We have seven major events scheduled in the next four months. Three of them are occurring this month. Two are occurring in July. Two are occurring in August. It is tempting to ignore the end-of-summer events until after the May events, but I can’t afford to do that because some necessary preparations need significant lead time. This morning I tried to sleep in, but instead my brain kept churning with thoughts about even preparation. I finally grabbed a notepad and started scribbling down To Do items. That was smart because I finally feel like I may be able to manage this mess. I also had a revelatory realization “Oh, that’s why I’m feeling stressed.” So behind the cut is a glimpse at the To Do list for the Tayler Corporation. The Tayler family has a completely different To Do list, and yes they do conflict in more than one place.
Event 1: ConDuit
This takes place in Salt Lake City May 22-24. Howard is the guest of honor.
select art for the art show
frame some art for the art show
prepare for panels and presentations
contact scheduling to say that I won’t be there on Sunday
find out exactly when we have to show up to set up the art show
organize merchandise for selling at the show
pack for show
Event 2: Scrapyard of Insufferable Arrogance Book Release Party
This takes place on Saturday May 23 4-6 PM. It is attached to ConDuit
Plan for catering (probably pizza, because we’re fancy that way.)
Blog about this event so people know details
create a facebook event to publicize it
collect/create items for door prizes
buy tickets for door prize drawing
draft a helper to be a cashier
draft a helper to run the door prize drawings
draft a helper to help keep the food tables stocked.
contact the people running the consuite because they may already have helpers that I can co-opt.
Post-party clean up
Event 3: Scrapyard of Insufferable Arrogance Book Shipping
The intended date for this is June 1-2 at Dragon’s Keep in Provo
confirm with Dragon’s Keep that our intended dates are acceptable to them
blog about the event to ascertain that we’ll have enough volunteers
Put up an auction for book #001
Put up an auction for a numbered & sketched box set
clean out garage so it is ready to store books and slipcases
print cards for fiddly bit pins
tape fiddly bit pins to cards so they can be packaged in box sets
Double check inventory against the orders we have received
Order more inventory if necessary
Order boxes in sufficient quantities
Order packing material in sufficient quantities
Assemble and shrink wrap boxed sets
Have Howard sign books
Stamp books
Have Howard sketch books
Print postage
Schedule post office pick ups
Haul all of the shipping supplies and inventory down to Dragon’s Keep
Run the event
Post-shipping clean up
Event 4 XDM Book Release Party
This has no planned date yet
discuss with Tracy, Curtis, and Howard exactly how we want to go about this
schedule a venue
plan food
plan door prizes
Organize any necessary helpers
Event 5 XDM Book Shipping
sometime in either July or August
copy and paste most of the Scrapyard shipping tasks into this list
Event 6 WorldCon
This is August 5-10 in Canada
find a dealer who is attending and willing to sell our books on consignment
Ship books to dealer in time for books to arrive
arrange child care
renew my passport
Buy plane tickets
rent a Tuxedo for Howard
buy or rent an evening dress for me
pack
Event 7 GenCon
This takes place in Indianapolis August 12-17
locate a freight shipper so I can send a pallet of books and merchandise
find out GenCon delivery info so I can give it to the shipper
make stand up banners for XDM
decide upon and help produce XDM merchandise for sale
book plane tickets for Howard