VA COMICON 2013
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?
CONFESSIONS OF A SMALL PRESS ORGANIZER: My experience at the 2013 2-Day VA Comicon
In September of 2011 I got summarily dismissed from my day job as a shipping/receiving clerk at a local manufacturing company. Now I had been in the comics industry on a part time basis since 2002. Part time meaning that I sunk every spare moment that I wasn’t at my full time job (and a few moments here and there when I was there) on making comic books, art, and whatever it I could to advance things along.
But at this point I was stuck with two options. The first seemed traveled, realistic, and safer, with trying to find a new day job. But this meant once again: pounding pavement, filling out hour long applications with those godawful surveys, waiting for non-existent callbacks, and glossing and embellishing my skillsets, attributes, and reasons I got fired from my last job at an interview for a job, quite frankly, I most likely did not really want. The second had a lovely packaging and greeting card on it, with taking my part time gig, and making it my full time deal. This seems appealing on the surface with keeping my own hours, and doing what I love. But indie comics, much like indie musicians, authors, and movies is a hustle of sorts with little guarantee in terms of finance and security. To survive you have to have your hand in a lot of pies, take full advantage of every opportunity, and reach out for what meager resources and material you can get your paws on. I knew at the onset just exhibiting at a bunch of shows alone was not going cut the proverbial mustard.
Thus enter one Brett Carreras…
Brett and Guy Rose are the co-owners of Richmond’s VIRGINIA COMICON. Brett was putting together the 2011 2-Day VA show at the Crowne in Richmond, and was interested in bringing me on as a small press organizer for the event. Brett and Guy were very generous. So suffice to say as someone who one of his dreams was to be involved with a comic book show, leapt at the chance.
Suffice to say it was a “Baptism of Fire” and much like everything I have ever dedicated myself to, I learned much through trial and error. But when it was said and over, I can honestly say that I had a lot of fun and felt fulfilled for my part in that show.
This made it even sweeter when Brett and Guy asked me to stay on as the permanent small press dude for the one day shows…
So fast forward to June of 2013…
I received an E-mail from Brett letting me know that he and Painted Visions Comic Shop owner Chris Lloyd were planning on doing a MASSIVE 2-day show in November, and offered me a great deal to sign up as small press/artist alley liaison for the event. Now I can’t say that a part of me freaked at the idea of handling that size shindig and amount of people. To give you an idea of how big, the one day shows were usually held at a hotel, with 7-10 tables allocated to me to find indie comic talent for. The gate was anywhere from 200-600ppl over the course of the day. This two day con would be at a huge hall (Not sure on size but 7000-10000 square feet or more would not be a lie). I was given initially 60 tables to work with but expanded to over 80 that I either directly or indirectly worked with the creators and artists in some capacity. For an introvert, despiser of humankind as a species, sardonic, surly type such as myself, that was a frightening concept. BUT GOSH DARN IT ALL TO HECK! I WANTED TO DO THIS!!! It was a challenge, and Brett, Chris and Guy all showed nothing but support and belief in my abilities.
We currently arrive at the scene where I experienced being on the other side of the fence at a show. Allow me to explain. I am also still a publisher and creator, who goes to anywhere from 25-50 shows a year. Now this is a theory. But I tend to think that as such, we tend to see the cons from the perspective of that 6ft to 8ft table that we occupy at big top. Not a cut really. That is our job at a show, and if it’s not, then there is definitely a problem. But this being the case, I and most likely others, never quite take into account, what it takes to even do a small hotel program, let alone a major regional or national fanshow. I know now that there is good reason why it’s difficult to locate Brett, Marc Nathan, Shelton Drum and other organizers during an event. From my part, I can liken it to being the most trustworthy somewhat lucid lunatic put in charge of the asylum.
Now don’t get me wrong! I enjoyed every moment of it. In the short run, when I had to do revisions on diagrams, place seating, dealing with exhibitor needs. Sure, I swore and screamed a few times, and paced my room or the floor like a demented homeless madman exclaiming his cryptic manifesto under angered breath. But unlike most jobs I have held in the past, where I did much extra legwork and went the additional mile for my place of employment; things were much different. I did all this and came away with a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment for the end results. Just about all the creators I came into contact, were a pleasure to deal with. Unlike say working at a fast food joint, or checkout clerk at a local box store, when someone said “THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND HELP.” I got the impression it was heartfelt and genuine, rather than a socially contracted conversation closer. It was a huge thrill to see 3000-plus people over two days clog the aisle ways, and know that I had a supporting hand in that sea of humanity setting foot through the door.
It was a great feeling to hang out with friends in and after the show, recounting our victories and war wounds. I got to co-mc a cosplay contest that had Yaya Han as a judge and hundreds of people with eyes and ears occasionally on me. I did a panel on wrestling with fellow aficionado Ben Taylor. I sat in a hotel lobby with Matt Hawkins and Rob Liefeld and just bs an hour talking about work, comics, family life and other small and not so small talk subjects. I got to have “elder statesman” moments to a host of creator and artist types that either displayed or showed up with a portfolio to the show. It was nice to give advice to those trying much like I am now, to figure out how to make and maintain a living making pretty pictures and telling entertaining stories.
I’ve been going to comic conventions since 1992, exhibiting at them since 2002, and helping to run them since 2011, it’s a big component of who I am. They are to me my place of employment, meadehall, social club, grand palace of wisdom, and pop culture cathedral all rolled up into one. It was a privilege and an honor to be able to help put on a regional show with friends, colleagues, fellow road warriors and creator types, to make one such show possible. It is because of them, my bosses, and the fan support that I hope I am able to do this again in 2014…
Dan Nokes
Creative Director
21st Century Sandshark Studios
THE OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK!
This week?
CONFESSIONS OF A SMALL PRESS ORGANIZER: My experience at the 2013 2-Day VA Comicon
In September of 2011 I got summarily dismissed from my day job as a shipping/receiving clerk at a local manufacturing company. Now I had been in the comics industry on a part time basis since 2002. Part time meaning that I sunk every spare moment that I wasn’t at my full time job (and a few moments here and there when I was there) on making comic books, art, and whatever it I could to advance things along.
But at this point I was stuck with two options. The first seemed traveled, realistic, and safer, with trying to find a new day job. But this meant once again: pounding pavement, filling out hour long applications with those godawful surveys, waiting for non-existent callbacks, and glossing and embellishing my skillsets, attributes, and reasons I got fired from my last job at an interview for a job, quite frankly, I most likely did not really want. The second had a lovely packaging and greeting card on it, with taking my part time gig, and making it my full time deal. This seems appealing on the surface with keeping my own hours, and doing what I love. But indie comics, much like indie musicians, authors, and movies is a hustle of sorts with little guarantee in terms of finance and security. To survive you have to have your hand in a lot of pies, take full advantage of every opportunity, and reach out for what meager resources and material you can get your paws on. I knew at the onset just exhibiting at a bunch of shows alone was not going cut the proverbial mustard.
Thus enter one Brett Carreras…
Brett and Guy Rose are the co-owners of Richmond’s VIRGINIA COMICON. Brett was putting together the 2011 2-Day VA show at the Crowne in Richmond, and was interested in bringing me on as a small press organizer for the event. Brett and Guy were very generous. So suffice to say as someone who one of his dreams was to be involved with a comic book show, leapt at the chance.
Suffice to say it was a “Baptism of Fire” and much like everything I have ever dedicated myself to, I learned much through trial and error. But when it was said and over, I can honestly say that I had a lot of fun and felt fulfilled for my part in that show.
This made it even sweeter when Brett and Guy asked me to stay on as the permanent small press dude for the one day shows…
So fast forward to June of 2013…
I received an E-mail from Brett letting me know that he and Painted Visions Comic Shop owner Chris Lloyd were planning on doing a MASSIVE 2-day show in November, and offered me a great deal to sign up as small press/artist alley liaison for the event. Now I can’t say that a part of me freaked at the idea of handling that size shindig and amount of people. To give you an idea of how big, the one day shows were usually held at a hotel, with 7-10 tables allocated to me to find indie comic talent for. The gate was anywhere from 200-600ppl over the course of the day. This two day con would be at a huge hall (Not sure on size but 7000-10000 square feet or more would not be a lie). I was given initially 60 tables to work with but expanded to over 80 that I either directly or indirectly worked with the creators and artists in some capacity. For an introvert, despiser of humankind as a species, sardonic, surly type such as myself, that was a frightening concept. BUT GOSH DARN IT ALL TO HECK! I WANTED TO DO THIS!!! It was a challenge, and Brett, Chris and Guy all showed nothing but support and belief in my abilities.
We currently arrive at the scene where I experienced being on the other side of the fence at a show. Allow me to explain. I am also still a publisher and creator, who goes to anywhere from 25-50 shows a year. Now this is a theory. But I tend to think that as such, we tend to see the cons from the perspective of that 6ft to 8ft table that we occupy at big top. Not a cut really. That is our job at a show, and if it’s not, then there is definitely a problem. But this being the case, I and most likely others, never quite take into account, what it takes to even do a small hotel program, let alone a major regional or national fanshow. I know now that there is good reason why it’s difficult to locate Brett, Marc Nathan, Shelton Drum and other organizers during an event. From my part, I can liken it to being the most trustworthy somewhat lucid lunatic put in charge of the asylum.
Now don’t get me wrong! I enjoyed every moment of it. In the short run, when I had to do revisions on diagrams, place seating, dealing with exhibitor needs. Sure, I swore and screamed a few times, and paced my room or the floor like a demented homeless madman exclaiming his cryptic manifesto under angered breath. But unlike most jobs I have held in the past, where I did much extra legwork and went the additional mile for my place of employment; things were much different. I did all this and came away with a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment for the end results. Just about all the creators I came into contact, were a pleasure to deal with. Unlike say working at a fast food joint, or checkout clerk at a local box store, when someone said “THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND HELP.” I got the impression it was heartfelt and genuine, rather than a socially contracted conversation closer. It was a huge thrill to see 3000-plus people over two days clog the aisle ways, and know that I had a supporting hand in that sea of humanity setting foot through the door.
It was a great feeling to hang out with friends in and after the show, recounting our victories and war wounds. I got to co-mc a cosplay contest that had Yaya Han as a judge and hundreds of people with eyes and ears occasionally on me. I did a panel on wrestling with fellow aficionado Ben Taylor. I sat in a hotel lobby with Matt Hawkins and Rob Liefeld and just bs an hour talking about work, comics, family life and other small and not so small talk subjects. I got to have “elder statesman” moments to a host of creator and artist types that either displayed or showed up with a portfolio to the show. It was nice to give advice to those trying much like I am now, to figure out how to make and maintain a living making pretty pictures and telling entertaining stories.
I’ve been going to comic conventions since 1992, exhibiting at them since 2002, and helping to run them since 2011, it’s a big component of who I am. They are to me my place of employment, meadehall, social club, grand palace of wisdom, and pop culture cathedral all rolled up into one. It was a privilege and an honor to be able to help put on a regional show with friends, colleagues, fellow road warriors and creator types, to make one such show possible. It is because of them, my bosses, and the fan support that I hope I am able to do this again in 2014…
Dan Nokes
Creative Director
21st Century Sandshark Studios