Pop culture festival Oz Comic-Con to grow in partnership with ReedPOP
Fensterman and Ratinac
The Australian producer of pop culture expo Oz Comic-Con has partnered with the producer of the Comic Con conference in New York and self-proclaimed largest producer of pop culture events in the world, ReedPOP in a bid to give the events more international exposure as it visits five cities this year.
In addition to the New York Comic-Con, ReedPOP produces the Star Wars Celebration and Penny Arcade Expo PAX Australia, while Oz Comic-Con, produced by DCA Enterprises in Australia, has celebrated the cultural phenomena of comics, TV, film, manga, gaming and toys at annual events in Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide since its inception in 2012.
This year the five events will be staggered throughout the year with the first to be held in Perth on the last weekend of March, and the second in Adelaide on April 5, while Brisbane and Sydney have been added to the roster.
Lance Fensterman, vice president of ReedPOP, will represent the company at the festivals at the first two events. He said the partnership, which was over a year in the making, was a natural fit.
“We’ve taken two groups that do something really well to build really great experiences for fans, that’s the ultimate goal,” he said.
Part of their focus will be on fostering the local industry by supporting independent producers, as it tries to promote independent game developers at PAX, he said.
“We think that’s really a cool element that we can bring to the Oz Comic-Con business,” Fensterman said.
“It’s about building up the Australian industry whether its in gaming, comics or art. It’s about giving back and highlighting the local as much as the cool international brands of international celebrities. That’s important to us and it’s been important to Oz Comic-Con, so again we feel like we can add some new energy and resources to help that vision even more.”
Rand Ratinac, director of DCA Enterprises, said: “The key word that we’re going for is ‘more’. More guests, more experience, more things for people to do and see, so it’s something you’ll want to be at all weekend. We’re hoping to bring in the exhibitors, products and things the fans are dying for that you can’t get in Australia and by going to all five cities we’re hoping to reach the people who don’t consider themselves fans but just have an interest.
“If you’re an average mum and dad but have kids that love The Big Bang Theory, we’re going to be there once a year in your city so you can go and see what’s happening and explore your childhood again or have a great time with your family.”
Oz Comic-Con had around 90,000 visitors last year and is hoping to bring in around 130,000 across its five events in 2014. No sponsors for the event have been secured as yet, although Ratinac said they have been in discussions with a range of brands that can add to the fan experience.
The conference is also running a competition for Australian fans to win a trip to visit the New York Comic-Con.
Hmm.
http://www.kotaku.com.au/2012/.....comic-con/
User ID not verified.
From what I’ve heard, Gregory, things have dramatically improved for Oz Comic Con since the 2012 debacle. The events held in 2013 were free of any drama.
User ID not verified.