AADNOLA Questions Round 2: Answers!
10 February 2012 08:05:00
I figured I should address other concerns that seem to be popping up (and Incidentally, if people would contact me personally and ask about these things, hard feelings wouldn’t happen, as we could have an adult conversation about it--- I am not an ogre, I do listen to people’s suggestions and incorporate when we can to help this con evolve and grow with the ever growing and changing needs.)
I. Why does AAD have an Author Cap: AAD has author caps because of three things: 1. Author to reader ratio, 2: Space allotment, and 3: Bookseller ordering. All three are taken into account when deciding the cap for authors so that it’s fair and people don’t get screwed.
Every convention has featured authors and author caps, even if they are identified by different labels.
At RT, those authors on panels, that have events and parties… they are FEATURED AUTHORS.
At the RAW event, it’s the authors promoted on the publicly posted list.
At RomCon, it’s the authors that, again, do the parties and the events.
EC’s RomantiCon? It’s the authors that are slated to do events, workshops and parties.
Lori Foster weekend? The official list is put up of “Attending” authors. Even Lori Foster's event explains that the list is not generated by favoritism, but by those who have attended all or most past events, contributed largely to the event, or are part of the attendees “Most wanted” authors – meaning the readers have requested them.
Authors After Dark is no different, simply referring to the authors on panels and doing events with an official label of FEATURED AUTHORS.
THIS HAPPENS AT EVERY CON.
At no time anywhere at any of these (that I am aware of but correct me if I’m wrong) are just attending authors not allowed to promote their work or books. AAD is NO DIFFERENT. Those attendees not on the Featured Author list who are authors will have have plenty of opportunity to network, talk up their books, hand out swag during those conversations and Meet Readers.
AAD is just upfront about it. We try to be fair, and wish we could have everyone be a FA, but from year to year, space changes and as AAD’s focus is the readers, we have to change the author acceptance to fit our space allotment.
(And just an FYI, Savannah will have an author cap of 100 authors for the Featured Author spot because the space we have allows for it.)
AAD is the ONLY con that offers the spots to everyone that registers as an author. Everyone gets the same email about being a featured author (Until we close the acceptance because we have hit our cap.Yes, AAD is upfront with what we want for the con because it does nobody any favors to not be concise and honest about what we expect from the authors we have as Featured. Again, ALL CONS ARE LIKE THIS. For AAD, we ask for things that HELP YOUR CAREER --- good promo, books from your publishers, participation in events that keep your name in the forefront of the reader’s minds.
II. Why don’t you take Paper promo? The reason we don’t take paper promo is in Philadelphia (2010) we threw away 9 bags of garbage that was ALL paper promo, one entire bag was “trading cards.” Attendees were taking the paper out of their bags and not even looking at it and tossing it in the trash. So, in a bid to help your wallet and the environment, we have limited the paper promo.
Yes, I know it’s cheaper and YES I know it’s easier to get that stuff when you are not getting huge royalty checks--- but I also know that if you plan correctly you can have a LOT of good promo and not spend an arm and a leg. It takes a little diligence on your part, but it is possible.
III. The issue with hotel rooms
AAD’s NOLA hotel has MORE singles then doubles. They did not tell us this when we signed the contract and ASSUMED (and you know what happens when you assume) that since it was a romance con (IE; they thought Dating and such) that Singles would be fine. When it was straightened out, they gave us EVERY DOUBLE IN THE HOTEL. Their room availability is NOT AAD’s fault and we have been working hard to make sure we get all 400 attendees in the hotel.
Some people were upset that they had to switch rooms. Please note that we ASKED you to, but that didn’t mean you had to. To those of you that did, THANK YOU, because you helped us get this sticky situation rectified.
Because of the issues this year with room options, we made sure that Savannah has MORE doubles (which they do: 85% of the rooms in the hotel are doubles) and the suites are open to our use and EXTREMELY cheap. Those of you that have moved your rooms this year without issue, we have some cool options for you for next year if you attend so be sure to contact us about it.
It saddens me that we have to talk about this yet again… all this information is actually in the FAQ’s in some fashion, and I hope that seeing it explained further will quell any issues you may have had with this. I know I can’t please everyone. If these answers aren’t satisfactory enough for you, then, well, you will be missed at the con.
Why #AADNOLA doesnt work with cover models (comments welcome)
06 February 2012 07:44:00
Authors After Dark has been challenged recently about the policy on no cover models. I figured I would enlighten everyone on why I have chosen this, including my reasons and stipulations.
AAD is about the readers getting to know the authors they love, talking about the books the author writes and getting immersed in the characters, the writing and the stories.
AAD is also a nonprofit convention and we work to keep it cheap so that readers don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to meet the authors they love and still have money to buy books… the one thing that brings us together. And everyone (including myself) pays to attend this convention. AAD doesn’t make money off it, so comped registrations (for contests or auctions) are paid BY ME out of POCKET. Agents, editors, publishers, authors, readers, everyone pays the same price and I focus on their feedback. Author feedback to AAD indicates that many feel cover models detract from their time with the readers. They are paying for the privilege they deserve the spotlight.
Reader feedback to AAD indicates that they love the programing and the atmosphere of AAD, their main priority being to spend time with their favorite authors.
Cover models take away from that. Now you don’t have to agree with me, but that is how I feel. Cover models are what’s on the front of your favorite book, not what is inside, and often times don't match the actual characters in the book. At AAD, we focus on the words inside, because really that’s what we are selling, our WORK. Of course, a good cover attracts new readers to purchase, but it's the story that stays with a reader.
With so many conventions rocking the cover model thing, AAD doesn’t have to, and I prefer not to. Safety and comfort are first on my list when it comes to my attendees. After seeing first hand at other cons the inappropriate behavior that can result, I decided it wasn’t what I wanted at AAD, and both authors and publishers have respected it. Readers have appreciated that the focus stays on their opportunities to get to know their favorite authors.
AAD’s programming and focus isn’t developed with Cover Models in mind. Programming is and has always been spotlighting the author and their work, not the pretty candy on the cover. Often times, authors have little or no say in the actual cover art and the cover model has never read the book. Instead, AAD does include programming featuring cover artists so readers can talk to the artist about how they designed the covers with the author's work in mind.
AAD has fast become a con readers want to attend because of its programming and price, if there has been a contingent of readers that go to see the cover models, they visit different conventions.
While this might seem harsh, it has worked for us the past three years, going on #4 and beyond with our attendance growing from 50 to the need to cap registration at 400 attendees. Publishers that work with cover models respect our policies and most authors do as well (and if they don’t, well they just don’t attend.) AAD is not for everyone, so we aren’t offended if people decide that because of these policies they will not attend. Its nothing personal to the models, but in this industry the spotlight should always be on the author when it comes to the reader, because without the author, those models wouldn’t have a place to show their talents.
For anyone that writes Steampunk...(not #AADNOLA releated)
05 February 2012 09:36:00
Hey everyone!
Steampunk's worlds Fair is coming up in May in NJ and I'm helping with some of the insanity that is the goodies, events and panels. So the staff is doing a HUGE absinthe thing, and Authors attending, will be there in force LOL. We have decided to do Green frosted bags for the event, and hopefully fill them with goodies, promo and maybe books.
So Since you guys pretty much all write Steampunk, I'm asking you to help me help YOU by getting your promo into the hands of people who LOVE the genre. We are going to do 100 bags, filled with swag, and probably if we can swing it, 3-5 gift baskets to win while at the event.
If you would like to send anything, I would be grateful! If your interested, PLEASE let me know ASAP so I can send you my addy to get it to me. we will take anything, from bookmarks to flyers to awesome promo to books!
Thanks guys!
Stella
Please welcome to #AADNOLA's staff...
04 February 2012 05:25:00
Carolline Greene!
Carolline will be running out PR, and online social media (including the twitter and posting here on this blog when we get overly busy!) and will be handling all the press for the event from NOLA.
So Say Hi, and good luck (cuz she is so going to need it... LOL!)
#AADNOLA room availability updates!
03 February 2012 15:46:00
We are close to closing everything down people! OMG and its only feb!
As of today, we have:
8/5: 2 rooms available
8/6: 4 rooms available
8/7: 2 rooms available
8/8: 10 rooms available
8/9: 12 rooms available
8/10: 12 rooms available
8/11: 13 rooms available
8/12: 27 rooms Available
8/13: 14 rooms available
So... Get your tookus in gear if you wanna come (and if you register and cant get the days you want, EMAIL ME ASAP! I cant promise anything but the eariler you register the better choices you have!)
Also, all rooms are KING ONLY!
So thats it guys!
S
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