Frequently Asked Questions for Artists

Registration for Premium Artists 2017 will open on April 27, 2018 at 9pm until May 1, 2018 at 12am EST.

Registration for Regular Artists 2017 will open on May 4, 2018 at 9pm to 11pm EST.

If you have any questions, please contact our Artists' Area staff.

Before the convention

What is the Artists' Area and where is it located?

The Artists' Area is a space provided for artists who wish to sell and promote their artwork, as well as draw new works on commission. It can be found in the Exhibition Hall (room 220BCDE).

What are the operating hours of the Artists' Area?

	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Setup	4:00 pm - 9:00 pm	8:00 am - 11:00 am	9:00 am - 10:00 am	9:00 am - 10:00 am
Open		11:00 am - 8:00 pm	10:00 am - 7:00 pm	10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tear Down		8:00 pm - 9:00 pm	7:00 pm - 8:00 pm	5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

 

What is the difference between a Premium Artist and a Regular Artist?

 

	Premium Artists	Regular Artists
Table Size	Full table (8'x2.5')	Full table (6'x2.5')
Price	$250 CAD (Badge not included)	$130 CAD (Badge not included)
Displays: stands and structures	Must not exceed 9 feet above the table, or 11.5 feet from the ground.  Stands and free-standing structures are allowed.	Must not exceed 5 feet above the table or 7.5 feet from the ground.  Stands and free-standing structures are NOT allowed.

What is included in the price of a table?

• Badge NOT included;
• TWO (2) chairs;
• White cloth for the table. We encourage Artists to bring their own cloth to cover their merchandise before closing;
• Electricity and Internet services are not included. You may request it from the Palais de congrès de Montreal.

Can I sell artwork from another artist if I have their permission?

If the original artist has consented to the reselling of their artwork or craftsmanship, they will need to fill in a letter of consent and fulfil the requirements and provide that to the Artists' Area staff by July 15, 2018. You can request the letter of consent from the Artists' Area staff by contacting them by email (artistsarea@otakuthon.com)

What is the selection process?

Step	Date	Notes
1. Online Application Form	Premium: 9PM EST April 27, 2018 to 12AM EST May 1, 2018	Due to high demand, premium artists will only be selected through lottery process.
	Regular: 9PM-11PM EST May 4, 2018	The first 2/3 will be selected by first-come first-serve, and the remaining 1/3 will be chosen by lottery.
2. Online Registration Form and Contract	1 week after the application closing date	These documents must be submitted in the next 72h after the email has been sent out by the Artists’ Area staff.
3. Table payment	1-2 weeks after the submission of registration form and contract	Based on the method of payment chosen: PayPal: Must be paid within 10 days once the payment request has been submitted. Office:  May 26, 2018
4. Table confirmation	Up to 1 week after payment has been processed	Once the payment and all documentation has been processed, the Artists’ Area staff will send an email confirming that the table reservation has been completed.

Note: Those who were unable to obtain a table will be placed on the Waiting list and will be contacted based on their position in the Waiting list once a spot frees itself.

What is the difference between the Fire sale list and the Waiting list?

Artists who do not make it through the application process will all automatically be added to the waiting list.

The Fire sale list is a separate list for Artists who wish to be contacted in the case of No-show Artists on the first day of the convention (Friday) and are ready to setup their table for the remaining days of the convention. Tables will be sold at a discounted price as the Artists' Area staff.

Requesting to be placed on the Fire sale list does not affect your position on the Waiting list.

I am a minor, can I still apply to the Artists' Area?

No. All Artists must be 18 years or older. Group members must be 16 years or older. If any Artist of the table sells mature content, their group members must be 18 years or older.

How many tables can I reserve?

Artists may only apply for ONE (1) Artist Table at a time. Should an Artists' artwork or craftsmanship be found on sale in multiple Artist Tables, the Artist in question will be subject to the Three Strike Rule.

Can I purchase an Artist table AND a Dealer space?

No. It is only possible to book ONE (1) table in the Artists' Area or ONE (1) space in the Dealer's Area.

Can I purchase a table for a single day?

No. Artists must be present at their table throughout the entire convention. Should an artist leave their table before the convention has finished, they will less likely be able to obtain a table in the following years.

I've submitted my Application, but would like to make changes, who should I contact?

In the event of wanting to make changes to your Artist Application form after submitting it, please contact our Artists' Area staff at artistsarea@otakuthon.com with as much information as possible.

First Name:
Last Name:
Brief explanation of what you would like to change:

What can and cannot be sold at artist tables?

Can be sold:

• You must own the copyright for all artwork sold at your table, or upon submission of the proxy form by July 15, 2018 via email.

Cannot be sold:

• Manipulated images and/or images copied from official artwork, and the use of official logos.
• Replicas of existing merchandise may not be sold in the Artists’ Area. This includes but is not limited to logos and emblems from series such as Attack on Titan, Pokémon Go, etc.
• Food may not be sold or distributed.

How can I add Artist helpers after Applications?

If you want to add a helper to your artists' group, your helper must purchase a badge via the regular pre-registration system. Once the badge is obtained, your helper will receive a confirmation number. Send the following information to the Artists' Area email:

First Name:
Last Name:
Confirmation number:

Do you accept out of country artists?

Yes. However, all artists out of country are responsible for their own respective laws in regard to dealing with seller permits, work visas and other applicable laws and regulations.

I am part of a club, collective, or college, can I get an Artist table?

If you are representing a club (ex: a Comic Book Club), or are part of a collective, you are eligible for a table if you have participated in the artworks or craftsmanship that will be on sale.  You will have to go through the same application process as all artists as we do not prioritize or privilege all individuals or groups based on this. There is no guarantee that you will obtain a table.

How do I cancel my table? Will I receive a refund?

If you cannot attend Otakuthon or do not wish to keep your table, please contact the Artists' Area Director as soon as possible to make alternate arrangements. Refunds will be issued on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Artists' Area Director. Please note that badges are not refundable, and there will be a minimum penalty of 50% of the table's reservation fee.

During the Convention

How do I obtain electricity and/or Internet services during the convention?

Electricity, telephony or Internet services may be ordered from the Palais des congrès de Montréal facilities. Please fill out the request forms directly on the website of the Palais des congrès at https://portailclient.congresmtl.com/en/web/guest/accueil.

Can I bring my own chairs in addition to the ones available at the tables?

Full tables include TWO (2) chairs. No additional chairs will be provided or permitted.

Can I eat at my table?

Yes. Artists can eat food within the Artists' Area as long as they keep their space clean. Please remember to eat and stay hydrated during the length of the convention!

Can I ask a staff member to watch my table?

If you wish to have someone watch your table (i.e. helpers), they must be signed up in your Artist Group. Only staff and attendees with an Artist badge may operate behind a table in the Artists' Area.

How many people can stay at a table during the convention?

A maximum of three persons are allowed behind a full table at all times. However, for safety reasons, only two chairs will be allowed.

After closing, will my merchandise be safe?

The Palais des congrès de Montréal's cleaning staff will be inside the Exhibition Hall after closing. Security guards will monitor the Exhibition Hall overnight during the cleaning on Friday and Saturday. Otakuthon will not be responsible for any losses that occur during the convention.

If I have any issues during the convention, who should I go to?

If you encounter any issues during the convention, please seek out an Artists' Area staff member or volunteer. They will be wearing the Otakuthon bandana and will be walking around the Exhibition Hall during the convention.