Maximizing the Space

Ohhh it's table display time again! And this time, I fear, I'm a little squashed. Whereas I usually luxuriate my products across a six foot table space, I've got two conventions coming up (Stumptown and TCAF) where I fear I'll have to contain my madness to just three feet.

Thus, it's time for some planning. I start out by drawing a 3' long (half of an average 6' table space) x 2' deep space on the floor with some easily removable tape (you can also do this on a large enough table, if the person you live with doesn't violently object). Sometimes I fold up the tablecloth I plan on using and place it inside, to see if it clashes terribly with my books. But if I've used the same table cloth consistently without any problems (besides the occasional ink stain), I can skip using it.

Then comes the tricky part. It's not just about fitting everything into the space as you lay it on a table ...

 

But making sure to create levels of height in order to stagger appearance, catch the eye, and also - yeah - cram in as much stuff as possible.

 

And since I have a lot of books, this gets a little crowded. I am a comics creator who has not one, but THREE ongoing series (Bonnie N. Collide, Gods & Undergrads, Lipstick & Malice), as well as autobiographical short stories (Boobage, Go For the Eyes, Mall Model, Middle School), and a new graphic novel (Glitter Kiss), I'm usually at a loss for how to compile and present everything. Do I age off some of my stories and stop bringing them along? Or do I condense them into cute packages?

Lately I've just been doing the latter, because I enjoy dabbling in packaging. But I've found presenting them in their packaging makes people reluctant to pick them up and unwrap them. So, the convenience of bundling them together becomes moot as I end up separating them anyway in order for people to flip through them.

What worries me the most about my gaggle of books, prints, cuffs, is that it doesn't seem very cohesive when viewed in a cluster like this. I can only do so much with uniform price stickers and labels. Plus there is something to be said for a good dosage of negative space.

Fellow comic exhibitors/craters/viewers of exhibit tables out there, what are you doing to conquer this problem? What do you like to see in a table? I think for now I'm going to keep incorporating some height (courtesy of these fine crates from Jo-Ann's) and fretting a little while longer.

 

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Comics vs. Crafts

Yesterday I exhibited at my first craft show, and it was interesting to compare the experience to comic shows (which are normally more my bag). Since I've applied to craft shows before but never been accepted, I was nervous. I wasn't sure the crafters would accept me into their clan.

Luckily, the experience was wonderful! Crafters seem to be just as supportive and excited about each others' work as indie comickers are. Just as shy, too. I mean, I'm used to comic exhibitors practically throwing their necks out just to avoid eye contact and using any excuse to leave the table rather than discuss their own work (and I'm including myself in this group). So it was kind of charming to see crafters with their beautiful, elaborate displays of hand-woven jewelry ... likewise all crouched in a corner, panicked when a customer greeted them.

Here are a few of the things I noticed:

  • Lots of pregnant women with adorable babies strapped to them in various intricate contraptions
  • Maxi dresses in wonderful patterns
  • Lots of supportive comments from visitors, telling me they loved that I was a writer, illustrator, and designer :) (which means now I'm allowed to refer to myself as a triple threat, right? In my mind?)
  • A great variety of jewelry, perfume, wearable things, hangable things, loveable things
  • A MUCH better smell wafting through the place as a whole. Sorry Comic Cons, but crafters have you beat. No longer was there the whiff of B.O. swirling about - instead it was just the sweet aroma of savory soaps and perfumes. Yum.
  • I met Young House Love superstar blogsters John & Sherry, whose mere presence shamed my boyfriend into taking on more home improvement projects. All part of my evil plan!
  • Regrettably, my work sparked this question in a little girl:  "Mommy, what does -" points to my Tiger print "- 'sexy' mean?" My bad, mother of little girl.

I also picked up this little number from Monkey Dog Studio:

As well as checked out some gorgeous stuff from:

After the show, Dennis and I dragged ourselves on over to the Sine Irish Pub. There, we did some pub crawler participant watching (too drunk at stop #1, they were) and I obsessed over the safety of my car in an "Honor Code" parking lot until Dennis put money in the parking lot slot. Has anyone else ever encountered a parking lot, with plenty of empty spaces, on a Sunday, with a big scary sign that tells you you still have to pay something, even though it's Sunday and no one's around? Oh well, it was enough to have me shivering in my britches, so even though everyone we asked told us we didn't have to pay, my honor remains intact.

Peace out, Richmond, that was a wonderful Sunday trip! And I can't wait to go back to Spring Bada Bing!

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Comics vs. Crafts

Yesterday I exhibited at my first craft show, and it was interesting to compare the experience to comic shows (which are normally more my bag). Since I've applied to craft shows before but never been accepted, I was nervous. I wasn't sure the crafters would accept me into their clan.

Luckily, the experience was wonderful! Crafters seem to be just as supportive and excited about each others' work as indie comickers are. Just as shy, too. I mean, I'm used to comic exhibitors practically throwing their necks out just to avoid eye contact and using any excuse to leave the table rather than discuss their own work (and I'm including myself in this group). So it was kind of charming to see crafters with their beautiful, elaborate displays of hand-woven jewelry ... likewise all crouched in a corner, panicked when a customer greeted them.

Here are a few of the things I noticed:

  • Lots of pregnant women with adorable babies strapped to them in various intricate contraptions
  • Maxi dresses in wonderful patterns
  • Lots of supportive comments from visitors, telling me they loved that I was a writer, illustrator, and designer :) (which means now I'm allowed to refer to myself as a triple threat, right? In my mind?)
  • A great variety of jewelry, perfume, wearable things, hangable things, loveable things
  • A MUCH better smell wafting through the place as a whole. Sorry Comic Cons, but crafters have you beat. No longer was there the whiff of B.O. swirling about - instead it was just the sweet aroma of savory soaps and perfumes. Yum.
  • I met Young House Love superstar blogsters John & Sherry, whose mere presence shamed my boyfriend into taking on more home improvement projects. All part of my evil plan!
  • Regrettably, my work sparked this question in a little girl:  "Mommy, what does -" points to my Tiger print "- 'sexy' mean?" My bad, mother of little girl.

I also picked up this little number from Monkey Dog Studio:

As well as checked out some gorgeous stuff from:

After the show, Dennis and I dragged ourselves on over to the Sine Irish Pub. There, we did some pub crawler participant watching (too drunk at stop #1, they were) and I obsessed over the safety of my car in an "Honor Code" parking lot until Dennis put money in the parking lot slot. Has anyone else ever encountered a parking lot, with plenty of empty spaces, on a Sunday, with a big scary sign that tells you you still have to pay something, even though it's Sunday and no one's around? Oh well, it was enough to have me shivering in my britches, so even though everyone we asked told us we didn't have to pay, my honor remains intact.

Peace out, Richmond, that was a wonderful Sunday trip! And I can't wait to go back to Spring Bada Bing!

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Crafty Time!

This weekend I'm super excited to say I'll be exhibiting at my very first craft show! *wooooooo*

Spring Bada Bing in Richmond, Virginia this Sunday, April 15th from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. On the unholiest of Tax Days, why not come out and support some creative crafters and get some yummy food?

I'm prepping for it right now ... I'll have Greek God Cuffs, Hanging Prints, Animal Spirit Guides, mini-comics ... hope to see you all there!

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