Kimberly Dunaway Art

Ok so I promised a run down of the show this past weekend. I will honestly say that I will never be a vendor at Fandom Fest ever again! I want to start this from the beginning so you understand why I am so livid about this mess of a show. Its a long read but if you want to follow the story here it is....other wise you can just skip down to where it says show begins.
THE BEGINNING:
First off I first contacted the show via email back in April first part of May after being approached at Lexington Comic Con by one of their programing directors. I threw out a letter that I was interested in a table as I do for all conventions as sometimes I get comp tables for the work I have done and for my Cosplay. Nothing back. No big deal so I went on to facebook and got a volunteer named Michelle who said they were not comping any tables and to purchase the table but they would promote me once table was secured.
Here is that message:
"The artist table prices are on the website. We can add more publicity for you by putting you up as a cosplayer as well. Please let us know how we can assist you after you secure your table."

I go to the website and TRIED to Purchase a table, but I guess due to a server issue or something with my computer I kept getting an error at checkout. Instead of possibly getting charged numerous times I stopped and tried searching for a number or someway to directly contact them instead of just by email that was listed on the site...because I don't deal in just email. Nothing! No phone number listed anywhere. So back to an email and nothing so I gave up. But then back in late May/June I decided to try again but still no phone number no answer to any email. So I took back to Facebook and twitter. Let me just say what ensued next was complete rudeness and unprofessionalism. I should have run then.
So I go back to the website after a friend said that they had added a note saying they were close to selling out so I go and again no phone number just a message saying they were getting close to selling out of tables and to email for availability. So again I do......again no answer. So back to facebook and I message:
"I emailed the email address given on the website to see if there were any artists tables still available since the site says it is close to sell out. Can you tell me if there is still a table open?"
I am told we are sold out.
Ok I can live with that but when I have tried to purchase a table over and over and tried to contact them over and over .....I am not so I message back:
"Michelle thank you for contacting me back. I have to say I am a bit unhappy to hear this after I tried to use the website to purchase the table and got an error then tried to email and contact and got no response. I really wish you guys would have also listed a contact number for issues such as this."
Fandom Fest:
"We have been sold out for 10 days. The list is for our waiting list. We are a LARGE convention with over 300 emails to answer everyday. We have a phone number. Unfortunately having one available 2 months from the show brings in questions that are already answered on the site. The message you saw placed on the site is for vendors who want to be listed on our waiting list. As of right now we have a huge list because of our national reputation. If you are interested in being involved with our event next year. Look for our 2014 Vendor application. We will have it up before the start of this years show."
( I have been trying to get through since APRIL!!!!! and the page never said waiting list....it said to purchase a table. And national rep? I had never heard of the show until they came to me.)
I am not going to continue posting the back and forth but lets just say she thought she was going to put me in my place and she failed. It was then forwarded to their head Guy Ken Daniels. His message back was polite and that he was sorry for the volunteer who spoke out of line and that we would have a phone call to resolve the matter and get me fit into the show. Now I think we are going somewhere and boy did we.
We finally talk....well he does and immediately starts in on how big this show is and how its comparable to Comic Con and Dragon Con.....and here is where it gets good...... He says the phrase " Let me explain to you how these shows work"...... yes please do.
He basically goes into telling me that promotors talk and that if I cross one the wrong way with my unprofessional behavior I could in no uncertain terms be ousted in the convention scene. Get that? Basically being told he could make me or break me..... I then stopped him right there and said I understand exactly how shows work and he should speak to my husband who also manages my business dealings because I was either about to say something of anger or I was going to come through the phone.
Thom gets on the phone and the conversation is a bit of a different tone although he tried to one up hubby over and over. He basically told Thom that a posting I made on my Facebook was very rude about him....I did not say anything rude I said in general that promoters should at least have a phone number listed on their sites for conventions so if things happen a person can contact them.
(That is not rude...its the truth. If you are going to run a business then treat it like a business)
At any point he was made to realize I am free to give my opinion and it was not directly put at him as there were several shows that do the same thing. But the attitude of the volunteer was unprofessional and I deserved the same treatment as I gave to them which was professional. He then agreed and would get me a table invoice.
Finally got an invoice and via PayPal paid the 300.00 fee for a table in the Cascade Ballroom where there would be a couple of photo op booths and a couple of celebs. Cool.

THE SHOW BEGINS!
Friday:
So we get a vendor packet that states load in for our section wouldn't be until 3 even though we were told 2 in another email from Ken. No biggie that gives me time . ***Would have been nice to have a time change noted on the paper as in the fact that they were Eastern Time. So it put me at going to be late by 45 min in getting there due to traffic. I wouldn't have had an issue except the packet saying they were only giving a two hr window for EVERYONE to load in on that dock! How is that possible and if you weren't there in that window you forfeited your table..... Ummmmm that was never in any kind of writing when I bought the table as the vendor packet wasn't sent until 8 days before the show. So I begin searching for a number in the paperwork....there isn't one. Again! Just an email and it says it wont get a response unless its an emergency or important....it was important.....and what reply did I get???? a form letter that had nothing to do with the vendors even though it was meant for vendors. This letter says...."get your tickets now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So I get there and the dock they send you to in the packet is the wrong one...... Its on the other side.... So Thom drives around while I search for where I am supposed to go....No one can tell me where vendor registration is. The nicest security member takes me downstairs to registration to find someone but no one there has a clue or can get anyone on the radio. One registration worker told the volunteer who was helping me I was out of luck. Registration for vendors was over and that was it. Uh No. They find me someone who searches on a list for me and finds it but has no badges just wrist bands for us. We go to my table area I was told to promote myself at and ..... the table is gone. So I have to quickly find a spot. Only one is the front row across from Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flannery. Sure I have no problem with that since I have Walking Dead Art.
We get loaded in and set up and see that they have Sean there but no Norman........That's right Sean Clark had tweeted that Norman would not be there Friday due to rehearsals for the show. Fandom Fest failed to tell people that and guests were getting angry. Several people asked me where he was and lucky I knew that myself.... I felt bad for them.
The rest of the night was wayyyyyyy slow. One sale. There until 10.

Saturday: THE CHAOS BEGINS!!!!!!!
We get up and dressed (Cosplay day of Black Cat) and head to the convention. I was met with a bit of trouble due to no vendor badge getting in to set up. Had to explain to them why and was told to get a badge which would be great if I knew where to get one! Set up and then Bam it starts. Norman arrives. I am used to the chaos that follows him with the popularity of his character on Walking Dead and know that you have to have precise planning for crowds or it will get nuts.... But being that I was dealing with a promoter of this one's stature I should have nothing to fear right.....wrong.
No volunteer knew what lines they were helping.... No one knew where things were, or when photo ops where, Registration was a wait and a half from what I was told even for Advanced Purchase tickets and VIP's and most people didn't get the extra goodies that went with their purchases.
The Norman line was horrible wrapped through the room and out the building....people cutting line....people waiting since 5 am and it was 2:00 by now. This is when crap hits the fan.
They have so many people waiting in lines for photo ops and for Norman that it overloads the room. They then schedule Norman for get this a 3 and a half hour photo op during all this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! People who are waiting immediately start sitting and camping out....photo op people do to.....and now there is at least a 200 - 500 person line forming in front of our table down the isle and out the door to Pick Up pictures from the photo ops. The fire marshal shuts the room down for capacity.
During all this Thom goes to the restroom only to step back to the room...and is DENIED entry! He is standing there having to argue with a volunteer that he was looking right at my table and needed to get back to help me! They wouldn't let him in....He finally got back in madder than hell. No reason to because the vendor area was dead. No traffic at all because everyone in the room was there for lines and wouldn't step out in fear of loosing their place. ( this happened to someone with a small child who had been waiting for over 8 hours for Norman. Child had to go to restroom, she took it only to be denied entrance back into the room for her place in line!!!!!!!!)
Norman finally gets done after they start chanting for him and things somewhat begin moving again. I begin hearing all the crap going on with people being turned away, being told they could get a ticket for Sunday if they purchased a three day pass.... and that even the celebs were being blamed for screw-ups. People were missing their photo ops and being told oh well. No signs anywhere. Colin Baker (Dr Who 6) had been tweeting about being left in his hotel room with no schedule or anyone to get him. John Barowman was telling people who missed photo ops to demand their money back. People who bought advanced tickets were being turned away...and vendors were baron due to lines everywhere. Come 7 pm when we are supposed to be closed.....nope the 200 person photo pick up line in front of the table is still there. We along with several other vendors on that row stay to watch our stuff. Finally at our request security moves the mass out into the hall. Their printer was down....
Some people were told they would be able to get their pics via email....for 10.00 more than they paid. Others were told the pics would be ready to pick up....TWO WEEKS LATER FROM THE SHOW!!!!!!
I changed clothes there and headed out to get food, constantly being asked about events going on for the show...apparently there were three different schedules floating around the show and no updates via the website or Facebook or twitter from the show as promised for cancellations. The body art show got cancelled, parties planned were pitiful and closed down early......people were mad!

SUNDAY last day!
It was not as crowded as they had said it would be, prob because people were mad and fed up. Norman's line went better and they moved the photo op groups out into the hall. But from what I was told from people they were only allowing VIP people into the room to shop.....you mean not allowing all the traffic we should have had into the room. I was furious. Other vendors and artists were mad and a good majority of us will not be coming back to this show. Many are contesting their table fees including myself for the issues and not getting what we paid for as a vendor. It is not our fault for the disorganization of someone who bit off more than he could chew. I knew that once I talked to him.... and let me just say. Karma is a bitch isn't it? Act all high and mighty and this is what happens. Tell people you can make or break them or you will spread lies and this is what you get.
After all the horror stories I had heard about the shows in the past years of it going I am hoping this is the last we hear of this show. I hope that it has made enough people mad that they don't return. Its no where near being about the fans...It was about lining someone's pocket and that is it. AND GET THIS THEY TOLD FANS NOT TO TALK TO SOCIAL MEDIA OR BLOGS OR MEDIA ABOUT ANYTHING NEGATIVE! Sorry that is my first amendment right to speak about this .....and yes KEN we vendors and celebs and artists....AND FANS talk and what we say can make or break a convention.....but I think you did a bang up job of doing that yourself.

I will NEVER return to this debacle of a show again as it was the most shady CON of a CON I have ever seen and now after hearing about one of the panels calling women whores and the other content of that panel and it being allowed by moderators....I never want to have my name attached to something like that. Its trashy and I have way more class than that.