response 1 of 2:

Sep 16 16:28 UTC 1996

I've worked with an SF con twice, and a gaming con four times,
and I *still* can't answer all of your questions.  >8)  Here's
what I know:

* Money is, obviously, a problem.  I'd advise going for less
expensive celebrities (e.g. George Takei, not Leonard Nimoy),
unless someone just wants to throw money at you.  Most of the
cons I'm familiar with have done this.

* I don't know of any "list of dealers", but if your con has a
Web page, you'll have dealers begging *you* to let you in.  I've
been through this myself.  Still am, in fact.  "Um, I haven't
worked for that con in years, and I don't know who does..."
"Oh, PLEASE, please tell me who I need to talk to!  I HAVE to
have a booth!"

* Your real concern, though, is something you haven't mentioned.
You need to get someone who's run a convention before.  Someone
who already knows the answers to *all* of your questions.
Remember that if you're in charge of the convention, you'll be
responsible for any fiscal liabilities the con incurs, so if
you lose thousands of bucks on this (which you could), you'll
be working a third job for several years.  There are lots of
SF convention organizers in the Chicago area, I suggest you talk
to them about what they do.  Most of them are friendly when newer
folks ask them stuff, since they too had to ask the questions
once upon a time.