#geekonomicon

Friday

I arrive at the con about an hour before opening. For once, I’m by myself, and have unfortunate discovery of just how heavy all of my stuff is; display, art bag, art, banner. Yikes. I struggle to get in to the convention center, and make a beeline for the registration table.

Error 1: There is no packet, map, or record keeping.

I ask the woman behind the table for a badge: telling her my name, and that I’m for Artist Alley. I’m told that she recognizes me name, but that they’re having trouble getting enough tables for artists so I might be in the hall. This displeases me. She has no documentation of anyone coming in; no checklist, no map, nothing. Just an armful of badges. 

I get into Artist Alley, wandering aimlessly with the full weight of my stuff. No map means I have no clue where I’m supposed to be. Neither does the staff. I find a few who are being given stern words by an upset vendor. 

The story I hear is that someone somehow hacked their website and ‘bought’ spaces without paying. To this I would saying having a real map and a real list of everyone who has paid from the beginning would’ve largely taken care of it.

I got very tired of this excuse as the weekend progressed.

(( later, I found out that they had simply never shut down ticket buying on their website. they were selling spacing they didn’t have and overbooking and didn’t do anything about it. ))

I have to stand and wait (15~20 minutes) while that issue is sorted and, not wanting to be difficult, agree to be placed in the celebrity area, which is in the hall beside Artist Alley and also contained a large gaming area. My immediate concern is how dim that hall was. I’m told to pick a table. Many are empty, and I select one that seems to be under a good spotlight compared to the rest of the area. 

I realize at this point that I’ve injured my back.

Friday, I was surrounded by empty tables.The only bright spot is that the neighbors I did have, behind me, were the best neighbors a gal could ask for. Helpful, kind, friendly; you name it. Best part of the con were the other vendors and artists. 

At 2PM (the con opened at noon), I begin to wonder if the con has been opened. There’s no one here. Nearly everyone I see has a vendor, volunteer, or staff badge.  Energy was low and, honestly, sad. 

(Another pro was there was never a line in the bathroom, I guess.) 

In all eight hours of Friday, I sell 4 prints. Not good. I’m feeling low and my already dwindling hopes for the con continue to fade. I leave with a horrendous migraine and feeling low in spirits. I drive to Ocean Springs to stay with my aunt; thinking that Saturday will be better and I just need a good night’s sleep to get back in the saddle. 

Unfortunately, I also get sick that night. 

Saturday

I arrive on the early side and set my table back up for the day. I’m not feeling good vibes; at this point I’m convinced it’s me. I spend most of the morning fighting tears while still trying to be cheerful and greet people who pass by. 

Error 2: Slapdash layout.

There’s an art to setting up aisles and tables at cons. Certain spots are better than others. Optimally, you arrange Artist Alley in such a way that attendees can easily navigate it and each aisle is full. My aisle was bookended by a perpendicular section of tables, giving the appearance from one end that it was actually a dead end. Again, again, I had empty tables around me. In fact, despite the space issue, I noticed empty tables in Artist Alley, too. Odd. 

Traffic on my aisle was significantly lower than the one behind me. Additionally, the artists that were relocated outside of Artist Alley were already at a big disadvantage. Signage was never changed to reflect our location; thus no one knew we were actually out there. I’m near the celebrities; they all seem very nice and down-to-earth. Lots of voice actors and whatnot. While they were all great, the staff showed enormous favoritism towards them. While I know this happens at other cons, certainly, we’re not just talking fetching drinks and food. I overhead information about things that were changing, being rearranged, and explained that was relevant to everyone. I was never told any of it, despite being nearby. 

When I did have a staff member come up to me Saturday afternoon and ask if I was having fun, I was honest. I told him no, I really wasn’t; I hadn’t made any sales that day. His response was well it could be worse. Angry and upset and trying not to show it, my answer was “No, it really can’t be.” 

He has nothing to say to this.

Error 3: Staff arguing in the aisles.

More than once, the staff converged at the end of my aisle and bickered with one another about this and that. They were clearly stressed and there was a obviously some trouble with communication overall. 

However, this should’ve been taken elsewhere: not done in front of the vendors of attendees. The tension was palpable, guys.

 I understand the weekend wasn’t going how you wanted it to, either. But that was really unprofessional and left a bad taste in my mouth.

Saturday continues to progress, and it’s not better than Friday. In fact, it’s worse. There are people, but not what you what expect given the massive space that had been rented out. My aunt conveyed that the ads she saw were worded in a confusing way that made it seems as though the con wasn’t open to the general public. I’m assuming other outreach and advertising efforts were minimal or flawed given the sorry turnout. 

Error 4: REARRANGING TABLES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CON

In the middle of Saturday, tables start to get moved from the celebrity area to the main aisle (behind me), creating an entirely new row for celebrities. This caused a ton of commotion and confusion, though I overheard a staff member mentioned it was being down to “improve traffic flow.” 

Again, something that should’ve been done before midway through the con. 

Fed up with a lack of sales, I took my money and went to Artists Alley. I bought a giant plushie sheep. It was the best decision I made all weekend. 

I talked to several vendors and artists; all of whom were ranging from disappointed to upset to downright angry. Some even asked for refunds (and I don’t blame them) and were denied. 

Again, traffic is a big problem. Few people who actually go down my aisle are even interested in stopping and looking. That said, I did meet some great people who really seemed to like my work. (So shoutout to all you guys who stopped and talked to me! You’re aces.) 

In any case, by the end of Saturday (a 10-hour day) I’d only sold another 4 prints. 8 total. That’s $160 dollars. That’s not even breaking even. $100 table, $30~ gas, $20~ paper, $50~ food and snacks...I didn’t even have to worry about a hotel and I still didn’t break even. That makes this con officially financially worse than even the worst Wizard Con I’ve worked (and in my experience, Wizard Con couldn’t care less about the artists). 

I decide not to stay for Sunday. I know it won’t be worth it, and I’m honestly too fed up to deal. My neighbor Tyler (you’re awesome) helps me pack up and take stuff to my car so I don’t hurt my back again. Apparently a lot of vendors made this same decision. I was so ready to be done with the whole thing that I even left that night and drove the 3 hours straight home.

 So in short, Geekonomicon suffered from:

Lackluster outreach and advertising

(Which resulted in low turn out)

Profound disorganization

Unprofessional (and even rude) staff

Insufficient communication (both before and during the con)

Now, I don’t write all of this just to gripe. I know managing a con is tough. I know things weren’t going how they wanted it to, either. I know. I get it. That said, there’s no excuse for what happened. Even if you excuses were valid, that doesn’t mean how things were handled in response were don’t well. Especially when so many problems could’ve been fixed or mitigated with a little organization. 

Some people tried to give them some slack in that it was only their second year. To that, I don’t give them any leeway. The best con I’ve ever worked (Mississippi Comic Con) was also only in its second year; it was beautifully orchestrated, organized, and those guys at AVC Conventions worked their buns off to advertise; online and off. 

So I don’t give Geekonomicon a pass on that. And I won’t be going back. I present this as a cautionary message to both artists, vendors, and con organizers. And again, I recognize that I don’t know what was going on behind the scenes. This is not casting blame, only my observations and my personal experience. That said, my point of all of this, really?

Keep Your Chin Up, Artists.

You’re going to have bad cons. Even when the staff and organization is there, you still might have a bad con. Sometimes the attendees just aren’t that into art, and sometimes you don’t know that until you get there and experience it. Losses are rough. Bad experiences can make you doubt yourself and your potential. Don’t let it, please. I am that artist, and I don’t want anyone else to feel as badly about themselves as I did this weekend. 

My Background

I am a professional artist that sells at conventions full-time.  I’ve done numerous shows over the last 7 years and have done 14 this year alone across various states.  Events small and large.

I’m forgiving like most Vendors or Artists.  Invariably there will be little hiccups during any convention.  With Geekonomicon, it was the sheer number of mess ups and the manner in which they handled that has been absolutely deplorable and forever tarnished their name for me.

The Rundown

I arrived at 7:55am on Friday for 8am-12pm set up.

The registration table wasn’t set up.  I spoke with a couple of staff who said the badges hadn’t arrived yet.  They were waiting on the UPS store to open and had no idea when that was.   

I explained that I was an artist.  They had no information for me other than the Dealer’s Room coordinator hadn’t arrived yet. I asked where the artist area was and they replied that they were unsure but it was probably in one of the halls. After meandering through 3 halls I find where the dealers are setting up and what I think is Artist Alley.  Some of the tables had names on them so I looked around but didn’t find mine.  There are no identifiable staff people to be found.  I exit the hall and see my friend Kenneth Kidder sitting in the lobby also waiting for the dealer’s room coordinator to arrive.

It was nearly 8:40 when we found Cory – The Coordinator.  We follow him into the dealer’s room as multiple venders/artists trail after him seeking the same information.  He has no idea where people are supposed to be set up.  He tells us to wait as he runs back to the office to get his list.  We waited another 10 er so minutes for him.

Upon his return we all come to realize he has no idea what’s going on. His sheet lists vendors/artists but there is no layout or table assignments next to the names.  Another staff member comes up to take Cory’s attention and we overhear that they need to condense tables as much as possible to make room for more tables.

The room configuration wasn’t complete...  It wasn’t complete and it’s 3 Hours until doors open.  Upon this new information Cory disappears.  We’re all STILL waiting for some indication that we’ll have our tables sometime before the con is over.

Finally I found two tables with my friends name on them.  By this point it’s after 9am when he starts setting up.  I still haven’t received my table so he offers to let me use one of his tables until they can figure out where mine is.  We don’t see Cory again as we start setting up.

As a business person I needed to get my display up ASAP because my purpose is to make money.  I’m there to do business.

During our set up we hear two altercations between staff and vendors about booths that are missing. The staff consistently says that they’ll make any space that they can but they cannot give these vendors the spaces they paid for.  

Throughout the convention I received numerous accounts from various vendors, artists, and writers that they had experienced the same inconvenience.

Come Saturday even more information has rolled in and the rumor of a glitch or hack began to circulate. I still hadn’t been properly checked in and sought compensation for my lack of table or at the minimum compensation for my friends second table (of which he wasn’t not using because I was)

Either way, a total of 3 tables had been paid for and only 2 were in use.  Thus, refund for the one missing table.

Upon talking with one of the owners, Ian McRae, on Saturday afternoon about my refund for the table I never received and this is what I was told:

Me: I need to see about a refund.

Ian McRae: Unfortunately we can’t give refunds after 30 days of purchase. 

Me: Do you have that anywhere in writing?

Ian McRae: On our website. (No they don’t, I checked)

Me: So for these people who’ve come in expecting a table, who’ve paid and you have no table for them, what do you do?

Ian McRae: We try to make room.

Me: Have you posted a public announcement addressing this ‘Glitch’?

Ian McRae: I haven’t yet but I can.

Me: Good.  I’ll need that Link for my Review.

Ian McRae: o__o; 

‘The Glitch’

Upon the birth of this cluster of awful, I heard rumor from attendees, vendors, and staff alike that there was a glitch or a hack in their web software that left the portal for registration open despite the notice that they put at the top of the page stating that tables were SOLD OUT.

This resulted in (assumedly) multiple people purchasing tables after the sold out notice thus overbooking their venue.  

a.)    Why is it that you didn’t notice that people were still purchasing tables?  Don’t you receive a notice on your bank statement saying that you’ve received a payment? You also receive an email conformation that someone has booked a booth or table. (I know I received one the day I paid.) I also received a confirmation less than two weeks later directly from the convention thanking me for my purchase.

b.)    If registration was closed why didn’t you contact the person(s) who had purchased tables/booths after the deadline? Refund their money and apologize for the mix up? (I would love to hear from anyone if this was the case and even the time frame in which you purchased your table)

c.)     A software glitch? A hack??  If so why haven’t you made a PSA addressing the error and WHY can I still go to your website at this very moment (December 13th 2015) and PURCHASE a table or a booth??

d.)    How is it that the day of the convention you discover that you suddenly have over booked the vendors and artists to the point that you can’t account for the spaces purchased?  How do you not notice until the DAY OF THE CONVENTION??  

 Sounds like an oddly convenient way to steal people’s money and not follow through on your obligations.  Oh wait, that’s exactly what happened!

 Amidst all Geekonomicon social media and website I have not seen any PSA’s about this incident.  

 Regardless of it being a Glitch/Hack, Geekonomicon still took money from vendors/artists and then failed to give them their goods equal to the terms of the initial purchase.  This is in breach of a paid purchase agreement.

Failure to follow through on your contracted obligation is an act of theft.

I would also like to add that spaces are supposed to come with 2 badges and 2 chairs.  Many only received one badge and one chair (I among many of the people around me experienced this.)

CHECK IN - WHAT CHECK IN?

Another large concern about this convention is check in security.  I never formally spoke to anyone with a list who checked off that I had received my space.

No ID check

No Name check

No Printed registration validation

Anyone could walk in, claim that they had a space, and they were taken at their word.

There was no accountability.  Badges were passed out well after set up and at random.

This is highly unacceptable

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Due to all of the above events, lack of ownership on the part of the convention staff, and the abysmal sales, I packed my display and left the convention at 4pm that Saturday.

I see no value in assisting a convention that doesn’t care about it’s vendors, artists, or writers. Refusing to take ownership and to go as far as to rob people and sheepishly blame a (false) software glitch for it is inexcusable.

My experience with Geekonomicon is the most unprofessional I have ever encountered.

 I will forever advise people against selling at this convention.

 Additional Convention Experience Review

Parking – Parking was free or cost $5 depending on what time you arrived at the convention.  What??

Venue – Gulf Coast Coliseum & Convention Center. A nice venue.  Was held on the back side of the convention center.  Where a loading dock area is usually located.  Not easy to know where to go.

Layout – Very strange layout.  Halls A and B were separated from Hall C by a wall partition but a hall made them accessible to one another.  You could enter or Exit through Hall A, B, or C.  Bad traffic flow.  Separation of Artist Area across two sections.  

As I was viewing it as an attendee.

Hall A Main Stage, Fan Booths

Hall B Gaming, Artists

Hall C Artists, Writers, Vendors

Artist Table –

Advertised: 8ft Table, 2 Chairs, 2 Badges $100

Received: 8ft Table, 1 Chair, 1 Badge

Tables were horse shoe.  Ends were butted up against each other elimination crucial sitting space.

No assigned table placement.

Vendor Table - 

Advertised: 8ft Table, 2 Chairs, 2 Badges $200

Received: Uncertain.  Some didn’t receive booths at all.

Vendor’s get the exact space of an artist but pay double??  It was not stated explicitly that there were certain dimensions.

Placement – Tables were Horse Shoe (Image)

Lighting – Halls A and B were very dark.  Ballroom Dancing dark.  Hall C was well lite.

Set Up –

Hours: Thursday 12-8pm; Friday 8am-12pm

Staff were not ready to receive artists and vendors on either day.  The layout was not finalized.  Vendors and artists reportedly helping the convention set up Tables Thursday Evening.  Many people waited an hour and a half or more on Friday to be told where their space was to begin set up.

Dealer’s Room –

Hours: Friday 12-8pm; Saturday 10am-8pm; Sunday 10am-8pm

Too many vendors for such a small attendance. The dollars didn’t stretch. Many artists and writers didn’t come close to breaking even.  Unsure about vendors.  Too many vendors selling the same things. Lack variety.

Food – No outside food policy.  Only one food vendor.  Sold fast food, concession items. Overpriced.

Sales  - Dismal.  Reviews I heard said that the average sales were between 50-100.

Traffic – Dismal. 

Friday 25-30 People pass the booth in 8 Hours

Saturday 25-30 People pass the booth in 6 Hours

Sunday Unknown

NEVER SELL AT GEEKONOMICON

Score: 0 out of 5