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AD Puchalski On NYCC
posted April 29, 2008
 

I've read Comics Reporter on a daily basis for over a year. You are often insightful, interesting and honest as far as I can tell. I haven't felt moved to write to you before though, but your recent essay on NYCC is particularly poignant to me as I am a New Yorker and it is the only show of any real significance that I can go to without investing massive time and money. So on one hand I am quite glad it seems to be successful and hope it stays around. On the other hand, it was a horrible to show to roam through and I think next year I may skip the day time activities and just go to the parties (only place I got any business done anyway). I too was shocked by how rude and dismissive people were at booths (that were not yet crowded friday afternoon), and me not only a customer with money in hand, asking reasonable (not fan based) questions, but also sporting an industry professional badge. That they treated the press in the same shoddy manner is unfortunate, and unprofessional, and something I hope I do little of when I am behind the table (I tend to be a grumpy booth minder, but I always talk to the press!). Maybe a week in NYC does bring out the worst in people. It's not a convention friendly city, the Javitts is a pain to deal with, but I don't think that is really an excuse. Is it?

And yes, I know we have MOCCA and a few other shows, but they don't have the same draw, certainly not with larger, out of town publishing houses. It would be nice to have a big convention that didn't suck. Considering how massive SDCC has become I don't see me dragging out there again unless I have to. I would love an alternative. I think a lot of people would. But NYCC is not it. If I didn't live here, I wouldn't be going.