Peter Struijf
Netherlands
Zoetermeer
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This is part seven in the series, which has reached Friday afternoon and will take us into the safety of Friday night....
Around lunchtime on Friday, the Geode Team is boosted by the arrival of three fresh sets of hands: the artist Melchior and both our wives (we both have one wife, and they are both there, I mean). It is great to see them and experience the Essen Friday together. One disadvantage is that only Liz (my wife) has played the game many times, while Melchior and Katja have spent most of their Kraków quality time focused on the artwork. The exhausting job of game rules explanation therefore stays mostly in my job description. We make use of the extra heads and voices by having Katja and Melchior skulk in the corridor, where they can answer the questions of the passers-by and onlookers of the game. Liz also guides along a game or two: once the rules are explained and the first hesitant few cards played, she is experienced enough in the game to follow it and answer any questions the players may have during the game.
Every other hour or so, a Special Representative arrives, often unannounced, whom I have to meet. I guess this is another typical Essen phenomenon, which every small stand holder has to deal with in the best way possible. With over 500 new games released at the fair this year, it is clear that some level of publicity or interest for any new game is most welcome. Well before the fair, I had received emails from nearly 10 persons, representing various websites, forums, gaming groups and magazines, who had found out about my game and were interested in a free or discount copy for their special purpose. I had made a fairly wise decision in face of these (understandable) questions: I could only offer a discount price, but no freebies. I explained my small print run, my limited resources and low margin on these games - and usually received an understanding and positive response.
During the fair, there are many more Special Representatives doing the rounds, who have not even bothered to contact anyone in advance. They simply wander up to the stand, ask to see The Guy From Kraków, show a magazine or business card and request a free review/club/promotional copy of the game. What is one to do? The small time publisher like me can only hope that these people really do represent an audience of some kind and will actually make an effort to show, share or review your game. It is quite difficult to distinguish the pearls in the boardgame publicity oyster from the grains of sand.... I decided to stick with my policy throughout: no free games, I should at least recover my costs of production, but otherwise it may be better to sell a few more games cheaply than to claim any ability to distinguish the movers and shakers in the industry from the highwaymen.
Sometimes, this was a difficult policy to implement, because it seemed some folks were just doing the rounds all over the fair to collect free games in return for their business cards and a tall tale. I remember distinctly how I stood in the corridor, watching the tall blonde Icelander disappear into the crowd, carrying his discount copy of my game. I stared blankly at his business card, which said:
Leif Sonofagonarsson
Editor and Chief Executive Officer
South East Icelandic Annual Boardgame
Magazine for the Visually Impaired
I wondered if this club or magazine could really have the 12.5 million mebers or subscribers Leif had just told me about. He sounded pretty convincing. Like he had practised at home first and then tried it out on a good number of publishers today.....
At the end of the afternoon, the sales suddenly go hectic again. I recognise a pattern: many gamers plan or have decided on their buys for the day, but only go around the fair buying the games just before they leave the place. They simply do not want to be burdened by the weight during their wanderings. From 1600 to 1900, the last three hours of the fair, we sell well over 40 games and cross the magic 100 mark. Many people want Melchior and me to sign the games, which is always fun and gives you a chance to talk to the people buying the game. It is still a fascinating idea that these games will soon be "at home" in some faraway cellar, study or games room, hunreds or thousands of miles from here...
Around 1600 a cheerful crowd of two men and two women arrive. They announce "We are from Kraków and we want to play the game!" That is briliant ! I explain there is no spot for a demo game available until 1200 on Saturday - the Krakovians do not waver and reserve the spot for the next day. I look forward to their game: they come across as serious boardgamers, are a complete team of four and must have heard about my game well before the fair....
After the business closes for the day, we are all exhausted. My friends set off on their drive back to Holland, while Jack and his friend Mal help me carry some more boxes from the parking garage to the hall. Around 2100 I reach Michael's house again, where I can tell him the second day was also fully booked and very good. Around 2200, Michael and I sit down and play a few turns of a friendly ASL game, taking us to 0030 and halfway the scenario, which we agree to finish on Saturday night.
In the middle of the night, I realise I am once again completely unable to sleep. My mind just keeps itself busy and is too energetic....for no reason at all, I decide to write a few poems, mostly related to the cards and characters in the Kraków game. I might use them if I am asked to "write something" inside the box cover of a game..
Kraków Blues part 1: Love
Darkness fled before her, my head filled with light
She asked me to dance and I thought I just might...
She was young and beautiful, while I had some money
but those Vicious Rumours blocked me and my honey.
Kraków Blues part 2: War
The war elephants are marching, the Military Rules
Is this Medieval or are we just fools ?
The Stock Market Crashes, Depressions are looming
but the business of warfare just keeps on booming.
Kraków Blues part 3: Sin
Darkness fled before her, my head filled with light
She asked me to follow and I thought I just might...
There were bonfires and sacrifice - a weird wicked party
My mistress is one of the Illuminati...
Kraków Blues part 4: How to live happily and be fabulously successful in everything you do
Be nice to yourself. Lower your expectations.
Essen, 25/10/2008
Tomorrow's episode will cover Saturday: a day for Family Outings.
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Robèr Boonmann
Netherlands
Geldrop
Noord-Brabant
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Hey Peter,
Can I get e free copy of Krakow 1325 AD?
I'am a reviewer for a magzine of boardgames.
I't is very popular at my home and we have 2 members 
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Peter Struijf
Netherlands
Zoetermeer
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rober wrote: Hey Peter,
Can I get e free copy of Krakow 1325 AD?
I'am a reviewer for a magzine of boardgames.
I't is very popular at my home and we have 2 members :p
Hi Rober !
eehhh.....would you happen to have a business card of sorts.....?
oh this one.....Rober's Deli.....sound good man. Would you like us to sign them for you ? Sure ! What's your name again ?
Peter
Streetwise after Essen:
Shipping and handling costs are 48 Euro. Copies may be hand-signed by the designer (8 Euro), the artist (8 Euro) or both (20 Euro). Personalised message (max. length 4 words): doubles the signing charges
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Melissa
Australia
Melbourne
Victoria
Best wishes to you all for 2011. xxx
Mostly offline, but trying.
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So I should have tried the "I'm an Admin on Boardgamegeek" line then, instead of the "I'm collecting innuendo-laden inscriptions from Game Designers"?
Dammit!
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Christian Krach
Germany
Potsdam
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What a rip-off. Next time I try myself
 No, just kidding!
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Peter Struijf
Netherlands
Zoetermeer
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melissa wrote: So I should have tried the "I'm an Admin on Boardgamegeek" line then, instead of the "I'm collecting innuendo-laden inscriptions from Game Designers"? Dammit!
Hi Melissa,
the Icelander left without any innuendo-laden message in his box.
So it's a tough choice. From meeting you, I think you'd rather live without the money and have the innuendo any day of the week.
Did I guess right ?
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Melissa
Australia
Melbourne
Victoria
Best wishes to you all for 2011. xxx
Mostly offline, but trying.
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peterstruijf wrote: melissa wrote: So I should have tried the "I'm an Admin on Boardgamegeek" line then, instead of the "I'm collecting innuendo-laden inscriptions from Game Designers"? Dammit! Hi Melissa, the Icelander left without any innuendo-laden message in his box. So it's a tough choice. From meeting you, I think you'd rather live without the money and have the innuendo any day of the week. Did I guess right ?
you might just be right
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Jarred
United States
University Place
Washington
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Business card...5 cents
Cheap suit...150 bucks
Sack full of free games autographed by the designers...priceless
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David Larkin
England
Brighton
Sussex
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peterstruijf wrote:
I explain there is no spot for a demo game available until 1200 on Saturday -
Wow, so I was really lucky just to waltz up and take the 4th place in a game and save you from having to play again 
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Peter Struijf
Netherlands
Zoetermeer
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with that badger avatar of yours, David, we would always have made a seat available for you.....
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Jacob
United States
Lexington
Kentucky
Go Pats!
My awesome son =)
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peterstruijf wrote: with that badger avatar of yours, David, we would always have made a seat available for you.....
Ah...it's a badger...I can see that now. It always looked like a weirdly contorted face writhing in agony before now. The badger's head looked like the forehead. The dark shadow between the head and arm looked like the eye. The belly looked like a weird bulbous nose and the line below looked like the mouth.
Now that I see the badger it's harder for me to see it as a face..
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David Larkin
England
Brighton
Sussex
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Jayolas wrote: It always looked like a weirdly contorted face writhing in agony before now....
Now that I see the badger it's harder for me to see it as a face..
I've tried squinting, but I can't see a face
and before anyone else asks it is just having a good scratch
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Jacob
United States
Lexington
Kentucky
Go Pats!
My awesome son =)
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Zark wrote: I've tried squinting, but I can't see a face
The face is a profile, not straight-on, and it's looking at the lower left-hand corner of your avatar. It helps if you don't have very good eyesight...
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Ægir Æx
Iceland
Reykjavik
Gullbringusysla
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peterstruijf wrote:
Sometimes, this was a difficult policy to implement, because it seemed some folks were just doing the rounds all over the fair to collect free games in return for their business cards and a tall tale. I remember distinctly how I stood in the corridor, watching the tall blonde Icelander disappear into the crowd, carrying his discount copy of my game. I stared blankly at his business card, which said:
Leif Sonofagonarsson
Editor and Chief Executive Officer
South East Icelandic Annual Boardgame
Magazine for the Visually Impaired
I wondered if this club or magazine could really have the 12.5 million mebers or subscribers Leif had just told me about. He sounded pretty convincing. Like he had practised at home first and then tried it out on a good number of publishers today.....
LOL 
The whole population of Iceland is only around 300.000
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Massimiliano della Rovere
Italy
Pisa
Tuscany
-
They could be online subscribers.
I think - if it exists - there is no more than 1 magazine covering a section about boardgames for the visually impaired.
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Peter Struijf
Netherlands
Zoetermeer
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masdero wrote: They could be online subscribers.
I think - if it exists - there is no more than 1 magazine covering a section about boardgames for the visually impaired.
I think it might not exist.....but a lot of similar things DO exist !
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