“It’s a little hectic.”: Back to Back Bookings Leave People Frustrated
High Demand for Local Event Venues Results in Chaos
In Lexington, Kentucky, a series of back-to-back bookings at local venues left attendees and vendors overwhelmed and frustrated over the weekend. The first event, the annual Comic Con, was a sold-out occurrence that attracted thousands. However, it was the speed at which they were required to vacate the premises for the next event that stirred up chaos.
A vendor from The Funnybook, Jessica Hunt, expressed her satisfaction with the event and stated, “We had a great turnout, lots of great cosplayers. A great group of people coming out and great vendors.” Despite the initially pleasing experience, the scene quickly turned into a rush for vendors, actors, and organizers as they had to dismantle and vacate the premises in just a few hours.
The Unexpected Swift Departure
Josh, from Nerdile Art, described the situation as “hectic.” He articulated his experience saying, “We’re used to getting packed up quick for these conventions a lot of the time, but this one is a little bit different.” The need to swiftly pack up and leave was due to a concert by chart-topping artist Drake which was scheduled for later the same day in the same venue.
“Everybody’s trying to get out at the same time and they’re telling us we’re limited on getting out,” complained Josh, reflecting the sentiments of many other vendors and attendees.
Concerns About Inadequate Planning
Jessica Hunt voiced her frustration at the management of the venue, objecting to the insufficient planning which left vendors stuck in the event space for hours after the end of the event.
“I wish they had planned better, because as vendors we’re going to be here hours after the con is over just trying to get things to our vehicles because we can’t use the loading dock,” said Hunt. “And so, it’s very frustrating because we have families to get home to.”
Not only was the venue overly booked, but parking was also an issue. Joseph Caudill, a visitor to the event, complained about the exorbitant parking fees and the difficulty in finding available parking. He stated, “It was almost 27 dollars I think to park and that’s crazy for four hours.”
The Silver Lining
Despite the frustration and aggravation, one thing was clear; Lexington’s event venues were bringing booming business to the city. And while the management undoubtedly faced a logistical challenge, the spirited crowd and high turnout suggested a strong community interest and support for such events.
This weekend event was a clear example of a city thriving on its cultural scene, even amidst the chaos. However, the frustrations experienced by many highlight the complexities and challenges faced by cities in balancing commercial demand with visitor experience. The hope is that the feedback from this high-profile event will catalyze improved planning and management to prevent such scenarios in the future.
