From Zero to Hero Booth: Dungeon Labs' Wild First Convention Adventure at Oz Comic-Con Sydney!
Introduction: Taking the Plunge!
Hello Adventurers!
Today, we want to take you back to the start of December 2021 – specifically the 4th & 5th, at the Sydney Showground. This wasn't just any weekend; it marked a monumental step for us here at Dungeon Labs. It was the date of our very first convention booth EVER at Oz Comic-Con Sydney! Emerging into the world after the long shadow of the pandemic, armed with a passion for 3D printing and absolutely zero prior event experience, we dove headfirst into the unknown as a family business. Talk about rolling initiative with disadvantage!
The Quest Prep: Mountains of Minis, Terrains, and Mayhem
Anyone who runs a small business knows the hustle, but preparing for your first major con with no playbook? That's another level! For weeks leading up to Oz Comic-Con, our 3D printers (Filament and resin) ran nearly non-stop, churning out mountains of cool resin miniatures and impressive terrain pieces. We were printing both detailed resin terrain elements and larger, sturdy filament-printed structures, aiming to offer something for every type of tabletop setup. We poured over designs from incredible creators like Archvillain Games, NovaMinis, 3D IP Studios, Rocket Pig Games, CastnPlay, Mini Monster Mayhem, and Dark Gods 3D - wanting to bring an amazing selection to the tabletop community.
Then came the boxing, the organising, figuring out displays, signs, payment systems... all the things you don't know you don't know until you have to know them! As a family, we squeezed every spare moment into getting ready, fueled by excitement and, let's be honest, a fair bit of panic.
Setup Scramble & Opening the Gates: Adrenaline, Minis, Terrain, Music & More at Booth D12!
The real adrenaline kicked in during setup. Picture this: arriving at the bustling Sydney Showground loading dock, van packed to the gills, trying to navigate the controlled chaos of exhibitor bump-in. While my partner and I frantically unloaded boxes and started the mad dash to assemble and decorate our very first booth – strategically located (or perhaps chaotically assigned!) at Booth D12 – our kids were patiently waiting for us in the van nearby as they were not allowed inside! It was a whirlwind of trying to make things look professional while feeling completely out of our depth, all under a serious time crunch. Woah! The nerves were real – would people like our stuff? Would anyone even stop by our little corner? The only way to find out was on the day of the event.
And then, the doors opened. Being right near the main food area and the bustling cosplay stage, our 3x3m Booth D12 was instantly immersed in the vibrant energy of the con! We had a front-row seat to the incredible costumes parading past, and the air was filled with excitement (and sometimes music that had people dancing nearby!). It felt so good just to see people out, smiling, and celebrating their passions together after such a long period of lockdowns.
Our nervousness quickly mingled with excitement as people started discovering our booth amidst the lively surroundings. Seeing folks marvel at the detail on the resin miniatures from our featured designers and checking out the different terrain pieces (both resin and filament printed) we had on display was incredibly validating. Adding to the fun, we had a special "Create Your Own Miniatures" station right there at our booth, where attendees could use a fantastic miniature customizer app to design their unique character! It was a hit and sparked some great creative conversations; the custom designs would then be printed and shipped a few days after the event.
Plus, stopping by the Dungeon Labs booth meant a chance to walk away with some awesome freebies and maybe even snag some cool prizes, thanks to both us and our friends at Monocure 3D who generously provided some goodies! It was our way of saying thanks for checking out our very first event.
The atmosphere around our booth was fantastic all weekend. We saw so many happy faces, fellow exhibitors clearly thrilled to be back selling their wares, and the cosplay, as mentioned, was top-notch! One of the proudest moments for us was seeing one of our own kids join the fun, dressed as a dragon on Saturday and an adorable Pikachu on Sunday! It truly felt like a community celebration right there in our busy little corner of the hall.
The Loot Drop: Experience Over Earnings
So, how did our very first convention go from a business perspective? Honestly, financially, we essentially broke even. But the real profit, the true treasure haul from that weekend, was the experience and the learning. We learned SO much about logistics, presentation, customer interaction, and what the community is looking for. We proved to ourselves that we could do it, even starting from scratch.
Meeting people face-to-face, sharing our passion for high-quality 3D printed miniatures, and receiving such positive feedback and support was invaluable. Seeing the joy these miniatures brought to fellow tabletop gamers solidified why we started Dungeon Labs in the first place. From Passion, Hobby to Business.
Sharing photos of the miniatures we were selling over the weekend.
What's Next? Levelling Up!
That first Oz Comic-Con Sydney was a baptism by fire, but it ignited something in us. It showed us the potential, the fun, and the incredible community surrounding this hobby. It was a reminder that sometimes you just have to be brave, take a risk, and put your passion out there.
While we knew we had a long way to go, that first taste of convention life left us eager for more. We knew there would be many more events, many more challenges, and many more opportunities to showcase the amazing world of 3D printed miniatures and terrain.
Were You There? And Happy Holidays!
Were you at Oz Comic-Con Sydney back at the start of December? Did you happen to stumble upon our very first, slightly chaotic Dungeon Labs booth at D12? We’d love to hear your memories of that event, or about your own first convention experiences, in the comments below!
As we wrap up this reflection and head towards the end of the year, we want to wish everyone a very Happy Holidays and all the best for a fantastic, adventure-filled 2022! Thank you for being part of our journey so far.
