Do you do conventions?

[EcceRose]

I've done PAX East for the last 2 years and it's been a blast. I've done a few other cons that are much smaller but still fun. I did do NYCC and it was a very large waste of my money. It was the wrong type of people and we were so lost in the massive con.

I'm going to Gencon next month (really nervous). I've never gone this far for my jewelry yet. Super excited to go out there though since it's just right for my business and it'll be nice to met new people.

Anyone else have advise and suggestions on cons to do?

[Former_Member]

I bet PAX would be a lot of fun! I'm actually doing my first con next month here in Dallas. It is just a one day mini con so I'm not sure how many attendees will be there but I'm really looking forward to it! I would love to hear any tips that you guys have for a first-timer :)

[EcceRose]

Presentation!

That's the biggest thing I can suggest. Having a banner and making sure your stuff is easy to see and well presented I've found makes a big difference. I had a huge difference between my first year at PAX and my second. I know part of it was due to location but I really feel the bigger piece was how my booth looked.
Year one I had small short displays, and no banner yet, so my space looked really empty. This year I had 3ft window shutters displaying my earrings which put many things up at eye level. I brought little battery operated christmas lights, and I had a banner made. I almost doubled my last year's record.
All my display stuff is cheap! You do not need to spend tons of money on pre-made stuff. Find something neat and turn it into your own display. I got window shutters on clearance and I made pegboard displays myself then spiced them up with a splash of paint.
Small cons are a lot of fun because you will have more time to chat with fellow nerds. I've found if I step back and just let people browse on their own they seem happier. I know I always hated that feeling of a store employee following me around to see what I needed. I've always found just saying hi and seeing how they react makes a difference. If they seem excited they I talk more if they don't really respond I just let them do their thing so I don't scare them off.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the tips! I actually just had someone design a banner for me on Fiverr - I love that site since I'm terrible at graphic design! lol

[Former_Member]

PAX East represent! I haven't sold at a convention yet, but am aiming for Anime Boston next year. Probably in the Artist Alley to start.

I'll also be at GenCon, but not selling, just as a wandering nerd. :)

[EcceRose]

Jessi You'll have to swing by our booth. It'll be our first year there they put us all the way in the back left corner. booth 770. =)

[Former_Member]

Selling or cosplaying? I would LOVE to someday be able to get a booth at a convention to sell some of my stuff. Unfortunately, a lot of my items are custom made so i wouldn't have a lot to sell right then and there unless I made some ahead of time which I REALLY just cannot afford right now.

[Former_Member]

Current schedule:
Lakewood Renaissance Faire (-1 weekend in NJ in Sept)
Faerie Con (1 weekend in Nov)
Virginia Renaissance Festival (Summer '15)

Working on trying to get into
Wicked Renfaire
one of the big renfaires NY or MD - hey one can dream!
and DragonCon in Atlanta '15

[EcceRose]

Natasha I remembered something very important! Bring cough drops, hand sanitizer, and snacks.

Cough drops are for your throat, if you're like me you will be talking to lots and lots of people all day. My first con I had almost lost my voice by the end of the first day and I had someone save me by bringing cough drops to me.

Sanatizer is not something I am a big user of I really think it's very over used in our society BUT you will be talking to and greeting many many people and sometimes there are colds that run through a Con. So have some on hand to use maybe every couple hours just as a precaution especially if you are shaking lots of hands. =)

Snacks, seriously, bring a loaf of bread and some Nutella, or maybe wheat thins and bananas, or all of the above. Or something completely different depending on what you like to eat. I found our booth to be so busy this past year and it was just me and my husband so we didn't have time to take breaks and go eat so we had Nutella and banana sandwiches (amazing btw) and had some other small snacks around to survive on for the 8 hours we were in there. Don't forget a big bottle of water since you'll be talking so much you'll get dried out. =)

[Former_Member]

Haha actually banana and Nutella sounds awesome! Thanks so much for the tips - I actually hadn't even thought about bringing those types of items so I will definitely add those to my list!! It's 2 weeks from tomorrow so I'm sewing like a madwoman but I'm pretty excited!

[EcceRose]

Good luck, I hope you sell out!

[Former_Member]

I do some of the geeky conventions that happen on the east coast of Canada (where attendance is around 2000) but I'm hoping to get to have a booth at some of the larger cons in Toronto next year as I'm moving to toronto this fall. I hoe you guys all do great at your conventions!

PS, I agree on the cough drops! conventions are awesome, but also germy^^

[BolenArt]

Up coming con Dallas Comic Con Fan Days Expo October 17, 18 & 19
I also do the Dallas Comic Con in May but last year was so disappointing that if this year isn't better I might not do that con again. There is also a local con here in Tyler that's just getting started in October.
I also do a number of local & small craft shows & art fairs but I'm hoping to get into more cons in the next year ^_^

[Former_Member]

Nina, I'm doing Dallas Comic-Con's Fan Appreciation Day next Saturday and I'm thinking about doing Fan Days, as well (if tables are still available) so I may see you there! That's always my favorite of DCC's shows!

[EcceRose]

Getting nervous. Gencon is in a week! EEEKKKK!!
Natasha good luck this weekend I hope you do really well. Nina good luck as well! You guys will have to let us all know how it went. =)

[Former_Member]

Good luck at Gencon, Jennifer!! Fan Appreciation Day was a success! I ended up selling about 55 pieces and had a blast! Thanks for all of your tips! I think I'm going to look into the North Texas Comic Book Show in November for my next one.

[EcceRose]

Yay, Gencon was a blast! The drive was exhausting though, phew, 16 hours each way. We had a ton of fun, did not quite break even but decided to go back for next year anyway. I think our booth placement had a lot to do with our lower sales. Hopefully next year we will get a better spot and be able to increase our sales numbers. All in all it was definitely the most fun I have had at a convention yet! Maybe next year we can have a Gencon etsy meetup if enough of us go. =)

Natasha I'm glad to hear it went so well! I know there is a PAX convention down there, maybe getting a table in artist alley might be a good move for you. Your video game themed stuff would do pretty well there I imagine. =)

[Former_Member]

I haven't really done a con yet but I do an annual craft fair every year and it's pretty much the same set up and everything just probably a different market [more adults with their kids type of deal since it's put on by the Girlscouts]. I found that having certain things handy and doing certain things as well, I'll list them :D Having a neat table, making sure your items are set up in a way that makes them easy to see and placed with items that are alike like categorizing basically. Setting them up in a way that draws the eye in, take a step back from your table and look at it as often as you want while setting up, if it looks good to you it will probably look good to people walking by. Have hand sanitizer with you for yourself and maybe put it on the corner or somewhere on your table where others can get some if they need and when they stop for a squirt of it that will give them a chance to pause at your table and maybe see something they like! Keep business cards in a cute little holder or bowl [or something that goes with your display!] in a place on the table where people can snag one or two when they come by. They may see something they like but are unable to get it at the moment or maybe they think someone they know would LOVE that special something on your table, people love business cards lol. Make sure they have all the info you want to share such as name, E-mail,Etsy, Facebook,Pinterest, Etc addresses on them so folks can find our shop wherever it is! I like to offer nice packaging at my table. I keep colored tissue paper and make little gift bags out of cheap brow sandwhich bags from the store that have my name on them and use funky scissors to cut the tops off to give them some pizazz. I always ask if they want their item wrapped in case they aren't ready to wear it or carry it in the pocket, or maybe they are buying it as a gift etc. DEFINITELY keep snacks under your table or somewhere near you. Being hungry in a sea of potential customers is never fun especially when they're all walking around munching haha! I like granola bars or whatever is satisfying in a fix and able to be eaten discreetly [not much is more embarrassing or awkward than a customer inquiring about an item while you are chomping on a cheeseburger lol] Take time to walk around yourself and maybe check out your neighboring booth! 9 times out of ten the people are super friendly and energized about the event just like you and you could make a friend and get some inspiration, who knows! They could also end up checking out your table and end up buying something from you or making a trade [it's happened to me and I love it :) ] It also helps relieve some possible tension if you're like me and you can get anxiety around a lot of people you don't know well. Standing up and walking around to check out the place is always great! Have a nice sign somewhere either on the front of your table or banner that is both appealing to the eye and states clearly the name of your shop and what you sell that way people can see you from across the room and say 'oh look they sell this, let's go check that out!' instead of accidentally wandering into your booth they will be able to tell ahead of time if they are interested.

Lots of small tips that you pick up on easily, all in all just enjoy yourself and have fun! The first time I made a public appearance with my shop I was so nervous and kind of over prepared [which is great lol] but I had so much fun! The more relaxed and easy going you are, the more attention you'll draw in and the more people will want to talk to you and know about what you do :) Have fun with it!

[Former_Member]

I've never done Cons as a Seller, only as a "Shopper" Here in Italy, Where i live, the biggest convention for nerds is the "Lucca Comics And Games".
I will go to some little conventions with my works, but i mostly work on "commissions" i don't have many ready-made items to sell in a convention.