My take on Imagicon

I have decided to start writing reviews of the shows I attend. Not only will it help me remember the shows, but will also help guide others in their travel choices

Imagicon

So having just returned home from a frustrating and exhausting day on the road is probably nto the bets time to start reviewing my recent experience. That said, I think it will be focused and cathartic.

Let's start with the:

Pros:

1.) The staff was very accommodating. We were asked all weekend if we needed anything and they helped us unload when we got there. Kelly,m the Art Show director, was very helpful and relatively ever-present. She apologized profusely and tried to make us comfortable. An ASD who is humble and attempting to be helpful? Believe it.
2.) The Art Show was sturdy and reasonably well lit.
3.) They provided us with a nice "green room" and lunch and dinner were provided in a partitioned section.
4.) Free Refills!
5.) Kelly let us hang art in the show at no cost. Admittedly, the walls were bare and my work was a significant contribution, but it was a nice gesture.

Cons:

1.) The design of the event was horrendous. I am sure there were size limitations and innumerable other factors in their decisions, but the spacing of events over 3 buildings seemed more designed to keep the guests comfortably away from all of the different vendors. Short story : We paid more than the guests and our needs should have been the most important. Good vendors and celebrities bring the guests out.
2.) Over-priced. $125 for a new con in a new venue is steep. Coupled with our terrible location makes me feel downright cheated.
3.) As disorganized as can be. Folks didn't even know there was an art show behind us. They tried to point folks in our direction, but being situated in the middle of a science exhibit and off to the side, guests seemed surprised and confused by our presence. This one really felt like some Mickey Mouse Shenanigans.
4.) Design revisited. This one needs 2 slots. There was never a steady stream of traffic past our entire section of the show. People were being dispersed instead of funnelled and only seemed to be exploring the building when they found us. I really can't even find the words to describe how poorly spaced, placed, and jacked we were.
5.) It was so bad I feel that there should be a 5. So 5 stands for lame sauce.
6.) I had to wait 55 minutes for someone to check me out only to find out they could have done it all along. When the director returned, it still took over an hour and 4 people to figure out how to check me out of the show. Friendly staff, but not competent in the means and methods of an Art Show.

Overall I would give this show a D+. Would I go back? I would go back as a featured guest and if the location was changed. I could accept the current location if the overall flow and placement was completely redesigned and the costs re-evaluated. Even if I didn't have to pay, I wouldn't want the others to have to struggle so hard to break even. That venue is not appropriate.

All said, I had a good weekend with some buds, started a whole new line of merchandise, and did some very cool character portraits. I may post some here, but will definitely throw them up on Facebook. Hope this helps!