On the weekend of Sept. 29 – Oct. 1 2017, the Tampa Bay convention center hosted MegaCon Tampa Bay. MegaCon Tampa Bay is a place to celebrate all things pop culture, offering autographs from voice actors, cosplayers, artists, authors, and celebrities, including Stan Lee, as well as panels covering popular TV shows, comics, and anime. MegaCon offers a large vendor room which features popular artists, aspiring authors, and individual sellers. The vendors room also features iconic attractions such as the Pokémon twentieth anniversary VW Bug, a replica of the Batmobile from Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman film, a Ghostbusters vehicle and interactive display, and a half scale model of the Cyclone Raider ship from Battlestar Galactica. Megacon also offers workshops, seminars, photoshoots, a tattoo pavilion, and many other attractions.
Before entering, attendees are greeted by a bag and props check to ensure the safety of all on the premise. Once inside the building, friendly staff directed attendees towards the ticket purchase area where tickets could be bought or online tickets redeemed. From there the room opened out into the vendors room and signature lines which remained busy throughout the day. The crowd was well deserved due to MegaCon’s large assortment of vendors and attractions.
Along the large rooms wall by the doors leading to the rest of the building were food stands which provided affordable food for attendees. Once out of the vendors room, a large middle floor that overlooks the main floor provided resting and gathering areas where cosplayers from many genres could be seen. Continuing down the escalators to the main floor, attendees were greeted by many panel rooms. Megacon was well organized and had poster boards in front of each room listing the events hosted there throughout the day. In one large room, MegaCon hosted the Cospital, a costume repair area equipped with glue, extra material, sewing supplies, and much more. Each station had helpful volunteer who was well versed in the use of their materials. This is a perfect addition to the convetion since so many people put hard work and dedication into replicating their favorite characters look and would not want it to fall apart halfway through the day.
However, MegaCon Tampa Bay did have its flaws. Finding the entrance was somewhat confusing and convention programs were easily missed. The organization for the vendors room, especially the artists alley, was a bit lacking; which lead to quite a bit of wandering around to find specific things, especially if you did not pick up the program. MegaCon Tampa Bay’s attendance seemed a bit lacking compared to cons like MetroCon, which was held in the same venue, and MegaCon’s Orlando Counterpart which was held not long before. Though the turnout may not have been as high, MegaCon managed to be a successful and enjoyable con. This is a convention that is suitable for fans of all things pop culture and would make a comfortable first con due to its less crowded yet welcoming and friendly nature.
Maeve Campbell // Graphics Department
