SECTION 1: About You
Leo Nocedo : What is your name, and what do you go by at cons (business name, artist handle, etc.)?
Lauren Edinger
WeyrWoman Cosplay
Ambrosia Flora and Calliope
Bone-a-Fide Books
Leo Nocedo : How would you describe what you do?
Artist Alley creator (original art, prints, illustrations)
Fan art / licensed-style merchandise
Table vendor (toys, collectibles, apparel, accessories)
Small press / indie comics publisher
Handmade crafts / cosplay accessories
Other: Author, books and plants and plant/book themed items
Leo Nocedo : What is your primary medium or product?
Lauren Edinger : Prints, handmade items, bone jewelry, plant and book jewelry, vintage books, plants, poured pots, my book and cosplay.
Leo Nocedo : How long have you been vending or tabling at comic cons? Lauren Edinger :8+ years
SECTION 2: The Comic Con Experience
Leo Nocedo :How many cons do you typically attend per year, and which ones?
Lauren Edinger : 5-15. I’m always at Megacon, Dragoncon, Space coast comic con and Syfy Bartow. The rest vary.
Leo Nocedo : What draws you to comic cons specifically, versus other markets or shows?
Lauren Edinger : The people are just more my cup of tea! 
Leo Nocedo : Walk us through what a typical con weekend looks like for you — from setup to teardown.
Lauren Edinger : Show up the day before or morning of the event and set up everything. Get into cosplay and start vending! Tear down is always an adventure — the lines are usually long to escape after.
Leo Nocedo : What’s the most rewarding part of tabling at a con?
Lauren Edinger : Getting to see all the cosplay and meet new people!
Leo Nocedo : What’s the most challenging or underrated difficulty of doing cons?
Lauren Edinger : Long hours, food or lack thereof and load in/out.
SECTION 3: Business & Economics
Leo Nocedo :Is this your full-time income, a side hustle, or something else entirely?
Part-time / significant side income
Hobby — I break even or accept a loss
It varies year to year
Leo Nocedo : Has the cost of tabling (table fees, travel, supplies, etc.) changed noticeably over the years? How so?
Lauren Edinger : Tables have become excessively expensive which is why I’m doing less and less. The costs are just so high and not as many people are buying.
Leo Nocedo : How has the rise of online selling (Etsy, Instagram, conventions going digital) impacted your business, if at all?
Lauren Edinger : Hasn’t changed it much.
Leo Nocedo : What does a “successful” con look like for you — is it purely financial, or are there other measures?
Lauren Edinger : Make more than it cost and have some fun!
SECTION 4: Community & Culture
Leo Nocedo :. How would you describe the vendor/artist community at cons? Is there a sense of camaraderie, competition, or both?
Lauren Edinger :Mostly camaraderie.
Leo Nocedo : Have you noticed changes in what attendees are buying or interested in over the years?
Lauren Edinger :People seem to be buying a lot less and spending more on photographs with famous people.
Leo Nocedo : What trends in fandom or pop culture have most impacted your work or what you sell?
Lauren Edinger :Less people read physical books.
Leo Nocedo : Is there anything about the vendor/artist experience that you wish attendees better understood?
Lauren Edinger :There won’t be a con without the vendors so even if you just get a little item, we make it so that you can see those famous people! We are the bread and butter!
SECTION 5: Looking Ahead
Leo Nocedo :What excites you most about the future of comic cons and fan conventions?
Lauren Edinger :Just the new people coming into the scene. Younger people are finding cons and it’s fun to watch.
Leo Nocedo : What concerns you, if anything?
Lauren Edinger :Rising prices of being a vendor and lower amount of purchases.
Leo Nocedo : What advice would you give to someone thinking about getting their first table at a con?
Lauren Edinger :Don’t expect to make a lot of money but definitely hope for it!
Leo Nocedo : Is there anything else you’d like readers to know about your work or the vendor/artist experience?
Lauren Edinger : Just have fun and share your art, the rest doesn’t matter!
CONTACT
Name: Lauren Edinger
Business / Artist Name: WeyrWoman Cosplay / Ambrosia Flora and Calliope / Bone-a-Fide Books
Website / Social Media:
ambrosiafloraandcalliope.com
@weyrwoman2218
@ambrosiafloracalliope
@bone.a.fide.books
Email : weyrwoman2218@gmail.com
NocedoPhoto Media Group
NocedoPhoto Media Group is an innovative and creative consortium that unites photographers, writers, cosplayers, event promoters, vendors, costume and prop makers, and other creatives under one roof to use their collective skills to maximize their distribution and presence on digital media platforms. Their goal is to create a well-rounded and successful network for all involved.
