Event Recap: Fan Expo Nola 2026
TRANSPARENCYEVENT RECAP
My second year at Fan Expo Nola, and it was even better than the first! But it could have been a lot better!
I have had a history of bringing way too many books to cons. It's a habit I have been trying to break myself of. So this con, I really made an effort to not do that. I looked at last years numbers of what I sold, and essentially packed roughly that, plus four or five.
And then I essentially sold out of books on Saturday. Ben totally sold out on Saturday. Rich had so few left that we told him to dip out on Sunday, and go spend it roaming Nola. Sunday was basically spent with me selling my last ultimate bundle, my last Southern Saudade, a Depth of the Water, and finally selling my 'Billy Book' (which was a Bringing Home the Rain that I personalized to a Billy, who their card declined that I have been carrying to cons for months now).
Properly stocked, I think I could have made a run at my Dragon Con record. I don't think I'd have hit it, but I think I could have come close. But hey, I grossed just a whisker short of 2,000, and had a great weekend with the boys. What more could I ask for?
I have a few small thoughts.
I need a bigger sign for my zines.
I need to start packing a few extra charging cables and the like in my totes.
King Cakes are subpar. Fight me.
It aint none.
Man, if only I had brought enough inventory.
This is a good con for zines. Having a larger selection is working. I was really surprised at how many of SEC football cult zines sold. I need to make a companion game to go along with it, since it's a lore book.
I have started handing out stickers to folks walking by. This worked really well on getting folks who normally would not be looking, looking. And a surprising number of those converted to sales. I had more than one person take a sticker, walk off, read it, then walk back. Good stuff.
Anywho, here are my numbers:
Daily Sales Numbers:
Friday: $298
Saturday: $1,372
Sunday: $318
Tales by Bob Sales Numbers By Item:
Bringing Home The Rain: 13
The Depth of the Water: 1
Omnibus 1: 22
Omnibus 2: 5
Southern Saudade: 7
Ultimate Bundle: 2
Bearded Bard Inkworks Sales Numbers By Item:
Zines: 33
Total:
$1988
Fixed Expenses:
Badge: $0.00
Booth Fee - $532.00
Parking - $34.50
Hotel - $150.65
Other - $25
Total - $752.15
Grand Total Profit: $1235.85
