[Deptheads] SoCal Smackdown (Was: Get games up ASAP!)

[Eric Burgess]

I think the idea of asking for exclusivity right now is dead so we can
probably drop it. The MIBs were an example of a group we could work with on
it. I think people jumped too much onto that individual situation because I
didn't make it clear I was talking about enforcing exclusivity with
organizations in general.

That said, I am not convinced that SJG would drop us like a hot potato if we
asked them nicely to support our convention in the interest of consolidating
the community rather than breaking it apart. I doubt SJG wants to send prize
support to two locations every time, especially since SCS attendance numbers
will be in the toilet at this convention and maybe for a while. If SJG says
'no' and they want to support every con anywhere no matter how close to an
established convention with a long history with them, we won't fight but
there is nothing wrong with asking. We are simply trying to defend our
attendees and the community. I know Steve well enough to know he is a
business man and gets how it works.

Like Eric N, I think Vic's sage advice is right on the money but I don't
really think there is such a large community that there is room for both.
The more important point is that two conventions in SoCal on the same
weekend is a *fundamentally terrible idea for every gamer in SoCal*. The SCS
are absolute idiots for mounting it rather than working with us to improve
what they dislike (even the location) or targeting another time. Forget
Veteran's Day - what about going against Origins for 4th of July weekend?
Driving to Ohio is further than LAX. And, to be honest, I'm not convinced
holiday weekends are such a big deal - I think we lose hundreds of attendees
by being ON those weekends when people have other things to do. The only
exception is Orccon since few people have strong traditions on Presidents'
Day like they do for the other two big weekends. There are tons of
conventions that do well on non-holiday weekends throughout the US. They
absolutely have choices.

One key way to stop them is to gain a level of exclusivity in
relationships to ensure that the whole gaming community gets served.
Everyone in LA/OC would be better off if one convention was huge rather than
having a few on the same weekend. While the kumbaya-vibe seems to be the way
most would like to go, the bottom line is the publishers will never come out
and truly support this community if it remains splintered. SCS is already
offering the chance to be 'exclusive' for that Warmachine event - why can't
we have that, too? I just spoke to Mayfair about our next Settlers event and
they wanted to offer it to Kublacon as well. They realize the loss of value
for us and were apologetic about even suggesting it. And I'm trying to get
them to not do it, but politely. I don't see a reason why we can't reach out
to many organizations and ask them to commit to us, where they will get the
best exposure and make the argument that we are simply making sure we the
community as a whole gets served.

Obviously, Strategicon has faced assaults before (notably ConQuest and even
GenCon SoCal) and come out on top. But they all weakened the convention. My
concern is that we will need to kick this effort in the teeth at some point.
I'd rather do it when they are a non-starter than when they have established
themselves and maybe realize that Presidents' Day is a better time to draw
people out.

Just my two cents.
...ERB
www.boardgamebabylon.com
www.strategicon.net


On Thu, Jun 10, 2010 at 11:06 AM, Robyn Nixon <robynln at gmail.com> wrote:

> So basically
> MIB for Steve Jackson Games
> PG for Privateer Press
> MI for Mongoose Publishing
> Henchmen for Wyrd Games
>
> All of them are volunteer programs that pay their volunteers in product for
> running events and demos.
>
>
>
> On 6/10/10 10:44 AM, "Devi Hughes" <devi at ocbg.net> wrote:
>
>  To clarify, MIBs are compensated with Steve Jackson Games product only.
> We get a lot of product, but compensation is only in the form of games, not
> monetary compensation.  Unfortunately, the hotel staff won't accept the
> latest Munchkin expansion in exchange for a hotel room.  :)
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Deptheads mailing list
> Deptheads at strategicon.net
> http://mordred.punk.net/mailman/listinfo/deptheads
>
>
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