AX on the other side of the table.

So what's the biggest con this side of the Pacific like on the other side of the dealers table? Not as bad as I was expecting, but it does change your perspective.

For one thing, the first day was hectic beyond belief. We weren't able to get the whole booth ready the day before, so we agreed to meet there early on the first day of AX to finish setting up before anything happened. Needless to say, I was the only one there at the appointed time, and I didn't have the faintest idea what I was doing. When everyone finally showed up, we set things up hastily and sloppily, trying to make sure all that we brought was being displayed, but also running out of space for items. We're rushed by a constant reminder over the PA that the room is about to open, every minute or so.

[ Time to open shop. ]

Merchandising otaku aren't as unreasonable as some would make them out to be. They understand when we tell them that what's on display is all we brought. They give us the usual 'glad you're here' spiel and 'we'd visit the store more if it were easier to get to' and random other whatnot. Luckily our shipment came in during the con, and we were lucky enough to be able to put up some things we thought we wouldn't have until a week later, namely vash glasses and misato pendants. Those are really popular. ^_^ (shameless plug #1)

It wasn't as hectic as I was expecting, but I also noticed we aren't really set up in a good way. None of the drooling fanboys seem to notice where most of the other dealers in the room get their items from.

One silly little anecdote of the con is when the member of another shop comes over and buys some of our cels. (If you're reading this. . . you know who you are.) Now, this wouldn't be so bad if he weren't blatantly showing off his dealers badge. Genta decides to have fun with the guy, because we know he intends to go to his booth and raise the price on those cels by some insane amount. So, Genta, being his usual cynical self says loudly, "You know, I hate it when other dealers go to another booth, buy their items, and go back to their booth and raise the price." The offending dealer, not noticing that genta knows who he is and what he's doing, tries to discreetly turn his badge around, pays for his items, and slinks off. Of course, not to be proven wrong, Genta goes to the booth finds our cels, on sale at prices we'd never abuse our customers with. (shameless plug #2)

All in all, it was a good experience, We met some of the customers who have bought from our onlineshop, met some of those same customers who buy stuff to resell, and, as always, watched potential enemies and other dangerous people. It's not so bad, working. You can see all the cosplayers in one centralized location, and you don't really have to worry that you've missed any, because everyone at a con has to make at least one visit to the dealers room. (Usually multiple trips.) Another good thing about being a dealer is that you have the oportunity to walk around the room, go to other shops' booths, and make your purchases before the general public (sometimes with good insider deals (bonus!!))

But, in my trips around the room, I came upon an odd dilemma. I can't find anything to buy. Maybe it's the fact that working at an anime shop has desensitized me, and that I can get what I really want from my own store for less. (shameless plug #3) I did come across others, though, who supported me in my claim that expo this year was a little lacking in the goods department. The items there were things that everyone had seen before, and there really wasn't anything that you had to have. So, I've made it out alive. Now that's a change. . .

—aldo