What does everyone think of the new "a Celebration every two years" schedule?

What is everyone's reaction to a Celebration every other year? I have mixed feelings. Because Celebrations will happen more often, I will have more opportunities to attend, and maybe one will even be near where I live! On the other hand, this new schedule, to me, is making Celebrations less special. Anyone feeling less motivation to attend a Celebration, because another one is just a couple of years away?
I'm worried that instead of the MEGA-parties of fandom Celebrations have been, Celebrations will become diluted. Instead of pouring a lot into something, Lucasfilm may decrease the amount of new stuff at Celebrations, so that they can inject each one with something new. Will the new schedule of Celebrations mean less at each one because Lucasfilm has to make each one different and will be rationing out their creations? Traditionally, new stuff has been announced/released at Celebrations, and if in the future Celebrations just become redundant, socializing events for fans, they will not be worth the price tag to me. This comparison is not perfect, but: I don't want Celebration status to go from "birthdays" to "weekends".

 

My wife and I are all for a two-year span between Celebrations.

I don't feel like it de-values the experience or the exciting build-up one bit.

Bring it.

 

It is a good thing.

 

The celebrations have provided positive new experiences for myself and my family (new acquaintences, reminiscing with old friends, family bonding, costuming, etc.) so I definitely enjoy them. Personally, I would prefer three years in between. As stated by others, I feel that they may become less special in regards to repeat venues, activities, forums, events, etc.

A convention of this size, I would assume, takes about a year to coordinate behind the scenes before it is even presented to the public. I also would assume it takes a while to recover after the event (up to 6 months) that is associated with the financial aspects. That only leaves 6 months for creative juices, new ideas, products, themes, etc. to be developed and reviewed. It would be very easy to just put out the same venues year after year, but leaving the fan with less desirable output.

The obvious choice would be not to attend and wait for the next one....but...will there be another Celebration? Chances are yes but spanning them farther out allows all fans, from the hardcore to the fair weather, to be able to recuperate financially, emotionally, as well as have time to reminisce and enjoy the previous celebration.

I feel it would have been more rewarding to have completed the Celebration saga in 2013 with the anniversary of ROTJ....and then continue every two years after.

 

I see no problem with this. Did they say somewhere that it will always be ever two years now?

Remember, right now we are closer in time to C5 than we are to C6. It's still over a year away. I'd be willing to be that anyone who things that it's too soon between shows will change that tune in about 9 months or so.

As long as they can still get the guests, vendors, etc, what's the harm? Star Wars is moving very fast right now so there's plenty to be able to fill a 4 day show and keep it fresh each time.

No need to slow it down.

 

As long as it stays as TWO years, I'm good.

 

CVI will be my 2nd Celebration.
After CV, I was ready to wait the 3yrs for the next con.
I had assumed the 3 year wait was to follow in the actual 30th anniversary of the release of each film...
'77= 2007
'80= 2010
'83= 2013
I agree that if the time in between starts to get shorter, "Celebrations" will turn into regular con events and will lose its flare and its meaning for why we're "celebrating" to begin with...

That said however, I usually go to Comicon in San Diego every July. I still find it as cool as it was the first time I ever went.
If the time frame is every 2 years, I'm cool with that.
(I'll just have to start my projects a little eariler...LOL)

 

I just want to be clear that I'm glad about the fact that there will be more Celebrations, with more giant fan gatherings of awesomeness. I'll try to attend as many as possible, because it's Star Wars. But I know that when stuff becomes formulaic, its quality and ratings go down. Comic-Con may be unfailingly fresh every year, but that's due to the large, diverse group of franchises there. Celebrations have always had buzzing releases, such as CV's The Force Unleashed II preview event. There will probably be no negative effects on quality at CVI, but in the future? Will Lucasfilm be able to come up with enough big new ideas to fill each of the four days with must-sees?
I'm still going to want to attend as many Celebrations as I can. This is not true for everybody, but I live with others, that decide what I do, and I have to work very hard if I want to get the trip to CVI. If future Celebrations become formulaic gatherings that are not very unique, with one no more special than another, to me they will not be worth thousands of dollars and my extreme efforts.

 

Every 2 years is a good timeframe, I think. Every year would be too soon (and too expensive, at least for me). 3 years is a very long wait. CV was the first one I attended, and I can't wait to go back. Although I do think it's a little dissapointing that ROTJ will miss out on having it's own 30th anniversary celebration in 2013.

 

I am not sure how I feel about it. I mean on one hand once I got back home from the CV I was looking forward to CVI and am glad that I won't have to wait to long. But then on the other hand finacially it would be better to wait 3 years so that I would have as much time as possible to save up as much money as I can. I have only been to 2 Celebrations (CIV & CV) and the 3 year wait between them for me was fine. I will have to wait and see how I handle the 2 year wait this time.

 

It seems that the more frequent schedule of celebrations was written in stone even before C5. I saw a reference to something similar in a news article. (Now, if I could just remember where it was!)

Consider that Reed Exhibitions possibly has a long term contract. And, the main business of ANY business is to make money. Thus, more conventions = more money.

Unfortunately, that would be the equivalent of killing the goose that lays the golden egg. As others have posted, the end result would be like a Comic-con--only MUCH less diverse, and film-related. Since the celebrations would be more frequent, fans would see the same things appearing over and over again. They would lose interest. Then of course, there is a financial factor to remember for each person who attends. As the dedicated fan base drops off, Reed would probably start including extra content with each convention, thus watering it down. Gradually, it would resemble just another convention.

Of course, I want to be WRONG about all of this. Hopefully we, as fans, can take steps to make sure that the celebrations do NOT become extinct.

 

I love it. And yes, Steve Sansweet said on a Star Wars Action News Podcast, LFL intends on a every other year schedule.

 

Of course, all that is mentioned above is speculation.

Celebrations is nothing like SDCC or D*C. It is pure Stars Wars.
I always look at the glass being have full. If there is a market for it, it will happen.
The big difference here is that Celebrations has the opportunity to host in a different city.
That alone will keep it fresh for fans.

My first Celebrations was CV. There was so much to see, I have to do a repeat. And being in
Orlando lock me into returning there once more.

For me personally, REED can do it as often as they want. As long as each Celebration is unique and does not bore the fans.

 

I like it the two years in between, but I have a different perspective because Celebration V was my first real convention like that at all. Basically Celebration VI two years after CV is a good thing. I waited three years for the movies to come out. I just want to go to another one as soon as possible.
Other conventions happen every year, GI Joe's JoeCon and DragonCon.
I've already written what I think about expecting the next one for Return of the Jedi's anniversary. In short--and this is from a big fan of it, Ewoks and all--ROTJ's place in film history is not as noteworthy as the previous two. There are more reasons to celebrate STAR WARS than just pointing out how old it is...although it will be the 35th anniversary of the first movie. Either way, what occurred at CV wasn't really specifically featuring TESB anyway. Gary Kurtz was there on a panel talking about it and there was the Hoth diorama, and that was really it. There were more ROTJ-related props.

 

I liked it every 3 years better, since two years doesn't seem like a long enough time to build up my excitement for a new one.

 

Even if Celebrations become redundant fan parties, they will still be fun to attend-but Celebrations, unlike many other conventions, are kind of expensive. Anyone factoring in cost?

 

Is that even possible?

Celebrations = budget busters.

 

The interesting thing, however, is that the biggest cost for any Con is always travel and hotel. The con tickets are usually one of the smaller fees. What is it this year? $135 for four days? That's a pretty good daily rate for all that you get. The rest of what you spend when you get there (food aside) is up to you and your budget.
It's the travel and hotel that gets ya.

 

I will go to a Celebration over a comic con ANYTIME.

 

I'd like it every 3 years. I didn't mind 2 years between CIII and CIV, because of the 30th anniversary of ANH. Three years gives more time to save $$$ and make costumes.

 

Remember, Sansweet said during the SWAN interview that the "plan" was to hold a Celebration every two years.

If attendance numbers dip enough between Celebrations that are 2 years apart, Reed/LFL might decide to return back to the 3 year span between them.

Whichever model brings in the most $$$ is the obvious catalyst.

 

But he (Sansweet) also said, that they chose Reed, because Reed have offices in a lot of other countrys, so the next Celebration in 2014 may not be in America - it may be in Europe or Australia... if I understod him correctly.