Conventions and Coordination

I went into Acadecon not knowing what to expect. I had hopes, mind you. What I'd seen so far seemed encouraging.

But when you're dealing with a new convention, you really don't know what you're going to get. So I approached it as I approached everything, hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.

Guys, it was the best.

The con was well-run, efficient, and offered a good amount of value for money. The schedule was packed with gaming events, they had plenty of door prizes, and every vendor I know who set up there made a profit above table costs. I'm no exception to that... the books sold were enough to cover my weekend, and a souveneir or two.

It was encouraging, to see so many local folks who share my niche hobby, and to talk to some of them on panels as a subject matter expert. Got to tell five prospective writers about the realities of self-publishing. Also got to lay out my strategy for creating sandbox campaigns. In between I sold books and chatted with local artists, craftsmen, and authors. There's a lot of us in the Dayton area. And barring mishap, most of us will be back next year.

That's how good conventions should go. A solid, well-planned launch leads to word of mouth spreading leads to growth the next year. Back it up by extending advertising, and you end up with a tradition. Sure, it won't all be cake and sunshine, but at the end of the day if you keep smart and remember to try to keep people happy, you can ride out the bad spots.

So good on Acadecon's organizers, and I very much look forward to seeing them next year. Peace, out!