With Beer-Con just over a week away, we shot a few questions to Michael Bowen, co-organizer of the event.
West Coaster: You’ve been wearing the “Ask me about Beer-Con” shirt around. What’s the most interesting question you’ve been asked?
Michael Bowen: I wouldn’t say too much in regards to crazy questions. I did have one gentleman offer to do karaoke of Katy Perry at Beer-Con. Though that could be fun, we may have to pass for this year.
The one thing I will say I have noticed in my conversations is that there is a very cautious vibe out there right now after the collapse of America’s Finest Beer Festival. I think it made a lot of people question and think about the events they attend. I can’t say how many, all be it jokingly, said how they hope I don’t have to cancel this event.
What the conversations do tell me is that brewers, craft beer drinkers and the media are going to be weary of new events, big or small. People need to realize that we’re dealing with a very educated consumer base, and if your goal is just to make money, then it’s going to fall flat on its face. All I can say is that I’m building an event that I know I would want to attend.
WC: The name itself, Beer-Con, is gold. When’d you come up with it?
MB: That’s a good question. The name just came from the idea. It went a little like this: “You know, someone should do a beer event that everyone can go to and learn something about. Maybe I’ll do it. A beer conference. And I can call it Beer-Con.” Googled it, turned out someone actually owned the domain beercon.com (which now forwards to google) so I had to settle for Beer-Con.com
WC: What made the Handlery Resort & Hotel a match for Beer-Con?
MB: The Handlery really came to mind because of the success they had with their Mission Valley Festival. I knew they had an understanding for what I was wanting to accomplish. Just seemed like a natural partnership. A beer friendly location that is central to San Diego with plenty of parking available.
WC: Estimated # of hours personally put into the planning of Beer-Con so far?
MB: I have to say the hours have all blended in. With my day job, then Awesome Beer Drinker events, to building an event like Beer-Con from the ground up – time tends to blend together. I will say that when I first thought of the idea, I underestimated that time needed to put on an event. I take lunches at work, to make calls for Beer-Con stuff. I did all the site and design at home, and with my trusty beers I would be up till 1am or later to only get up the next day and do it all over again. Not to mention a couple other side projects I’ve been doing to generate additional funds to pay for Beer-Con.
WC: You’re now involved with AwesomeBeerDrinkers (a site that reviews beers and organizes private tastings), Beer-Con, and Beer For Thought (market research, events). You obviously like beer. What’s next?
MB: Each item leads down a couple different paths. I know that I am working on two events for San Diego Beer Week which I’m very excited for. It’s the first time AwesomeBeerDrinkers is going to be a part of Beer Week.
I also know that I want to be more active with the beer community and the brewers guild. Meeting and working with people is the only way I can keep pushing my ideas out. I also need to develop AwesomeBeerDrinkers and BeerForThought. With Beer-Con they have both kind of taken a back seat right now. Then I have MeetUp groups that I want to be active in, along with the AwesomeBeerDrinkers group. I feel bad that I have a couple people following and there hasn’t been much going on. That’s all going to change.
Though in the immediate future, I’m sure I’ll have to take a little breather with Jen. She has been so supportive through all of this it’s the least I can do. Maybe take a trip up north and check out San Fran (and hit some breweries up that way, just don’t tell her)