We’re too tuckered out for a long post for now, but here are a few tidbits to tide you over:
§ Some photos by Scott Edelman and his con report.
§ Johanna Draper Carlson’s con report.
§ Tom Neely nicely captured the culture clash between a fancy ministry charity on Saturday and a beauty pageant (with impeccably eyebrowed women selling tanning oil and bras outside) with the indie cartooner conclave next door.
§ This fellow is not really a comics blogger, so his list of 10 Things I Learned at the 2009 Small Press Expo is more about self-help. Interesting take.
Different price points provide fans with different opportunities to support you. Dedicated fans are happy to pay $20 or more for your work. People who’ve never heard of you (but like what they see) would prefer to pay less. And products under $5 let people take a chance on your work without incurring much risk, or to support you fiscally even if they’re not your biggest fans artistically.
Be personable. I realize that people who create comics for a living are trained to express themselves non-verbally, but events like this are a showcase of talent and personality. As interested as I am in your work, I’d rather talk to you for thirty seconds than watch you ink a page of your next issue. I can always buy that issue later; I can’t talk to you again until next year. (I know, I know: “There’s a thing called the Internet.” But it’s not the same.)
§ We’re very tired right now, but thanks to travel mates Jah Furry, Josh Neufeld and Brian Heater; and Dustin Harbin and Greg Bennett for the whiskey; and the whole SPX committee for putting on another smooth, fun show.
That was a great show. My feet are killing me and my voice is mostly blown out from talking to so many people, but I had a lot of fun (and I got a good response to my comics, which is always a bonus).
One of my favorite parts about the new space is the variety of events that we get to share the hall with. It’s especially fun when the people from the other event come over to check us out.
I assume that there is supposed to be a link attached to “§ Retconned Fangirl.”
The Retconned Fangirl link is http://goldenagegirl.blogspot.com/2009/09/small-press-expo.html . I thought she had an interesting perspective, as a new visitor.
I would like to thank the Maryland Miss Teen USA organization for renting the ballroom adjacent to the SPX ballroom. Sunday evening, the partition door next to Fantagraphics was ajar, and a quick peek showed that ballroom to be abandoned. (It had two banquet tables, and I surmise the room was used by a committee.) A buffet of club sandwiches, wraps, pickles, and soda remained. (Yes, many people remarked about the dietary habits of beauty queens.) I liberated the plate of club sandwiches, and others made forays before the catering staff returned.
Not as delectable as the chocolate fountains, but more memorable!
You’re right: I’m not a regular comics blogger, but I am an irregular comics lover (as well as a lover of irregular comics), so thanks for the trackback. I definitely enjoyed my first SPX and I fully intend to return next year. (Also, I agree that the conference room juxtaposition of gospel ministry & indie comix was worth seeing all by itself. There’s a story in there somewhere…)
Sorry for the buggered links, all. I fixed ’em. Late start and an errand to run. More later.
Oh man, those church ladies were looking at us like we were Satan incarnate. It was lovely.
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