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Convention Watch

Ankari

Hero Breaker
Moderator
My last post got me thinking about what conventions are around and when are they held.

I'll start off with the following:

  • Florida SuperCon: Miami, FL from July 4th through July 7th 2013
  • MegaCon: Orlando, FL from March 15th through March 17th 2013
  • MetroCon: Tampa, FL June 2013
  • KhaoticKon: Tampa, FL May 3rd through May 5th 2013
  • DragonCon: Atlanta, GA August 31st through September 3rd 2012 (I wish I could go!)

Anyone care to share?
 

T.Allen.Smith

Staff
Moderator
Comic Con is awesome...

1 million plus people invade.... A large precept age in costume. If you're into sci-fi, fantasy,or comics.... You'll love it.

Plus it's San Diego. Great weather, beach, safe community....
 

JCFarnham

Auror

2013?

Right. Here's the deal:
1) I'm going to finish my book (or at least something half decent) by then. Full completion.
2) I'm going to get some cards printed up (and figure out my marketing strategy, duh)
3) I'm going to go to WFC and spam the hell out of those publishers (by which I mean strike up intelligent conversation with people who matter and do some sneaky networking).

Any one else?
 

Ankari

Hero Breaker
Moderator
2013?

Right. Here's the deal:
1) I'm going to finish my book (or at least something half decent) by then. Full completion.
2) I'm going to get some cards printed up (and figure out my marketing strategy, duh)
3) I'm going to go to WFC and spam the hell out of those publishers (by which I mean strike up intelligent conversation with people who matter and do some sneaky networking).

Any one else?


I checked out the link and was awed. I'm going to actually see if I can plan for a trip to London next year. I already have someone who is willing to play dress up in one of my races and will go along. And he'll pay! World Fantasy Convention looks like the place to be to get your name out. Let's plan a MS field trip!
 

BWFoster78

Myth Weaver
Comic Con is awesome...

1 million plus people invade.... A large precept age in costume. If you're into sci-fi, fantasy,or comics.... You'll love it.

Plus it's San Diego. Great weather, beach, safe community....

San Diego is only about an hour from my house.

Speaking seriously for a moment, I plan to have my book published early next year. Would it really be worth it for me to try to attend? How exactly would it help?
 
As I understand it, SDCC is not great for fantasy writers (unless you are GRRM or equivalent), because it's so overwhelming and there's a huge number of attendees who aren't interested in fantasy writing at all. You'd be better off going to a con (like Worldcon) whose attendee base contains a higher percentage of people who are fantasy fiction fans.

Take this with a grain of salt; I'm really just parroting what I've read elsewhere. I've never been to SDCC either.
 

T.Allen.Smith

Staff
Moderator
I know a pro fantasy writer who goes every year. The trick, according to him, is diversification. The big names will draw huge crowd you're right. Smaller, less well known authors will still do well at these big conventions if they have really good visual attractions and work that covers other demographics.

Fantasy novels, fantasy art, sci-fi books, graphic novels, give-away contest, etc. it's all marketing.... But that's half the business.
 

Chilari

Staff
Moderator
2013?

Right. Here's the deal:
1) I'm going to finish my book (or at least something half decent) by then. Full completion.
2) I'm going to get some cards printed up (and figure out my marketing strategy, duh)
3) I'm going to go to WFC and spam the hell out of those publishers (by which I mean strike up intelligent conversation with people who matter and do some sneaky networking).

Any one else?


Count me in, definitely. That's plenty of time to get a finished and at least semi-polished manuscript, and I can't imagine we'd get bored quickly when we're actually there. Plus I've never been to Brighton before. If it's not too rainy by that time of the year we could go all wrapped up warm down to the beach. And in the mean time I'll read books by as many of the confirmed attending authors as possible.
 

TWErvin2

Auror
I've attended ConCarolinas several times and FandomFest once.

I attended them as a panelist/guest. You generally have to apply to be a guest/panelist, but if accepted then you are admitted for the weekend without charge. These cons (and most others) also comp the pass for a companion, or at least reduce the cost. You have to be a guest of honor/someone important for them to cover travel and the cost of the hotel stay.

Sometimes a table to sell books is part of the deal with being a guest, sometimes not and you'd have to pay for one if you hope to sell your books. The other option is to work with a book vendor there, but that isn't as effective. The cost for a table varies, mostly based on the size of the convention. My publisher sometimes helps with this, paying for a table in the venor room or in the hall of authors, etc.

It helps having several titles available, and the compeition to get noticed and attract potential readers is something to consider. FandomFest had a huge ballroom, a major hallway, and two additional large dealer rooms/areas. That means hundreds and hundreds of vendors and authors. I would imagine that ComicCon dwarfs this.

Cons are good places to meet other writers, and to meet readers, but sales won't pay for the gas, hotel and such, even with the usual bump with online sales that usually follows. Of course, I'm a small fish in a big pond.

With FandomFest, most con attendees were there to meet/see the movie talents: Burce Campbell, Sean Astin, John Ryes-Davies, etc. My wife got to meet, talk to Colin Ferguson for a while. She said he's very funny, friendly and all around neat guy. ConCaorlinas hasn't had that kind of moviestar talent, and the interest is more balanced between film/TV, reading, writing, gaming, costumes, etc. among attendees.

Speaking on panels is interesting and fun, too. I've been fortunate to meet some of the big names in publishing while doing that. But one of the best things is meeting and just talking to people (readers and fellow writers) with like interests, discussing writing, movies, books, and such.
 
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