Boom De Yada

[ladysprite]

Today's gratitude is for all of the awesome, kind, generous, helpful, supportive, and generally amazing shopkeepers and businesspeople of Salem, Massachusetts.

Given that today was likely to be one of the last nice days of the year, and given that it's getting close (at least, in my timeline) to Arisia and the raffle tpau and I are running to raise funds for the 3 Day, I spent today wandering the streets of Salem along with my boon companion, lucky charm, and Good Idea Guy metaphysick, hitting up shops for donations. (And a secondary shout out of gratitude to him, because it was his idea to hunt there.)

For those of you not familiar with Salem, it is a town full of tiny, kitschy, kooky stores, mostly with the word "witch" somewhere in their name, selling exactly the kind of stuff that would be welcome and more at Science Fiction conventions. And, apparently, these stores are almost all owned by generous, easygoing people who will gladly share their wares for a good cause. They also all apparently know each other, leading to suggestions like 'Go to Store X on Y street and don't do your speech. Just tell 'em Lorelai sent you, and they'll listen.'

And while I'm at it, gratitude beyond belief goes to braider, my deputy at OVFF, who mamaged to come back from that convention with a crazy number of CD prizes - and to all of the artists who donated. And to tinyplasticmeat for the beautiful cowl and mitts she knitted for the raffle.

At this point, the raffle is gearing up to be something truly epic. I have an entire autographed run of Girl Genius. I have autographed novels, and a box of games from Steve Jackson that, by itself, is worth more than most of my Christmas hauls when I was a kid. The Drum Connection in Arlington has given us a certificate for a doumbek (winner's choice). I have (as noted) a hell of a lot of amazing CD's. I have jewelry and free psychic readings and gift certificates for boutique clothing and jewelry stores and handmade afghans and hand-dyed yarn and free passes to haunted houses and t-shirts and gaming books....

I can't wait to see how this all plays out.

And for those of you who promised to donate prizes, it's getting pretty close to raffle time - especially if you're one of the truly heroic people who offered to make crafty items or jewelry. If you're going to be bringing items to Arisia to donate, please let me know by confirming here; I'm keeping a spreadsheet at this point. And if you're not going to be attending the con, or if you just want to get donations to me beforehand so it's one less thing to keep track of, please either let me know so I can pick things up from you, or send them - I'd hate for things to get delayed by holiday mail busyness and not get here in time. (I will happily send my address to anyone who needs it.)

This is going to be amazing. Thank you all so much....

Comments

[guendalina.livejournal.com]

I've decided to just do a gift certificate for a custom snood up to $150 value. Okay? Can you make up something pretty saying that?

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow - that is truly awesome; thank you! I can absolutely write up a certificate. And I'm sorry you won't be at the con; I'll miss seeing you.

And tickets will be on sale in advance. :) I'll post something here, probably in mid-December.

[guendalina.livejournal.com]

Thanks :) We wish we were going, too, but the new dealer's room only format is both too expensive and a security nightmare.

[guendalina.livejournal.com]

oh and we will not be at arisia this year due to no dealer's row....

[guendalina.livejournal.com]

oh and thirdly can i buy chances in advance or are chances going to be available only at Arisia?

[ayalanya.livejournal.com]

I'll be at Arisia, and am donating three pairs of elf ears - one pair in copper, one in silver, and one in niobium. I think? I don't remember if we actually had a "this is the plan" discussion, or if we got further than you saying it was up to me. Or, actually, if you want to catch me while I'm setting up for the art show, I can pull whatever pairs you want out of it. Ooh! And I'll try to remember to make a little sign pimping your raffle - something like "if you want a chance to win a pair as a prize, go find these people"?

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

Awesome, awesome, awesome. :)

I know you had said you were going to donate some ears, and the 3 different kinds all sound beautiful! I'm happy to either take whichever ones you want, or to pick a few pairs - I'll catch you while you're setting up either way. And I'd love it if you made a note for your table, promoting the raffle!

*hugs* thank you so much!

[ayalanya.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a plan! We'll exchange phone numbers closer in so I can let you know when to pop by. :)

*hugs back*

[pixel.livejournal.com]

I'm still in for donating a custom painted Nerf gun. Actually have the gun, just need to modify/paint it.

Also going to try and put together a "blinkin box" as well (this is a small wooden box with two vacuum tubs sticking out of the top and a switch. Flip the switch and the tubs flash random colors. It is useless but pretty and steampunk. :)

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

Excellent, thank you! The gun in particular sounds wonderful!

(Also, I miss you and we need to find an excuse to hang out....)

[serakit.livejournal.com]

I'm making either macrame for you (although that's not very grand compared to the rest of what's here), or if I get the giant cross-stitch of doom finished by Arisia, bringing and donating that. (It's a winter scene, 16" by 10", from the Dimensions Gold Collection.)

Is there going to be some way to find you at Arisia or should we simply exchange cell phone numbers and work it out once we're there?

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

We're going to have a table in the dealer's room, so you can find me there, or I can get my cell number to you and you can track me down that way.

Thank you so much for making things, and being a part of this!

[serakit.livejournal.com]

Dealers room is easy enough to find. And since I'll be working in Salem this winter I'll have to get you to tell me where the cool stores are so I can slip out to shop on my lunch break.

[meranthi.livejournal.com]

I still have the dragon "blackwork" crossstich for you. It's not framed, but is blocked. I won't be going to Arisia, so when can we connect for a transfer?

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

Hm. This, I will need to get back to you on - but thank you!

[gmkieran.livejournal.com]

When, exactly, do you need stuff by? I think I have a chess set that can be made auction-worthy in short order, but it needs a little work and then I can send it to you. Matt was going to see if he had anything to donate, but I don't think he's had time, between work and house-projects.

*hugs*
Graf

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

I need things by the second week of January - that's when the con is.

Thank you!

[gmkieran.livejournal.com]

Excellent! Shouldn't be a problem - I'll see if I can't get it out to you in the next couple of weeks so neither of us have to worry about it. :D

Cheers!
Graf

[mermaidlady]

Still planning to donate -- same stuff as last time.

Sounds like you have some amazing stuff! Some of it might be worth auctioning instead of being raffled. I bet you'll get some hot bidding wars!

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

Super - thank you so very much!

Alas, in order to do an auction (at least anything bigger and less private than the little event we had at Camelot last year), we'd need a licensed auctioneer, which requires money and organizing and work. As much as it might work, I'm not sure it'd be cost-effective or energy-effective, on the whole....

[mermaidlady]

Well, phooey.

Donations

[unicornpearlz.livejournal.com]

If I don't see you before then, I will bring things to Arisa. Likely 19th century medical equipment and free tarot readings - if you want more of those. I can also give a certificate for a free cover letter and resume re-write, including my credentials. I know it's not very geeky, but hopefully they will be useful.

Re: Donations

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

The medical equipment sounds pretty spiffy - if you don't mind, I'd love to take you up on that offer, and thank you!

[jducoeur]

Still planning on donating some classic fannish bits -- likely an ancient Star Trek Technical Manual and Blueprints, and probably a few hard-to-find fanzines.

Seconded on the auction point that others have made, BTW. I have one or two items that might be high-enough value to be worth auctioning instead of raffling...

[umbran.livejournal.com]

Technically, in MA you need a licensed auctioneer for a live auction. In a small venue like Camelot this might not be a real issue, but at a major event like Arisia, it isn't something that can be ignored. And your auctioneer generally costs $$, cutting into proceeds.

Online auctions don't need the auctioneer, but they'd lose pretty much all the visibility we're trying to use the con for!

Also, having a major item or two in the raffle is a *big* selling point. Taking such items out for auction robs the raffle of ticket sales. You have to be pretty darned sure that you have the audience for the auction to bring in more than the raffle ticket sales before you try that.

To be honest, Arisia seems *loaded* with folks who can drop $5 to $20 for a charity raffle. It is not loaded with folks who can and will drop multiple hundreds of dollars on charity auction items.

[jducoeur]

Well, I'm flexible -- it was tpau who specifically asked me to consider auctioning instead of raffling in this case...

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

No auction, alas, for legal reasons; I know tpau had mentioned you possibly selling an item or two on ebay, and I'm fine with that - or we can just raffle them.

*hugs* thank you again for helping....

[braider.livejournal.com]

So, how much do raffle tickets cost, and can one buy them/win without coming to the convention?

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

I need to double-check with tpau to make sure we're doing the same thing as last year, but if that's the case, tickets will be $1 each; 6 for $5; 13 for $10; 30 for $20, and I'll be selling them here beforehand. No attendance required. :)

[hermitgeecko.livejournal.com]

I confirm that I'll be donating to the raffle! Either jewelry or a handpainted mask - I haven't confirmed which yet. Jewelry is more likely.