I'm not angry when people are surprised. I'm angry when people try to tell a crafter that they shouldn't be charging what they charge because X sells it cheaper. Fine, go buy the cheap schlock or the super deal from the artist who isn't making a reasonable return on his time. Don't tell me I need to be that guy. Just walk away and acknowledge that it's not the artist's fault you are cheap.
I'm not saying you said that. But the mentality that "most people" sell at low prices and don't charge for their time is part of the problem that leads into customers getting indignant with the ones who DO charge for their time.
People are idiots, and business is business. People get indignant if they think they're being ripped off, make them think they're getting a better deal and suddenly they won't be indignant. Complaining about the market when you're doing business is just stupid, do better business instead.
ETA: When I sold my jewelry I priced for my time and made good sales volume because my stuff was unique and pretty. You have to be able to make a product in enough time that your price is still reasonable for the customer.
And that is good business. Now stop complaining about people being idiots.
Good thing you never complain about people being idiots. :-)
Anyhow, she's right, crafters with the hippy dippy "I do it for the aaaaaart man" are pretty much destroying the concept of patronage in our culture. It's a bad thing and worthy of complaint.
Both my panels went well. I was shocked at how much people liked "When Gundam Goes Bad" especially considering the entire room was filled with people who were bigger Gundam fans than I could ever hope to be. Or maybe that is why it went over so well? Either way, it was a ton of fun and I'm definitely going to run it again.
When we did our first PAX panel ever years ago, we saw the huge line outside long before it was scheduled, and Scott said something to the effect of "Ugh, all these people are lined up for the panel before us."
When we realized they were lined up for us... Suffice it to say, I reviewed the slides a few more times before we started.
One of my favorite jokes is that my biggest secret is that I'm painfully shy, but an excellent liar. I say this joke to cover up the actual secret: that I really am painfully shy and an excellent liar. I dread basically every second leading up to a panel until I actually start.
So apparently the convention sucked for pretty much everyone else but us as far as the internet is concerned. Besides the shittier badge this year and the fact that the artist alley and dealers room where both small and not that well laid out has anyone heard any legit complaints as to how this year was any different than last years Connecticon? I certainly can't find any.
Besides the shittier badge this year and the fact that the artist alley and dealers room where both small and not that well laid out...
I'd bet anything the Dealer's Room was smaller because that's the number of dealers that registered. Connecticon has not exactly been a lucrative con in the past for many of us, and I know a lot of people who said they weren't going back. The convention can't make people register to sell.
That makes a bit of sense actually. I haven't spent money at a dealers room at a con for a couple of years now, even when I did have the money to spare for it. There just seems to be a tidal wave of negative comments this year about the con, and besides those things I really can't seem to find a difference between this year and last year in terms of staffing, panel content, and the like.
One thing that would help is jewelry tumbler so that I can automate the sanding/polishing steps.
It's alright, mate, these things happen.
You're not far off on the name, though, the proper name for them is just "Pipe cutter". But surely that bit is pretty quick, with the pipe it looks like you're using, 1.5 M copper plumbing pipe, it should only take about 3-5 turns to cut a nice segment.
You might want to look into getting a bench sander, or maybe a small grind wheel. It'll really speed up the sanding process, and if you're running a bench sander with an emery wheel and then a polish belt(or the other way around) you could speed that process up greatly while reducing labor to a mere minute or two. You could even finish with the dremel, if you wanted to leave some extra tiny tool marks to give it character.
It's an expense, but it'll speed your work like crazy.
Can't really do much about the resin, other than beefing up your UV lights, but that's expensive and unnecessary. Maybe if you whipped up another UV oven or two, merely get more curing at once? Also, do you ever have problems with the UV-resin over-curing and yellowing, or does your resin not have that problem?
So apparently the convention sucked for pretty much everyone else but us as far as the internet is concerned. Besides the shittier badge this year and the fact that the artist alley and dealers room where both small and not that well laid out has anyone heard any legit complaints as to how this year was any different than last years Connecticon? I certainly can't find any.
The number 1 rule about people talking about cons is that every con sucked, and nobody's ever coming back next year.
She did submit another, but the content overlapped with two other panelists who were each only doing one panel. I also didn't want to over-work her. ^_~
I'm sorry if the vampires were mean to you panel ops guys. They just really liked my goth stuff year. ^_^
Viga's panel was awesome. It also contributed to my daughter's self esteem. Thank you Viga.
You're welcome! Sorry I only got to see you both for a second.
While Besides Pokemon did okay and Brony vs. Brony was a sure room filler, I think I'm most proud of the impromptu pony panel. Someone told me later that we forgot the most obvious pony apocalypse, the show ends. XD
The dealer's room was sold out. The convention cut the size in half, and doubled the price (roughly). It sold out easily, and next year appears to have already sold out due to the positive response from the dealers themselves.
Fewer dealers meant more profits for each individual dealer. They were trying to pay us at-con to guarantee a spot next year: it was nuts.
The dealers room aisles were a struggle to walk down at times, but I was pretty happy with the diversity of booths included in it. Did not feel like every booth I passed was selling the same old crap.
I successfully managed to spend zero dollars though. I almost wound up parting with $80 for Eclipse, but I stayed strong. That's good value right there, but I'm overloaded with games as it is. I heard Pete made off with the copy, so I am glad it found a good home.
Can't really do much about the resin, other than beefing up your UV lights, but that's expensive and unnecessary. Maybe if you whipped up another UV oven or two, merely get more curing at once? Also, do you ever have problems with the UV-resin over-curing and yellowing, or does your resin not have that problem?
I like the idea of a tumbler over a bench grinder because for one, it's cheaper, and secondly, I think it'll produce rounded edges on the pipe, given enough time, and I'd like to see how/whether that improves the aesthetic.
I did have yellowing issues when I briefly experimented with two-part lacquering resins, but with casting resin (with catalyst) I haven't had that issue at all. The UV is something I added that the manufacturer didn't suggest (or suggest against, either). It seems to speed the process considerably.
Can't really do much about the resin, other than beefing up your UV lights, but that's expensive and unnecessary. Maybe if you whipped up another UV oven or two, merely get more curing at once? Also, do you ever have problems with the UV-resin over-curing and yellowing, or does your resin not have that problem?
I like the idea of a tumbler over a bench grinder because for one, it's cheaper, and secondly, I think it'll produce rounded edges on the pipe, given enough time, and I'd like to see how/whether that improves the aesthetic.
I did have yellowing issues when I briefly experimented with two-part lacquering resins, but with casting resin (with catalyst) I haven't had that issue at all. The UV is something I added that the manufacturer didn't suggest (or suggest against, either). It seems to speed the process considerably.
And hey, if it doesn't work out, you can use the tumbler to produce more objects to turn into jewelry - like beach glass, and similar things.
The dealer's room was sold out. The convention cut the size in half, and doubled the price (roughly). It sold out easily, and next year appears to have already sold out due to the positive response from the dealers themselves.
Fewer dealers meant more profits for each individual dealer. They were trying to pay us at-con to guarantee a spot next year: it was nuts.
Wow. Good on the con. I also heard the numbers of attendees were WAY up this year.
Still though, doubled the price and cut the size in half? Even less reason to go shopping there. Most of the people who have unique, interesting things are smaller vendors who can't afford super high booth prices. But I guess as long as the con and the dealers both make their money, providing interesting new things for attendees to buy isn't high on the priority list. (Not saying it SHOULD be... interesting panels and other programming is far more important to me as an attendee. But I have seen complaints that the dealer's room was mostly mass-produced Amazon.com stuff this year. Don't know how true that is.)
Honestly? I walked around it. Nothing was missing: the same goods were available, just from fewer total dealers. The prices for goods were the same too. It wasn't any more mass-produced than last year. There were just two "sword" dealers instead of four, two board game vendors instead of four, etc...
Comments
Anyhow, she's right, crafters with the hippy dippy "I do it for the aaaaaart man" are pretty much destroying the concept of patronage in our culture. It's a bad thing and worthy of complaint.
Also: THERE WAS SO MUCH GAMING
Because Uncle Yo tells the best stories.
You're not far off on the name, though, the proper name for them is just "Pipe cutter". But surely that bit is pretty quick, with the pipe it looks like you're using, 1.5 M copper plumbing pipe, it should only take about 3-5 turns to cut a nice segment.
You might want to look into getting a bench sander, or maybe a small grind wheel. It'll really speed up the sanding process, and if you're running a bench sander with an emery wheel and then a polish belt(or the other way around) you could speed that process up greatly while reducing labor to a mere minute or two. You could even finish with the dremel, if you wanted to leave some extra tiny tool marks to give it character.
It's an expense, but it'll speed your work like crazy.
Can't really do much about the resin, other than beefing up your UV lights, but that's expensive and unnecessary. Maybe if you whipped up another UV oven or two, merely get more curing at once? Also, do you ever have problems with the UV-resin over-curing and yellowing, or does your resin not have that problem?
While Besides Pokemon did okay and Brony vs. Brony was a sure room filler, I think I'm most proud of the impromptu pony panel. Someone told me later that we forgot the most obvious pony apocalypse, the show ends. XD
Fewer dealers meant more profits for each individual dealer. They were trying to pay us at-con to guarantee a spot next year: it was nuts.
I successfully managed to spend zero dollars though. I almost wound up parting with $80 for Eclipse, but I stayed strong. That's good value right there, but I'm overloaded with games as it is. I heard Pete made off with the copy, so I am glad it found a good home.
Revenge of the Rainbow Dragons (An Endless Quest Book, 6) (Pick A Path to Adventure)
I did have yellowing issues when I briefly experimented with two-part lacquering resins, but with casting resin (with catalyst) I haven't had that issue at all. The UV is something I added that the manufacturer didn't suggest (or suggest against, either). It seems to speed the process considerably.
Interesting with the resin, though.
Still though, doubled the price and cut the size in half? Even less reason to go shopping there. Most of the people who have unique, interesting things are smaller vendors who can't afford super high booth prices. But I guess as long as the con and the dealers both make their money, providing interesting new things for attendees to buy isn't high on the priority list. (Not saying it SHOULD be... interesting panels and other programming is far more important to me as an attendee. But I have seen complaints that the dealer's room was mostly mass-produced Amazon.com stuff this year. Don't know how true that is.)