Conventions, How Do They Work? Part 1

So yesterday I did an introduction to taking commissions. Today I'm going to start on a brief overview of furry conventions from the point of view of the selling artist.


Overview of a Fur Con


Every convention has its own "flavor", but most of them follow the same basic format.

• The convention takes place over a long weekend (usually Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday).
• The con has various events (for example, fursuit games) and panels (for example, an experienced artist talking about anatomy or technique).
• There are a number of rooms set up for specific purposes, such as a Games Room, Dealers' Den, Fursuit Lounge, Artists' Alley.
• Selling artists usually have a choice of using the Artists' Alley or the Dealers' Den. Some cons do not have an Artists' Alley.
• There is almost always an Art Show where artists can sell their work, and an Art Auction for the most popular pieces on display.

Artists' Alley or Dealers' Den?


This is the first big question for the artist looking to work at a convention. The difference between the two is generally as follows, although some conventions may have slightly different or more specific rules.

Artists' Alley

• No cost for a table.
• Tables are not pre-booked, they are assigned on a first-come, first served basis - or occasionally by drawing lots from artists present at opening time.
• You can sell any of your own original work or merchandise.
• You can get up and leave at any time, however should you leave your table unattended, your space can be taken by another waiting artist.
• You can choose your own "hours of business" - so you can work for only one day if you choose, or only in the evenings.
• You will not usually be in the same location on each day of the convention.
• The Artists' Alley often has longer opening hours than the Dealer's Den.
• Space may be far more limited than the Dealer's Den.
• Space may be in very high demand.

Dealers' Den

• Tables will almost always come at a cost. This could be anything from $30-$125, depending on the con.
• You reserve your table in advance. Multiple tables can be reserved if you have a lot of merchandise.
• You can sell merchandise you did not specifically create (such as toys) along with your art.
• The Den has set trading hours. You will be expected to man your table at all times during these hours, or have an assistant look after it for you when you need breaks.
• You are guaranteed space if you have booked and paid, which will always be in the same place each day.
• The Dealers' Den is usually larger and more spacious, and often has a more accessible or central location than the Artists' Alley.
• You may need to reserve your table well in advance of the convention to be sure of space.

Obviously, there are advantages and disadvantages to both. A Dealer's table means you have to be sure you can make more money than you spent on the table (generally not difficult). It also means you will possibly miss out on a lot of events and socialisation since you have to keep specific working hours. The Artists' Alley provides a lot of flexibility in hours, however they are usually in very high demand at the more popular conventions, so a table space is far from a certainty.

A popular method for the artists with a primary focus on work and earning at conventions is to keep a Dealer's table during the day, and set up in the Artists' Alley after dinner.

In the next installment of the "Conventions, How Do They Work?" series of posts, we'll look at workloads at conventions. Check back soon!