Messages

Okay, I know I was an idiot for not thinking something was up when everything was so quiet for so long, and I'm kicking myself for that, thanks. It's still frustrating, and I'm sorry if I feel the need to vent a little. I've already lost one major con that I was a regular at this year to a completely ridiculous words-per-minute race, so I'm really kind of upset to lose another one I wanted to look forward to. I didn't mean to come across as completely blaming the people working this con, even though the delays really made me unsure if I should even try going, since it made the advance planning window uncomfortably short, especially for people who want to go in from out of state. I just wanted to mention the fact that this process basically ends up as another delay as something to think about, honestly. I'm sorry if it came out as an attack, and I NEVER said anyone did any of this on purpose. I'm just really angry with the whole situation.

And the forums started e-mailing me again today after I checked them again, so I don't even know what's up with that. I guess I might as well take off the notification, since I seem to no longer have anything to be notified of, and have now made everyone here hate me. I don't actually live in California, so there's not really any point in me spending the money on a plane ticket to go there. I quite honestly don't know what to do with myself at a con if I don't have a table.

Oh my god it just figures that the forums would decide to stop e-mailing me when this thread updates right before THINGS ACTUALLY HAPPEN. I really hope I haven't missed my chance by being a week slow, ugh. I swear I thought I'd joined some mailing list too, and that didn't come through either? This year REALLY REALLY DOES NOT WANT ME TO GO TO CONS. -_-

While this submission thing might seem like a good idea, it really slows the whole process down even more after it already started ridiculously late. People running the show had trouble finding the time to even open registration, and now they have to find the time to review every single applicant's portfolio? If you're going to do something time-consuming like this in the future, you should really try to get the ball rolling with MUCH more advance.

I'm just so frustrated with this whole thing. I guess the whole thing's probably moot, since it's already been A WHOLE WEEK SINCE IT OPENED I should just give up on this con completely. So much for thinking I'd get to go experience a new con this year.

I just saw the faq thread which is pretty awesome! (Especially the link to that help with filling out the sales permit form, that was helpful when I was doing it, but I had to find it myself!) Thanks for taking the time to put it together. I wasn't sure if I should go reply there since it's so empty (and I also figured people who are watching this thread waiting for information might want to know it's there) so I just came over here to say something. On the part about fanart I think it would be good to mention that fanart is okay before going into the whole "don't trace stuff" part just to make that clear, since there are some cons that are trying to limit it or get rid of it completely, which I think is ridiculous, but I won't get into that right now. Having the whole answer sound completely negative makes it seem a little like fanart isn't allowed at all if you're not reading carefully. But other than that it looks pretty good!l

Sorry for the outdated information from me, everyone! Regarding fanart, that was from my own personal experience as an AA artist, but that was also information I got from the AA head a few years ago. Listen to Eric, he knows what's up! Sorry again! o>

@Quatrina, haircurl
Although you are going to be coming to FanimeCon to sell artwork, we hope that the main reason you are coming is to have fun and enjoy the con and its programming. As I very well understand, many AA artists do make a significant portion of their income through selling at various cons' AA, so it is understandable that getting a table is a major, major concern, but we can only hope that it does not affect your decision to come to FanimeCon to have fun.

If I was local it wouldn't be such a huge deal, but as I am coming from out of state, the whole table thing is pretty much necessary. I don't expect to make a significant profit off this with how much it's going to cost just to go, but I don't think I can justify going at all if I can't expect to offset it at least a bit. And maybe I'm weird but I just don't know what to do with myself at a convention at all if I'm not behind a table so whatever other programming is there usually doesn't make any difference to me. :\

Anyway, not to derail this too much, I had another line of questions about the tables themselves that I think would also be good to add to a faq if someone is making one. I'm guessing a lot of this information is probably in whatever gets released when they open up, but I think it's good to know ahead of time so you can plan for setups and know what to expect.

So, tables: How big are they? Are there any unusual restrictions on displays? Are tablecloths provided or do we need to bring them if we want them? Is it going to be behind somewhere secure when the alley isn't open so we can more or less safely leave some stuff behind and not have to break down/set up the whole thing every night/morning? (It seems to me that if it wasn't there would be no reason to close the alley in the first place, but I don't know.)

Agh, I feel like I'm being so annoying and have possibly already managed to make enemies or something. I should probably go back to being an internet hermit and stop bugging everyone over here!

I'm sorry, but that attitude doesn't even make any sense. Do you think artists SHOULDN'T be making money or something? OF COURSE artists go to these cons with the goal of making money! Sure they want to meet other people and all that too, but it is the fact that they are making money that allows them to do that. For some people it's not worth a plane ticket and hotel room just to go to a con. Not all of us have the disposable income to do something that will ultimately only end up as a huge drain. That's why I've so far only been able to go to local cons. We take the risk that we won't break even, but we hope to at least make up some of the cost with our tables. And seeing it as the other members paying for the artist's experience is really skewed logic. They're paying for art, and they choose which artists to support. Obviously some artists will be more successful than others, that's true everywhere. The artists do give the con money both for their table and membership, what more do you want from them? If you really feel like artists are more of a drain on the con than an asset, that's really not a welcoming attitude, and it makes me feel you would be happier abolishing the artist alley altogether.

+1

I have to agree. As for the part about abolishing AA, just so you know the only reason me and my group of friends even bother with Fanime is to make money and chill at AA. If we weren't making any profit and literally only making enough to get back for the badge and table, none of us would bother. Keep in mind, we also have to pay to MAKE the stuff out of our own pocket. As for the other members, like you said, they pick which artists they want to spend their money on.

I think you two are looking into what Eric said too much.

FanimeCon provides the AA for artists of all skillsets and it is there for people to show off their craft. The rules and policies that has been set are there to ensure that they are fair among everyone that sells anything at FanimeCon (Dealers, I'm looking at you). In previous years, we've seen a huge number of artists coming into AA with the intent of modifying others artworks to make a quick buck. This is not the intent of FanimeCon and is one of the many reasons why we set so many rules for AA.

I am not sure if I am allowed to say this, but FanimeCon actually takes a huge cost hit to allow the AA to happen and we take that hit to allow everyone to enjoy the works of the artists in there. I'm not saying this so that you guys will start to pity us or anything, but I felt like you two are just taking Eric's quote the wrong way.

TLDR: We love the artists that are in the Artists Alley. We have rules that are set for a certain reason. If some of the rules rubs you the wrong way, just ask (e-mail, forum post, etc.) before reacting.

This isn't even about rules in the slightest. We know there are those, and I think at least those of us who have been doing this for a while understand them for the most part. I know there's the odd person who dabbles in plagiarism and such, but I like to think more often than not the artists at the alley do their own work and the ones that don't get caught and removed. But this isn't about that, either. And I do realize that cons cost a lot of money to put on. I guess he thinks artists shouldn't be in it for the money or something, but the fact is even if we aren't really, it's the money that makes it possible for us to go be a part of the con in the first place. What I have a problem with is implying that we can't be a positive influence on the con if our goal there is to make money. We can certainly meet new people, make new friends, and do all those fun con things while we make money at the same time. The two are not mutually exclusive. Honestly, for this one I'd be happy to even come close to breaking even just for the opportunity to go to a con I've never been to before with a friend I don't get to see often due to geographical differences.

We would love for you to be able to sell your works and make some money off of it, but when it comes to a point where artists are making lots of of money or basically going to the convention for free it makes us reconsider the goals and the mood that the artists bring to this event. The table cost is substantially subsidized in comparison to the cost of the event. FanimeCon membership fees pay for much of the cost. We have the Alley so that members can come in an see a variety of artists and enjoy the artists' works. However, when is it that it shifts from the artist paying for their own con experience to every other member paying for the artist's experience? When does the balance shift to where the members are paying a disproportionate cost for the artists to be here, the members are paying too much for the event to be set up, and the money would be better spent on other forms of programming?

I'm sorry, but that attitude doesn't even make any sense. Do you think artists SHOULDN'T be making money or something? OF COURSE artists go to these cons with the goal of making money! Sure they want to meet other people and all that too, but it is the fact that they are making money that allows them to do that. For some people it's not worth a plane ticket and hotel room just to go to a con. Not all of us have the disposable income to do something that will ultimately only end up as a huge drain. That's why I've so far only been able to go to local cons. We take the risk that we won't break even, but we hope to at least make up some of the cost with our tables. And seeing it as the other members paying for the artist's experience is really skewed logic. They're paying for art, and they choose which artists to support. Obviously some artists will be more successful than others, that's true everywhere. The artists do give the con money both for their table and membership, what more do you want from them? If you really feel like artists are more of a drain on the con than an asset, that's really not a welcoming attitude, and it makes me feel you would be happier abolishing the artist alley altogether.

Hi I'm trying to get into the artist alley this year and I have some questions about it! Mostly just about what it's like, since I have never been. I live in Texas, and am trying to branch out into some out of state cons. I have been looking through this thread but it's so much to wade through, especially since it spans from last year too! Is there an organized general AA FAQ with this sort of information on it anywhere? If not I think it would be really beneficial to make one so people who are new to the con know better what to expect!

Anyway, here are some questions I have:

Does the AA have hours? Does it shut down and go behind security or something at a certain time, or can artists stay there at all hours? (I usually go to A-kon, which is split into a level of each kind, though I really prefer being able to stay at my table late at night rather than being kicked out at a certain hour.)

Are there ridiculous fanart rules? It seems more and more cons are adopting no fanart policies or trying to limit or regulate it, which I think is a terrible thing both for artists and the cons! If it has any rules at all restricting fanart, it's basically a "you're not welcome here" to me, and I would hate to commit to an expensive flight and hotel room and not even be able to make anything back!

I found the post where it says you have to have a paid fanime badge before getting a table, but if I don't have a table to make some money I likely won't be able to go to the con at all! Can you get refunds for those if plans fall through? Have you considered packaging badges with tables like some cons do?

I'm sure there are more things I should be asking, but I can't think of them right now. Any help would be appreciated!