Monster Mania 12
Well, we’re back from Monster Mania 12 and what a weekend it was! Read on to see how it went and even some pics of who I got to meet!
For those of you who don’t know, Monster Mania is arguably the best horror convention on the East coast. Yes there are others….some with more attendance, some with less, but Monster Mania consistently provides great guests, a relaxed atmosphere, and an all around good time.
The first one I attended was Monster Mania 4 back in August of 2005. I was immediately hooked and have been back every single time…and will continue to do so for as long as they are putting them on. Since then I have met lots of great people (celebrities and customers) and have made many new friends that I look forward to seeing at every show. If you haven’t had a chance to attend a horror convention, make it a point to try and get to one…you won’t regret it.
So this past weekend was Monster Mania 12 and I thought it was finally time to post about our experiences while attending the show. It makes for a whirlwind of a weekend, but lots of fun as well… So below are a few pics of us at the show along with some of the people we met and got to hang out with. Look closely and you’ll see some brand new designs (making their way to the site tomorrow!). Hope you enjoy!
Arlen Escarpeta, Ben, Derek Mears, Matt, Mike
While we were setting up on Friday, we were greeted by none other than Derek Mears (Jason in the new Friday the 13th) and Arlen Escarpeta (Lawrence in the new Friday the 13th) who stopped by the table to say hi. I first met Derek last August before the movie came out, but now I was able to tell him just how much I loved his take on Jason. Say what you want about the movie, but he kicked some serious ass in that flick. As always, he is incredibly kind and gracious – easily the nicest person you could ever meet, which makes it even more impressive when you think of him as the menacing hockey-masked killer. Arlen is very cool as well, plus it was his first show.
Also in the picture here are my two brothers (Matt – with the Frankenstein shirt, and Mike – not looking at the camera). They try to attend as many conventions with me as possible to help at the table.
Ben, Steve Gonsalves, Mike, Tim
Shortly after we got done talking to Derek and Arlen, Steve Gonsalves (of Ghosthunters fame) stopped by the table. He remembered us from a show we did here in Upstate NY a couple years ago, which ws cool. He’s a great guy and extremely soft spoken. Mike and Tim (also pictured here, far right – he’s the one who packs all the orders) are huge fans of the show. I love it too, but I have to confess that I don’t get to watch it all that much…gonna have to program my DVR to record it!
Ben and Ted Bohus
Perhaps one of my biggest surprises of the weekend was meeting Ted Bohus, writer of The Deadly Spawn. I had no idea he was going to be there…and I’ll be honest, I didn’t even recognize him because I had never seen him in person before (ok, he played a medic in the movie, but that was a long time ago). We had actually just spoken on the phone a few weeks ago and he was coming over to the table to introduce himself once he saw that we were there. I just have to say, he is awesome…so cool, and just a great guy to be around. He had that Deadly Spawn puppet with him and after seeing it, I asked if he had another that I could buy from him…luckily, he did. And now, much to my wife’s chagrin, I have that proudly displayed in my storage room.
Ben and Lance Henriksen
I usually don’t get to leave the table much at these shows, but with all the help I had this weekend, I managed to step away to meet more people. One of the guests I was excited to meet was Lance Henriksen. I’m a big fan of Near Dark, Pumpkinhead, Aliens, and even Millennium, so meeting him was awesome….plus, I also wanted to give him a Pumpkinhead shirt because, after all, he is in the movie and on the shirt. He was a last minutes replacement for Tobe Hooper (who had to cancel due to a scheduling conflict) and I’m glad he was. I missed meeting Lance at an earlier show and was grateful to have had to opportunity to meet him here. He’s such a great guy…
Don Coscarelli and Ben
One of the main people I was hoping to meet this weekend was Don Coscarelli (responsible for the Phantasm series as well as Bubba Ho-Tep). Not only am I a big fan, but I also thought this would be a great opportunity to discuss licensing with him, since Phantasm is one of the requests for new designs I get all the time. Anyway, he was extremely kind and we talked for quite a bit. I won’t get into details just yet, but lets just say we are going to be continuing our discussion very soon… 
Ben and Richard Brooker
When I finally got back tot he table, I was leaning over to put my stuff away when I hear a familiar Englich accent booming above my head, “I want that shirt!” I knew who it was already…Richard Brooker (Jason from Friday the 13th part 3). I have had the pleasure of meeting him a few times before, and even running into him earlier that weekend, and it was really cool that he stopped by the table. Of course, the shirt he pointed to was the WWJD design…what else, right? Anyway, he needed one for his girlfriend so I helped him pick out a couple different sizes that might work. He actually asked me how much I wanted for them…I just said “For you, nothing. You scared the shit out of me when I was a kid.” Which is completely true…Friday the 13th part 3 is my favorite film in that series and that is all because of his portrayal of Jason. He could have wanted all the shirts there and I probably would have given them to him, hahaha… All I asked in return was to get another picture with him behind the table. And he was gracious enough to do so.
The Fright-Rags Convention Gang (left to right) : Matt, Tim, Mike, Ben
So those were just some of the highlights of my weekend. There were more…crazy late night antics, crowds of customers, and more. I want to thank everyone who came out to the show and stopped by the table. It’s always great to put faces to names of the customers we get on the site. And if you’re anywhere near Hartford, Connecticut in June, make sure to stop by Monster Mania 13…we’ll be there!
Did you attend the show? Have you ever been to a convention? If so, post your experiences below…I’d love to read them!
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Looks like you had a great time! I’ve been to several conventions for all sorts of stuff (San Diego’s Comic Con being the most notable and most often attended for me), but I’ve never made it out to a horror con. I’ll have to look into heading up to Connecticut for Monster Mania one of these times.
Hey Ben, That’s awesome. Wish I could’ve went. Unfortunately I hear about everything late.
Well I’m sure thats a Beetlejuice shirt you’re in.
…and I’m sure I’ll be buying that fucker immediately!
You guys are just awesome, I just can’t even say enough! I think the hubby and I may make our way out to the convention next year!!
That looks like you guys had an awesome time. I am officially jealous. I’ve yet to go to a convention but I can only imagine what it would be like. Those pictures are awesome Ben, thanks for sharing!
I want to say I saw a Frankenhooker shirt in the background. If so awesome.
mania was amazing this time with it being our 4th time out… always a good time…
we’ve been doing Cinema Wasteland (www.cinemawasteland.com) for years as well and the afterparties there are always a decedent good time, esp when the power went out, blanking out the entire hotel at one of the afterparties…
total chaos and the cops just didn’t seem to care how out of control we were heh…
try and hit wasteland sometime if you can, we (and a couple other vendors) sport your stuff there, so its always a good trip to check out
but good seeing you and the new designs too!
we’ll definitely be picking some of those up!
I love MM and have now gone to 5 of them (starting with MM2) I will definitely be at MM13 in CT. My wife was wearing WWJD and I had my new Bloody Valentine from Fright Rags
So… Beetlejuice, Frankenhooker, Exorcist and… ??
At least I don’t REMEMBER seeing those…
Ben, is Monster Mania the only show where you have a presence? Or do you do Screamfest, Fango cons and the like?
Deal’s Beetlejuice looks great printed!
Is the Exorcist… is that GodMachine?
Looks like it was awesome.
I finally got to go to the San Diego ComiCon last year. I’ve been wanting to go since I was 11 and I’m 32 now… 21 years isn’t long to wait, is it?
Also, I went to the Syracuse Heroes Expo a few months back and finally got to meet Kane Hodder and get a picture with him.
Awesome.
I’m very jealous about you meeting Lance Henriksen, though.
I forgot to say… the picture of my friends and I with Kane Hodder is on my MySpace. If you looks closely at it, you’ll see that I’m wearing my Twitch of the Death Nerve shirt that I ordered from Fright Rags.
Glad this Monster Mania went so well for ya, Ben! I first met you at Monster Mania 10 last March, and it was a thrill to meet you amongst people like Malcolm McDowell, Brian O’Halloran, etc.
I think the friendly vibe I got from you guys made me a return customer after I ordered my first shirt from you guys: the Phantom of the Paradise vintage tee.
I was at the show even stopped by your table.
I was already wearing one of your shirts “2 Thousand
Maniacs”. Sadly u didn’t have any shirts in my size.
This was my fist Monster Mania even though I only live 15 minutes away. I had a good time even picked up a
Terry Cruikshank original “The Leprechaun” I had to have it to add to my St. Patty’s day decorations.
Hope to see you at The National Haunter Convention.
(Hint,Hint) Bring some 4x shirts
Ben, wish you would come to Cinema Wasteland in Cleveland, OH. It’s a great convention and a good time. Plus, I would buy a shitload of your shirts. Keep up the good work and eat a white hot from Bill Gray’s for me.
Looks so fun!
Is that a beetlejuice shirt?
hmmmmmmm well i can not wait til I can get a good look at the new designs!
Love the new Blind Dead design! And excited to hear that Phantasm is a possibility for Fright-Rags in the future!
Nice! All of the kick-ass horror conventions are always out on the east coast.
Unfortunately,we don’t get these conventions this way.Sure envy you guys.I’m also a fan of those people you met there.Looking forward to your new additions tom.
Hope to see you at a convention some time! I wore the “here’s johnny”-face shirt down to the coffee shop this morning and got many compliments, as I always do when wearing it. My friend Derek says he gets the same reaction from the CHUD shirt. Honestly, I’ve never been just openly complimented on my T-shirt before, and it happens constantly when I’m wearing yours. Had to make sure the love got back to the man responsible: thanks, Ben!
Oh man, that Beetlejuice shirt looks awesome.
And finally…the amazing Linda Blair design. YES!
Good to see you at the con… Thanks for making me a Frankenhooker shirt!!!
I’ve been to every Monster Mania show since March 2006. The BEST horror con on the East Coast, in my never humble opinion. I had a great time this past weekend…Spent too much money, met some great people, got some old Fangoria magazines signed by Caroline Williams, Robbi Morgan, and Amy Steel…Just a great time.
I actually stopped by your table and bought five shirts from you….”Twitch of the Death Nerve”, the Blind Dead one, “Dark Night of the Scarecrow”, and two of the “Nightbreed” shirts…I was the bald guy with the red goattee and sideburns sporting the “DEMONS” shirt….
Anyway, I always buy from Fright Rags at Monster Mania and through the mail, and look forward to seeing you guys again in Connecticut.
Stay sick.
Great new designs, love the frankenhooker and beetlejuice ones! im ordering as we speak ahaah.
guna order the dark night of the scarecrow and fright night shirt too.
and got the email back ben, glad u got to ask don coscarelli about licensing. hope u can do a bubba ho tep tee in the near future.
Hey Ben, your table was excellent as always and Fright-Rags’ service are filled with great people. Can’t wait to pick up some more shirts from you guys in Conneticut! Keep up the great work man!
You guys are filling my closet, just got both Jason shirts but I gotta have that Exorcist tee, and I loves me some Beetlejuice. Would love to see a Blob design!
Hey Ben…Very inspiring! I am about to launch a business of my own selling my artwork and my first show as a vendor will be at the Crypticon Seattle horror convention in June…it’s in its 2nd year now and just keeps getting bigger. It’s a lot of work getting ready though!
Cheers, Max
SKULLCLOWN
VIVA “Lycantropia” A mia la Katherine ada la Emily Perkins uno la spata enue!!
Damnit guys! Why there’ s nothing in Canada?
I just can’t wait to see a Con in Toronto or BC.