Convention Recap: Huntsville Comic And Pop Culture Expo 2025
TRANSPARENCYEVENT RECAP
Huntsville Comic And Pop Culture Expo 2025 just passed, so let's dish!
General Thoughts
I am going to do a post (hopefully this week) where I talk about my general direction moving forward, which will entail a bit about how I wound up here instead of Jordan Con.
That aside, let me just start out by making it clear: this was a damn good event for me. As in my best sales event ever that isn't named Dragon Con, to the tune of 1,600 bucks in sales. Which considering how it was looking during setup on Friday, was a bit of a wonder. See, we booked an 8 table island, for 9 authors, thinking we would be near the middle of the con. Instead, we were in the far, far back corner against the wall. Which meant a whole side was not really usable. And that we would be away from the main flow of traffic. So we were convinced that sales would be bad.
What saved us? The fact that the only thing farther away from the middle than us was the celebrity photo booth. So folks that (at least at one point) had money had to walk past us to get to their photo ops. And I happened to be on the same side as them. So our side of the booth did pretty sporty. I was top seller in the booth, but overall we cleared over 8.5k as a booth I believe.
Of special note, for me, was that author Silas Reames was in the booth with us this weekend! You may recall how last year I let her be my 'intern' in the booth to learn about doing in person sales. This year she was a full partner, and sold like gangbusters! Do people still say that? Gangbusters? Anywho, she's a great boothmate, and we will be sharing more in the future for sure.
Also, for those reading this to learn about sales and such, look at the picture above and below. You will see my setup changed. It actually changed multiple times. I played around with my setup throughout the con, experimenting throughout. Don't be afraid to change things up if something feels like it isn't optimal. Below was on Saturday morning, after I took down my tall stand on Friday to give me better visibility to passersby. Above was on Sunday after I was getting close to selling out so I let Ben take the corner slot.
Small Thoughts
I have a few small thoughts.
When am I going to order some better bags for my books? THIS TIME!! I FUCKING REMEMBERED FINALLY, YOU CAN ALL SUCK IT!
I am jealous of Ben's new banners. I can tell that they made an actual difference...there were times where folks were acting like he was Brandon Sanderson with that big huge new banner. I swear, every time I step my banner game up, the folks around me take it to another level.
I am tired of being jealous of Ben's tall directors chair, so I ordered one. So now we can be twins as we sit high, and lord over our domains.
On that note, here is the main reason I want it: so I am a tall, burly looking dude. I don't like always looming over people. But if I sit in a normal chair, I am too low down. Especially with my book racks on the table. So the taller chair is the perfect medium. I am up high, but more approachable. I will still stand a lot, but this gives me more of a viable sit down option.
What...?
This section is where I relay the occasional WTF conversational moment(s) we get into at booths sometimes:
To the person who heard my pitch, then told me that they had no money, then asked me to keep pitching even though it was 4 minutes to close...why?
Panels
It ain't none.
Sales
As stated, this was my best non-dragon con sales event to date. I more than doubled what I made last year (in 2024 I did 756 in sales, about 500 profit). So how did I get there? Here are the factors that helped (and hurt) my sales:
I have gone up on my prices since last year. It clearly didn't hurt my sales numbers, and an extra 5 bucks a book makes a difference. 230 bucks of my sales comes from the increased prices.
I would have made more, but I did not bring enough copies of omnibus 1. I sold my last one Sunday morning early. If I'd had more, I think I could have potentially beat my Dragon Con number.
I sold a shit ton of zines. Huntsville is clearly a gaming town.
The new cover for Southern Saudade is working out nicely, and sales are up because of that I can tell.
My new little yard signs are really helping. I can see folks lips moving as they read them from quite far away, and more than a few are walking over after reading 'redneck wizard.'
Daily Sales Numbers:
Friday: 340.00
Saturday: 930.00
Sunday: 405.00
Total Sales Numbers By Item:
17 Bringing Home The Rain
17 Omnibus 1
5 Omnibus 2
7 Southern Saudade
0 Create Your Way To Freedom (I donated one to a guy who runs a youth center)
31 Zines
0 Ultimate Bundle
Total: 1,600
Fixed Expenses:
Badge: 0.00 (included in booth fee)
Booth Fee - 300.00
Parking - 45.00
Hotel - 50.00
Other - 0.00
Total - 395.00
Grand Total Profit - 1,205.00
