Hey, gang- welcome to this Wayback Wednesday post. This one takes us back to last month’s Memphis Libraries Comic Con. It was the third annual event, and I had a table space there again this year with my wife Nicki.
SNL’s Chris Parnell was their special guest this year at the main library. Chris is originally from the Memphis area (Germantown, TN), and is the son of local radio legend Jack Parnell.
The first year they had comic creators Mike Norton and John Ostrander, and last year Matt Wagner and Geen Ha were their guests. Nicki got to host the Q&A panels both years. You can hear them on my podcast “Drawing Funny”– 2023 Ep. 54 and 2024 Ep. 62.
Nicki and I got to the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library early Saturday morning. It’s the main branch at 3030 Poplar Ave. (at Union/Walnut Grove) in Memphis, TN.
I’ve been able to get my table set up down to one trip from the car- a rolling bag and a wagon, along with a sling bag with my digital point/shoot camera and H1n ZOOM recorder.
I also packed some snacks, but they had food trucks and tents set up out front. We grabbed some breakfast at the donut shop near us on our way in. If you’re going to a con either as an attendee or vendor definitely eat a good breakfast!
Be sure to check out my Con Survival Guide and Advice From The Couch “Drawing Funny” episodes for some free con and art biz advice.
I was happy to have my wife/booth babe/I.T. person at the con with me. She help me set up/tear down, get my payment systems up and ready on my iPhone, and sold items whenever I stepped away from my table to do some recording or hit the restroom. Thankfully I was pretty close to the bathrooms so I could get there and back pretty quickly!
I was set up on the same side I have been the last two years (beside the left escalator), but was a bit closer to the front of the library and main entrance this time.
I used my B/W table set up for this show. It’s got a striped tent/awning, table runners, and blinking lights. It all breaks down and packs in my rolling zipper bag.
I started using it at last year’s Zine Fest at Crosstown Concourse and it’s still a bit of a work in progress.
I don’t set up often so I still haven’t gotten any quicker at setting it up the whole thing, but it does all fit in my car’s trunk. I have gotten the frame painted black since I got it, and added a new cordless flood light to help shine down on the table’s surface.
I was also recently able to whitewash my wooden bins and mini-easels before this show. I still need a new banner and better way to vertically display more prints. I like my wooden bin for prints, but it’s hard to get folks to stop and flip through it on their own. I really have to sell them on checking them out. Adding a couple to the front posts has helped some.
I don’t want to be a “wall-o-prints” guy, but I definitely need a better way to have them more visible to people walking by.
Have also thought about adding a sign/banner to go across the top of the tent to be seen from both the front and back of the booth. Maybe I can by the fall shows.
For this Library Comic Con I decided to bring along my folding metal comics rack this time since I had more sketchcovers and zines to display. I also brought my trading card display for my sketchcards. It can securely hold them in place for displaying, and then slip out when sold. I picked it up a few years ago on sale at Michaels in the framing section.
The chalkboard signs and mini-easels I got at the Dollar Tree for $1.25ea. and they pack up in one of the larger wooden bins. I bought a tackle box to keep extra items like zip ties, pens, makers, tape, batteries, etc. in that can go under my table during the show, and in the rolling bag when it’s time to go.
I did well at the con- sold a few sketchcards, some prints, stickers, and a zine. Overall I did twice what I did last year which made me happy. The table space was free, we just had to donate 10% of sales to the library. Not a bad deal! I heard others did well, too. (You can check out my “Priced To Sell- Or Sit..?” DF episode HERE.)
Our table neighbors for the day were Anotne, Janet, and Anakin Wade- the Toshigawa Universe team. Kevin L. Williams and Damarco Randle stopped by for a bit, too.
There were several other Mid-South Cartoonists Association/MSCA members set up there, and I got to talk toons with Dale Martin/Watusi The Talking Dog, Matt Bowers/Memphis, and Eric McMeans/Raptor Boy– who were all set up just down from me.
I was able to record those conversations with them and the Wades for my “Drawing Funny” podcast. You can hear that episode HERE.
It was cool to see some of them doing sketchcards, too. I love seeing other artists draw them, and everyone has their own style. I still have some folks ask me, “What’s a sketchcard..?” (To see/hear me discuss skethcards check out the Penciled In Podcast or Gabe’s Cave on YouTube.)
I still have some of my personal sketchcards for sale for $35ea out at The Cellar on Bartlett Blvd. near Stage in Bartlett, TN and will have more at ZineFest, Monster Market, and Memphis Comic Expo this fall. I will NOT be back at the Memphis Monster Con this year (or any going forward), but will also be a part of an MSCA art show this Halloween at Germantown Community Theatre.
Speaking of Halloween, I did a quick Halloween sketch in Matt Bowers’ sketchbook. I didn’t do any other drawing at the event. I just didn’t have time or space. I’ve also noticed if you’re drawing with your head down many folks won’t stop to talk and look because they don’t want to interrupt or disturb you. If you’re gonna draw at a show you definitely need someone else with you at your table to stand and talk to customers and help keep an eye on things.
There was lots of cosplay at the show. I missed the costume contest because they moved it to one of the large meeting rooms to make space for more tables where we were, and to allow for more attendees to watch and participate. It also kept the con floor/lobby area more open and a bit easier to have conversations in.
The show had a great turnout. Thanks to the Memphis Libraries staff and volunteers, and to all of those who stopped by my table .
I had a great time and hope to be back again next year. (Above photo by Frank Chin, feature image by Kevin L. Williams)
Lin
You can check out all the “Drawing Funny” podcast episodes on the DF website by clicking HERE, or you can listen on Spotify, Apple, or most any other podcasting platforms.