Dollism Plus US Sep 19-21, 2014, presented by Dollheart, Den of Angels & Mint on Card

The hotel might be able to accept shipments and hold them for you, especially if it's a convention hotel. They should be able to ship things out too (for those who buy too much )

 

PM me if you're from Canada ontario (Hamilton) area and would like drive! I have no car but would love to go! Also to share hotel rates!

 

We were actually trying to keep it to more like trade show hours, rather than anime con hours. We want vendors to be able to enjoy evening events and have time to meet and hang out with friends and colleagues.

The hotel will accept packages for a nominal fee for up to 3 days before the event. That should be a decent window for US vendors. Small non-US vendors might be able to ship to me and I can bring the packages to the venue. I'm going to need to rent/borrow a truck to move the photo staging set to Buffalo anyway, so I will likely have room. (And I have almost-family in Buffalo who can hold boxes for me, since I'll no doubt be bopping between Buffalo and Rochester quite a bit in the weeks leading up to the event.)

We will be putting out a call for volunteers, but we need to see what our current coverage is. If nothing else, I would love to meet some of the Buffalo locals next time I'm in town.

I've had a couple people make the request for an artist alley-like table setup for smaller vendors; at this point, I don't think that this is something that we're looking to do. I'll talk to Dollheart and Mint about it, but I think that they're thinking that function would be better suited to room sales.

 

RookStarFire: Fellow GTA-er here. If you wanna cheapo way to get there, check and see what Megabus offers from Hamilton. From Toronto to Buffalo return, it's $39CAN (plus applicable tax, of course). It's by far the cheapest way to go that I've been able to find departing from the GTA and likely equals what you'd shell out going halfsies on gas with somebody driving to Buffalo.

 

Gahhh the only thing wrong with this is it'll be only a few weeks after I start university I'll have to figure out a way to get from Montreal to Buffalo and back in time for class Oh well I'll figure things out. How could I miss such a cool opportunity??

 

XD I think I'll be carpooling down with friends, since I just like the security of having my own transportation places. I'm so glad this is close to the border. Very excited to see smaller doll artists mixing in with the bigger companies, it hardly happens!

The trade show hours are a huge plus too!!! I know I'm at least there to meet long-time-never-met-before-irl-friends as much as I am there for the dolls!

 

Most conventions I've been a vendor at to sell personally, rather than my day job which is more trade shows, actually frown on room sales. Even the artist alley tables they would charge for but for less money and with more restrictions (no re-selling, only hand made items, smaller tables, no assistants, sometimes by lottery) That way the venue still gets its cut, it's controlled in some way by the venue if there are problems, and sales tax is accounted for.
I'll be waiting to get my dealer info though and hopefully I'd be able to attend!

 

Are hotel rooms open and if they are can someone PLEASE send links or links to register pleaaaase thank you!

 

I don't think the reduced block of rooms is available yet but this is the website to the hotel it is being held at if you want to reserve a room now. buffalo.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html

 

The latest post in the official thread to say anything about the rooms says they hadn't secured the block of rooms yet. I'm certain they will let us all know when we can enter and sign in please

I am hoping I can do this. I loved living in Buffalo for 4 years, and though I'm positive it's changed a wee bit in 20 years I know that there are some epic photo shoot possibilities near at hand! (Not just the obvious, either ).

 

Just want to clarify its 19-21st correct? I need to reqest days off this week and some of the info I'm finding elsewhere says 12-14th.

 

Yes Kitty, there was a mistake and the 12 - 14th was posted initially but it is def the 19 - 21st.

I don't know about anyone else but I went ahead and booked a room in the hotel for that weekend.

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Thank ya. Hopefully I'll be able to get the days off from work. Now to decide who must go with me..too many dolls not enough hands..lol.

 

I think the con would benefit greatly from an artist alley of sorts. There are many doll artists and doll crafters that make fine quality wares but can't afford a table at the price of the Trade Show. I get the impression that Dollheart and co are not happy with the idea of having competition. I think in reality it will be quite the opposite. There are many people, small time artists, that simply will not come to the con if they can't have a table. It would be bad business on their part. They will go to other cons instead. The more artists, the more con attendees, and the more con attendees, the more money Dollheart and the other big brands make.

The artist marketplace could be solely on Friday, or Friday evening, which would serve to whet people's appetite for the big dealers and give small artists the chance to make back some of the price of the con. And there would be no lessening of traffic to the tradeshow rooms on the days the tradeshow is open. It's a win-win situation.

There are so many people I know that make excellent quality dolls, clothes, wigs, etc that were ecstatic at the idea of this convention until they learned the price of the table. They simply can't justify a $550 table. That price of table is for big brand dealers like Dollheart and Mint on Card. DoA and the doll hobby in general thrive on a combination of big and small artists. I believe it would be in keeping with the spirit of DoA to allow a feasible option for artist sales.

 

wow $550 a table...eek. I doubt I'll even have money to shop at the vendors regardless if it will just be high end/higher priced items.

 

That's why this will be a Doll Convention, and as a Doll Convention it will have room sale (free).

 

Excuse me for asking but what is room sale?

 

I don't know if I'm correct, but I believe that means people selling their things out of their room.

 

That's correct. This is not a strange concept in other doll communities. It's not widely practiced by anime/comic con, but it's picking up. Basically, the convention organizes (and with the hotel's permission) to have con attendees to sell a part of their collections or craft they make out of their hotel rooms. There are usually specific rules, like the hours you're allowed to do, and proper etiquette to follow.

 

I am sooo planning on attending! I want to meet others like me. I am mostly alone in this hobby on my end.

THat would be very cool!

 

[/QUOTE]
I'm also working on the programming and registration information - if there are any things that you really want to see, please let me know! I am in a position right now to try to custom-build the perfect con! I am planning to have a few contests (costume and hopefully an extreme modification contest at least) as well as a mini "speed triathlon" based off of DoA's annual triathlon! Then there will be a few workshops (faceup, seeing, photography) and a bunch of discussion panels and mingling events. I'm trying to get everything written up so that there is more than a bare-bones page for registration. I would love your input, so please feel free to send me your ideas at [email protected]! I really want this to be [/QUOTE]

Maybe something for amateurs, like amature photo contest or amature clothing contest not really sure since i'm new to this but not everyone can make/buy a costume as great as the ones i see on DOA all the time. Just thinking

 

Most, if not all, of the contestants in the DoA contests ARE amateurs. A few may sell some of their work, but it isn't a full time job for them. I understand how it can be a bit discouraging to face the awesomely talented competition present on this forum, but the way I look at it is, winning isn't everything, even non-winning entries are worthy of admiration, and there is a sense of satisfaction in simply doing your best. Not every runner in a marathon expects to win it, some are going for a "personal best" and some are proud just to finish.

 

I'm glad someone posted the table rates. That is big vendor pricing indeed. Last convention I was a dealer at I paid $150 with electric access. If they include an artist alley, I'll probably attend, but only being able to do room sales - that's just not my bag. Too many things can go wrong with that kind of set up.

 

I enjoyed room sales at the cons I've been to (more than having a vendor's table). You don't miss out on the con activities and get to socialize more. It's casual and easy. I think the key to room sales is having a central posting of which rooms are offering sales. The best one I've seen was just an easel with that large white paper you use at meetings attached. People just wrote down their room numbers and item types. It was posted by the manned convention desk, so strangers wouldn't see it. Without a central listing, room sales are difficult. Room shopping is fun, too, going from room to room with friends and comparing finds in the elevators with strangers, lol.

 

This looks like it's going to be a blast! My sister is moving in with her boyfriend who lives about 2 hours from Buffalo, so I definitely have a place to stay that's relatively close by. (As opposed to New Mexico where I am now, or Maine, where I normally live. Drive across country ONCE and you'll see that anywhere within a day's drive is close by).

I'm really looking forward to the workshops, especially on face ups, and seeing what vendors will be there. I'm so glad there's going to be an event like this in the US!

 

How am I just now hearing about this!? I can drive there in three hours! I guess I know what I'll be doing in September. I'll probably be heading up by myself, since I don't have any doll owner friends in, uh, this continent.

I went to a couple Dolpas, back before I even owned any Volks dolls, but I still had a blast. The idea of bringing all 8 of my crew to one convention is... slightly unnerving. XD Do people usually just carry all their dolls around at once? I don't even know how I would do that!

 

We will allow up to 3 vendors to split a booth, which might make it more affordable for a smaller dealer - they are big (8 x10) booths, so the space would likely be adequate.

 

Did you ever get a confirmation on what size the actual table is?

 

I am still hoping I can come. I know I've had a request for my Chrom, but I dunno who else I'd bring. Depends on how I can get up there and if I have money!

 

I have never done room sales before so one of my biggest worries is having strangers come into the room where I would (essentially) be living for the weekend. It seems a bit invasive of personal space. I know for many people it may be fine but some people I will be bringing with me have social anxienty issues and being able to have a private area to retreat to is a big necessity.
I know organizing a convention is a very large and complicated task (I recently tried to start one myself) and I would greatly appreciate you all giving some serious thought to an Artist Alley.

 

Oh that sounds like a good idea! Much better than having to pay alone!

 

I saw this done a couple of ways at the last Con I attended. Some vendors had adjoining rooms with one for sales and the other private. A few sellers set up their displays in such a way as to partition the front part of the room for sales with the bed and private area in the back. Also the room sales were all located along the same corridor.

 

It would actually still be cheaper to rent an entire second hotel room for one night of room sales than it would be to have two vendors split one table. It is a much shorter selling period, of course, but it is hard to argue with those economics if you don't have enough stock to maintain brisk sales for the full twenty hours the trade show room is open. It makes me wonder who is going to fill the 50 tables in the vendor's hall? It's risky as a vendor of small items because one needs to sell a higher volume to break even, but if the perception is that the trade show will only have bjd vendors this could negatively impact the number of attendees who might come to shop for small goods. I'd still rather be in the vendor's hall where you can guarantee that everyone who attends is going to walk by your table, though.
Until we know which doll vendors will be attending, it will be hard to assess what kind of draw the con will have.

 

In case you missed it. The registration is up. Check it out: http://www.denofangels.com/dollism/

 

Woo! Registration!

It won't let me book a room for any dates other than from Friday to Sunday, though. Anyone else having this problem? I'd like to book from Thursday to Sunday.

 

Hmm... maybe try calling during business hours? I am sure the hotel would extend your stay....

 

I'm having the same problem. I think it's an error on the hotel's behalf. Registration isn't as much as I thought it'd be either. I was planning for up to $150 for a badge!

ETA: Before anyone asks, here's the link!! I'm halfway tempted to room alone just so I get some "me" time every so often. I suffocate easily.

 

Yeah that's probably what a majority of people are going to have to do.

 

Registered!! Omgosh I am so looking forward to this Con!

 

I had this problem, too. I also wanted to book Thursday to Monday with no luck.

 

i am copying this from the Dollism registration information:

• Rooms Sales can only operate before the opening of the vendor room on Saturday the 20th. Once the vendor room opens, all room sales must permanently cease.

What are the actual hours and days then that room sales can occur?

edited to add: and there is a typo on the registration page, which maybe someone can fix:

Dollism Plus will be held in Buffalo, NY from September 19-21, 2013

 

So as it turns out, a friend called the hotel and only Sunday is sold out. I ... don't get it? Why just Sunday?

 

will not let me book any rooms either. is the web site not working? maybe I should have just done what others did and booked before the block was notified.

 

How is this possible if we have a block of rooms reserved? I tried using the online registration form and it also only gave me Friday and Saturday out of the six nights I requested. Using my Hyatt Gold membership on the regular website there were a couple of options, but they were much more expensive.

Javasoy, are registration badges included in the vendor fees? I haven't received the vendor application yet, so I don't know if we are supposed to register as attendees and get a refund if we decide to go as a vendor or if we automatically get badges with the vendor package.

 

I spoke to a representative this evening because I had a few questions and he said that Sunday was indeed full up but he couldn't give me any more information than that :/ Otherwise, he was very helpful.

So I guess it's not the site, but something messed up at the Hyatt.

Edit: I'm the above friend that Praesagium mentioned! I didn't see that before or I wouldn't have posted this. Sorry for redundant information!

 

I am now looking into other hotel options. This is Crazy that they would basically black out one day in the middle of a Convention room block..If I have to check out of my room on Sunday morning I most likely would skip the Convention on Sunday since all my dolls would be packed up and belongings would have to be out of the room. This is beyond frustrating.

 

Um.... So registration just went live and there isn't even any info on hotel rates for the conference and it is already sold out on Sunday? Blarggity!

Super frustrated that I waited until the group rate was announced.

I'm wondering what other hotels are nearby.... But then you miss out on so much.... room sales for one.
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That's crazy about Sunday being sold out. I hope that isn't really true and just an error on behalf of the hotel and that things clear up. (I tried to reserve five nights around the con and I couldn't find a room.) If it is true, I wonder if there will be a mass migration to another hotel near by and a shuttle system?

The room rates were on another tab at the top of the registration page, http://www.denofangels.com/dollism/?page_id=9

 

I am registered! I was able to book a room for 2 nights, the 19th & 20th with no problems, thankfully.

 

Thursday is blocked out too!! Blech. I went ahead and nabbed Friday & Saturday, but I'm searching for a nearby solution--so I won't have to move hotels twice during the con.

 

Like everyone else I'm also having problems booking a room. I wanted to check-in the 18th & check-out the 21st, but like everyone it is only allowing Friday/Saturday booking. Will this error be fixed soon?

 

EDIT to remove early morning over-thinking panic post.

I'm sure we'll all find suitable accommodations and have a blast at the first Dollism Plus USA!

 

I'm trying to book a room and the "Next" button right before payment isn't letting me click (hovering gives me a "javascript:void()" error). I'm going to try another browser to see if that helps, but it really shouldn't be this hard to book a hotel room, honestly.

EDIT: Never mind. Half human error, half the website being weird. Anyway, I'm registered and booked, even though I'm still not 100% on my attendance just yet due my vacation schedule getting mixed up when the date changed. I'm still deciding what to do. Regardless, I've got to be home and at work at 7am that Monday morning. As much as I'd love to stay to the bitter end of the con, it can't happen.

 

It's impossible for it to be sold out... I just emailed the hotel and will reply back as soon as I hear anything. Not pleased!

 

I was impatient so I called instead - it's a glitch. They'll be fixing it shortly, as soon as their booking manager makes it in. (We're suffering some really bad weather.)

There WILL be Sunday night availability. Thanks for letting us know and I'm sorry for the inconvenience. It's very frustrating!

 

oh good because I'm with someone else that posted I wouldn't have been able to attend Sundays activities since check out is normally before noon...good to hear. I wasn't able to book the night before either (Thu) so I guess I'll go ahead and book Fri and Sat.

 

Stupid question: Does the hotel charge at the time of booking?

 

That is one thing I was trying to check too.