Vani, the LAST thing you should be thinking about with your current situation is going to a Con.

I see where you're coming from with selling your merchandise and doing sketch commissions. It DOES make sense considering you can't get the funds from Paypal right now. So I understand where you're coming from. But you need to seriously think here: how much of a profit are you realistically going to be able to make there? How are you going to pay for the hotel room? How are you going to pay for the gas to get there? How are you going to pay for your food while you're there?

Also, if people see that you're considering going to a convention in less then two weeks time given your current situation, where you're raising emergency funds because you're literally about to be homeless, they are going to be angry with you. And they will not want to donate.

Obviously you're your own person and I, nor anyone else can stop you or tell you what to do. But I highly, HIGHLY suggest you call FWA off. That is not going to bode well with your watchers and donators.

I have to seriously agree here
I couldn't have worded it better myself.

I only thought about it again since a local friend of mine that's getting ready to go soon suggested I could go for work purposes only...? Not leisurely. I have a /lot/ of leftover merch that could easily get me an extra $800+ if it's all sold..

But still. Even so.

I highly encourage you to think twice about this. I mean that in the nicest way, even thought I know it doesn't sounds like it.

Okay, so $800.00 -if- it's all sold. I know you're a well known artist and you can probably make a good profit, but that's if it's all sold.

Also, if you go to this convention given your landlords are forcing you to move out, you could very well come back to the locks changed and your belongings out on the street. It happens to people a lot.

And hind sight in 20/20....let's hypothetically say that you sell all of that merch and get the +800 dollars. Will this put you in the clear with Paypal in the amount of time necessary?

And once again, how are you going to pay for your expenses once you are there? Just basics like food and the hotel room?

And what if you don't make as much of a profit as you hope? Is it worth the risk?

The only way I would say yeah go right ahead and go is if you had someone else paying for everything else for you and driving you back and fourth.

I see what you're saying with going strictly for business purposes. But still.

Again, I can't stop you. No one can, but I really and truly do not believe that it is a wise decision with what is going on right now..

I will be completely 100% honest with you-I got my state tax returns today and was going to donate some of it to your crisis. Why? Mainly because I sympathize with your Anxiety and Depression as a queer individual trying to be independent because that's pretty much me in a nutshell. But when I saw this journal, I decided against it. Because I don't believe it is a smart move to go to a convention when you're about to be out on the street homeless. Regardless if it's for work or not.

I don't know...I'm sorry. honestly if it's causing this big of a fuss I just won't go then. I was going to ask around and see if I could get a ride or something. But if people think this look bad I just want go through with it despite what my merch could bring me since it's helped a lot before, I don't want to make my situation worse... I'll just stick to putting my leftover merch up for sale online and have my best friend manage the store and funds for me...

No no listen...

I wasn't trying to upset you. I was just trying to get you to see the other side. I wasn't trying to sound like an ass, but I was just suggesting what I honestly thought would be best for you to get out of this situation. I don't believe it would help your situation at all and I do believe it would make people angry.

In the end, like I said, it's your decision. But I just don't think it would be a wise one. That's all.

I understand. I did mainly post about this to get feedback on my thoughts and see if there was enough interest in my stuff I would sell, I would go based off that. But now I see it's just not a good idea, and too much risk is involved. So I won't be going..

I . . . don't really have an opinion I'd like to share on the convention topic, but don't you think it's a little scummy to wag a donation in front of the face of someone who truly needs it? I'm kind of appalled. It feels -really- gross for you to be like "I WAS gonna donate, but you fucked it up, too bad, even though you didn't actually do anything yet! Just to prove how right I am!"

That comment was completely unnecessary and way out of line. You could have not donated and left the snarky comment about your changed mind to yourself. She hadn't even gone to the con or decided to, she made a journal -asking for opinions-. Your actually good advice was totally smeared for me by the fact you decided to also dangle money in her face only to rip it away just for a final statement. Gross.

^my thoughts too!

Holy hell I was thinking the same lmfao

yea i have to agree thats kind of a dick move even with the concern about convention profits and all...

I'm also agreeing with this. That comment felt pretty unnecessary and rude, despite saying the comments weren't meant to be like that.

Not really. I was just being honest because I didn't want her to lose donations because of it >.> That's really where I was coming from. And I wasn't trying to be an ass about it. I was just thinking that people might be coming from the same place as me and turn away a donation from her when she really needs it. I didn't intend to come off that way.

I really did mean it from a place of concern, but I can see how it came off as scummy and snarky. Really...the only reason why I said it is because I legitimately didn't want her to lost more donations. But I apologize if it came off that way.

I'm sorry but did you even like think before you posted? Even just the entire premise of you trying to tell an artist what to do when they know what they are doing and then wave a donation in their face is rude. "I'm just being honest" is a poor excuse for that action? Honestly, an artist has plans on how to make the money to help themselves and you shoot it down because of how you personally feel?

Yes actually, I did. But I see now how it could have come off as rude and skeezy. It wasn't meant to be that way, it genuinly was out of concern so that she wouldn't loose more donations, and that was the ONLY reason why I mentioned it. Not to 'wave it in her face' not to make her feel shitty or wave some kind of a vice over her. JUST so that she wouldn't loose donations. But again, it was wrong I realize that, and I could have worded it better and not brought up the donation.

I have already stated that I made a mistake and made an apology for it. I am not going to continue to sit here and explain myself to you people a dozen more times. If you want to continue to sit here and lay into me, then go ahead. But I have already acknowledged that I made a mistake.

"Honestly, an artist has plans on how to make the money to help themselves and you shoot it down because of how you personally feel?" Not to defend what I did, but just so you know, that is actually called "Life". People are honest with each other all of the time and turn down ideas. And (if you have ever had a business or desk job) you actually know that that's an everyday occurrence. Sometimes I think this fandom is so sheltered.

Otherwise, I would call it off completely if I wasn't expecting to make a good chunk from my merch if it sells.

If you didn't sell $800 in merch the last time, what makes you think you'll sell it all this time?

Actually I made around $1800 from my merch at MFF alone. I got too much made and didn't realize I had so much since some of it was stuff from previous cons I didn't go through before getting stuff made for MFF, so I had some stock leftover. I have a huge box of prints left over and a good amount of buttons.

I have never had an instance where I have not done well at a convention. Not ever. I've always made at least over $800+ if not at least a grand to take home.

This is exactly why I thought it wouldn't hurt to give it a try, but due to the risks I'm just going to hold on to what I have since it always comes in handy later.

I completely agree here. This is NOT a good idea.

+1

This dosent sound like a good idea. Your taking emergency donations and even though you say it would be to sell off remaining merch, it would still sound like a vacation on your contributors dime.

I can see that, and I'm sorry for even mentioning it. Those aren't my intentions, I just simply wanted to see if anyone would want to buy my stuff there to help me out..

I'm not mad, but I can see how it might anger some of your donators

Having seen you selling at MFF I'd go for it. Some people's concerns are that it sounds irresponsible to ask for donations while going to a con, but if you got friends who will let you crash in their room, take you there and treat you to basic foods, and it's a chance for you to make $800, go for it.

Try to leave someone at your place so your landlord will not put your things in the street, though :P

Yeah, well I officially turned over my room to my friends so I'm definitely not going. I'd only do it as you said, if I had people who wouldn't mind covering costs for me due to the emergency or if I had someone to travel up with..

Next time just don't publish your intentions for people to give their opinion. I think you had a good plan, honestly. Anyways, hope you can get out of this messy situation soon!