Sorry for the late update, I just got back from the Emerald City Comic Con – What a wonderful and incredible show. So grateful for all the help that came from some many people and spouses that made this show possible for our family.

It was a fantastic weekend and now it’s time to get back to work. Time to role up my sleeves and get this book done and jump into the next chapter.

I love the energizing feeling cons can bring. It makes really enjoy art and having the ability to mingle with some truly wonderful people . Thank you again for everyone that will be there.

Keep creating and dreaming big.

trav

I was sitting here looking at the title of the comic and realized that I have drawn over 646 pages of one story. I don’t plan to stop either. I am in awe over how this story has evolved and how I have grown as human being because of it. A tale of dishwasher, who now finds himself in a cold dark world carrying a sword that is fighting to control him.

The coloring has been a new motivator for me. I know the transition has been tough for some, but I also know that the story is soooo much better because of it. I don’t know where my future is on the books at the moment. (Don’t worry I am not stopping the story and it does have an ending) I just don’t know if I will be able to speed the timetable up or if I will be stuck at 2 pages a week (front and back) for a long time.

As you can see I am determined and I am not giving up. I really enjoy telling this tale. I love where it is going and I love that I am a part of it. I am also happy that I am able to share it with you. I am supper appreciative of how several of you are supporting it on a monthly basis. You are helping me find more time to keep it going. Thank you so much for what you are doing. You don’t have to I know, but I am so grateful that you do.  If i get this set up right I will be able to update the bean 5 times a week. But that is going to take a little extra support from you as well. So for now, I can only manage one new page to the story and old page of the story colored.  I just have a family to feed:) I would though ask if you enjoy this tale to help share it. We can use all the help we can get.

I also am grateful for my supportive family. They have watched this tale grow and struggle. I am a lucky man to have them as they deal with late nights of me drawing comic pages and creating this wonderful tale.

Thank you again for everything.

Keep creating and keep Creating

trav

So close to 600- wow and then we continue on.

Also there will be color updates this week as well. I love how color makes the Bean’s world so much richer. Also thank you to those new patreon donors. You are making the coloring of the Bean possible. If you want to join in and be part of this great adventure just click the patreon link.

keep creating

trav

So I am back from a con called APE (Alternative Press Expo). Before I go into my review, I want to say that APE is not a show that one goes to make a lot of money at. It’s not built for that (more on that in a moment). It is though a show that is fun and a good place to make some nice contacts and socialize a little.

This though is the last year the show will be held at the concourse in San Francisco. Which is sad, because it has been my home away from home for the last 9 to 10 years. The building is beautiful old building, with gorgeous wood and metal work inside. It’s being torn down, which is a shame, but i guess condos and parking structures are more important than beautiful old buildings. Well lets talk about APE.

I don’t recommend the show to those outside CA unless you have a place to stay and make it a little vacation. I will drive 7 hours one way to do it, but I also go into the show with the knowledge that this is not like other cons. I do make my own personal expenses back but a lot of people dont. The charm of APE for a creator though is the table price… the draw back is it is only 6 ft, so tables can become crowded with a hodgepodge of good art (several pixar artist and other artists were there this year) and other wares. The other issue with APE and why sales struggle a little is that APE is billed as a 18 up show. This scares off my primary audience which is kids and families. There are some kids but not much.

Attendance this year seemed lower than last year and the year before, which both suffered due to bad weather. Which also adds to the challenge of the show. Yet the new venue should help improve that, especially being in a nicer part of the city.

So Why do it if it is such a struggle and a 14 hour drive both ways (sunday’s drive was grueling… left at 6:30 and got home at 3:00 am thanks to an accident in san jose, which caused the freeway to be shut down and that I do that drive alone). Well I do it for a few reasons. One I am able to connect with my flatter and her family. Friday game night (something I dont get to do much anymore) was awesome…

2nd I was placed next to some really fun artists and creators. One was one of the supervising artists on The Iron Giant… very awesome guy – I also found some new creators and got to talk to some friends I don’t always get to see at shows.

Last and the most wonderful moments were the three new exhibitors, who each came up to me with books in their hands that wanted to show me what they had created. What makes this special, is that all three of them and I had talked the year the prior about following their own dreams and my favorite phrase of “how bad do you want it? dont tell me …. show me.” They showed me that they were starting to take those steps to doing their own thing.  How awesome is that to see the careers of 3 young artists beginning with such potential.

All in all I had a good time. My hosts were awesome as always and company and conversations were very memorable. Thank you. Do I recommend APE to creator. I do if you go into it with the right attitude and not expecting to make a return. As for APE’s future I am not sure. It’s about to go through some changes, hopefully all good, yet if attendance and exhibitor size continues to drop it might be tough. I will be there next year.

Keep Creating.

trav-

This last weekend was Comikaze.  If you listened to what the promoters and owners said. It is the best/biggest show in SoCal. It was successful for fans, vendors, artists and the con itself. That’s what they said.

As a artist/vendor (because everyone that is there is selling something), my opinion of Comikaze is a little different than what the organizers claim. I do not think it is a horrible show, I just think that many times brand new shows miss the points on what makes a successful con work.

Now where do I get off on reviewing a con? Well I have been exhibiting at cons for the last 12 years. I average about 9 to 10 a year. I have gone as a guest, an exhibitor, an artist and a fan. I understand it’s a business and that the con, like the exhibitors need to make shows financially viable. I have done small shows and do the grand daddy of them all (SDCC).  The top two show in my opinion are Phoenix and Emerald City. They are run not by ego’s but by guys who want the fans and the venders to have the best experience possible. I also think that cons do not realize how many of us vendors talk about the shows we exhibit at. We grade them, we talk about how well they are run and/or how bad. We recommend them (go to Phoenix and ECCC) and sometimes we tell people not to go, because of the experiences we have had.

You see even though we all sell different things, and compete for sales, we want each other to succeed and do well. We know what cons want the same for us and we promote those cons heavily. It becomes a win/win situation for both parties.

I will not hate on Comikaze. I think it has potential. Yet there are many issues that will  need to be addressed before I come back and exhibit at the show. I am also not alone. I know 10 other venders that feel the same way and had the same issues that I did. So as part of my review I will discuss them a little. I also believe that this show is dealing with some major growing pains. When a con grows to quickly, it raises problems that include, crowd control, long lines and frustrations from fans.

So what worked and what didn’t?

The pro – I saw a lot of friends and other talented artists. My neighbors were cool and we got along. We have seen each other at many shows and it is always nice to hang out with new people and old friends, Artist and vendors alike.

The fans. There were a lot of people there. It was nice to meet new folks. I drew a lot of FREE Sketches and kids loved them.

There was some cool stuff to see- Stan Lee is always a joy

Freeman were good. It ran smoothly (honestly if you just follow the directions, and be patient. Your experience with the Freemen will be just fine).

Nice signage to find where you were at

The stage was cool, I didn’t mind that.

Oh, and that I got interviewed by an spanish news outlet from Argentina and I got to do the whole interview in spanish. (If you didn’t know, yes I am fluent, dyslexic too if that makes a difference:))

I also recognize and appreciate the work that goes into a con. The set up and the desire to create an environment for fans and creators alike. I want to thank you for doing it. I also recognize that you have made some huge improvements from the year before. That’s a good sign and hopefully you listen to the feedback both fans, guests and exhibitors provide. Ponder it a bit. Take what you need from it and tweak the show a little. I do want you to succeed.

Now what didn’t

Now remember as an artist/vendor support for our work comes from people buying our products. Though there were a lot of people. Not a lot of money was spent. It was a general vibe through the show. Hey, sometimes that just happens. Good days/ bad days. One of the general complaints. After they bought their tickets, they still had to buy tickets (30 apiece) to do the zombie walk inside the hall.  Plus it seemed every couple of minutes, on the overhead – They were encouraging people to buy con merchandise.  I don’t care if a con sells t-shirts and prints to bring in more money. That’s cool with me, but to announce it every twenty minutes or so, was a little too much. It creates competition between the con and the vender.

I have seen shows that have no problem selling their stuff and try very hard not compete with vendors. That is important to exhibitors. We don’t want to compete with you – we want to work with you.

The microphone backlash. Seriously thy over-com was abused way to much. I had two interviews at this show where they had stop, because of the overhead speaker. It was loud, and spent more time pushing their own interest it seemed than anything else. My interviewers were frustrated because they had had this problem all day long.  Now, make announcements – that’s good- people need to know about signings, events, panels – that’s all good. Keep them at announcements.

Ok the EGO. It seems like this show has an ego. Even towards other shows. As an exhibitor I want to attend as many shows possible. The shows that have personal ego’s really turn us off. Look WE WANT CONS TO WORK TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT BENEFITS EVERYONE…. what I mean is talk, open dialogue on when shows are so you give vendors more opportunities to visit your shows and not compete on what show to exhibit at. I know that SDCC, Emerald and phoenix all make sure they work around each other’s dates. Why  do they do this? Well, they understand that exhibitors and artist, do a lot of shows, and we like the shows that treat us good. They know that if their show has a bad rap and falls on the date on another show, than we will more than likely do the other show than the show with the bad rap.  Seriously, the exhibitor helps create the environment for the fan to have a good experience. The con creates an environment with good guest and good organization that makes the vendor want to be there and the fan have an incredible experience that is affordable. I heard more on how awesome comikaze was from the staff, and it’s organizers than I did from the vendors.  If i had heard it from the vendors, I would believe it more. Exhibitors can create a buzz that makes more people want to exhibit (more money for the con) and give them free advertising by telling people how great a con is, then the con just telling you how great it is.

Cost for vendors. I can seeing paying $500 a booth for a two-year show. I am not talking about artist tables, thats a different issue. If a show has proven itself, I can see paying $1200 for a booth and will do so. Once again the show NEEDS to prove that it is worth that. Comikaze gave us the rates for their third year…. $900 a booth. I do not think this show has proven that its booth space is worth what they are asking.  That’s a $400 jump. So I know of 10 vendors that have told me they are not coming back, because they feel this is outrageous, a slap in the face. They are con veterans. They are willing to pay the higher booth space if they feel the con has proven itself. They need to make money as well. I do not doubt the con will pick up new vendors,  but they loose the old ones, and the new ones will soon learn the same lesson we did. Honestly, I will pay the higher amount, if the show has proven track record, I feel that I will do well, and on how well organized the con is.  Other shows have proven that and they have a much much smaller attendance record and yet I will always go back and I will always pay what they ask for for a booth space.  So earn the right to ask for the high booth rate. SDCC, Phoenix, and Emerald have all earned that right.

Not thrilled on next year’s dates. There are two other shows I enjoy going to that have been that same weekend for the last few years. (it seems that you are trying to push them out).

Other issues. There were a few security issues for vendors that I felt were not in our favor. (You can email me on that if you want to know those, I don’t think I will post them here).

The disorganization in the lines. They recognized this and good for them for trying to make it better on sunday.

And not but least the flipping of panels from day to day. This seemed to be a bigger problem than most shows I have been at.

The Wrap Up-

Was it all bad. No. Like I said I really enjoyed the company. Our booth neighbors were awesome. Than fans and the kids were for the most part excited. The costumes were good. Some were fantastic and some well… lets just say there comes a time when you need to rethink wearing spandex. I love drawing for people as well, to watch them light up and I enjoyed the time I spent with my son as ran the booth. I am lucky dad.

I enjoyed talking to my artists and publishing friends.  I am really glad there are other shows in SoCal. so I can see you there.

Comikaze has great potential, just a lot of kinks to work out. Sadly I will not attend next year. I plan to do the other smaller show which usually falls that same weekend.

I do hope that Comikaze will sit down and evaluate how to make things stronger for everyone. As an exhibitor we would love a really good strong show for the fall. There is just not one there on the west coast. Yet there is potential for two of you (long beach & Comikaze) to become that. Seriously, both of your cons can create a much stronger comic show for both fans, guests and vendors. You turn your shows into A shows or strong B shows and artists/exhibitors will flock to you. The fans will feel it and you will reap the rewards of it.

Will this be read? I am not sure, we will see, honestly I just want to see things work. I also hope more vendors start posting reviews of cons. Be honest, it helps us pick the best shows.

Overall rating for Comikaze: a solid C

If you would like other reviews about Comikaze – just follow the links below or if you have a review about the show just link us to you and i will put it up. The more the merrier, cons need to see honest feedback.

Zombie Ranch Review – Sophomore or less-

Veteran Attendee – Geek. Pirate. Mom – Whitney Drake Review- Whitney, TheBoy & Comikaze Expo

Comikaze 2012 Recap – From the eyes of a new exhibitor – by Ed Ouano

Keep creating
trav-

Well I now have 8 pages to add to book 3.  I am looking forward to it. I am really excited. Our next stretch goal will be a new book- though i am thinking of adding one at the 15,000 mark.

Thanks again for helping get the word out and supporting this tale. The more support means the more I can do with it.

Also It’s good to see bean again. I tell you the book format is soooo much better to enjoy. Updates dont seem as long.

Time is running out on the kickstarter project!

We are pushing forward with our stretch goals. I need your help as well. Please share, tell your friends. If we meet the 10000 mark I can add more pages to the book itself.

SAN DIEGO COMIC CON

Comic con starts this week – actually today and for the next 4 days I will be BOOTH E11 drawing FREE SKETCHES to anyone that wants one. Plus I will have new prints and Books 1 and 2. Come join the fun

thanks and keep creating-

trav-

the Forest Walker
For every $250 raised with our kickstarter project I do a specialized piece for the bean and post it. We started this at the 4000 mark. I will post one at a time for people to enjoy. If you want in on book 3 visit me at My Kickstarter site!

The Forest Walker ($4250 promised piece) – (I have a bunch more to add- we will add one snapshot at a time. To get the books before anyone else and help us print a special book of snapshots come here

Please Share, the more support we get the better the rewards for everyone.

Keep creating-
trav

Check out my new imagination cartoons. A series that deals with how important it is to live in your imagination. I will update these on off days. There is no set dates, since I am just doing these for me and my kids, but I felt that it is important to share.

To see the first one just click Living in your Imagination. As more are added you can just click the living in your imagination category to see more. The goal is to remind people that you can literally do anything you set out to do and that life is meant to be enjoyed.

Also just finished up chapter 11 and I am now starting on the artwork to chapter 12. I am really excited how things are progressing and I am looking forward to starting the kickstarter project in a few weeks. Gonna be a fun time.

Well keep creating and keep enjoying the grand adventure-

trav

So many cool things happening right now. I wish I honestly had a little more time to get even more done. The biggest news is blog post

Bean vol 3: Broken Souls & kickstarter preview…

This is exactly what it means. The 3rd book of bean has a name and will start it’s kickstarter run very very soon. I felt it was important to share what the rewards were going to be early. There are some really special ones as well, including maps to the underground and the brokenmoon.

Also I am working through several other projects. Pirate Bears, Commissions and more Bean Pages. I am feeling pretty energized.

I do hope you are enjoying the story right now… and you know- lets do some Q&A today. We’ll talk bean. Ask away and I will answer as much as I can spoiler free.

So keep creating my friends- and enjoy the grand adventure that life has to offer.

trav

Can you believe we are about to break the 390 mark. I am a little blown away by that. The scary thing is we have a long ways to go and I am just at the tip of the ice-berg.

Well last night we got in at about 12:30. I am a little tired. Some of you might have noticed that I hadn’t posted my normal update with the comic. After 4 days of traveling and 3 full working days at a show, I was thinking of only one thing last night and that was sleep.

So here I am now, with a quick report of the ACE comic con in New Mexico. I will give a more in-depth review later.

The show was fun. I saw a lot of neat people, some familiar faces and many new ones. Talked with some old friends and also got a few pages drawn. My wife went with me and let me tell you, she truly is an incredible lady. She ran that show and the constant shoulder rubs were fantastic. I really enjoyed working with her. We were kidless this  last weekend, which made for a unusually quiet, yet adventurous weekend. We were also mugged. I met yet another Travis Hanson, and had Stan Lee walk by us and tell us good morning. That was nice. In a nutshell, I had a good time and if they invite us back I will prob go. I will though be posting a full review later.

Other than that, I get home to a full workload before SDCC. Several Commissions and ton of Bean and Bear work. It’s gonna be a wild few months.

Well keep creating and more updates to come-

trav-