What’s Happening Magazine and GayDayS recently announced that they would be hosting the first ever Gay and Lesbian Comics & Collectibles show, right here in Orlando.
A representative of the show was able to answer a few of our questions:
Atomik: What is the cost to enter the event?
Peter Augus: There will be no admission fee for attendees to insure maximum traffic into the sales rooms. The two ballrooms are located in direct traffic flow where everyone attending the events will have to pass through the convention area.
Atomik: Can we expect to see the event making a return?
Peter Augus: This year our magazine has teamed up with the promoters of GayDayS to present Mari-CON 2010 and we hope to make it a yearly event.
Atomik: Where will the event be taking place?
Peter Augus: It will be held at the same host hotel as the GayDayS events in the ballroom across from the main pavilion. The admission for all guests will be FREE to assure constant flow of costumers for our vendors for both days. Our booths are 10×10, pipe & draped booths that will come have skirted tables and chairs.
Atomik: How much is it for a booth, per day?
Peter Augus: We are asking a nominal $100 per day for each booth (corner booths are $50 extra). Any vendors requiring more than one booth will get a discount for the additional ones. Set up for the convention will start on Thurs. the 3rd and the convention will be on FRIDAY, June 4th and SATURDAY, June 5th.
It’s very exciting for such an event to take place right in our backyard and even better that, being completely free, you have nothing to lose by attending.
For those of you not able to make it, Atomik has plans to attend the event and take enough pictures to make you think you were there. Stay tuned!
Full press release below:
What’s Happening Magazaine and GayDayS will present “The 1st Annual Mari-Con Comics & Collectibles Show” at the GayDayS host hotel (Doubletree Resort – Orlando on International Drive).
This FREE to the public event is the first of its kind to be held during GayDayS specifically catering to GLBT community but welcoming everyone who has a love of comics and collectibles. This year marks the 20th Anniversary of GayDayS and its theme HEROES was the perfect inspiration for us to finally realize one of our lifetime dreams of of organizing a comic book convention. THere will be music and videos playing throughout the show as well as live entertainment and REAL superheroes milling about for photo-ops with their fans.
The show will feature comic dealers from around the country, aritsts and writers as well as toy vendors, Sci-Fi, Horror, Anime & Gaming. There will bea special appearance by “Parthenon” Stan Lee’s Who Wants to be a Superhero, plus many more surprises and guests. There will be a suggested donation at the door of $5 to be donated to the Ave Project.
The Avenue Project Mission: To seek out the most progressive HIG/AIDS research available and share it with the public. We want to provide, en masse, the opportunity to follow the progress and participate in the process of ending this golbal pandemic in the next decade by empowering our cmomunitiies to bring their dynamic contributions to this battle.



