APE 2010 Post Mortem
As far as ‘first cons’ go, APE turned out to be a great choice. Not worth the nerves at all! Setting up went smoothly, the visitors and other exhibitors were very friendly and the TNP bunch were just great. Joenis (and Ana), Ali and Philippa handled the con like the seasoned vets that they are and I couldn’t have had a better table bro than Ryan (http://channelate.com).
The mixer the night before was something otherworldly for sure. Of course I was far too early but that gave me plenty of time to get lost between the many books and comics at The Last Gasp. And I met the wonderful Philippa Rice of ‘My Cardboard Life’ fame (and Anthony Scrapman) before the others started pouring in. Highlight of the evening: getting burritos with Alex & Ray (Buttersafe) and somehow elluding 2 cabs from finding us. Ryan and his better half ended up stealing someone else’s cab. It leaves me wondering if someone else did the same to us, foregoing some kind of Karmic cycle of transportation woes.
The con itself was pretty interesting. (pictures to follow) I learned a lot from watching the others set up and price their merch and from the audience’s reactions. Seeing as I had pretty low expectations for the sales, I’m happy with those as well. Didn’t break even on the costs but now I have some good ideas on what to change or add.
Despite myself, I managed to walk around and talk to some of the other artists at the con. Got some great books and merch, exchanged cards and met some of my online comic heroes (without shaking too much). People like Erika Moen, Spike and Evan Dahm. Finally met some fellow TNP’ers in real life, made friends with the Buttersafe guys, shook hands with Michael Jonathan (from Eros Inc and more), talked to Cari (Toilet Genie) and Savannah (Anya comic) and more I’m forgetting I’m sure. After all that time in solitary comic making it felt good to step out my comfort zone, away from the paper and pixel worlds and finally connect with like-minded individuals IRL. Even though we all make different things and are at different stages in our craft, we’re all creative minds with a love for comics and illustration and crafts and everything inbetween. Corny as it may sound, I have to say that for me it feels like a light was shone on a dark corner of my self. And that means more to me than anything right now. Thanks everyone, it was amazing.
