The Fandemic Tour Is Coming To Sacramento!
The weather isn't the only thing that's going to be hot in Sacramento this summer. The Fandemic Tour is hitting the state capital and it's going to change the convention scene forever! Promising to bring an experience that no fan has ever seen before, CEO John Macaluso recently spent time with Dan Dayao to tell us about this exciting new project. And with the long list of celebrities announcing their appearances at Fandemic, John looks to have another winner that will leave fans happy and ready to Nerd out with their favorite stars.
NON: So tell us John, what makes this convention different that others?
John: "I've been in this business for a while, I took a bit of time off and I started to realize something....that I really missed being around the fans. I missed giving these awesome fans a really fun, exciting, and educational experience. I did some research and I found out that past conventions stopped visiting Sacramento! I believe Sacramento is a great city. The fans in Sacramento appreciate a good show. I've worked with Sacramento for a few years now and I know they will love the stars we are bringing to the table. You are going to get awesome vendors, artists, and great panels!"
NON: We attend conventions all the time. One of the main reasons why we love conventions is the sense of community and family. The feeling that if you are a cosplayer, you can dress any way you want and it is accepted and loved. You can geek out about your favorite show and comic..and it is accepted and loved. That's family.
John: "I'm really glad you mentioned that. When I first started in the convention business, I did not understand the community. I couldn't understand that the community could stand for hours and hours knowing they couldn't get in. But through many many shows and experience, I really got it. I got to understand it that this is a family. They may stand for hours in line, but they spent all this time with all their buddies and their friends. All people of like mind. People who are interested in the same things as them. It's almost like tailgating at a football game. There's so much more than 'the line.' It means so much more."
NON: That's crucial to us. We embrace the family aspect. As a podcast, we suffer from mental illness, depression, and anxiety. But, in a convention, we feel safe. We feel at home. We stand in line and we have that in common. We feel included, a part of something.
John: "Exactly, you are 100% correct."
NON: Now, doing this type of work. You had to be into fandoms. What are you into?
John: "Growing up as a kid, I loved comics. I read Archie, Superman, and Batman. When I got older, I moved away from comics. I will say that my mother threw away all my comics, I was not happy with her(laughs.) I am a really big TV guy. I have probably watched more TV shows than anybody I know. I grew up with some of the great shows Lost in Space, Star Trek, and My Favorite Martian. Not to mention all the great cartoons...Johnny Quest, Mighty Mouse, Underdog, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, and all the Warner Brothers cartoons. That was my world. Like our passionate attendees, this is their world. That's why I compare it to football fans who stand in freezing weather with their shirts off...with their chests painted in their favorite teams color. They are fanatics about football. Our attendees are fanatics of movies, comics, and video games. I love it! I've worked in other types of business. But, this business brings me such joy...to be able to see how happy the fans are at these shows."
NON: Since you are a big TV-watcher, what is the one show that people need to be watching right now?
John: "If you haven't seen NCIS: Los Angeles, you should watch it. If you haven't seen Jessica Jones, you should watch it. Honestly, my list could go on and on. What about movies? If you haven't seen Thor Ragnarok, go see it. And what about Wonder Woman, go see it."
The Fandemic Tour hits Sacramento from June 22-24 featuring celebrities Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead, The Boondock Saints), Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead, Magic City), Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Walking Dead, Tombstone, Cliffhanger, Days of Thunder), Sean Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy, Gilmore Girls), Chris Sullivan, native of Sacramento, (This is Us, Guardians of the Galaxy), Milo Ventimiglia (This is Us, Heroes, Gilmore Girls), Sean Patrick Flanery (The Boondock Saints, Powder, Young Indiana Jones), Jason David Frank (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street, Freddy vs. Jason), Christian Kane (The Librarians, Leverage), James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel), Bruce Campbell (Ash vs. Evil Dead), Robert England (Nightmare on Elm Street), David Della Rocca (Boondock Saints) and Clare Kramer (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Bring It On.)
John promised more stars and he has delivered because they continue to release new celebrities. Tom Welling (Smallville, Lucifer), John Schneider (Smallville, The Dukes of Hazzard), Chandler Riggs (The Walking Dead) and Steven Yuen (The Walking Dead) are now on board to make The Fandemic Tour an experience you don't want to miss.
What are you waiting for? Buy your tickets now!