[Writer Post] Fan Days, Marketing, and Being Approachable
It’s writer post day! Whee!!! I’m still a little convention buzzed (and exhaustion hung over) but I’m functional and trying to be productive. We learned a lot by doing Dallas Comic Con Presents Fan Days. The bigger “for profit†media conventions are completely different entities than fan-run conventions – so what works for one doesn’t necessarily work for the others.
Jimmy and I at the table.
The stuff that worked – to a certain extent – the personalized Sharpies were called a “brilliant†idea by actor, Glenn Morshower. He now has one. So does Eddie McClintock (or at least he did for 5 minutes). I hope he still has it. I gave away some but not a lot, they do tend to the pricy. But there are some out in the wild. Ed gave me the one he had Eddie personalize staff photos.
“Hey I recognize you!” says Eddie McClintock on Sunday when he was wandering through the exhibit hall without his handlers.
I know I now need a banner on a stand to put up behind the tables and chairs. We were not lucky insomuch I hoped for someone with gratework that we might be able to hang a banner on. We were MOST FORTUNATE to have really GOOD neighbors as people. There’s something to be said for “high and outside†signage. We will be investing in THAT before the next show in February.
The coloring book experiment was a successful – the whole convention was successful – but this was an experiment. Having something in the $2 range with a catchy schtick – “Have something to do while in line for Stan Lee or Bruce Campbell†– did work. We SOLD 21 out of 30 – and I gave away 3. I did provide party favor crayons with them so they would actually be able to color. Having the typical “gimme†stuff was also important. I didn’t even count how many notebooks and ink pens I gave out.
Glenn Morshower…just because.
The key is being outgoing. For the most part, I really will talk to anyone at any time. In this business you have to. Especially if you don’t do art. Prose writing isn’t a VISUAL selling item (except for the covers). I have to get people’s attention, draw them in, etc. And for a first time (and WAY too many “I don’t read†and “What would I do with a book without pictures†comments), I did pretty well there. Well enough to do the show again. But if I didn’t subscribe to the “Be Approachable†factor of this kind of thing, I don’t think I could say the same.
And yes, I schmoozed actors, artists, and people. I am a fangirl at heart. I do love me some Warehouse 13. If a classic actress has a charity that will suit FenCon, I’m going to talk to her about it. If a long-term character actor is sitting alone and bored at his table, I almost feel compelled to check on them and be a short-term table shill. It’s all part of the be “Be Approachable†factor. I don’t know if any of them will remember me for longer than the convention – but hey, it worked in the short term.
The Neighbors
And this is the thank you part. I didn’t come by all of this naturally. There is some “schmooze gene†that I do have from growing up in radio. I did promotional work since I was 10. But the rest *is* trial and error and marrying a booth manager, too.
The two years I worked with Bill Blair, I learned the basics of being a good guest at fan-run conventions (which also applies here – be approachable). Nicole Pellegrini taught me about booth etiquette (I was a table helper at some big conventions & how to not tick off neighbors) and how to judge “lookers†from “buyersâ€. Allen Williams and Jimmy Simpson taught me about how to set up booths/displays that don’t block you off from your customers. Without being willing to learn from all of this, I’d be making much bigger errors than I am. But it’s all trial and error.
What worked this time might not work in February, but I thoroughly intend to enjoy the journey. Now I have to start catching up on work. It’s really hard to write while doing a show, because then you’re not engaging the passers by. Artists can do it because they’re producing something visual, no one really wants to see the words on the page until they can buy it and take it home or download it.