TFExpo 2018 has been announced! The Midwest’s Transformers convention returns for its sixth year, moving from Wichita to Kansas City, Missouri.
Two guests have been announced so far – voice actor Gregg Berger (Grimlock in Generation 1, Fall of Cybertron, and Power of the Primes; Generation 1 Long Haul; Generation 1 Skyfire) and artist Casey Coller (IDW comics artist, Transformers Ironhide, and Robots in Disguise, as well as a whole host of cover artwork for IDW).
TFExpo 2018 will be held over the weekend of 3 – 4 August, 2018, at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri. Pre-registration is now open, with tickets starting from $20 – please visit the TFExpo tickets page for more information on tickets that are available and what it gets you.
Be sure to visit the TFExpo homepage for more information, and follow TFExpo on Facebook for further updates.
pcsguy88
I was only there for 1-2hrs prime time on Saturday, but I'm guessing less than 200 people total. There were 10 vendor booths with a nice selection of TFs both new and used, spanning all lines and even some 3rd party stuff. The other room(s?) for panels and events were away from the vendor room and I can't say much about them since I only went to the cosplay judging on my way out. Maybe there were more scattered about, but the 100'ish peeps in the vendor room made it awfully crowded and hard to maneuver the 6ft wide circular path with only 1 entrance/exit. It was excellent for a local TF shopping trip, but I would have been incredibly letdown had I traveled out of state.
The only trip worthy convention we have is Planet Comicon KC which fills an actual convention hall downtown, has 100's of cosplayers and 10's of thousands of guests. Unfortunately only a few booths sell good Transformers there and I make a point to buy an MP each time just for the experience of being able to buy one offline.
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SWAGE66
Probly, but pictures help. I’m used to Botcon and Tfcon – and while I don’t expect all that, I am curious to see how it looks compared to some toy shows here in Ohio. For example, the next big one gets people by the thousands, but it’s also not TF-specific. I figured if it was similar-looking to Slagacon, would be a better draw than some other small shows here.
pcsguy88
Would be nice if they'd move it somewhere in Overland Park. Anywhere but the old grungy KC hotels that nobody wants to get a room at. The Adams Mark is in serious need of a post 1970's renovation.
Optimus4EVER
Totally worth the trip if you ask me!
Optimus4EVER
Ooooo! They are! Please stay around here Expo!
pcsguy88
The hotel was crap, so just imagine a medium sized room in the basement crammed with a ring of vendors all selling mostly TFs. Photos would scare any normal person off, but luckily they realize this and are looking for a new location for next year.
SWAGE66
Does anyone have any photos from the show…? I can’t even find more than a handful on Facebook. Might be up for a trip down from Ohio next year, just curious to see how it all plays out vs what we get around here.
Optimus4EVER
Thank you very much.
Optimus4EVER
Yeah, he was cool…would you mind sending me the pics you have of…of well me….in a pm please.
pcsguy88
That was an impressive hand-stitched dress.
Creedog
Nope! I didn’t wear a costume. I got my picture with the guy in the big Optimus costume though.
Optimus4EVER
….were you in the big Optimus costume?
Creedog
Yep, if you were the one in the costume comp! I even have pictures of you… ok too creepy, backing up…
Optimus4EVER
Same here, I was a deluxe ticket holder, was in the panel too, maybe you saw the girl in the OP dress. That was me!
Creedog
I had an absolute blast. I had no idea what I was getting in to, or how absolutely lucky I was. I spent so much time chatting with Greg and Paul it was unbelievable.
I got to sit next to Paul (with Greg right on the other side of him) for the Friday night movie. I literally got to chat about my favorite parts of the 1986 Transformers film with Perceptor and Grimlock. I got to bitch to them about how shocking it was to watch Brawn, Prowl, Ironhide, etc die as a kid.
I then got to attend a panel with them where they talked about the old days and took questions from the audience (including mine). It was a really small and intimate room.
Then I got to audition, in my own made up Transformer voices, with the actual Grimlock and Perceptor, in character. Like, I got to perform with some of my childhood heroes, and then get
encouragement from them. Just crazy.
Then I got to sit with them again at the happy hour, where they told even more stories and just shared their life with us.
Then I got to sit at the same table as Greg for the dinner, and there were like maybe 8 of us, so I got to chat a bunch with him again.
And then we got to perform the script with them after dinner. So cool!! And then said farewellls and chatted even more.
I also got selfies with both of them at the vendors tables of course, where they were more than happy to just chat if there wasn’t a line. And Greg signed my MP Grimlock.
That’s just not how normal conventions work.
Anyway, definitely a once in a life time experience. It was so truly great.
Both Paul and Greg were really great people, always taking the time to deal with us nerds in the nicest ways, and always just friendly and cheerful.
Optimus4EVER
Hey, everyone on here, please tell the TFExpo folks you loved them being in KC! Then please beg that next year they try to get Mr. Peter Cullen & Mr. Frank Welker and Miss Sarah Stone! Please guys!
Optimus4EVER
Didn't you go to the panels?
pcsguy88
Not sure why it cost so much to get into a room full of vendors and nothing else. At least I was able to trade for the NIB G1 boughts I brought home, not spending any additional money.
138 Scourge
Yeah, that ruled! What a great time!
Optimus4EVER
I don't know about you guys……THAT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! I recorded a bunch on my personal recorder! That was amazing! Can't wait for next year! Already working on my costume! Maybe even my baby/sparkling Optimus will come…who knows?!