Questions from an out-of-towner: 2010.

[Sarah Interrobang]

Hello!  

I'm Sarah with Interrobang Studios, a webcomics and gaming site run by myself and my fiance.  We're tiny, but full of energy and looking to plan out our 2010 convention schedule.

We have a friend in Denver to stay with and are considering attending Nan Desu Kan.  The trip's a big one for us though, our 'home base' is in Baltimore, Maryland!

My questions:
1.  From your site, it looks like I have to purchase attendee badges before I can apply for or be confirmed for an Artist Alley Booth.  Is that true?  Or are there 'artist alley bundles' available where I can buy the table and the badges at the same time?  If we cannot attend as folks with a table, I'm afraid we can't afford the airfare and wouldn't use pre-reg badges.

2.  Perhaps I have not read closely enough, but can you link me to the list of approved merchandise for the artist alley?  If I need to consider a merchant's table, that makes quite a difference in the 'can we afford it' math.  

3.  I know that you are all under new management (good luck!), and I appreciate that things take time to set up, but do you have a ballpark estimate of when the forms for both Artist Alley and for potential Panelists would be available?  (Name a month?)  If not, that's cool.  

4.  Who would I contact about requesting to be a 'guest' for your convention?  


Thank you for your time and attention.  Best of luck to the new "Kan" team, and have a Happy New Year!

[allpowerfulbob]

Hello Sarah thanks for your interest and putting all of your questions in one thread. I can answer a few questions for you.

1. You are correct, you must be pre-registered for the convention to apply for a table in Artists Alley. If you are unable to attend the convention you can always transfer your badge to another attendee.

2. From what I understand there is no list of "approved" items for AA. I do know that there is a review of what you will be selling before  your space would be approved. If that makes sense.

3. Just to be clear, only the Dealers Room and Artists Alley has a new area head. From what I've seen you should watch for more information regarding AA in January. In years past the application was made available around February; however, this may change. Regarding panels, the online form for submitting your panel suggestion should be up in January.

4. There really is no one to contact about being a guest.  The directors make the invitations for guests to the convention. They'll read this post and they may contact you as a guest.

Thanks again, hope you can come to the convention.

[Sarah Interrobang]

Wow! You're fast.  Thank you so much!

1.  I will take that into consideration, perhaps that local friend of mine would be willing to buy a pre-reg badge from us if things don't work out.

2. Yes, it does make sense, thank you.

3. I've got y'all bookmarked. 

4.  I'll cross my fingers, then.  Kevin and I offer panels as well: writing for graphic novels/working with an illustrator, artist alley 101, etc. 



Again, thank you for such a quick and clear reply.  I really hope we can swing this, though if not, there's always next year.  Y'all're staying on my list as a 'Con to Watch.'

[JoadJoVae]

Just to further address things and hopefully clear up some things as well,

1. If you'd like to go ahead and pre-reg, the forums are also a great place to advertise that you are no longer able to go and have badges up for grabs, Many would rather buy them from you at a lesser price if the prices do go up so if you do not have a local friend the forums are a great place to find a willing con goer.

2. Just to add to this, Artists Alley items only have one major restriction, everything you sell must be a craft of your own. That means no selling things that you did not make even if they go with the item. Last year we made a minor exception to this because we had a vendor selling items for the rave that you could fill with extra glow sticks, the only way we allowed them to be sold is if it was as a refill (someone bought an item and the glow ran out so they wanted another glow stick and even in this case a receipt was required) and they had to be sold for no profit (at buying price). In other words hand mades only. Hope that makes sense!

3. We will be meeting very soon to discuss that and have already began doing so as much as we can not meeting in person so keep your eyes peeled for more information!

And as for 4 Bob covered that
Good luck to you in the Artists Alley application process! Be sure to be as timely as possible as the spots fill up quickly (and by quickly I mean by a matter of seconds!) Hope to see you at NDK 2010!