Creators: Why You Should Look at Conventions Differently

For a comic fan, attending a convention is a mass gathering of distant relatives – the one you play Titanfall with online, that guy whose reviews you browse online, that girl you haven’t seen since the last convention – all in one place. It’s a family reunion of sorts, and in the case of New York City Comic Con, it’s a big one. But for those of us who are artists, designers, writers, cosplayers, or any other type of creator, a convention is more than a fan space, it’s a networking opportunity for you to share your work. These are your future collaborators, guidance counselors, business partners, and consumers, so approaching a convention from that perspective means the difference between being a fan of someone else’s work, and being on track to add fans of your own. Conventions are a self-marketing opportunity, networking gala, and career advisement seminar rolled in one. With everyone in the mindset of sharing and exploring new things, you don’t need to warm up the crowd to your presentation – everyone is there to see what you have. Not only are convention-goers willing to discover and discuss new things, they’re eager for it. It’s part of the joy that makes us nerds. If you designed a comic-themed jewelry line and you come to a convention without samples, not only are you slippin’, you’re also robbing people of the awesomeness you created. Of course, there is the fear. Your story isn’t good enough, your art needs better shading, or your work just isn’t ready yet to be seen …