From: Dan Foley

I honestly wish that I am able to provide any type of compliment for this Expo, however I have searched long and hard...and nothing comes to mind (with the exceptions of course of the great fans and friends you get to see!).

The 5th Annual Cleveland KISS & Rock Collectors Expo was held Sept. 29th, 2002 at the Rollerworld Center in Parma, Oh., Guests were to be Mark St. John, Bill Aucoin & KISS Tribute Band Destroyer, and the "mind blowing KISS Expovintage museum". Times were 10am-8pm, and as of the fliers which were circulated at the July Detroit Expo, admission was $18.00 AT THE DOOR ONLY (the promoters website and subsequent fliers indicate $18 advance/$20 at the door),

After speaking with several friends, it was appearant that many who were going to attend had made a considerable effort and expense to travel hundreds of miles to attend this Expo, which in the past was reported to be an excellent event.

We arrived at the Rollerworld at about 1pm and were charged the full $20 admission (even after previous fliers indicated $18), only to find an extremely hot and closed down rollerrink which had possibly at best 12 tables of merchandise available to look over and at the time maybe no more than 50-75 people walking about....and a bare stage where Destroyer was to play which was now available for several children to play upon an people to use for rest to eat cold hotdogs, chalky nachos and warm pop.

It took no more than 30-45 minutes at best to completely cover the entire "expo", which included talking to friends, looking thru the same available merchandise from the same vendors and the "mind blowing KISS Expovintage museum" (note, after havng a considerable conversation with the owner of the "museum" and his family, of which were A#1 KISS fans and great to talk with, it was discovered that the promoter had paid this gentleman to come display his personal collection of memorabilia which included photographs of his collection as well as posters and a framed pair of pajamas).

Mr. Aucoin was reportedly to be selling off some of his collection (according to the promoters web site) plus doing the usual Q&A and was supposed to start as of 2pm...by 3pm he had just walked into the arena and was performing the customary walk about looking over the extensive offerings of the vendors from "US, CANADA & EUROPE!" (flier quote).

At about 2pm rumors started to circulate that Destroyer would not be appearing, and it was appearantly so as it is not too difficult to figure out...no equipment, no lights, no special effects....no truck outside..........no band.

If my memory serves correctly, by 3:30-4:00pm Mr. Aucoin had still not taken his place for the Q&A or the sale of his artifacts...it was by now that all in our party, as well as many I had spoken with had grown somewhat upset over this expo...and to add fuel to the fire, the admission at the door was still $20!!! (the only indication that Destroyer would not be playing was to simply fold their name out of the display on the main table...).

With the intention to leave this extremely hot, sticky and disapointing event, several in our party approached the promoter with complaints over how this event was handled and requested a partial refund as we felt that we had been wrongly overcharged admission not to mention that the expo had not fulfilled all that it had promoted it to be...to which this fell completely on deaf ears.

After a considerable "debate" with the promoter he generously offered us a $1 each refund (indicating something that he needed 600 in attendance to cover for the band, and that as of this time he had not had 600 people pay to get in).

The question was brought up regarding the overcharge of admission (from the July Detroit fliers), and that the doorpeople were continuing to take the full $20 without informing fans that the lineup had changed....this again fell on deaf ears forcing my wife to return to the hotel and return with our ORIGINAL flier to proove that the admission price had been restructured.

In the end, we were offered a choice of $3.00 refund (each) or an "official" KISS t-shirt...we took the t-shirt just to feel that we got something out of this expo. As we exited the comment was made that there was going to be free gifts given away due to the problems at this expo...and that next year admission would be free...doubt that I will be able to make next years show to confirm this.

Our group gladly left this event and headed to the Hard Rock Cafe (dressed in complete KISS Costumes) and had a GREAT time for far less money than it cost to enter the expo (not to mention the comotion it caused when "KISS" entered the HRC-Cleveland, began to seat customers for the staff and then posed for pictures outside on the 2nd floor balcony!!!

At aprox. 6pm we had to return to the parking lot of the Rollerworld to drop off friends at their cars...only to see many people walking out and hear that many of the vendors had already packed or were leaving.

It is unknown if Mark St. John attended, if Mr. Aucoin held his Q&A or sold anything or how the costume / lookalike contest faired.

All in all it was a sad day for KISS Expos....I sincerely hope that this is not an indication of Expos to come....to thoes that did not attend...you did not miss anything and saved a considerable amount of time, disapointment and money.

From: kissreviewer@hotmail.com
Hey Steve
Just wanted to drop a note to u and all the KISS fans out there about the Cleveland KISS Expo that was held this past sunday

And how bad it was doors were to open at 11 am they didnt start letting people in till 11:20 I was one of the lucky first 12 in the door to recieve a door prize and to my excitement it was a t-shirt form 4 years ago

And let me tell all of you there were so many dealers at this convention what 15 of them and of those some werent even selling KISS merchandise

The best part of the day was Bill Aucoin he is a true gentleman very polite would sign anything u had and was more then happy to have a
picture taken

Mark St.John boy can this guy be anymore stranger he looked like he came from Woodstock but he did sign anything you had

And lastly they were to have the tribute band Destroyer who never showed up, venders started leaving before the convention ended because of the poor turn out

You know KISS fans the promoters brag about how bad the convention in Westlake was and said how much of a mess it was and how much better they run it

I tell you I would gladly deal with the Westlake Police and Fire Marshall and the crowd! To have a convention that had Dealers and lots of Guest's and a tribute band. Then ever return to their Cleveland Convention

Rock On KISS Fans
the KISS Reviewer