business

Convention Idea – Have Business Owners speak

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The roundup of ideas for adding more professional events to conventions is here.

Want someone to speak about careers and opportunities at your convention?  Sure you can hope to get some of the big names to speak, get that oddball guest, arrange seminars . . . but you may be missing a great source of professional panelists.

People who already have fannish businesses.  Take a look at your Dealer's Room or Artists' Alley and youll find there's a huge amount of potential speakers on careers, options, and that often-talked of but hard-to-speak on subject of starting your own business.

Career ambition doesn't have to mean working for someone else.  And, yes, at times I see people with fannish businesses invited to speak on such things at conventions – but I think it could go way farther.

The guy whose been running a comic shop for fifteen years has a lot of insights.  The Artists Alley freelancer who manages to survive on her art is going to have knowledge to share few others will.  The couple who runs an anime memorabilia shop out of a warehouse with a tiny storefront is going to have a lot to speak on.

It doesn't even have to be someone whose living on it full time (though I would certainly make sure to try and get such people).  You may have a lot of budding talent, or people who have managed to mix their fannish and non-fannish work, who can speak and lecture on skills, career issues, experience, etc.  They don't have to have "arrived" at doing full-time fannish work to be people with things to share.

Finally, keep inviting such people back.  As their side businesses and personal businesses evolve, they can share more and more insights.

Your next big career panel may mean raiding your Dealer's room.  Go for it.

– Steven Savage

Thoughts on Fast-Food Fun

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Does the internet allow for us to have more simple/fun/cheesy entertainment.  Think of it as "fast food" entertainment.

I reflected on this lately for several reasons – simple but fun online games, LOLcats, available content online I'd never otherwise read or watch, etc.  I can spent a lot of time doing enjoyably shallow things, indulging my love of hilariously bad translations, or just surfing.

I've wondered if that's made easier by the internet – and yes, this is relevant to geeky careers since many of us are interested in technology or content.

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Fandom and business prototyping

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So you want to start your own business.  Lots of people do – and let's face it, lot's of people fail.  If you're thinking of starting your own business, you've probably done research and realize the challenges.

Of course being a fan, a geek, and otaku, you've got a great resource right there in your life – fandom gives you a place to practice and prototype your business.

A problem with many would-be businesses is that people need a time to practice it, get it right, and build their business skills.  They also need to try out different business models or ideas.

So why not use your fandom as your testing ground?

Fandom gives you potential customers (even if it's a service you offer for free to try it out), plenty of feedback, and what is likely a safe environment to fail in.  Plus it's a market you probably know better than any else, so gives you a chance to try out those skills and ideas in a more understanding environment.

  • Maybe you want your own accounting business.  Offer free services to some conventions – or a discount to a convention guest or friends.
  • Perhaps you're trying to be an artist – which probably would be very easy to practice in your fandom.  Even if the model doesn't fit what you do, you can learn business and contact skills.
  • You might be an IT consultant – so perhaps your local sports team needs help with their office, or a local band needs help with a website.

Fandom isn't just a place to try out and gain skills for your career – you can practice an entire business model.  I'd advise that you keep in mind that the environments probably different than the overall business environment, but even with that difference, it's a good place to learn.

– Steven Savage