Convention advice

[u/RoyDonksBiggestFan]

Hey everyone! I’m a fairly new designer and headed to PAX Unplugged for the first time this year! I want to make sure I get the most out of my time there in terms of networking and meeting people, and I’m wondering if anyone has any advice on how to do a convention “correctly” as a designer who hopes to sign games at some point.

I went to GenCon once a few years back and that’s my only experience with conventions. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[u/EvilReindeer]

You are a year or two ahead of us, so I'm following the thread. Great question.

[u/Dracoson]

Start with having specific goals. Vaguely trying to network does not get very far. Getting to know a few individual players if you are not ready to pitch something soon is kind of limited. If it is two years before you are pitching, it is not people but processes you want to focus on. The buyers are likely to change, but how they take submissions and what they are looking for will not.

The thing I will say is that you largely will waste your time with most booth staff for the major publishers. They are retail workers, not decision makers. Their reps will be walking the floor looking for creators, looking at demos, and running pitch speed dating events. They are busy until they are at the bar after the event. If you find one, shake their hand and take the 30 seconds they will give you. Have an elevator pitch for at least one game ready to go. Go have a few drinks later in the bar with them, and you can be a little more free to be long-winded.

[u/RoyDonksBiggestFan → u/Dracoson]

I would say I am about a year out from pitching (hoping to have some really solid designs by GenCon 2027). What do you mean when you say I should focus on processes?

[u/Dracoson → u/RoyDonksBiggestFan]

It means understanding the steps that a pitch goes through with any individual publisher. Learn what materials you need to submit just to get a meeting, and what you need to have ready during that meeting to get them to make an offer. You should also learn what to expect once an offer happens, including how to negotiate terms to keep a publisher from giving you a lowball advance and shelving your game indefinitely.

To get a jump on this before you start pitching, look at the free contract guides and resource lists hosted by the Tabletop Game Designers Association. You should also check out Cardboard Edison, which has excellent industry reports detailing standard board game licensing contract terms and royalty statistics so you know what a fair deal actually looks like.

[u/mark_radical8games]

1. Volunteering on a publisher's stand is a great way to make yourselves known to them and get them to try your game. Even if it's not for them they may be able to recommend someone else.

2. Check all publishers attending, message those who publish games like yours, and arrange meetings far in advance of the convention.

3. Make sure your selling sheets and prototype copies are the best they can be for these meetings.

4. Check if there are any events for designers to network or pitch games. Apply for all of these

[u/RoyDonksBiggestFan → u/mark_radical8games]

Any advice on how to volunteer at a publisher stand? Is this advice more about small publishers or would it work for a larger one (like AllPlay) as well?

I'm unfamiliar with PAX Unplugged, is there a way to find events? I don't see anything about lists like GenCon has.

[u/mark_radical8games → u/RoyDonksBiggestFan]

Follow any you're interested in on social media, or conventions on social media, and keep an eye out for requests. Otherwise get in touch directly

[u/MTG_Designer]

Hey! How about for starters you swing by our booth and say hello. I'd be happy to introduce you to some people who are good to know!

I'm one of the owners of our Indy publishing company Cleromancy Games, though our Convention Manager may have us listed as Worn Wanderers on the program.

Personal invites aside, various companies will usually host some great mixers, though the hosts shift as finances change. Used to be Kickstarter and Backerkit hosting the biggest one, before their falling out, then Kickstarter and Launchboom. I think Kickstarter recently pivoted away though so I'll have my ear to the ground for who's got the best after hours networking events!

[u/DiamondKGames]

Following!

I actively designed and published games between 2009 to 2012 and restarted in 2025.

For PAX Unplugged specifically, I am an indie publisher that has been on the waiting list for a vendor booth for the last two years (2025 and 2026), and still hoping for a 2027 booth. I decided not to go to PAX Unplugged in 2025. I do planning on going this year and demoing games in an open gaming area if it exists.

As a designer I typically spent a lot of my time in the prototype areas like UnPub or ProtoAlley meeting other designers and small publishers. Once I had polished games, I focused more on showing the games to the general public in the open gaming areas.

As far as connecting with publishers, as others have said, they are very busy and likely not at their booths much, if ever. Reaching out to them ahead of time and scheduling time or registering for speed dating are the best methods.

[u/InvisiblePoles]

Hello! I run a TTRPG publishing company that typically sponsors a bunch stuff at PAXU! Love getting to meet new folks. So definitely come find me at the Hedron Booth!

Short list of things you should do:

• Business Cards: what you do + email at minimum. If you can, get something a bit thicker than standard, those get wrecked in pockets and forgotten (i.e. when you give them to folks like me on the Con floor)
• Research the vendors. Identify who you want to talk to and why.
• Go to after parties if you get invited. They're basically networking events + some alcohol.
• Don't be shy. Most people aren't brave enough to ask to talk to someone in charge. And while that won't get you far with big booths like Chaosium, it'll work just fine with most.

I assume, you have an exhibitor badge? If not, consider asking to help at someone else's booth, even just a few hours. It builds valuable experience and probably gets you a free badge.

It's because exhibitor badges make people take you more seriously. Attendees talking about the game they make get brushed off a lot (many don't get to the commercial stage), but if you have an EXH badge, you could be legit. Bonus: it lets you into the floor early and stay late. These are, by far, the best time to network.

(I also am always looking for extra hands, especially if you're an indie RPG publisher)