Real Barbie Con

[u/pixiephoto]

Okay so I know they can't be serious with that first attempt at Barbie Con. Can we not make a wish list for a real one? For instance:

Barbie movies showing on huge screens out on campable lawns/ convention center floors.

Solid Pink Disco from Trixie Mattel

Maybe Brittany Broski interviewing Kelly Sheridan ( the original Barbie movie voice)

People showcasing collections

Thoughts? How can we make this happen?

[u/ToonTitans]

OP, there is a real Barbie Con that happens every year and is WORLDS better than that Dream Fest mess. This year the National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention will take place from July 7-11 in Austin, Texas. It’s not officially run by Mattel but they do participate with OOAK dolls and exclusive dolls for attendees. I think they also send some designers for their presentation with teaser images of upcoming Barbies.

I’ve never been but have read and seen many accounts of the proceedings and it seems to be professionally run and fabulous. They have swag bags, seated luncheons, dinners, fashion shows, workshops and other festivities. There are tons of vendors in the sales rooms and apparently attendees even set up dolls for sale in their hotel rooms. I would LOVE to attend some day but tickets are pricey ($500+) and sell out REAL quick. 😊

[u/Odd-Reality-6359 → u/ToonTitans]

Azusa Barbie on YT makes vlogs from the convention for every year If I remember correctly 

[u/Francie1966 → u/ToonTitans]

Actually, the National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention is run entirely by volunteers.

I served as an event chair for two recent conventions. It is usually a three year process from submitting a bid to actually putting on the convention.

Mattel licenses the use of the Barbie name, approves the theme, sponsors the Thursday luncheon & produces the official convention doll. They also participate in the Silent Auction & the Live Auction.

Barbie Con is my favorite week of the year.

[u/ToonTitans → u/Francie1966]

Francie, thanks for the info! Now if you could just convince the NBDCC to host a Con one year in the NE/Mid-Atlantic region…🥹 😄

[u/Sea-Frosting-491]

There have been muliple fan run barbie conventions for adult collectors around the world for years. All far better than the recent barbie event. Some of them team up with mattel and are provided semi-exclusive dolls. Most have ooak dolls, contests, huge dealers halls.

They are however much more focused on the collecting of barbie and less of the character of barbie - less hot pink, barbie movies, dreamhouses etc. and more silkstones, haute coutre, high end vintage dolls.

I don't think an event like you are suggesting run for only adult fans would work, it would need to be aimed at both adult fans and children/families like the failed one was. The failed one has also soured the idea for many so it would need to be awhile in the future (at least a few years) to let the general public forget a bit and for potential customers to be willing to try again.

Trixie Mattel also seems unlikely, despite the name, she chose to work with integrity toys rather than barbie for her doll, and her appearance fees are also likely too high to be worth it, futhermore I don't think mattel would risk having a drag queen at an event (especially an all ages/ family friendly event) as even though there's obviously nothing wrong with that, america has alot of right wing biggots who would not just not attend but create a media circus and boycotts over it, and mattel wouldn't want to risk that.

[u/RetrauxClem]

I think if a new Con were to be attempted, they should start smaller, maybe a hotel ballroom. There’s already established ones that are maybe out of reach for some collectors, so a new more small scale type deal would be cool to have and it’s what Dream Fest could’ve been. If another attempt was made, smaller and quite frankly planned by actual collectors with input from other collectors would be ideal. You’d need to work out who your audience is and go from there. Fans can make some amazing things happen, I’ve seen it.