FIVE THINGS I LIKE ABOUT GOING TO COMIC SHOWS!
Oh no! Has Vader met his end at the hands of the bird!?
Time folks once again for this small press organizer, creator, and publisher to throw out my meager opinion on some comic, indie, and pop culture related subject, yes it’s time for…
THE OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK!
This week?
10-21-13
FIVE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT EXHIBITING AT A CON…
I often whine and complain about all the things that can and at times, DO go wrong or are not quite as savory about being an exhibitor at a comic book convention or other related trade show. But lets be honest. If I hated the experience, I would have found another venue to get my name out there by now! Truth is, despite some obstacles, irritations, and occasional bad incidents, I love being on the road. I love the entire experience of going to a new or familiar place to set up shop, peddle my wares, meet old acquaintances, and forge a few new ones.
But what do I like the most about traveling to exotic locations in the US and trying to make my little comic book dream fly? Sometimes it’s the little things; the small details that seem innocuous to others, but to me make the whole trip seem worthwhile to make the trek. Here are a top five of sorts in no order of importance as such, minute details, starting with.
1) GETTING IN BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE: This applies to mostly the mid to large sized shows like Baltimore, NYCC, and San Diego. When you are a creator type and are able to slip past lines that in some cases, snake around 1-3 city blocks, and see the look of disdain by fan-folk as you waltz in unopposed through the front door. It really is a feeling of power, and rushes of adrenaline to step foot on a big con floor an hour or two before the general public. It’s the geek culture equivalent to a back stage pass to an exclusive club or big concert. Better yet you are one of the acts that get to interact with the other performers of sorts that range from just starting off in the industry, to the giants of the trade. It’s a lovely little way of life giving you a moment to tell you: YOU’VE ARRIVED…
2) RETURN FAN- Meeting a new customer and making a new fan is great! But I have to say the ones that COME BACK are even better. The ones that actually read your work, love it, and make it a point to come to a show, and make you part of their itinerary can literally make a show worthwhile; and not just because of money. I think it gives me a sense of continuity and purpose. That I am making some sort of small progress, and perhaps this mad experiment will not lead me into a bottomless chasm of financial and personal ruin…You know… GOOD TIMES!
3) AFTER SHOW HANGING OUT- This is the comic creator equivalent to going out for a beer after work. We talk about comics and pop culture for 4-10 hours straight. We are literally bathed in comics, sci-fi, fantasy and all other facets of geekdom ad-nausem, and what do we talk we do when we do when we get out??? Go to dinner and bs about for another hour to 4 hours more?! I mean we also talk about family, friends, and relationships as well. But its buried and sandwiched between a lot of shop talk. The funny part is that I at least enjoy the social interaction. For many of us creator and comic types, we spend inordinate amounts of time stuck in a small room drawing and writing away, never seeing sunlight, an extent of social interaction is that of the occasional Facebook post or random Tweet. Going to cons for me, is a bit of a reminder of sorts that I am a member of the human species, and that a little small talk with my fellow upright hairless monkey folk can sometimes be a good thing…
It’s also rather nice after a long day on the floor to unwind, with war stories either from the show, or other tales of battles and skirmishes from on the road.
4) ENTHUSIASTIC KID- I like kids for the most part. They are the future of the craft and industry. Now while there are quite a few moments I have had some unruly brats come up to my booth, unattended, rip up my wares, and dare me to strangle them into a wrongful death lawsuit from their inattentive parents. But there are usually a lot more instances where a young boy or girl will walk up to my booth, and be enamored by what I am doing. Its real nice to see someone who hasn’t been disillusioned by 10 to 30 years-worth of tired storyline cliché, building unhealthy doses of sarcastic and sardonic overtone, and disappointment from their favorite childhood stories and heroes being turned into bad movies or television programs. They just know that you make cool drawings, and do a fun job. It’s a way of me momentarily living vicariously through that child’s enthusiasm. I appreciate those small doses of unfiltered, kid level fandom to make me forget about the surly, bleak, adult versions roaming the con floor that often can put a damper on the whole experience…
5) IS IT OVER ALREADY???- This is the feeling I get after a really productive day or weekend at a convention. The ones where I am so busy, and backed with commissions, sales, pitches, and other items, that time seems to pass in the blink of an eye. So much so, I get to four or five in the afternoon, hear the announcement that the show has closed for the day, notice cramps in my right hand, sore legs, a nice pile of cash, significantly lower inventory, and think to myself “Is it over?! I can go another hour or two??? Open the doors back up!” You can’t possibly get this feeling from a day job; at least I never did. It’s the sense of accomplishment, married with the idea that I would be happy to do more, and that the energy, both physical and psychological, in that moment feels limitless. You get a sense that what you did, was appreciated by the people you met and interacted with, and that they will go home liking what you have done for them. I can live off that feeling through all the not so good moments that can often follow a good one like that.
Well there are other great feelings at a con. But as a creator, those seem to stand out in my head at the moment! I think, as I mentioned in the beginning, that I sometimes dwell too much in the downsides, minuses and negatives of the career I have chosen, and I think that I need to take opportunities like this to reflect on all the good stuff that keeps me motivated and proud to call myself a member of the craft and industry that is sequential storytelling!
Well that’s it from me! What do you think?
Dan Nokes
Creative Director
21st Century Sandshark Studios
THE OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK!
This week?
10-21-13
FIVE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT EXHIBITING AT A CON…
I often whine and complain about all the things that can and at times, DO go wrong or are not quite as savory about being an exhibitor at a comic book convention or other related trade show. But lets be honest. If I hated the experience, I would have found another venue to get my name out there by now! Truth is, despite some obstacles, irritations, and occasional bad incidents, I love being on the road. I love the entire experience of going to a new or familiar place to set up shop, peddle my wares, meet old acquaintances, and forge a few new ones.
But what do I like the most about traveling to exotic locations in the US and trying to make my little comic book dream fly? Sometimes it’s the little things; the small details that seem innocuous to others, but to me make the whole trip seem worthwhile to make the trek. Here are a top five of sorts in no order of importance as such, minute details, starting with.
1) GETTING IN BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE: This applies to mostly the mid to large sized shows like Baltimore, NYCC, and San Diego. When you are a creator type and are able to slip past lines that in some cases, snake around 1-3 city blocks, and see the look of disdain by fan-folk as you waltz in unopposed through the front door. It really is a feeling of power, and rushes of adrenaline to step foot on a big con floor an hour or two before the general public. It’s the geek culture equivalent to a back stage pass to an exclusive club or big concert. Better yet you are one of the acts that get to interact with the other performers of sorts that range from just starting off in the industry, to the giants of the trade. It’s a lovely little way of life giving you a moment to tell you: YOU’VE ARRIVED…
2) RETURN FAN- Meeting a new customer and making a new fan is great! But I have to say the ones that COME BACK are even better. The ones that actually read your work, love it, and make it a point to come to a show, and make you part of their itinerary can literally make a show worthwhile; and not just because of money. I think it gives me a sense of continuity and purpose. That I am making some sort of small progress, and perhaps this mad experiment will not lead me into a bottomless chasm of financial and personal ruin…You know… GOOD TIMES!
3) AFTER SHOW HANGING OUT- This is the comic creator equivalent to going out for a beer after work. We talk about comics and pop culture for 4-10 hours straight. We are literally bathed in comics, sci-fi, fantasy and all other facets of geekdom ad-nausem, and what do we talk we do when we do when we get out??? Go to dinner and bs about for another hour to 4 hours more?! I mean we also talk about family, friends, and relationships as well. But its buried and sandwiched between a lot of shop talk. The funny part is that I at least enjoy the social interaction. For many of us creator and comic types, we spend inordinate amounts of time stuck in a small room drawing and writing away, never seeing sunlight, an extent of social interaction is that of the occasional Facebook post or random Tweet. Going to cons for me, is a bit of a reminder of sorts that I am a member of the human species, and that a little small talk with my fellow upright hairless monkey folk can sometimes be a good thing…
It’s also rather nice after a long day on the floor to unwind, with war stories either from the show, or other tales of battles and skirmishes from on the road.
4) ENTHUSIASTIC KID- I like kids for the most part. They are the future of the craft and industry. Now while there are quite a few moments I have had some unruly brats come up to my booth, unattended, rip up my wares, and dare me to strangle them into a wrongful death lawsuit from their inattentive parents. But there are usually a lot more instances where a young boy or girl will walk up to my booth, and be enamored by what I am doing. Its real nice to see someone who hasn’t been disillusioned by 10 to 30 years-worth of tired storyline cliché, building unhealthy doses of sarcastic and sardonic overtone, and disappointment from their favorite childhood stories and heroes being turned into bad movies or television programs. They just know that you make cool drawings, and do a fun job. It’s a way of me momentarily living vicariously through that child’s enthusiasm. I appreciate those small doses of unfiltered, kid level fandom to make me forget about the surly, bleak, adult versions roaming the con floor that often can put a damper on the whole experience…
5) IS IT OVER ALREADY???- This is the feeling I get after a really productive day or weekend at a convention. The ones where I am so busy, and backed with commissions, sales, pitches, and other items, that time seems to pass in the blink of an eye. So much so, I get to four or five in the afternoon, hear the announcement that the show has closed for the day, notice cramps in my right hand, sore legs, a nice pile of cash, significantly lower inventory, and think to myself “Is it over?! I can go another hour or two??? Open the doors back up!” You can’t possibly get this feeling from a day job; at least I never did. It’s the sense of accomplishment, married with the idea that I would be happy to do more, and that the energy, both physical and psychological, in that moment feels limitless. You get a sense that what you did, was appreciated by the people you met and interacted with, and that they will go home liking what you have done for them. I can live off that feeling through all the not so good moments that can often follow a good one like that.
Well there are other great feelings at a con. But as a creator, those seem to stand out in my head at the moment! I think, as I mentioned in the beginning, that I sometimes dwell too much in the downsides, minuses and negatives of the career I have chosen, and I think that I need to take opportunities like this to reflect on all the good stuff that keeps me motivated and proud to call myself a member of the craft and industry that is sequential storytelling!
Well that’s it from me! What do you think?
Dan Nokes
Creative Director
21st Century Sandshark Studios