From The Great Luke Ski: Being
a Guest at a Con
As you may have guessed from the
site's front page, I purchased a CD entitled Uber
Geek from the artist named The Great Luke Ski.
His real name is Luke Sienkowski, and he has a web
site promoting his music (click
here to go to http://www.lukeski.com). His is
the funniest, freshest comedy music I've heard since
The Doctor Demento Show went off the air
in Orlando. I complimented him and asked if he was planning
any con appearances where I like to go.
Without quoting his letter (which
I won't bother importing) he asked if he could get
some information about becoming a guest. I helped him by forwarding his e-mail to the
convention organizers. It's up to them to decide
how, when or if he appears.
However, this is a good moment to talk about
becoming a con guest. If you're looking to scam free
con admisison for nothing, forget it. If you don't
have anything to contribute to the convention, you
forget it too. While I have known people who do
zilch for a convention and get invited back year
after year, I have too much of a work ethic (and
too much guilt) to try for that.
For instance, at Dragon*Con, I'm planning two
panels (which still must be approved by the committee). One is my tradtional animation show
of classic cartoons, with considerable mockery and
joking. The
other talks about doing print publicity for conventions
and events, which I have done for years. I provide gifts
for the audience for both events, which costs me
more than just purchasing the convention admission.
(Mind you, I'm also paying for travel and hotel
space, although I've shared hotel space for the
last few years with my friends.)
Part of my complimentary admission involves me
being a journalist - not for this web site,
but for the forthcoming Animated Planet Magazine. As a
journalist I have
to obey certain rules. I will not photograph celebrities
unless they're at a panel, and I never photograph
or record people in the "green room,"
where they're supposed to be getting away from that
stuff. I also send the convention copies of my press
coverage of their events, which makes them aware
that I was doing my job and not just sponging off
them.
If you have some expertise in a topic, and are
willing to put forth effort to make an entertaining
convention panel, write to the convention way in
advance. Make your proposals about what you want
to do. Luke Ski, for instance, laid out exactly
what he was willing and able to do, and what kind
of compensation he wanted to see for that appearance.
He is a performing artist, and has several requirements
- microphone, playback of his backing tracks, an
audio tech who knows what he's doing, and a place
to change into his costumes. As a new guest to this
convention - and therefore an unknown quantity -
he's willing to negotiate things like fees, free
table space to sell his CD's, or hotel rates. Whether
Luke Ski appears or not (and I hope he does), he
has to negotiate in a positive, professional way.
So will you, if you wish to be a guest.
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