Wondering what it takes to start a pop culture convention from scratch? In this episode, Matt Grisham, the mastermind behind Evansville RaptorCon and HorrorCon, reveals the chaotic, hilarious, and sometimes heartbreaking reality of the convention world.

The Days of Grimm crew sit down with Matt Grisham to discuss the origins of Evansville's premier pop culture and horror conventions. Matt shares wild behind-the-scenes stories, from losing a massive payout to the boxer Butterbean due to a contract misunderstanding, to navigating the tragic, sudden passing of voice actor Mark Dodson during a convention weekend. We also dive into Matt’s previous career traveling the country as a stage hypnotist and magician, the logistics of booking huge voice actors and horror icons like the cast of Terrifier, and why keeping conventions focused on local vendors is the ultimate key to success. This episode is for anyone fascinated by event production, pop culture, and the gritty behind-the-scenes work of building a community from the ground up.

If you are a fan of comic conventions, horror movies, or just want to hear the unfiltered truth about event production, this episode is packed with invaluable lessons. It strips away the glamour to reveal the high-stakes, problem-solving reality of hosting thousands of people and major celebrities. Viewers will walk away with a newfound appreciation for the event organizers who make pop culture magic happen.

If you enjoyed this deep dive into the convention world, be sure to hit that subscribe button, leave a comment with your favorite con memory, and share this episode with a fellow pop culture fan!

TIMELINE:

00:00:00 - Introduction and Welcoming Matt Grisham

00:04:34 - The Origins of RaptorCon and Expanding to HorrorCon

00:08:53 - Death of the Week: Epic Universe Roller Coaster Tragedy

00:16:47 - The Butterbean Contract Misunderstanding

00:23:49 - Bringing the Cast of Terrifier to Evansville

00:30:41 - Hosting Panels with Legendary Voice Actors

00:44:40 - Why Conventions Need to Prioritize Local Vendors

00:51:11 - Matt’s Wild Career as a Magician and Hypnotist

01:02:08 - The Tragic Passing of Mark Dodson at a Convention

01:07:38 - Matt’s Darkest Moment and Overcoming Burnout

01:11:09 - Upcoming Dates for RaptorCon and HorrorCon

The Raptor Con Link:
https://www.theraptorcon.com/

Evansville Horror Con Link:

https://www.evansvillehorror.com/

[The Days Grimm Podcast Links]
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheDaysGrimm
- Our link tree: linktr.ee/Thedaysgrimm
- GoFundMe account for The Days Grimm: https://gofund.me/02527e7c

[The Days Grimm is brought to you by]
Sadness & ADHD (non-medicated)