SPX 2016 Important Exhibitor Information!

SPX lottery is open as of this weekend.

Hello Everyone!  We've Missed You So Much SPX 2016 is coming together faster than you can say Super Mutant Magic Academy. We're lining up special guests, locking down sponsors and just generally trying to make the best possible show we can for you. We've learned a lot over the past two years so before we start the process of exhibitor registration for SPX 2016, we wanted to bring you up to speed on what we are doing. If you are interested in exhibiting at SPX this year — and we sincerely hope that you are — here's what you need to know for 2016.   An SPX Exhibitor Registration Primer   As you know, SPX has a two phase registration system that combines invited exhibitors with a lottery that in past years has led to a roughly 50/50 split. The two phases are staggered, which allows us to maximize the number of tables available for the lottery.  In moving to this approach, we based the selection of our invitations on a long association with the show, a "legacy" list for lack of a better word. As we enter our third year, we're going to begin making some changes to this list.    Changes for 2016 – Letting Go of "Legacy" Starting with SPX 2016, we'll be evaluating our list of invited exhibitors on an annual basis. This will help us ensure that we can continue to bring in diverse, talented creators that we feel will enrich the SPX experience for everyone.  Year by year, we'll do out best to ensure that invitees to SPX will include a diverse, vibrant cast of characters — a mix of our long time exhibitors, large and small independent publishers, self-publishing cartoonists, international creators as well as newcomers to comics. Key Dates For Invitations: February 4th - Invited exhibitors will begin receiving notices. February 20th - Last day for invited exhibitors to confirm their table space. For the Lottery: February 12th - The SPX table lottery opens. February 26th - The SPX table lottery closes. SPX Table Lottery winners will be notified shortly after the close of the lottery. Depending on the number of submissions it may take us a few weeks to review the entrants for duplicates or other issues before actually pulling the winning numbers. We expect this to take roughly about two weeks, so you should hear from us by early March. More Questions, You Have Them   We know many of you will likely have further questions about this change! So, here's a few quick notes on the way ahead and our process for 2016 exhibitor registration:  SPX REGISTRATION: Invited Exhibitors  How will I know if I have been invited?   Invited exhibitors will begin receiving notices from SPX on February 4.  Invitees will have until February 20 to confirm their table space, with a few reminders sent in between.  Any invitee tables not claimed by February 20 will roll over to the lottery pool.   How does SPX decide who gets a reserved table?   The SPX executive committee will collectively review the invitation list each year to make this determination.    If I was invited last year does that mean I am guaranteed an invitation this year?   No, not necessarily. It is possible you will receive an invitation again, but two years into the process, we recognize the need to begin shaking up this list. Doing so will allow us to, for example, ensure that we can invite the previous year's Ignatz winners.   If I wasn't invited this year does that mean I'll never be invited again?   Not at all. The invitation list will change annually. There will not be a formal rotation or cooling off process but our goal is ensure that the process is equitable. Not being invited one year does not mean you won't be invited the next.    If I am not on this year's invitee list, can I enter the table lottery?   Absolutely.     SPX REGISTRATION: Lottery Entrants   When will the lottery take place?   The 2016 table lottery registration period will open up starting February 12. You'll have two weeks, until February 26, to enter your information.  SPX will post lottery information widely on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr as well as our website. You won't be able to miss it.   How do I apply for the lottery?   When lottery registration opens we'll post an online form that collects some basic information. Everyone who completes the form will receive a randomly generated six digit number. Don't lose it.   How will I find out if I won a lottery table (or half table)?   We will notify the winners via email in early March. Winners will then have until March 22 to confirm and pay for their table. Any unused tables will be carried over to the wait list.   For more on how the lottery works, see our full lottery FAQ.   Do I really have a shot at a table from the lottery?   Heck yes. We earmark a minimum of 100 tables (out of our total of 270) for the lottery. When you look at this in terms of exhibitors behind those tables over the last two years we've been filling about half of SPX via the lottery.   Will there be a wait list?   Absolutely. We store the next 50 names after filling our lottery tables and folks get pulled in every year from this wait list.  SPX REGISTRATION: Other Questions    I HATE this system. SPX, why are you so dumb? Listen, in order for us to pull this show off each year (no mean feat...), we need to balance limited table space against a bunch of ravenous groups that eagerly devour tables like Godzilla! Big publishers, small publishers, self-publishers, local favorites, international guests, old faces, new hotness — all worthy and all welcome! Our registration process helps us manage overwhelming interest in the show in a manner consistent with our core values. Most comic arts festivals are by invitation only. We knew that wasn't for us.  But a pure lottery wouldn't work either.  Community is what makes SPX. We had to find a balance that honored both — and helps us manage massive demand to exhibit at the show.   Why not just more add more space?   There is quite simply no larger facility anywhere in the Washington, DC area with the crucial combination of hotel and convention space — but the more important issue is that the indie comics industry is growing even faster than SPX, drawing more and more passionate, talented creators to the medium. It would be impossible for us to expand enough to meet demand. Even if we could locate a venue with a similar set-up and more space — and one that wouldn't totally blow our budget — consider that over two days SPX runs only about 14 hours. With 650 to 700 creators exhibiting, assuming an attendee stays on the show floor every single minute and wasted only seconds moving from table to table, that leaves a barely one minute per creator. We want folks who exhibit at SPX to have the best chance possible to make money at our show. For the time being — and we're at the Marriott through 2020 — it simply does not make sense to seek a larger exhibition hall space.   Still have questions?   Hit us up on Tumblr, Twitter or Facebook for a quick reply. When SPX switched from a paper-based "first come, first served" registration model to the current two part system, we knew it would be a learning experience for everyone.  We're continuing to refine our process based on the feedback from our community and in the interest of making the best show possible.  We appreciate your care and investment in SPX and we'll never take it for granted. Thanks so much,   Jen, Mike, Eden, Greg, Sam, Esther, Dan, Megan, Yitzy, Bailey, Bill, Charles, Catherine, Joe, Sarah, Rusty, Meagan (yes, we do get confused…), Tom and Warren Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list