Mediaboss Marketing

Bowling and comic cons typically dont go together.

Fans of one are typically not fans of the other; but for one weekend the two worlds will collide in Livonia, thanks to some people who had a vision and founded the first Bowl-A-Con.

Show owners Paul Heilman and his wife, Susan Maynard, of Dearborn Heights came up with the idea for the mash-up show, and Downriver resident Mark Maxwell signed on to promote and help run it.

Between them they have spent nearly seven months bringing people on board with the idea.

Its going to be a blast, Maxwell said. Its a combination that hasnt been tried around here before.

The show will come to Woodland Lanes, 33775 Plymouth Road, in Livonia, on July 14, 16 and 16. The show is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. all three days.

Admission is $10 for ages 13 and older and $4 for ages 12 and younger. Admission includes free open bowling, and access to the comic con. Shoe rental is included in the door price.

Heilman also is known as Paul Steven Sin in the entertainment industry. He is well known for his Freddy Krueger cosplay and for performing at area haunted attractions.

I get these ideas that just pop into my brain, he said.

Heilman said being able to work with Gary and Tom Winkle, co-owners of the bowling center, was key to planning the first Bowl-A-Con.

Ive known Tom since I was 7 years old, he said. I had to sell him on the idea, but once he was on board we hit the ground running.

Maxwell said Heilman is a marketing machine when it comes to being on the street, as he goes out in costume nearly every weekend and talks to people, passes out fliers and generally just dazzles people.

He does what many people cant do, Maxwell said. He goes around and meets people. He is the dream street team from the 80s.

Maxwell, on the other hand, deals with the online marketing.

My side is the new school, he said. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat. Thats how we work well together.

Crowds are hard to estimate for a first show, but Heilman said that online over 7,000 people have indicated they may come out, plus others who hear about it from events and advertising.

Were hoping to get 300 people or more each day, he said, but we can handle a lot more. Were hoping to get a couple thousand.

Vendors for the show include comic book and toy dealers, custom crafters, jewelry makers and much more.

The Podbros Podcasting Network will have at least one live show as Media Litter Sandwich records the convention. They also might record other live shows over the weekend.

There also will be a cosplay contest with prizes for children and adults, bowling with bigfoot as Maxwell dons his Billy Bigfoot costume and more.

This will be the first comic con run by Heilman and Maynard, but Maxwell has been helping to run shows for years.

All three have time in the entertainment industry, though. Maxwell is the creator and star of Crazy Mark TV, an internet and local access show that focuses on a little bit of everything from cosplay to the truly macabre, while Heilman and his wife have spent years making movies, music and more.

Heilman has seven gold albums to his credit, multiple movie roles and is in the process of publishing his first comic book.

He started in the entertainment business when he was 12. Heilman also has been a model in several print campaigns and in fashion shows.

Woodland Lanes has been owned by the Winkles since 1974 when their father bought the business. Al Winkle, 90, still works at the alley two days a week.

For more information on the show, visit Bowlacon.com.

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Bowl-A-Con offers unique experience for comic fans, bowlers alike - Dearborn Press and Guide