does anyone know if the Fest will be on the west coast in 2007? (She asked, hopefully...)
There's been no word of a future West Coast Fest. Actually, no announcement has been made yet about the next Fest.
has anyone heard anything at all (rumor or fact) concerning a DS fest/weekend in 2007?
Me thinks it's either one of two things: there will not be any more fests until the series is picked up again. The 40th anniversary gathering was dismal in terms of numbers. Very dismal. The fest had to have lost money on that deal. The other possibility is that there is something in the works and there is waiting to see what firms up. But it would not surprise if that failed there are not more fests until the series is back on TV.
Finally, what can we fans do to help ensure the continuity of the weekend gatherings?
Me thinks it's either one of two things: there will not be any more fests until the series is picked up again. The 40th anniversary gathering was dismal in terms of numbers. Very dismal. The fest had to have lost money on that deal. The other possibility is that there is something in the works and there is waiting to see what firms up. But it would not surprise if that failed there are not more fests until the series is back on TV.
The 40th anniversary gathering was dismal in terms of numbers. Very dismal. The fest had to have lost money on that deal.
It's nice to see you, jimbo, and Happy New Year to you, too!The 40th anniversary gathering was dismal in terms of numbers. Very dismal. The fest had to have lost money on that deal.
Weren't there more guests than fans? Oops, just kidding, but I was surprised that an anniversary/NYC Fest attracted only 1200 attendees, especially considering the size of the guest list, which even included some first-timers (Donna McKechnie, Betsy Durkin). Wasn't there something like 17 actors/VIPs on the guest list? Most of them were selling items, and the charity did very well thanks to the auctions (in particular, the Barnabas portrait), but I do wonder how well the Festival did once all its debts were paid.
I wonder if many of the fans who chose not to go were holding out for a bigger guest star, such as Frid or Moltke.
My theory on all of this is that JP and company wanted to have a crowd that they could control and create the appearance of order (half joking).They intentionally picked a small venue and provided zero media promotion for the milestone event.
My theory on all of this is that JP and company wanted to have a crowd that they could control and create the appearance of order (half joking).They intentionally picked a small venue and provided zero media promotion for the milestone event.
Let's keep in mind that New York City is probably the most expensive city in America to hold an event like this. I would be very surprised if the choice of venue wasn't influenced by that fact. Brooklyn hotels are certainly (slightly) less expensive than those in Manhattan. The same thing with media promotion.....could there BE a more expensive media market than NYC?
i don't think that media promotion is that important for this event because it is so hyper-specific and not reliant on much "casual attendance".
even if it had been heavily promoted it's not like the average new yorker is going to look at their weekend and say "on sunday let's get up,go for brunch,hit the farmer's market and then check out the dark shadows fan convention".
i doubt any of us became aquainted with this event through mainstream media outlets.we are an extremely devoted(dare i say obsessive)fan base who keeps abreast of show related activities via online forums like this one,printed newsletters like the "shadowgram",announcements from mpi,big finish and so on.
so i doubt lack of media promotion effected attendance either way.
i doubt any of us became aquainted with this event through mainstream media outlets.we are an extremely devoted(dare i say obsessive)fan base who keeps abreast of show related activities via online forums like this one,printed newsletters like the "shadowgram",announcements from mpi,big finish and so on.
My theory on all of this is that JP and company wanted to have a crowd that they could control and create the appearance of order (half joking).
(the auditorium was filled to capacity for the main events).
Only the people who work for the DS Festival know if the 40th Festival was a disappointment from a financial perspective.
so i doubt lack of media promotion effected attendance either way.
Quote(the auditorium was filled to capacity for the main events).
I don't think so. According to the capacity chart for the NYM at the BB on Marriott's website, its Grand Ballroom holds 1800 chairs, with a total capacity of 2010, and 1545 for banquet seating. Yet, 1200 fans attended over the 3-day weekend.
Oh Midnite you are good. lol You have to stop counting chairs on a Saturday. lol My observation was that all the seats that were in the room were filled during one of the main events.
Maybe that is why I failed my math regents. That was good research you did. You got me. lol
As I indicated in my last post I believe that any promotion would have drawn more people. Just my opinion.
LOL, thanks, but I wasn't counting, I swear! The numbers are on a chart that comes up in a Google search. And I remembered there being a lot of empty space in the back of the room. But I hear you, and of course your opinion is always welcome!
Oh yes you were counting one chair at a time lol. Anything to win an argument. What have we become?
Boy, I may have taken a look at your paper when I was taking those regents in high school. I might have passed. lol
i don't think that media promotion is that important for this event because it is so hyper-specific and not reliant on much "casual attendance".
even if it had been heavily promoted it's not like the average new yorker is going to look at their weekend and say "on sunday let's get up,go for brunch,hit the farmer's market and then check out the dark shadows fan convention".
I respectfully disagree with your position. If there had been an article in the N.Y. Daily News and the New York Post informing its readers about this historic event, I can almost assure you that there would have been more people attending the event. I personally have been told by individuals that if they had known about the 40th Anniversary Festival, they would have gone to see it. I am sure there are more people who would have attended the Fest had they known about it.
The Dark Shadows universe cannot be limited to us-no lack of respect intended.
I have always indicated here that it is my belief that the Dark Shadows franchise has not been marketed to the degree that it should be. The concept of Dark Shadows needs to be extended far past this fan base if there ever will be a new DS series and the return of the classic series to television.
It needs new blood and new fans. What is the harm in spending some money on marketing the last Festival?
Certainly the owners have made millions of dollars to the x factor (and rightfully so). In this case, they opted to be content with a small crowd so that it would be more controllable; small crowd=small headaches and more organization. I would have chosen a larger venue and marketed the event. Yes it would have been much more expensive for the organizers but it was an incredible milestone-once in a lifetime event. It deserved to be on the big stage. Just my opinion.
But then, the fests that they've had in small places--Tarrytown comes to mind-- probably didn't have as good as a turn out because they may have not been enough places to stay for 1000s of people.The problem with some of the smaller venues is that airfare and ground transportation get much more expensive.
The 40th anniversary gathering was dismal in terms of numbers. Very dismal.
Hi Nancy. I am a bit surprised that you feel that the last Fest was not well attended.
i've only been to three fest(2003/06 brooklyn and 04 tarrytown)so i don't have alot to compare it to but i thought it seemed like a well attended event
But then, the fests that they've had in small places--Tarrytown comes to mind-- probably didn't have as good as a turn out because they may have not been enough places to stay for 1000s of people.The problem with some of the smaller venues is that airfare and ground transportation get much more expensive.
The 40th anniversary had something like 1200 people and that's been one of the lowest turnouts since the series went off SciFi.
It's amazing to me that the fests have continued given these realities in whatever capacity. I was shocked at how low the attendance at the 40th I guess only because I had expected more to come to celebrate that landmark but in hindsight it was silly of me to have expected it given the things I pointed out above.
As there has not been any announcement about an upcoming fest, it is fair to assume that either something else is in the works or there is a struggle behind the scenes to figure out what to do so there isn't any going into a hole financially. The festivals are a part of the publicity arm of DCP and if there is nothing to publicize, it doesn;t make much sense to have them at all. However, I think some smaller scale event could happen. We'll see.
All my opinion of course.
It would be too bad if there was not an event this year on the east coast.It would be too bad if there was not an event this year on the West Coast [santa_wink] considering that the latest Festival was in the East. The one-weeknight-only Halloween party hardly measures up.
there is the notion that anyone who enjoyed DS would be getting ShadowGram, participate on the lists and boards and that's simply not true. Look at the membership on this board and note how many people actually participate. The same is true with yahoo DS lists. You can have hundreds of members but just the same group of twenty or so people who reguarly participate.
There is an interest but not that kind of interest where it comes to be active in fandom as a regular convention-goer.
Oh yes you were counting one chair at a time lol. Anything to win an argument. What have we become?
LOL! After working alongside MB for years, I'd probably create an algorithm to analyze the capacity of the ballroom before I'd count the chairs. [cheesyb]
i doubt any of us became aquainted with this event through mainstream media outlets.we are an extremely devoted(dare i say obsessive)fan base who keeps abreast of show related activities via online forums like this one,printed newsletters like the "shadowgram",announcements from mpi,big finish and so on.
That's very true. The first I ever heard of the Fests was from reading a blurb in USA Today - but that was back in 1986, when the Fests were only 3 years old, and before I became reimmersed in fandom. These days media attention might alert a few more potential attendees to the Fests' existence, but, as you say, the majority of attendees, especially those who are active in online fandom, are well aware of them because they read SG, the fanzines, and/or the various online Web sites, lists and boards.
As it was, too, and is always the case, fans who didn't book their rooms far enough in advance had to spill over to the other hotels provided for that.
The same people have been running this festival for decades...it might have been (and still is) a good idea to pass the baton, as it were, to others who would be willing to take over all the planning, etc.
My feeling? The same people have been running this festival for decades. Maybe they've just had enough, which is perfectly understandable from a human point of view. However, as the years were passing, it might have been (and still is) a good idea to pass the baton, as it were, to others who would be willing to take over all the planning, etc. It's NOT a fun job, but I believe there are enough devoted fans who would gladly do it.
Make sure you get the hotel the fest is AT, because I heard the overflow hotel was really awful. We spoke with a cute older couple while standing in line one evening who said that they were at the overflow hotel, which was in lower Manhattan (in a bad part of town) and that they were afraid to go out after dark, so they had to leave before it got dark and get back to their hotel.
Bee-- Your new avatar wants out. I hope there are air holes in that picture box.ROTFL! I just saw this. Fear not - the little cyber kitty is safe. He just wants to see Dark Shadows gracing the tube once more. (This is actually an animation I found on a free avatar page but it posted as a still shot).
This is actually an animation I found on a free avatar page but it posted as a still shot
Just PM me with the URL for the site/page you found it on.
Bee-- Your new avatar wants out. I hope there are air holes in that picture box.ROTFL! I just saw this. Fear not - the little cyber kitty is safe. He just wants to see Dark Shadows gracing the tube once more. (This is actually an animation I found on a free avatar page but it posted as a still shot).
If this has already been posted by someone elsewhere, sorry, didn't see it.
Well, I got the word from Jim Pierson himself via e-mail that he hopes to make an announcement soon. So I guess we have to be patient........
Well the prince of darkness says there will be a fest in 07. It will be on the west coast!! since the 40th was in ny. Happy New Yr!!
Well the prince of darkness says there will be a fest in 07. It will be on the west coast!! since the 40th was in ny. Happy New Yr!!
The Prince Of Darkness
Is this really true? Or just a wish? If true--west coast?--YIPEE!
This system might not allow members to upload certain animated images. But if you'd like to use the animation, we can probably arrange that. Just PM me with the URL for the site/page you found it on. :)
Sorry it took so long to get back to this. I'll spare you the details but, a couple of days after my last post, I fell on my deck (slick from 40 days and nights of rain) sprained my wrist, bruised my knee, wrenched my back and for my grand finale - broke my nose. Klutz-o-rama Fest 2007.
I got the cat avatar at this URL (URL)
Sorry it took so long to get back to this. I'll spare you the details but, a couple of days after my last post, I fell on my deck (slick from 40 days and nights of rain) sprained my wrist, bruised my knee, wrenched my back and for my grand finale - broke my nose. Klutz-o-rama Fest 2007.
Sorry it took so long to get back to this. I'll spare you the details but, a couple of days after my last post, I fell on my deck (slick from 40 days and nights of rain) sprained my wrist, bruised my knee, wrenched my back and for my grand finale - broke my nose. Klutz-o-rama Fest 2007
Sorry it took so long to get back to this. I'll spare you the details but, a couple of days after my last post, I fell on my deck (slick from 40 days and nights of rain) sprained my wrist, bruised my knee, wrenched my back and for my grand finale - broke my nose. Klutz-o-rama Fest 2007.
Yes I am guessing.... but i asked my master and he told me i was right!!! lolll