Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo

Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, aka C2E2, is a three-day convention dedicated to all things entertainment and pop-culture such as comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, popular movies, television, and general "nerdy media."

This event serves as a place where fans of this specific genre can have a deeper connection with their favorite forms of media through things like dressing up as their favorite characters, purchasing various items that have to do with their favorite things, and listening to celebs who play a part in their favorite movies or tv shows speak in front of live audiences on panels, and opportunities to meet up with celebrities as well. The event hosts all sorts of things like movie premieres, celebrity interviews, games, escape rooms, concerts, raffles, interactive events throughout the convention with prizes involved, and autographs.

Con-goers can even participate in events such as costume contests that are judged by real celebs and even award real money prizes out for winning; a cash prize of up to $1,000 for winning something is not uncommon at these events. After the local costume contests, winners chosen are also eligible to participate in a global championship to compete against people from all over the world, particularly Australia, China, Austria, Singapore, Indonesia, India, and France. The winners of the global event not only just gain exposure, but can win up to $5,000, and even have the opportunity to gain sponsors.

Something that I found to be interesting is just how focused on art and artists that the event is. People can not only gather to share and view each other's art, but it is also a chance for aspiring comic-artists to get themselves out there in the comic world. The website features a whole page just for artists, and people can directly tag their own websites along with this.

Another thing that I found interesting and was made very clear on the C2E2 website was how much of the proceeds of these events go to charity and other various causes. Even if you're not into comic conventions, the one thing that you cannot deny is that they definitely do more good than not. Something the event really promotes is giving blood, and it even gives quests to donate blood at the event. Apparently, guests and celebrities are also encouraged to donate money at the event, and due to the massive amount of guests  (with an estimated attendance between 20,000 and 30,000 attendees in it's first year, and rising every year beyond) it's not wrong to guess that this event not only just profits for itself, but also most likely puts a significant amount of that money back into charity.