We have been getting a ton of questions from people asking where they can see the stars from Twilight. A sure fire bet in the USA is the Creation Entertainment Official Twilight Tour. They just updated their 2011 schedule, so check it out and see if it arrives at a city near you!
If we had to bet money, we’d guess that there will be some Breaking Dawn actor presence at Comic Con, but that is not official yet. It’s just a guess based on past experience.
If you are from outside the USA check out the following events:
We’ve published this before (last time about a year ago) It gives you advice on the whole convention scene: what to look for, what your expectations should be, etc.
We’ve gotten a bunch of emails from people who are interested in a Twilight event and they are asking us which one they should attend. Here’s our problem, we really can’t make a recommendation because we have an obvious bias as we appear at various events (which we suppose is a bit of a recommendation in of itself in that we wouldn’t be there if we didn’t think highly of those companies, but that’s not to say that other companies don’t have their qualities.). So here’s what we are going to do. Below is a repost of some information that we have given out before, that hopefully people with cash to burn will find helpful.
Question: What type of convention should I choose?
Answer: Make a list of what you really want. In fact shoot for overkill. Now, see which convention best meets your needs and expectations, and how much it will cost to meet those needs. If all you really want is to see an actor Q&A you can probably do that for around $25 on a day pass, but if you want photos, autographs, dances…the price goes up and every group is different regarding what you get for your money. Maybe you aren’t looking for a actor heavy convention, maybe you just want an event where you can meet other fans. The point is think about your priorities and see what works for you.
Question: How can you tell if a con is going to be any good?
Answer: Well, with anything entertainment related that’s a really subjective question. Everyone has different tastes as to what they like and don’t like. Here are some quick things to look for that tend to mean a con is going to be good as far as most people are concerned:
- Experience: The people running it have done this before and/or have hired an events planning company that has done this before. If they have run it before what is their reputation? Google, twitter, webforums are your friend! Run a search on the company/event/promoter’s names. What are the results?
- Fan Input: The people running the con or acting as consultants are actually fans of the material, and really knowledgeable about it and what fans would like. They aren’t just guessing; they know because they are right in the heart of the fan experience. For example, if you saw a Twilight con featuring fangs, lots of blood, and coffins…RUN QUICKLY!
- Programming: Cons should be able to tell you what they have in mind for their event (most are three day affairs) beyond vague open socials. Granted a lot of panels and presentations will depend on who they can get to do the presentations, but they should have some idea as to the possibilities.
- Talent Appearances: Ok this is tricky. Many cons make offers of having someone famous be available for a Q&A, autograph signing, and maybe even a photo op. Other cons aren’t looking for star power. It depends on their focus. Keep in mind that a star’s appearance is always possible to be cancelled at the last minute. I mean let’s face it, if Speilberg suddenly calls and says “I need you in my movie.” you don’t say, “Sorry, I have this con I have to be at.” So the moral of the story is, don’t attend a con if the only reason you are going is to see a certain star because they may or may not be there.
- Customer Service: If you have a question, is there an obvious “contact us” or “for more information” email and/or phone number? Are you responded to promptly, clearly, and in a professional manner? Are you given the impression that as a consumer you are important to them?
Question: Why does it cost so much? How much should it cost?
Answer: That’s another loaded question! Con costs will vary on size, location, events planned. The better question to ask is “what am I getting for my money”. For example, is it one fee that covers everything (socials, panels, dances, screenings, etc.) or is there fine print that nickels and dimes you for other things? When comparing costs check out conventions in other fandoms and see what they are are getting for their fees for conventions that are similar in nature to the type you want to attend. Some good fandoms to investigate are Harry Potter, Dr. Who/Torchwood, Firefly/Serenity, Star Wars, Star Trek.
The best thing we can tell you is read the fine print so that you know exactly what you are getting for your money. What you want out of a convention may be different than what a friend or colleague wants.Make sure you are paying for what you truly want!
Question: Is there any place where we can check out reviews?
Answer: Anyone in marketing will tell you that the single largest thing that sells or sinks any product is word-of-mouth. You can have all the flashy advertising, double speak, and bells and whistles money can buy, but if your consumers aren’t happy and everyone knows it…YIKES! Frequently the best advice that you can get is from people who have attended a particular group’s events before. Sure any given person can have a bad experience at any event because things can go wrong, but try to get a variety of opinion. Is it one bad experience or 50 bad experiences? Twilight Adviser review site has reviews on many events.It’s kind of like a Rate Your Professors site. In any event it certainly, gives you an overview.
Question: Can you do one of these things on a tight budget?
Answer: You sure can! Read this post on how to do a convention on a budget $100 or less
As always, if you have a convention experience that you would like to share, please chime in below in the comments.
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