Danielle Solzman
The Louisville-based FandomFest Comic and Toy Expo has made a mockery out of comic conventions.
Over 25 celebrity guests have canceled since it was announced that the convention would move from the Kentucky Exposition Center to the former Macy’s at Jefferson Mall. It was a last-minute change as the contract for the Kentucky Expo Center was not signed–which was confirmed in a tweet on July 17th.
We do not have a contract for FandomFest at our facility.
— Kentucky Expo Center (@kyexpocenter) July 17, 2017
Making matters worse is that organizers were expecting 4,000 people to attend this weekend while fire marshalls are only allowing up to 1,700 people at a time according to WAVE 3 News. It gets worse as far as floor space goes, reports Insider Louisville.
While other conventions are nice about offering refunds for pre-purchased autographs and photo opportunities, the same cannot be set of FandomFest’s cruel policy requiring an exchange for an equal or lesser value autograph or photo opportunity. This is where C2E2 gets it right with Epic Photo Ops. If you’re running a business, bait-and-switch is not what satisfies your customer base.
Writing in a Facebook post about the change of venue and massive cancellations:
If you have pre- purchased a photo op or autograph from a celebrity that has cancelled, you may exchange it for any other photo op or autograph. You just need to bring your ticket confirmation with you to the show.
From the FandomFest website:
Paul McGann will be unable to attend . Paul sends his apologies as he just agreed a twelve month contract for a BBC TV show, Holby City. He will be filming for them.
Spencer Wilding will be unable to attend due to filming. Spencer looks forward to seeing his fans in Louisville again in the future.
John Paragon will be unable to attend due to an accident.
Paul Kasey will be unable to attend – he sends his apologies but he is filming and looks forward to coming back to see his fans.
Xander Berkeley has cancelled due to personal reasons.
Chris Sullivan will be unable to attend due to filming.
Lisa Ryder will be unable to attend due to filming.
Michael Eklund will be unable to attend due to filming.
“Weird Al” Yankovic will be unable to attend the show due to personal reasons. He sends his apologies.
Charlie Adler will be unable to attend due to personal reasons.
Margaret Kerry will be unable to attend due to personal reasons.
Paige O’Hara will be unable to attend due to personal reasons.
Robby Benson will be unable to attend due to personal reasons.
Richard White will be unable to attend due to personal reasons.
Jesse Corti will be unable to attend due to personal reasons.
Bradley Pierce will be unable to attend due to personal reasons.
Nik Ranieri will be unable to attend due to personal reasons.
Burt Ward will unfortunately be unable to attend.
C. Andrew Nelson will be unable to attend due to a scheduling issue
Briana Venskus has cancelled Briana’s Statement “Everyone at @fandomfest, Unfortunately my shooting schedule changed & I have to be on location through the weekend. Sorry! Have a Blast”
Peter Shinkoda has cancelled his appearance Peter Writes “I will not be attending @fandomfest this weekend due 2 unforseen circumstances. I apologize to any fans who may have been attending 2 c me.”
Tori Spelling & Dean McDermott have cancelled due to personal reasons
Ian Ziering has cancelled due to personal reasons
The personal reasons, of course, being that they changed the location, and according to some guests, they didn’t have confirmed travel or hotel accommodations. Again, not the best way to run a convention.
I didn’t exactly cancel. They did not ever confirm travel and/or accommodations with two deadlines accepted to do so. It was all on them . https://t.co/UOZh42ABSc
— Charlie Adler (@charlie_adler) July 25, 2017
Check Insider Louisville for more.
