The dreaded Chicago Con Report
Aug. 9th, 2005 09:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jkcarrier
Random Thoughts on Wizard World Chicago '05
(Standard disclaimer: If it wasn't happening in Artists Alley, I probably didn't see it. People seeking Frank Miller & Jim Lee annecdotes should look elsewhere.)
Man Bites Dog Dept.
As per usual, Karen O'Donnell picked me up, then drove us over to her parents' house to drop off her dogs and meet up with her brother John. By the time John showed up (late, also as per usual), the house was swarming with Shih Tzus, Bichons, and Border Collies, whose reactions to me ranged from unbridled affection to open hostility -- often both at once.
Traffic Dept.
How the hell does anyone get around in Chicago? Between the toll roads, the maze-like layouts, the "express" lanes that are more congested than the rest of the highway, the numerous potholes, and the random distribution of exits, we were pretty much in a perpetual state of Road Rage the whole time we were there.
Vice Is Nice, But Incest Is Best Dept.
The people at the hotel consistently referred to Karen and her brother John as "Mr. and Mrs. O'Donnell". A natural assumption to make, of course, but that didn't stop us from cracking up every time they said it.
Musical Chairs Dept.
Once we finally made it to the show, we found our table and discovered that someone had already set up there. The guy insisted that the con staff had told him to sit there. I was sure he was bullshitting us, but it turned out to be true. There had been a mix-up, and not enough tables had been set up. To their credit, the Wizard folks had a new table set up for us within minutes. It actually worked out to our benefit -- they set us up right next to the doorway connecting Hall B with the main show floor, and we had a lot more elbow room than we would have if we'd been packed in with the bulk of the exhibitors.
The New Math Dept.
Steve Lieber, adding up my purchases: "Let's see, thirteen plus two equals... thirteen".
Bonus fun fact: While doing sketches, Steve wipes his brush on his socks. Now that's hardcore.
Confidential to Tokyopop Dept.
Those two idiots working your booth and screeching "FREE MANGA!!" at the top of their lungs cost you sales. Karen was all set to drop a ton of cash on your product, but that pair of wailing banshees made browsing so unpleasant that she turned around and walked away.
He'll Kill Me If He Reads This Dept.
Karen: "Some weird old guy came by looking for you."
Me [after thinking for a moment]: "Oh, right. Rick Santman."
Mrs. Robinson, Are You Trying To Seduce Me? Dept.
Bumped into Kirk Boxleitner in the main hall. Living up to his reptuation, he was going around collecting nude sketches of Ultimate Aunt May. 'Nuff said, true believer.
Neither Rain Nor Sleet Nor Dark Of Night Dept.
Mark Innes mentioned to me that a package I sent to Jason Marcy somehow got delivered to him instead. He's been hanging on to it, unopened, for something like 7 or 8 years. I told him to go ahead and open it and keep whatever was inside.
Failure to Communicate Dept.
Most of my conversations with John during the show followed this pattern:
John: "Have you ever seen [name of book, comic, movie, or tv show]?"
Me: "Nope."
John: "..."
Me So Horny Dept.
We were across the aisle from model Linda Tran. I have no joke to put here, but damn she's cute.
Modest Goals Dept.
Excited Comics Buyer's Guide staffer: "We have a new website! And this one doesn't suck!"
Traffic Dept. (cont'd)
Good: We were right next to the side entrance, so when the show opened, hordes of con-goers passed right by our table.
Bad: The con staff was herding them like cattle past us and into the main hall, so no one could stop and browse, even if they wanted to.
The Truth Hurts Dept.
Heidi MacDonald: "I had no idea you did a comic! You must not be doing a very good job promoting it."
Too Pooped to Pika Dept.
The Nintendo booth had a guy dressed in a giant Pikachu outfit. Every couple of hours, someone would lead him through the main hall, back into Artists Alley, and into a curtained-off area right behind our booth for a break. The poor schmuck could barely shuffle along with those stubby little Pikachu legs and once he got the rig off, he looked like he was about to keel over from heat exhaustion. Whatever they were paying him, it wasn't enough.
I Wonder If This Trick Would Work On Julie Strain? Dept.
While chatting with Mike Hall at the Ape Entertainment booth, he mentioned how long I've been self-publishing. Then someone standing nearby said, "Oh yeah, everyone knows Kevin, you're great, etc. etc.". My ego inflated to John Byrne-ian proportions, until the guy started talking about the Ninja Turtles and I realized he'd mistaken me for Kevin Eastman.
Shelf Life Dept.
Should I be flattered or embarrassed that the guys at the Top Shelf booth not only recognize me, but can immediately point out which books I don't have yet?
Too Much Information Dept.
David Mack, when asked what kind of paints he uses: "Oh, a little bit of everything... watercolors, acrylics, bodily fluids..."
Look Before You Leap Dept.
Katie Merritt (head of the Friends of Lulu) came by the table and was talking to Karen. Since she occasionally posts on the Sequential Tart boards (as do I), I jumped up to introduce myself... right in the middle of their conversation. I'm sure she thought I was a complete ass.
The New Math Dept. (cont'd)
This guy comes up and asks if I'm interested in trading books. Sure, says I. He procedes to pick up one of everything I have on the table, and then tries to hand me ten identical copies of his one book as payment. Um... no.
I Vant To Buy Your Comics Dept.
Those two foreign gentlemen who are always looking for vampire comics were there again this year. Sadly, we had nothing for them this time. Note to other small pressers: this is a guaranteed sale, so start working on those vamp comics for next year's show.
I Don't Have Anything Funny To Say About Them, But It Was Great Seeing/Meeting Them Anyway Dept.
Pam Bliss
Joanne Ellen Mutch
Carla Speed McNeil
Brian "BMan" Babendererde
Chad Spilker
Jennie Breeden
Stan Yan
Pete Stathis
Kevin Cannon
Will Pfeiffer
(apologies to the many folks I no doubt forgot to mention)
Ending On a High Note Dept.
Sunday came and went, so we packed up our junk and began hauling it through the habitrails back towards the parking garage. A chore made much more pleasant by the fact that we were walking behind a lovely young woman in a very authentic Red Sonja costume (I wish I'd seen her earlier; I'd have gotten a picture of her in front of my Glorianna sign). Nothing like jiggling buttocks to perk you up after a grueling weekend.
(photos and the list of purchases to follow later)
(Standard disclaimer: If it wasn't happening in Artists Alley, I probably didn't see it. People seeking Frank Miller & Jim Lee annecdotes should look elsewhere.)
Man Bites Dog Dept.
As per usual, Karen O'Donnell picked me up, then drove us over to her parents' house to drop off her dogs and meet up with her brother John. By the time John showed up (late, also as per usual), the house was swarming with Shih Tzus, Bichons, and Border Collies, whose reactions to me ranged from unbridled affection to open hostility -- often both at once.
Traffic Dept.
How the hell does anyone get around in Chicago? Between the toll roads, the maze-like layouts, the "express" lanes that are more congested than the rest of the highway, the numerous potholes, and the random distribution of exits, we were pretty much in a perpetual state of Road Rage the whole time we were there.
Vice Is Nice, But Incest Is Best Dept.
The people at the hotel consistently referred to Karen and her brother John as "Mr. and Mrs. O'Donnell". A natural assumption to make, of course, but that didn't stop us from cracking up every time they said it.
Musical Chairs Dept.
Once we finally made it to the show, we found our table and discovered that someone had already set up there. The guy insisted that the con staff had told him to sit there. I was sure he was bullshitting us, but it turned out to be true. There had been a mix-up, and not enough tables had been set up. To their credit, the Wizard folks had a new table set up for us within minutes. It actually worked out to our benefit -- they set us up right next to the doorway connecting Hall B with the main show floor, and we had a lot more elbow room than we would have if we'd been packed in with the bulk of the exhibitors.
The New Math Dept.
Steve Lieber, adding up my purchases: "Let's see, thirteen plus two equals... thirteen".
Bonus fun fact: While doing sketches, Steve wipes his brush on his socks. Now that's hardcore.
Confidential to Tokyopop Dept.
Those two idiots working your booth and screeching "FREE MANGA!!" at the top of their lungs cost you sales. Karen was all set to drop a ton of cash on your product, but that pair of wailing banshees made browsing so unpleasant that she turned around and walked away.
He'll Kill Me If He Reads This Dept.
Karen: "Some weird old guy came by looking for you."
Me [after thinking for a moment]: "Oh, right. Rick Santman."
Mrs. Robinson, Are You Trying To Seduce Me? Dept.
Bumped into Kirk Boxleitner in the main hall. Living up to his reptuation, he was going around collecting nude sketches of Ultimate Aunt May. 'Nuff said, true believer.
Neither Rain Nor Sleet Nor Dark Of Night Dept.
Mark Innes mentioned to me that a package I sent to Jason Marcy somehow got delivered to him instead. He's been hanging on to it, unopened, for something like 7 or 8 years. I told him to go ahead and open it and keep whatever was inside.
Failure to Communicate Dept.
Most of my conversations with John during the show followed this pattern:
John: "Have you ever seen [name of book, comic, movie, or tv show]?"
Me: "Nope."
John: "..."
Me So Horny Dept.
We were across the aisle from model Linda Tran. I have no joke to put here, but damn she's cute.
Modest Goals Dept.
Excited Comics Buyer's Guide staffer: "We have a new website! And this one doesn't suck!"
Traffic Dept. (cont'd)
Good: We were right next to the side entrance, so when the show opened, hordes of con-goers passed right by our table.
Bad: The con staff was herding them like cattle past us and into the main hall, so no one could stop and browse, even if they wanted to.
The Truth Hurts Dept.
Heidi MacDonald: "I had no idea you did a comic! You must not be doing a very good job promoting it."
Too Pooped to Pika Dept.
The Nintendo booth had a guy dressed in a giant Pikachu outfit. Every couple of hours, someone would lead him through the main hall, back into Artists Alley, and into a curtained-off area right behind our booth for a break. The poor schmuck could barely shuffle along with those stubby little Pikachu legs and once he got the rig off, he looked like he was about to keel over from heat exhaustion. Whatever they were paying him, it wasn't enough.
I Wonder If This Trick Would Work On Julie Strain? Dept.
While chatting with Mike Hall at the Ape Entertainment booth, he mentioned how long I've been self-publishing. Then someone standing nearby said, "Oh yeah, everyone knows Kevin, you're great, etc. etc.". My ego inflated to John Byrne-ian proportions, until the guy started talking about the Ninja Turtles and I realized he'd mistaken me for Kevin Eastman.
Shelf Life Dept.
Should I be flattered or embarrassed that the guys at the Top Shelf booth not only recognize me, but can immediately point out which books I don't have yet?
Too Much Information Dept.
David Mack, when asked what kind of paints he uses: "Oh, a little bit of everything... watercolors, acrylics, bodily fluids..."
Look Before You Leap Dept.
Katie Merritt (head of the Friends of Lulu) came by the table and was talking to Karen. Since she occasionally posts on the Sequential Tart boards (as do I), I jumped up to introduce myself... right in the middle of their conversation. I'm sure she thought I was a complete ass.
The New Math Dept. (cont'd)
This guy comes up and asks if I'm interested in trading books. Sure, says I. He procedes to pick up one of everything I have on the table, and then tries to hand me ten identical copies of his one book as payment. Um... no.
I Vant To Buy Your Comics Dept.
Those two foreign gentlemen who are always looking for vampire comics were there again this year. Sadly, we had nothing for them this time. Note to other small pressers: this is a guaranteed sale, so start working on those vamp comics for next year's show.
I Don't Have Anything Funny To Say About Them, But It Was Great Seeing/Meeting Them Anyway Dept.
Pam Bliss
Joanne Ellen Mutch
Carla Speed McNeil
Brian "BMan" Babendererde
Chad Spilker
Jennie Breeden
Stan Yan
Pete Stathis
Kevin Cannon
Will Pfeiffer
(apologies to the many folks I no doubt forgot to mention)
Ending On a High Note Dept.
Sunday came and went, so we packed up our junk and began hauling it through the habitrails back towards the parking garage. A chore made much more pleasant by the fact that we were walking behind a lovely young woman in a very authentic Red Sonja costume (I wish I'd seen her earlier; I'd have gotten a picture of her in front of my Glorianna sign). Nothing like jiggling buttocks to perk you up after a grueling weekend.
(photos and the list of purchases to follow later)
