Allied Events - Why you should go
I was recently alerted to pacprint 2017 (incorporating Visual Impact), an expo running from 23-26 May in Melbourne, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (colloquially known as Jeff's Shed, after a former premier). This is a trade event for media/press/publishing companies selling massive laser printers, inks, laminates, films, papers, cards and the sort of allied machinery you would expect to see in very large printing businesses. There were tertiary institutions promoting related courses too.
At first glance, this doesn't seem very relevant to me as an independent writer - publisher using a small, family enterprise: SOV Media. SOV Media will not be buying this kind of equipement, nor have the production capacity this operation suggests. Even so, it is useful as a publisher to see what is out there, mainly to consider how it might impact publishing in the future.
A second glance at the program revealed that, in addition to the trade show, there were Industry Workshops and Forums. Over the three days, the workshops that caught my eye included: Print in a Digital First World; Designing for Digital; Web-to-print and Cross Media Communications are not just Cool, Nice to have Platforms.
As I only wanted to commit to one day, I looked at what each day offered in the Forums, and quickly decided I'd be spending May 23 at the expo. Forum 1 (11- 12:30) featured the keynote speaker, Steve Tighe, a futurist, who presented on the implications of the post-material world for business. Forum 2 (1:30-3:00), featured a whole panel addressing emerging innovation and the future opportunities these present, and Forum 3 (3:30-5:00) addressed strategic marketing for SME's.
I write Deep Fantasy in an era when paranormal, dystopic, urban and anything George R. R. Martin produces, rule the roost. My angel series explores the ever-shifting sands of the human and divine, not the body of the hot, new boy in class, who happens to be a fallen angel.
I no longer waste my time pitching to publishers, but nor have I managed to position my narratives effectively, as I need to as an Indie. They simply don't seem to fit anywhere--yet. But, the post-material world that we are now sliding into (have already slid into, in some instances) is highly relevant to my works and the presentation gave me the starting point I need for a rethink.
Forum 2, with its robotic room service (carries the order, accesses the lift, rings you when it arrives), 3D printing of organs, and text that also generates power, offered a lot to a speculative fiction writer. Then, the less glamorous, but absolutely essential business of marketing yourself as a SME, presented in Forum 3, really delivered a punch.
Entry was free to the expo and to all events which, given the quality of the forums, was an absolute bargain. So, my message is this: be alert to conventions, expos, and events in the broad area of writing and publishing and read the fine print. Don't miss great opportunities by assuming such events won't be relevant or useful to you.
At first glance, this doesn't seem very relevant to me as an independent writer - publisher using a small, family enterprise: SOV Media. SOV Media will not be buying this kind of equipement, nor have the production capacity this operation suggests. Even so, it is useful as a publisher to see what is out there, mainly to consider how it might impact publishing in the future.
A second glance at the program revealed that, in addition to the trade show, there were Industry Workshops and Forums. Over the three days, the workshops that caught my eye included: Print in a Digital First World; Designing for Digital; Web-to-print and Cross Media Communications are not just Cool, Nice to have Platforms.
As I only wanted to commit to one day, I looked at what each day offered in the Forums, and quickly decided I'd be spending May 23 at the expo. Forum 1 (11- 12:30) featured the keynote speaker, Steve Tighe, a futurist, who presented on the implications of the post-material world for business. Forum 2 (1:30-3:00), featured a whole panel addressing emerging innovation and the future opportunities these present, and Forum 3 (3:30-5:00) addressed strategic marketing for SME's.
I write Deep Fantasy in an era when paranormal, dystopic, urban and anything George R. R. Martin produces, rule the roost. My angel series explores the ever-shifting sands of the human and divine, not the body of the hot, new boy in class, who happens to be a fallen angel.
I no longer waste my time pitching to publishers, but nor have I managed to position my narratives effectively, as I need to as an Indie. They simply don't seem to fit anywhere--yet. But, the post-material world that we are now sliding into (have already slid into, in some instances) is highly relevant to my works and the presentation gave me the starting point I need for a rethink.
Forum 2, with its robotic room service (carries the order, accesses the lift, rings you when it arrives), 3D printing of organs, and text that also generates power, offered a lot to a speculative fiction writer. Then, the less glamorous, but absolutely essential business of marketing yourself as a SME, presented in Forum 3, really delivered a punch.
Entry was free to the expo and to all events which, given the quality of the forums, was an absolute bargain. So, my message is this: be alert to conventions, expos, and events in the broad area of writing and publishing and read the fine print. Don't miss great opportunities by assuming such events won't be relevant or useful to you.
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