Anniversary last year, and continues to grow in reputation, as well as the quality of guests. Headliners for the first Wales Comic Con 2019 included Doctor Who stars David Tennant and Billie Piper, Hollywood legends Ron Perlman and Kiefer Sutherland, and Rupert Grint (Harry Potter) in his first convention appearance.
The Good
- It seems like the Mercury Events team have listened to complaints from previous years and had made several changes this time around. Previous issues had revolved around the space issues in the main signing hall as a number of traders were also in the same space and the distribution of photos.
- Crew were more plentiful this year, a massive improvement over December for sure, especially inside the signing hall.
- Space in the main signing hall had been massively improved by removing all of the traders from the central space out into the marquees outside. While this meant more room for guests and signing queues inside, it did create several issues – more on those later.
- The Photo Studios have been moved this year from the small, cramped building they were in to the outdoor marquees. This allowed for considerable indoor queuing space (a marked improvement on previous years) but still had it’s failings. Photo distribution was pretty much instantaneous this year. By the time you’d been given your collection ticket, picked up any bags you had left and made your way to the distribution area your photo was ready.
- The Guests! As always the guests this year were amazing. Representing such a wide range of fandoms from anime and computer game voice artists to huge Hollywood stars. Our highlights were;
- geeking out over stationery and gen:LOCK with voice actress Monica Rial (Col. Marin in gen:LOCK),
- Charlie Cox not charging for selfies and remembering us in the photo op the next day(!),
- Russell Tovey being flabbergasted that I knew, and had been a fan of his since, a show called Mud (also, free selfies),
- and of course the one and only Matt Ryan who greeted us like old friends with hugs and was his usual playful and mischievous self all weekend despite feeling unwell on Sunday.
- Gifting Justin Min from the Umbrella Academy a shirt that made him make this face
The Bad
- In previous years as press at Wales we have simply collected a lanyard and had full access to the event (much like most other conventions). For some reason this year, in addition to the lanyard we had to have a wristband as well. They didn’t have enough weekend wristbands to give us though so we had to return each day to get a new one from the main entrance hall rather than just being able to go straight to the signing hall. A minor annoyance, but took time away from being able to do other things.
- For us, at conventions we want to be able to let our readers and followers on social media know what’s going on. Sadly due to the terrible wifi/lack of mobile reception this is basically impossible.
- No signage outside the two photo studios, and no staff out there either, meant that at least twice we joined the incorrect queue for photo ops.
- At various points over the weekend when my press badge was seen I was told I could jump to the front of the queue, join without a VQ or be given a VQ ticket and come back when my number was called. I saw VQs being given out for one queue but no numbers called and at one point I was in line with a VIP pass holder who had been given a VQ ticket and told to go away. VIP entitles you to join any queue you want without a VQ ticket.
The Ugly
- The queues for the signing hall.
- This was my seventh Wales Comic Con as either press or attendee and I have never seen queues to get into the main hall like I did this time.
- On Sunday (thankfully the better weather day) attendees were queuing for well over an hour to access the singing hall. Often when they finally did get into the hall they found the guest they wanted to see was on a virtual queue and it would likely be hours before they could see them. With nothing else in that hall that either meant remaining for extended periods of time with nothing else to do, or risking leaving and having to spend another hour or two in the queue to get back in!
- The weather.
- Now I know this is not within the organiser’s control and it was mentioned time and again on the groups that there is outside queuing, and the forecast was bad. Fine, people can prepare for that. What they couldn’t have predicted was the fact it was raining INSIDE the marquee.
- Vendors were having to cover their stock or risk it getting damaged. Artist guests who were also in the marquee had their artwork getting wet and I did hear it was even dripping on people’s photos in the collection area. The marquee was definitely a great addition, but it still needs work.
- Parking.
- In previous years there has always been parking available on the university campus for those attending the event. This year the event not only clashed with a football match at the stadium next door, but most of the campus was closed off, with only limited parking available each day. This meant attendees having to traipse in from carparks around town, often in the rain in cosplay or carrying items to be signed.
Summary
Wales Comic Con 2019 is off to a good start. Yes there were some issues, but generally the team seem to be taking on board the criticisms that had arisen in previous years and really worked to improve.
A dedicated room for press, with decent wifi, where things like camera equipment can be stores safely when not required, instead of having to lug everything with you would be a big help. Also perhaps short press calls with guests, maybe after stage talks, as talking to guests on the show floor means holding up lines of paying customers, and dealing with high levels of background noise.
The main problem comes from the venue. The queues this weekend showed that when you are pulling in guests of this calibre you are going to bring in huge crowds to match. Unless the organisers either utilise more of the University buildings to spread things out, or find a more suitable venue, I worry for the future reputation of the event.
