2008 geek tour updates (with an update)

This is how the GeekTour ends. Not with a bang, but a whimper.

Bad news, everyone: I'm not going to San Diego Comic-Con. I was planning on attending with TokyoPop, and when they laid off a ton of staff (including my editor, which made me sad) they also pulled out of Comic-Con.

There is a very slim chance that I may crash a booth with a couple of friends, but I honestly don't know if I'll be able to justify the expense; it's become increasingly difficult for me to break even, let alone turn a profit, at Comic-Con. I've got a kid in college, so justifying expenses, even for superhappygoodtimes like SDCC is increasingly difficult.

More bad news, everyone: I've sent a couple of e-mails to Creation about the Big Honkin' Vegas convention in August, and I haven't heard anything back; not even a "No. Now please go away."

Last year, they'd sent me an invite by May. Since I haven't heard anything yet, it's already mid-June, and several people have asked via e-mail and comments here if I'll be going, I went ahead and contacted the same guy who's booked me the last two years. He hasn't replied, so I'm left to assume that they're not interested in having me participate in the con.

I have to say, this makes me really, really sad. I was really looking forward to both of these shows. I can't do anything about TokyoPop pulling out of SDCC, but I've made what I feel are reasonable efforts to contact Creation. If I keep asking, "Hey, guys! Can I please come to your show and help you make money? Can I? Can I? Please? Please? PUH-LEEZE?!" I will start to feel like a chump. In fact, I already feel like a chump. And pretty demoralized, to boot. Maybe I'm "not part of the Star Trek family" again. Sigh.

UPDATED 6-14-08: I just double-checked my spam folders, and I see that the e-mails I've been sending to my contact at Creation have been bouncing back to me, getting marked as Spam. I've just tried a different contact at Creation, so hopefully this one will get through. Now I'm hopeful that perhaps Creation isn't ignoring me, but just didn't know that I was trying to make contact with them.

A little bit of good news, everyone: I'm still on for PAX, where I'll perform from Happiest Days, and rock your world on MarioKartDS. Also, Rock Band. Oh yes, there will be emm effing Rock Band, emm effers.

Comments

[shrednfred]

Crap!! This is sad news. I was hoping to redeem myself by not acting like a stammering idiot if me and the kids ran into you again this year.

Sorry Wil

[Aeire]

Okay number one, it really, really sucks that you won't be there. Number two - holy crap. I think this'll be the first year I've attended, ever, that won't have the giant omghuge Tokyopop bags that *everyone* seems to carry their crap in. ...weird.

[geekgirl]

It totally sucks that you won't make it to Comic Con. I was hoping you'd would make it to the Fark gathering (if they have one; they usually do). I hope you can figure out a way to get there. Since I got to meet you at Mysterious Galaxy, I won't get greedy, though. As many have said, we admire that you put your family first and seem to have your priorities straight.

[casbar]

Ah man. So many people/fans will be at Comic-con. How could you not even break even? Could it be due to the profits you accidentally spend on all the geeky goodness you'll see while there?

[Wumpa Yuna]

Sad for not making it to the two comic shows, but YAY you'll be at PAX!!! I missed it last year and my fiance and I have been hoping you'd be there this year :D

[Barry]

I haven't been to a Star Trek convention in long time, Wil, but I'll wait for the next I go to to include you. On the plus side, the big honkin' Vegas show has the guy people who played Mr. Homm and Leah Brahms. No disrespect meant to the actors, but seriously Creation, WTF? You can

[Barry]

spring for them, but not one of the main cast of TNG who obviously wants to interact with his fans?

Sorry for the double post...was having problems and somehow the second half got cut off.

[VT]

That's a bummer. Though I have an idea; see your email.

[Morfin]

Sorry to hear about the problems with Las Vegas, but after 30 years involved with cons, I've found Creationcons to be mainly ripoffs for fans. I'm sorry they're treating you so poorly, you deserve better.

[FEJ]

That sucks will. I was gonna head down to SDCC also, but other expenses may put a damper in that too.

Hang in there, and remember, wherever you go, your fans will follow, and it will be good.

[Wil]

Maybe I should start my own convention, with hookers and blackjack!

. . . in fact, forget the blackjack!

[Meili D]

Sorry to hear that for you, though I can't afford to go myself... As for the Vegas convention, maybe your contact is no longer there? I'd try the general office, just an idea... :)

[i_bleed_magenta]

bummer!

i still think you should come to toronto!

[madwabbit]

Come to GenCon, Wil, come to GenCon! You can easily convince 'em to comp you in for a room and registration for a reading or two, and maybe WotC would love to have you there to do some pro-4e spin! ;)

Just a thought...

[KCFlatlander]

Eaten by a grue again. That just sucks.

I can tell you this, and this would be a fun thing to do in Vegas. Many years ago, a small tech company got out from under a large tech company, and was barred from the large company's international user conference. I went to the conference, and the smaller company ended up putting footprints down all over the conference area (plastic sticky footprints) that led to a party across the street by the small company.

That would be so cool to do in Vegas.

Monkeys, UNITE!

[dino_grl]

Sorry to hear that Wil.
There are still vendors tables left at Worldcon in Denver this year I believe, but again-the expense. You may want to contact them about being a guest, but again, the redundancy factor of the expense, as it is a 501C3 organization. It is also the same time as Creation's Vegas con. Worldcon is a literary convention, and may be a better fit for you. I frequently sell as a vendor myself at Gary and Adam's shows, but I have to be selective. I did okay at Vegas last year, but the expenses and placement of our booth, we pretty much broke even. You may want to fling a few leads out at literary conventions to broaden your market. Good luck!

[SorenT]

I'm re-reading Just a Geek and that "Maybe I'm 'not part of the Star Trek family' again. Sigh."-sentence(-s?) was like a punch in the gut.

Wil, FWIW you brought me into Star Trek. Probably'll mean squat to you, but you did.

[Connor]

My gf offered to get us free tickets to SDCC this year (she's got mad hookups), but I really doubt we'll end up going. It gets so expensive so fast. Between food, lodging, toys, and the inevitable boozing, I just can't afford it this year.

Damn. Maybe we can get into some online GTA IV and take out some angst!

[danavee]

Wil! I just saw on perez hilton (and you know he's never wrong) that Ed Norton is being a douche about publicity for the hulk movie, and has refused to sign on for the next two installments. YOU SHOULD TOTALLY BE THE (next) HULK!

BTW, I'm reading Just A Geek, and loving it. You just shipped me Happiest Days, which is supposedly a father's day gift for my hubby, but is really for me.

[Lorraine Bartlett]

Sorry Creation is giving you the old heave ho--you don't need them. Stay home and take care of your family's finances. As a struggling author, I think that cons can cost far more than you gain in sales and even goodwill. These days I spend more time than money working the Internet, which has been good for me. And as a former "Star Trek star" you've got a much better platform than me.

Go you!

[Julian Owen]

I have to say that I've contacted Creation about a few things over the last month regarding the Las Vegas Convention. They only replied after repeated emailing over the course of a week. I don't think their customer service is as good as it should be. It's a big thing for me as I'm coming from the UK to my very first Star Trek convention. So Wil, maybe you will hear from them at some point. I do hope so, as I'd like to come over and say Hi.

Perhaps all WWDN readers should contact Creation and demand you?

[Kareina]

Many other geeks manage to attend cons by paying the admissions fee and attending, rather than going in an official position. Perhaps you've gotten too used to being a guest or a booth and it is time to consider being just an attendee again?

Lucky son by the way--I had to pay my own way to Uni, rather than having my parents support/subsidize it.

[Wil]

@Kareina: I've thought about that, but the reality is, when I go to a con, I can't just walk around and attend it like everyone else can. I'm forced to be "on" the whole time I'm there. I don't mind that when I'm officially appearing, but it gets exhausting when I'm not.

I've thought about just going to shows like I used to, but as I mentioned in this post, with a kid in college and five figures of tuition due each year, I can't justify a lot of "extra" expenses, as much as I wish I could.

. . . I kind of sound like a dick now, don't I?

I don't mean to come off that way, but I can't think of a different way to put it. Sigh.

[Gudlyf]

Aw. No Guinness for you Wil, my friend. And I so owed you two of them.

Ah well, all mine. Cheers!

[Fenlyn, USAF]

That's balls, Wil. First, they screwed you on Star Trek the Tour at the cruise terminal, and now you're not even an after-thought.

You know, if they won't take your call, maybe that's a sign. However, it's a slap in the face when they can get Ensign RedShirt #8 there, but you aren't invited.

I've always thought LeVar and Frakes were upstanding folks, and they always seem to have pull with the Star Trek Universe. I hate to revert to high school and have my friends beat up on the bully, but it might be time for the Geordi/Riker brute squad to stand up for the little guy and teach these Creation dummies a lesson. Your livelihood depends on things like cons. You shouldn't have to be at break even.