Things I need for a con table?

[Awesomeness_Studios]

Hi everyone I’m getting ready to table for the first time
Anyway, what are things I need to get ready? I currently have these things listed down but I’d like to know if anything needs to be added, removed, or changed.

• Art display grid with prints of my work hanging on it
• Custom table cloth
• Business cards
• POS reader (an app on my phone might be fine)
• Extra cash for change
• Laptop showing my comic’s website
• QR codes of where to read my comic
• Merchandise (prints and stickers for sale, maybe other things?)

EDIT: Below are suggestions from others in the thread
• Portable power pack
• Metal cash box (or maybe just a fanny pack)
• Notebook and pen for keeping track of sales
• Paper bags for purchases
• Snacks
• A holder for other people's business cards

[darthmongoose]

If you have a portable power pack just in case your phone and/or card reader gets low on juice, that can be really handy.

Make sure you have a secure place to keep your change. A proper metal cash box is really handy because it keeps the money safe and has little trays for your different coins, which speeds things up a lot.

Little notebook and a pen to record how many of what you sold and to tally up numbers as you go or make notes about trades (sometimes people will trade you an item for one of the same value from their table.

Paper bags to put purchases in are handy!

Fruit juice and energy bars can be an absolute lifesaver when you've been on your feet all day.

Oh and something to keep other people's business cards in.

[candiedcotton]

That's awesome, congrats! I'd definitely make sure you have some sort of banner or something to really show whatever name you're using, so that it's easy to memorize and notable. Make sure to bring snacks, water, some cleaning wipes, and hand sanitizer.

[candiedcotton]

I was thinking of also suggesting some sort of lockbox, lol. And maybe a bike chain or something like that to attach it to your table. You can never trust folks at cons.

Fanny packs are actually really common for that same reason.

[darthmongoose]

Yeah, bungees can actually work, or a chain; just something to tie it to the table leg or to a big heavy suitcase or something. Anything that'll make it a pain to just pick it up and walk off with it without faffing around and making a racket should be enough... but as a general rule, never leave your table completely unattended if possible. If you trust the people on the nearby tables, it can be a lot easier.

[Awesomeness_Studios]

Thanks for this advice already. I already got an assistant so my table should at least always have one person on it. I haven't thought about a metal box for keeping the cash but honestly its such an obvious thing to have so ima jot that down

[candiedcotton]

Definitely get something to secure your box no matter what, even if there are people right there. Cons are CRAMPED, especially by tables, and absolutely full of thieves and pickpockets. It's just a sucky truth.

[NickRowler]

I am not sure where you live but look into con rules about displaying fanart. I have seen booths that had to cover up signs and labels due to them using copyrighted names like Naruto or Attack on Titan. So maybe also have some paper and markers just in case.

[DarkSena]

I'd say you're very well equiped for you first time Definitely much better than I was lol
Take a good mood with you to the con and some notepad (in case you're doing commissions right there or just in case you get bored because there might be times when it little happening and you can actually draw many things during the con for yourself as well )

One thing which just popped up my mind, if you're offering larger prints like size A3, take some rubbers bands, because those need to rolled in and held by the bands. Tiny prints fit in the small paper bags, the larger prints I put in plastic foils so they don't get broken, esp the corners.

Have fun

[system]

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