While I have already spoken with some of the convention staff about not only my experience, but also the experience of other attendees, vendors, and artists. I'm writing this review as a way to hold the convention accountable and hopefully be the last of complaints against this convention.
As always, I'll do my best to be chronological in my retellings, and for artists/vendors, that usually starts Thursday. While we didn't have Thursday set up, I found it strange that I had not received any load-in information for my table. I had paid back in July and was really excited for my first Sci-fi convention. I emailed Jared, asking for the information and was told, "Sorry, you're unfortunately on the waitlist. If someone doesn't show tomorrow, you can take their spot." Which immediately sent alarms going off. I had planned to spend the day working on the new Poke Hat and Scarf sets, and had 6-7 I had planned on making. I emailed him back stating that I had paid in July. I forwarded the receipts to him and was told, "I have no idea how you paid for that, as you weren't accepted and thus shouldn't have been able to pay for your table." Again, I'm confused because I had received an acceptance email at the end of May, and paid in June. I replied with that confusion and was told that, "this isn't an isolated incident this year. Several artists were not accepted but were still able to pay for tables they were not approved for." After some back and forth and forwarding receipts (with the snarky response of, 'if this isn't an acceptance letter, what is???') I was told, "We'll 'squeeze' you in."
I should not have to be "squeezed" in, as I was an approved artist as of May, paid in July. I thought the issue had been settled and finished preparing for the convention. As one of the leaders of Snacc Pack, I have to fill in if my co-leader Jay isn't able to sell for the convention, and after their mishap of not being told that they were approved dealers until the last minute (they received an approved email, then nothing until a week before the convention), they had planned on going to a family wedding. I told them not to worry, my partner will sell for me, and I'll sell for Snacc Pack. As someone with disabilities, I need someone to be at my booth with me, no matter where I am, as I need to be able to leave the booth when my body tells me. So I asked a friend to hang out with me, the badge would be covered (since we weren't going to be partying anyway, just selling and then going home for the evening). When I attempted to get my badge, I was told because I was a "last minute addition" that my badge hadn't been printed. The two ladies at the registration booth came out the gate with an attitude, shouting about how I needed my ID (my booth was registered under my business, not my legal name), and I couldn't pick up my partner's badge.
Come to find out, the table I had paid for did NOT come with a single badge, and I was expected to pay another $50 (if I was nice to the staff member, otherwise, it would have been the full weekend badge price) for my partner's badge. Again, we weren't planning on attending panels or room parties, we were there to sell. Had I been told, "We need to see your ID to prove you're at least 21 to protect our asses if you try to drink," I would have understood. No other explanation besides, "WE NEED YOUR ID." I was already livid as we were opening soon and I had already waited 20 minutes to get my single badge, which was registered to my partner, and had I had a second badge, he would have had to wait in the same registration line as everyone else. I talked with the registration lady and was able to get the badge printed for myself and told my partner not to worry about a badge. Jay spoke to Jill, who runs the Dealer's Hall about the predicament and luckily, there was no problem.
I was told that I couldn't get the badges for Snacc Pack because my name wasn't on either of them, and when I explained the situation, these ladies acted like I was trying to pull the wool over their eyes. "Well, they can come get them themselves." Not when they were near Chicago for the wedding, "Then they can come get them when they show up." I understand doing your job, but why isn't the Dealer's Head in charge of her Dealer's badges?
Speaking to the Registration Head, and the Dealer's Hall head, they both told me that the Artist Alley head had inherited the role from his father, but that he wasn't that good at his job, to which I agree. Again, finding out that I was not the only artist to get screwed over, really takes my faith out of someone. I worried that if I wasn't the only one throwing $130 in the trash, how many others were, thinking that they had gotten in? We sold just fine from 4-8pm, and there was no problems with my assistant not having a badge for himself. I also was told that I should talk to the convention heads about my issues, and to me, that just sounded like, "We're not trusted with our position, so maybe a stranger saying this is bs will help us finally win our case." I was rightfully livid and knew that had I talked to the convention heads, nothing would have been fixed, and I probably would have been kicked out of the convention.
Sales for SP were pretty good for only 4 hours on a Friday evening, but Seifer's Stitches only sold one $15 item. My partner told me it was pretty slow, which is really strange from what I've heard. Saturday for my table wasn't much better, and it was about the same for SP. When Jay had come back, I went back to my table and tried to make the best of it. Again, sales were slow, and hardly anyone was stopping to even browse. I am very lucky that we were situated next to Dr. Pamela Gay, who is an astrophysicist and was such a delight all weekend. She also did not make hardly any sales, which is absolutely heartbreaking, as she makes really cute planet jewelry based off of how actual planets form. Several artists just in my viewpoint packed up and left early on Saturday evening or early Sunday before we had arrived.
What I believe is part of the cause is that the demographic for this crowd are older white folks who have their once a year room parties and then go back to their ordinary life. With the Gateway Convention Center not allowing outside food or drink, of course people aren't going to bother coming to the convention center if they can drink at the room parties. Jared came around shortly before close (at this point, I had barely made over $100) and asked how we were doing. I strive to be honest, especially when things suck. You want a convention to give a damn about their artists and vendors. I told him, "Financially, we're not doing well," and he responded with a very condescending, "Awww, sorry." before walking off. All of us in our little corner were taken aback. A good convention staffer would have stopped and asked what could be done better, what could change, and what could honestly be done without.
I also find it extremely strange that they held the feedback panel on Saturday afternoon. Like, friends, your convention isn't even half over and you're already checked out? Then just kill the convention already.
Sunday, another staffer (I believe above the vendors' heads) came to Dr. Gay's and I's tables to ask how we were doing. I told her the events and she was honestly appalled. It was about noon at this point and with only 2 hours of the show remaining, I hadn't even made my table and badge cost back. While that isn't too terrible, there were artists that had traveled hours to try to make money here and were absolutely devastated. This staffer brought over a notebook for us to write our grievances and I was honest. I told her that Jared should resign or be fired. If you aren't able to keep your list of artists straight, you shouldn't be in charge of them. Especially with the lack of care that not only I, but others dealt with as well.
I was told because the authors didn't need a badge for their tables because the publishers paid for their appearances, that the artist alley should be treated the same way. I told them that that was bunk because artists are paying for this out of their own pocket and most of the time, do absolutely need a second badge so they can eat, use the restroom, or just take a break. It's extremely difficult to spend anywhere from 4-10 hours talking to people and being sociable. Again, I need someone to watch my table so I can get up and walk around. While I don't like conventions only giving artist tables one badge now, not giving them any is absolutely ridiculous.
Literally the only folks saving this convention from being a complete bust for me were the two folks coming in and ordering custom kigus 10 minutes before we started teardown. Had they not come and purchased, Archon 47 would have been the single worst convention I have sold at. Anime El Paso still holds that title.
For a convention that has run since 1977, I understand that change is hard. But it is necessary. Especially with the dwindling number of conventions in the St. Louis area, I want to see conventions around here succeed. I'm tired of going to other conventions and being told that ours suck. I hope that the people running Archon see this and take my words to heart. I love Sci-fi and I love that people my parents and even grandparents ages show up and enjoy the same stuff I do. But we can't keep making it a white gathering. I could count on one hand how many people had melanin in their skin and that's sad. Women, People of Color, and Queers make up a vast majority of the science fiction community, and by only having one female guest, we're alienating everyone else. We can do better, and we should do better.
While I don't believe I will be selling at Archon again in the near future, I hope that they do succeed and make the right changes to be a better convention. Artists shouldn't be struggling. The dealers shouldn't be struggling. And a convention that has run for almost 50 years should be a shining example of how conventions are run. Live long and prosper.
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