[dc]T[/dc]here are times when I have to take a chance on something. And I don’t just mean the “special” at the local diner, I mean something big. The “big” thing in this case was getting a table in artist alley at Motor City Comic Con (May 13 – 15, 2016).
I was on the fence about trying Motor City Comic Con for a while, mainly because of the higher table cost ($250) and fear of being overwhelmed by the size. I heard this year’s attendance was around 50 to 60 thousand.
My table at Motor City Comic Con 2016. I tried a new set up with towers on either side of me.
It’s a big jump in terms of show size.
But, I pushed my concerns aside and rolled the dice. Boy, am I glad I did.
How Did I Do at Motor City Comic Con?
Excellent. Better than I hoped. I went in with low expectations because I didn’t know if my art would click with the crowd (every show is different), and because I was way in the back corner, facing an empty wall (not ideal, but I was a first timer, so that’s how it goes).
I wrote a more detailed breakdown of sales, with real numbers and stats, for my patrons on Patreon (become a patron for at least $1/month and you can read it). I use the Square Register app to track all of my sales, even with cash, and it’s super handy for seeing how I do at shows.
A “math joke” watercolor commission.
In short, I “made table,” and then a bit more. By “made table,” I covered my costs to be there, which is my bare minimum for a successful show. So yes, I was in the black by 5:00 PM on Sunday afternoon.
Black and white Random Cartoon.
What Sold at Motor City Comic Con?
Books. I sold a lot of books. Last year’s coloring book sold out, and this year’s sold extremely well (in the double digits). My 2016 Hourly Comics collection sold well too.
I also moved a bunch of prints and original artwork, including commissions and my 4×6 watercolor cartoons.
Watercolor commission for a young Survivor fan (and his dog).
What Was the Crowd Like?
Huge, for starters. The din of the crowd on Saturday was so loud, I almost had to yell over it when chatting with guests. Plenty of people stopped to look at my stuff and chat, and even though they didn’t always buy stuff, it was fine. That’s how it goes.
A watercolor Random Cartoon.
The ‘taking photos of artwork’ crowd was in full force though, which promoted me to make a couple of No Photos signs for my prints and original art displays.
Will I Go Back to Motor City Comic Con?
Yes, without a doubt I will be back. I wasn’t in an ideal place, but that’s the roll of the dice as a first timer (returning artists usually get better spots, and get to register sooner). But, even given my place, I did better than expected. Look for me next year at Motor City Comic Con. This means next May will still be crazy, between Free Comic Book Day, Motor City Comic Con, and Cherry Capital Comic Con—it’s a good crazy though.
On to the next show!
