Comicpalooza, Houston’s premiere comic convention took place this year from May 25th to May 27th. Many artists, celebrities, groups, organizations, and people showing off their crafts of different trades were there for a weekend of pop culture awesomeness. It is an event where one could go to do many things like buy art, meet celebrities, check out new people on the rise in pop culture, and enjoy nostalgia. It is also an event where an artist could show off their work to the masses with aspirations of being successful. No matter where you are as an artist, creator, writer, or any craft one does, this event like other conventions is where one would think some level of respect would be present. After this weekend I found that to not be the case.
In what I thought was going to be a good weekend
turned out to be something where I was disrespected by management, harassed by
security over my diabetic supplies, and what could be considered physically
assaulted by members of Comicpalooza management. During and not long after the
convention ended I found out I was not the only one who endured such issues.
Before I continue I do want to point out that my experiences did happen on
Saturday and Sunday morning. I also want to mention that the experience that
happened to another exhibitor was something which almost put that exhibitor in
a dangerous situation and was easily preventable. As I explain their experience
you will easily read that the actions of the security personnel were ignorant,
inconsiderate, and can be considered discriminatory.
Friday
Loading in was easy and I was somewhat impressed by
the front of the convention placement we had. Yet with this placement I noticed
I was placed at the border of the artist alley mixed in with numerous booths
showcasing crafts. The other aisles in artist alley where prominent with
artists showing their work. I am still weighing in on if this helped or hurt us
in regards to exposure to the patrons. What also did not help was the T-Mobile
van placed in a large spot three booths away blaring music to the point of
making speaking to people difficult. Then there were the associates working the
T-Mobile van, they felt it was okay to walk to booths including mine and drag
patrons away. On the good side I managed to get an awesome mug from the vendor
Pecos Petes, and they had numerous spots around the convention with diabetic
friendly drinks.
Saturday
This is where everything went to crap. I arrived to
the convention and entered through the loading doors. We were met with security
and a bag check. Upon checking my bag and noticing my insulin pen needles I was
told I could not bring those in. I informed the security that I was diabetic
and showed my medical bracelet. The guard continued to say I could not bring my
needles in. after an exchange of words I was told I could bring in two needles.
My diabetes is diagnosed as brittle type 1. This means my diabetes is harder to
control and I have a bag with my supplies ready to go. As the exchange
continued I then asked them if they want to be responsible if I end up passed
out because I do not have enough needles to take my insulin. Then I had to add,
“What if I end up in the hospital or die because I can’t take my insulin?” They
backed off but said that the other guards will not let me keep my bag.
I immediately went to the information booth and spoke
to someone about what happened. Unfortunately I do not remember the lady’s name
who assisted me, but she apologized for what happened and walked back inside
the venue with me. I want to note that the lady who assisted me was very
helpful and did all she could that day. I’m sorry I cannot remember her name. If
this was any indication, I should have took it as a warning of how the day was
going to go.
I was not the only diabetic who experienced problems with
the security at Comicpalooza. Another exhibitor who is also a type 1 diabetic
sent me an account of their experience.
On Saturday, I could feel my blood sugar
slowly starting to drop. Unfortunately, the lines for inside the convention
center food were massively long. The wait was about an hour and in some,
more. My friend suggested to me to get a food truck meal outside, as
those lines were shorter. The food trucks were parked right in front of
the convention center, and in front of the bag check line. One could
easily assume they were ok'd by the convention as con food. So I got a
carb-full meal and went in the Hall B entrance bag check security line. I
was unaware that I could enter through E and go through their much more
considerate security (when I told them I was a vender with my badge, they kept
telling me to go to Hall B security).
When it was my turn to be the checked, I
showed a woman in a blue uniform my insulin, diabetic supplies, and medical
wrist band. I informed her that I was a Type 1 Diabetic and need to return to
my booth. She looked confused and was about to page another security
officer to help me, when a security woman in a white uniform interrupted us and
started yelling "no food!" I started to explain to her what I
told the blue uniform security. The woman in white would not
listen. I started to panic and said I really needed to go back to my
booth and my blood sugar is dropping. She responded "it's your fault
you left your booth for food!" I then tried to explain to her how
long the lines inside were, and that I could not wait that long for food
(otherwise I would go into a diabetic shock), but she continued to cut off my
explanation, and continued to say it was my fault I left it. My anxiety
peaked and I started having a panic attack, in fear of not being able to get
back to my booth as my blood sugar was dropping.
The security woman in white noticed my
panic attack and said "you are being over dramatic! You could have
finished your food instead of argue with me!" Another security woman next
to her, agreed and said the same thing. They would not let me through the
line. They then pulled me aside to a table and made me eat my food
there. I tried to eat it as fast as I could, but eating rice while having
a panic attack is kind of hard. Another security woman in blue, came over
to me and tried to comfort me by saying I don't have to eat so fast. I
explained to her what happened, and she seemed shocked and was very
sorry. Soon after, a security man in blue came over to me and said he can
escort me inside, with my food. He was very kind, and I hugged him and
thanked him for helping me. I wanted to show him the people who were rude
to me, but the women in white that were yelling at me earlier, were no longer
there. He escorted me all the way to my booth to make sure I was ok (I
can't thank him enough). It took me a good hour to calm down from my
panic attack and to get my blood sugar back up to a stable level.
Once I regained composure, I found a
police officer and explained to him what happened with security. He even
told me that the security in white uniforms have been giving them
problems! He apologized that I had to experience that, and contacted head
of security for me. About 30min later, head of security came to my booth
to talk to me about what happened. He strongly apologized for the fiasco,
and told me I could personally ask for his name if I ever had anymore
issues. He told me as well, that the security in white were giving his
team and attendees a lot of problems, and that they were not listening to
instructions: Food was allowed in, they were just not to let 20 bags of chips
in and things like that. I'm not sure why, but people working at the Hall
B entrance did not get that memo. I did not have this same run-in on
Sunday, as we entered in through the back of the GRB and they were much more
understanding.
This should have not happened to this exhibitor. What
security did is ignorant, disgraceful, and completely unacceptable. I have
emailed Comicpalooza staff inquiring on what company supplied the security. As
expected the email has not been replied to. I also had problems with my sugar
levels dropping. I was fortunate enough to have someone assist me in these
situations, but the lines for any food options inside the convention center
were too long. This left the options of the food trucks or having something on
hand to help bring the sugar level back up. The problem with having it on hand
was security not allowing food in. one key thing a doctor will tell a type 1
diabetic is to always have with you something that has a significant sugar
along with your insulin supplies. These things could be orange juice, candy,
sugar tablets, or any source of sugar. If security was not allowing any of that
in then how is one supposed to keep their levels normal in emergencies?
As the day ended for the convention
at 7pm I was already feeling worn down from the constant sugar drops. Even
though I felt worn down I wanted to stay for the charity art auction and live
draw. Ever since my first Comicpalooza I made it a priority to contribute to
the auction with at least two pieces. I sat in the back and proceeded to draw
my three pieces I wanted to submit. Unknown to me there was a wedding proposal
about to happen and numerous individuals to my left were standing for a group
photo. One of these individuals was a Comicpalooza executive Mark Schmidt. I
remember his first name from when I spoke to him at Comicpalooza 2016. As I’m
drawing I feel a step on my foot, and a few pushes on my left side. Right after
the step I then feel someone standing completely on my foot. I look over and
Mark is up against me along with the two people on either side of him. So here
I am with him on my foot while all three are pushing backward to the point of
nearly knocking me out of my chair. Three times I tried to get their attention
to what they were doing, but it apparently fell on deaf ears or did not care.
After that I looked over to another
artist and told her if this asshole does not get off my foot I am going to
throw them through the window. Finally from what I can count as almost a minute
they finally move away and him off my foot. I should add that I was wearing
flip flops so he was on my bare foot. Sitting in some pain I heard something
from someone, but I waved whoever it was away because I was rightfully pissed
off. There was a thread on Facebook on Monday where Mark respond to a comment I
left claiming he apologized to me that night. Personally, whether or not he
apologized the fact was they chose to push around someone instead of simply
asking me to move for a minute. I am a very accommodating guy. If they asked if
I could move for the photo I would gladly do it. They just did not care I was
sitting there drawing for the charity and pushed me around like some
insignificant trash. I already had a questionable impression of Mark from when
I dealt with him in 2016, but this confirmed that this guy truly does not care
who he “steps on” let alone give respect enough to ask a question. Those two
people on his sides are grossly ignorant too. I ended up leaving after I
finished drawing to put my foot on ice.
Sunday
I found a parking garage a block away
with only $10 parking. This was $2 less than the exhibitor parking and in a
garage. Upon arriving at the convention center I ran into the same kind of
resistance about my insulin. I was questioned about my insulin and needles
again in the front bag check. After another exchange with one security I was
approached by another guard who said exhibitors go through door E. The two
security then had a conversation about my insulin to which I walked away and
went to door E. Amazingly I was able to get to my booth with no bag check,
strip search, or cavity check! The rest of the day went smoothly and finished
Comicpalooza with no further incidents.
After reading this some people might
think I am overreacting, whining, or possibly blowing things out of proportion.
Type 1 diabetes is like walking a tightrope making sure your sugar level is in
normal range. If it goes up or down we experience complications that are left
uncheck can kill us. Keeping it in check is something we do 24/7 and with mine
specifically can spike or drop even with the strict regimen I have. This is
what the other exhibitor and I must endure every day. I can only speak on what I endure myself, but
I can tell you because of my condition a lot is taken out of me doing
conventions. This is why I can only do 2 to 3 a year. Comicpalooza was an event
I loved to do because it takes place where I live and I have lots of fans in
Houston. It is unfortunate that since 2016 I have seen staff not care about the
treatment of some exhibitors. I was on the fence about being an exhibitor in
2019, but the appalling treatment of the other exhibitor and myself by
security, the disrespectful actions of Mark Schmidt and the two others towards
me, and past issues have shown they do not care what they do to some people.
On the bright side Comicpalooza soon
will not be the only comic convention in Houston. Fandemic Tour is coming and I
have a table there. You think with another convention coming Comicpalooza
wouldn’t alienate exhibitors, but what is their loss is Fandemic Tour’s gain. So
my fans in Houston I hope to see you there.
