Neil Kleid posted an open letter to the New York Comic-Con on his LiveJournal about the dates they chose to hold it this year, which conflict with the first few nights of Passover:
For the past two years, the New York Comic-Con took place in February. While winter in New York wasn’t the most agreeable time for con-goers, the timing was perfect in that the convention took place in a dead time – no conflicting conventions, no conflicting holidays. It was the perfect time because nothing else was happening. this year, the convention planners at Reed Exhibitions have decided to move the event to April, possibly in order to take advantage of a warmer time of year, possibly for better rates on the Javits Center – I don’t know the details. What I do know is that this year the good people at Reed Exhibitions have decided to hold the New York Comic-Con on the first few nights of Passover, a major Jewish holiday, one which Jews the world over— and definitely in the New York area (observant or not)— observe ritually and diligently with friends and families, attending nightly seders and for some, treat in the manner of our Sabbath.
Now, I’m a realist and I understand that the majority far outweighs the minority here. Holding the convention on Passover won’t really affect con attendance one way or another. The number of Jewish attendees who will choose to forgo NYCC this year won’t even make a dent in the turnout. But as a Jewish cartoonist/creator, I have to admit to being a bit annoyed that the folks at Reed didn’t even take the holiday into account. I could understand if they’d scheduled it for the following week, the second days of Passover which are less religiously observed… but the first two days of Passover, the Seder nights, are almost like… Christmas Eve. But with more guilt. And matzah.
The New York Comic-Con is scheduled for April 18-20. Passover will start at sunset on Saturday, April 19.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:26 am
They announced it last year though. I don’t know why we didn’t notice it earlier. I guess no one plans farther than 4 months ahead but NYCC.
January 31st, 2008 at 10:14 am
Just as a follow up… now that I think about it, Reed probably DID take the holiday into account and did what they had to do. I didn’t write that letter to say that they were wrong – I know how impossibly hard it is to schedule a convention. I’m just saying I wish that Passover had been more of a factor… especially if the only reason they switched the date of the con from February to April was because the weather was more agreeable. But there could be many other factors I don’t know about.
I’m just annoyed, is all. I really wish I could go to the convention.
January 31st, 2008 at 11:46 am
Maybe they changed it because the February dates last year conflicted with Feast day of Saint Polycarp of Smyrna and it kept all the Catholics away.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Hey gang, I run NYCC, instead of hogging up space here, I posted a reply on Neil’s site and my blog – http://www.mediumatlarge.net. In short, I am not pleased about NYCC being on Passover, but our hands were very tied in this situation. No disrespect was ever intended.
-Lance Fensterman