Can-Con 2010
Last weekend France and I spent the majority of our time in the Dealer’s room at Can-Con 2010 and I must say that I have mixed reviews about the event. While I must applaud the efforts of the organizers to revive Ottawa’s sci-fi convention (one hasn’t been held in Ottawa for over a decade), many aspects of the event fell short of expectations, particularly from a dealer’s perspective.
The largest issue was the lack of advertising for the Con, both for the dealers (no program guide or any mention on the website of who the registered dealers were or where the room was) and the Con itself which saw maybe a little over 100 people attend was largely unpromoted and little details provided on the website until just days before. There was also very little communication with the dealers prior to the event (no dealers package) which caused some confusion with set-up times and tables. The room itself was very small and somewhat off to the side with little signage to direct people. Also, despite the website saying all the dealer tables were sold, there in fact was only 5-6 dealers and two tables were vacant (one of which we quickly expanded onto). Sales were therefore minimal with the low traffic (sometimes an hour would pass without a single person in the room) and I think that the more fortunate dealers managed to break even. This facet of the event could have been manage much better in my opinion.
On the bright side, Hugo award winning TOR editor David Hartwellmade a surprise visit from Northern New York and we ended up having a great chat on old sci-fi pulps and vintage classics the Friday night. The invited guest authors and illustrators, while all locals for the most part, were also very congenial and pleasant to chat with when they stopped by between talks. The Guest of Honour, Marie Bilodeau, was exceptionally friendly and encouraging to both budding authors in attendance and to the jewelry makers whose wares she particularly fancied.
Overall, while I do have my fair share of grumbles from a dealers perspective, I think that the event was at least a solid starting point to get a regular annual sci-fi convention going again in Ottawa. I do have to tip my hat to those who organized the event, and hope that they do try and make it an annual event once again. I believe that with a little more forethought, planning and volunteers the Con could truly grow into something great for Ottawa. I will certainly keep an eye out for it next year and think of taking a table once again.
I had no idea this was even happening. I like to think that I’m reasonably hip on the various comings and goings in Ottawa, but somehow this slipped completely beneath my radar. Gah! Since I have a new graphic novel that’s hot off the press and it’s a sci-fi story to boot, I’d have loved to attend. Oh, well.
Ottawa could really use something like this, so having a rebooted Can-Con would be a great idea.