Had a small mini-worry about COVID, but I tested negative. Which is nice: trying to figure out how to break down the site under the circumstances would have been a massive pain.
As to the convention: well, if I have a good day today I might make back the table fee. But not the table fee and the parking. The gas I’m not even gonna bring up. I think my future here for the next year or so is going to be the smaller venues, where the site fees will be lower (and I can hope to get more sales). Also, I’m definitely gonna need to write more books…
Speaking of: TINSEL RAIN! Buy it! Review it! Give a copy to a friend!
#commissionearned
Moe Lane
PS: I should note that Balticon puts on a very good, very organized convention. I think they’ve done a great job. I’m just not getting the sales I wanted, which isn’t actually their fault.
” I’m just not getting the sales I wanted, which isn’t actually their fault.”
Don’t absolve Balticon with a blanket statement like that.
They could have planned better – A holiday weekend is not the best time for such things.
They could have marketed better – attracted more buyers.
They could have been more affordable – left money in attendees pockets for your wares rather than sucking them into tickets, parking, fees and other crap.
They could have been more welcoming – demanding vax cards and masks kept many away.
They could have been less greedy – ‘virtual memberships’ let people attend all the panels and such without giving any of the onsite vendors a shot at sales – Balticon doesn’t care, they pocketed the money from a practically unlimited revenue stream that didn’t cost them anything in terms of floor space, building capacity or guest services. In a just world ‘virtual attendance’ income would be revenue-shared with vendors… HA!
They could have been less woke – with at least 10 of the 12 guests and award winners firmly to the left of Chairman Mao, ’twas not a very comfortable place for many.
Balticon is many things, blameless is not one of them.