Okay, so the title is a little misleading, because this really isn’t a series of lamentations. I’ve been thinking about how to best promote Munchkin Conan and I really just like the way the word sounds. Lah-men-tay-shuns. OMMMMMM… Yes, I’ll be using that in a story soon. *evil grin*

At the moment, we’re prepping for a Steve Jackson Games booth appearance at New York Toy Fair. This is a trade show, not a regular convention, but there still are a number of pieces that we have to do as a company to prep for the event. Convention planning is, in short, a logistical nightmare that has to be sorted in any number of ways. First, you have to figure out how big the booth is. Then, what comes with it and what you’re allowed to hang. (Yep, you heard me right.) Some cons allow you to hang banners from the pole on the back; others don’t. For that, you need some way of standing a banner and you have to determine how much room that’ll take up.

After you figure out what rules you have to follow and how you’re displaying everything, you then have to deal with people logistics. What show floor hours can you reasonably work? How are you going to get your gear to the hall? How close is the hotel to your destination? That part can be “fun” all by itself. Then? There’s the extras that you have to hand out when the hall is open. Promo material, sure… But what’s effective at a trade show? That can take the form of catalogs, sell sheets, flyers, business cards, samples, etc. Demo material and prototypes are pieces we also have to include.

We will have two presences at this show; one for meetings and one at our booth. That requires additional planning to make sure both areas have what’s required when it’s needed. Toss in access to food, water, electricity, etc. and now you’re setting up a business that will be torn down in a couple of days — and I haven’t even broached the subject of conventions where you have to sell, demo, and interact with fans!

Luckily — and I mean this with every Cylonic fiber of my being — Kevin is doing a smashing set up for booth planning and configuration. I have pieces I’m working on, too, but it’s a lot more manageable since I have a great team and we all have a sense of humor.

Mood: Happy!
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: None.
Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Went for a walk.
Yesterday’s Projects: Game, Short Story
In My Ears: Sting. Hey, don’t be hatin’!
Game Last Played: Grepolis
Movie Last Viewed: Ironclad
Book Last Read: Harper’s Encyclopedia of the Paranormal
Latest Artistic Project: Crystal cluster bracelet in silver
Latest Release: Strange, Dead Love for Vampire: the Requiem