Before and After: What it takes to Setup A Gaming Convention Booth

Over the years, I have set up and sold items at a variety of different video gaming conventions. From SEGE, the Illinois Game Con, Utah Retro Game Swap, and more, it takes a lot to get up and running for a show. In 2024, I was blessed to be invited to attend CORGs Con for the very first time. I was excited as this was the first time I had been to the event, plus I knew I'd be able to see my good friends ‪@SquarePegs‬ and ‪@GameDadShow‬. Even though I try to plan each and every event out, it always reminds me how much it takes to get prepped and set up for a show. Let's take a closer look at the before and after nd what it actually takes to setup a gaming convention booth.
I arrived in Ohio on Friday after taking a day off of work. once I arrived, I started unloading my car and getting everything into position in the booth. One of the unique things about this event is the first time I brought a 3D printer with me to print on-site. Aactually I did not bring one but two printers with me. I also brought a ton of my 3D printed materials that I already had premade, including several new lights that I have designed. This included a new Xbox sign, Roblox, Super Mario Power mushrooms, Super Mario 1Up mushrooms, and new PlayStation signs.
I arrived at the venue around 6:00 in the evening, and from here began to get set up. Between 8:30 and 9:00 I decided to head to dinner after getting things somewhat set up in the booth. Upon looking at everything, however, it quickly occurred to me that I had a lot more things that needed pricing than what I expected, and I did not prep nearly enough before I left. we went out to dinner Friday night, and while I had hoped to head back to the hall after dinner it was far too late and I had to address these things in the morning.
I actually arrived at the convention center around 6:00 in the morning, however, the doors did not open until 7:00. We are able to get in a little bit early so I was able to get things set up. One of the things that I like to do is to plug in and have samples in my lights running and keep the extra inventory behind the table. this way things would not look overly cluttered or messy. I also got things priced as I needed, displayed and sorted as I needed, and made a few signs to hang on different areas of the booth to indicate pricing information.
Overall, setting up a booth for a convention is a lot of work. It's a labor of love, something I enjoy doing, but it is quite a bit of work. let me know have you ever gone to a video game convention before, if so what conventions did you go to, and did you go just as an attendee or did you sell?
#CORGSCon
#videogameconvention #swapmeet #gamehunting

[@ToddsNerdCave]

oh man. I wish I knew you were going to be at CORGS. I would have drove up from Cincinnati to meet ya.

[@michaelkellar1]

I would have came through if I saw this in time! Darn!

[@RoXolid]

I've been talking about it for a few weeks now