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Why would I want to encourage other dealers to join the All-Con Dealer’s Room? That is the question I suspect many convention dealers themselves when I approach them on behalf of All-Con 2006. What could possibly compel a dealer to seek out his own competition? Simply put, I want to see this convention thrive.
We are fortunate in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to have a richly diverse convention scene. There are at least ten different convention promoters (some with more than one show per year) with shows slated to occur in the DFW area between November 2005 and October 2006! Compare that to the number of such attractions in other major Texas cities like Austin and Houston. It is of little wonder that these shows bring in attendees from all over the state and indeed neighboring states as well. It is only through the active support of these conventions that such a concentration of conventions will remain and grow. In the wake of the Dallas Fantasy Fair’s decline some years ago there was a void in the local convention scene that prevailed for some time. We have begun to see a resurgence in the volume of conventions and shows in the last few years that is unprecedented. Con-goers alone, however, cannot sustain this.
Representatives of All-Con 2005 approached me in 2004 to purchase table space in their Dealer’s Room. I jumped at the opportunity to be part of another local convention and signed up for two tables on the spot. Those who know me (and A Piece of the Action Collectibles) are familiar with my fondness for the convention scene. As the months passed I kept tabs on their website, watching the guest list grow and being particularly excited to see a convention with so many activities was in the works. This harkened back to the convention experiences of my youth, as both an attendee and (infrequently) as an awkward teenaged dealer, pooling resources with friends to buy a table. I have been something of a fixture in the DFW convention scene for 24 years now.
It is widely known that by the weekend of All-Con 2005 A Piece of the Action Collectibles became, by default, the sole dealer at the inaugural show. While this unique status has some advantages, it was by no means an assurance of success. In the end we passed a successful weekend and had the most fun we’ve had at a convention in years. The staff and volunteers of All-Con were every bit as friendly and accommodating as those of the best shows I’ve ever attended. This three-day convention has a little something for everyone and attracts a diverse crowd! In 2006 we would like to see more of our convention colleagues in the Dealer’s Room and as part of the show. Check out the Vendor link on the All-Con 2006 website to see exactly how much a part of the show your presence in the dealer’s room will become!
I am writing this letter to give the perspective of the one dealer who was actually there when All-Con started. The seed has been planted and I want to encourage others to be among those who can say “I was there when” as it continues to grow. I have enjoyed being part of the Sci-Fi Expo as it grew from a humble dealer’s room to a full-fledged convention in association with the Dallas ComiCon. I look forward to watching this convention grow as well.
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