I'd recommend good staging--different levels with cloth covering, or lucite shelving to show off your wares; easy-to-read pricing; a nice professional-looking banner for the table; something eye-catching for the side corner of the table; remember the comfy chairs and secure storage boxes; a lockbox for the money; a notebook to record sales; professional business cards in a nice stand with very clear contact information; not too cluttered, but never let the display look picked-over or empty, so be sure to bring extra stock.

This is all awesome advice, thank you!

What would make good merch? I mostly do handmade and custom, which can be hard to replicate in large numbers. Would prints and stickers of past pieces be good?

There, I don't have much advice, since that's outside my experience. I personally don't understand "stickers," but I know they're popular; however in your case, it would be the actual sculpted pieces that people would want, not pictures of them.

Gomez Addams had some advice on getting rich: "Make something that costs ten cents, sells for a dollar, and is addicting!" Whatever you make, don't invest more into your display than you can expect to make back; remember, you're also going to have to pay for your travel expenses, hotel, and food (pack a lot of lunches in a cooler!)

You don't need large numbers of a single item. I'd suggest you have a selection of items--a few larger sculptures to catch the eye, smaller pins or brooches, key rings, critters that sit or hang off of computer monitors, small standing figurines, and pictures of commission work you've done. Take orders. People may want "that special something" and be willing to pay for a recolor version of something else you have, for example.

And include a card with your contact information in every sale bag--ooh, yes, also remember to bring bags for your sales! I always forgot that one when I was going to craft shows, and recycled grocery bags look tacky.

One other idea--make your own card holder, a figure standing there with its arms out so you can put your business cards into them.

Thank you so much, this is such good advice!

Thanks! I really hope you have a very profitable convention experience. I used to make ceramics and sell them at craft shows. We built a whole little "room" to serve as the "shop." I think we had more props than merchandise! It burnt me out after a couple years and we stopped going, but I'm more than happy to help with advice for someone just getting started. BTW if you can rope an assistant into coming along, that will help immeasurably with set-up and things like bathroom breaks, and give you a chance to browse around a little (tip: set a firm budget for buying souvenirs and stay well under it!) A partner will also help alleviate boredom and loneliness in the slack periods.

Oh, with that business card holder--put a card next to it with prices for custom designed card holders. Use it as your advertising model. Another idea might be custom pen holders--"Your Fursona Will Keep Your Pen Handy For You!"-- a character who will hold a pen in one hand, or with its arms out in a circle for several pens. This should have a base for stability. (And try to word it so the pervs don't giggle at "keep your pen handy...")

Your dog portrait figures should have the source photos beside them for comparison.

I think you have a lot of talent and all you really need is good record-keeping and promotion.

I was looking at the animal ornaments you've been posting. You might think about getting a little tabletop Christmas tree to display them on.

wow hope to see you there