10 replies to this topic

[stahrlili]

Hey all, I was wondering if anyone knew of any conventions within the New England or Florida area that's coming up soon??? I'm interested in going to one in hopes to hang out with like minded people and to meet one of my many character loves on the show lol. Let me know.

[Master of Coin]

I'm interested in attending a con sometime, especially if I can get a table to sell some coins. But I'm WAY out of the loop on this stuff. I pretty much stay in the shop and make stuff all the time. I have no clue what cons are good and which are lame and all that sort of thing. I used to do the custom-knife show circuit back when I was making knives and swords. There were definitely many that were not worth the trouble. I ended up just doing the four major ones, New York, LA, Orlando, and Paris. So in the Science Fiction Convention world... what's good?

[Xray the Enforcer]

It depends on what you're looking for. If you want to meet cast members from GoT, your best bet is one of the larger media-focused conventions like DragonCon. That happens at the end of August in Atlanta, GA. Or San Diego ComiCon. Or TitanCon in Belfast, Ireland (cast members will show up depending on shooting schedules). If you want to meet fans of the books, the next major BwB meetup in at WorldCon in Chicago over Labor Day weekend. I've heard idle chat of one or two of the cast members from GoT showing up, but it's far from guaranteed. Then TitanCon in Belfast, which is in mid-September. The next New England convention of note, which is neither ASOIAF nor GoT focused, but generally has fans of both, is Readercon. That's the second weekend of July in Massachusetts. There are currently no conventions in New England (that I know of) that indicate that any cast members will be present. Media stars generally charge money for their appearances, which is not how old-school SF conventions organize themselves, so it's rare to see the WorldCons and Boskones have media stars in the ranks.

Re: selling merch -- not sure. I am not sure that the WorldCon crowd will be much for coins. That might play better at ComiCon. DragonCon is an unknown quantity for me -- many of the hard-core fans there sink their money into cosplay, rather than collectibles, but there could be a large-enough audience of GoT now that it'd be worth it.

[stahrlili]

Zbój Xray, on 04 June 2012 - 12:22 PM, said:

It depends on what you're looking for. If you want to meet cast members from GoT, your best bet is one of the larger media-focused conventions like DragonCon. That happens at the end of August in Atlanta, GA. Or San Diego ComiCon. Or TitanCon in Belfast, Ireland (cast members will show up depending on shooting schedules). If you want to meet fans of the books, the next major BwB meetup in at WorldCon in Chicago over Labor Day weekend. I've heard idle chat of one or two of the cast members from GoT showing up, but it's far from guaranteed. Then TitanCon in Belfast, which is in mid-September. The next New England convention of note, which is neither ASOIAF nor GoT focused, but generally has fans of both, is Readercon. That's the second weekend of July in Massachusetts. There are currently no conventions in New England (that I know of) that indicate that any cast members will be present. Media stars generally charge money for their appearances, which is not how old-school SF conventions organize themselves, so it's rare to see the WorldCons and Boskones have media stars in the ranks.

Re: selling merch -- not sure. I am not sure that the WorldCon crowd will be much for coins. That might play better at ComiCon. DragonCon is an unknown quantity for me -- many of the hard-core fans there sink their money into cosplay, rather than collectibles, but there could be a large-enough audience of GoT now that it'd be worth it.

Thanks love. I checked out DragonCon and unfortunately I didn't come across anyone from the show and I only came across 3 names I was familiar with, but could care less about. I appreciate the reply.

[Master of Coin]

I suppose there are ways to arrange for a table or booth space at these things? Cast members are not really an interest. I'm more intrigued by what kinds of artyfacts people are making. Like maybe... a burned fragment of a strut from a Klingon warbird found during a routine space debris cleanup, including certificate of authenticity. Don't people do that?

[Xray the Enforcer]

Most definitely. I'm probably not the right person to be answering this (in that there are others out there with a better handle on these things), but I've seen stuff like that being sold at art shows and in dealers rooms at cons such as WorldCon and Boskone. I bet Norwescon has a good-size dealers room. Not sure about Wiscon. World Fantasy, not sure. It has been a long time since I've been to World Fantasy. Maybe ConQuest for another regional con.

The way to arrange for a table or booth is to contact the person in charge of the dealers room or art show of each con. For example, here's a page that discusses getting a table at ChiCon (this year's World Con). http://www.chicon.org/dealersroom.php

Hopefully someone else with slightly more experience from the dealers side will be able to fill in some more details or give some suggestions as to which cons are best for these sorts of things.

[Master of Coin]

Coolness! Thanks! I used to do the knife-and-gun show circuit to show my handmade knives and swords. I've done Coin shows, but they don't really work for fantasy coins... regular white-bread coin collectors don't understand them and can actually become angry that somebody might actually seek to MAKE coins. (I think it destroys the "magic" for them). I spend almost all my time either in the workshop or behind a computer screen. At least once in a while I like to interact with human persons on a face-to-face basis.

I'll be doing the National Button Society annual show in Portland Oregon August 4-11. I'll be showing my handmade buttons (not like political buttons, but sew-on buttons for clothing) that are for collectors or costumers. I'm scheduled to give a presentation on wednesday August 8th entitled "Making Bilbo's Lost Buttons - a Metallurgical Buttonmaking Journey". But that's my only scheduled appearance this year. Might just need set up to swing by Chicago on the way home.

Thanks for the link Zbój Xray!

[Isandregil]

stahrlili, on 04 June 2012 - 08:25 PM, said:

Thanks love. I checked out DragonCon and unfortunately I didn't come across anyone from the show and I only came across 3 names I was familiar with, but could care less about. I appreciate the reply.

Only one thing for it then really, just have to come to the north of Ireland and TitanCon some year, see whoever from the cast shows up With the extra selling points of seeing shooting locations. And mead. And dragonglass.

[Bronn Stone]

San Diego ComiCon hasn't been about the stuff MoC is describing for decades.  It has gotten just way too big and expensive for table space.  Back in the 80's when I was helping a friend run his table every year, he'd have been a perfect fit.  But over the years, Hollywood has dominated that show more and more.  Too bad, as I liked the old show a lot.  But this one makes a lot more money for the company that runs the thing, even if I think it kinda sucks these days.

Having attended a few WorldCons in the past decade, I'd think that would be a much better fit for the business side.  The fact that you'd get to see Stego drink some girly conconction perhaps with an umbrella is only a bonus.

[Parris]

World Fantasy Con dealers' concentrate on books, rare, collectible, signed. Not a place for dealers with t-shirts, coins, swords or other fan-related merch.

For our Master of Coins, I'd suggest going to a con where George was a GoH or featured writer. Perhaps the best thing would be to reach out to a few of the other ASOI&F licensees to share a table with multiple lines of merch to offer to the attendees. The costs of being a dealer at a major media convention like San Diego Comic Con and Dragon*Con are very very high, and not knowing what the mix of attendees and their preferences could put any dealer deep in the red on their first try.

Of course, there's a lot of fun and good times to be had at many conventions, no matter the size. Our own local con, Bubonicon, is a real delight, although the membership reaches only about 700, as is ConQuest in KC. Big mega cons like Dragon*Con and WorldCon demand a lot of knowledge about what to offer to the attendees, constant presence at your table, dealing with sales tax and other fees, getting your memberships and dealers table bought months or more than full year in advance.

You might also want to look into offering wholesale to a few of the dealers who offer ranges of merch from multiple movies/tv shows/pop culture.

But to just experience a good convention, have a table so you can sell merch while talking to lots of people who pass by, while being able to go to some panels that interest you and then spend some time in the evening with other fans, I'd suggest considering going to Conquest next year (George will be there and it's one of our favorite conventions) and seeing if you could share a table with other ASoI&F merchants, or come on down to New Mexico for Bubonicon.

Yes, I own you e-mails, Master of Coins, lots to talk about. Been off the computer for most of the month in any dedicated way, been having problems with tendonitis and for a couple of weeks was typing out notes with my left hand, not a fast or easy way to communicate. More soon.

My local jeweler is working on my new coin sets, with earrings, necklace and ring to wear at WorldCon, will send pictures once they're done.

So come to some conventions, for the fun of it if not for major profits, I think you might like the mix of people and events, and there's always a good time to be had when the Bros gather for parties and mischief.

[Parris]

stahrlili, on 03 June 2012 - 04:30 AM, said:

Hey all, I was wondering if anyone knew of any conventions within the New England or Florida area that's coming up soon??? I'm interested in going to one in hopes to hang out with like minded people and to meet one of my many character loves on the show lol. Let me know.

there are many conventions to choose from in large populations centers like New England. The oldest is BosKone, held in the Boston area in February. It is run by NESFA, the New England Science Fiction Association. A most excellent convention, even when we get snowed in by a major blizzard for a couple of extra days.

Don't have time to post some links, but look for regional cons that have been held a few times so you have some confidence that the con com knows what they're doing. See what their general focus or theme for the convention is going to be, and yes, that is often, but not always, related to who their GoHs are going to be. If the con has a Steam Punk theme and you're into gaming or pop-culture media that probably won't be a good fit. If the con advertises a lot of media-related guests, like actors from tv shows and the showing of round the clock anime, and you're all about the books and genre writing, that con probably won't be great experience for you.

Start with a more general-interest local/regional convention that seems to offer a range of interests, activities, especially if they have a few featured Guests that you have read/seen/admired. Bring a friend if possible. If there are panels at the beginning of the con welcoming new attendees, go to them and learn more about the con and the people who are attending. Volunteer to do a couple of shifts of basic 'gophering'; you'll meet a lot of people and have the opportunity to see just how we make the sausage.

The Bros gather at WorldCon, and other conventions that George is attending, and at other conventions when two or more Bros meet up for drinks, meals and general fun times. So go over to the Bros forums and post your question there, see current threads about conventions where Bros are already planning to attend. You can always check what conventions George will attend on his appearances section of his web site. We are now booking George's appearances at conventions - besides WorldCon and (usually) BuboniCon - for 2016/2017. You can even get some idea of what goes on at a small convention that George has been at by going to Rolling Stone and seeing their article and photos from MisCon, held last month in Missoula, Montana.

WorldCons are held in a different city/country every year. This year, it will be held in Chicago. Next year, in San Antonio, Texas, and it looks like London will win the privilege of holding WorldCon in the late summer of 2014. The date of WorldCon now tends to change a bit depending on multiple factors. The 'traditional' date has been Labor Day weekend, and ChiCon 7 is being held on Labor Day weekend. But London will hold their convention in mid-August, if they win the bid. Since London is running unopposed, it is likely they will announced the winner after all the votes are counted in the site selection for 2014. Sorry, didn't mean to get down in the weeds about the details of WorldCons, but for many newcomers, it's a bit confusing at first on how the members of the World Science Fiction Society choose where we're holding the annual Family Reunion and I like to natter on about the mysteries of Fandom when I get a chance.

Just always remember that there are great differences between fan-run not-for-profit conventions that have a membership of 300-1K, and a big for profit media-centric convention like Dragon*Con, or the major gaming convention, GenCon. Fan run cons tend to cost less to attend and that's by design. That's one reason why you find cons like BosKone being held in February, because there aren't a lot of major business/trade/social organizations conventions that want to be in Boston in February. So hotel costs are cheaper and its easier to negotiate with hotels and convention centers when we're asking for a weekend that isn't a high-priority holiday or special event date in that city. Likewise, you'll see a lot of southern cons held in high summer - because what damn fools besides fans want to be in New Orleans in July? Big media cons have a lot more money to spend and more money to gain from their attendees, but they can do big events and offer experiences that smaller budgeted conventions can only dream of.

If the first con you attend doesn't really ring your bell, try another one. It might take a con or two to find out if you like the experience, and just like trying on shoes, your first choice just might not fit. But there is such a wide range of interests, genres and pop-culture themes, you should find conventions that appeal to you that aren't a big stretch to attend and enjoy without emptying your wallet.

Oh, and unless you're really determined to be a tourist, and know you can pull yourself away from the convention to go out and see the city/country where the convention is being held, concentrate on the details of what the convention has to offer; the site hotel/convention center, the abilities/reputation of the committee, your transport, lodging and food costs. What their theme is, who their GoHs are, will likely be  of more importance and pleasure to you than what the usual tourist attractions are for a 'normal' visitor. Well, except for dining choices, you really want to find out what sort of restaurants and other food opportunities are accessible to you within a reasonable distance.

Hope we'll see you sometime, someplace, at a convention in the next year or two.