#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