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Things I Learned at FWA
15 years ago
General
"We are made to persist."
My very first convention, and my first major debut as a vendor, was AMAZING.
I seriously could not have hoped for a more positive experience, I was so badly prepared emotionally and materially, I thought I was going to bomb and go home in even more debt.
But no, this was fantastic fun for me. I had a blast, met up with some new folks and some furs I haven't seen in a year or more, and had a great time. Seriously, I'm much more motivated now to make this go over better for me. I'm already figuring out how my next one can be better.
Mad props, by the way, to
crssafox and 
heartstreasure
To the first one, you guys are awesome, I wish I'd stopped by the table more, I wish I could have acted on your advice sooner, and thanks for the little scales. I didn't get a chance to make anything with 'em yet but I'll be buying more now that I have a better idea about them.
to the second, the advice was good. I had to do several resizings but people seemed to be willing to pick stuff up later. A lot of my business was done that way. I had a blast but I never got a chance to come find you or, if I did wander by, I must not have recognized you. I'm sowwy ;-;
I did a little better than breaking even. I was fairly surprised. But even if I hadn't I'd know better for next time.
I have a lot of ideas simmering in my mind right now and I have learned a few very crucial tidbits that no amount of money spent or lost could have really gotten me.
So, things I learned at FWA.
1. I can do this.
2. I can do it without medication.
3. I can do it better.
4. Vertical display space is my friend.
5. Organization is my friend.
6. Wheeled storage containers are my friends.
7. Pricing does not have to be as difficult as I have been making it.
8. People like prints. I honestly had no idea that people would by prints of ANY of my work but I got at least one offer. If I'd had them, I probably would have sold them.
9. A customer assumes everything on a table is for sale unless the object explicitly states that it is not. I love one solution I found for this, and I intend to implement it.
10. My Friends are my Friends. They are very helpful when I need a break.
11. I need to bring more of N/A Artisan's artisans next year. Right now it only has two and one of 'em didn't show. My idea is to have several artists supporting each other. I know now that not only will it work, it will work better than me working alone.
12. Shopping for food beforehand and bringing groceries and drinks to the hotel in a cooler is much, much cheaper than eating in Atlanta. I could eat for weeks on what me and my boyfriend spent on food and drink in one freaking weekend.
13. Cater to the customers. If I'm going to a ren faire, bring armor. If I'm going to a fur con, bring furry-centric items such as collars.
on a non business note-
1. If I had any doubts before, they are dispelled. Jeepers, I'm a furry xD
2. I am so motivated to construct the Nomi-suit now it's actually scaring me a little how freely the creative juices are flowing.
3. Even doing business like that felt like a vacation and I need to take them much, much more often.
4. I want a social life again.
5. Fursuiters are perhaps one of a handful of phenomena that can, by virtue of their presence alone, cause me to smile and cheer up completely regardless of my own volition.
6. I'm completely unafraid of very unusual people. It's the drones I'm scared of. None of my social anxieties presented themselves at the convention. I've always been a little shy and extremely reserved, but the population density of the Hilton was higher than that of an average trip to wal mart and wal mart freaks me out and gives me panic attacks and emotional meltdowns. I never voluntarily talk to people in public.
I did at FWA. It's amazing.
The dealer's den did not cause any of that. Furthermore, the Hard Rock cafe a few blocks away DID trigger my social phobias. Then back at the hotel and nothing. I had two panic attacks this weekend and that was on the first night/morning. Neither had to do with social anything.
The implications of this fact are absolutely STAGGERING. I'm still working on them.
I needed this so badly.....
I can't wait to do it again >=3
I seriously could not have hoped for a more positive experience, I was so badly prepared emotionally and materially, I thought I was going to bomb and go home in even more debt.
But no, this was fantastic fun for me. I had a blast, met up with some new folks and some furs I haven't seen in a year or more, and had a great time. Seriously, I'm much more motivated now to make this go over better for me. I'm already figuring out how my next one can be better.
Mad props, by the way, to
crssafox and 
heartstreasureTo the first one, you guys are awesome, I wish I'd stopped by the table more, I wish I could have acted on your advice sooner, and thanks for the little scales. I didn't get a chance to make anything with 'em yet but I'll be buying more now that I have a better idea about them.
to the second, the advice was good. I had to do several resizings but people seemed to be willing to pick stuff up later. A lot of my business was done that way. I had a blast but I never got a chance to come find you or, if I did wander by, I must not have recognized you. I'm sowwy ;-;
I did a little better than breaking even. I was fairly surprised. But even if I hadn't I'd know better for next time.
I have a lot of ideas simmering in my mind right now and I have learned a few very crucial tidbits that no amount of money spent or lost could have really gotten me.
So, things I learned at FWA.
1. I can do this.
2. I can do it without medication.
3. I can do it better.
4. Vertical display space is my friend.
5. Organization is my friend.
6. Wheeled storage containers are my friends.
7. Pricing does not have to be as difficult as I have been making it.
8. People like prints. I honestly had no idea that people would by prints of ANY of my work but I got at least one offer. If I'd had them, I probably would have sold them.
9. A customer assumes everything on a table is for sale unless the object explicitly states that it is not. I love one solution I found for this, and I intend to implement it.
10. My Friends are my Friends. They are very helpful when I need a break.
11. I need to bring more of N/A Artisan's artisans next year. Right now it only has two and one of 'em didn't show. My idea is to have several artists supporting each other. I know now that not only will it work, it will work better than me working alone.
12. Shopping for food beforehand and bringing groceries and drinks to the hotel in a cooler is much, much cheaper than eating in Atlanta. I could eat for weeks on what me and my boyfriend spent on food and drink in one freaking weekend.
13. Cater to the customers. If I'm going to a ren faire, bring armor. If I'm going to a fur con, bring furry-centric items such as collars.
on a non business note-
1. If I had any doubts before, they are dispelled. Jeepers, I'm a furry xD
2. I am so motivated to construct the Nomi-suit now it's actually scaring me a little how freely the creative juices are flowing.
3. Even doing business like that felt like a vacation and I need to take them much, much more often.
4. I want a social life again.
5. Fursuiters are perhaps one of a handful of phenomena that can, by virtue of their presence alone, cause me to smile and cheer up completely regardless of my own volition.
6. I'm completely unafraid of very unusual people. It's the drones I'm scared of. None of my social anxieties presented themselves at the convention. I've always been a little shy and extremely reserved, but the population density of the Hilton was higher than that of an average trip to wal mart and wal mart freaks me out and gives me panic attacks and emotional meltdowns. I never voluntarily talk to people in public.
I did at FWA. It's amazing.
The dealer's den did not cause any of that. Furthermore, the Hard Rock cafe a few blocks away DID trigger my social phobias. Then back at the hotel and nothing. I had two panic attacks this weekend and that was on the first night/morning. Neither had to do with social anything.
The implications of this fact are absolutely STAGGERING. I'm still working on them.
I needed this so badly.....
I can't wait to do it again >=3
"That's how we find out who we are."
Do You Like Metal?
Art I owe people:
wildmark- Ongoing project
mitsozuka- Reference Sheet
foxystallion- Ongoing project
Do You Like Metal?
Art I owe people:
wildmark- Ongoing project
mitsozuka- Reference Sheet
foxystallion- Ongoing project
If I had known you were going I would've hunted for you +_+
oh, well. maybe I've grabbed your man-titties and gave you adoration and such ANYWAY.
Heehee. I'm glad you had fun anyway~ <3
and im so glad you went! i had no idea this was your first con.. did you manage to sneak away from the table and see some of the other things during the day?
Still had a blast though. It was cool seeing you there!!
Lorazepam is the SHIT though!!
What did you sell?
A specific phobia resulting from a real traumatic event can now usually be quickly unlearned. Let me know if you are interested in the technique.
I sold some three hundred dollars worth of bracelets, necklaces and a few pair of earrings, including a few of my favorite pieces.
The process is very simple: Take 60 mg. of propranolol (a safe inexpensive generic high blood pressure medication), wait about 90 minutes, and then try to remember and mentally re-experience the traumatic experience. Repeat several times. Each time, the fear will decrease until it becomes extinct. The propranolol will block your beta adrenergic receptors, hence blocking the flight or fight instinct. Side effects will include interference with getting an erection for a few hours and possible dizziness from low blood pressure. It works.