New York ComicCon 2018

Welcome to SPRING!  Given the possibility that large gatherings in the community are beginning to return, some earlier advice given on why and how I attend events seemed appropriate to revisit now.

Over the past 25 years I have participated in over one hundred various events, from the San Diego Comic-Con to the World Science Fiction Convention, to Magic tournaments in South America, to the gathering of painters at IX Arts, to small cons at colleges and the attendee busting Lightbox Expo in Pasadena, and to signing at local game shops and hosting open studios here at home.  I think I’ve experienced every style of event the field and genre has to offer and thought I would share ideas on why I continue to purposefully participate in various levels of gatherings to this day.

MOCCA Fest 2022, New York City

Basically I feel there are four factors how to assess any given event and why I may wish to attend it – sales, education, marketing/reputation development, and community building.

I have come at this approach because I could spend every weekend, month after month, traveling to one event after another.  And while that may be fun for a while (as long as it remained profitable and motivational), I have business obligations back in the studio, a family, and other interests I like to spend my time upon. Thus it is smart for both personal and business reasons to objectively assess each event and determine which I should, and want, to attend.

San Diego Comic-Con 2010 -Barbarians capturing a hapless Donato

Let me state that first and foremost, rising above all of these factors, is that I am a FAN of the genre. I would go to scores of events annually if I could! It is wonderful connecting with people, discussing common interests, and commiserating deep into the night. I love these art forms, I love telling stories through this medium, and its roots reach deep into the core of my being.  Thus take everything I say here with that in mind.  If you are not already a fan, then reasons for attending most events will lack justification, making them seem uninspired and a waste of time.

By the nature that I find pleasure at nearly anything and any where I go, I have to make travel/event choices based upon sound, objective business driven factors. These four issues – sales, education, marketing/reputation development, and community building – are what my evaluations are focused upon, and may drive your own if you go to events as well.  Mostly I am looking to attend events which have at least two to three of these factors as strengths, outside of that only extenuating personal circumstances will likely get me to attend (a family member living nearby, a museum I haven’t seen, etc).

Underlying all of these assessments is a big question, is this my audience?  While this aspect plays a major part in considering which events to attend initially, I have learned not to overly restrict who I think my ‘audience’ should be. Too many commissions have come from areas I had not expected them to, thus as long as an event is in the general right theme, I am game!

Onto the assessments.

IX Arts 2021 – Reading, Pennsylvania

1. Sales

Pretty straight forward, this is how likely I can retail my work at a show/event.  You can nearly ALWAYS sell something, but the issue here is just how much and of what quality are those sales? Am I moving drawings, paintings, original works, or is this a place where lower price point retail hits better – prints, books, playmats, small collectables?  Am I making possible return customers, or are these just vanity, opportunistic sales which could have easily been made by another vender occupying my booth space?

I consider all of these opportunities and rate an event accordingly. A strong lower retail event may be great for the immediate pocket, but an event where I am moving originals to genre collectors and fans typically has ‘deeper’ potential connections for return customer relationships.  Again, this could vary my assessment if that low retail sales environment was in an intense genre fan event (large Comic-Cons). Sales are also how most inexperienced artists solely evaluate a show – how much cash they walk home with.  While it can be a critical factor, it is by far not the most important one for me.

Trojan Horse Was A Unicorn Events

2. Education

What are the opportunities here to expand my knowledge base and grow as an artist and person?  Are there seminars, demonstrations, workshops?  Any break out skill development side events?  Business lectures or presentations by other professional artists, writers, industry professionals which may provide insights on any number of issues, known and unknown?  Aspects of the event which will allow me to grow artistically?  Education is a factor a bit easier to assess, as many events will list programming, guests, workshops, and seminars weeks and months in advance and allow you potential planning for structure interactions.

Petar Meseldžija live demo at IlluxCon 2011

3. Marketing/Reputation Development

This is the hardest factor to get a grasp of, yet can be the most important issue for me in why I participate with an event.  It also has the vaguest parameters – for how do you judge effectiveness of marketing?  There is the old adage that 50% of all marketing dollars are wasted, you just don’t know which 50% that is… Do you evaluate right at the end of the show, or three months later when an email shows up for an inquiry/commission?   Or two years later when a fan becomes a collector?

Basically I evaluate an event here on the likely size and character of their attendees.  Is it a group of fans/people I have not made outreach to before?  Are they interested in the genre and approaches I take in my art, will it appeal to them?  Is it a professional show with a small attendance, but high percentage of industry represented? Are there art directors there, art collectors, or people I would like to work for? Or is it so massive, that I can reach thousands of fans, many of them new, over one weekend?

It is this factor which requires the greatest long term commitment and can result in the greatest career pay-off.

Lastly,

4. Community Building

This is the real fun part of any convention, hanging out with friends and peers, old and new, pros and fans, as you share and build the world together.  These are the people you will see again and again over the years, some frequently, others maybe just once, but you typically all have a high degree of common ground which brought you together at this event. Find out what that common material is and you will increase the likelihood you may return and/or cross the paths of these peers again and call them friends!

Far too often I see the stresses and weight of sales and marketing burn people out from events and participation in the genre, at the expense of the other two aspects, education and community.  I understand it.  Many people want to make events a financial success, they may be depending upon.  But remember that other factors are at play as well, and can lead to successful business strategies at nearly the same level of returns.

You need not spend thousands of dollars to set up and host a booth at a major show to reap the rich benefits offered by that event. Understanding the range of possibilities offered for career development and advancement will allow you to better assess the reasons why you may and should attend any particular gathering.

You will also enjoy the experience of a gathering on a much deeper and pleasurable level.

Best of luck at your future events!

Spectrum Live! 2017