Dealer and Sponsor Information

What is OwlCon (To a Dealer)?

OwlCon is a dedicated gaming convention that features board and card games, miniatures (historical, fantasy, and sci-fi), role-playing games (tabletop and live action), and related events (e.g., painting competition, movies).

About 600 people came to our last OwlCon. The attendees are a mixed bunch, ranging from teenagers to seniors. The median household income for an attendee is above average, most of them have attended college, and many of them have college degrees.

OwlCon occurs on the Rice University Campus, primarily in their student center. We only allow 24 dealer tables in our convention because we want to emphasize the gaming. Our dealer tables share space with our larger events in a large ballroom; we make a point to put our more visually appealing and spectacular events in this hall, increasing traffic in the room.

OwlCon does not charge for spectating, so anyone can come and watch OwlCon and visit the dealers without paying a fee.

Confirmed OwlCon XXVII Dealers (listed alphabetically)

NOTE: We do NOT charge for people to visit our Dealer Room. If you just want to roam around and check out our dealers' tables, or the convention for that matter, you do not have to buy a badge. You only need to buy a badge to play in registered games, use gaming space, etc. Spectating and spending money is free.

Note: Information for becoming an OwlCon Dealer follows the entries below.


Beej Bags
Dealer: Beej Bags Tables: 1
Custom shirts and dice bags for those who game with style!
Contact: Brenda Johnson Phone: 832.647.4058


Dark Skull Studios
Dealer: Dark Skull Studios Tables: 2
Dark Skull Studios is a production studio for Fantasy, Horror and Science Fiction. This subject is limited to Role-Playing Games right now but we have future plans for other markets. We work hard to produce the best product possible. We are dedicated to taking care of the customer and we will bend over backwards to make someone happy. We set our standards high so everyone can enjoy the fruits of our labor. This company is committed to bringing a quality product different from the standard fare. Our rules and settings are a different take on the standard genre. While there is nothing new under the sun, we feel Dark Skull Studios has something to provide to the gaming community and other related communities as a whole.
Contact: Richard Leon Phone: 832.220.6734


Darkside Gaming
Dealer: Darkside Gaming Tables: 1
The last hurrah of Darkside Gaming! The biz is sold but we still have a few collectibles and games on consignment. Many items $1.00!!!
Contact: James Shade Phone: 281.324.9658


Gamertopia
Dealer: Gamertopia Tables: 2
Your online source for everything game.
Contact: Mykele Kinzel Phone: 713.502.8273


MechCorps Entertainment, LLC
Dealer: MechCorps Entertainment, LLC Tables: 4
MechCorps BattleTech delivers adrenaline-pumping action. From the moment you spot an opponent on your radar screen to the explosive battles, you are exhilarated. Enjoy the hunt for prey in a futuristic wasteland from inside our BattleMech Cockpit Simulator Pods. During the convention, go up against three live and up to and additional eight AI opponents in team or free-for-all mayhem. BattleTech is not hide and seek, it's seek and destroy.
Contact: Alan Presley Phone: 832.444.3663


Midnight Comics & Games
Dealer: Midnight Comics & Games Tables: 3
We've got something for you, whether it's new or out-of-print RPGs, board games, CCGs, accessories, or advice on how to take out that swack iron dragon that's been plaguing you. We buy and trade games as well as sell, so bring you old stuff to get some gamer bling!
Contact: John Simons Phone: 281.293.0226


Myth adventures
Dealer: Myth adventures Tables: 3
We are a full service gaming store.We carry GWS,D+D,War machine,At-43,WWP,Rifts and other games.We have many card games & minituers games.Also many out of print games.
Contact: Helgi Davis Phone: 956.687.3104


NERO Houston
Dealer: NERO Houston Tables: 1
NERO Houston is the local chapter of North America's premiere fantasy LARP, NERO International.

With an emphasis on acting, political intrigue, and creativity, NERO is an ideal outlet for anyone looking for escape from the everyday doldrums of work and “the real world”.

Play World of Warcraft? Imagine chasing down a goblin who just stole your last gold piece, rather than just watching your character do it on the computer - that's what NERO is all about. That, and foam swords, and spell packets … well, you get the idea.

The Old Kingdom of Bakrasah has fallen - now the five City-States war amongst themselves for power, wealth, and opportunity. The light of peace flickers dimly in the small river-town of Drakesbridge - will you help to fan it into a flame, or see it extinguished in the wake of anarchy and war?

NERO Houston - Live the Adventure! www.nerohouston.com
Contact: Jason Aydelotte Phone: 832.368.4496


Renaissance: The Rebirth
Dealer: Renaissance: The Rebirth Tables: 1
Renaissance: The Rebirth is a new tabletop role-playing system structured around percentile rolls and designed to allow near infinite freedom of game design for the GM and character design for the players!
Contact: Jason Pruett Phone: 325.864.6638


The Treasure Nest
Dealer: The Treasure Nest Tables: 2
At The Treasure Nest we have woderous wares! Pipes of briar and meerschaum,figurines (including dragons,fairies and gargoyles), jewelry of sterling sivler and bronze, caligraphy supplies and many more medival wares. Find what you are looking for with us.
Contact: Tom Hefner Phone: 817.565.8697


Two Hour Wargames
Dealer: Two Hour Wargames Tables: 1
Two Hour Wargames - Makers of All Things Zombie, 5150, Six Gun Sound, and many other entertaining games playable in two hours or less!
Contact: Ed Teixeira Phone: 505.850.5735

Dealer Information

Note: Our profit is not the goal of having dealers. We want to run games and offer some dealers for our attendees to see. As such, we have strictly limited our dealer space to 24 tables every year. Our Dealer tables have sold out as early as two months in advance, so please sign up early. We have also had as many as six tables' worth of dealer space canceled at the last minute and filled by alternates, so please consider being an alternate if we have sold out the tables when you sign up.

If you wish to be a dealer/exhibitor at OwlCon, please read the information below and then go to our Dealer Form and electronically submit your request.

  • Please make checks payable to "FAST WARP".
  • Deadline for receipt of "early bird" submission & payment is 5:00 PM, Friday, November 9, 2007.
  • Deadline for receipt of regular dealer submissions & payment (check or money order) is 5:00 PM, Thursday, January 11, 2007.
  • Deadline for receipt of ad copy (and payment) is 5:00 PM Thursday, January 11, 2007.
  • Here's a link to our shipping and mailing addresses.
  • Here's a link to our refund policy .

Steps to Success

  • Look at the events being run and bring products that would appeal to the participants
  • Bring a targeted selection of products
  • Show up early to make sure your unloading goes smoothly
  • Have enough people to allow you to take bathroom breaks :)

Incentives

  • High Traffic: We run gaming events in the center of the Dealers' room to increase traffic. This draws spectators and customers alike.

  • High Visibility: the Dealers' room is located in the spacious Grand Hall, a large room that is readily visible from the main entrance of the Student Center.

Booths

Tables: A table is defined as a rectangular area 6' wide and 8.5 feet from the back wall. You will be expected to setup WITHIN this space. We will provide a single table for this space that is a 30" x 72" rectangle. There will be an approximately 36"-wide gap between adjacent dealer areas; this is a required space for safety and access and dealers will not be allowed to encroach into this space.

Wall space: Booths are generally positioned against a wall to facilitate the hanging of banners and advertisements. Dealers should bring heavy duty tape or a stand/pole to support banners. Nails/hooks cannot be used and are not available.

Cost: $60 per table for regular registration. Early bird registration reduces this to $55 per table if payment is received by 5:00 PM Friday, November 9, 2007. Dealers receive one free badge per table.

Dressing: A tablecloth will be provided to cover each table, but skirting must be provided by the dealer if it is so desired. An additional black tablecloth will be provided for dealers to cover their wares with when they shut down their tables for the night.

 

Advertising at OwlCon

Bags: Attending dealers will be given the first opportunity to provide bags for the convention with their store logos on it. Such bags should be about 15" x 15", made of sturdy plastic, and have a handhold or handles. There is no fee for this service; however, the dealer is expected to cover the cost of the bags. Bags that meet the prerequisites will be given priority over those that do not. If you would like to secure exclusive rights to have your bags be the only bags distributed at the convention, please contact the Dealer Coordinator.

Inserts: We are considering having advertising inserts for the convention bags. An interested dealer would provide the insert material in the form of a single item no larger than a contemporary magazine, and for a flat fee of $90, the insert will be included in every bag handed out to convention attendees when they register. If the inserts are valuable, the fee can be mitigated or even waived. Insert requests should be addressed by contacting the Dealer Coordinator.

Program advertisement rates: The most direct way to get your advertisement in the hands of our customers. Our programs are printed on high quality 70-pound paper stock and provided to all attendees of OwlCon. All advertisements are B/W.

Type of Ad Dimensions Cost
Full Page 6.5" wide, 8" high $90
Half Page 6.5" wide, 3.75" high $50

Advertisement Specifications

  • Color choices: ads must be either black & white or grayscale.
  • Minimum quality: ads must be at least 600 dpi.
  • Ad copy must be PC compatible format.
  • Ads must be Adobe Illustrator file or a PC format .tif file.
  • Files must be smaller than 5 Megabytes to receive via e-mail.
  • Files larger than 5 Megabytes can be provided by postal mail or by posting the file on the internet for download by our staff.
  • Please include 0.125 bleed past trim for all ad

Make your check or money order payable to: FAST WARP.

The deadline for submission of ad copy and payment is 5:00 PM Thursday, January 11, 2007

Here's a link to our shipping and mailing addresses.

Here's a link to our refund policy .

Specific advertising requests should be addressed by contacting the Dealer Coordinator. If you plan to be a dealer at OwlCon, the Dealer Booth Request Form below will address this topic as well.

Weapons Policy

There is a zero tolerance no-weapons policy at Rice University and OwlCon strongly supports this. As such, dealers should be aware that they will not be allowed to brings weapons on campus, even if they are products to be sold. In the past, we were able to gain an exception on a case-by-case basis from the police chief, but that is not the case anymore. We do apologize, as we would love to have swords and such for sale at OwlCon. Alas, we cannot and will not violate the security policy of Rice to do so.

If you have questions or commments, please contact us.