Flying to Cons, AX First Impressions & Artist Alley Stamp Rallies (ft @drawnbyivy @jykdoodles ) EP11

Amazing podcast as always! Thanks for sharing all your insights with us. Knowing yall will be at AX Chibi really makes me second-guess my decision to pull out, but maybe I can catch you at a con sometime next year!

thanks for having me Maci!! 🫶🫶

Mid vid female artist volume is lower than everyone else, otherwise good vid professor artist alley M 😮

love your podcasts maci!! this one was so insightful!!

I've been in AA for 11 years and I'm determined to get to AX!! I wanna do it at least once. most of my cons are decent size but i've never done anything even remotely close to that size . if not AX i'll try still for the other big ones as well XD been doin big rehauls of my display and merch and it went super well for my most recent cons so i can only hope it translates to other shows <3

this iss so good, cant wait for the next episode ☺☺

I want to go to Anime expo😮

I’m pretty sure some artists will not like what I’m about to say. The problem with stamp rallies nowadays is that it’s much more effective when an artist participates in just one rally. That’s why we’re seeing a decline in participant interest too. One rally per artist feels more niche and, for fellow artists in the group, creates a sense of community—like we’re promoting each other’s work. When it’s one rally per artist, it’s easy to encourage customers to participate. But now, I see artists selfishly joining three or more rallies at once. How are they really promoting any of them when their sales are scattered and not focused on one fandom or theme? An artist involved in multiple rallies isn’t promoting the rally—or the card—with the same commitment or impact as an artist who’s dedicated to just one.

If each artist participated in only one rally, it would naturally lead to fewer, more focused rallies. This reduction in quantity would actually enhance the quality of the experience for attendees and artists alike, making each rally feel more intentional and exclusive. With fewer rallies, attendees would be less likely to feel overwhelmed or disinterested, as each rally would stand out more and have its own unique appeal. Instead of being bombarded with options, customers could engage with the rallies in a more meaningful way, preserving the excitement and making it less likely that interest will decline due to oversaturation.

This oversaturation weakens the overall appeal of the rallies, making them feel more like an afterthought rather than a fun, engaging experience. When artists overextend themselves across multiple rallies, it undermines the very excitement that makes these stamp rallies work in the first place.

Love listening to these podcasts while crocheting. Plus, they're super helpful! ❤

YAYYY i love this podcast so much; always so much good advice!!

Would you consider sharing your manus on Patreon biz buddies or a higher tier? I’d totally join and I know new artists would love that info

i signed up for my first artist alley for a local con so these podcasts are helping me TREMENDOUSLY <33 makes me less nervous

Something my brother and I kept talking about while walking AX AA was how we wished shop/artist names were also posted at the top of displays. As Jiyoon mentioned, many people tend to look up. Especially when it gets crowded, you can’t really see the artist name if it’s just a table runner below eye level. Could be something to consider for setup upgrades. :)

I really love these podcast videos. It really helps me to put into perspective on what to expect when vending at cons. I am currently working on my own little store and will be doing it on the side. But this is information well received. 😁💖

Always thanks for having me maci🥹🫶🏻

yippeee!!! new pod - will you ever get these posted on apple podcasts or spotify?