I’m not laughing at it but I’m laughing at how bad I am at set up/organization/upselling and talking to people who are cool while fighting off table barnacles.
Artists on the majority are like weird little gollums who create wonderful things. Some of them are good at going out into the sunlight and conversing with total strangers. Some are a weird inbetween. Some are BAD. AT. PEOPLE. I’ve been at cons where no one is selling and cons where even the most flimsiest of art/product is selling like hot cakes. Depends on the con but sometimes some artists can’t fake it til you make it the entire weekend. I was lucky to have a brainwashing training at Disney AND Starbucks.
But a good rule to go by is that if an artist is obviously swamped that’s probably not the best time to ask for personal things. Come back later. They aren’t going anywhere.
If its a con like AX which is NOTORIOUS for theft, don’t be wigged out if the artist is watching their table like a hawk. (I tape anything that can be snatched down....which bites me in the butt if I want to sell display pieces lol)
I am CONSISTENTLY late on setting up on the first day. I’m only just now getting the hang of it lol. I consistently forget to bring plastic bags for prints, and I never know what to do with the bazillion postcards I have.
For AX I didn’t have all my merch out until the last day lol I’m pretty good at talking to strangers at cons but I will run out of steam and energy at some point. Lol I was so swamped at AX I asked one of my customers(that sounds terrible to say?) to run and get a stevetony charm for me. But they were sold out lol
Krusca was super great and brought so many snacks. SO MANY SNACKS as gifts to the artists.
Bring snacks or water or caffeinated beverages to artists. They usually appreciate that as much as buying their merch.
In other news! Please visit me at Yaoicon and Comikaze! I’ll aslo have a table next year for Emerald City Comic Con, Silicon Valley Comic Con and Anime Expo (probably comikaze again). I’m still trying to get a response from Wondercon ....I also wanna do Flame Con and Heroes Con.