[OctoberRaine]

Hello! I am a frequent convention-goer, but I usually only attend conventions on the West Coast - Aki-Con and Sakura-Con, monthly Gasukan, etc. I am a veteran at cosplaying - but ACen sounds HUGE. Sakura Con had 1600 people, and I've never artist-alleyed before.

What can I expect? How insane do you think it will be? Have you got any tips, suggestions?

Would any veteran alley-goers be willing to split a table with me, perhaps?

What is your WORST alley story, and what is your best?

[Lord Warhammer]

OctoberRaine, on 14 October 2011 - 04:14 PM, said:

Hello! I am a frequent convention-goer, but I usually only attend conventions on the West Coast - Aki-Con and Sakura-Con, monthly Gasukan, etc. I am a veteran at cosplaying - but ACen sounds HUGE. Sakura Con had 1600 people, and I've never artist-alleyed before.

What can I expect? How insane do you think it will be? Have you got any tips, suggestions?

Would any veteran alley-goers be willing to split a table with me, perhaps?

What is your WORST alley story, and what is your best?

Good Evening,

If your looking at joining our artist alley, join the mailing list. It will give you many answers. go here to join! http://www.acen.org/...w-mailing-list/
As for from experience, it's not insane. Yes there is a lot of people (I think last years attendance was 22,000ish) but everything flows fluidly. Best suggestion I can give you is to just be prepared by having enough prints and or supplies to do commissions on site.
here is a link to our policy page http://www.acen.org/...st-alley-policy

prices and the show hours can be found here. http://www.acen.org/...-alley-art-show

If you have any more questions, feel free to yell.

This post has been edited by Lord Warhammer: 14 October 2011 - 04:38 PM

[The Fujoshi]

If you decide to take a break from the alley and wander the con, expect a lot of people. As long as you think of it as a con and don't do anything crazy/be aware and safe of your surroundings, you should be fine.

At the alley, depending on what you are doing, expect a lot of demands or a lot of low time. Con goers are picky like the public so they will either ask for a lot or weird request, (If you do commissions,)or none at all, similar to a small con.

Remember to be patient, open minded, and don't let the attendance spook you.

I don't have any alley horror stories though.

[JujuFox]

OctoberRaine, on 14 October 2011 - 04:14 PM, said:

What can I expect? How insane do you think it will be? Have you got any tips, suggestions?

Lots and lots of people! Just keep smiling at everyone who passes by.

OctoberRaine, on 14 October 2011 - 04:14 PM, said:

What is your WORST alley story, and what is your best?

My worst Alley story is my best story... last year I sold out of almost everything on the first day. Now I know better to stock up on like 20 of everything!

This post has been edited by DavenEvanXaviour: 15 October 2011 - 10:41 AM

[OctoberRaine]

From what it sounds like, it's not so bad! I am excited for this, now, and looking forward to the fun times. Do you suggest that I get my own business cards or MAKE my own?

And I have a list of pieces that I'm working on - with various sizes. But how many prints should I get, and how much does that usually cost?

[Isamu]

OctoberRaine, on 14 October 2011 - 04:14 PM, said:

Hello! I am a frequent convention-goer, but I usually only attend conventions on the West Coast - Aki-Con and Sakura-Con, monthly Gasukan, etc. I am a veteran at cosplaying - but ACen sounds HUGE. Sakura Con had 1600 people, and I've never artist-alleyed before.

What can I expect? How insane do you think it will be? Have you got any tips, suggestions?

Would any veteran alley-goers be willing to split a table with me, perhaps?

What is your WORST alley story, and what is your best?

Do not trust Erwin Pearl. Watch out for Erwin Pearl. Erwin Pearl will eff you up.

[JujuFox]

OctoberRaine, on 15 October 2011 - 11:25 AM, said:

From what it sounds like, it's not so bad! I am excited for this, now, and looking forward to the fun times. Do you suggest that I get my own business cards or MAKE my own?

For business cards I ordered 100 of them, and ran out by Sat morning. So unless you want to make 100+ I would suggest you order them. Vista Print is really good. They have excellent customer service, and the usually ship earlier than quoted.

[OctoberRaine]

I was actually looking into Vista Print! Thank you very much for giving them a positive review. 250 would work, wouldn't it? Maybe? o.o I want to self-design my own, too...and Vista print has a huge sale on those going on right now!

[Isamu]

If you want to meet people before the con starts, keep an eye out for the forum meetngreet thread. We usually meet the Thursday nite before the con starts.

[JujuFox]

OctoberRaine, on 15 October 2011 - 04:07 PM, said:

I was actually looking into Vista Print! Thank you very much for giving them a positive review. 250 would work, wouldn't it? Maybe? o.o I want to self-design my own, too...and Vista print has a huge sale on those going on right now!

I'm going with 500 this year. And yes design your own! Get their template though to make sure nothing gets cut off. There is a one time upload fee for your design, but with the sale price it's worth it. I recommend going with glossy instead of matte. It looks real professional, and like I said before excellent customer service in case anything goes wrong.

[OctoberRaine]

Thanks again for the vista print advice - and the meet and greet sounds amazing, but I don't know how early I'll be getting there - or late, on Thursday night. I'm traveling with a friend (who is NOT tabling with me).

And as far as what I have lined up for prints and the like - I have little categories...but if I make my list will someone take a look at it for me?

Original art:
-Peter Pan's Kite (http://octoberraine....llery/#/d4cl0ky)
-Silver from WoW (Small Print) (http://octoberraine....llery/#/d3ktp8t)
-Sylphie (http://octoberraine....llery/#/d37th4k)
-Sheepy (Small Print) (http://octoberraine....llery/#/d37eb1v)
-(Maybe more, depends on what I draw, and I have another epic landscape picture in the works...)

FAN-ART:
(Smaller Prints)
- Soubi, Loveless (http://octoberraine....llery/#/d4bw4o9)
-Cheshire Cat, Alice in Wonderland (Not Complete)
-Junjou Romantica Teddies

(Medium Prints)
-North America Twins, Hetalia (http://octoberraine....llery/#/d36ul9o)
-Black Butler
-DGrayman
-FMA
-Hetalia (One more piece, not Chibi-ized)
-Loveless (One more piece, not Chibi-ized)
-Black Cat
-Nobari No Ou
-Petshop of Horrors
-(Not certain how many of each I'm producing, but these are all series that I know and love, and some of them are very popular!)

(LARGE PRINTS)
-(Still don't know, large prints intimidate me.)

(Bookmarks)
-xxxHolic
-Tsubasa Chronicles
-Original Character (It's just a silly idea I had for a bookmark. XD)
-Mad Hatter, Alice in Wonderland


...I think I have range, and I'm going to really start buckling down on this amazingly fun looking workload - especially over school breaks and my next term of classes. XD All art classes, all the time!