Ah yes... the ol' con game. What can I say about comic conventions that hasn't already been said?

Well, for starters, I'm going to write this assuming you're an indie or small press creator. Which means promoting your work at cons will be a mixed bag to say the least -- even more so when you're first starting out, and you lack "street cred."

Like my opening column, I'm going to break this one up into parts. This way I can better cover all the different aspects of the convention going experience. Believe me, it can go well beyond underaged tramps dressed as Anime characters and fat guys in faded Batman t-shirts.

Some of this is going to get ugly on my part, because I'm going to reveal some stupid mistakes I made early on. Some of these will involve the seedy side of conventions -- how some cons can mistreat guests they don't have use for. There's going to be a light at the end of the tunnel, though. Like I said a mixed bag.

Anyway, enough blabbing! Let's get on with the show:

MEETING PROS
When at cons promoting your wares and rubbing shoulders with people whose work you both admire and loathe, it is vitally important that you keep a professional, respectful attitude towards most of them. You're not just there promoting your book. You're promoting yourself. Any one of these people could help you get ahead in the industry. While I'm not suggesting tastesless brown-nosing, I am suggesting you act in the manner in which you'd like to be treated.

Now, just so you know, this is "do as I say" advice, as opposed to "do as I do" advice. I didn't learn this right off the bat, which lead to me making a right fool of myself in front of John Cassaday, one of my favorite artists. It was my first big con, and I couldn't believe I was meeting him. I completely nerded out on him while getting a con sketch. So much so that I think I scared Mr. Cassaday. He was very nice and answered all of my lame-o questions. But he certainly got out of there quickly once he was finished.

Another thing that can come up is being placed next to a "bigger name creator" at a con and that creator turning out to be a jerk. I beg you to always take the high ground in situations like this. Stand up for yourself, but do it in a subtle, more machiavellian style. You're the "little guy" and that warrants some sympathy from people. Play on that before you get into a public shouting match with some guy whose fan base dwarfs your own.

Yes, this relates to another story of woe. One that I might recount in another column. But we don't have the space to do it here. If you really want to hear it, drop me an This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it , and I'll tell you.

Let me just say this: I wish my older, wiser self had been there to coach my younger, brasher self. Not ONLY could I could have come out of that situation the winner, but I also could have avoided months of hate mail flooding into my mail box.

Moving on...

BRANCHING OUT
Like most people , I'm sure your first show will be a comic show -- either a big show like Wizard World or a smaller show like my own favorite, Staple. While these are useful when starting out, I'm also going to suggest something else that will be useful in expanding your fan base.

Comic conventions tend to attract several kinds of fans. Not all of them are your typical DC/Marvel types either. This is good, because it's unlikely that those types of people will be interested in your work. Certainly don't shun them, but fans of the big two aren't the quickest to try small press comics.

What you will also be getting is horror, manga, and fantasy fans. As with most cons you can pick these people out pretty easily. The more hardcore fans will likely be in elaborate costumes of their favorite characters. Others will be wearing t-shirts or carrying action figures.

What I am asking you to do is to pay attention to the people buying your stuff -- see what they are into. Then you will be ready for phase two of this plan. Go to other types of conventions. If you notice the people who are buying your stuff tend to be anime fans, try selling your stuff at an anime-themed con. If you see they are a lot of trekkies, try a Star Trek show one time.

One of my best con experiences was at a local manga convention called A-kon. It's one of the few shows I've been to where the smaller name guests (like me) were treated with as much respect as the big names. Not to mention, I found the fans there very positive and receptive to the medium of comics -- not just mainstream American stuff or manga. There was a general love of sequential art flowing throughout the crowd. And of course I sold A LOT of books, which made it all the sweeter.

Naturally, after awhile you might feel the urge to just do these shows. Don't go that route. Still hit as many comic related shows as you can. But knowing your audience, then going to "their shows" is a great way to make your job easier.

SMALL SHOWS VS. BIG SHOWS
In this last section, I mentioned big cons and smaller cons. I'm certainly not knocking big shows like San Diego or any of the Wizard World cons. These types of events are a lot of fun, and they can be of use for general "hob-knobbery." But when pressed I'd say that you'll get far more out of the smaller shows. Shows like Staple or APE are great places to start.

"Wizard World"-type cons are geared towards the mainstream. They have the biggest names in comics there promoting the latest Super, Bat, Spider, or X-epic. Tack on the various promotions for upcoming "fan friendly" films and TV shows, and, well... you can see why it's easy for the little guy to get swallowed up.

The great thing about small shows is that they'll treat you like a bigger deal. You're less likely to be put behind a trash can or something. You might even end up on a panel discussing the art of comics or something of that nature.

Once more, I'm not knocking big shows. I go to a number of them every year. I always have a great time. But I never make that much money, and I never get as much promotion out of them. The key is choosing your cons wisely. You don't have as much money to spend as DC or Marvel. So you have to reach the public at the places they'll be the most receptive.

WHAT TO OFFER AT YOUR BOOTH
Comics or ashcans are of course a must. But there are many other attention getting items that are cheap to produce. Buttons or pins featuring your characters (and web address) make great freebie items and can be produced cheaply. So can fliers. Simple, cheap, and effective.

Another wonderful and inventive draw is buying say... a DVD set and having a raffle. People can buy one of your ashcans and get a raffle ticket. This will not only help move your product, but also get people coming by the booth. It's also a wonderful way to get your target audience coming to you based on what kind of raffle item you're giving away.

If you're a lowly writer like me, it's good to have the artist along. Selling con sketches is yet another time honored way to get people sticking around and talking about your product. Sure an artist might get stuck drawing 150 pictures of Gambit -- but tell him to take one for the team.

Many cons these days have costume contests or "cos-play." If you have friends daring -- and forgiving -- enough, try to talk them into dressing up as your character(s) for the show. They probably won't win anything, but more than likely they'll have people stop and ask them who they're supposed to be. It's a good excuse to get someone to the booth or even just hand out a flier or button.

Don't be afraid to do a few "give aways" -- to the people at the booths next to you -- to the folks who run comic websites -- to pros -- or to random folks who have just been a hard sell. You never know who will end up becoming a huge fan. Make the most of the time spent at the booth. Trust me when I say you aren't going to miss a copy or two.

Gauge the person you're thinking of giving it to. If it seems worth it, go for it.

BOOTH ETIQUETTE
A few tidbits about booth etiquette before I wrap this sucker up tighter than a mummy:

First, always have a pitch ready to go. By that I mean people will have all manner of questions about your book. Get your shtick down, quick and smooth. You don't want to bore their heads. Just have three or four different ways to answer the same questions. You'll be fine.

Second, try your best not to look bored, sleepy, or grumpy. Mixes of the three are just as criminal. No one wants to talk to someone who doesn't look like they want to be there. I've seen many a person not sell anything the first day, so they don't even try to look pleasant the second day. Big mistake. Keeping your chin up is one of the biggest selling points you have. Walking around like death warmed over is basically saying "my product sucks."

Look like you're having a good time and that you believe in yourself. That's the type of person people want to buy from.
 

This concludes our little adventure into the world of conventions. I hope it wasn't too frightening for you. Next time you have a show coming up, try out some of my advice.

Trust me, and good luck!
 

Drew Edwards was grown in a lab out in west Texas. The government thought they had created the perfect killing machine, instead they just created a comic book writer. When not fighting terrorism at home or abroad, Drew is the writer of "Halloween Man Comics." He currently lives in Dallas with his wife (a sexy, cyborg ninja) Jami. Together they keep freedom ringing for all.