a congratulations, sadly i am in america during the con, but i realy hope you enjoy

Awesome, the Czech republic is somewhere I've always wanted to visit too

woooot!!! huge congrats to youuu!!!! ^V^

I really love how several of the European cons include room reservation in their registration fee

It can be a nice thing but it's also a little bit of a double edged sword, it can often mean you have to pay upfront months in advance. With US cons, as a dealer or artist, there's the nice thing that you can use some of your earnings to pay the room at check-out! :D

It can be a nice thing but it's also a little bit of a double edged sword, it can often mean you have to pay upfront months in advance. With US cons, as a dealer or artist, there's the nice thing that you can use some of your earnings to pay the room at check-out! :D

Awesome! Congrats ^^

Hey, that's pretty cool! I guess your art caught the eye of the staff?

Good luck with whatever programming you're doing there - it's easier than it looks, as long as you're prepared!

Yeah indeed. :P

I've never done the GoH thing before obviously so I am a bit nervous about what to do. Have you done it?

Nope! But I've watched a bunch of people go through the process and seen it from a staff perspective as well.

Being a guest of honour is kinda like being a staff member with more perks and fewer hours. Your role is to improve the convention's reputation - and in turn, your own. What you get out of it and how you are perceived by con staff and attendees is directly related to what you put in.

I've seen very memorable guests who are gregarious with fans, witty on stage, and who seemed to be everywhere at once. I've seen others who avoid the limelight, yet share freely of their advice during and outside scheduled events, create stunning artwork and work behind the scenes to improve the con experience. Lastly, I've seen a few who hide out in their room and only come out for their assigned panels. (Try not to do that.)

Benefits vary based on the convention's resources (I imagine ČeSFuR's are limited), but you typically get reasonable transport expenses covered as well as a free room and naturally free admission to all con events - probably for Simon as well. You'll likely get a free table, and may be invited to a meal with staff and/or sponsors. Some cons assign a staff member to help you around, take you to/from the airport, etc. In this case you may also get help with translation for panels.

In return you provide a specific amount of programming - in your case, perhaps one to three art panels on topics of your choice, plus attendance at opening/closing and "meet the guest of honour". You may also be asked to judge a competition (which may or may not be related to art - e.g. Iron Artist or a fursuit beauty contest).

As an artist, you'll probably be expected to contribute themed artwork for con materials. This is a great opportunity to get more exposure for your art. It might also be an opportunity to make money selling originals or prints, but talk to the con first. They may ask for something for a charity auction.

The staff may have other ideas. Make them understand which ones you are comfortable with and which you are not. Perhaps even suggest some of your own! Remember that ČeSFuR has just over 100 attendees in total, so it's not like you're going to be standing up on the stage at FWA.

You're also expected to try to be available to guests during event hours. Part of the reason you were selected is because people will want to come to see you. They may congratulate you, ask you for an autograph, tell you what art they liked, etc. This is not an excuse for them to butt in on you for five minutes as you are going to your room with a bunch of stuff or out to dinner - be polite, but if you really need to go somewhere, tell them when and where you'll next be available.

It's also polite to write a glowing con report (examples from AC 2004: [http://www.gagneint.com/Final%20sit.....on.htm]Michael Gagne[/url] - Stan Sakai). This is a good way to get invited to other events, because they want you to say nice things about them as well. If your experience was less than glowing, it's best to say so in private - or better, bring it up at the con when the staff can actually fix it. Nobody wants an unhappy GoH.

If you have more questions about what it's like, I suggest asking fellow artists like TaniDaReal or Kacey who been GoH before. Remember that you are an honoured guest; while it comes with some responsibilities, the goal is still for you to have a fun time. Make the most of it!

And here's the Michael Gagne link that I messed up.

For CeSfur, I don't actually get my travel covered, but I guessed this because they are a very small con and don't charge a whole lot for registration. I also had to pay Simon's registration. Again, I am not too worried about that, because I appreciate it's a small event.

I am thinking to do an art panel but...much to my shame, I have never actually attended one at a convention due to the constraints of dealing/artists alleying. So I am kinda unsure how those usually work! I was thinking to do one about marker colouring but...how do you present that in front of a group? >_>

I'm certainly going to try and be as available and open to questions and socialisation as possible at the con. I am admittedly not going to be the really witty confident type of GoH, unless I pull a new personality out of my ass before I get there. :D

Yeah, you can't really expect the same treatment as you'd get at AC - heck, they don't even invite guests from the fandom anymore. Fortunately travel within Europe isn't overly expensive, and you should be able to make it back with commissions.

Art programming can vary from very instructional/presentation-based to observational or even hands-on. Normally just one artist is involved but you can actually have true panels where they discuss set topics and answer questions in turn. It depends on what information you want to communicate, how you prefer to do so, and whether it's a practical skill or something that you can learn from slides.

Perhaps have a camera filming your table and display the output on a screen? Though if it is a small group (and really, art panels are often not all that busy), you can rely on direct observation. I attended a marker session at this year's FC and we basically got into a circle around the artists' table and watched her complete a marker commission. Worked fine for 15-20 people. You could also ask people to bring their own markers and go around commenting if you feel up to it.

Again, probably best to ask someone who's run such a panel. I've done presentations, but they're not quite the same as a practical demonstration. (The thing I'd say with presentations is try actually presenting it to be sure you have the timing right - it's easy to run too long or too short.)

That's great news! I hope you have a wonderful time. I have no doubt they'll treat you well.

And get well soon!

You see, you are made of 100% awesome sauce.

I'm looking forward to see you there ;)

Congrats, that's so cool <333

I saw 2 seconds ago your name in the attendees list... after came here and watched this journual.
I got totally... little...happy shock :D
I thinked "big artits" just go to big cons. . . :) you know what I mean, lol.

Well, I hope we meet here soon. :D (But I come from Hungary so...Im more closer than you, haha:) )

well small country have small con , its czech biggest one ! :) I guess everyone hope it will grow up in future time.. i am realy looking forward to see you there. I am sure you will be center of world in moment you enter the hotel :P Good luck with your work ! :D

Thanks! I am still very nervous though!

Congratz!!! :D