OFFICIAL GEEKONOMICON REVIEW
NEVER SELL AT GEEKONOMICON
I would like to highlight the absolutely inexcusable events that transpired at Geekonomicon this weekend towards their vendors and artists.
NEVER in my 7 years of selling in Artist Alley have I ever experienced an abomination such as this convention.
NEVER have I had such a displeasing experience at a con that I packed my merchandise and left in the middle of a convention.
NEVER do I wish for any vendor or artist to experience this in the future.
---I strongly encourage anyone who was negatively affected by this convention to write a review.---
My Background
I am a professional artist that sells at conventions full-time. I’ve done numerous shows over the last 7 years and have done 14 this year alone across various states. Events small and large.
I’m forgiving like most Vendors or Artists. Invariably there will be little hiccups during any convention. With Geekonomicon, it was the sheer number of mess ups and the manner in which they handled that has been absolutely deplorable and forever tarnished their name for me.
The Rundown
I arrived at 7:55am on Friday for 8am-12pm set up.
The registration table wasn’t set up. I spoke with a couple of staff who said the badges hadn’t arrived yet. They were waiting on the UPS store to open and had no idea when that was.
I explained that I was an artist. They had no information for me other than the Dealer’s Room coordinator hadn’t arrived yet. I asked where the artist area was and they replied that they were unsure but it was probably in one of the halls. After meandering through 3 halls I find where the dealers are setting up and what I think is Artist Alley. Some of the tables had names on them so I looked around but didn’t find mine. There are no identifiable staff people to be found. I exit the hall and see my friend Kenneth Kidder sitting in the lobby also waiting for the dealer’s room coordinator to arrive.
It was nearly 8:40 when we found Cory – The Coordinator. We follow him into the dealer’s room as multiple venders/artists trail after him seeking the same information. He has no idea where people are supposed to be set up. He tells us to wait as he runs back to the office to get his list. We waited another 10 er so minutes for him.
Upon his return we all come to realize he has no idea what’s going on. His sheet lists vendors/artists but there is no layout or table assignments next to the names. Another staff member comes up to take Cory’s attention and we overhear that they need to condense tables as much as possible to make room for more tables.
The room configuration wasn’t complete... It wasn’t complete and it’s 3 Hours until doors open. Upon this new information Cory disappears. We’re all STILL waiting for some indication that we’ll have our tables sometime before the con is over.
Finally I found two tables with my friends name on them. By this point it’s after 9am when he starts setting up. I still haven’t received my table so he offers to let me use one of his tables until they can figure out where mine is. We don’t see Cory again as we start setting up.
As a business person I needed to get my display up ASAP because my purpose is to make money. I’m there to do business.
During our set up we hear two altercations between staff and vendors about booths that are missing. The staff consistently says that they’ll make any space that they can but they cannot give these vendors the spaces they paid for.
Throughout the convention I received numerous accounts from various vendors, artists, and writers that they had experienced the same inconvenience.
Come Saturday even more information has rolled in and the rumor of a glitch or hack began to circulate. I still hadn’t been properly checked in and sought compensation for my lack of table or at the minimum compensation for my friends second table (of which he wasn’t not using because I was)
Either way, a total of 3 tables had been paid for and only 2 were in use. Thus, refund for the one missing table.
Upon talking with one of the owners, Ian McRae, on Saturday afternoon about my refund for the table I never received and this is what I was told:
Me: I need to see about a refund.
Ian McRae: Unfortunately we can’t give refunds after 30 days of purchase.
Me: Do you have that anywhere in writing?
Ian McRae: On our website. (No they don’t, I checked)
Me: So for these people who’ve come in expecting a table, who’ve paid and you have no table for them, what do you do?
Ian McRae: We try to make room.
Me: Have you posted a public announcement addressing this ‘Glitch’?
Ian McRae: I haven’t yet but I can.
Me: Good. I’ll need that Link for my Review.
Ian McRae: o__o;
‘The Glitch’
Upon the birth of this cluster of awful, I heard rumor from attendees, vendors, and staff alike that there was a glitch or a hack in their web software that left the portal for registration open despite the notice that they put at the top of the page stating that tables were SOLD OUT.
This resulted in (assumedly) multiple people purchasing tables after the sold out notice thus overbooking their venue.
a.) Why is it that you didn’t notice that people were still purchasing tables? Don’t you receive a notice on your bank statement saying that you’ve received a payment? You also receive an email conformation that someone has booked a booth or table. (I know I received one the day I paid.) I also received a confirmation less than two weeks later directly from the convention thanking me for my purchase.
b.) If registration was closed why didn’t you contact the person(s) who had purchased tables/booths after the deadline? Refund their money and apologize for the mix up? (I would love to hear from anyone if this was the case and even the time frame in which you purchased your table)
c.) A software glitch? A hack?? If so why haven’t you made a PSA addressing the error and WHY can I still go to your website at this very moment (December 13th 2015) and PURCHASE a table or a booth??
d.) How is it that the day of the convention you discover that you suddenly have over booked the vendors and artists to the point that you can’t account for the spaces purchased? How do you not notice until the DAY OF THE CONVENTION??
Sounds like an oddly convenient way to steal people’s money and not follow through on your obligations. Oh wait, that’s exactly what happened!
Amidst all Geekonomicon social media and website I have not seen any PSA’s about this incident.
Regardless of it being a Glitch/Hack, Geekonomicon still took money from vendors/artists and then failed to give them their goods equal to the terms of the initial purchase. This is in breach of a paid purchase agreement.
Failure to follow through on your contracted obligation is an act of theft.
I would also like to add that spaces are supposed to come with 2 badges and 2 chairs. Many only received one badge and one chair (I among many of the people around me experienced this.)
CHECK IN - WHAT CHECK IN?
Another large concern about this convention is check in security. I never formally spoke to anyone with a list who checked off that I had received my space.
No ID check
No Name check
No Printed registration validation
Anyone could walk in, claim that they had a space, and they were taken at their word.
There was no accountability. Badges were passed out well after set up and at random.
This is highly unacceptable
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Due to all of the above events, lack of ownership on the part of the convention staff, and the abysmal sales, I packed my display and left the convention at 4pm that Saturday.
I see no value in assisting a convention that doesn’t care about it’s vendors, artists, or writers. Refusing to take ownership and to go as far as to rob people and sheepishly blame a (false) software glitch for it is inexcusable.
My experience with Geekonomicon is the most unprofessional I have ever encountered.
I will forever advise people against selling at this convention.
Additional Convention Experience Review
Parking – Parking was free or cost $5 depending on what time you arrived at the convention. What??
Venue – Gulf Coast Coliseum & Convention Center. A nice venue. Was held on the back side of the convention center. Where a loading dock area is usually located. Not easy to know where to go.
Layout – Very strange layout. Halls A and B were separated from Hall C by a wall partition but a hall made them accessible to one another. You could enter or Exit through Hall A, B, or C. Bad traffic flow. Separation of Artist Area across two sections.
As I was viewing it as an attendee.
Hall A Main Stage, Fan Booths
Hall B Gaming, Artists
Hall C Artists, Writers, Vendors
Artist Table –
Advertised: 8ft Table, 2 Chairs, 2 Badges $100
Received: 8ft Table, 1 Chair, 1 Badge
Tables were horse shoe. Ends were butted up against each other elimination crucial sitting space.
No assigned table placement.
Vendor Table -
Advertised: 8ft Table, 2 Chairs, 2 Badges $200
Received: Uncertain. Some didn’t receive booths at all.
Vendor’s get the exact space of an artist but pay double?? It was not stated explicitly that there were certain dimensions.
Placement – Tables were Horse Shoe (Image)
Lighting – Halls A and B were very dark. Ballroom Dancing dark. Hall C was well lite.
Set Up –
Hours: Thursday 12-8pm; Friday 8am-12pm
Staff were not ready to receive artists and vendors on either day. The layout was not finalized. Vendors and artists reportedly helping the convention set up Tables Thursday Evening. Many people waited an hour and a half or more on Friday to be told where their space was to begin set up.
Dealer’s Room –
Hours: Friday 12-8pm; Saturday 10am-8pm; Sunday 10am-8pm
Too many vendors for such a small attendance. The dollars didn’t stretch. Many artists and writers didn’t come close to breaking even. Unsure about vendors. Too many vendors selling the same things. Lack variety.
Food – No outside food policy. Only one food vendor. Sold fast food, concession items. Overpriced.
Sales - Dismal. Reviews I heard said that the average sales were between 50-100.
Traffic – Dismal.
Friday 25-30 People pass the booth in 8 Hours
Saturday 25-30 People pass the booth in 6 Hours
Sunday Unknown
NEVER SELL AT GEEKONOMICON
Score: 0 out of 5
PS - The only positive feedback I can give to Geekonomicon is that their badge quality is some of the best I’ve ever seen. Righto on that.