First event of the year - OKC Super Mini Con

So, I wanted to have a convention post early on, just to give everyone an idea of what I am wanting to put forth for future posts. My last show was the OKC Super Mini Con, held on January 28-29.

This even was being put forth by the same people who run the Super Anime Fest in Wichita Falls every year. They usually do several smaller mini cons throughout the year in other locations on varying dates. I have done a few events of theirs in the past.

This one started a little differently than most of my events. I got an email from the showrunners advertising this show. Unfortunately, I didn't notice it for a couple weeks. I did come across an advertisement for this show on Facebook, however, so that's when I started looking for more info.

Their website gives information about the cons, but there is zero information for vendors. This is the case for all of their shows, too (at least the ones that I have been to). In searching, I found the email that went out to everyone, as well.

I first started by using the "Contact Us" link on their website. I requested vendor information and an invoice. After about a week with no response, I replied to the email that was sent out, requesting more info. I then waited another 5 days with no reply. I sent a Facebook message to them, requesting everything again. Then sent another email the next day. Finally another day later, I got a response! I had a spot guaranteed, and would soon receive an invoice.

With the previous shows that I have done with them, I don't believe it was this difficult to get a response (although I believe he was on vacation during the time I kept messaging). I understand being away on vacation, but what the biggest irritating thing for me is that they have a website, but they don't use it to its full potential.

Now, I don't claim to be an expert, by any means. But it doesn't seem it would be very difficult to setup applications and payments for vendors on the website. This is the only team that I have to jump through all these hoops just to get through to for a spot and invoice. There just has to be a better way.

So, I get to the location, and the spaces are really marked, just a table in a spot. I managed to get most of my stuff out, but due to the space concerns, I didn't want to put out my big necklace display board. If you aren't familiar with this, it is a large free-standing display board that has hooks where I put up my glass dome necklaces. This thing is about 6 feet wide and almost the same height-ish. I've already decided to only use this on multi-day shows, due to what a pain it is to setup. Despite this pain, it helps me to put out a lot of necklaces pretty quickly, so it is worth it when I do use it.

All in all, it was a good show. I did pretty well, and had a pretty good time. My booth was next to a Lego minifig seller (and of course I had to buy one). It was entertaining to watch them sometimes, though, because it looked like he was streaming for the entire show. This show I also introduced my mystery bags, which were more popular than I expected, so that makes me even more happy!

Here is the breakdown for the weekend. Now, this was a local con for me, so I didn't have any gas, or hotel expenses, so that ensures higher profits. There was also free parking, as well.

I did go ahead and purchase dinner Saturday on the business card, but it was about $5, so wasn't a huge amount. I was tired, and didn't want to cook, so drive-thru was my friend.

I also received $20 in tips, as well! I will definitely devote another blog post to tips, in general, and my views on them. With my tip money, I bought myself a Lego minifig, and a Funko Pop! figure that I have had my eye on. I found one at a good price, so once my tips got to a good level, I bought it.