NY Comic Con

[rm]

Does someone want to talk to me about NY Comic Con?

I've never been before, and looking at the website my reactions are:

- am I going to be bored?
- am I going to have a horrible introvert overload? (I am very gregarious and love attention, but it actually exhausts me and the results of events like this are usually that I get very snappish or depressed afterwards and have to recharge by spending hours just sort of staring at the wall).
- is this a networking opportunity I must be on for?
- speaking of networking opportunities as a creative on several different fronts should I freak out now?
- am I just going to feel inadequate about my career?
- do I need to look fabulous?
- will the schwag make it all better?

*whimper*

Comments

[redstapler.livejournal.com]

Tag me on IM or email, and all will be revealed.

N/M, emailed.

[lordrexfear.livejournal.com]

Hey R.

Shoot me an e-mail as well and I'll thrown the duty of helping ya. I'll also swing ya my cell so we can try and meet up.

I'll be going as press, so it'll be extra awesome. It'll also mean I'll probably look fabulous instead of like a regular comics nerd.

[lordrexfear.livejournal.com]

oh my e-mail
rhcooper@pipeline.com

[tdanaher.livejournal.com]

- am I going to be bored?
Likely so given what I know of your interests. This is a major comic book convention. Most of the people there are going to be into comic books, toys, drawn artwork, and variations of same. The emphasis is on telling stories through the eyes, much less so through words on paper.

- am I going to have a horrible introvert overload? (I am very gregarious and love attention, but it actually exhausts me and the results of events like this are usually that I get very snappish or depressed afterwards and have to recharge by spending hours just sort of staring at the wall).

In the Comic Con world, you don't have a fanbase and therefore you probably won't be sought out much as a target of attention, thought you might get some peripherally because you're a conduit to info about Harry Potter so some of those fans might want to engage you in trivia oneupsmanship.

- is this a networking opportunity I must be on for?
- speaking of networking opportunities as a creative on several different fronts should I freak out now?
- am I just going to feel inadequate about my career?

These three questions can be easily answered by saying "Queens event times a million."

- do I need to look fabulous?

Really, really, really no. There are two levels of audience appearance at Comic Con -- people who will annoy you with their physical hygiene and manner of dress, in which case you surely aren't looking fabulous for their benefit, and people who will be cosplaying to such an extreme level they are into their own attention and won't notice you. The pros who are there who bother to care about you instead of themselves will value you for your art and not for your appearance.

- will the schwag make it all better?

Do you like posters for Indy and Iron Man? Simpsons keychains? Maybe some limited-edition comic action figure?

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

Get hold of the events schedule ASAP and book yourself some introvert down time. This helps me get through cons.

Also, bring snacks you can eat. This saves a lot of effort on the finding food when exhausted front.

From West Coast cons: you don't have to look fabulous, but looking good and/or professional helps you play the role and not be mistaken for fan, girlfriend or booth bunny. A hint of fandom in the pro wardrobe is good; the Slytherin tie or wearing the Snape coat is good.

[cerulean-sky.livejournal.com]

I generally have fun at the con even when I can't buy anything and really just walk around looking at stuff. I'm thinking that I might make it there Friday evening for Neil Gaiman's reading. Mayhaps I will see you there?

[coyotegoth.livejournal.com]

Yeah, second all of this (although I suspect it'll go better than the Queens event); many crowds to squeeze through, and generally at least two or three vendor tables with amazing swag- Battle of the Planets DVDs and the like. Professionally, it can't hurt.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Just think of it as a giant carnival or Goblin Market, and enjoy it for what it is. There is no way you can be On for it in any useful way; it's too ginormous. Things that want to happen will just happen. You will run into people you love you didn't know would be there. You'll get to meet an artist you really love, ditto. You will be appalled by the tasteless crap, charmed by the indie greatness, and get to write about it all. Do your official gig, whatever it is, and then just have fun. You'll feel better about it all, and it will paradoxically work out better for you professionally as well as personally.

I went to my first one last year, and now I believe.