Event Recap: Fanboy Expo Knoxville 2025
TRANSPARENCYEVENT RECAP
Sorry this is later than usual! It's been busy, and frankly I've been trying to take a bit of a moment to breath. I've been busy this year...real busy. Woof.
Anywho! My second year at Fanboy Expo Knoxville is behind me! And despite the fact that it takes place in the single most evil place in the world, Knoxville Tennessee, I had a great time! Just goes to show you that good will prevail, even in the face of absolute evil (the University of Tennessee and it's stupid orange color).
The real fun came from the fact that this con does not allow load in on Friday. I learned this fact at 11:18 on Thursday, while I was at lunch at work. I sprinted home, packed, and managed to make it with 17 minutes to spare. Traffic in Tennessee was bullshit, but really it's all on me for not reading an email more closely.
But because of this, I forgot to pack my new chair. Which made me sad. I also didn't bring as much stuff as I normally would, so when I got to the booth and realized I had a full 8 feet to myself, well... let's just say I was lucky in that had enough stuff in my totes that are always packed to fill the space.
I did this event once more with Ben Meeks, Richard Fierce, and Alfred "Fred Mull" Muller. This year we got a larger space, a 10 foot by 20 foot, which is why I had so much room to spread out.
I have a few small thoughts.
I'm always surprised that people in Knoxville can read. I just assume I sell to folks who traveled into town.
I think this was the most heavily tattooed crowd at a convention I have ever seen, which I enjoyed.
Three people came up to tell me they hate possums. That brings the grand total of folks who have done that at cons to five. Tennessee...who hurt you?
I sat more at this con than I have at most cons to date. I am trying it out, seeing if it makes my lumbering self more approachable.
Marc Hirsh (spelling?) was an author at the con, running solo. We got to talk to him on Sunday, and he asked us for some tips and tricks. He was super receptive to our advice, so Ben and I ended up giving him copies of our author books (The Art of Selling Books, Create Your Way to Freedom).
I got recommended a bunch of cons to try, including some horror cons. Since I am planning to shake things up next year and hit a bunch of new events, that was exciting.
It ain't none.
I did not bring my zines, as I will be releasing all new editions of them at Multiverse. Maybe Dragon Con, but definitely Multiverse. But that aside, I am pleased with how sales went. I did 755 last year, so I almost doubled that. Have to be happy with that.
I think this was the last event I will be offering my omnibus bundle deal. Currently if you buy both omnibus editions (40 each) then I knock off ten bucks. But...someone doing that is already getting six books for the price of four. And I don't really see where that ten bucks off is what convinces folks to take the plunge.
This may also be one of the last events where I do a bigger multi-author booth. I like sharing, but I am beginning to think that having 4 or more in the booth is hurting more than it is helping. Being a good booth member and making sure to pitch everyone in the booth alongside your own gets a bit overwhelming for people I think. So I will be looking to do two author booths, maybe three at most (outside of Dragon Con). Ideally in this scenario, at an event like this we'd still all go in on a hotel room together, but book booths in pairs instead.
Anywho, here are the numbers:
Daily Sales Numbers:
Friday: 280.00
Saturday: $610.00
Sunday: $340.00
Total Sales Numbers By Item:
Bringing Home The Rain: 19
Omnibus 1: 15
Omnibus 2: 6
Southern Saudade: 4
Total:
$1,230.00
Fixed Expenses:
Badge: 0.00
Booth Fee - $275.00
Parking - $5.00
Hotel - $90.00
Other - 0.00
Total - $370.00
Grand Total Profit: $860.00
