Comicpalooza organizers respond to accusations of not paying performers

>>Click to see scenes from last year's fest. Kiki Maroon said she was offended by an email from a Comicpalooza coordinator. >>Click to see scenes from last year's fest. Kiki Maroon said she was offended by an email from a Comicpalooza coordinator. Photo: Courtesy Of KiKi Maroon Photo: Courtesy Of KiKi Maroon Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Comicpalooza organizers respond to accusations of not paying performers 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Houston's own Comicpalooza is in hot water for insulting local talent by saying that some acts won't be paid this year.

Kiki Maroon, a burlesque dancer and artist, said when she asked for information about working at the massive convention, she was told she wasn't famous enough to receive a check.

She took to Facebook to share a screenshot of what she says is a conversation with Sheri Shoemake, the entertainment coordinator for Compicpalooza.

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The post shows an email allegedly from Shoemake that reads: "we are not able to pay anyone this year, of our budget went to celebrities. SO, if you need to be paid, then I'm sorry."

"Dear Comicpalooza, you should be ashamed of yourself. YES. Performers need to be paid. YES. Artist (sic) need to eat. YES. You should be sorry," she wrote.

Dear Comicpalooza, you should be ashamed of yourself. YES. Performers need to be paid. YES. Artist need to eat. YES. You... Posted by Kiki Maroon on Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Organizers of Comicpalooza say the post does not tell the full story.

Aimee McCurtain, VP of marketing for Comicpalooza, said in a statement, "Comicpalooza appreciates all of the entertainers, volunteers and attendees who have made this show a success for so many years. Entertainment budgets for this year's event are still being determined. This was simply a misunderstanding, which we have addressed with the coordinator and Ms. Maroon."

Maroon explained she submitted her Comic Strip burlesque and comedy show to the coordinator through the online panelist submission form and wasn't contacted until she received an email to her and 15 others. It was to request promotional material, she said. When she asked for information about budget and timing is when she was met with the offensive response.

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"I have performed all over the world. I have taken my show all over the country. And I have never received as disrespectful and unprofessional response as I have now, from an event put on and run by my own city," she said. "No convention has ever asked or assumed that I could produce an hour long, multi-act show for free. I hope any artist who come to Houston for this don't think less of us for holding the only convention of this scale who expects them to work for free. Signed,

(Non-celebrity ) KiKi Maroon."

Shoemake did not immediately respond to an email request for comment Tuesday.

The cosplay/Sci-Fi fest is being held this year May 12 through 14 at its usual home, the George R. Brown Convention Center.

>>Glimpse at last year's fest.

Editor's note: A previous version of this story did not clarify Maroon's submission as a panelist.