Posted

May 1st 2009

Mood

Annoyed

I had decided a while back to look in to some anthro/furry conventions. I figured they might be a good venue for my art because I do the occasional anthro-themed image. I also figured they'd be a good place for Badhead Gadroon's art as it's no secret that furries love art and will often pay decent sums of money if they like something enough. So I looked into Furry Weekend Atlanta and got some panel space for myself and Gadroon. That was all good and well until a couple of weeks had passed after the convention and I still had no art back and no word from the art show director. Most conventions are pretty good about getting the art back to the artists the week following the show because they know we need it to send out to other shows. So I contacted the art show director. I was told that the art should be in the mail in a few days. Then it hit the four week mark and still there was no art. So I emailed the art show director again, this time copying the message to the CEO. After just over a week, I've still had no reply from either of them.

Needless to say, I'm getting quite perterbed. I have a limited stock of Gadroon's work because they have to be shipped to me from England and they are all originals. It's not such a big deal to have delays getting my prints back. I can just print more to send out. But having over $1000 worth of art floating around out there with no word as to when I will get it back is very annoying and troubling. If something has happened to it, then I'm the one responsible. Plus, if that art is tied up in limbo, then it's not going out to shows and not making any money for either of us. To add yetanother twist, Gadroon got word from another artist with work in the show that they had been told there was some sort of "issue" that "might take months to fix". Oh, HELL, no!This situation simply isn't acceptable. So, much as I hated to do it, I sent the convention a certified letter letting them know that if I had no word from them and no art before the end of May, that I would begin seeing what it would take to file theft charges with their local authorities. I pointed out that since the merchandise they are holding is worth more than $1000, those would be felony theft charges.

I'm kind of bummed that my first experience sending art to a furry convention has been such a pain. It makes me want to reconsider sending to another. But I know stuff like this is more a product of poor management at a particular con rather than something that happens across a whole range of conventions in a particular genre. I just hope they get the picture and get this straight before I have to leap in with teeth and claws bared. I'm too old for this crap and it takes time away from making art and adding items to the shops. *sigh* So, I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

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You! Yes YOU! Get your shiny self over to the shops and see what's new!

The Art of Jolie E. Bonnette @ Zazzle
The Art of Jolie E. Bonnette @ Cafe Press
The Fantastic World of Badhead Gadroon @ Zazzle
The Fantastic World of Badhead Gadroon @ Cafe Press