Reed Exhibitions, organizers for the New York City Comic Con decided to move the dates of this year’s convention to the middle of April. For the past two years, the convention was held in the month of February. When I first heard of the date switch, I assumed that they wanted to muscle out the Pittsburgh Comicon which holds its event during the same time frame.
Now I’m not too sure.
As it turns out, the 2008 New York City Comic Con takes place April 18 – 20, the very same weekend as Passover.
Why would Reed Exhibitions change the date to correspond with one of the most important holidays for Jewish people? Do they not want them to attend?
I searched the New York Comic Con website for an explanation as to why they changed the event to take place during Passover. I couldn’t find it. That’s not to say it’s not there. I just couldn’t find it. I did find something that was supposedly written by someone representing Reed Exhibitions by searching Google. It’s a comment on a LiveJournal post about this controversy:
Needless to say, I’m none too happy about the Passover situation either, so let’s get that out of the way right off the bat – we are really sorry about this and certainly intended no disrespect towards anyone. The unfortunate reality is that these were the dates we were given at the Javits Center. Javits is unlike most places in that the demand for the space far outstrips the availability, so customers, such as NYCC, are left with little to no choice as to what dates we are given. To that point, I’ll announce here first that the show will be moving back to February next year – because we want to be in February? Not really. Quite simply, these are the only dates we can get next year.
So it’s not Reed Exhibitions’ fault. It’s the Javits Center’s fault.
It’s more then possible that this has nothing to do with antisemitism, but just plain old fashioned incompetence. This is the same group that massively over-sold tickets to the inaugural event in 2006. Not only were there reports of people having to wait in line for hours to get into the event — including some comic book professionals — there were reports that many who purchased their tickets months ahead of time and traveled to New York were not allowed in and were turned away. I remember listening to Greg Topalianone, one of the event’s organizers speaking on a podcast. Not only did he blame the Javits Center for not giving them more floor space, he blamed people that purchased 3-day passes for actually attending all three days.
They had no idea people would do that.
I doubt they are antisemitic. I think they are just incompetent enough to schedule an event in New York City during Passover.
Ryan O'Hara
/ March 5, 2008If I was Reed Exhibitions next year I would have the convention on Christmas.
Mark Engblom
/ March 5, 2008I think it has more to do with the religious apathy or ignorance of the organizers than any outright bias or animosity toward Jews. I mean come on….it’s not like the comics/sci-fi/fantasy scene is overflowing with religiously devout/observant people. In other words, my guess is that the dates of various religious holidays are far off the radar of alot of these folks.
I’m sure Passover’s always-varying dates also played a part in the organizers’ confusion.
RonAndrewSchooly
/ March 5, 2008Won’t the date change only affect hardcore religious types? How many religious zealots would really attend this year’s NY ComicCon if it WEREN’T on Passover?
Mark Engblom
/ March 5, 2008Ron….in his unique Ron way….illustrates my point perfectly.
sloofus
/ March 5, 2008I bet Jesus is going to be pissed.
Ryan O'Hara
/ March 6, 2008Atheists should start a holiday. Then we can get all pissed off when the majority (Christians) inevitably hold a comic con/movie festival/bake sale on our holiday.
Rick
/ March 6, 2008I don’t think its even about religion. Passover is a time when Jewish people get together with their families. Jewish people that aren’t even very religious still get together for the sader. Its more about family tradition then religion.
Its not like this is the first screw up by Reed Exhibitions. They have a track record of making monumental mistakes and then blaming others.
RocketeerZ
/ March 6, 2008I went to the first NYCC and was one of the lucky ones who bought tickets three months in advance and yet still had a nightmare getting in. I took my whole family (in fact my two youngest boys dressed up for the con, they were so excited) and in the end it really was not close to worth it. I haven’t been back, but the stories I’ve heard pretty much prove to me that the people who run these cons (as with many issues I’ve had with the Wizard Cons in the past… even the years I attended as a professional) have no clue to what they are doing. Like you said, they were surprised (and even annoyed) that people who bought 3-day tickets actually tried to ATTEND all three days. Who woulda thunk it? Huh?
Nothing gets me more angry than stupidity. They people running these cons have that in abundance. Despite the fact I Live in New York, I’m not sure I’ll be attending another NYCC anytime soon.
RonAndrewSchooly
/ March 6, 2008I think my point, boiled down, is why should the people putting the convention together give a shit about anyone’s religious holidays?
You either will go, if you can, or won’t (if your religion is more important to you than this.)
I don’t think they screwed up at all. If they had to be mindful of all religious holidays, they’d never be able to have it.
RonAndrewSchooly
/ March 6, 2008Also, just great. My POV and Mark’s coincide. Swell. I guess I can still reconsider…
Rick
/ March 6, 2008Schooly wrote:
Jewish holidays are kind of a big thing in NYC. The kids get them off from school even. Another important point is that there are more then a few comic book professionals that are Jewish. Attending the con becomes a major pain for them. Do they attend their family’s sader or do they go sign autographs for stinky fanboys?
I think you are putting too much emphasis on the religious aspect. It would be like scheduling an even to take place Thanksgiving Day.
RonAndrewSchooly
/ March 6, 2008“It would be like scheduling an even to take place Thanksgiving Day.”
Yeah, but the point is that what we’re talking about IS a religious holiday. Not everyone celebrates it. All American citizens should celebrate Thanksgiving.
Even if the organizers were to change it to Christmas, I would still feel the same way. You could choose to go or not go based on your personal preferences.
Rick
/ March 6, 2008Why should all American citizens celebrate Thanksgiving? Because you like to celebrate it? It’s getting together with your family and having a feast. So is Passover. And you can be Jewish and not religious.
There’s two reasons why the organizers of the New York City Comic Con would schedule the event during Passover. Either they are extremely antisemitic and wanted a subtle way of keeping Jewish people from coming OR they are just extremely incompetent and have no business organizing a major comic book convention. My vote goes with choice #2.
Ryan O'Hara
/ March 7, 2008Thanksgiving is an annual slap-to-the-face for Native Americans.
RonAndrewSchooly
/ March 7, 2008“Why should all American citizens celebrate Thanksgiving? Because you like to celebrate it?”
No, because Thanksgiving is a civic holiday, not a religious one. It’s a day that the nation can all celebrate. Even Native Indians, at it’s core. Granted, the European treatment of them afterwards was pretty bad, but that’s beside the point here.
Thinking that the organizers of the ComicCon are anti-semitic is a bit much. I wouldn’t think they were anti-christian if they had it over Easter or something.
Seriously, how many people really care what the fuck weekend it’s on? It’s just a comic book show.
Although I would suspect attendance would be less if it were held on the day William Shatner was born… or Jack Kirby (Sloofus, I’m looking in your direction…)
Rick
/ March 7, 2008Schooly, you don’t think Thanksgiving is a religious holiday? It’s all about giving thanks to God. Thanksgiving and Passover aren’t all that much different from each other as you might want to think.
I don’t think the organizers are antisemitic. I think they are just extremely stupid. I think most organizations would go out of their way not to even give off a whiff that they are antisemitic. I don’t think it was a coincidence that the Javits Center was free that particular weekend.
RonAndrewSchooly
/ March 7, 2008Maybe when it started it was all about giving thanks to God, but now it’s taken on a wholly secular meaning. Everything those prigs did was related to God in some way, in their minds. Now that we have science, we’re not nearly as… well, y’all can fill in the rest of that to your own likings.
Rick
/ March 8, 2008Schooly, the very same thing can be said about Passover. Just because it’s based on a religious event doesn’t mean you have to be religious to participate. For most Jewish people, its a family tradition to get together for the sader.
Ryan O'Hara
/ March 8, 2008“It is a sham, but it’s a sham with yams. It’s a yam sham.” – Buffy (the Vampire Slayer)
RonAndrewSchooly
/ March 9, 2008Dude. A Buffy quote?
Ryan O'Hara
/ March 10, 2008Is there a better way to sum up Thanksgiving than “a sham with yams”?