When it comes to running a mission like “Going the Distance,” there is always one issue that I have come across as a self-advocate and public speaker quite frequently that I often struggle with: should I be opportunistic, or should I be strategic?
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I ask myself this question because after meeting with a third party (my psychologist to be exact), I have been pondering about whether or not I should focus on having a particular type of market for “Going the Distance.”
The market in question is fan conventions (comic cons, anime cons, fantasy cons, etc.) of which I have been attending since 2012. Now, lets be real here: I got my start attending brony conventions in 2013 and in 2018, I switched over to comic cons. Furthermore, I haven’t presented at a comic con since 2021 when I presented at Metrocon in Tampa, FL.
Looking to present at fan conventions in addition to my other markets is sort of a feast or famine approach. For one thing, there are plenty of these cons to choose from which is an opportunistic approach. However, in terms of a strategic level, it does bring to question whether or not this is a long-term approach?
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I hate to say it, but fan conventions are not going to be a long-term audience solution at this point in “Going the Distance’s history. What backs me up on this conclusion is that while many neurodiverse individuals and their families attend fan conventions, will they remember entirely what I present to them or will they remember the celebrities, the cosplay and those other fans who would much rather discuss head canons, character shipping’s, etc.?
In fact, something I have noticed at fan conventions was that at times, I felt overstimulated and overwhelmed on both a physical and mental level. If I was feeling overstimulated and overwhelmed, then my target audience is also overstimulated and overwhelmed. Plus, when I presented at MyCon 2021 in Orlando, my morning presentation of “Autism in Disney Characters: Volume 1” was in competition with a sing along going on right next door.
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I know for a fact that as a self-advocate and public speaker, my audience deserves to hear my story in an environment that is tolerable and not at risk of overstimulation. The problem is that I created a series of presentations that were meant for fan conventions such as my Autism in Disney Characters series as an example. But what I have been doing has been opportunistic and not strategic.
If you are reading this blog and are associated with an autism organization that does conferences, trainings or individual events (speaker series, etc.) and most of your audience consists of the following, then maybe we have got something here:
Individuals on the Spectrum
Families affected by Neurodiversity (Parents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, etc.)
Professionals (Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Counselors, etc.)
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These are the presentations in question that I hope to present on a strategic level in addition to educators and employers (which I have presentations already tailored towards).
If you are interested in having me present one of these are your events, as always, feel free to reach out to me today.
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Catch you all later!!
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