It’s a case of divide and conquer for Peter Pascoe.
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The bi-annual Bendigo Record, Comic and Toy Fair will host a record and music specific event in May ahead of a pop culture-focused fair in September.
Pascoe, who founded the fair five years ago, said the decision to split the fair into two specific events came from wanting to grow certain aspects without short-changing punters.
“I was reluctant to split it but there are things I want to do with the fair to make it grow more,” he said.
“I’m hoping to bring it more in line with a regular (comic and pop culture) convention but that sadly takes more money.”
Pascoe hopes to introduce special guest as an aspect of the pop culture fair.
“We want guests at the pop culture part. To be fair for the pop culture fans, we have to justify why it costs more money to get through door,” he said.
“There are people who only want music and won't pay more than $5 entry. I don’t want to put them in a position where they are paying more money for the same thing.
“So I decided to shake it up and see how it went for the year. It keeps it fresh for the pop culture and keeps it credible for the record fair.
“Hopefully it works out for both sides.”
Pascoe said another reason for splitting the fair was to save himself from himself.
“The last one took a bit out of me. I’m still essentially running the whole thing,” he said. “I have outsourced a little bit but it’s still me on top whole thing.
“Making it annual gives me more breathing space to try some more ideas that I couldn’t do in a six month turnaround.”
The Bendigo Record Fair will be held in the Lansell Room at the All Season Hotel on May 13.
“If we get a similar turn out to our first fair for the record fair, which was about 500 people, that’s something we will be happy with,” Pascoe said.
“We'll have to wait and see what kind of drop, if any, there will be for the pop culture fair.”
On September 23, the Bendigo Pop Culture Fair will be held in teh Bendigo Exhibition Centre at the showgrounds.
About 1700 people have attended each fair proving to Pascoe that there is a call for regionally-based comic and pop culture events.
“It was eye opening to see what was happening and not just in Bendigo,” he said.
“There are other regional events in Canberra, Wagga, Shepparton, Ballarat, Gippsland and Wollongong. There's a lot of love in regional areas for this kind of thing.
“In Melbourne or Sydney, you get in for the day at $35 tand then you have to factor in lines, spending money for autographs and gifts. It starts being a very expensive process.
“At regional events you can turn up, cruise around at your own pace and take in everything on offer in half day.”