Questions about Morphicon 2012

[Daniel 1 Red]

Never been to one of these events, but am planning on it because I know Mr. Jason Faunt will be there. Who knows if ill be able to make it, I hope though.


Again, I have no clue about any of this, so id just like some basic info.
Like: where is it held?
What’s the cost? If any
And just the basics…



thank you all for the info!!

[Cmdr Crayfish]

Pasadena California. The next convention will be held at the same venue as the previous.

Prices vary depending on whether you want a single-day pass, a weekend pass, or a weekend pass that includes swag (posters, t-shirts, etc.).

All of this information for the past convention is available on the official site, officialpowermorphicon.com

[Daniel 1 Red]

Thank you very much! :)

[Andros]

Will there be a thread for posting requests for ranger guests?
Because I would love to see a PRiS panel with all of them
Christopher, Selwyn, Roger, Tracy, Particia, Justin, and Melody.

[Cmdr Crayfish]

There is no point to having a request thread for guests at this point. We are not allowed to confirm individual guests have been invited, and rest assured- if they have appeared in, or worked on, an Ameritoku and have any means of contact online or through an agent? We've spoken to them. One of my personal highlights of the last convention was getting Royce Herron. There's a reason we had panels as widely varied as we did. Scott, Mar, Jesse and I would like nothing more than literally everyone who ever worked on Power Rangers and is in the greater LA area appearing at Morphicon.

When a guest is announced, they're announced.

[ForeverBlue]

Andros, we just had a Morphicon event this past summer....you seem to be going into the future already lol Its not even 2012 yet

[Cmdr Crayfish]

I can't say as I fault anyone's enthusiasm. With the PMC Express tour going across the West Coast, it's not like the fandom is lacking for Power Morphicon activities for the next nineteen months precisely because of fan demand. Still, we are a fandom who only gets one genuine convention.

[Alpha 5]

How many does star trek get? lol

[Cmdr Crayfish]

Official? Creation as a corporation holds the licensing rights to advertise as "official" Star Trek conventions, as authorized by the Roddenberry estate and CBS/Viacom. Which is why there are hundreds of "Star Trek" conventions around the USA, and hundred more around the world, every year. It doesn't matter a solid half of their guests and memorabilia are from other programs and franchises. Anything smaller is legally required to call itself a sci-fi convention. Part of why official sanction matters is that you are allowed to USE THE NAME OF THE BRAND IN QUESTION for promotional purposes. Otherwise it's Sci-Fi Con Baltimore 2012, featuring Star Trek's Kate Mulgrew and Sliders' Cleavant Derricks! You can say what franchise the guests in question worked on. Not in tandem with the branding itself.

Part of the legal nightmare of the original PMC was Mo securing the rights to actually call this the "official Power Rangers convention." One sentence, full stop. Sanction to call it a PR 'con and sanction to be the sole, exclusive, official PR 'con were two separate things.

[Alpha 5]

So saying you guys never got the right to call it the Power Morphicon and got it offcial what would of been the name, or would it not have been able to get off the floor at all?

[Cmdr Crayfish]

We wouldn't have done it without official sanction, period. Disney sues any and all unsanctioned conventions which even ACKNOWLEDGE their copyrights and trademarks. It's like suing the day care centers that use Disney characters on wall murals without express written permission. Disney is obsessed with retaining its intellectual property because they know their work will inevitably slip into the public domain and lose protected status. They are a company obsessed with not losing anything old rather than building anything new. The unofficial Aladdin convention in the late-nineties went to trial and Disney steamrolled the kid who held it. He's still paying his legal fees.

Gathering of the Gargoyles' managerial team, Make-a-Wish California, and Bruce Kalish are the only reason we ever got a PMC.

[Alpha 5]

that's awfull, but now with Saban at the helm i'm sure things will change

[Cmdr Crayfish]

We have the official sanction from both Disney and Saban, so nothing has to change at all.

[Alpha 5]

I mean with as people here have asked before, will there be more power ranger conventions and what not

[Cmdr Crayfish]

Official means official. PMC has the sanction. No one else. Anime and sci-fi conventions may have PR guests, but they will not be PR conventions, just as non-Creation conventions are not Star Trek conventions.

[Alpha 5]

so what you're saying is no one can call it a Power Rangers convention, but they can call it a sci-fi convention or anime convention

[Cmdr Crayfish]

Not exactly.

[Fury Diamond]

Anyone can start a convention and call it a PR one. It's not an easy and affordable task. Some PR cast members do make appearances at non-PR conventions. The PMC team has the official rights and connections, hence they're the Official PR Convention. They have done a fine job at the first two cons and we can only expect this tradition to continue on. I'm not too big on going to conventions, but PMC is definitely worth it. I've heard good and bad things in regards to PMC/PMC2, but my personal experience has been fantastic.

[Andros]

I guess I just find it arrogant to say that Nobody else can because WE have the sanction. Period.
If someone puts on a Better PR Con, then you can lose that Sanction. Plain and simple.
If I organized one, went through the right channels with the info in hand. And could PROVE beyond doubt that mine would be better than PMC. It is possible for you to lose your "Sanctioning"
There is so much more you could do at the Cons, but dont. And its a shame.
But will you Actually listen to the voices of the ones around you? No, you have proven that. End of story. You only want to listen to your close friends. Im sorry but thats not good enough.
I think I could put on a better one. But I am well aware that you will brown beat me for even opening my mouth

[Cmdr Crayfish]

That's actually not true, Mesh. Someone who wanted to hold a convention without sanction couldn't use PR in the advertisement of the event itself. That's the point. They'd have to call it something else, just as G-Fest doesn't have the right to call itself a Godzilla convention without Toho sanction and has to use a general "kaiju" promotional theme.

Maureen busted her hump for years to secure the rights to official sanction. The right to actually advertise it under the auspices of "Power Rangers convention." There's a reason every general Transformers convention in the world that isn't Botcon cannot use the words "Transformers," "Autobot," or "Decepticon." Someone who wanted to host their own convention could not use the words "Power Rangers" in its promotion, just as no convention not run by Creation can call legally itself a "Star Trek convention" full stop. They couldn't use Power Rangers or the lightning bolt. They'd have to call it, I dunno, Tokufest.

(case in point, the two years the Hartmans were no longer working on Botcon and took the name, so Botcon had to call itself The Official Transformers Collectors Convention, and their own unsanctioned "Botcons" could not use any Transformers branding - Fun Publications taking over as the emcees required both the purchase of the infrastructure 3H possessed, including the rights to the official convention and collector's club they both owned, and hiring back the Hartman brothers and thus acquiring the Botcon branding itself)

Acquisition of official convention status is one of the most coveted things in fandoms because it so rarely ever happens. But PMC began under Disney auspices and thus had to be managed in this manner. A misunderstanding of just what Mo accomplished mitigates the incredible uphill battle and monetary losses she suffered to mount it in the first place. PMC has been blessed by the fact that Disney and Saban both loved the work Mo and Scott did with the brand, to the point we even got promoted at the licensing expo by Saban Brands. Heck, PMC went the extra mile and got Bandai's sanction as well.

[Andros]

Umm it actually is. Get off your high horse please.

[PRangerX]

Umm it actually is. Get off your high horse please.

What high horse? Maureen worked her but off and sacrificed her savings to get the sanction. And only did it to benefit the fandom. She gained nothing from it. Scott is carrying on the tradition, just in a more business like style.

I don't think Funaro is saying that people can't do a Toku Con or a con loosely tied to PR. Its just a legal fact that Morphicon has the official license. Without permission from Saban Brands, a new convention could not be official. And could technically be sued if they advertise themselves as a PR convention. Something that would have diffinitly happened under Disney. I'm not sure about Saban Brands. But I am sure they will protect their trademarks too.

[Super Jeff]

Umm it actually is. Get off your high horse please.

Not to sound rude, but it seems that your on a high horse because you said you can make a better convention.

[O.92]

Based on this flyer:

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i319/RangersRule/PMC3A2012PFPMCEOVTW.png

I think it's safe to say that PMC3 will be in August of 2012. Let's hope it's not as late into the summer as last time.

[Cmdr Crayfish]

We did confirm August of next year last January on the facebook, not for nothing.

[O.92]

Well then, consider me late lol. Anything else I missed?

[Cmdr Crayfish]

Um... We're in the big building this time.

[O.92]

Yeah, that much I did catch. Question though. Is that bigger building as "luxurious" as the other one? I think I recall walking into that building last time (although my mind could be playing tricks on me), and isn't it more...dull? Like a big, empty warehouse kind of setting? I understand it'll be more populated with people, decorations, etc., but, is that the correct building?

[Cmdr Crayfish]

It is. And keep in mind, the conference center is built more as... A place for small meetings like the ones upstairs and the room we set up for the green room. The big open air basement being repurposed for a convention proper is not the locale's ideal configuration. The character and flavor is indicative of this not being the intended use of the venue. I guess I'm abstractly used to 'cons being set in boring spaces, even though my last big convention as an attendee, Botcon '99 (the Rivercentre!), was also set up in a visually exciting and not-boring manner ala both prior PMCs. It doesn't bug me so much, though I agree it's going to be a LITTLE duller visually.

Now, if it were up to me we'd hold the damn thing in the skating rink. You know that.

[O.92]

Yeah, I was a little intrigued when I first saw how you guys set that up for PMC2, since that was not the traditional spot you'd see a convention. But I thought it worked more than well (minus the overcrowding of the panel rooms) after seeing how it worked out.

And yeah, I'm like you. It's a little bit of a bummer than the atmosphere will be more dull, but eh. It's a sacrifice we can make if it means more seating, more guests, and the outside surrounding area is quite nice. Now, this bigger building is MUCH bigger. Are you guys using the entire space? First the issue was overcrowding, now the issue might be the prevention of echoes with that much space to cover. How do you guys intend on setting up the panel rooms this time around? With some of those moving wall type structures?

And as someone who's never ice skated, I'm not so big on that idea lol. I'd be the killjoy to walk in with heavy duty boots on.

[Fury Diamond]

Sweet flyer! Nice decision on the bigger venue. The only downfall about the previous one was the crowded rooms. The Gold Ranger pass made up for that with the exclusive seating.

[GaignunLeingod]

i wish it was not in Pasadena, Anaheim would be better. i took my nephews to the last one but i couldn't find any kid friendly food place close by the Anaheim one does

[Cmdr Crayfish]

There's an excellent sandwich shop directly across the street that is Panera-esque. Nothing I'd have a problem taking my children to, anyway.

[Takeru]

Something ive been wondering,and im not quite sure of,does CS toys sell Sentai merchandise at every Morphicon? Or does anybody sell Sentai merchandise at morphicon at all?

[Cmdr Crayfish]

CS and Scott's own Neoscott toys, among other dealers, all sell a combination of Tokusatsu and Ameritoku memorabilia.

[Takeru]

Yosh!! Thnks Crayfish and one more thing,do you know like from what the prices range from? Like say for the stuff they still have boxed? More antique items to be more specific

[Cmdr Crayfish]

That's market driven and not really prone to present speculation, sorry.

[Takeru]

I have no idea what that means lol,but,alright,thnks anyway man

[Zeo Ranger IX]

It depends on what people are willing to pay for them, essentially. No way to tell until we get closer to the date.

[Cmdr Crayfish]

If you're really looking for a bargain at ANY convention, wait until the last few hours. The ennui of lugging things back weighs on a number of retailers.

[O.92]

If you're really looking for a bargain at ANY convention, wait until the last few hours. The ennui of lugging things back weighs on a number of retailers.

But of course, you also risk the item being gone. So you must weigh the value of the item. But also, most people at conventions I've been to (Morphicon mostly) are pretty fair. They're not stingy to the prices and are open to negotiations.


i wish it was not in Pasadena, Anaheim would be better. i took my nephews to the last one but i couldn't find any kid friendly food place close by the Anaheim one does

There's a huge food court across from the convention center. I think you must have missed it since it's as family friendly as possible. Chinese food (PF Changs, but also others), burger joints, Mexican food, tons of places. I don't see how you could call it "not kid friendly" so I take it you must have missed it.

[Cmdr Crayfish]

Yeah, I can't say I've ever been price-gouged at PMC either, but saying that makes me look like a shill for Scott, so thank you. :-D

(keep in mind, I only BOUGHT one thing last year: a picture of Sophia on the set of Zedd's Monster Mash so I could get her and Jeff to autograph it, so I'm also not an authority on PMC in particular)

[rangergirl001]

i never been to power morphincon but im going next year . how much are tickets and how much are autographs and do the guests charge for photos . i know when i went to anime festival orlando in 2010 i got to meet jason david frank and his autographs were free but if you bought any of his merchandise it wasnt a whole lot of money .

[Cmdr Crayfish]

Some guests charge for autographs, some charge for headshots, some charge for memorabilia, some charge for photos. There is no one standardized price for anything, but it's usually quite affordable. Young children's autographs are always free.

Admission varies depending on what package you purchase. Saturday-only (Blue Ranger) and Sunday-only (Yellow Ranger) are lower priced than the Friday/Saturday/Sunday package (Red Ranger), which is lower priced than the three-day VIP seating/bonus events plus extra swag package (Gold Ranger), and the bonus swag three-day admission (Silver Ranger).

[O.92]

Not getting impatient or anything... :innocent: But any idea when we might start hearing about PMC3 Chris?

[Cmdr Crayfish]

If I were a betting man, I would expect the next few announcements to trickle out of upcoming PMC Express events over the summer. I mean, hypothetically speaking. For instance, date and preliminary guest confirmations...

[Alpha 5]

so Silver Ranger is Higher then gold ranger?

[Cmdr Crayfish]

No, it's less expensive but Silver only makes logical sense when described after Gold since it's "Gold without better seating or VIP events."

[Alpha 5]

I really wish i could go *sigh*

[Cmdr Crayfish]

The PMC Express tour is starting to migrate outside of California. The next event is in El Paso! One could very well pop up near you.

[BurgundyRanger]

Don't see anything here, but the word was hatched at animeexpo:

Dates for PMC3 -- August 17 (pre-registers only), 18 & 19, 2012

here's the RB post:

http://www.rangerboard.com/showpost.php?p=3809627&postcount=118

and here's the poster:

http://awwman.com/nps/main/photos/PMC_3_flier_photo.jpg

[Cmdr Crayfish]

Hence why I wanted to see if anyone at the event this weekend would spill the beans. Thank you for finally dropping the other foot for me, Steve. :-D

[BurgundyRanger]

Thanks. (I think?)

Got a NoPinkSpandex tweet and ... well, that led to a blog post, which led to Jesse's RB post and ... let's just say I'm bored while on a ridiculously light telecommute work day.

[Cmdr Crayfish]

And it's been on the PMC board for over half a day!

[BurgundyRanger]

With no responses (!?!!) to boot.

Didn't check there. It's not on the site proper, though.

[Cmdr Crayfish]

The main site is run by a separate group of people than the message board. Yeah, I know.

[Amazing Grace]

You sure won't be alone when you get there, believe me. I found 5 parties of people going to Morphicon before I even left LAX :p

[Cmdr Crayfish]

The worst part for me was getting recognized.

[Amazing Grace]

Chris, who in this fandom hasn't seen a picture of you at some point?

[Cmdr Crayfish]

Are we specifying a picture of my FACE?

[Amazing Grace]

Yes. Obviously. Unless everyone can identify you from torso alone, which would be quite disturbing.

[Cmdr Crayfish]

I can identify some people by torso alone.

[Amazing Grace]

*I am refraining from dragging the tone of the conversation down here* That does not surprise me in the slightest.

[ForeverGreen]

Chris, who in this fandom hasn't seen a picture of you at some point?

.....me .

[Cmdr Crayfish]

*I am refraining from dragging the tone of the conversation down here* That does not surprise me in the slightest.

Impostor. IMPOSTOR.

[ForeverRanger]

I am thinking of going next year. I have to save for plane tickets (I will be living in FL), board AND tickets. If I can rent a car, I may just sleep in it to save a few bucks.

This will mean choosing between this and Metrocon.How can I miss a chance to meet a couple of my rolemodels as a kid.

I think a couple people are locks to show up because of how passionate they are. Paul Shier (sp?), Dr. Jason Narvy, Blake Foster and Daniel Southworth would be four people I would be willing to bet money are going to be there (mainly the first three).

Also I haven't seen a picture of Chris.

[Cmdr Crayfish]

Dan did PMC both prior years despite other commitments simply because he had gaps in his schedule and was willing to drop by for a few panels. Dan Southworth is the man. Not quite to the level of Jackie Marchand, who actually paid out of pocket to attend the original convention because Maureen's staff had no idea who she was, but still pretty damned awesome.

And there's pictures of me plastered all over dozens of people's PMC albums. Tagged usually. I'm in pictures on the official group too. When somebody is working the floor staff it isn't hard to spot them.

[DrBravo2]

Prior to PMC1, were there any photos of you online? I feel like you were a phantom for a long time.

[Cmdr Crayfish]

There were none.

[DrBravo2]

So, for all we know, you're a fake Chris Funaro who killed the real one and usurped his identity online?

[Quark]

That would make sense, he is the guy who helped that girl and her sister hack people's accounts a while back.


...Sorry, I couldn't help it.

[DrBravo2]

That's the best part. Fake Chris Funaro got hacked by ANOTHER Fake Chris Funaro.

[ForeverRanger]

The reason I said Dan anyway was because you know you are passionate about a show that you try out TWICE (7 years a part but still). Paul and Jason were because their panels are the best. Blake is because well he is Blake. I would love to see Johnny this year but that man is the busiest past ranger I have seen. He has his own band, he does indy films AND he is the voice of a main character of a series that is going near 400 chapters in the comics. I think he upsurps JDF as busy.

[O.92]

Eh, I was hoping it'd be earlier in the summer, but whatever. It still won't deter me from going, not even if it's on Christmas Day.


This will mean choosing between this and Metrocon.How can I miss a chance to meet a couple of my rolemodels as a kid.

Choose this. You won't regret it.


I think a couple people are locks to show up because of how passionate they are. Paul Shier (sp?), Dr. Jason Narvy, Blake Foster and Daniel Southworth would be four people I would be willing to bet money are going to be there (mainly the first three).

A lot of those are very likely, but I would say that the only definitive lock if Blake Foster lol.

[Cmdr Crayfish]

Oh, I'd guarantee only hell on earth could keep Paulie or Narv away.

[Alpha 5]

Well then be thankfull PMC isn't on december 21 then lol

[Cmdr Crayfish]

Nonsense, they might choose to skip the apocalypse for Morphicon. Given my druthers...

[ForeverRanger]

Show me two people short of Blake and Dan that have as much love towards the series as those two. When you are on a show for more than half a decade that is love.

[mariescott]

I had been upset when it was announced that Dan was cancelled. When I mentioned it to Jason Faunt he actually called him to remind him to stop by if he could. Unfortunately I missed getting his autograph. Grrr.

[Amazing Grace]

Dan was moving around an awful lot when he wasn't dropping into panels, every time I saw him he was in a random place.

[mariescott]

He seems like he would be hard to pin down. I think he likes to be in as many places as he can so all of his fans have a chance to see him.

[Amazing Grace]

Yeah, especially when it was hit or miss whether he would turn up, so he didn't have his own spot at the guests table. I think it took a good 15 minutes for people to notice him when he was first wandering around downstairs.

[Amazing Grace]

Just make sure that you bring something to amuse yourself with whilst you're queuing for JDF...

[mariescott]

I know. The line was across the floor and up two flights of the stairs. I waited until the last day and the line got cut off four people away from me.

[Amazing Grace]

Yeah, you either need to go late in the day or leave one of his panels a few minutes early to jump in the queue.

[Amazing Grace]

I think I can safely say that 80% of people there got the autograph AND the pro photo, even if his photo was by far the most expensive.

[mariescott]

They usually charged anywhere from $5-25. Some of them would sign homemade things for free as long as it wasn't official merchandise. A couple just asked that you donate to their charity or the official charity of choice for PMC. The pro photo ran upwards from $20 I believe.

[Amazing Grace]

Yeah, you're right. The most expensive autograph was $30 (Kerrigan Mahan, voice of Goldar). More than most of the pro photos were $20, JDF's was $40.

[mariescott]

Some of them would also sell photos to get autographed. Also for the most part they will sign anything you bring.

[Alpha 5]

40 dollars wow that's expencive

[Alpha 5]

I'd like to be able to go but there is no way :( , but i would have to save like 400 to come and have an extra 200 to do all the things with the cast an what not lol. and i'd really like that Alpha suit too :( lol

[ForeverRanger]

I intend on going. The trip will be worth it. Only thing is the cost of the ticket and board. If anyone in the Jacksonville FL area are going to go let me know.

[mariescott]

I actually bought a round trip ticket for $319 on Expedia flying out from Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach Fl.

[Amazing Grace]

I intend on going. The trip will be worth it. Only thing is the cost of the ticket and board. If anyone in the Jacksonville FL area are going to go let me know.

For your board, the best thing to do is to get yourself some roommates. The 'Standard' rooms at the Sheraton sleep 4 people, which works out at about $30 each per night. If you hop over to the PMC forums, there'll be loads of people in the same boat and looking for roommates come next year.

[Amazing Grace]

That's not too bad a total if that includes everything you need. How long will you be staying for?

[Amazing Grace]

Aww, too bad, would've been great to see a new face there :sad:

[Daniel 1 Red]

This is some great information everyone. And I am still uncertain as to whether or not Ill even be able to make the trip. Well see...