Artist Alley Concerns And Suggestions (belated)

Greetings everyone, I'll be forwarding this to the proper people in a moment, but allow me to post my concerns here first. I know my comments are most belated, but please allow me to make up for them by saying that I've been doing considerable research on the subject -- and have also been discussing with some local offices on the case of Tax and Taxation within Tennessee. 

 First of all allow me to note that in previous years, Artist Alley has been a most unsettling place. Though this con often deploys the the classic 'No Drama' sign, one can not help but find it ironic that that con so firm on No Drama still insists on running certain things in a fashion which can only cause nothing -but- drama. I'm talking of course about Artist Alley.

 Each and every year, young artists and even those of the expert level, want to settle back and enjoy doing some artwork and making a little money without the tiresome devotion that the Dealer's Den gets; however, there are always too many artists for the little 'hole' that they are provided. Having attended MFM since 2001, I've seen the developements of Artist Alley. At one point the small little 'hole' of a room that is Artist Alley was once sound, but now as the con has grown, so too does the demand for a larger space.

 But it's not JUST space that is the issue, it is also Managment and sympathy for the artist. Many times artists who attend artist alley voice their opinions of how they feel like "Trash on the side of the road" as they are forced to wait in a NARROW hallway, just outside the Dealer's Den for MORE than two hours EACH day just to attain a spot. They must wait their with all of their things, all of their art supplies laid out on the floor in piles while people keeprushing by them and stepping on their feet as they shuffled in and out of the dealer's den.

Sometimes when the doors opened early, the artists were so eager to get their stuff out of the hallway -- they entered the room prior to the 'time alottled' and put their stuff on the floor. This causes a MAJOR hassel with the Artist Alley managment, nearly forcing MANY artists to become banned from Artist Alley for the remainder of the event. Furthermore, even when the artists DO get their spots -- there is always not enough. Naturally there are only six to eight tables for nearly thirty artists. At first - one artist = one table, but we talked management into letting that be two artists a table, in order to let more in. 

 Still, even with that -- there were STILL problems. When a table is 'rented' for the day (up until 6pm), the table remains in in the name of that artist until the end of the sound. Sure that sounds like a fine idea, but the rule still applies even if the artists wises to forfit the table. So if an Artist attends Artist alley, but wants to go to events later in the day -- they simply up and leave. And even though they themselves want someone else to replace them, management constantly and firmly declines their request.

 But that isn't even the end of it. Precious Artist Alley space is taken up by the Auction, which takes up the entire rear of the room with storage and donations. Clearly there needs to be some rethinking on how this works, and it has been in the think-tank all of this time then I firmly apologize for blurting out my concerns when others have already addressed them. 

So far MFM has a gained a very bad reputation for making a very pourly planned out Artist Alley system, and that is why I wanted to not only point out the flaws in it, but also offer some ways to fix the issue.

 The Gaming Track has in the passed, always claimed a massive space which doesn't really seem proportial to their needs. I mean of course the one settled in Ballroom E/F next to the dealer's den. This room is half the size of the Dealer's Den, and it vadtly unused more the majority of the con. One could think that the Gaming Track could be placed in the room where Artist Alley is now, and Artist Alley be moved into Ballroom E/F.

Most people would denounce this suggestion by saying that it gives Artist Alley more power in comparison to the Dealer's Den, and therefore should have more restraints. I can not help but dissagree, as Artist Alley should indeed be larger, as we have more and more artists who need a space of their own. In order to compensate for this use of space, Artists who attend the Alley should have to pay for space by the hour, not by the day. 

I do not mean $5 an hour, but I assume that $1 (maybe even $2) an hour may be more than fitting. Artists tend to spend long hours in artist alley, and there are a lot of them. This will also allow them to forfit a table early, and let other artists in. One could keep track of these hourly payments through the use of not only Numbering and Letting the tables, but also giving out carbs which go with those tables. The holder of the card must pay each hour, on the hour -- who the artist is doesn't exactly matter.

If unable to pay, they must depart -- simple.  A Dealer's Den table is $25, but for good reason. They get a vast dedicated space, 24 hour security, storage, and much more. Artist's in AA will get cheaper tables, but no security, and some heavy restrictions on what can and can not be sold by the artists. Having done some Tax home work (and please note I'm not a tax expert, I merely conversed with many to confirm the following information), I've discovered that non-independant businesses (peoples) whom offers services, are not qaulified to manage tax, submit tax, or cacluate business tax if do not make more than $100. 

Artists in Artist Alley tend to settle in their to pay for gas to get home, and don't make much money at all. They don't sell official merchandise, and do not hold a business lisense. They do not qualify is as business, and do not earn an groase income of $100, and therefore should not be taxable.  

We have a room full of artists who are not registered as Self Employed businesses. Each of them are creating work, on the spot, by commission (request) as are simply asking a small sum of money in return.

The large space also will provide a more traffic flow. The small space was often cramped and oddly located, making it very hard for the public to move about and deal with the artists -- hiinding both the public from enjoyign the work, and also preventing the artist from doing what they do best. Allowing Artist Alley into Ballroom E/F should not hinder many major events (Such as the Poker Contest in 2007 for example) as events like that happen at 6pm, when Artist Alley closes. 

So at 6pm, Artists up and move out, and the room becomes useful for other events -- another downside to AA. 

 On the upside, moving Artist Alley can allow many more things, and also I highly suggest changing some rule structures on what the Artist can and can not do.

 Benefits:

 1. A larger space means that more people can fit, more artists, more income for paid tables. Artists will happier to breath easily, members of the con will be happier to move more freely, and there will be not 'front' of the room that exists in present Artist Alley (prime fought over realastate) -- which will dramatically reduce fights between artists.

2. A more long term management table, where a person incharge of artist alley can be present at all times to manage payments and also ensure that there is peace in the crowd. The problem before is that the "management" only wanted to deal with the Artists for about an hour, then forget about them for the rest of the day until closing time.

3. Providing more utilities for the artists. If needed we can track extension cords and outlets to each table, giving the artists in artist alley the use of electronics such as computers and scanners. They are indeed paying for a limited space with no security, if they want to use electronics is should be clearly stated it is as their own risk. Artists need electronics these days, not everyone works in pen, ink, color pencil, and marker anymore. People also make badges, and must have a 'runner' going between Artist Alley and their rooms to make the completed badges. Just let them work in one place as to avoid this hassel and let more people actually enjoy the con, not spend their time running around needlessly trying to get gas money. 

4. Artists can be encourage to set up shop earlier (the same time as dealer's den) and set up their tables BEFORE artist alley opens. The problem before is that people were lining up with the artists to get into Artist Alley, they didn't realize they were in line with the artists themselves. Getting the artists out of the hallway and onto a working table will help steamline things, and prevent people from feeling like useless 'trash' who didn't pay a few extra bucks for the 'special treatement'. 

Final Statment: No, giving Artist Alley a larger space and more priviledges will not hinder Dealer's Den at all, and should only serve as a lesser alternative - not a PUNISMENT for not maying for a Dealer's table. Most Artists feel punished, abused, and left out for not being part of Dealer's Den -- this is a treatment that really has to stop. 

I volenteer to run Artist's Alley myself for the entire convention if need be to ensure the whole thing works like I described above.