I have to admit I was very nervous about this convention, it seemed a lot to put on 40 shows in 40 weeks. They have cancelled 6 of them in late fall (to me very smart as they were going to be competing with Dragon*Con and other local conventions in the areas). See email below from JumpCon.

http://www.jumpcon.net/?q=node/265

"A Re-imagined JumpCon
Submitted by AltoTrek on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 14:10

Newsflash - June 19, 2008 Some Venues to be Rationalized

In the wake of recent events in the sci-fi convention industry, we here at JumpCon Command have been closely examining our operation to make doubly sure we have all contingencies planned for and will leave no fans with that stunned look we’ve heard about. With this in mind, we have recently added some new members to the JumpCon staff with experience in sci-fi convention planning and operations. We are bringing on some new managers to work with our existing staff for the day to day running of the conventions.

This new combined staff has been hard at work making some tough decisions to be sure our venture remains healthy and viable, bringing the very best convention experience to our fans for years to come. Some of the changes being implemented involve the cancellation of six of our planned venues. The reasons for these cancellations are many fold and include a lack of room sales at the hotel, a desire to not compete with other conventions in the area or at the same time (playing nice in the sandbox so to speak), and proximity of these venues to other JumpCon venues. The cities affected are:

o Chattanooga – September 26-28, 2008
o Orlando – October 17-19, 2008
o Covington – October 10-12, 2008
o TBA – September 19-21, 2008
o Tulsa - September 12-14, 2008
o Nashville – October 24-26, 2008

Additionally, as a result of the proximity to DragonCon, our Atlanta event will be non-genre in nature. That means it will be a celebrity meet-up event, but not so much science fiction and anime. The sci-fi and anime guests booked for Atlanta will be relocated to other cities. We are working on a guest list for this event and will post one soon.

We wish there was another way to work this out, but we don’t want any bad feelings with the other cons that were scheduled prior to ours, not to mention the fans of those cons, and we need to conserve resources to make our other conventions more successful. Anyone with tickets to these events is being contacted and given the option of refunds or transfers to other venues.

Please feel free to email or call us with any questions regarding this change and we’d be happy to talk to you about it. Use the Contact Us link for numbers and addresses."

I am starting to see some "cracks" in this new convention trying to get off the ground. Here is a post direct from Vaughn Armstrong from the Enterprise Blues Band website.

"I wanted to let you all know that Jumpcom is regrouping. That's a good thing. They are doing things now that may allow them to continue. They have a new staff with a great deal of experience that is doing their level best to make these events a lasting sci fi experience for years to come. I wish them all the best. That does mean, however, that the band will not be going to Kalamazoo. They will be doing many more conventions in the future and have asked us to work with them at other events. We have to see a list of events , which will be sent to us soon, and choose those we will be able to attend. As you know...this band is full of busy professionals who have been receiving other offers, so we may not be able to do any of the Jumpcon events until late August or perhaps September.
None of us is certain of what will happen but the new approach is one that is far more plausible than the last. THe new staff is working hard. It is far better that they do this now than let people get stuck in a situation like the one that recently happened in Dallas. I'll let you know more when I learn more. I don't want to sound foolish in my positive outlook. But I am willing to give them the benifit of the doubt. Chis Decker.... I know this is a difficult thing for you. We were all looking forward to working with you and will find a way to do so when we can.....and certainly with Jumpcon if they do in fact go forward. I also want you all to know that these are not bad people. These are tryng times for all and to find a way to make this undertaking a success is no easy task and one that takes courage and persistance....both of which this group seems to have. I would ask that we vent no rage and allow them to forge ahead as they may. We'll see what happens. And don't worry about us! It would have been fun to do a tour of this magnitude but very difficult for all of us. In fact there were already several events that one or the other of us was going to have to miss. We are big boys and we'll be fine! Thanks for your support. We hope to see you all soon.
-Vaughn "

JumpCon conventions have BIT THE DUST!!!

A Message from Fernando Martinez
Submitted by admin on Tue, 07/15/2008 - 10:47 Boston

To all fandom:

Please be advised that despite all my efforts to try to salvage
Jumpcon, as of today - I see absolutely no chance of this event
happening.

When I was hired by Jumpcon, I was assured that the Boston event
would happen and that the funding was all arranged. I spent countless
days and hours negotiating new appearance contracts with the stars
and their agents to try to save the event, only to find that Jumpcon
was unable to fulfill it's financial obligations to the stars after
all.

I regret that the stars were financially harmed by not being paid
their appearance fees or cancellation fees.
I regret that the stars representatives, who were so nice and
gracious, were not paid for their time and ended up looking bad to
their clients. And I especially regret that the fans were harmed
financially and (although not intentionally) were betrayed when they
placed their trust in Jumpcon. I have been promised by Shane at
Jumpcon that he would return every penny to the fans, I hope that is
one promise he can keep.

Lastly I do want to thank: Lolita Fatjo, Erin Grey, and Julie Caitlin
Brown (they were the agents representing the stars). They all went
above and beyond to help salvage this event and to try to work with
Jumpcon to the very end - in their efforts to protect the fans and
their clients/stars from this event being cancelled. Although he
(Shane) failed, it was not do to any failure on my part or the
staffers or the other consultants, it was all due to Jumpcons
inability to pay.

I know Fandom is resilient, and I know there will be other events,
but every time something like this happens - all events lose fans who
become jaded or give up, not wanting to attend cons anymore for fear
of another cancellation. But, consider this, if we all give up there
may be no cons to go to eventually, and that is a no win scenario for
all of us. So please use this as a lesson learned and continue to
support the events that have withstood the tests of time. I do
recommend (and this is only my short list) the following events: San
Diego Comic Con, Dragon Con, Creation Conventions, Shoreleave,
Florida SuperCon, Vulkon, MegaCon, and FX. I know I missed a number
of other great cons, but you can find them on the internet, and I do
hope you will support them.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

See you out there.
Sincerely,
Fernando Martinez / Former owner and promoter of
Vulkon and Seatrek

Bryan, I was browsing through some Jumpcon listings tonight, and I think that Jennifer Lien is slated to appear in D.C., Aug8-10, and in Detroit, Aug-21-24(Her birthday, by the way. Any Kesfan would know!) I know you like to distribute con info, just thought I'd throw that in-of course, I know you will want to confirm those, should you decide to add them. If I am in error-I don't think I am- then, sorry. Have a good week, and keep on Trekkin'. EW

Whoa!

Now here is what fandom is all about - just makes me smile all over!!

http://www.nefe.us/index.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Randolph, MA. – July 17, 2008 – United Fan Con Inc., a small not-for-profit fan-run group located in Randolph MA, has stepped up to give the fans in Boston the fun-filled weekend that they were anticipating.

On Tuesday afternoon, July 15th, the Milford, NH based event promotions company, JumpCon LLC, cancelled a large Science Fiction / Pop Culture event scheduled for this weekend July 18th-20th at the Sheraton Boston Hotel. This is a second time in the last two months events like this have collapsed at the last minute, in June Fed Con USA in Dallas , TX canceled the rest of their show during the actual event itself.

United Fan Con has been producing fan-run events in Massachusetts for the past 17 years and knows when events are canceled like this it leaves a bad taste in everyone’s mouths; it hurts everyone involved: actors, agents, hotels, other promoters and especially the fans. This time it is different, a lot of fans that were planning to attend the now canceled Jumpcon Boston have rallied together to put on there own mini convention. It started with online forum posts discussing the situation and then moved to the realization that many people were still coming to Boston regardless of the JC cancellation. These fans decided to organize and started planning a mini fan event. United Fan Con stepped in to help the fans make it happen, giving the fans the funds to rent space at a new venue and use of any and all equipment and supplies needed to host an event. In addition UFC is contacting actors, agents and vendors with the hope of making this an exciting weekend.

This Fan Con will be free to all attendees and include; games, videos, fan panels, auctions, vendors and more. The event will take place at the Hilton Back Bay, located at 40 Dalton Street, Boston MA (directly across the street from the Boston Sheraton). The event will run from 3pm – 10pm on Friday, 10am – 6pm on Saturday and 12pm – 6pm on Sunday.



Here is what is being said about the fans efforts:
“It's really cool that you are trying to help these poor fans”. - Bob Catalano, Westland Productions

“I hope you can make something happen with the fans, thanks for doing this.” Julie Catlin Brown – Illumina Productions,

“How nice of you to reach out and see what can be done. We greatly appreciate your thoughts and willingness to try and make something positive out this fiasco Thank you”. Erin Gray - Heroes for Hire.

Isn't it good to know it doesn't always have to end in tears!

This story just keeps getting better and better!!

They actually have a guest who lives in the Boston area who is going to show up and be a part of this!

Mark Goddard
Major Don West
Lost In Space

It is even his anniversary weekend and he feels like being a part of this wonderful fan experience!

They have a charity auction happening as well as videos, gaming, some dealers.

Heck this sounds like fun! Wish I was in Boston this weekend!!!!!! :)

Who needs JumpCon when you have "invent-a-con"! ;)

In case anyone cares to know - here are some "gruesome" details about this convention.

There are claims in against the "promoter" of this failed convention with the New Hampshire Consumer Protection Dept.

"Re: 15 Claims currently pending against JumpCon via the NH Consumer Protection Dept.
Sorry, because there is an agreement you need to Accept/Decline that
direct link may not work." Go to
http://www.egov.nh.gov/consumercomplaint/index.asp

I thought I would let people know I am part of a Yahoo group and there are some real heart-breaking stories of people out "quite a bit of money" (anywhere from $100 up to a high of about $5000 that I am aware of so far). Not good...not good at all.

"The longer we go without hearing from him, and the longer I go without a
refund, the angrier and more determined I become.
Which is quite simply not a good thing for Shane. Because I've got nothing
else to do, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, than to pursue him. Night and
day. My health is poor, and has left me disabled. I have no work to go to.
Nothing but time to devote.
I recently uncovered some new contact info for Shane. A P.O. Box, and
another Phone Number. Perhaps a home phone?"

Here was my advice to this unfortunate person (I hate seeing people ripped off).
"I'm with Moyra - it is great to track down as much info as you can
but do not do anything that will get you in trouble.
I hope you are not "out" a lot of money from JumpCon - I would really
not expect to hear anything/get any sort of communication from Shane
at this point. Any "crud" he may post about "wanting" to refund
people is just pie-in-the-sky ramblings from him at this point.
You may have to join the ranks if either charging back on your credit
card (hopefully this is an option for you) or make the complaint(s)
thorugh the proper agencies or last resort sue him yourself (if the
amount owing to you makes this avenue worth your time/money/further
aggravation.
Keep your cool - gather/document all/as much info as you can and
hopefully there is a way for you to recoup some/all of your monies
owing."

JumpCon has had all their phones disconnected and the "promoter" is no longer replying to any communication at all.

People are left with trying to charge-back (if they paid by credit card) or having to go through agencies or look at court as an option.

This is really not a good situation for a lot of people.

-> Luckily myself and Kenny G (from this board) paid via credit card and went the charge-back route but so many paid with check or money order and are basically scr**ed and it is such a mess for these people (my total outlay of $$ was about $300 but I really feel for these people out thousands of $$).
-> Yes, I can hear people say "too bad what did you expect from a new convention" but nobody deserves to be "ripped-off" and I hope people really go after this "promoter" - I know some guests who are out money are looking at legal action.

Adrian Paul "Highlander" actually was on a plane from Australia to Boston when all this went down and is out of pocket too and his fan club priinted up lots of stuff to sell as he was supposed to attend 3-4 JumpCons.