a few comic con tips!
with comic con starting this week, i wanted to pass along some wisdom from an exhibitor's point of view!
1) bring cash.
well, every "guide to sdcc" will tell you to bring cash, but *i'm* telling you to no only have 100s, 50s and 20s. bring 10s, 5s ad 1s. not all artists are going to be able to make change later in the day after everyone ELSE with 100s and 50s has come by to pay for a $1 button with a $50.
2) bring reference.
if you're getting a sketch (some people would say for non-mainstrem characters, but i'm saying for EVERYTHING) bring a reference photo to the artists to leave with them. you'll get a better product because the artist won't be saying "hmm... i can't remember exactly how the mask on that version of the green lantern costume goes...."
3) haggling.
haggling the price on things like original artwork is okay with some artists. but remember, we have to feed our kids and pay our mortgages too. don't be the douche who tries to haggle a $100 piece down to $15.
4) signing.
by all means, bring copies of an artists' book for them to sign! we love it! just don't bring 50 of the same issue and ask them to make them all out to "ebay", okay? i've seen it happen. also.... do NOT bring a piece of art that you printed out from the web at home and ask the artist to sign it. this happens to every artist a few cons a year. just don't do it.
5) hand sanitizer.
as someone who shakes a lot of hands, hugs a lot of nerds, this stuff has become priceless. i don't care what a weenie you look like with a travel container clipped to your bag, just do it. use it.
6) backpacks and messenger bags.
backpacks are AWESOME and you can fit all your awesome exclusives you waited in line for hours for in them. just remember, in the massive sea of people bumping into you, you won't notice when someone is opening the main pocket to steal everything out of it. i've heard WAY WAY WAY to many horror stories about this. i even wear mine across my front and look like a complete f**king idiot. i don't care. no one is stealing my wallet, star wars toys or phone.
7) be excellent to each other.
play nice. don't be the douche who goes up to an artist just to complain about their work on this book or how you hated the way they drew a foot on that cover... really people? you dropped all that cash to come to comic con to do this? really?
8) be an early bird.
exclusives sell out, inventory gets sold, artists' sketch lists fill up. be the first person in line and you don't have to worry about it. also, if you come by at 4 o'clock and an artist tells you their sketch list is full, just say "drat! i'll try again tomorrow!" not "oh COME ON! just put me on the $%^#$%ing list!".
alright... that's all i've got so far.
but don't let it stop here, comment with your own tips! share the knowledge!
For me, comic con was about priorities: making a list of stuff you REALLY want to see helps a lot cause you're not gonna get to see everything. Stuff will be happening at the same time, so pick one, get there early and enjoy it. Also, try to shower, please.
Posted by: Jen | July 20, 2009 at 11:11 AM
oh my god, I'm not going (jealous first of all, but enjoying living vicariously through your posts and tweets) but I just LOVED your Bill & Ted reference (#7).
Posted by: Andy O | July 20, 2009 at 01:07 PM
1) bill & ted is awesome.
2) comic con is INSANE. i'm going to try and tweet/facebook as much as i can this year to keep everyone in the loop!
Posted by: katie | July 20, 2009 at 01:13 PM
Good stuff, especially the prolific use of "douche"!
Have you read mine yet?
http://drivein77.typepad.com/drivein77/2009/07/san-diego-survival-guide.html
Take a look and let me know what I left out. And those cookies should be there tomorrow!!
Posted by: Michael Hawk | July 20, 2009 at 01:49 PM
nice list! ;)
and "douche" and "douch bag" and "douche baggery" are regulars in my vocab.
Posted by: katie | July 20, 2009 at 02:00 PM