Behind the table at a con-
One of the greatest things I have learned from doing shows is the importance of interaction. Especially with the kids. There is a reason I do FREE “Quick” (that’s the magic word) sketches. Not masterpieces, just sketches and that is because it allows me to take a moment and talk to people. Especially the kids. They are our future fans, our future creators and our future supporters. There is power in the quick sketch… it is a door way into the imagination of others and the ability to foster communication between creator and fan. I find that these moments are incredibly special.

People have said i should charge for my sketches or not do them at all because i take money opportunities away from other pros (yes, really), but i wont. I can’t, because it takes away from the moment, the opportunity to create an incredible connection. Every year i am given ideas from small and old that range from kittens to princess to ponies to zombie robots to dragons to hippos dressed as storm troopers. The sketch is very very simple, nothing more than a quick doodle, yet it is the smile that I enjoy. The eyes that light up, the laughter of joke, or the fact that a pro took a moment to create something special just for them.

That’s what it is all about. I do do commissions at shows, but they are secondary – the quick free sketch will always come first. Always. I have found that over the years, that sketch has made some wonderful friends, created some beautiful memories and have brought me to tears at times as I learn some of their stories.

I have watched more shy, timid little sweet kids come out their shells, when I ask them what they want me to draw, and then follow up with questions directed just to them. About what they like, what they want to do, and that they are important. I have seen it in adults as well. They stand a little taller with a smile a little broader as they leave the table with a little piece of paper that was their idea and that i just drew.

That is why i do it. It’s not about the sale or the money. That comes on it’s own. It’s about creating a connection, building a relationship and strengthening a bond that in many cases has lasted for 15 years.

If more pros understood the value of a quick 3×3 free sketch- and how it builds a nice connection with an audience, which builds up a fanbase, who are very willing to support the creator that takes a moment just for them.

Some people will not get, some people want to rush it, some people wont wait which means they miss the opportunity for the possibility of a little magic. To those that visit the table and ask…. you already know what the magic is all about.

So all those that have stopped and asked for a sketch (I have done about 20,000 in the last 15 years) I say thank you. Thank you for hanging out with me. For sharing a little bit of you and making me realize that there is much more to being an artist and sitting behind a table than i originally thought. To those that support my art thank you as well…. I know many of my supporters have come from the simple question of “hey would you like a Free sketch?”

There is a lot of power in those words.
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-