For me that’s a Question. You see if I’m being honest this was a hobby I did when out of work. Dont get it twisted a hobby I was very Passionate about and serious about. I was always waiting for one of the Two giants to knock on my door and say Wow your talented come show us they way. Till than I worked hard at my Career and expected to honestly somehow do both.
Life doesn’t always let you plan nor allow you to wait. I find my self in a place where I have the time finally to do something. But there is one problem someone has got to want to buy What I am selling.
Thats the First thing you need to think about. DO you have a reason to have a table that will at very least make the tickets for the con and spot/table rental worth the time. Unless You are willing to take a huge loss and if so you probably aren’t reading this.
My Wife is the Co creator of Fetish Babies and is in charge of the Novel side of it. ANd Right now its just about ready for a release in the Summer as a preview and a book come fall early winter.
So in 2017 she and I could share a table. She could sell Fetish babies and I could give out info for Written Sins network and give out my comic Previews to see the feed back I get.
SO there I have a Reason for a table that is worth it and we could make the money back on the table. So now we look at the math and see how bad of a loss you may take. Because understand all you are guaranteed are the costs no sales are guaranteed.
So lets do the math
So their is the table/spot rental. Depending where you are a table is not part of the price. I will call this 150 with the table for our example. Seeing how much a table rental is should be compared to how much it would take to lug around a table.
So than there is travel. I am new so I would stay Local as possible. That means 60 in gas for the most part both ways.
Than if I am at a con there is the Hotels as I would be there at least 3 days which means 3 nights. You don’t want to sleep in a car. You want to be rested and showered not cramped up and smelly while exhausted. This means basically 100 a night. If you can split a room with another creator that’s Ideal if not a few. But right now we are doing this as me and wife no split. So 350 with tax.
Now you need Business cards and at least a banner. Being a bargain hunter we will call this 60 bucks. We could get it down less if we recycle but you need to go to one first right? Unless you start today Like I am a year out preparing for that golden day. butt 60 it is.
Now you need something to sell. AT least 300 dollar in merchandise so it lasts 3 days. Don’t under bring. you’d rather take back than turn away.
Now the BADGE for the Con often cost extra for creators depending on con expect another 60.
So this is a Basic cost sheet now
150 table
60 gas
350 hotels
60 supplies
300 merchandise
60 for the Cons Badge
920 total.
so this is with out food water and all the other things you might need. Like having things shipped to the con or air flight more expensive hotels due to over booking. There could be a ton more Costs.
SO at 920 you have to turn that 300 in merch into 920 to break even and youd still be losing money. For the Most Part you don’t go to cons to make money. Some DO most Do not do more than break even. This is why creators band together.
This isn’t meant to scare you. In-fact over time some expenses will be controllable. Meet a creator you enjoy their company and your now sharing a room. You don’t always need new banners. What you dont sell at one con is good to sell at the next after all you aren’t selling bread.
The Point of this is for you to get the costs and weight it against if your ready and maybe showing a bit more respect to those in artist alley. They are there trying to build a fan base not to make millions. That hopefully come later.
I have heard of a lot of creators going to soon and regretting it. So if you can afford ask yourself the following Questions
1 What I am hoping to accomplish at the Con?
2 Am I ready to sell something. ( dont bring Trash and try to sell it as gold and don’t sell what should be a hand out for a 5 dollar comic)
3 I am I ready to fail. ( if you cant handle failing wait till someone pick you into a group or you have a fan base worth going to. Failure sucks. Not everyone can fail and keep going some give up so know thy self)
4 Are you read to have new content right after the con or soon after. So you have this great 16 page comic and its really good. You are selling it out people are talking and after the con they want more. If you go home with out a plan and a website Facebook or something in place to keep your fans engaged you are going to fail.
I have seen people sell the same comic year in and year out. Never adding something new. Never going forward. Its as if they think they are holding the winning ticket they just need to wait. And I bet that shit works from time to time. But most times it wont. As a creator you need to keep creating. You need new stuff to be excited about as much as your fans. You also need to keep moving forward. Every Year you have a table you need something new. This could be simply the next issue. Something New means something to sell to those who are already your fans. A demographic you will lose if you have nothing New to offer.
Look having a table is a scary thing and it should be. But it can also be very rewarding. Before you get a table price everything out and see how it plays out. Maybe try to share a table with a few other creators. Try to make it happen. Hell have a Amazon site and put a QR link on your business card and hand them out at cons to people you befriend while walking around. Build your fan base so someone is looking to buy from you before you get there.
At least thats How I look at it. Most of the number are variables that can and do differ. NYCC is probably one of the most expensive cons just based on hotels and air fare. But if you are ready it could sky rocket your career. The hard part is knowing if you are ready or not.
“Martin Dunn “Conventions are NOT meant to be renewable income. If you’re making comics, you should be using the shows to network and market your book.”“