#72 - Bill Geradts Interview (Armageddon Expo, Celebrity Guests, Business, Venues etc.)

The Armageddon Expo is NZ's biggest Multi-Genre
Entertainment/Comic Book Convention and has been running for over
20 years. Bill Geradts is the founder of the expo.


SOCIAL MEDIA


WEBSITE - https://www.armageddonexpo.com/


FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/Armageddonexpo


TWITTER - @Armageddonexpo


INSTAGRAM - @Armageddonexpo


 


TIMESTAMPS


 


00:00 - Intro


00:25 - How Armageddon Expo Was Created


01:50 - Bill Is Surprised By How Big Armageddon
Became/Contemplating Retirement


04:34 - Why There Aren’t More Conventions/Armageddon Isn’t A
Corporate Company


07:29 - Regional Shows Vs Auckland Shows/Negative Comments


09:07 - How Bill Decides Guest List


10:20 - How Covid Changed How Armageddon Was Planned/Positives
From Covid


13:45 - Things To Consider For Guests At Armageddon 2021


14:44 - Accomodation For Celebrities Guests


15:33 - Corporate Companies Prevented Proper Showings This Year


16:34 - Cons Of Singular Events/Armageddons Expo Advantage Of
Diversity


20:01 - Armageddon Foot Traffic Annually


20:55 - How Long It Takes To Organise Auckland Armageddon Expo


22:20 - Bill’s Daily Schedule/Holidays


24:02 - Bill Is Inspired By Other Conventions Overseas/Comic Con


25:25 - Bill Cuts Off Trolls On Social Media/Fans Don’t
Appreciate Jeopardising Business


27:02 - Dunedin Armageddon Expo Didn’t Make Money/Bad Press In
Dunedin


28:34 - Armageddon Expo Wouldn’t Have Survived Without Wage
Subsidy


29:35 - Armageddon Barely Breaks Even


30:29 - Balancing Business Vs Accomodating Fans


30:58 - Guests Bill Hasn’t Managed To Get Yet For The Expo


31:36 - Getting NZ Based Guests Is Difficult/Peter Jackson/Agents
Are Difficult


33:40 - Cost Of Bringing Guests Over


35:07 - Certain Agents Are Difficult


36:51 - NZ Is Not Unique For Actors


37:28 - Armageddon Expo Is Limited By Small Venues In NZ


39:35 - Bill Could Get More Celebrities If Venues Were
Bigger/Exploring VR


41:20 - Corporates Entirely Revolve Around America


42:04 - On Investors Buying Armageddon


42:40 - 2020 Has Been A Stressful Year For Bill


44:01 - No One Else Could Start A Convention Like Armageddon


44:56 - Armageddon Expo Usually Runs Very Well/Last Minute
Problems


46:49 - Sponsors


47:53 - Bill Delegates A Lot Of Work


49:53 - How Bill Stays Up With Whats Going On


53:50 - Blocking Out Negativity/2021


55:08 - Where To Follow Armageddon Expo On Social Media