With some of the largest comic conventions on the horizon, it’s a good time to take a look at how these events are put together. TheCelebrityCafe.com had the pleasure of meeting with Dan Carroll, the Media Relations Director of Dragon Con, for a behind the scenes scoop.
Before we share some of the insight we gained, you need to know that there are different types of fan conventions. Many are run by specialized companies or organizations. San Diego Comic Con International, which is taking place July 21-24, and New York Comic Con, which is taking place October 6-9, both fall into this category. On the other hand, some conventions are run by the fans themselves, who work as volunteers. That’s right, they do it in their spare time, in addition to their full time jobs and families. They organize it, set it up, run it, and they don’t get paid for it. This is what you’ll find at Dragon Con in Atlanta, Georgia. Dragon Con, which is celebrating its 30 year anniversary this September 2-5, is the largest fan run multi-genre convention.
Carroll works as a Project Manager for IDology, but for the past eight years has also helped run and grow Dragon Con by managing its media coverage. The two jobs certainly have their similarities, such as working within a specified amount of time, developing a communication plan and leading a staff to get the job done efficiently and effectively.
Planning for Dragon Con starts well over a year prior to the event date. Carroll noted that by mid-summer they usually know what will take place the following year. Planning this far in advance is also true of company run Comic Cons as evidenced by Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo’s advertisements for its 2017 event immediately following the conclusion of this year’s.
The amount of time Carroll spends on his Dragon Con responsibilities varies throughout the year, and of course increases as the event draws closer. According to Carroll, “during the winter months it typically takes less than 10 hours a month. After March it increases slowly each month, so that June, July, and August it does have a noticeable impact on my weekends and evenings.” So much so, that there are times it has caused him to pause his weekly podcasting activities. It also impacts his family life in the sense that his son’s birthday and Dragon Con usually fall on the same weekend, causing Carroll to make sure to celebrate with him prior to the event.
One, perhaps surprising, positive aspect of the time-consuming planning is the impact it has on his social life. Carroll revealed, “it is a real catalyst to my social life rather than hindering it. Dragon Con is where I connect with so many friends and what has become my second family.”
Last year, Dragon Con had a total of 2,300 volunteers spread across 117 different departments that include media relations, programming, gaming, guest operations, and communications, just to name a few. As the director of Dragon Con Media Relations, Carroll is one of 17 volunteers within the department. He clarified that his primary responsibility is to be a spokesperson for and “share the joy that is Dragon Con.” He meets that responsibility by hosting as many reporters as possible, especially those with international readership.
Just to be clear, the media coverage that Carroll oversees does not include social media. That’s one of the other 116 volunteer departments. Carroll’s focus is managing the vetting of reporters, setting up interviews, and following up to ensure that the coverage is taking place. He explained that they have developed a highly structured interview process to allow major distribution media to interview high profile guests, but open it up to Dragon Con directors, and Con runners so that smaller media outlets can participate as well. As we talked, he commented that it’s a “minuscule job to tell about all the amazing things other people at Dragon Con do, but it’s lots of fun!”
Carroll shared that he feels he has a secondary, though not less important, responsibility to support the geek community by providing “love, encouragement, and practical advice on a wide array of topics, even adoption.” As part of this mission, he hosts his own podcast called Seriously, Dan!
As a resident of Metro Atlanta, and long time Con goer, I can attest to the inspirational and friendly environment of Dragon Con. To boot, Carroll has garnered the respect of so many, that the operators of cakewrecks.com and epbot.com designed and made him his own Funko Pop! doll, a gesture that Carroll found both “flattering and humbling.”
Thank you, Dan Carroll, for your unfailing support of all geeks and for providing TheCelebrityCafe.com with a taste of the complexities and sheer volume of planning that is required to successfully run the joyful experience that is Dragon Con!
Related:
More about the multi-genres included in Dragon Con: Dragon Con 2015 takes over Atlanta in September
Dragon Con as a fan run convention from celebrities’ point of view: Press conference with the Queens of Darkness from ‘Once Upon a Time’
Just for fun: Dragon Con 2015 parade