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Setting the Stage for DecipherCon 2004

When you go to a convention like Gen Con Indy and visit the Decipher booth, you see a ship-shape area with a store full of TCGs, larger than life signs, demo tables, smiling staff and volunteers, and bright banners hanging aloft. But did you ever think about how it got that way? About the blood, sweat, and tears that go into that booth?

For the Decipher marketing department, it begins on Tuesday in a convention hall crowded with crates, forklifts, and mysterious structures, and the location assigned to the Decipher booth: an expanse of black carpet, littered with stacks of folding tables and chairs, pallets full of boxes, four large black shipping containers, and huge banners spread out on the floor. (Click on the thumbnails to see larger views.)

Since it looks like convention coordinator Kevin Reitzel didn't get the booth put together before we arrived, it looks like we'll all have to pitch in. I knew we should have gotten a later flight!

The black boxes hold the linchpin of the Decipher booth – the store. I know it doesn't look much like a store now, but give us a little time. Armed with arcane instruction sheets and fortified with bottled water and snacks, the team goes to work, and slowly, the store takes shape.

Some last-minute adjustments, and it's time to load the storeroom with everything from Mount Doom to... Austin Powers??

All is not work, however. While waiting for the workmen to arrive to hang the banners, the team discovers a box of .hack promos and invents a new sport: grunty punting! (I didn't say the blood and tears was all on the part of the staff.)

Finally the heavy machinery arrives, and the banners are hoisted into place. Which pretty much does it for Tuesday. Still lots to do on Wednesday...

Kathy McCracken
Web Writer

August 18, 2004