Selling Your Soul To The.....Customer?

So I was thinking a little about the upcoming conventions and conferences and such this year and thought back to some advice I'd been given.  I've been looking into self publishing through a company that specializes in that sort of thing, though I can't right now since I don't really have the money.  One of the things that I've heard is that even if you don't have a book finished you should still advertise yourself to your audience.  Set a deadline goal and then promote yourself and your book to the public.  Something that was suggested was going to events that focus on the audience you were looking for and get out there and talk to them. 

I've been debating on doing that for a while now and really in the long run it would depend on how much a table would run me.  Annoying things like rent, food, gas for my car, etc always seem to get in the way of the things I want to do.  How dare real life get in my way? 

I believe the next big event around here would be CONduit, a local science fiction/fantasy convention and it has the audience that I'm looking at.  Would it motivate me and give me a poke in the side that I'd need to finish the book faster?  Maybe, I can't be sure....unless I do it.  It's an investment either way and I guess if I went to something like that, find out if people actually like the idea of my book, then it would be something to tell me "Hey, people actually would read this thing...it might be a great idea."  It's definitely a nice boost to the ego to be able to know you have an audience out there demanding product.  In the end I have to be happy with my story, but it is nice to know that people outside of my awesome writing group would love to hear more of my story.  Though honestly if my writing group were the only ones to buy the book I'd still be really happy cause I love those guys. 

So if I could get a table at the convention, just a small one mind you, I was trying to come up with ways to promote the book.  Banners and stuff are always nice and you see people walking around with those nifty bookmarks but I don't really have cover art for my book and I'm sure that'll cost me some money too.  I'll look into it but I was also thinking of maybe printing out a pamphlet type deal with a preview of my book...maybe say the prologue and the first chapter?  I know the convention's coming up soon so I have to make a few decisions soon.  Any artists out there wanna give me a hand with a cover design?

Also on a side geek note, I just bought a board game from my friend's store, Fongo Bongo Games.  I really shouldn't have but I couldn't resist.  It's the Star Trek Expeditions Game based on the newest Star Trek movie that yes I actually liked, and yes I am a Trekkie/Trekker depending on how you want to say it.  Haven't played it yet but I'm getting off the computer soon to try it out.  It's kinda nice cause it only requires a minimum of one player to play.  Yay!