Convention Musings.

[per_solo]

Am I a failure as a convention head?

No, not really.

Have I failed in aspects this year?

Oh, hell yes. Hindsight is 20/20. Suggestions were made on how we could improve things, but the problem is that, when suggestions are ever suggested to the club from "outsiders", those suggestions always get pushed aside. Hell, even when they are suggested by those in the club, there is usually a 50% (if not higher) chance that the person making the suggestion will be pointed to as "not having enough experience".

FOR FUTURE YEARS...we have GOT to nail our marketing down. Starting with targeted marketing. This year, we actually got someone who understands marketing...but they've had real life stuff as much as the rest of us. Fortunately, the person doing Marketing/Publicity next year looks like he REALLY has great ideas, and I hope to PLG that we are smart enough to listen to him.

Ideas of things that we need to do...we have GOT to get on community calendars as soon as possible..hell, if we could get on them for this years and next years and the year after, that would be a great step.

Local universities...we just, this year, got flyers out to IUPUI...we need to make sure that we get them to Marion, Wesleyan, ITT Tech, Phoenix University, basically, every educational institute that we can..we have people who live in Bloomington, and it's not that far a drive anyway...we need to get them there, too.

With said flyers, we need to have them specialized...if we have flyers going to a bookstore, the standard flyer, with the Author and Artist information on them is great...if a Comic Shop, the flyer needs to focus on the Artist, and Comic Book/Anime stuff that we do...the Colleges/Universities need to have targeted flyers with the literary/performance stuff that we do..the Play, the Masquerade, the Whose Line show (if we do it again next year), ANYTHING along those lines.

I know of at least 2 people (one of whom is reading this) who found our convention, last year, because of the Television spots we did...I wish to PLG that I'd had the budget to do those this year...but, in future years, we need targeted commercials...either in just the few weeks before the convention, to get people that have nothing going on...but then again, people that must plan things out in advance might need the 2 month "space" in order plan things out.

I guess part of the issue is looking at Gencon...when most of the geeks I know (I'm a geek too, as you know by reading this, so don't be offended) go to Gencon, before they walk in that door, they are registered, and know exactly what they are doing ALL WEEKEND. Before they even get there, they know exactly what rooms they are going to be in at which hours.

We need more of that.

Yes, we are a volunteer organization...yes, when you are such, you are totally reliant on the volunteers you have, but the pre-planning is a big part of anything. When I go to a convention, I generally know what I'm going to be doing there...at Archon, several years back, I knew that i was going to be running games, and just hanging out pimping Hex Games and Steve Jackson Games....at Marcon this year, I had NO plan...just went there to see friends, and do whatever.

And now I'm starting to Ramble. Jess...make sure your dad has a chance to read this (or a summary), since he's doing an integral job next year, and a bit of this should help him. I have other people who can talk to him in e-mail about what they've seen, and what their thoughts are...Tony...I think these are good suggestions to think about for '07, as well. From what I've seen of his thoughts so far, listen to Jess' Dad...with him as Publicity, I think things can turn around, at least for that aspect of the Convention/Club...

It doesn't change some of the other issues that have been noted, and that I've seen myself, but for the sake of the convention itself, that's a start.

And no, this isn't a pitying post...no need to post comments such as "Oh, but you've done a wonderful job". I know that I've done some things right, but several nowhere near as good as I could/should have. My biggest issue has been lack of planning, and lack of communication. And in some respects, a lack of understanding of what the people volunteering under me should be doing, or needed help with. I can say that I suck at some of this...and know that, no, I'm not being too hard on myself. I'm trying to be brutally honest with myself.

Comments that talk about HOW we can improve things, and what direction we should be going, and all that, will be left intact...any that are tryingto stroke my ego, well, those are fair game. :-)

Comments

[thedruidbear.livejournal.com]

Oh, hell yes. Hindsight is 20/20. Suggestions were made on how we could improve things, but the problem is that, when suggestions are ever suggested to the club from "outsiders", those suggestions always get pushed aside. Hell, even when they are suggested by those in the club, there is usually a 50% (if not higher) chance that the person making the suggestion will be pointed to as "not having enough experience".

Well, at least NOW I know the odds.

Ideas of things that we need to do...we have GOT to get on community calendars as soon as possible..hell, if we could get on them for this years and next years and the year after, that would be a great step.

Local universities...we just, this year, got flyers out to IUPUI...we need to make sure that we get them to Marion, Wesleyan, ITT Tech, Phoenix University, basically, every educational institute that we can..we have people who live in Bloomington, and it's not that far a drive anyway...we need to get them there, too.

Got news for ya.... I am ON the IUPUI campus and have looked around. I've not seen ANY flyers. That and hte fact that is it summer session and while there are SOME students here, the majority take the summer off.

I guess part of the issue is looking at Gencon...when most of the geeks I know (I'm a geek too, as you know by reading this, so don't be offended) go to Gencon, before they walk in that door, they are registered, and know exactly what they are doing ALL WEEKEND. Before they even get there, they know exactly what rooms they are going to be in at which hours.

Gencon and InCon are two different types of conventions; but yes, word needs to get out better.

So, have yu done a bad job? No (not yet or not that I've seen, but I've not been and will not be invlolved). Just letting you know what I see as an outsider.

Peace,

Bear

[per_solo]

Yeah, well, those are the odds as I see them, and have seen people who have made suggestions (yourself included) run into. Sometimes, I have no idea how I stayed...

Flyers were given to my uncle this last Sunday, so in theory, they should be there any time. But, I should have thought of shit like THAT sooner.

Gencon and Indy are two different types of beasts, but IMHO, that's scale. Both have to have volunteers to run, both need a plan in order to pull it off...a "passion", if you will, for doing it.

*nod* I don't think I HAVE done a bad job, but I also know I did nowhere near as good as I possibly could have...part has been disillusionment, part has been every little real life thing in the last year...not that those are excuses in my brain...

I do understand why you won't be involved, but suffice to say that comments you and Ting have made, along with others close to me, have stuck a bit...and at times I feel like I'm losing MY mind, as things need to be better, or the group just needs to pack it in, and call it a done ghost.

HOPEFULLY, things will improve enough that you and T might come back eventually...no worries, tho, I won't hold my breath. :-P

Peace to you as well, and thanks.

[echoweaver.livejournal.com]

Well, I do think the GenCon and InCon are different cons in more than just scale. I don't expect to know everything I'm doing the moment I arrive at a general sci-fi convention, but I do when I'm going to an expensive, high-volume, consumerized game convention. Especially when, at the game convention, I'll be shut out of events I want to do if I wait until con-time b/c too many other people want to do them. There's just less room for spontaneity at a con like GenCon.

So, yeah, it's not a bad goal to be super-organized to the event level, but I don't think it matters that much to a lot of attendees. So long as you have your act together by the time the con happens, and events are listed clearly, and they happen when and where they're stated on the program with the attendees advertised, then you're golden.

[savidya.livejournal.com]

Yes, the cons are different, but if they were more organized at InCon, they could focus the advertise more towards specific groups, advertise sooner than they do and hopefully get more new people in the door by getting the data out the door earlier. Personally, I have no idea what is going on when or why I'd want to go to InCon other than it's Per's baby this year.

Then again, I have very little nice to say about COJ either since I've been treated poorly every time I've made the mistake of trying to be involved, so I fall a bit in with Bear on that one. But I'm proud of Per for trying to change things. :)

[echoweaver.livejournal.com]

I don't really disagree with what you said. I was just pointing out that InCon isn't like and shouldn't be like GenCon, and that it's not just a matter of scale. To be honest, I don't know very many scifi conventions of InCon's scale that have accomplished what you're talking about. That goal is about bringing in people who are unconnected to the scifi convention culture and giving them a reason to be there. It's a great goal, but a difficult one, and I personally think that a concom shouldn't beat themselves up for not doing enough in this area -- there's NEVER enough. The majority of people in our target demographic already know what a scifi con is -- they will see a flyer, note whether they know the GoHs and find them interesting, and attend based on that in addition to location, cost of the hotel, and whatever friends they have who are also going. You don't need to have a schedule published months in advance. And, having been programming, I'll state that it's a monumental task to have your schedule ready for publication that early.

I've heard the gripes about CoJ before, and I'll hear them again. It's a flawed group, and I won't defend them. It helps if you already have friends in the group, which you and Bear do, and to hang out with those friends at meetings and gradually get to know people. What you can't expect is for people to notice and accept you immediately or necessarily put that much weight on your opinion if they don't know you. I wish all groups were as welcoming as the grillrats. But I also found a group of people within the CoJ that I really enjoyed working with, and those people are both fun and knowledgeable. You can complain about it or just decide it's not worth your effort, but nothing's going to change the way it is.

[savidya.livejournal.com]

You know, I typed a response and it just sounds like I'm attacking the group, so I give. :)

None of my friends outside of you and Per know of this con, thus I think they could do better at advertising since the majority of us live here.

The group? I had a very nasty experience with a couple of people that will make me never return. I never offered anyone other than Per my suggestions for what I see they could improve and I never will.

I find it sad that something my friend loves so much is something that I can't get into because of how they treat new people.

[echoweaver.livejournal.com]

Well, do your friends outside Per go to other scifi conventions? Something like this relies on a lot of word-of-mouth publicity, so if you attend and like InCon, a great thing you can do for publicity is invite some friends who might like it, and if they like it, suggest that they invite some of their friends. There's no shame in making use of viral marketing. Making sure the whole city knows us by name is just too big a task in manpower and money.

As for CoJ, everyone doesn't treat new people badly. There are some creeps, but it's not the whole club. That doesn't mean you need to give the group a million second chances.

[confusedjew.livejournal.com]

huh. i'm thinking my dad and i are really the only new people who've had a good experience trying to join coj. that's kinda sad. sorry you feel that you can't join, but i extend my hand in friendship nonetheless. just from interactions on lj and through per you seem cool. :)

[per_solo]

You and your dad got lucky, or just managed to talk to the right people..of course, you guys came to the "What went right/wrong with the con" panel, so that helped me meet/greet ya...

However, you have become friends with a two of the people who didn't have as good an experience, and when I joined, it was due to Echo and friends of hers whom I'd latched onto, and became friends with as well..and, well, it's kinda hard for me not to be vocal at times...

In short, I've seen both sides..I've seen where people have been welcomes in, but I've seen more instances of a form of elitism...and the sad state of it is that without the club pulling new people in, it will atrophy..it's already been happening the last few years...I've put some ideas into how I think that can be fixed, as have others..the member "outreach" is a good step, because we do tend to just fit into our own little groups...

Ugh, Rambling. :-)

[confusedjew.livejournal.com]

tis cool. maybe i'm just blind to the elitism. i think the fact that i'm not looking for coj to be a main source of friends and such might help. i don't know.

as for the other two i know who've had problems....there's issues there that i understand....won't elaborate here but i understand.


think though that if you're up for outreach all you really need to do is just outreach. i'm sure you're not the only one up for it. bring some people and at least they'll have you to be friends with. just a thought.

[confusedjew.livejournal.com]

printed my off the post for my dad. he's reading it and hopefully will take the suggestions and figure everything out.

as for the t.v. spots, if you can get a good allotment and do it early enough they should work. nothing fancy but something that gets the job down y'know?


at least do newspaper ads, magazine even if you can work that out. somewho get the word out in a massive way so people who aren't already involved in some way will notice it. that's just my opinon. the fliers are good but you need them in the right places, i.e. game preserve, borders and other geek spots. hope that helps. i'll try and think of other stuff but beyond what i've said word of mouth is always a good start.

[per_solo]

The publicity head responded to me and your dad, he has been hitting the newspapers. I wouldnt' have thought of Magazines, either...but, with the number of special fan interest magazines (is there still a Buffy one being published??), that's a good avenue too.

Game Preserve, Borders, Comic Carnival, Downtown Comics...there's a game story in the GPM (I think), that was one we hit...but yeah, any place and every place we can think of..the schools..hell, IRT (well, ok, that's unrealistic since they are "quality" thea-tah..but still...), or other such...we should be able to hit a LOT of places and get so much more well known...radio interviews with some of our guests...radio interviews with club leaders..that type of thing...

[(Anonymous)]

don't forget the smaller theatres like Theatre on the Square, The Phoenix, I think Carmel has the shakespeare in the park thing this summer...Nuvo and the gay rags, Outlines and the Word. Plus there are the little community papers like the Spotlight (I forget the name of the east side paper, but most sides of town have them) Often times you can simply put posters in windows of businesses as well....or leave postcard/business card flyers at the counter. I'm thinking of Yats and Mass Ave Video both on Mass Ave downtown. Of course you see lots of poster sized things too....coffee shops are a great spot as well, I've in mind Urban Element and The Abbey on Pennsylvania... Now you could always flyer cars at alternative music events in town - i'm thinking Fusion's darwin's theory night and events at Radio Radio (check out http://www.mwafterdark.com/ for more even ideas or possible places to flyer)

I'm completely unconnected to this really, but I wholly agree with you Per. I've worked at an ad agency and know that you're right about advertising. It has to be more intense and targeted. Unfortunately it can be labor intensive - that's why people make a living doing it :) But if you're dedicated to it, it can make or break you. I also suggest the indy alternative music scene because I see a lot of people there with similar interests but I'm betting that they're not being even remotely tapped by you guys. bonne chance!

elkins

[confusedjew.livejournal.com]

there's a buffy, an angel, a charmed really any genre show has a magazine. plus there's cinescape and dreamwatch and such. i see con ads in there all the time.

Convention Musings.

[kathawkes.livejournal.com]

We are doing what we can with what we have. I have been trying since '97 to keep each conchair from trying to re-invent the wheel each year. As well as trying to get the co-chairs more involved and actually learning what is going on instead of planning all the changes they will be making.

Your efforts were change have been greatly appreciated, at least by myself.

Thank you for all you have done.

: )

Re: Convention Musings.

[per_solo]

Yeah, we are, yeah you have...we've got several of us who have been trying to get this ball rolling fast enough that the convention survives quite a while...but, we're approaching, in my mind, a point where we have got to make changes to survive, or just call it a good run, and instead use the club for other purposes...

Thanks. I wouldn't still be there if I didn't give a damn...much like I wouldn't have run for Conchair if I didn't think I could have made things change for the better..and yeah, some of those have..I just keep looking back and going "Dear god, I could have done so much more, if I'd tried just a little harder.."

Re: Convention Musings.

[kathawkes.livejournal.com]

That is human and I think even as strange as you can be, you are still human. and we love you for that. : )

The pressure from trying is taking its toll and getting close to busting my "give a damn" but I am also still here. The sun will come up tomorrow if there is a convention or not. : )And as soon as I truly beleive all that I say I will walk away or at least give up my board position.