Tag: Craig Klotz

KC Fan Con 2011 set new attendance record

2011 Free State Comicon
The 2011 Free State Freecon set a new attendance record for the promoter.

According to show promoter Craig Klotz, the latest Free State Comicon had a higher total attendance of any his previous events. Around 800 fans, workers, dealers, and comics creators were at the show. “We blew the doors off of our old attendance record!” Klotz said. “Our best show before this was the 2009 Free State show, which had around 550 people. We are very pleased with the turnout!”

Klotz attributes several factors with increasing attendance at the event, including media coverage and returning the show to September date instead of May. He also cited, “Things like the re-branding of the show and re-vamp of the kcfancon.com website, and a larger social media presence. And of course the support of the Kansas and Missouri comic creator community was huge! I think we got the right mix of guests, too.”

Overall, Klotz was happy to avoid major problems during the show. “Things ran very smoothly, which was unexpected,” he said. “I always expect kinks or mini-crises, but everything fell into place both behind the scenes and during the show.”

Klotz plans to announce the details for his next event in a few weeks. “I can say that the next show will be one of our free KC Fan Con shows, and that it will be our ‘fall-back’ show on Sunday, November 6th,” he said. “As to location and special guest, you’ll have to wait for the announcement.”

Based on the turn out, the addition of a $3.00 admission fee appears to have had no negative affect on turnout. Previous Free State conventions had free admission.

More information about events from Klotz’ Kansas City Fan Conventions organization is available at www.kcfancon.com. Klotz also posts updates on events on Facebook and Twitter.

Fans flock to Free State Comicon

Craig Klotz at Free State Comicon 2011
Craig Klotz is the promoter of Free State Comicon. (Click to enlarge.)

Hundreds of comics fans attended the Free State Comicon in Lawarence, Kansas, on Saturday. Promoter Craig Klotz and his team managed an event that featured more than 30 special guests and more than 20 vendors for a day of fun.

Event highlights included the first area convention appearance of comics artist Terry Beatty since he moved to the Kansas City metro area this summer. Beatty was surprised to be greeted by a real life cosplay version of his comics character Wild Dog.

The guests included veteran comics creators such as Ande Parks (Green Arrow, Capote in Kansas) and Steve Lightle (Legion of Superheroes, Marvel Comics Presents) as well as newer creators,  webcomics cartoonists, and small press publishers..

Check out the photo gallery after the jump.

Continue reading “Fans flock to Free State Comicon”

Free State Comicon ramps up for next weekend in Lawrence

2011 Free State Comicon
The 2011 Free State Freecon is scheduled for September 10th in Lawrence, Kansas.

Over the past six years, the Free State Comicon has become an annual tradition in Lawrence, Kansas. The 2011 show is only a week away on Saturday, September 10th.

Promoter Craig Klotz is expecting a great crowd for the event. “We’re focused on maximizing the value for the attendees’ entertainment dollar,” Klotz said. “The Free State show is an old-school style of comic book convention that’ss designed to be fun for the comic book fan and the non-comic book fan alike. And for a mere $3.00 admission, you won’t find this kind of entertainment anywhere else.”

“We have a greatly expanded guest list, topped with many of the top creators from the state of Kansas, Missouri, and the KC area,” Klotz said. “Creative talent will be oozing from the walls at this show! And all of the guest creators are super-nice and very accessible.” Continue reading “Free State Comicon ramps up for next weekend in Lawrence”