GenCon 2002 - very important

[Mario]

Also for the common flyer.  Is there a word limit for the length of description of each game?  Are you going to use logo or art on the flyer for each game?

Mario

[Ron Edwards]

Hi Mario,

Gotta go line by line on this one, sorry.

"You talk of people playing the games. I assume you mean as plants."

Well, not in the covert sense of the word. It should be obvious that these are in-house (in-booth) people involved. I think it's perfectly OK to have just one "client" participant, unless they're positively swarming to participate.

"How long are you thinking these games should run? Are they all going to be run at the booth or is there going to be a space somewhere else for games as well?"

I'm thinking forty minutes, tops. That means some pregenerated characters, with heavy scene framing and Bang-oriented play. They should experience the game, not learn the game or wait in any fashion.

"You mention directing the attention of potential customers to either Jason or yourself, no matter what."

Oh, actually I was talking about Sorcerer and Little Fears. In other words, no matter what the person has done regarding the "indie horde," make sure to funnel them toward Little Fears and/or Sorcerer as part of the process. If they don't want to, fine, but just mention that "the book games" are over there at the ends of the booth space.

Best,
Ron

[Matt Gwinn]

That all works for me, so you can cash my check Ron.  

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not an "in your face" kind of guy so I wasn't planning on shoving Kayfabe down anyone's throat anyway.  I was hoping I could at least recoop my $100 which means selling about 30 copies; I think I can pull off without being pushy.

As far as collecting money goes, I have no problem with the idea of one till.  I trust Ron to pick someone trustworthy to manage that.  ON the other hand I do recognize that we don't all know one another and not everyone is as trusting as I am.  I also think that 20 people collecting money for different games is tempting chaos, so I really don't know what the best way to handle this is.

If we need one, I have a big 31" x 48" dry erase board that I can bring along if we need one to post demo times and stuff.  Just don't let me forget it like I did my stapler last year.

I think it might help things if everyone that had a game at the booth had that games name somewhere on their badge so those of us who are bad with names know who to direct customers too.

On another note, I wasn't aware that there would be so many games for sale.  Will we have time to do demos for all of them?

In an 8 hour day (I think the exhibitor's room is open 10-6) you can run twelve 40 minute games back to back.  I counted 12 games in the above list and there are more to come.  I forsee problems with this.  We may need to limit demo time to games that will actually be available for sale.

Some games should take less than 40 minutes; I can run a promo for Kayfabe in 20 minutes or less and if I'm not mistaken Soap is restricted to 30 minutes.  Will there be enough space to demo more than 1 demo at a time?  That would help a lot.

What happens if a game demo is scheduled and no one (aside from exhibitors) are there to play, but there are customer who want to play something else?  Would game slots be switched or would the first game simply lose its slot?

Perhaps I'm getting too far ahead of the game.  I just thought these were questions that should at least be brought up.

,Matt

[Nathan]

Ron & all,

Sounds okay.

There has to be a more organized way of doing this -- and this sort of avalanche of indie press is probably not going to do well.

I mean -- how many will we be able to show off/cram in until it becomes a blob of little games? Will it be more of a mess than a help? Is there any other way to organize games?

I don't want to partake in something like this to just get in the way and what not -- what if we collectively (through a poll or vote or something) chose three games on each day of the con (or whatever) to highlight and support. If our game is not selected, it shouldn't be a downer. I doubt Eldritch Ass Kicking would be on the list for example (I think it is too mainstream for you avant garde gamers! :P) -- but, I'd love to have some free copies there or whatever.

I think we will do so much better if we focus on the best indie rpgs have to offer -- as opposed to trying to cram everything in. Then, I could draw some html up on CDs, bring some cheap old Macs, and set up web browsing kiosks (no connection needed/browse off the CD). Interested folks could browse through a listing of rpgs - including the ones demoed - and get info or whatever.

This is a rough idea mind you, but technically, some gamer could be stoked about InSpectres, buy a copy, then set at the terminal and browse through some other games, see Eldritch Ass Kicking, and ask about it -- at which point, we hand him a free copy or promotional material.

Or we could simply burn a million CDs and hand them out...

But anyway, I think blitzing folks with indie games is going to be a very poor strategy. More than likely, we will leave a bad impression as opposed to a good one. But, I can be outvoted.

No matter what, I will probably end up running EAK anyway at some point -- with folks off my email list or whatever.

Just some more thoughts...

Thanks,
Nathan

[Ferry Bazelmans]

Whoa. If SOAP is going to be played, I'd better make sure that new version gets done before GenCon 2002. :)

I'll get you the new PDF with art and other improvements as soon as I have it finished...

Fer

[Ron Edwards]

To all,

Rest assured, there will be an organized way of dealing with the play and promotion of games at the Forge part of the booth. Free-associative discussion and worries and concerns should be directed to me and Jason; conclusions will be posted here.

Nathan, the blitz you are worried about is exactly what I don't want. See my first post on this thread.

Best,
Ron

[joshua neff]

Ron--

Obviously I don't have a game to sell (well, probably--see below), but I'd love to work the booth again this year, & I'd be more than willing to run a Sorcerer demo (either modern day or Sorcerer & Sword).

If Sean Demory can't make it to GenCon, he wants to send me copies of Le Mon Mouri (& buy me a distributor's badge), in which case I'll run demos of that, too (as well as hawk it).

Oh, & I want to play demos of these indie games--Donjon, The Pool & Questing Beast, Trollbabe, & so on. Hey ho, let's go!

[Dav]

Ron;

This may well have been answered previously, and if so, I apologize:

What about freebies?  I was mainly expecting to only shuffle out free copies (largely), rather than worry about cash.  In such cases, can we just drop them and leave?  I know that may rankle some, but I don't sell... mainly because I suck at it, but also because I hate it.

Dav

[Ron Edwards]

Hi Dav,

Freebies are freebies. They're welcome at the booth and in many cases will be pointed at ("take one!") and even given out with purchases.

Also, some of the free games (notably Soap) will be played at the booth.

Folks, again, if you have concerns about how all this will be organized or biased or regimented or whatever, then email me. My real point for this thread is to state that your total commitment to the positive experience of the people who come by is what's needed.

Best,
Ron

[Ferry Bazelmans]

I know selling a product increases costs for attendance, but I was wondering if it mattered what you were selling? To clarify: does it matter if you're selling my product alongside your own or does that incur more costs?

As I already mentioned, the improved SOAP PDF will include far more than just the basic game. I will be putting this baby up for about $5 on my webpage (for I'm guessing about 40-50 pages of material including art). This PDF will be done by GenCon (I have willed it so *smile*).

The game that will be played will most likely be the basic free game (which will always remain free as far as I'm concerned).

If you guys want to print out a few copies of the SOAP PDF and sell them  (at $5) and use the money to get a bite to eat or something (if you actually manage to sell enough to do that), then by all means do so.

As I said in the beginning, this may not be feasible at all, but I thought I'd just blurt it out anyway.

Fer

[Jason L Blair]

Fer,

It doesn't matter what or how much as far as costs are concerned. The only break you can get is the "Entrepreneurial Discount" which Ron took advantage of last year. But that's a one-time thing (and you can only have one product at your booth). This year, though, we're dropping the wad for a three-booth badboy; so we can sell whatever we want (within the guidelines of the law at least).

[Ferry Bazelmans]

Jason,

Thanks for the clarification. Then my offer stands. If you manage to shift some printed PDF copies (or on disc filesize permitting) at $5, feel free to have fun with the money. It may not be much, but I consider it my contribution to your GenCon presence. :)

Fer

[Michael Hopcroft]

I'd like to help out and be helped. I'd also like to ask some pertinent questions:

1. If you;re selling a book that there's only been limited promotion on, how many copies should you take to the convention?

2. What should you do in the event that you sell out but can get more copies later from your printer and your website?

3. What is the best way to handle Wisconsin sales tax if you're an out-of-state publisher?

4. I want to put up flyers to promote my game, but can;t afford eight grand to put them in the registration bag. What's the best way to do this? And does it even work?

5. Is it regular practice for dealers to send customers to each other's booths?

6. If you're your company's only rep at the convention, how do you take breaks for lunch, the bathoroom, or to network?

[Jason L Blair]

1. If you;re selling a book that there's only been limited promotion on, how many copies should you take to the convention?

That's a hard call, man. We released Little Fears at Origins, before much promotion (outside of RPGnet banners and press releases) and sold around 80. At GenCon (after some reviews by such heavies as Ken Hite and Matthew Pook for Pyramid, as well as several independent reviews on RPGnet), we moved around 250. I brought a shload, but we weren't printing on demand so I just brought the share I didn't send to the warehouse.

2. What should you do in the event that you sell out but can get more copies later from your printer and your website?

Make sure people know it! Flyers, baby, flyers.

3. What is the best way to handle Wisconsin sales tax if you're an out-of-state publisher?

Damn. There's a contact number for the Wisconsin State Exhibitor/Visitor's bureau... but I forgot it.

4. I want to put up flyers to promote my game, but can;t afford eight grand to put them in the registration bag. What's the best way to do this? And does it even work?

Forget about the bag. Flyer tables/bulletin boards, our booth, others' booths. Use these and people will find your game. Also, hit the appropriate fora on RPG sites and promote yourself (careful, though, make sure you post on the right fora). Also, make sure you send out your press releases (use the GPA press exploder) and make sure people know where you're going to be at GenCon (Booth number, other companies that are sharing, etc).

5. Is it regular practice for dealers to send customers to each other's booths?

Is it regular practice? Who cares? ;) I had flyers on my con tables last year for Adept Press, Misguided Games, Chain of Being, etc. It's a good practice, no matter how regular or irregular it is.

6. If you're your company's only rep at the convention, how do you take breaks for lunch, the bathoroom, or to network?

Well... if you can't find someone you trust to watch/sell your stuff... I guess you'll have to hold it. ;)

[Jared A. Sorensen]

6. If you're your company's only rep at the convention, how do you take breaks for lunch, the bathoroom, or to network?

i, jared sorensen, will accept swag in exchange for me standing by your stuff dress in black and looking vaguely menacing.

and needless to say, i will also kill for money and goods.