Game Conventions & How to Easily Start One
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 มี.ค. 2018
- Going to gaming conventions really can help inspire your hobby motivation and they're also just a really great time. But what if there's not one near you? Uncle Atom has run small local game conventions for more than a decade, and has advice for getting started.
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I like the recent undercurrent of your videos that's reminding people that they can take a hand in growing the hobby by making content, by teaching new players, by starting and hosting events, and by doing all of the other things that we sometimes find lacking wherever we live and game.
Every big thing in this hobby started out by someone making an effort to fill a need. Games Workshop was once a couple of guys in an attic writing D&D supplements. Wizards of the Coast used to be a company that published supplements and games from small companies that would otherwise have gone under. Even the big things start small.
I have been Head TO for a convention in Wellington, New Zealand called Call to Arms, which is around 150 people. The must important item for me was creating a manual, over the years it developed into a documentation which has stream line the process and made it easy to arrange for anyone wanting to become the Head TO. Now it is a very well oil machine and we have club members wanting to help out. It has taken time, and Uncle Atom is correct in stating, start small and work your way up. It has taken my local wargames club since 1987 to build this up. Its a great feeling after running a convention and you learn so much, I say give it a go. :-)
Our Wargames club did just that. Living on an island half way between Scotland and Norway it pretty much limits conventions for a lot of us (It costs a lot to get off the island) This September will be our 4th year. We won’t get traders as it costs a fortune to get here too, more so with a van. They would make a loss! But we intend to keep it going👍
We founden last year our last convention here in Osijek ( Croatia). And I have to say you are right . We started in 2 rooms for around I would say max. 50 people for who we never thought that will be full. In the end the convention lasted 2 days and we were full till the last place almost . So without advertising just having fun, a lot of people came and the atmosphere was great. So we hope also to grow every year a little. And we are traveling to Essen , Germany this year . A small road trip 1600 km in one direction . But some things are just worth it.
It was great to meet you at Adepticon on Thursday! And you're speaking the absolute truth! I remember when Adepticon "got big" at the Marriott in Schaumburg IL in 2003. And there were around 400/500 folks.
2018 is supposedly 4000 attendees.
I witnessed 2 other Chicago local scifi based cons burn out after 2 years because they tried to start too big too fast.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Yeah, you can do it easy. When I was a kid, we put together Underground Zeen shows for magazines we called ashcans that we made at the copy store. You can rent out areas for a day in old warehouses, parks, and theaters. Listen to Uncle Atom, don't be intimidated (but don't plan to make money, lol.)
great video as always Uncle Atom
Great video my friend, this really helped put somethings in perspective. 😊
I’m going to my first at UKGE and can’t wait
If you want to run a convention, we recommend Tabletop.Events. Great site too manage registration, event scheduling, etc.
neat stuff will see more
Just started up a smaller convention called TableTap Board Game Gathering. It’s more of a monthly/bi-monthly thing though, but long-term I want to make it a bigger convention!
Our group, (located on Facebook), has been getting together at a local restaurant for nearly five years now. We 'gather' together on the third Sunday of every month (except December, Christmas & all) to share a meal & game for 8-9 hours. We had discussed starting up a quarterly convention but decided against it, cost & prep being the biggest downside. We'll just keep chugging along with our 25-35 monthly attendees & continue to support the larger cons. That's what works for us. By the way, we too are also based in Wisconsin, south-eastern area. Must be something in the drinking water, eh Uncle Atom? :)
Elkhorn, Wisconsin, just by chance. ;)
Have fun
Interesting subject. Do you have a video entitled: "How to Easily Start a local wargaming club?
Another place to look is public libraries. A lot of them have public meeting spaces and some have kitchens or places to sell consessions.
We have started a fluffy & friendly 40k tournament/campaign last year, then we had like 32 attendies this year we are already up to 50 and a load of extra players. It feels great
MaliceInWonderland where are you located ?
ForgottenNoble Pilsen in Czech Republic
MaliceInWonderland oh was thinking you were in the states lol
i didn't know you were a fellow wisconsinite! have fun at adepticon, i've got a friend who's down there now wargaming it up.
Said hi to you earlier on Twitter, so hi again. Was going to say this summer a few friends and I are off to the countryside hiring a cottage, but I’m bringing Shadow War and Necromunda. Was going to say that’s more of a retreat like Miranda organises... But she's beat me to it, lol.
After 15 years adepticon is around the size Gamehole Con in Madison, Wi is after 5 years.
GameHole is very heavily RPG and D&D based, with a bunch of current D&D employees, plus a bunch from the creation of D&D and the Gary Gygax Era.
To go from "there are no cons near me" or "can't afford to attend one" to starting your own con is a bit more than a daunting leap, in my opinion. Not saying it's impossible just seemingly, almost definitely, improbable for some. I know of one other hobbyist near me and we're not even interested in the same game and, to make matters worse, both of those games aren't exactly popular anymore (Battletech and Warmaster).
I'm guessing if one were to consider starting a con you'd probably also have to be into a popular game such as 40k or something Star Wars related or at the very least something current (and probably have a wider circle of hobbyist friends to boot).
It just seems a bit out of reach for at least me.
Nice Vid. Some friends are playing w/an idea for a reboot in AZ. After Battlefoam dropped out, there is nothing here anymore. Adepticon has been a nice retreat for me the last 5 years as i have the funds but i can see where trying to find something within a price range can be daunting.
Starting out in the Masonic Underground? Cool :D
How about adding a tab to Game For that lists conventions?!?!?!
It’s in the works, actually. Not right away, but soon. Thanks for watching!
I know in the UK we have GW HQ and Salute but honestly i wish we had something on the scale of adepticon. yeah there's warhammer fest but it's just not as good as it used to be.
I've organised conventions myself, anime and gaming too in a local leisure centre and a pub but it was demotivating to say the least and I felt jealous of the visitors who were motivated whilst I was super stressed about the event itself.
I tried to start one. It was more of, get a fb group together at a nearby hall. There seemed to be a lot of interest, Unfortunately little to zero support. Any tips on that?
They way I have got people involve in running a convention is to given them one thing to do, its some thing which you don't need to do and they feel great for helping you. For example, I gave the job of buying cans of drink to one person and the next year they wanted to do more. The only down side is, it takes time to bring these people on board, in the long run it will make it easier to run with many hands, in the start you must be the driving force behind it.
...or you could just let someone else spend years building up a following then take it off their hands for them =)
I feel like you're speaking from experience.... Hahaha
Was going to mention the retreat angle and you're already here, haha.
The easy part is finding a place to do the event, the really hard part is building tables and terrain for tabletop events. Multiple systems, lots of terrain..it is a huge chore. It is also expensive. Be aware going into it.
Kevin Quintero do you have experience with this issue ?
352 your video finally started, start a small con then grow, okay...
Are you excited for plastic sisters?
Manuel Oaxaca I am
I know I am =)
A lot of people are excited.
I’ve never played them, so I’m not really excited, technically. But I’m glad that the fans will get what they want soon. Thanks for watching
Everyone is. People who don't play Sisters are. People who don't even play the game are. Dead people are excited for plastic sisters.
It's like Christmas in March.
If we built it, will you come?
0:15
My dudes
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH
Im sorry, i can't pay attention to this video. I keep wondering if that's a AH shirt or not lol.
I'd probably found Inepticon.
Technical Difficultties