Everyone Still Going To MoCCA Festival



Yesterday I asked if anyone had changed their travel plans for this weekend's MoCCA comics festival at New York City's Puck Building, and if people from way outside of the city were still going. I'm generally interested in how higher gas prices and the strain they've put on the economy in general have had an impact on convention plans.

The answers to my query were a resounding no and yes, respectively. No, their plans haven't changed; yes, they're going to the show even though they're well outside the New York region. In fact, people are planning to exhibit from all over the country, and there are outright clusters heading there from Toronto, Minneapolis and Tampa. I heard from exactly two people who had decided not to go based on increased costs, both of whom were attending rather than exhibiting.

Some observations on answers from my non-scientific sample:

* many expressed relief that they had purchased air tickets early enough that prices had yet to go up.

* many stressed that in New York they stay with friends rather than stay in a hotel, which makes the shows there cheaper than those in other towns.

* a few respondents said what made the trip possible was having an option other than car travel: a cheaper-than-usual shuttle bus, a reliable train.

* one or two just shy of half said something along the lines that the MoCCA festival was an important enough show to merit extra consideration, and that there are other shows that would be dropped before that one.

* more than half expressed concerns that future MoCCAs may be at risk if gas prices and air travel prices continue to go up.

* one person said that flights to New York had remained cheaper than flights to other cities.

* one person mentioned that the charge for checking bags will force him to pack more lightly in terms of material brought to show at the Festival than he might have a few years back.

* one respondent noted that increases in the prices he was paying for his San Diego trip in July had led him to cut some corners on his trip to New York this weekend.

In related news, Chris Mautner provides a short guide to attending this weekend's show.
 
posted 8:05 am PST | Permalink
 

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