In June of 2011, I came across a website that had a post commenting that the 9th anniversary of the premiere of Kim Possible had just passed. I somehow got the idea that it would be kind of neat if there were a party to celebrate the 10th anniversary.
I then asked around the internet if other folks thought is was a great idea, too. They did. So I started Kimvention.
I really only had three goals in mind when running this project:
- A chance to get fans together for the first time ever to celebrate the show;
- A chance to say thank you to the creative team who brought us the show; and
- A chance to do some good by raising money to help kids with cancer at St. Jude’s, in memory of Gary Sperling, one of the original writers on the show.
The folks from the show have been awesome to work with. They’ve been more than generous with their time, and have stepped up to appear asking no compensation. We had a staff of volunteers who’ve worked so hard. We had everything in place.
Well, almost everything…
Lots of people over the last six months said they wanted to attend. Even pledged they would buy tickets once they went on sale. But I guess they wanted to attend something other than what I offered. When we opened the event sales a couple of weeks ago, almost no one purchased tickets.
People voted with their feet, and with their wallets. I accept their decision.
So with a heavy heart, I announce that Kimvention 2012 has been cancelled.
Ticket holders will receive a refund within the next 10 business days.
In lieu of Kimvention, I am urging everyone to contribute directly to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memory of Gary Sperling. If anything good can come out of what has happened, let it be to help kids in honor of Gary, which is what I’d always hoped for any way. Here’s the link:
http://bit.ly/StJudesForGarySperling
I wish each and every one of you nothing but the best in your life. Take care, and may God bless you.
Sincerely,
Donald Speirs,
Chairman & CEO,
Kimvention 2012, Inc.
don@kimvention2012.com
Paul Roth says:
Is it really cancelled? I just tried to buy tickets and couldn’t.
Paul
Don Speirs says:
Paul:
Yes, it is indeed cancelled. Sorry.
Daniel smith says:
can it be in abilene texas now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Grainne says:
oh its a real shame thats been caneled. if you get to do another one, can you do it in the UK and other parts of the world and not just canda? beacause you have to be fair on the other KP fans out there who would to go the canda one too but wouldn’t be able to!
Matthias says:
I’m sorry you can’t let it work
It sounded so great and for a moment I though about how to get there from Germany. I hope you’ll do something else instead because KP’s 10th anniversary has to be celebrated!
Julia says:
I couldn’t agree more me and my sisters love kim possible and whant to celebrate its 10th aniversery!!!
Robert says:
Well, so much for the big KP fandom out there. Disney can forget about a 5th season and we can all go back down into our basements.
Robert says:
It is too bad about the Kimvention. Probably if it had been in a more centrally located state like Colorado (home of Middleton!), at a less expensive hotel, more people could have made it. I certainly could have. Even a big series like “The Simpsons” has never had a fan convention, to the best of my knowledge, so I don’t feel too bad.
Amber says:
Uh, Middleton was based in Colorado?! I live here…… That would be so cool!
hotrod2001 says:
Robert,
You seem to have made a lot of progress to make this effort come to fruition…it would be a shame to have that go to waste.
I don’t understand what happened to make the event get canceled, but I assume it was a poor initial ticket sales.
If you made all of these connections, especially with people directly involved with the show, why not continue your event but do it through a different avenue? Maybe one of your biggest issues is that not everyone can make it out to the west coast…especially when they’re based on the east coast.
I’ve got two ideas to throw at you, that will probably get a lot more involvement and would still be a fun thing to do.
1. Hook up with some other convention – My first thought would be the San Diego Comic-Con, they usually have panels where fans can get together and interact with actors from various shows with large followings. If you have members of the show on board, it might be a good fit…
2. Do an online panel with the members of the show that you have on board. Have it through a feed on Facebook or Youtube, etc. where we can all submit questions to them and interact with them…or have people submit answers in advanced and record it. When I was in college, my university sponsored something similar to this with the staff of The Simpsons which was a huge success.
I think both options, if you wanted, could still be pulled off by summer in time for the 10th anniversary like you planned…and will probably be better attended to by fans not just in California, but everywhere on the planet.
Just a couple of ideas…do with them what you will..
Mitcho says:
Sad to hear it is not going to happen. Is there a way we can do something to make it happen maybe get a smaller venue to have it so that the cost is not so much of an out lay?? I think this is something that needs to happen and once it does it will grow each year.
Just my 2 cents
lets see if we can keep it alive till it gets off the ground!
Daniel smith says:
why why please tell me why you know what can you please have one in abilene texas now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! please reply
rye-bread says:
Alas. Speaking for myself, residing in MI and living hand-to-mouth in this economy, it would’ve been another couple months before I could even know if I could spare the cash to make the trip. Things are that tight.
GiuliaRnBLover says:
I’m so sad about what happened to the Kimvention… I’m a big fan of KP
Adam says:
I’m sorry it didn’t work out, but let’s be honest, KP is probably not big enough to warrant a national or international convention.
An alternative is to take a more “grassroots” approach. See if you can find fans in and around major cities to organize regional conventions. I think of the Ubuntu LoCo release parties. Hey, start small–maybe someday, after a few years of regional conventions, there’d be enough support for one big one. Smaller groups are also more sustainable and intimate; people can meet people who are close enough to actually see again. And maybe some kind of online thing could be shared between the different regional ones.
Daryl T says:
Sad. I would have attended if it was in the UK. Poor Kim.
Beaglebub says:
What a shame…hopes and dreams die hard.
KIM POSSIBLE FOREVER
Imogen says:
Oh no! I’m so sorry. A lot of people are commenting “do it in the UK”. I agree. Bring it to the UK!
Julia says:
Ithink you should do one in UK-Britain!!!
Lot’s and lot’s of people would go it’s just making them aware of the convention because people may not have acesse to wi fi etc sooo it may be difficultto let them know i onlt found out because i was watching kim possible on youtube and wonderd if a convention would be on sooo i think you should do one on London to celebrate her 10th aniversery!!!
Just rememebr to make people more aware like posters,a sponcer like tesco’s etc,advertisement on T.V & maybe advert on DISNEY CHANNLE!!!
Monkey Fist says:
Yes It Is Indeed Bad It Got Cancelled. I Would Come there With My Monkeys. I Apologize If I Changed, You Know. People Change. So Did My Dear Friend Kim Possible.