So, I hosted my first comic con exhibit...

[u/NoirAppreciator]

... and it was bad.

At least at first.

Then, after sparse sales, and interactions with buyers and "almost but not quite" potential buyers. I learned that you're not really exhibiting and showing off your creations as much as playing the game of managing expectations.

Would I recommend it?

Yes, but don't go in there expecting to make lots of sales or even a lot of new fans. If you go there as an indie creator (especially if your comic con host decides to put you in the infamous "Artist Alley" section) you WILL be neglected and you will be neglected for hours. Dozens, no, hundreds will walk right by you and the most you can hope to get from them is a curious glance before something else grabs their attention.

My advice? Don't take it personally. They're looking for something and you just aren't it. Even if it's for something as shallow as because they never heard of you or what it is you're selling, always keep in mind their budget is not a bottomless pit. All you can do is bring some business cards (Which I foolishly did not have prepared) and give as many of those away as you can if you can't make a sale.

Plus, always tell yourself it's never about the profit (It's almost impossible to make profit). It's about the exposure. You're not going there to cover the cost of the exhibition fee, the trip, and your next project. You;re going there to make sure you get a few more fans who will know your brand and follow it for as long as you don;t give up on it.

So, in short, never think of comic con exhibitions as huge leaps. Just small steps for you to mature as as an artist.

I walked in, had my soul crushed, then walked out not happy, but humbled and relieved for having done it at all.

[u/Redfoxyboy]

Are you looking for tips on how to get people to the table?

I do a decent amount of conventions as an indie creator and usually do pretty well so I’m happy to offer some feedback

[u/NoirAppreciator → u/Redfoxyboy]

Any advice would be greatly appreciated and probably not just by me.

[u/Redfoxyboy → u/NoirAppreciator]

So you might already be doing this, but the biggest thing any vendor needs is a gimmick to get people to the table

Personally, I ask people if they want a free drawing, 1/3 say yes! Then I ask who their favorite superhero is and draw it on my business card. While I draw, I encourage them to look at my books, and I (or my assistant) give them the elevator pitch. I'm able to draw most superheroes without reference and knock them out in 30ish seconds, so that helps.

Obviously this doesn't work every time, but it gets way more people to the table and generates more sales than you might think.

Side note: And you'd think I would get a lot of followers from this, I'm usually lucky to get 1 new follower for every 100 cards I draw, but it's still worth it for the sales it generates

[u/Financial-Creme → u/Redfoxyboy]

That's a really brilliant strategy and I respect the hell out of your hustle and work ethic. Giving you a follow on IG because I'm probably going to utilize some of your ideas when my book is ready.

[u/Redfoxyboy → u/Financial-Creme]

Thank you, happy to help!

[u/JasonAQuest]

I would say that the best goal for your first time exhibiting at a con should be losing your virginity. I don't mean that in the hotel-room-after-party sense. I mean metaphorically: going there, doing a bunch of things badly, discovering what it actually feels like, learning some things by observation, and if you're lucky you have some good moments, and maybe someone remembers you (in a good way) the next day.

[u/NoirAppreciator → u/JasonAQuest]

Not a bad analogy.

[u/SnowBunny_22]

It’s not impossible to make a profit. The first Comic Con I boothed at I turned a profit. The difference though it wasn’t my first art show. I already crowd tested my products and practiced my elevator pitch. Like another commenter mentioned you need some way to draw people in. Often times they are walking past without truly looking. My attention grabber is my homemade weighted plushies. I invite people to hold them and get to watch their delight at realizing the plush are heavy. From there I can direct them to my original books and stickers.

[u/Klemc48]

I would not take your first experience to set what all of them will be - it seems like you're taking it as a chance to learn for next time, which is great! Definitely get those business cards ready!

I'd also look into smaller conventions (it sounds like maybe you went to a larger one?) and - if you can - ones that fit your niche. If you do horror, find a horror convention and if you do fantasy, try to find one that's specifically on that. Sometimes it's not that people aren't showing off great things, they just don't fit the venue.

Also, be friendly! Say hi to people (not in an accosting way, just friendly) and ask how their day is going. Making that connection goes a big way and honestly, some of my best times at conventions were talking with people and it didn't matter if they bought anything. Then, when we saw each other at another con, we remembered each other and it was great feeling.

[u/Wind_Seer]

So you do one event and think you're an expert on comic cons now? How was your table set up? Were you doing anything to bring people in? Did you have a pitch prepared for your comics? A lot goes into have a successful con that you can't learn just from your first time. I've been doing them for about five years and for at least the first two I was terrible. I'm still learning how to be better.