Here’s the flyer for Bendi-Con 2023.
Stay posted to the Facebook page or the Insta page for updates.
Share and Enjoy!
Tickets are on sale here!
convention
Bookings and Panels
Bookings are open again for the Traders Zone and the Fan Zone. The Artists Alley bookings remain closed, due to an overwhelming response. We look forward to hosting a bumper Artists Alley this year on the 27th of August at the Red Energy Arena, Bendigo.
For all enquiries about bookings, panel or workshop ideas, please contact bendigorctfair@outlook.com
Stay Tuned to the Facebook Page or the Instagram page for rolling announcements leading up to the event.
Panel and Workshop Applications
Bendi-Con Artists Alley Bookings
Heya folks,
We have had an overwhelming response to bookings for Bendi-Con 2023, particularly the Artists Alley.
So much so, that we are putting a pause on bookings for the Artists Alley. Bookings are still open for the Traders Zone, and the Fan Zone, so get in touch if you want to trade or promote your fan cluib at Bendi-Con 2023.
Fingers crossed for a Big Day on Sugust the 27th!
Tickets for Bendi-Con 2022
Bendi-Con 2019 Workshops
We have 3 wonderful workshops this September at Bendi-Con 2019.
Here is a quick reference for workshop times, guests, titles and how to book.
To book for Li’l El’s ‘How To Draw Fur’ workshop, or Cristian Roux’s ‘Page Layout Fundamentals’ workshop , please book via direct mail at the Bendigo Record Comic and Toy Fair Facebook Page.
To book for Chris Kennett’s Star Wars Character Drawing Workshop, please contact Chris Kennet’s Facebook page directly.
We hope to see you on September 22nd at the Bendigo Expo Centre!
March 12. What to expect.
Another Bendigo Record Comic and Toy Fair is nearly upon us.
If you’ve been keeping up with the Facebook page here you will have seen announcements regarding what’s coming up for this Sunday.
There’s a bit too much happening for a full breakdown on Facebook, so here’s a general breakdown on what to expect at this Sunday’s Fair
30 tables of records. That’s around 15,000 records to choose from.
26 tables of comics plus 8 tables at the Artists Alley. This is our biggest turn-out for comics to date. Update those wish-lists!
Some of our featured artists in the Artists Alley
20 tables of toys, including loads of Star Wars toys, pop culture plushies, Transformers, Pop Vinyl and general Pop Culture Goodness.
Fan-groups including the Bendigo Whovians, with their largest display yet, the Bendigo Area Lego Designers, Swordcraft Bendigo who will be putting on a demonstration just outside the Bendigo Expo Centre.
The Bendigo Cosplay Contest is back, with prizes donated by Madman, Good vs Evil and Hardcopy Entertainment. Once again, the Cosplay contest is a fundraiser for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation.
The Zone will be joining the Fair for the first time this year, bringing their kids fun zone. Their portable laser tag is a hit, and their jumping castle will keep the kiddies occupied while you search for those elusive collectables.
And around 40 tables of pop-culture related goodness, including 3d-printed stuff, a demonstration zone courtesy of Warhammer Bendigo, a print and badge zone where you can get pics taken of your cosplay and get it turned into a badge on the spot, pop culture jewelry, steampunk gear, stuff, stuff and more stuff!
So see you there, at the Bendigo Expo Centre on Sunday the 12th of March from 10 am ($5 entry) or if you want to get in early, 9am ($10 entry), kids under 14 free when accompanied by a paying adult.
September Cosplay Contest
Announcement time!
I’m in full promo mode for the upcoming Bendigo Record Comic and Toy Fair. And, for the first time at this event, we’ll be hosting a Cosplay Contest!
The Cosplay Contest will be co-ordinated by Bendigo Cosplayer Kara of Vena Kara Cosplay. Kara is a passionate cosplayer, and will also act as the senior judge of the event. She has announced a second judge in Lizz of Elizabethmaree Cosplay. Both are looking forward to judging and co-ordinating the Cosplay event, and seeing what Bendigo can put on and attract from elsewhere.
Interest in the Cosplay event can be directed via the Facebook Page for the event, or by contacting Kara directly at venakara@chesiry.com.
The Cosplay event is an official fundraiser for the Peter Mac Foundation, via the Bendigo Radiotherapy Foundation. There is a small registration fee of $5, which will be 100% donated to the Peter Mac Foundation, who fund life-saving cancer research.
There will be prizes for best cosplay on the day. First prize will be this awesome Darth Vader statue, painted by local pop-culture sculptor Dwayne Thompson. Other prizes TBA. Watch this space!
The Weapons Policy for the event can be viewed here. This is in accordance with Victoria Police laws and regulations, and will be strictly encorced. Basically, if it looks like a fantasy weapon or firearm, it should be ok. If it looks like it could be real, you’ll most likely have trouble getting it in the venue. Apologies to all the Call Of Duty Cosplayers out there.
So get cracking folks, and let’s make this September’s Fair the most colourful one yet!
Nerdmania 2015 Review
Given its clash with San Diego Comic Con, the launch of Nerdmania in Shepparton went very well! Hats off to organiser Jim Gow and the Word and Mouth team for getting this event off the ground and I hope it becomes a regular part of the pop culture calendar in Australia.
A blustery winter’s day didn’t keep hardcore SDCC exiles away from the McIntosh Pavilion in the Shepparton Showgrounds. A number of food were vans camped at the entrance to provide nibbles for the starving masses, and there was plenty going on inside to keep folks hanging around for the better part of a day.
There were around 30 or so vendors on the day, though it looked and felt like a lot more, as there was a lot of space to play with. Guf had a computer array set up for gaming fans, the local table-top gamers were giving demo games, and there were demo Magic the Gathering tables also set up. There were a couple of familiar faces popping up from the last Bendigo Fair, so I got to catch up with some folk and compare notes. There were many stall holders from near and far that I hadn’t encountered before as well, so I was busy networking and spruiking my own little Fair. Hopefully we’ll see some new faces and concepts at the next Fair in September.
I was very keen to check out the Cosplay presentation, as we’ll also be having a Cosplay Contest for the first time at our Fair in September. Stay tuned for more announcements on that front. The costumes on display were eye-catching, and a very colourful addition to the event.
All in all, a very successful first event, and very professionally run. Hope to see you there next year!
Comic Gong Wollongong
Comic Gong in Wollongong 2015 was simply a blast! In its 3rd year now (I think. Correct me if I’m wrong), it seems to be going from strength to strength. At least that’s from what I can gather. This was my first trip up to the ‘Gong. And I’ll be there next year too if I can make it!
Comic Gong 2015 was hosted in the Wollongong Town Hall, City Library and Art Gallery, and spilled out into the Arts Precinct. And there were many events, displays and stalls going on. Which I’ll move onto in a bit.
But First.
In my ongoing quest to visit every comic store in Australia, I also managed to visit Australia’s newest comic store, Wollongong’s Comic Cafe!
I’m not sure if opening a comic store on the same day as the town’s biggest pop culture event was a really good idea or a really bad one, but fitting in both wasn’t a problem. Owner Shane Mason has a crowdfunding project on the go to raise money for stock to fill the store. If you would like to assist, please do so. Time is running short however, so chop chop. Alternatively, head out and visit in person. There is a selection of graphic novels, and Shane was busy taking names and titles for standing orders from customers visiting the store.
Comic Gong! Well, having never been to Wollongong before, and with the chance to visit a new comic store, and the added incentive to catch up with an old mate from Sydney, who dragged his family down for the day (Good onya, Adam!), it seemed like it was meant to happen. So it did. And I needed to go along and appropriate some ideas for Bendigo, so all in all, I couldn’t stay away. I’m very glad I went. And at only a short 9 hour drive from Bendigo (one way), why not!
Comic Gong is the initiative of the Wollongong Library, who wish to promote pop culture and reading, and, frankly, have gone way beyond the call of duty in doing so. Now spread out over 3 venues, as well as occupying the open air Arts Precinct, Comic Gong was free to attend. FREE! How did they pull that off? Well, the council are right behind this event, and they had some pretty hefty sponsors. Still, can’t beat a free pop culture con! I’m not sure how many people attended, but I’m going with several thousand.
The event guide included workshops with comic writer Ryan Lindsay, comic culture discussions in the Arts Gallery with Bill O’Donovan, Rock and Roll Wrestling, Australia’s only Street-legal 1989 Batmobile, cosplay contests, a Phantom exhibition at the Art Gallery, 3D printing exhibits in the library, raffles, face paintings, and, of course, artists alleys (with some familiar faces from the Bendigo Fair) and stalls. And way too much other stuff to list!
Here’s the complete guide if you’d like a refresher, or to see what you missed out on…
Kings Comics Sydney had a huge stall in the main auditorium, among the other stalls, in front of the main stage. I caught up with Craig and Alana Bruyn who had a cracking day in the multi-purpose room with many other quality local products. No pressure at all to lift my game for Bendigo, now is there…
So hats off to Wollongong for an awesome day out, and hope to be able to go for 2016!
Next stop…Japan!
Bendi-Con 