MFF Notes and Lessons Learned

[the_gneech]

Some notes to myself about running a dealer table and such. Terribly boring for all not-me people, I suspect.

• CHANGE IS IMPORTANT! Okay, what's wrong with this picture? It's Friday morning, 20 minutes before the dealer table is due to open, and I have $12 in my pocket. Is that planning, or what? If not for the handy presence of an ATM machine, a bit of help from tchall, and a can of Pringles purchased for the sole purpose of breaking a $20...
  
  
• Bags? I did all right without 'em, but they would be nice to have. If nothing else, I need trashbags for my various bits of paper and soda bottles that collect behind the table.
  
  
• Cash Box The little bag I was using to hold money worked well enough, but a proper cashbox would be better. One of those little index-card holders like Starbucks used would to the job admirably ... small and easy to carry.
  
  
• Have a Buddy! Having T'Chall or Ben Bear fill in for me periodically so I could make the occasional run around the room (or what-have-you 0=3 ) was very handy!
  
  
• Put Art in a Display Portfolio! People liked having original artwork to look at, but having it scattered around loose was just asking for trouble. I need to get a display binder, and pick and choose what pieces will go in.
  
  
• Something to Hold Prints would be handy, too, so people can flip through and see that there's more than one design!
  
  
• Sign Holder Just an acrylic one from The Container Store should do the job. Also, print up extra signs! At least one for each day, in case stuff runs out or whatever.
  
  
• Write Down the Sketches Done and if possible, get the e-mail addresses of the people you do them for, so I can write to them and ask for scans. I'd really like to get a scan of that raverboy sketch!
  
  
• Button Designs On Display Set up a board or something with the button designs, but keep the actual buttons behind the table. Replenishing the layout on the table was a pain, and easy to mess up.
  
  
• Always Get a Full Table.
  
  
• What We Have Here Is a Failure To Communicate! Dave never received the CD with print images, so no prints. He also thought I was going to bring shirts, so no shirts. This is a Bad Thing. In future, always confirm via e-mail the week before the con what you're going to get other people to bring!
  
  
• Big Sellers: Dover Button, Leonard Button, Proud to be Furry Button, Button Sets, Page-Size Color Sketches
  
  
• Worst Sellers: The Christmas cards. They were way too expensive for what you got; they should have been freebies, or at best, super-cheapies. The matte finish didn't help; they should be glossy or don't bother. Check with Dave about smaller runs from the card supplier he uses? The prints were a little expensive, too, considering that they weren't even matted. Next time, take the mailing tubes to give people to carry them in. (Which reminds me, I still need to mail Ben and T'Chall theirs!)
  
  
• Overall: More stuff with Dover (sigh). More stuff with Tiffany! She didn't have shirts to show off with -- so she at least needs a button! More NeverNever stuff, so they'll leave me alone about it! Waaaaaah! *ahem* Sorry.

Considering I had no clue what I was doing, I think it went very well indeed!

-The Gneech

Comments

[nekomimikun.livejournal.com]

Live and Learn and then get Luvs....
Well, Live and Learn anyway. XD

[chipuni.livejournal.com]

SET CHEER="WHOO HOO!"

I'm surprised you didn't get more call for Drezzer buttons, though!

[makovette.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a busy and fun con to me. Also sounds like you may have even broke even on the trip with the art sales too, yay :)

A good tip list too, tnx!

CYa!
Mako