3.22 - The Urban Nerd Con II

[00:00:00] Hi, this is Roy Evans, the executive director of the Urban NerdCon, our heroes, our villains,

[00:00:06] our stories, everyone's con. Make sure you tune in and check out the SyFy Sistas. No

[00:00:13] better SyFy talk anywhere on the worldwide web, baby.

[00:00:30] Hey everybody, welcome to the SyFy Sistas podcast where we give you our point of view. I'm

[00:00:55] to meet Harper and I'm joined by my sister's event, Black Mantine. Hello. And Sabrina Wood.

[00:01:03] We got a fantastic show because we have one of our very first honest to God for true repeat

[00:01:15] guest on and we're really, really excited to bring him back. He is the CEO of Jericho Broadcasting

[00:01:23] Network, which is the world's first HBCU sports network. And he is the founder and the director

[00:01:30] of our favorite one of our favorite cons, the Urban NerdCon. So please welcome everybody, Roy Evans. Hi, Roy.

[00:01:39] Hey. Hello.

[00:01:44] Hi, ladies.

[00:01:46] How are you?

[00:01:48] We're great. How are you?

[00:01:50] Look, I feel like super special now being the first repeat guest because I was so geeked

[00:01:56] the first time. Like I told everybody about your show and it's just like, oh my God.

[00:02:00] Black women talking stuff. You got to go.

[00:02:04] So yeah, I'm geeked and honored to be your first repeat guest.

[00:02:10] We're honored to have you back, buddy because we like you as a human being. You're really cool.

[00:02:16] And he really is y'all.

[00:02:18] Y'all need to look this brother up and check out Jericho Broadcasting Network because what he does in his real life

[00:02:24] is really phenomenal and amazing for Black folks and HBCUs and sports.

[00:02:30] And he's like only just the beginning.

[00:02:33] We also really, really love you because we super, super love the Urban NerdCon and what it stands for.

[00:02:41] Why it exists and what it's all about and we're so far behind you.

[00:02:45] We like we just we got everything behind you. I said so far behind you.

[00:02:50] So far behind you.

[00:02:52] But that's not what I meant.

[00:02:54] It's coming out of my mouth and I'm hearing it.

[00:02:57] We catch you now.

[00:02:59] So despite my twisted tongue, Roy, can you please tell us what the Urban NerdCon is and why it's important.

[00:03:12] Wow. So the Urban NerdCon is something that I've been dreaming about for years.

[00:03:18] Of course, you know, we are of a certain age and growing up in the 70s and 80s and being a Black Nerd was not as.

[00:03:28] Easy as it is now and getting engaged in a lot of things.

[00:03:34] But we know that there were thousands of us out there and we wanted to create a space.

[00:03:40] There were two primary reasons.

[00:03:42] One, well three, I'm sorry.

[00:03:44] One to create a space for us to gather and feel at home.

[00:03:49] You know, you talk about the Jericho Broadcasting Networks as well as the Black College Sports Network,

[00:03:55] the Division of the Company that does the HVCU Sports.

[00:03:58] Okay.

[00:03:59] That was born out of my time at Florida A&M University.

[00:04:03] Right.

[00:04:04] And having been, you know, I was honors AP student throughout, you know, my regular schooling.

[00:04:10] So I was always one of two or three Black kids in the class.

[00:04:15] You know, if we had that.

[00:04:17] But I then had the opportunity to go to Florida A&M.

[00:04:21] And now I have friends who are literal rocket scientists.

[00:04:25] I have friends, you know, I was the average guy on campus.

[00:04:29] And being around that kind of Black brilliance was like, you know, we've got to, it,

[00:04:35] it caused me to want to permeate that through all of the other stuff that we did.

[00:04:39] And so my nerddom was like, yeah, yeah, we got to create almost like that kind of HVCU feeling at a con so that we don't feel marginalized.

[00:04:48] Like, you know, we feel kind of, oh, they threw something together for us as Black folks at this con if they do it.

[00:04:54] You know, where we can all just be there and gather.

[00:04:58] So that was, that was one of the, that was the other or the first primary reason.

[00:05:03] The second reason we started the con was because we wanted to celebrate the people who have been in this industry who look like us who have never gotten their due.

[00:05:13] And not just those who are in front of the camera that we've seen.

[00:05:18] But also those who have been in the comic book area,

[00:05:23] who were drawing and writing these comic books, creating these characters, creating these stories.

[00:05:30] And all of those kinds of things, you know,

[00:05:34] we were always there.

[00:05:36] It's just that nobody knew because they never were publicized.

[00:05:39] They never were put out front.

[00:05:41] So that was another thing that we want to celebrate our folks who were trailblazers and people who paved the way for the this generation of comic folks.

[00:05:52] And then the biggest thing, and this is part of the kind of rolls through is I wanted to create a safe space for young glards.

[00:06:01] I wanted them to be able to go somewhere and see everything that looks like them out in space, out in fantasy, in horror, whatever it is because our kids believe they achieve what they believe they can do.

[00:06:20] Right.

[00:06:21] And the biggest way to do that is to let them see it.

[00:06:24] If they see themselves in spaces, or if they see adults in spaces that look like them,

[00:06:30] it makes it so much easier for that child to be like, hey, I can do that then this guy can do it.

[00:06:35] I can do that.

[00:06:36] That lady can be over there.

[00:06:37] I can be in this.

[00:06:38] I can do this kind of stuff.

[00:06:39] You know, I can fly the bars and do all these kinds of things.

[00:06:43] I can create a book and and put it out there. So those are the, that was the big thing is making sure that our young blurr had a space that would inspire them and spark their imaginations.

[00:06:55] I love it.

[00:06:56] I love everything about that right?

[00:06:58] I do too.

[00:06:59] I mean, I really like that idea of you know, having a space that feels like an HBCU space that you had.

[00:07:07] That was really a great way to phrase it because you know, I went to a predominantly white college and I know I sometimes I was saying today I said I'm jealous sometimes that they didn't go to one.

[00:07:17] But you know, I love my school.

[00:07:18] Don't yell at me Holy Cross who say this but you know, every time you know we have with its homecoming weekend here at Harvard University this weekend.

[00:07:26] And I'm like, yeah, I'm not a biasing.

[00:07:31] And this is one of the things we talk about just as an aside with the HBCUs.

[00:07:37] Everybody in this country who is as we like to just put it as a of African descent has a connection to an HBCU.

[00:07:44] We true.

[00:07:45] So all you have to do is find one and support it and trust me they will bring you in like family.

[00:07:50] And and treat you as such, but you know that's what we do is a culture.

[00:07:55] That is how we function.

[00:07:57] And so that's the key to it, you know, and I spent time, you know, I tell people I actually spent time at a PW, I predominantly white institution too.

[00:08:06] And it was it was it was a completely different feeling.

[00:08:10] So I you know, I'm speaking from the experience of both sides.

[00:08:13] That's great.

[00:08:15] I wish I wish I had that experience of both sides as well.

[00:08:18] Me too, you know, but I got to go to urban nerd con and get a little bit of that.

[00:08:24] Yeah, that's it.

[00:08:26] So now last year at the con one of the things that we loved the most.

[00:08:35] And I think one of the things that resonated the most with our listeners was the young nerd badges and the opportunity to sponsor.

[00:08:44] Or you know, and provide badges for young kids.

[00:08:50] Can you talk about those a little bit?

[00:08:52] Oh listen, I absolutely will that like said the young nerds are our biggest mission in this.

[00:08:59] And so what we'd like to do is we're hoping that people will donate the badges.

[00:09:03] So we we moved it this year.

[00:09:05] Well, we're planned to be in Atlanta this year.

[00:09:08] And we will be in Atlanta in 2024 and we'll come back to all of that and talk about what happened with it.

[00:09:13] And there are I know there are four major counties.

[00:09:16] I think there's one other one that I'm trying to remember it.

[00:09:19] I can't I can't seem to remember it.

[00:09:21] Our goal is to be able to give a minimum of a thousand badges to each school district and have the kids come out.

[00:09:31] And they can pick it out and we're going to tell them it's like hey, we want to and we're going to push this thing and use it as a reward for academic success for social success in the classes.

[00:09:41] And things of that nature.

[00:09:43] The badges are 25 bucks, but out of that every child gets 10 bucks to spend at the con.

[00:09:52] They will and the goal for that is that we don't want any child to leave the event without something again that sparks their imagination.

[00:10:00] And I have to do a quick shout out because when we did this year one in Montgomery in 2022.

[00:10:07] And I can't think of his last name, but David Gregory one of your David Gregory.

[00:10:12] Yes.

[00:10:13] Your listen dude you are the bomb.

[00:10:17] David supported it and he sent it in even when we had our issues like keep it then we're going to we know you're going to get this thing moving again.

[00:10:25] And I'm going to do more so we want to thank David and I'm going to say that now because I actually I think I told you bet about this David we got some special stuff for you coming to the con this year.

[00:10:35] Because of the fact that you were so supportive of those young nerd badges too.

[00:10:39] Yeah, David is a brother that I wish everybody in the world had an opportunity to meet because.

[00:10:46] You know we've been so blessed to get to know him during our journey and you know I'm putting him on blast because he's a humble extremely humble human being.

[00:11:00] Who is just embodies a deep well of generosity and love and he's the type of brother who puts his money where his mouth is like, you know, and you know he.

[00:11:15] He takes the actions he doesn't just talk to talk he walks the walk in every aspect of his life and he's such an amazing human being that I mean he's just really blessed all of our lives.

[00:11:28] And so David we love you to pieces.

[00:11:30] Thank you.

[00:11:31] Yeah.

[00:11:33] Yeah, my little digression sorry go ahead.

[00:11:38] It was good it was good.

[00:11:40] Well, this is another thing that I you know that I'm jealous of because the first con I ever went to I think I was 17 but that's because it was the first con.

[00:11:50] It was the very first con.

[00:11:52] I should qualify that.

[00:11:54] I'd been like the first Star Trek convention ever and I was 17.

[00:11:59] That's cool.

[00:12:00] But you were there.

[00:12:02] I was there boy.

[00:12:03] I was there from day one, but I wish I could have.

[00:12:06] That's awesome.

[00:12:07] Oh my god.

[00:12:08] I'm that you know what?

[00:12:11] Right.

[00:12:12] So I am so jealous of these kids to get to go to cons and like at eight nine and 10 because I would have been so loving that at that point.

[00:12:23] So that's just the age where you know those eyes are wide and they're just seeing all this stuff.

[00:12:29] And I love to watch them, you know find this stuff and just I can't wait to see him.

[00:12:35] I'm so excited about that.

[00:12:36] I really love it when kids get into sci-fi.

[00:12:38] That is one of my favorite things to see.

[00:12:41] Yeah.

[00:12:42] And I think that's one of the reasons like I mean,

[00:12:44] I mean, there's plenty of conventions around.

[00:12:47] But you know this is what one of the reasons why we love this convention so much, you know, is because again it's putting words into action.

[00:12:57] You know it's making a difference.

[00:12:59] It's not just, you know, it's taking it above one step above and beyond just a gathering of like-minded individuals right where we're a gathering of like-minded individuals with a purpose.

[00:13:12] You know, and particularly to be able to help in any way young nerds and specifically you know and a lot of time young black kids mainly.

[00:13:25] You know that's art emphasis that that's a beautiful thing to us, you know.

[00:13:29] Yeah, listen we are we make no bones about certain things and this stem from the top down as far as the Jericho broadcast networks.

[00:13:38] We say we are an unapologetically black network.

[00:13:41] You know, we are our stories again, our story, our culture, you know, our view of these things.

[00:13:48] But what we also say is that we create content that any reasonably intelligent person will enjoy.

[00:13:55] And so that is something, you know, we like to say that there we have more in common than we have a part but you have to be able and willing to look at those differences and be like,

[00:14:06] well, wait a minute, you know, I actually do kind of do that, you know, just be honest with yourself.

[00:14:11] Yeah.

[00:14:13] Yeah, I love it.

[00:14:16] So we got some good pricing coming up too.

[00:14:22] Yeah, but before you know what, before we get into pricing, can we talk it?

[00:14:26] I'm sorry, I want to take us a little bit back.

[00:14:28] I want to, like can we talk about some of the guests who will be coming this year?

[00:14:32] Sure we can do that. We can definitely do that.

[00:14:35] So we're going to go back where as we, one of the things that happened again, which Renew will talk about the reset is that we're going back to what we like to call our core group of guests who are our first group of folks that we're expecting to be there and these are the folks who were actually at the 2022 con down in Montgomery.

[00:14:54] And so we're looking at having as we like to call her now until you Dell Simmons.

[00:14:59] Yay.

[00:15:01] That was our track. We were Star Trek heavy, of course.

[00:15:04] You know that so Dell Simmons, Dave Fanoi voice actor, Kevin Grievous who's done Star Wars or Star Trek and also the writer of the Underworld series Anthony Edwards, who from Enterprise.

[00:15:20] Anthony Montgomery.

[00:15:23] Yeah, Anthony Montgomery.

[00:15:25] Yep and let's see we also I know I got the other one but I'm saving him for last because that's my guy he just said no.

[00:15:33] Oh, time-ok. How do I forget the last dragon?

[00:15:37] Oh yeah.

[00:15:38] So he'll be coming back again.

[00:15:41] We've actually also added Tim Russ is excited about coming out to the cons of where we're excited to have Tim Russ there.

[00:15:48] And his band right.

[00:15:50] Yeah, it's bad and his brother they're gonna perform where you're gonna do a concert at the event.

[00:15:55] Nice.

[00:15:56] And then of course Jake Cisco himself Sir Rock lopton.

[00:16:01] Yay.

[00:16:03] I told Sir Rock he you know he literally had me in tears.

[00:16:13] And then we were going to do some of the struggles and some of the things that were happening one with a first year con just really trying to pull things together.

[00:16:23] And he's a great dude and he is he is a great dude so he's one of the best.

[00:16:28] So yeah, yeah, we love him to brother.

[00:16:34] So but those are so those are our original guests that are coming.

[00:16:38] Well Tim Russ is new he's he's one of the new ones China McCoy if you saw the matrix he was the action body double for Lawrence Fishburn.

[00:16:48] Oh wow.

[00:16:49] And all the martial arts fighting yeah.

[00:16:51] Oh my god China, he actually does his company now fight for film where he teaches people to fight for the film industry and doing things like that.

[00:16:58] He also has his own comics and creatures that he's created.

[00:17:03] He'll be talking about.

[00:17:06] We are working on we haven't gotten it well so I'm not gonna say we've got some of the early 2000 Nickelodeon folks coming Giovanni Samuels.

[00:17:18] The Terran Newsom.

[00:17:21] But yeah, all the some of the folks from that early the early 2000s era of Nickelodeon is going to be out.

[00:17:28] Oh gosh, who are some of the new folks weird.

[00:17:32] Oh people who were supposed to come year one that we didn't get that we're hoping to be able to pull out is going to be a gentleman named Paneu.

[00:17:40] I think Paneu has done some star trek but he's mostly with our stargate stuff Peter Williams.

[00:17:45] I forgot Peter Williams from Stargate who was the original as I like to call him the original big bad.

[00:17:51] He played a popus and in the original Stargate SG one series.

[00:17:56] Nice.

[00:17:57] Peter is going to be there he's really cool too.

[00:18:01] Then we have some own Bailey.

[00:18:03] And these again, these are the starg these are some of our stargate folks Tony Amandola who played master brain tech.

[00:18:09] Oh yeah.

[00:18:10] We're looking to bring him in and Steve basic who was on there.

[00:18:16] He also played in what was the other thing that he played in the one with Kevin Sorbo.

[00:18:22] I forget the drama.

[00:18:25] He played an and drama.

[00:18:27] And drama.

[00:18:28] Okay.

[00:18:29] More star trek reference.

[00:18:32] But yeah, so we've got a lot of that but we're you know we've got some really great people who are in the comic book industry.

[00:18:38] That are going to be coming out and it's it's going to be amazing you know we're we're looking to have a lot of fun.

[00:18:45] And and just again celebrate our people and just be in a space.

[00:18:50] And you know and here's the thing here's this kid going to like say be in a space where blurred from six to seventy five you know all come together and have fun and enjoy.

[00:19:01] And see the things that we need to do.

[00:19:04] I just made it in there.

[00:19:06] Okay.

[00:19:08] William Hayashi you guys know William Hayashi.

[00:19:11] Yeah.

[00:19:12] William and we're working on trying to get William's my guy working with William for years.

[00:19:16] He's actually got some great things happening with his dark side trilogy books.

[00:19:20] Oh, oh man.

[00:19:21] Oh you didn't know.

[00:19:22] Yeah.

[00:19:23] They are going to be bait into a series on Netflix.

[00:19:26] They've already started production.

[00:19:27] What?

[00:19:28] Okay.

[00:19:29] Yes.

[00:19:30] Okay Netflix originals.

[00:19:31] Let's go.

[00:19:32] Yeah.

[00:19:33] Yeah, I got to get Netflix again.

[00:19:35] Working with Regina Cage production company on it.

[00:19:41] Even better.

[00:19:42] Even better.

[00:19:43] We're hoping to get in the end of the couple of medical issues.

[00:19:46] Okay.

[00:19:47] But we're working on that talk to him the other day and it's like you know dude we gotta we gotta get you back out here.

[00:19:52] So he was like no doubt let's make it happen so we're hoping to work in that out.

[00:19:57] Real quick did we say the dates that are going to happen when I yes.

[00:20:01] Oh let's do that.

[00:20:02] So we make sure to April 26th through the 28th of 2024 it is the last weekend in April.

[00:20:13] That's great.

[00:20:15] Our goal was we initially were going to do it that first weekend in May but folks were like oh wait that's free comic book day or comic book day and they a lot of the black

[00:20:24] comic creators they actually that's an opportunity for them to make yes.

[00:20:28] A lot of extra money so we didn't want to impede on that yeah we said hey let's let's go ahead and move it up and actually I honestly I wanted to make sure

[00:20:35] that the kids were still in school.

[00:20:37] We wanted to get it because we want kids doing it we you know try to do it during the summer this past year didn't work and in 2022

[00:20:44] we did it during the summer.

[00:20:45] Didn't get as many kids as we wanted in the space but if they're in school we know at the end of the lesson we know the end of the

[00:20:51] year teachers are always looking for field trips.

[00:20:53] That's right.

[00:20:54] Things that go on so.

[00:20:55] Oh man that would be the real trip.

[00:20:57] That's right because the goal the goal like you said with the young nerd badges is to be able to donate those in these school districts.

[00:21:05] Uh huh yeah.

[00:21:06] I love that.

[00:21:08] I know.

[00:21:09] I love us feel I would love having field trip to a con to a con.

[00:21:13] Can I go and we do as an adult?

[00:21:16] You know give me $10.

[00:21:17] I love that.

[00:21:18] That's actually one of the things that we do so for every five young nerd badges that are donated we give an adult badge so that someone they can have an adult supervisor with them.

[00:21:32] I love that.

[00:21:33] See so thoughtful man.

[00:21:35] Yeah.

[00:21:36] I thought this out.

[00:21:37] Yeah.

[00:21:38] You know really practical ways to give to the community.

[00:21:41] I love it.

[00:21:42] Yeah little nerdy vet would have loved this.

[00:21:45] Little nerd to me would have to.

[00:21:48] So would the red Roy.

[00:21:51] Yeah.

[00:21:52] And you know honestly this is you know that whole thing with the young nerd badges.

[00:21:58] I was that kid growing up that you know if I wanted to buy something when we went on these field trips.

[00:22:04] I was either going to buy something in not eat lunch.

[00:22:06] Yeah.

[00:22:07] Or I wasn't going to get anything.

[00:22:09] Yeah.

[00:22:10] And you know there were times you know what I saved up my money and I was able to do some extra things but then you know you see your classmate who didn't have that opportunity and like said I don't want any kids leaving our space without a smile on their face.

[00:22:24] Whether it's something that they did while they were there or something that they took with them that leaves with them when they get out so.

[00:22:31] That's right because they get little bags right like with the with their little badges.

[00:22:37] And I didn't even have an idea ahead and thought about that.

[00:22:40] Oh I don't know.

[00:22:41] I don't know.

[00:22:42] I don't know.

[00:22:43] They get the $10 right?

[00:22:44] Yeah they get $10.

[00:22:45] They get $10.

[00:22:46] We give them cond bucks.

[00:22:47] I just said I just said a flash of like the four of us as little kids with Roy and I don't know what parent would have been minding us of the five of us.

[00:22:58] I'm like I'm everywhere.

[00:23:00] I'm like.

[00:23:01] Oh look.

[00:23:02] Hey Roy come over here.

[00:23:04] It would have been off.

[00:23:05] Y'all been looking for me.

[00:23:08] With the bell no mom.

[00:23:11] We would have found we would have found you at one of the comic book.

[00:23:16] Yeah.

[00:23:17] That's where I would have put in the comments.

[00:23:20] Exactly what I've been.

[00:23:22] I'm not sure if you're going to be able to see it.

[00:23:24] But it's like we all went that TNG episode where everybody.

[00:23:29] 200 kids.

[00:23:32] Sabrina we had all the guidance big ass hacks.

[00:23:38] Would you have the hair been of the you?

[00:23:44] If I got.

[00:23:46] No yeah.

[00:23:47] I'm going to be.

[00:23:48] I'm a kid that's like running around.

[00:23:50] I'm not going to be.

[00:23:52] I'm not going to be.

[00:23:54] I'm not going to be.

[00:23:56] Yeah.

[00:23:57] They wouldn't have been a precaried in our.

[00:23:59] No.

[00:24:00] Oh my god.

[00:24:01] I'm a photoshop.

[00:24:02] Where are you going to get a picture photoshop?

[00:24:04] Hey, I'm all for it.

[00:24:05] The aircon badges here.

[00:24:08] I also had a when you said that too Roy I had this great image of all of us as

[00:24:14] peanuts characters.

[00:24:15] Oh my goodness.

[00:24:17] Oh my goodness.

[00:24:18] Trooping along like me.

[00:24:19] Right.

[00:24:20] Moving they all moved as a group.

[00:24:24] Yeah.

[00:24:25] That just may be remember the old fat Albert questions.

[00:24:28] Oh my god.

[00:24:29] The whole little pile of us was walking around.

[00:24:34] Oh yeah.

[00:24:35] Oh my god.

[00:24:38] Oh my god.

[00:24:41] Now the song is in my hand.

[00:24:45] I'm going to go to the little cute.

[00:24:47] And for those of you who don't know the song for the intro to fat Albert,

[00:24:50] please Google it.

[00:24:52] Go ahead and go ahead and go ahead and do that too.

[00:24:55] Pull it up on YouTube and your whole world will be better.

[00:24:58] You could take us later.

[00:25:00] Yeah.

[00:25:01] So it's not just the kids that you're serving what else have you got?

[00:25:06] We're ready to whip up for everybody that's coming to the con.

[00:25:10] Oh wow.

[00:25:11] We're definitely going to do some cosplay.

[00:25:13] We're definitely going to do a showcase.

[00:25:15] We're working on whether or not we're going to do some competitions with different things.

[00:25:20] For the cosplay, we got a gaming lounge.

[00:25:23] Retro gaming lounge is one of our partners who has been there with us.

[00:25:27] So the kids will be able to go and do free gameplay.

[00:25:31] Throughout the con.

[00:25:33] Oh my goodness.

[00:25:35] Oh and then we will also have some grown folks phase being played.

[00:25:39] That's.

[00:25:40] Yeah, I got a half spade.

[00:25:42] So listen, that's part of that whole HBCU culture.

[00:25:47] Exactly right.

[00:25:48] So enough at the bar with you.

[00:25:50] That's right.

[00:25:51] That's right.

[00:25:52] That's what the black kids at the PWI were playing.

[00:25:57] So listen, that's one of the things like say we get together.

[00:26:00] You get four or five of us and there it is.

[00:26:02] Like they love for the game.

[00:26:04] The panels.

[00:26:05] I mean, I think our panels are just going to be amazing.

[00:26:08] And we're going to be able to do some more of those folks that we have coming in are just.

[00:26:13] I mean, it's at the it's you know, we're we're we're putting some things together but we're also still taking suggestions.

[00:26:21] Okay.

[00:26:22] We're still looking for things to see what people want to do.

[00:26:25] You know, we've definitely going to do some voiceover panels and workshops.

[00:26:31] Oh great.

[00:26:32] That is creating comic pages.

[00:26:35] And we're going to do some of those things.

[00:26:38] We're going to do a couple of zip and draws, sip and paint.

[00:26:41] Oh, no.

[00:26:42] So I know this summer.

[00:26:45] Yeah.

[00:26:46] Yeah.

[00:26:47] So we're sipping on girl.

[00:26:49] Think about good.

[00:26:51] I was like, oh, thank you for sipping.

[00:26:53] But did it look good the next day too?

[00:26:55] No.

[00:26:56] I can't.

[00:26:57] That's my point.

[00:26:58] I rest in my case.

[00:27:00] I'm not going to do that.

[00:27:02] So is there an up are you guys doing like any fan led panels at all?

[00:27:08] Yeah, all you have to be able to have enough.

[00:27:10] Yeah, so go ahead.

[00:27:11] Yeah.

[00:27:12] We had a couple.

[00:27:13] I can't remember what they were.

[00:27:14] Family shouldn't lady by the name of Renee Cooper has been in charge of coordinating our panels and stuff but there is space for fan panels.

[00:27:23] All you have to do is submit them.

[00:27:25] And the site will go back active November one.

[00:27:28] With all the new stuff for people to be able to start back submitting.

[00:27:32] And you know, because we just were going to verify if the folks who signed up for those panels before that we had are still coming through.

[00:27:38] And all that kind of thing and then we're going to go ahead and start opening it back up for more folks to come out and get engaged.

[00:27:44] Fantastic.

[00:27:45] I really want to get your panel ideas ready.

[00:27:48] So what's the can you get us the website?

[00:27:52] The Urban Nerdcon.net.

[00:27:55] So now we've got all this deliciousness out there right to what everybody's appetite.

[00:28:02] Now tell them the real deal Roy because they can get all of this programming for a song.

[00:28:11] Just about 50 bucks.

[00:28:14] That's that is our that is our base ticket price to get you access to, you know,

[00:28:21] pretty much everything based on, you know, of course limitations of space and all those kind of things.

[00:28:27] You know that all the pretty much the majority of the open well the regular panels and all those things.

[00:28:34] But yeah, the 50 bucks gets that's the adult ticket price for the entire weekend until though until January 31st.

[00:28:42] That's right.

[00:28:43] 2024.

[00:28:44] You know, that's part of the challenge that we had.

[00:28:47] It's we have to get better at buying our tickets for things that happen.

[00:28:52] You know, that was and I don't know if we want to just go ahead and get into this now before we jump into the pricing.

[00:28:57] We did have to postpone the comm this year.

[00:29:01] And that primarily happened because there were several commitments that were made that some folks felt through on.

[00:29:07] But we even then did not do a lot of presales.

[00:29:11] We actually had more presales of tickets when we held the con first year in Montgomery, Alabama.

[00:29:19] Then we didn't Atlanta Georgia, which I thought was mind blowing crazy.

[00:29:24] You know, being in Atlanta, we really expected.

[00:29:27] We knew we would have a large walk up contingent, but we really expected.

[00:29:31] That people would support and come out from that, you know, we're going to do the event.

[00:29:36] And that was one of the reasons.

[00:29:38] So we had because of those funds not coming through I had to postpone the event.

[00:29:41] I knew that coming into the year, I would be able to cover the whatever I needed to because of our general work that we do with the network and everything in the things that we had coming in from our broadcast.

[00:29:52] So we're just, you know, we're setting it up and getting everything ready.

[00:29:55] We're still at the same hotel.

[00:29:56] It is the courtland grand now.

[00:29:58] I'm formally known as the Sheridan.

[00:30:00] But it is now called the courtland grand still 165 Portland Street downtown Atlanta.

[00:30:06] I will be right there and they're still excited to work with us and so we're excited.

[00:30:10] We're ready to move it forward, but we've got to have folks.

[00:30:15] Preselling or pre purchasing these tickets this this will clear up.

[00:30:20] All of the issues that may come up if we can get those folks in and you know, we were it was crazy because we were looking at it and I, you know.

[00:30:29] Being the annual Retinot Virgo that I am of course, I've backtracked this thing from whatever side I needed to and we realistically we needed 3000 badges sold.

[00:30:40] That could have covered everything.

[00:30:42] And that was you know 3000 of our regular weekend badges if we would have gotten those sold and it's just like.

[00:30:49] You know, we literally did 1600 badges in Montgomery.

[00:30:56] You know, year one.

[00:30:58] And it was just like I'm like there's no way that we don't meet that number in Atlanta but you know, we didn't we're we're going to make some changes with the way we're promoted pushing and doing some things.

[00:31:10] But getting out there and getting aggressive, but we need folks to support.

[00:31:15] The weekend badge again is $50 for the all three days.

[00:31:20] We have what we're going to call our track badges.

[00:31:23] We know we're going to do star track.

[00:31:26] Stargate and actually I can say comics, I know we're going to do comics and we're working on horror to see if we get those things.

[00:31:35] Those badges are going to be $75 each up until January.

[00:31:41] All of these prices are good until January.

[00:31:44] That's right.

[00:31:45] Yes.

[00:31:46] Let's just blanket that.

[00:31:48] The young nerd badges are the only ones that don't change the young nerd badges say the same price.

[00:31:54] And with the with the track badges, those will give you special access or advanced access to the to the different panels and things of those nature.

[00:32:05] Like if you're a master star track fan, if you want to make sure that you get into this panel with certain people, you know, you want to get that badge for the for the track.

[00:32:15] That'll that'll help get you closer to the front of the line.

[00:32:18] And then we're going to have the VIP badges that will be $100.

[00:32:23] Now those are basically VIP inside of the tracks as well that you'll be able to get that so you'll have that they're going to get early entry preferred seating.

[00:32:34] And some really cool swag stuff that we're going to give out.

[00:32:38] There will be limited numbers of the VIP badges because of some of the other events that we're going to do so it won't just be, you know, like everybody, you know, we're not going to have 10,000 people or 4,000 people walking around with VIP badges.

[00:32:51] Yeah, it's going to be VIP.

[00:32:53] You know, we were probably going to cap that at a few hundred.

[00:32:58] You know how we feel about VIP.

[00:33:00] We do love some VIP.

[00:33:05] We love some VIP.

[00:33:07] I mean, I just think that it's incredible because I don't know any convention that you can go to and have $50 for the whole weekend like we're not like 50 dollars for the day.

[00:33:20] I have paid $50 for a day at a company. We're talking $50 for the entire weekend of programming and access that's amazing, you know, and I just in a major city.

[00:33:33] In a major city, you know, and again, this is yet another reason why I'm such a big fan of the urban nerd con because keeping it accessible.

[00:33:43] You know, means that everybody has an opportunity to go.

[00:33:47] Yeah, you know, I mean, I think it's just this is a business we're going to make money. But I tell people all the time I say listen.

[00:33:54] I have always been a bigger fan of what I call the Walmart or the Sam Walton philosophy sell sell a lot of them at a lower price.

[00:34:04] You know, because but again, it's about what we're trying to do.

[00:34:08] We want to expose as many people to the space. We want to expose as many young kids as we can to an environment where they are not feeling marginalized, where they're not feeling like an outsider.

[00:34:22] And yeah, we know Atlanta's the chocolate city. So they're black folks all over the place. But it's still doesn't matter.

[00:34:26] The major cons when they come here, it's still the same thing. Yeah, you know, you know, you know, because of their at a point now where you've got to have blacks at dragon con or blacks at

[00:34:37] momal con and you've got to do all of those things because for years, you haven't even paid any attention to them. Right. You know.

[00:34:45] And so it's, you know, we want we're going to create that space. And because of the success of those things, we know that we can create something here in Atlanta that will be special.

[00:34:54] And you know, I want it to be around for the next 30, 40 years right? So that you know, we'll make our money. We'll eventually make our money.

[00:35:03] Oh, yeah. Definitely. This is this is about the goal of spreading this stuff around.

[00:35:11] So in the cons for everybody remember that's what we say are heroes are villains are stories everyone's con we want everybody to come out.

[00:35:19] That's right. We want you guys to see some of this black brilliance that you haven't been exposed to.

[00:35:24] Yes. Right. So yeah.

[00:35:27] I love it. And who's coming this year?

[00:35:32] Yes.

[00:35:33] I like this to do be there. We will be there with you this year no doubt.

[00:35:40] ATL looking for.

[00:35:42] Yeah, we're very disappointed. We couldn't make it the first time.

[00:35:46] But definitely going to be there this year.

[00:35:49] Definitely. So we'll be there.

[00:35:52] We're going to have a panel's we're going to have a vendor table.

[00:35:57] We'll have some great swag.

[00:36:00] We're going to have a section.

[00:36:03] We can have a section.

[00:36:06] Oh my god.

[00:36:10] But yes, we're going to try to do a live show.

[00:36:16] Yeah, we have to have some urban nerd con only gear.

[00:36:21] We're going to have some good stuff. Yeah, so good.

[00:36:24] That's actually something else that you just mentioned that I definitely want to mention the people.

[00:36:29] And we're going to put this out to different podcasters because live streaming is our business.

[00:36:32] That's what we do.

[00:36:34] You know, the black said the Jericho broadcast networks.

[00:36:37] We know was the first commercial black owned streaming company in the country.

[00:36:41] We know we were one of the first 10 think five, but we know we were one of the first 10 live streaming companies in the country.

[00:36:49] And there will be a space for podcasters to come and broadcast live from the con.

[00:36:57] That's going to be so cool.

[00:37:00] And Roy, can we just back up a little bit?

[00:37:02] Can you give some context to that statement for folks?

[00:37:05] Can you let people know like when you're talking about like as the first,

[00:37:10] you know, you know, because I think a lot of us don't get that.

[00:37:15] How deep the roots go and how far back you go?

[00:37:18] Yeah, we created our first podcast in 1998.

[00:37:23] See it's called the PCSN sports wrap.

[00:37:26] Wow. That's a mic drop.

[00:37:28] 1998, y'all. Y'all ain't doing nothing new with your little podcast.

[00:37:31] Right.

[00:37:32] You're doing something new.

[00:37:34] 1998 folks.

[00:37:37] And this was still dial up because high speed internet didn't hit the general public until December of 1999.

[00:37:44] Yeah.

[00:37:45] They don't even know what high speed dial up is.

[00:37:49] They don't give you every night.

[00:37:51] Is they like who?

[00:37:52] Yeah, what's a dial up right?

[00:37:53] What's a dial?

[00:37:54] Oh, I hear it.

[00:37:55] Oh, here's that.

[00:37:56] Oh, here's that damn noise.

[00:37:57] We know.

[00:37:58] AOL.

[00:37:59] AOL.

[00:38:00] Oh, my goodness.

[00:38:02] Yep, that one.

[00:38:03] And then in January, January 1st of 2000, we actually launched our first 24 hour radio station.

[00:38:12] We want to wait the vibe.

[00:38:14] Wow.

[00:38:15] Online, yeah.

[00:38:16] Wow.

[00:38:17] See this is why we mess with you though because you know, you talk about forward thinking.

[00:38:22] You know, you knew where it was at before any of the rest of us had caught up to you.

[00:38:26] Yeah.

[00:38:27] Yeah.

[00:38:28] And that's why that's why I feel like it's happening with this convention too.

[00:38:32] You know, it's the same sort of thing.

[00:38:34] Like and that's why I'm really happy that we are starting with you from the very beginning.

[00:38:39] I'm really happy with you.

[00:38:41] I'm really happy with you.

[00:38:42] I'm really happy with you.

[00:38:43] Because I only see bigger and better and brighter things for this convention, you know?

[00:38:47] And.

[00:38:48] Yeah.

[00:38:49] Yeah.

[00:38:50] I agree.

[00:38:51] I totally agree.

[00:38:52] I think, um, you know, you wanted me over from the beginning.

[00:38:57] And I think, um, the fact.

[00:39:00] Like we said, little event would have loved this.

[00:39:03] And that's where it comes from for me.

[00:39:06] So even after a while there was those episodes that were, you know,

[00:39:11] I didn't get about all those little kids who couldn't tell anybody that they were nerds.

[00:39:14] Um, who couldn't be their true self and that and in that space.

[00:39:17] Um, I just couldn't do it.

[00:39:18] You know,

[00:39:19] I,

[00:39:20] I just, you know, it's just wasn't where I was living at the time.

[00:39:28] So I did have a space to library, but could you imagine if I could go to

[00:39:31] who were nerds like me and grown people who were nerds like me, it was okay.

[00:39:36] You know, you know, who knows what have happened?

[00:39:40] So I just want that for someone somebody else because I definitely make sure

[00:39:44] that my kids get to have this.

[00:39:46] So I would love people who don't have that safe space.

[00:39:50] Because it doesn't even have to be kids.

[00:39:53] It could be grown ups too.

[00:39:54] That's right.

[00:39:55] As black people, especially as black folks.

[00:39:58] Yeah.

[00:39:59] A lot of people like me and the 6075, you know, we want us all to be able to go somewhere

[00:40:06] and feel comfortable, you know, and just be able to go in and bask and sit there.

[00:40:12] And it's because I don't think people really understand when we were at the first one.

[00:40:17] And it was with all the running around I was doing it was just this amazing moment

[00:40:25] when I was sitting there resting.

[00:40:27] And I was sitting on the main stage and I was just looking out and I'm like,

[00:40:31] these folks are here and they're having fun.

[00:40:33] These kids are running around and then there's these older folks.

[00:40:37] And we're all sitting in here just talking about reminiscing about,

[00:40:40] man, did you watch Doctor Who on the TV late at night?

[00:40:44] And then, you know, just all of this stuff and just remembering, you know,

[00:40:47] of course we mentioned the show Nichols and just, I mean, just everything.

[00:40:51] We just, it was like this is what we have to grow.

[00:40:56] That's what this is.

[00:40:58] It's a place where we can feel free to be who we are.

[00:41:02] That's it.

[00:41:03] You know, and every sense of the word and you know, I think it's funny.

[00:41:07] We know all of us know the term because it's normal everyday life for black people.

[00:41:12] It's called code switching.

[00:41:14] Oh yeah, definitely.

[00:41:15] You know, we did.

[00:41:16] You know, but we don't, we want to space where we don't have the code switch.

[00:41:21] This be who you are.

[00:41:23] You know, if you're a horror freak, horror nerd, be that.

[00:41:26] Yeah.

[00:41:27] You know, if you're sci-fi, be that.

[00:41:29] If you're fantasy, be that.

[00:41:31] You know, it doesn't matter.

[00:41:33] Just be who you are and be in this space and enjoy it.

[00:41:37] And the crazy thing that happened with me also is that we had a lot of folks

[00:41:42] who were in the space and we had a lot of other ethnic groups.

[00:41:45] And they were just like, they were looking at the artist and they were like, oh my God.

[00:41:49] They were just like seeing all the artwork, all the comics.

[00:41:52] They were like, we had no idea that there were this many black people doing comics and being engaged.

[00:41:58] And just being in the space where I had no idea.

[00:42:01] Like one of the biggest.

[00:42:04] Oh my, oh wow moments for a lot of folks.

[00:42:07] I think that we did a lot of things.

[00:42:08] We were talking about that Kevin Grievous actually wrote the underworld series.

[00:42:12] That is his series created that.

[00:42:15] Wow.

[00:42:16] Wow.

[00:42:17] Yeah.

[00:42:18] I mean, do you like to mean the big black, where wolf guy?

[00:42:20] I was like, yeah, the big black, where wolf guy, he was the one that actually wrote that story.

[00:42:24] That was him.

[00:42:25] So yeah, I mean, you know, those.

[00:42:27] Those are those things that we want to open up other people's eyes to.

[00:42:31] Right.

[00:42:32] Right.

[00:42:33] Right. Because we know a lot of the times, but even though a lot of times we don't know, you know, I mean like

[00:42:40] Oh listen, I didn't know. I love the underworld movies when I first buy now, you know, he's an HBCU grad with Howard University

[00:42:48] Um, you know, it's also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha

[00:42:52] Uh-huh

[00:42:53] Yeah, he's just all over the place so

[00:42:56] Wow, that was cool

[00:42:58] I don't know, I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.

[00:43:00] I can't wait. Can the con be tomorrow?

[00:43:04] I wish

[00:43:09] That means all the prepping work would be over

[00:43:14] Much work to go um to start we have we have a lot of work coming up and um

[00:43:19] I think it's going to be I love the partnership that we have um and our excitement

[00:43:25] Makes it uh even more fun, you know, I mean when we talk about it because I think we all smile when we say it

[00:43:32] When we say the urban dark kind and we kind of like

[00:43:35] Smile a little bit

[00:43:39] That's what we're gonna keep here. That's what it is. It's about that feeling. Yeah

[00:43:44] Yeah, we're we are so excited to um be working with you again and and to have a

[00:43:50] Bigger home be able to actually participate actively in the convention this year

[00:43:56] You know, and we want our we want everybody else to get excited about it too like I mean come on mothership

[00:44:01] And you know y'all jump on board because we're gonna fly the mothership on down to the atl

[00:44:06] Yeah, baby and land right there bring some sci-fi sisters for your ass baby

[00:44:14] That's right

[00:44:17] We're gonna bring them all down

[00:44:20] Oh

[00:44:24] Well Roy thanks so much for being on the show tonight like

[00:44:31] We're really excited and um folks, you know get those badges nice and early that website is going up November first

[00:44:39] So it's gonna be out there before you know it go ahead and pick up your $50 badge

[00:44:45] And uh and go ahead and sponsor a young nerd badge more importantly too

[00:44:50] You know all of these things could be done so nice and quickly and easily

[00:44:56] Exactly exactly give it give it as a gift for somebody it's only 50 bucks, you know

[00:45:02] That's a great gift what a great uh christmas gift right

[00:45:07] To give out to someone you know what a great christmas gift

[00:45:11] Let's do this let's do this folks

[00:45:15] Thank you so much for these

[00:45:17] Thanks Roy we love you

[00:45:19] Hey

[00:45:20] So if that can you tell folks

[00:45:23] Where they can get in contact with us if they have thoughts on the urban nerd con or have questions or just want to say hi to Roy

[00:45:31] I sure can

[00:45:33] You could find us at sci-fi sisters.com. That's sy f-y-s-i-s-t-a-s.com

[00:45:41] Join us on the mothership that's m-u-t-h-a-s-h-i-p

[00:45:46] And the sci-fi sisters book club both on facebook

[00:45:51] On instagram tick tockin threads sci-fi.sisters

[00:45:55] And we are also on that platform formerly known as twitter at sci-fi sisters

[00:46:02] For more interviews in our infamous top 10 series subscribe to our youtube channel at sci-fi sisters

[00:46:09] Become a patron of sci-fi sisters today at patreon.com

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[00:46:17] The trek geek's network

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[00:46:44] We want to say thank you to the baddest engineer in any and all universes

[00:46:49] He's dose the anonymous one. He's responsible for all

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[00:47:12] And that's it for us today

[00:47:14] Urban nerd con let's go