Conventions

Welcome back, Meat-Heads!

So I wanna jump forward a bit here in the evolution of things, seeing as I'll be heading to the New York Comic Convention this weekend. Now you might ask yourself (as I have asked myself on occasion), "but Clay...you don't have anything to sell! What're you going to a comic convention for?" Well, that's a very good question, and to get an answer, you have to understand what comic conventions actually consist of. In the public's mind, a comic book convention is a bunch of nerds walking around in costumes that took way too much (or way too little) time to create, and lines upon lines waiting to get an autograph from a washed up "celebrity." Well yes, that is what comic conventions consist of, but it's not the ONLY thing they consist of.

Conventions are fan magnets, and what draws the fans there in addition to celebrity appearances and sneak peaks of stuff is the creators of the content they enjoy so much. This is fantastic for a person who isn't on "the other side of the table," so to speak, and is just walking the floor, as these things are filled with artists and industry professionals to talk to. Of course these people are there to make some money and sell some art or other products, but they are also, for the most part, very friendly, and will more than happy to chat with you for a bit. If you're an artist yourself, this is fantastic, as many of them will also gladly look through your portfolio and give you some tips if you ask nicely. On top of artists, there are also many small-press and independent comic companies with booths there, many of which feature someone in charge of the company and production. This is also a great resource, as you can pick their brains about what's working, what's not, and what sort of stuff they're trying out for their own company. This very well may give you some ideas as to what you might want to try with your own company and product when it's ready.

Most importantly however, all of these things add up to one main goal: getting your work seen by people in the industry. Regardless of whether or not you leave there with a million great contacts and job offers, getting your work infront of people's eyes is what really matters, because this is a VISUAL art, and you can't be successful in visual arts if no one sees your work.

I'll be back next week--until next time,

Eat Dead Meat!

p.s. I'd also like to introduce you to Evolution of An Idea's new mascot: Headless Eric. He's going to accompany most of my posts from now on. Go easy on him, he is a simple fella.