Quick Breakdown of Events
- Application Process begins March 17th, 2013.
- Fill out an application form and send it to the Artist Alley Coordinator: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
- Tables will be drawn by random lottery beginning July 1st, 2013 on all submissions that have been received.
- Acceptance letters are sent out by August 1st, 2013.
- Accepted Artists will have two (2) weeks to respond to their acceptance letter and send payment.
- All Artists who were not drawn will be placed on the Waiting List.
- Wait Listed Artists will be drawn to fill any unpaid spots after August 15th, 2013.
- September 1st, 2013 is the deadline for groups to submit names of members to receive 3-Day Artist Badges.
- September 15th is the cancellation deadline, no tables may be refunded after this date.
- Artists will receive an email packet of information by October 1st, 2013 for check-in instructions at the convention.
Artist Alley Tables and Rates
Each space in the Artist Alley includes a 6’ x 1.5’ table and two chairs. Artists may reserve a maximum limit of one (1) table. Exhibitors may configure their space as they like so long as it does not interfere with other exhibitors or violate fire codes (which includes, but is not limited to, moving a table into and impeding traffic flow of the hallway, not leaving a 3 foot gap between tables of other artists and your own, or creating walls of any sort that come within 2 feet of the ceiling).
Rates for Artist Alley are $45 for each space. Registration for a table in Artist Alley includes one (1) 3-Day Artist Badge for Tsubasacon 2013 (you will not need to register separately to attend events). Table arrangement will be assigned by the Artist Alley Coordinator but requests may be considered as to location.
Electrical sockets may be requested, but due to safety concerns (electrical and fire hazards) the Artist Alley Coordinator must be made aware of the need before the convention due to the small amount of sockets available. Please note, not every artist will have access to power and those who use electrical outlets hazardously will be asked to leave the Artist Alley.
Sharing and At-Con Badge Policy
Artists who wish to share a table with another attendee, or groups who wish to display their artwork together, must designate one person to be their leader. This leader should fill out the registration for their group under his or her name, indicating the number of members who may be in attendance at the table during the weekend. Each of the other members will then need to register for Tsubasacon 2013 either with 3-Day Pre-Registration, or At-Door Registration, and must have a badge in order to be at the table. This also includes anyone just “watching” the table for the weekend, if they are in the alley, they must have a badge, even if they do not plan to attend other events during the weekend.
Additional 3-Day Artist Badges will be available to other members of a group only if they Pre-Register for a 3-Day Badge. The leader may request these badges by submitting the names and email addresses of their group members to be switched to a 3-Day Artist Badge by emailing the Aritist Alley Coordinator no later than September 1st, 2013.
Acceptable Merchandise
All forms of artwork may be sold in the Artist Alley. That said, Tsubasacon is a family-friendly convention so Adult Materials should be strictly monitored. Explicit materials such as nudity, sexual situations, extreme violence and other adult rated themes should be in binders/boxes that are not available for minors. If you wish to sell these materials, please ask to see a picture ID for anyone over 18 years of age. Artists who do not abide by these rules will be asked to leave the convention, with no refund, and will be banned from future Artist Alleys.
Fan Art is also acceptable in the Artist Alley. We do not limit the amount of Fan Art that may be displayed at your table, however, we do ask that some original artwork be displayed with it, since Tsubasacon wants to see what YOU do, not just your favorite manga artist!
All types of crafts may be sold at the Artist Alley including (but not limited to): handmade jewelry, crocheted/knitted items, small hand-sewn items, sculptures, pixel sprites, carved wooden items, sculptures, painted figures and soaps/candles.
Full cosplay costumes, kimonos, leatherworking or printed T-shirts will not be accepted in the artist alley as they might represent a conflict of interest with our dealers, and interested parties are asked to apply as Dealer. Smaller items such as props and accessories like hats, scarves, tote-bags, gloves and jewelry will be accepted.
NO FOOD is allowed to be sold in the Artist Alley, no matter how crafty it is, the convention center prohibits the sale of food items.
Artist Alley Formalities
We ask that artists show respect to attendees, convention staff and other artists. Tsubasacon is a family oriented convention so please refrain from excessive use of profanity or noise. If you wish to play music it is acceptable, but if it conflicts with our programming we will ask you to turn it down.
Please be considerate to those around you and clean up after your tables. The Big Sandy Convention Center has a very hard working staff but in past years some artists have left considerable messes when they leave the artist alley. Those leaving considerable messes may not be welcomed back.
Our artist alley is, literally, in an ‘alley’ of sorts (a hallway), which can become congested at times. We apologize for the inconveniences this may cause, however, due to space there is nothing that can be done. As a paying ‘vendor’ of sorts, you have the right to ask loiterers to move on if they are blocking your table, so long as you do it in a non-threatening way. Convention staff will be happy to assist you in any way possible.
Also, there are no set times for the artist alley except for convention hours since it is in a hallway. Please be aware of this as you will have to set your own hours and choose whether to tear down or find a way to protect your items during the weekend.
The Artist Alley staff is more than willing to address any concerns or questions you have before and during the registration period and will be available for the majority of the weekend.
Application Instructions
All artists/groups wishing to register for an Artist Alley table must first submit the Artist Alley Application to the Coordinator.
There are two choices, fill out the PDF (use a program like Adobe Reader to save the PDF before sending), save, and email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or print out the form, fill out and mail to:
Tsubasacon
ATTN: Artist Registration
P.O. Box 340902
Columbus, OH 43234-0902
Include all information specified, including links to examples of your artwork (deviantART, Facebook, Photobucket, or a personal websites are all accepted), or in an email to the Coordinator, you may attach example photos/artwork (JPGs, GIFs, PNGs accepted).
Examples of artwork do NOT have to encompass everything you are bringing, but must be an accurate representation of what you may sell during the weekend.
Once all submissions have been received and approved, the Artist Alley Coordinator will send a confirmation email. All submissions must be postmarked no later than July 1, 2013. Those arriving later than this date will be added to the waiting list. The lottery approval process will take place around August 1, 2013 with a notification posted on the website that emails will follow. The Coordinator will hold your reservation for two weeks for payment once the email has been sent. After two weeks your table will be offered to another interested party. Those who lose their spot may try again if there is room still available.
Payment can be made online using PayPal. Instructions will be included in the acceptance letter. Payment may also be made in the form of personal check, certified/cashier’s check, money order or postal money order. Please make checks and money orders payable to Tsubasacon.
Mail payments along with a copy of your acceptance letter to:
Tsubasacon
ATTN: Artist Registration
P.O. Box 340902
Columbus, OH 43234-0902
Any returned checks will be subject to a $20 processing fee.
Any payments received without the approval letter will be denied and returned.
Cancellation Policy
Artist Alley tables cannot be cancelled after September 15, 2013. No refunds will be given after this date.
Waiting List Policy
The Artist Alley waiting list is used to fill last-minute spots from cancellations and unpaid tables. If you are interested in being on the waiting list after the Artist Alley has been closed, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
