ARTIST ALLEY VLOG 🐰 Stressed Out at WonderCon!

[@kelsmister]

Fellow wondercon artist here! I got hit by another rule! They said my backdrop was too tall! I have the smallest backdrop you can get on Amazon - it barely goes to 7 feet tops. But they said the max was 6 feet! And taped to my booth Thursday night the rules with that paragraph circled. And when I lowered the staffer in question came by making a comment saying “oh you complied-“ so it seems it may have been one over zealous newbie.

[@LeSpiritDesigns]

Omgggg I heard about that one too! But I also heard that it just depends on what kind of staff you get checking your table. It’s so silly

[@Catluvr543]

When you said the reason why you left your previous job to pursue this full time, that really resonated with me. Thanks for being vulnerable and making this video

[@LeSpiritDesigns]

🥰🥰🥰

[@totallyreena]

I went to wondercon last year and my favorite part was the artist alley. It made me want to table at an artist alley for a con when I get my own business up and running so seeing these vids is very educational and helpful. Also your merch is adorable 🫶

[@LeSpiritDesigns]

Thank you!

[@ChantelleArts]

Thank you for taking us with you, your hair is *AMAZING* ☺☺

[@LeSpiritDesigns]

Thank you!!

[@kelsiekishidraws]

YOUR SPACE BUN AND BANGS LOOK IS LITERALLY PERFECT 🤩 it’s giving brunette Sailor Moon 🌙

[@LeSpiritDesigns]

HEHEHEHEHEE 💖

[@LionAroundSewing]

Your hair is so cute in this vlog, but I especially love it on day 3! I 100% agree that backdrops are more dangerous than wide grids! I’ve seen so many fall and can’t think of one time the wire grids have fallen except during set up time because those things are the worst to assemble 😂

[@LeSpiritDesigns]

Backdrops are a hazard for sure!! But I’m not against them by any means. I just don’t understand the things they choose to nitpick

[@1ivingdeadgr189]

I love that you do originals!! I get so bored of just seeing chibi fan art everywhere

[@LeSpiritDesigns]

Thanks! I personally still love fan merch, but I wanted to build my brand on my own characters so I don’t have to worry about IP issues!

[@BAESDart]

I missed you! It was my first year tabling there but I think I’ll give it one more try. It sucked because they made me take my display down too. All my Neighbors as well. At the end of Friday, everyone ended up putting their displays back up lol. I feel like it made me lose sales because I couldn’t display everything but next year, I hope they fix this issue.

[@LeSpiritDesigns]

Aaaaahhhh I hope we cross paths again soon!! I had no idea you were there either 😭😭😭 sorry they hit you with the dumb rule!

[@MangaNinja27]

Okay but that clips of "that’s a safety hazard” was such a perfect reaction 🤣 The con was def something else, we signed up for next year but my expectations won’t be high 😆 I will say I did like the wall facing area, normally I am iffy about them but they worked really nicely there.

[@LeSpiritDesigns]

I still kind of want to sign up again for science 👀 Ryan says it’s hard to turn down the money!

[@Mualcaina]

It's weird they don't allow grid cubes to connect in the middle, not sure how that makes sense even with their reasoning? 🤨 I'm sorry you had to deal with all of the unnecessary frustration during con weekend

[@LeSpiritDesigns]

It was the worsttttt and for nothing! Their logic made absolutely no sense

[@jimtalks_4_ever297]

OMG, the whole grid cube thing is such BS, I hate those made-up-on-the-spot rules because whatever volunteer staff on the safety committee thought it was a good idea that year. We were vending at a convention last year and were told by staff that battery packs were not allowed because of fire safety. But as you said it was never put into the exhibitor's terms and conditions. And much like your experience, there were loads of people using them all weekend, to power their display or whatever. My best guess as to why you were not told to rebuild your display, is that your canopy/awning covered the connecting grids. Much like the other vendors with a battery pack, many would bring them in daily or just put them under their tables so staff never saw them. Out of sight out of mind, but that leads to another problem, the whole pick-and-choose BS on Staff enforcement. If you have rulers they have to apply to everyone or it does not apply at all, I vend at other conventions where the terms and conditions, said no going outside the set vendor booth, or you can not hang anything on the curtained backdrop, everyone did it anyways, and Staff never enforced any of it. My favorite unenforced rule was, no prop/airsoft guns, swords, or knives, no free hugs signs, and all weekend I saw attendees with all those things. Again why have it if you are not going to enforce it?

[@LeSpiritDesigns]

Exactlyyyy 😭😭😭😭 it’s so dumb!

[@thecloverartist]

Omg your inventory sheet is so great I am going to make my own version!

[@LeSpiritDesigns]

It’s such a game changer!!

[@elisamilan]

This video was very well edited! ✨

[@LeSpiritDesigns]

Thanks!!

[@markherman1211]

The grid-cube restrictions are 100% reasonable. Too many folks get hella carried away with building an 8ft wall that obstructs their neighbors, who've ALSO paid for a table. This applies double for Kawaii Drop-shippers.

[@LeSpiritDesigns]

What the hell does that even mean??

[@markherman1211]

@LeSpiritDesigns My main point...obstructive monstrosity/sketchy booth builds are disrespectful to other vendors; and a potential hazard to everyone around them. It's perfectly reasonable to enforce this. Double for Kawaii Drop Shippers...refers to the common practice of overloading already unstable grid cubes, with 120lbs of jangly plastic and Ita bags...(that you ordered from a company). *If you feel as if the comment was directed towards you, it wasn't. I'm merely stating what I believe is a valid opinion from over a decade of experience, both professional and recreational, at conventions.

[@nix_cosplay]

@@markherman1211 the connected part isnt the problem here though

[@markherman1211]

@nix_cosplay I never referred to anything being "connected". Can you please elaborate?

[@FeywildHaven]

When watching your snippet on IG I also thought about how they really should just jury it if they're going to try and enforce rules around those grid displays. You're totally right, it's unfair to those accepted into the AA to have to make drastic display adjustments so last minute, and for only a few individuals to have it required of them is so weird??? And TOTALLY uncool. And to think you were even up all night with anxiety surrounding this... That's just horrible on their part, and I know I'd be so miserable with all that anxiety EVERY DAY THERE worrying about whether the staff nearby were there to linger or there to tell me to mess with my display when they should've given notice of requirements in advance. You mentioned this is your third time vending there? It sucks that this seems to be a pattern for them (extremely last minute rule changes and implementations) and I hope that they really start fixing things up for next year. I'm sorry to hear this con was so turbulent, but I'm glad that it did end up being fairly profitable for you!!! I'm excited to see your shop update vlogs and goodies hehe!

[@LeSpiritDesigns]

And the fact that every con after this has felt so chill in comparison LOL

[@ChoasIncarnate_]

I feel like youre more the justified to be upset, not giving you a heads up about the grids i feel like is a huge deal, you all spend so much time making sure your set up is perfect and secure and then being told last minute it needs to be changed as you're setting up is actually insane! But on another note your hair looks so good at the end like super cute!

[@LeSpiritDesigns]

Thank you!!

[@thinkerdreamersketcherspy]

I think it's fair to 'be negative' about stuff like that. Con days can be extremely exhausting & stressful even when you're prepared. There's no need for extra worry. On the other hand, I understand the organizers raising safety concerns. There could be truth to connected displays being a hazard IF the setup is poorly planned/balanced. But in those cases they should go to the vendor and say "hey, your display has issues, here's how to fix it, can you do it?" instead of having a rumour mill going. Rules should be clear and apply to everyone, and if something important raises on the day of, there needs to be clear communication from the organizers. Sounds like they failed. I think poor organizing/communication is a valid reason not to return! But seeing it is a good show otherwise, definitely takes some consideration.

[@LeSpiritDesigns]

I definitely think it may have been a situational thing, like only talking to people who looked like a strong breeze might cause a problem? But I do know a couple people who have solid displays who got talked too, so who can say 😭

[@KraftyKayCreations]

The middle grid rule seems like such a grey line.

[@venusmuva]

Greetings from Central California! :) I think I went to this when it was DesignerCon? So happy to see you go to a Korean BBQ while in Anaheim! I keeled over at: "I'm bringing a Pancho!" "not you!" I had to comment at that point. Thanks for taking us along! 🤣

[@LeSpiritDesigns]

Hahah thank you!!

[@jessiew8021]

I love your display so much. Do you think staff didnt talk to you because your setup looks more like a building? I dont know how to explain it, but maybe staff didnt know that they were connected in the middle since it has a design over it and doesnt just look like cubes? It is weird though, inconsistent rules and poor communication is never a good thing

[@LeSpiritDesigns]

That was my theory too! Like if you looked closely it was obviously grids, but maybe the facade threw them off

[@allycatx-]

Thank you for another vlog! I feel you are justified about the grid cubes since it is uneasy to feel last-minute changes in the booth setup. My sister stopped by your booth to get me some goodies. She got me the con exclusive sticker and I got Periwinkle for the blind bag keychain :)

[@LeSpiritDesigns]

I’m so glad you were able to grab it!!

[@PJElroy]

Could you link to artists who did have the sudden change in setup rules applied to them? Its kinda a focal point of your video, and your reasoning behind maybe not doing this event again, but it's not your experience and you mention a few times that it was a profitable event for you. It would be more telling to hear from those artists, and it would be cool to platform them since their sales may have been impacted.

[@LeSpiritDesigns]

I don’t have them linked because I don’t have permission from them to speak for them, but some have chimed in the comments section here!

[@studiopikel]

It's so bizarre that they came up with this rule last second. Also what situation does this happen? Did it happen during this show? Your display and other similar setups are darn well made. Sorry that the situation stressed you out and I hope that they get some feedback so they don't try to pull this on ya'll again.

[@LeSpiritDesigns]

I honestly have no idea! It wasn’t an issue in years past, but there were def some booths with the middle connecting grids that was suspiciously assembled and they kept it all weekend, so who knows!! 🤡