Anatomy of a Mystery Convention

It was a dark and stormy night in 1999. In truth, it was a lull in a conference, and the idea for Mayhem in the Midlands was hatched by Ronald Heezen, then the Omaha Public Library (OPL) director, and Jennifer Kirchmann, manager of the library's art and literature department. In a matter of minutes they found a partner in Carol Connor, director of the Lincoln City Libraries (LCL). The group agreed to use seed money from the Nebraska Library Commission and involve local mystery lovers in planning the event.

Enter Sally Fellows, an avid mystery reader, reviewer, and mystery convention attendee. With her help, the journey began with simple logistics.

It made sense to start with a get-acquainted cocktail party, to be followed by two days of panel discussions, including authors on different aspects of mysteries, and ending with a Sunday brunch.

Because Fellows attends every mystery convention, including Bouchercon® and Left Coast Crime, we used those as inspiration (and leaned on the organizers as sounding boards). The first annual Mayhem was held May 11–14, 2000, but we've since moved it to the last weekend in May to avoid Mother's Day.

Finding a venue was more difficult. A number of hotels weren't available on our dates, the rates were too steep, or the management was anxious about taking on an unproven convention. Eventually, the downtown Sheraton became the home of Mayhem. Volunteers from a local mystery readers' group set up committees to handle the book room and the dealers, volunteers, program content, and promotion.

The graphics for the first year's conference included a copyright-free logo that looked like the OPL's main library. It was used on posters and flyers that were sent to libraries in Nebraska and neighboring states. Information was also distributed electronically to various mystery discussion lists such as Dorothy-L and Cluelass (www.cluelass.com).

We also planned another cocktail party, sponsored by Omaha's Sisters in Crime, and a mystery dinner at the local press club. The annual cost for Mayhem was set at $65 for registration (now $75), made before February 1, and $75 thereafter (now $80). The brunch cost an extra $25, with $45 for the mystery dinner and $15–$20 for the Sisters in Crime cocktail party.

Mayhem pays the hotel and travel expenses for the guest of honor and the toastmaster (some have refused to accept, asking us to donate the money to the library). The other authors are on their own dime.

Various ideas for headliners for our first meeting were discussed, but after a couple of turndowns, we took another tack. OPL's Kirchmann knew Annette and Marty Meyers from the early Midwest Mystery & Suspense Conventions held in Omaha, so she just emailed Annette and asked. Max Allen Collins (living in Iowa, he was considered "local") was the toastmaster.

Thanks to Fellows's contacts, Mayhem soon had other authors signing up for panels and talks. Next came registrations from mystery fans who were delighted that Mayhem was close enough (and inexpensive enough) so Midwesterners could attend.

The committee worked on panels and finding book dealers to come to Omaha. The booksellers sell new hardcover/ paperback mysteries and classic titles, as well as mystery-oriented collectibles, e.g., T-shirts, cat "stuff," and note cards.

All of the hard work paid off, with more than 100 participants at the first Mayhem in the Midlands and rising attendance every year since. The 2004 convention had 165 attendees, including those who bought a $40 day pass.

Food service was streamlined after the first year. Twenty-minute "Conversations with the Authors" take place over the noon hour. Meals include brown-bag lunches and buffets. There is an auction (courtesy of Donna Andrews, author of the Meg Langslow and the Turing Hopper series) to benefit children's library services, raising more than $1000 each year for LCL's and OPL's children's book budgets.

After the first two years, the conference made enough money to help fund the next year's convention. We started showing a slight profit in 2002. The 2004 Mayhem cost $15,000 and reaped $19,000, leaving $4000 in seed money.

Mayhem will remain small, with a cap of 200 participants. The goal is to provide an intimate, fun, and intense experience, to foster the "friends meeting friends" feel for which Mayhem has become known.

We continue to tap authors through Fellows, other mystery conventions, and word of mouth. Mayhem has hosted authors we never dreamed of—Donna Andrews, Jan Burke, Rhys Bowen, Charlaine Harris, Dennis Lehane, Laura Lippmann, and Jerrilyn Farmer.

The sixth annual Mayhem in the Midlands will take place May 26–29, 2005, with Peter Robinson as guest of honor and Andrews as toastmaster.

Besides promoting and celebrating a universal love of mysteries, Mayhem also combats a certain community ennui. Many people have lost sight of the value the library has in the community. Mayhem demonstrates OPL's role in economic development and tourism as well as its more basic role in fostering a love of reading and discourse.