If you have questions, feel free to e-mail us any time. Because we receive so many questions every day, please review the information below to see if your question can be answered below.
Q: When is the Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Convention (often referred to as MANC)?
MANC used to take place annually in September. The dates are selected by arrangement with the hotel, doing our best to avoid Federal and religious holidays. This year it will be September 22-24, 2011. Future dates will be held the second weekend of August 9 to 11, 2012, August 8 to 10, 2013 and August 7 to 9, 2014.
Q: Where is MANC held?
In the past, MANC was held at the Clarion Hotel in Aberdeen, Maryland. As of this year, it will be held at the Hunt Valley Marriott, located about 25 minutes from the previous hotel. The address is 245 Shawan Road, Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031. The hotel is located 20 minutes North of Baltimore. For GPS, enter the address listed above. If necessary, use Mapquest to get directions from your house to the hotel. If you have a question or problem getting to the hotel, call the hotel at 410-785-7000.
Q: Why is the event Thursday to Saturday and not Friday to Sunday?
Half of the conventions held across the country actually run from Thursday to Saturday. We discovered that oftentimes the busiest day of the convention is Thursday and hundreds flock in on Wednesday night as the vendors are setting up. It is not unusual for an event to be held on Thursday to Saturday and this has not impaired the attendance.
Q: Where can I park and how much is it?
Parking is free at the hotel.
Q: Where can I eat?
There are a number of dining locations inside the hotel as well as Carrabba's, McDonald's, Burger King, Quiznos and many others within walking distance.
ADMISSION AND REGISTRATION
Q: Why do I have to pay admission?
Running a convention costs money. Flying the Hollywood celebrities from California is not cheap. There are no conventions that we are aware of that offers free admission (though we wouldn't be surprised if there was at least one). The admission fee grants you access to everything at the hotel. All of the events, celebrities, panel and seminars, and vendor room. The only thing the admission fee does not cover is the dinner banquet, which is a separate fee. Most conventions charge $25 or $30 per day for admission. Our costs are competitively lower.
Q: Can I pay my admission fee at the door?
Yes, you can. Remember the cost at the door is a few bucks more than if you pre-pay your registration fee in advance.
Q: What if I need to cancel my registration?
Regrettably, we cannot refund pre-registration fees. We can carry it over to the next year, but that is a decision made by the convention promoter and not guaranteed.
Q: When is pre-registration?
Pre-Registration runs throughout the year but is not available one month before the convention begins. Generally, the cut off date is September 1. This means you cannot pre-register two days before the event because by that time we already have the pre-registration list printed out at the front desk.
Q: I like the idea of saving money by paying in advance. How do I pre-register?
Click on the Registration page for all of the details. You can pay by credit card, Paypal, check or money order. You can pre-register by mail or by phone (443) 286-6821.
Q: If I pre-register by credit card, do you keep my information on file?
No. Once your card is charged, we destroy the information. So if you pre-register two years in a row, you have to give us your info again.
Q: Can I pre-register a friend?
You can pre-register anyone you want. Your wife, your mother-in-law, your friend... anyone. Just make sure to give us the name and names of the party or parties attending.
Q: Do you offer a discount on group registrations?
At this time we do not offer discounts for groups. Pre-registering is $10 per person, per day. That's $15 less than most conventions so we cannot afford to go any lower.
Q: Do you offer a military discount on admission fees?
At this time we do not offer discounts to those serving in the military.
Q: What are the onsite Registration hours?
Hours for onsite registration and customer service is generally 8:30 am to 5:30 p.m.
Q: Do I receive anything to confirm pre-registration?
Yes. We either e-mail you a confirmation or mail you a confirmation. You do not need to bring your confirmation to the convention because we will have you on the registration list. If you do not receive a registration confirmation, contact us for verification. At the convention, you will be handed a badge to wear and a goody bag.
Q: I can’t seem to purchase my pre-registration by Paypal. Can you help?
We cannot control Paypal or their rare computer hiccups, but you can either try again later in the day or call us on the phone to pre-register by credit card.
Q: I am a member of the press. Can I get free admission in return for publicizing your event?
Yes, but under three conditions. One, you must be a valid member of the press, not a fan who has a blog. Two, you must pre-publicize the event. Publicity after the event isn't beneficial for us. Three, you must send us information about the radio station or newspaper or magazine you work for and a copy of the publicity. Too many people are using the "I am a member of the press" without any verification, to get free passes.
HOTEL
Q: Why is MANC being held at a new hotel this year?
To avoid the over-crowded conditions we experienced last year, we have moved to a new hotel to take advantage of a greater expanded celebrity/vendor room. This is our new and permanent location.
Q: When can I book my hotel room?
If you want to book your room at the hotel, you can do so at any time by calling the hotel direct at 410-785-7000.
We do recommend that you book your room early. Many times in the past people had problems getting rooms because they were sold out ahead of schedule.
Q: How much do the hotels cost?
The hotel offers a competitive price and a special "convention rate". Area hotels cost more so you defintely want to book your room at the convention price with the Hunt Valley Marriott. If you are not certain about the hotel rate, book your room and then contact Martin at 443-286-6821. Martin can verify with the hotel and ensure that they change it to the convention rate for your convenience. The best price is the convention rate.
Remember that you can share a room with a friend who is also going to the event and thus cut your cost in half!
Q: What should I do if the MANC housing block sells out?
Call Martin at 443-286-6821 and he'll see what he can do.
Q: I called the hotel directly to get a room and they told me are all sold out and/or they don't have the special convention rate in their system. What is up with that?
It would most likely be a computer glitch. Call Martin and he'll see what he can do.
Q: Do you assist with rooming people together?
MANC does not actively assist with finding or selecting roommates, and cannot be held responsible for your safety and convenience in this regard. We allow registered users to seek roommates by posting queries on web-sites and/or making friends at the event.
Q: After I book an airline flight, how do I get to the hotel?
The hotel does not have shuttle service. However, we have a volunteer staff willing to pick you up and take you back under one very strict condition: You must let us know in advance what day and time and airline you are coming and going. We then mark you on the schedule and one of the volunteers makes the arrangements. If you do not notify us in advance, and we receive a call out of the middle of nowhere asking for transportation, you will have to wait till the next available pickup. This is not something you do days before the event so book early and notify us as early as possible. If you are unsure whether we have you down on the schedule, e-mail or call us for a confirmation. We encourage you to do this.
CHILDREN
Q: Are kids welcome at the show?
Yes! MANC is a family friendly show and welcomes attendees of any age. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an attending adult. Children over the age of 12 are subject to the standard badge costs.
Q: I want to pre-register my child that is 12 and under, what do I do?
Since we cannot accurately validate the age of children over the internet, we do not allow pre-registration for children ages 12 and under. You will not need to pre-register them. Mary Ethel and her volunteer at the front desk will hand the child their own badge.
Q: What if my child is lost?
If your child is missing please report to the Customer Service desk or any MANC staff member.
PROMOTIONAL AND FLYERS
Q: Do you have a mailing list?
Yes. We encourage everyone to register their name and mailing address. We send out a mailing once a year to notify you of next year's convention.
Q: I didn't get a flyer promoting this year's event. Why?
This could be for a number of reasons.
1. The post office returned the envelope/flyer claiming the address no longer existed.
2. You might have moved and not updated your mailing address with us.
3. The post office could have lost the mailing.
We strongly encourage everyone to keep us informed of their latest mailing address. If you are not certain, simply e-mail us with your contact information and we'll make sure you are put on the list.
Q: Do you have an e-mail notification that will send me updates and reminders?
Yes. Simply e-mail us and ask to be put on the e-mail mailing list. But we still encourage you be put on the mailing list as well.
Q: Can I have extra flyers to pass out to friends?
Definitely. If you need any flyers, simply let us know how many you need and the address to ship them to. There is no limit to the number of flyers we will ship you so don't be shy. If you know of a comic book store, film festival or nostalgia-related event that might be beneificial and are willing to pass out flyers or place them on freebee/flyer tables, let us know. We'll be more than glad to mail you flyers.
Q: How can I help to promote MANC?
Anyone interested in promoting the convention will be able to download and print a PulpFest flyer that is available in PDF format by clicking here. These can be distributed at book and collectibles shows, conventions, bookstores or comic shops or sent with mail-order shipments.
CELEBRITIES
Q: Do the celebrities charge for autographs?
Yes. Many times they are charging a small fee to be donated to their favorite charity. While a couple celebrities may not charge for autographs at the event, at their discretion, be prepared to pay them for a glossy photo and autograph simply because it is common among conventions everywhere. Twenty years ago autographs were free but in the last ten to fifteen years, celebrities began charging for their autograph, again, usually for a charity of their choice. The usual price (can it can change from celebrity to celebrity) is $20 for star and they usually provide several different glossy photos for you to choose from.
Q: Can I bring something of my own and ask them to sign it?
Yes. You can bring any merchandise, board games, collectible, etc. to the show and ask the celebrity to sign it. However, they may still charge a fee at their discretion.
Q: Is there a possibility that a celebrity cancels their appearance?
Yes. Due to health reasons or professional committments, a celebrity can cancel at the last minute. This is why all printed matter and our web-site fully discloses "all events and celebrities are subject to change." Barry Morse was once scheduled to attend and had to cancel two days before the convention due to health reasons. (He passed away a couple months later.)
Some events promote celebrities who verbally say "I'm interested." We don't do that. We don't promote a celebrity unless they sign a contract agreeing to attend. If a celebrity regrettably cancels, we will try to have them again the next year. (We can name dozens of shows where stars cancelled on them at the last minute.) We do update our site when we are notified that the celebrity is not able to attend, but cannot revise printed flyers that have already been distributed. Always check the web-site for the latest updates.
All of the celebrities will be there all three days.
One exception: Davy Jones will be signing Friday and Saturday only.
Q: I am an agent who represents a celebrity. How do I go about submitting a proposal?
Simply e-mail us with a proposal. We are not interested in WWE wrestlers and Playboy Playmates. For an example of the kind of celebrities we prefer to book, please see this year's guest lineup. We don't feature thirty celebrities so we reserve the right to be picky and selective. To date, we have never had a problem with a celebrity but we have had many problems with agents so please don't contact us being pushy, rude or insultive. It's a waste of our time and other convention promoters attend MANC so agents who are a "problem" only kill their chances for other venues (and this has happened already). Celebrities can also solicit personally, without representation.
We also prefer to have our guest lineup completed by mid-February. The reason is because our full-color glossy flyers go to print the first week of March and there is no reason for us to cover expenses for a celebrity that we cannot promote. This is also in the celebrity's favor, as more people knowing about the event will come with the intention of meeting the celebrity.
Q: Can a celebrity attend the event at the last minute without any advance notice?
Yes. This has happened in the past. However, those celebrities (agents take note) did not do as well in autograph sales as those that were advertised. We don't cover expenses for celebrities we cannot promote beginning in March. But if you are attending the show, always be prepared for an added guest or two at the last minute.
Q: Can you forward me the contact information for one or more of your celebrities?
No. We respect the privacy of our guest celebrities. We do not give out their contact information.
SEMINARS AND PRESENTATIONS
Q: Where do you get the ideas for the panels and seminars and how are they created?
MANC has an open-door policy and encourages authors, scholars and fans to host a panel or presentation. Whether it's the history of Popeye, the Sailor or a slide show presentation about the Howdy Doody television show, we are open to ideas. If you have a suggestion, send it to us. And if you are an author, it's an opportunity to promote your book subject at the same time.
Q: I would like to do a presentation at your convention.
Please remember that this is a nostalgia event. Presentations about WWE Wrestling, for example, are not nostalgic and will not be accepted. See the schedule of events for a basic idea of what we allow. We have a limited number of hours per day so events are scheduled on a first-come, first serve basis. If you have a preference, let us know what day and time you prefer and we'll try our best but no guarantees are offered.
You must submit your proposal via e-mail to Martin at mmargrajr (at) hotmail.com and wait for approval. We need the name of the presentation, a one or two sentence description that explains what the presentation is about and make sure it intrigues the casual reader and attendee. The better written, the more people will attend. The more mainstream the subject, the more people will attend. Your event will not be scheduled without permission and approval from Martin or Michelle. Submitting a proposal is not a definite guarantee it will be scheduled. Once approved, please make sure to promote your presentation on web-sites, message boards, chat rooms, newsletters, fan clubs and other venues that might seek an interest.
Q: Do people who offer a presentation get paid?
No. All of the seminars and presentations are volunteer based. Even the convention staff are volunteers. We have been turning down authors and fans for presentations every year because the schedule gets booked solid in advance, so there is no shortage of presentations.
Q: What do I need to bring for my presentation?
Obviously be on time and be early. We do have most of the major equipment including a DVD player, laptop and video projector with screen. A CD player is also available. However, do not assume that we have everything so the rule of thumb is if you want to be certain everything goes flawless, be 110% prepared and bring all of the necessary equipment as backup just in case.
Q: I am the producer of an independent documentary and would like to have it screened at your festival.
You must submit your documentary via DVD to the convention address, with a formal request in writing. If it fits within our criteria (nostalgia), and we have room on the schedule, we will contact you. Same terms above apply.
Q: I saw something on your movie schedule I would like to see but I cannot attend the event. Can I get a copy mailed to me?
Sorry, but we do not fulfill those requests. To make it worth the travel for attendees, we specialize in screening rare films you cannot normally get on DVD or see on TV. If we were to fulfill that request, it would defeat the purpose of scheduling the movie in our movie room.
Q: I saw a title listed on your schedule that has since been replaced with another. What gives?
The movie schedule can sometimes change at the last minute. The reasons vary. Sometimes the volunteer staff responsible for bringing the selected movie discovered the picture quality was not good enough for viewing. Sometimes the print gets lost. Sometimes we decide on a different film that will peak more interest. But once we post the film on our web-site on the movie schedule, we try to keep it accurate till the day of the event.
VENDORS
Q: I want to be a vendor at your event. How do I go about this?
E-mail us your name and mailing address. We will mail you a vendor contract that has to be signed and paid for in advance. Tables are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis until they are sold out. Even if you have been to the event in years past, it is still a first-come, first-serve basis.
If tables are sold out, you should still send us your info so you are put on the waiting list so you won't mis out on next year. We are expanding and adding tables every year.
Q: If tables are sold out, can I show up with my own tables?
No. The fire marshal verifies the table layout to meet fire codes. We are under contract with the hotel. Providing your own tables or selling merchandise in your hotel room or outside the hotel in the parking lot will not be tolerated. It's not fair to those who paid for their tables. If necessary, we will enforce hotel security.
Q: What are the hours for vendor rooms?
Thursday, Friday and Saturday are scheduled and promoted 9 am to 5 pm. Vendors can stay open after 5 pm, but generally most of them start closing for the day around 5 to 5:30 so if you plan to visit the vendor room, arrive early. Wednesday night is the informal set-up, but a few vendors do set up on Thursday morning. Warning: Many vendors pack a little early on Saturday afternoon so don't procrastinate and show up at the door late. The earlier you show up, the better the bargains!
ASSORTED
Q: I am a convention promoter and would like to have flyers promoting my event at MANC. Do I have to contact you in advance?
No. We have a freebee table for people to place promotional materials for distribution. Just bring them to the convention and put them on the table. We do have a goody bag that is handed to every attendee. If you want your flyer/brochure in the goody bags, contact us for details. We do not charge a fee for this service but we do have a "return favor" policy that we'll go into detail when you contact us.
Q: I would like to donate items for the charity auction. How do I do this?
Simply bring the items to the convention. We will not turn anything down. Please remember that this is a nostalgia event so Playboy Magazines from last year will not be accepted. The more valuable the item, the more money it will raise. All items will be put on display on tables Friday afternoon, a few hours before the auction begins. You may place your item(s) on the tables on Friday.
Q: Do I have to pre-register for my dinner tickets in advance?
We recommend you do this. The tickets are limited and sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. Even if you attended the dinner in past years, they are still sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. If they are sold out before the convention begins, there will be no tickets sold at the door.
Q: How do I get to act in the old time radio recreation?
You don't have to sign up or pre-register. Just show up at the time of rehearsals and tryout for a role. Don Ramlow, the director, picks the voices he feels are best for the roles.
Q: I noticed that you have a radio station broadcasting live from the event.
Yes, Radio Once More will be broadcasting "live" from the event at selected hours.
Q: Can I photograph or video tape during the convention?
Yes. Please be considerate if someone at the event asks that they not be photographed.
Q: Can I post video clips and/or photos on the web?
Yes. Please make sure to spell the convention web-site correctly. We appreciate you promoting the event.
Q: How can I have a link to my web-site, posted on your links page?
Simply cut and paste our header as a banner ad and web-site address as a link on your site, and then contact us with your banner ad or web-site link and we'll exchange the favor.
If your question was not answered in the above, contact us at mmargrajr (at) hotmail.com or call us at 443-286-6821
