Silicon Valley Comic Con

[Drunk Monk]

Not a cheap venue. Also, being run for profit, maybe not enough profit? Does Morena show up on her own, or does she get paid? 

Morena gets paid.  For sure.  I didn't price out her photo op or autographs, but they were surely top tier and she surely gets a cut, plus appearance fees, travel, room & board.  She had top billing.  

Figure a minor autograph or photo op sells at $20 min and most are 2-3X that.  There are dozens on the floor and people like Lou Ferrigno and Adam 'asshole' Savage drew long lines.  That's pure $$$.  Plus the floor was full and all those vendors and exhibitors buy in, even the indie artists and cosplay 'celebs' in the back must drop a K$+ or so.  Most of the small panels are free - volunteer - they actually approved me to do one last year but I had to cancel due to a tournament conflict (I didn't know what I was going to do anyway - just submitted on a whim).  Staff is mostly volunteer except security (which was heavier than usual - Arnie's high fee was justified by his heightened security fees after he was attacked publicly recently at a gym) and house staff (concessions, janitorial, etc).  

And I know the price of that venue very well.  Remember that's were we've held TCEC for over a decade now.  We use South Hall (much cheaper - SVCC just used it for badge & wristband pick up) but we've used one of the rooms for our 20th and have access to all the numbers.

Dude, you should like TOTALLY got to DragonCon, man!

WTH is that?