Figure 1. Galactic Cantina Drunk Bus - 2015
A few months ago, we at KWF got together for a few beers and decided to throw a fundraiser event during this year's Con. Drawing inspiration from past party events like the "Galactic Cantina Drunk Bus," (see Figure 1 above) we focus-fired our significant brainstorming weaponry in an attempt to monetize the convergence of booze, food, cosplay, art auctions, sci-fi book signings, and lightsaber combat. The result was an exquisitely crafted fundraising machine that, when analyzed by one of my close friends, a serial dot-com entrepreneur and business expert, resulted the following assessment of our likely return on investment:
"I think you guys are screwed."
But it's going to be great fun. Admission is free, with food and drink available for purchase. You should go buy a ticket, right now.
Join us at Comickaze Liberty Station, anytime 6pm - 9pm, on Wednesday, July 20th. Escape the Con crowds, or join in the fun if you didn't get a Con badge! Stop by on your way to HopCon, which is just across the way!
Help us not get screwed!
"I think you guys are screwed."
But it's going to be great fun. Admission is free, with food and drink available for purchase. You should go buy a ticket, right now.
Join us at Comickaze Liberty Station, anytime 6pm - 9pm, on Wednesday, July 20th. Escape the Con crowds, or join in the fun if you didn't get a Con badge! Stop by on your way to HopCon, which is just across the way!
Help us not get screwed!
Comickaze's Liberty Station storefront So a few words about our finely tuned planning process, and how it got us to a point where, less than a week out from the event, we're virtually guaranteed to raise somewhere between zero and seat-cushion spare change levels of cash. It certainly wasn't from a lack of community support. Our friends at Comickaze were kind enough to offer an excellent outdoor venue just outside their storefront at Liberty Station. It's a fantastic space that they've used in the past to host everything from author / artist signings to art shows to collectibles trading parties to "drink and draw" workshops to movie showings and everything in between.
With such an excellent venue secured, we knew we'd have plenty of space to attend to all our critical needs. With that in mind, we began to lay out the highly strategic steps in our battle plan.
With such an excellent venue secured, we knew we'd have plenty of space to attend to all our critical needs. With that in mind, we began to lay out the highly strategic steps in our battle plan.
STEP 1: We must not die of starvation or thirst during the event.
With some fantastic follow-on donations from Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery and the guys and gals at Port Brewing Company, we were ready to offer up some first-class beer for a truly San Diegan happy hour craft beer experience. And to clear the palate between pints, what could be better than an assortment of carne asada, pollo asado, and al pastor street tacos with all the trimmings catered by Mexico City Cuisine.
With some fantastic follow-on donations from Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery and the guys and gals at Port Brewing Company, we were ready to offer up some first-class beer for a truly San Diegan happy hour craft beer experience. And to clear the palate between pints, what could be better than an assortment of carne asada, pollo asado, and al pastor street tacos with all the trimmings catered by Mexico City Cuisine.
STEP 2: There must be an opportunity to walk away from the event with cool stuff.
We've been sitting on a war chest of choice, limited-edition posters donated by our friends and exhibitor floor neighbors at Mondo, which we knew had a great chance of drawing interest as collectible art at a silent auction. With booze and food in hand, we then imagined that we'd enter bids for that Mondo TMNT poster. This would happen right after Kevin Eastman walked across the quad from IDW Publishing to sign it. (It's super close, just a shuriken throw away... c'mon, we can hope).
We've been sitting on a war chest of choice, limited-edition posters donated by our friends and exhibitor floor neighbors at Mondo, which we knew had a great chance of drawing interest as collectible art at a silent auction. With booze and food in hand, we then imagined that we'd enter bids for that Mondo TMNT poster. This would happen right after Kevin Eastman walked across the quad from IDW Publishing to sign it. (It's super close, just a shuriken throw away... c'mon, we can hope).
STEP 3: We must have other nerds around with which to engage in conversation and techno-babble.
Then, we figured, it might be a nice time to mix and mingle for some interesting conversation. Let's talk about sci-fi books, how about that? Even better, how about we talk about sci-fi books with the authors of sci-fi books? And with the help of the ever-connected Patrick at Comickaze, we were able to confirm visits and book signings for Peter Clines (The Fold), Jonathan Maberry (The Orphan Army), Peter Orullian (Trial of Intentions), V.E. Victoria Schwab (A Gathering of Shadows), Scott Sigler (Alight), Greg Van Eekhout (Dragon Coast), and, most especially, esteemed friend of KWF Jason M. Hough (Zero World).
Then, we figured, it might be a nice time to mix and mingle for some interesting conversation. Let's talk about sci-fi books, how about that? Even better, how about we talk about sci-fi books with the authors of sci-fi books? And with the help of the ever-connected Patrick at Comickaze, we were able to confirm visits and book signings for Peter Clines (The Fold), Jonathan Maberry (The Orphan Army), Peter Orullian (Trial of Intentions), V.E. Victoria Schwab (A Gathering of Shadows), Scott Sigler (Alight), Greg Van Eekhout (Dragon Coast), and, most especially, esteemed friend of KWF Jason M. Hough (Zero World).
STEP 4: Bread and circuses.
And finally, the spectacle. Cosplay, including an appearance by HushyFoxx and photo-ops provided by StopGo Photography. Phat beatz from our DJ friends Samazon and Niko. And lightsabers. Not the usual costumed posing stuff or choreography. We're talking about a full contact, full speed lightsaber tournament, held by SD Sabers and their Shatterpoint competitive team, renowned in the local underground lightsaber combat scene.
And finally, the spectacle. Cosplay, including an appearance by HushyFoxx and photo-ops provided by StopGo Photography. Phat beatz from our DJ friends Samazon and Niko. And lightsabers. Not the usual costumed posing stuff or choreography. We're talking about a full contact, full speed lightsaber tournament, held by SD Sabers and their Shatterpoint competitive team, renowned in the local underground lightsaber combat scene.
STEP 5: Profit???
So yeah, back to the expert assessment of our financials. As it turns out, guaranteeing free general admission, keeping food and drink ticket costs low, getting first rate food, securing insurance and permits, all while keeping a friendly, grass-roots feel doesn't yield a cash cow event. Remember-- Our most likely return on investment is, "You're screwed."
But we're building something for fans, by fans, something that gives back to the community, especially those who might not be able to afford Con or who didn't win this year's badge lottery. We might lose our shirts, but we'll learn a lot for how to throw a bigger, faster, stronger, better event next year.
In the meantime, we have an awesome event NEXT WEEK! Admission is FREE! But, food and drink at the are limited and you should buy a ticket. Actually, you should buy two tickets.
Regardless of our ROI, one thing is assured: It's going to be great fun. We'll see you there, in costume, with our favorite beverages, tacos, lightsabers, blasters, and phasers in hand!
So yeah, back to the expert assessment of our financials. As it turns out, guaranteeing free general admission, keeping food and drink ticket costs low, getting first rate food, securing insurance and permits, all while keeping a friendly, grass-roots feel doesn't yield a cash cow event. Remember-- Our most likely return on investment is, "You're screwed."
But we're building something for fans, by fans, something that gives back to the community, especially those who might not be able to afford Con or who didn't win this year's badge lottery. We might lose our shirts, but we'll learn a lot for how to throw a bigger, faster, stronger, better event next year.
In the meantime, we have an awesome event NEXT WEEK! Admission is FREE! But, food and drink at the are limited and you should buy a ticket. Actually, you should buy two tickets.
Regardless of our ROI, one thing is assured: It's going to be great fun. We'll see you there, in costume, with our favorite beverages, tacos, lightsabers, blasters, and phasers in hand!
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