Day one of Gen Con is a little different for me than most others in the gaming community. For me, Gen Con officially starts on Wednesday, when librarians, teachers, retailers, and members of the press community converge on the Marriot hotel for “Trade Day”. I remember the first time someone mentioned trade day to me and I was instantly put off simply because of the title. I imagined game collectors from around the world bringing out their rare overpriced games and haggling in a giant room, speaking in strange gaming tongues. Once I found out what trade day really was, I couldn’t wait to check it out.
This year was my second time attending trade day, simply because it was the second time that the press were invited to this special day. Honestly, one of the big lures for me was an opportunity to pick up my badge one day early with no need to stand in line. The other great reason was the variety of classes and presentations offered by professionals, teachers, and those in the industry. My line up this year included presentations on Networking, Planning your Gen Con weekend for fun and profit, Why kids need superheroes, and finally some Tax Planning. These were just a drop in the bucket of the seventy-three different sessions to choose from, offering something for everyone. Check out this site for a complete listing of what you missed this year. TRADE DAY LIST
I found each session very informative, even though some were geared more toward retailers or teachers, rather than a blogger / publisher / networker like myself. Either way, I found myself learning about areas that were still interesting. The only downside of some of the presentations was that they were so informative that they went for the complete hour, giving you no time to reach the next presentation by its start. Each round of presentations started at the top of the hour and the rooms spanned two floors.
The presentations had varying amounts of people in attendance, but all presenters mentioned that there were more people this year than last. Granted, I tend to pick the more specialized and unique presentations that often don’t pack the house. I noticed that most rooms with game companies showcasing new products often had standing room only as I walked by. The key here is that there is truly something for everyone at trade day.
If you’ve missed your opportunity to attend this year or if you’ve never felt like taking the time to see what trade day is all about, I strongly encourage you to give some consideration to the event in 2018. These smaller satellite events at Gen Con really round out the show and are worth your attention.
I hope to see you there next year.
John Graham
This year was my second time attending trade day, simply because it was the second time that the press were invited to this special day. Honestly, one of the big lures for me was an opportunity to pick up my badge one day early with no need to stand in line. The other great reason was the variety of classes and presentations offered by professionals, teachers, and those in the industry. My line up this year included presentations on Networking, Planning your Gen Con weekend for fun and profit, Why kids need superheroes, and finally some Tax Planning. These were just a drop in the bucket of the seventy-three different sessions to choose from, offering something for everyone. Check out this site for a complete listing of what you missed this year. TRADE DAY LIST
I found each session very informative, even though some were geared more toward retailers or teachers, rather than a blogger / publisher / networker like myself. Either way, I found myself learning about areas that were still interesting. The only downside of some of the presentations was that they were so informative that they went for the complete hour, giving you no time to reach the next presentation by its start. Each round of presentations started at the top of the hour and the rooms spanned two floors.
The presentations had varying amounts of people in attendance, but all presenters mentioned that there were more people this year than last. Granted, I tend to pick the more specialized and unique presentations that often don’t pack the house. I noticed that most rooms with game companies showcasing new products often had standing room only as I walked by. The key here is that there is truly something for everyone at trade day.
If you’ve missed your opportunity to attend this year or if you’ve never felt like taking the time to see what trade day is all about, I strongly encourage you to give some consideration to the event in 2018. These smaller satellite events at Gen Con really round out the show and are worth your attention.
I hope to see you there next year.
John Graham
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