Studer Community Institute

Pensacon's second year a big success

March 1, 2015
/ Ben Sheffler
/ community-dashboard

Great fans. Great guests. Great experience. Just needs a bigger venue. That was the recurring sentiment of those who attended the jam-packed Pensacon on Saturday. Pensacon sold-out of its 10,000 Saturday passes around 3:30 p.m., a feat not achieved in 2014 on Saturday, according to Manda Manning, director of marketing and communications at Pensacon. "It's about double the attendance," she says. For much of the day, there was a significant wait to enter the vendor area, up to 90 minutes sometimes. "It's definitely a balance because we want to make sure that people are comfortable on the vendor floor, but we still want to allow as many as possible on the vendor floor at the same time," Manning says. Dave Dorman, voted by fans as the number one "Star Wars" artist ever, is one who thinks the convention needs more space due to its high attendance. "Those are hurdles that a growing show has to jump to be able to continue to grow and to have a good experience for the fans," he says. Dorman pointed out a change from last year, the addition of the Artist Alley on the third floor of the arena, as a good move. "I think it's just growing pains of a brand new show," he says. "I certainly enjoy it and love the fans down here, and I'll certainly come back." Michael Daw, a local guest artist who graduates from Pensacola State College this May, sees the large crowd as a positive thing for Pensacon. "Look at all the people sitting there waiting just to go buy stuff at the vendor floor," he says. "They've got great guests this year; they've definitely stepped it up." Clint Hagler, a guest artist from Biloxi, Miss., who was at Pensacon last year, agrees with Daw that the ante has been upped this time around. "All year long I've been looking forward to coming here," he says. "Everyone that comes here is just so excited to be here." Sonny Warner, part of the Pensacola Costumers Guild, who dressed as Gandalf from "The Lord of The Rings," says he was having a ball. "The kids love it...I enjoy the bejesus out of that," he says. Having attended a few other conventions, Warner was another who said that because of the set up, Pensacon needs a different venue. "That's the only downside I can see," he says. Others, though, are fine with the Pensacola Bay Center and Crowne Plaza Grand Hotel as venues, and the addition of the Saenger Theater this year. "I like how they spread it out," says Jonathan Sisk, who attended Pensacon last year and is a Pensacola resident. "I think they did that really well." The day was full of celebrity panels, table-top and video games, meet-and-greets with the guests and other activities, including sci-fi speed dating, the “StareMaster” rematch and the costume party. Sisk says the "Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers" panel was really good. "They interacted with the audience...and you can ask them anything," he says. "They kept it fun. Even the announcer was very interactive." Shep Seabrook, who's also a Pensacola resident attending his second Pensacon, took part in the sci-fi speed dating. With 33 men and as many women in the small room, it was probably hard to focus and establish any chemistry. "(It was) very noisy," Seabrook says. "Kind of disappointed we didn’t get around to everybody, but it was fun." The StareMaster Rematch of the Decade took place at 7 p.m. at the Saenger. Writer/Director Kevin Smith of “Clerks,” “Dogma,” and “Chasing Amy,” fame, will be producing the documentary “The Staremaster” with local company Kinematic Entertainment, partners in Pensacon. [caption id="attachment_18861" align="alignright" width="300"]

"Staremaster: The Rematch" as staged at Pensacon on Feb. 28. Ben Sheffler/PensacolaToday[/caption] Ten years in the making, Will Lemon got his revenge against Staremaster Dave Wiggin in front of a crowd of about 75, beating him in about five minutes. The first time they met, they lasted more than 20 minutes. And the night was just beginning for the hundreds of people lined up and down the closed-to-traffic part of Palafox Street, waiting for the Saenger's doors to open for the Pensacon Costume Contest. "If I don’t get a spot in the Saenger I'm going to be really sad," Sisk says.

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Pensacon's second year a big success

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