UK Games Expo 2024

Last weekend I traded at UK Games Expo at the NEC in Birmingham and now I have had some time to recover, I thought I would reflect a bit on how the weekend went.

This was my second year here - when I originally signed up for a table back in 2023, I honestly didn’t know if this would be a good event for me. I just thought, well if it’s a disaster then worst-case scenario I will just play lots of games! UK Games Expo do this amazing thing where they sell cheaper ‘starter’ tables for people like me who aren’t sure. It’s a slightly reduced price to standard retail meaning it’s less of a risk and you can try it out (which I would recommend whole heartedly to anyone in the same boat!)

Turns out that UK Games Expo is EXACTLY where I should be – last year it was my best event, this year it is still my best event (there’s always this voice in the back of my head which wonders if it was just a fluke…) Of course, it helps that these events are huge, this year breaking their previous record for attendance which is amazing, and I hope it continues to grow.

But my mix of gothic and dark fantasy art fits in perfectly with the whole vibe and I get just as much interest here as I do at the smaller goth markets I attend regularly throughout the year. I could not be happier about this, the board gaming community is lovely, the event is one I would attend myself if I wasn’t working, and the opportunity to possibly work on some projects with board game companies is also super exciting (for those who don’t know me, I am an avid video and board gamer – basically those are my only hobbies alongside playing guitar!)

I learned some things after this year’s con – I was selling out of certain designs, and I think for the future I need a smaller, more curated selection. I love that I have so many for people to browse through, but I think at this stage it may just be a bit overwhelming. Over the next few months, I will be having a rejig of my layout as it’s been a while now, the baskets might be retired in favour of a portfolio to make it easier to pick and choose prints at any size you like. I think this is particularly important if I get the opportunity to attend some bigger events such as MCM later this year.

So, I’m sad that I have to wait another year to go back to UK Games Expo, but I do have Tabletop Scotland coming up in September. I’ve never been before, it’s a much smaller event but I’m excited to try it out (and finally make my way up to Scotland for an event!)

For now, I will be taking some well-earned rest, at least until my next event this weekend (that will be a bit more chilled out – I’ll be local at Em-Con in Nottingham!)