Diversity Comic Con Fri 10/25
If you’re in the NYC area, please stop by Diversity Comic Con at FIT tomorrow - Friday 10/25 from 10a - 6p! More info here. They have a great panel lineup - better than NYCC, as it’s geared towards creators. I’m personally interested in the webcomic one the most at 2p!
Business Tip
Don’t do too many comic cons or events in a row. This is more a mental note to myself! They really take a lot of energy to do, from lugging all your gear there early on public transit, setting up, constantly reaching out to people all day… I’m naturally social and like talking to people but it gets tiring after awhile! I’ve realized that I’m still worn out after a con no matter how many sketches I’ve done. Am I getting OLD? lol! You really gotta love drawing comics to stay in the game! But I’m not going anywhere for a long time, don’t worry :)
X-Con This Saturday!
It’s that time of the year where there’s some comic event going on each weekend! Join me for X-Con this Saturday May 11th at Xavier High School! It seriously has the coolest name for a convention, and that’s reason enough to go XD
$5 admission - Noon to 5p! 30 West 16th St.
This convention is in honor of the school’s art teacher, Renzo Ventrella, who passed away last October.
Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2172450112817441/
MoCCA Fest This Weekend!
NYC’s biggest indie comics festival is here - MoCCA Fest is this weekend! I’ll be tabling with my friend Nadia Burgess of ToughSpirit Creations once again at table H260. I’ll also have AER HEAD prints for sale! I’ll still take commissions but am transitioning to become more AER HEAD focused. Here’s some info for MoCCA Fest:
Dates: Sat 4/6, 11a-7p. Sun 4/7, 11a-6p
Location: Metropolitan West (West 46th Street between 11th and 12 Avenues)
Site: https://www.societyillustrators.org/mocca-arts-festival
Hope to see you there!
Comix Pop-UP ShopP Happening in Harlem!
It’s spring - yay! That means the comic con season is gearing up and I’ll be posting about more events, like this one in Harlem this Friday! This is a comic “happening” that’s growing from Dare2Draw, a nonprofit that’s facilitating mentoring and networking opportunities for cartoonists of all levels. I’ve been to some of the Dare2Draw events before and if you want to be in the comics SCENE, this is a great place to start. Creators, get to know Charles and he’ll hook you up with a table - we want more creators here. The table is free and 10% of profits go to Dare2Draw.
So far this happening looks like they’ll have things for vintage comics fans and newer fans too. I’ll have a table with some of my comics there - not the full setup due to it being outside (kind of outside? It’s under the train overpass). It’s at Uptown Grand Central at the underpass of East 125th and Park Ave, from 3-7pm this Friday March 29. It’ll be a really nice day - looks like almost 60°. If you’re in the area, after work you could combine going to the ComiX Pop-UP ShopP with going to Marcus Garvey Park around the corner and read your comics in the sunshine :)
If you’re unfamiliar with the area, here’s a pic - look for the colorful murals under the train on the street level! Hope to see you there!
FanFaire NYC THIS WEEKEND!
Very excited to exhibit for the first time in FanFaire NYC this weekend with ToughSpirit Creations! It’s at the HIgh School of Art & Design and I’m absolutely blown away by the special guest and programming they have! Art Spiegleman & Neil Adams are both alumni and are giving folio reviews to high schoolers - what an incredible opportunity for youth! I wish I could have gotten to see panels like “Pitch to Screen” and “How To Develop Thick Skin” as a student. But at least I get to exhibit here! Nadia and I are way in the corner, table 500, so if you’re at the show please make sure to check out all the corners XD. Here’s more info:
Hope to see you there!
Surprise! Jersey Shore Con THIS SUNDAY!
SURPRISE! After many years, I’m doing a Jersey show again! If you’re in the NJ area and have missed me, please stop by the Jersey Shore Comic Book Show this Sunday January 27th in Toms River! Apparently it’s “the biggest little con on the east coast,” which reminds me of how Ann Arbor is like a big town but small city. I’ll be taking sketch commissions as always and you can grab a copy of Other Realms, my newish sci-fi comic.
It’s 10a-4p at the Elks Lodge: 600 Washington St.
Hope to see you there for the first comic con of 2019!
Philly Zine Fest This Sunday!
I’m exhibiting in Philly Zine Fest again! I did it once a few years ago and am excited to return! It’s always great to do shows that just focus on zines. They’re affordable to exhibit in without relying on sketch art. I like doing sketch art, but creating stories is why I love being a cartoonist.
One day I’ll have to spend more time in Philly though - it’s just been quick day trips both times. The life of a busy entrepreneur!
If you’re in the Philly area, please check it out! Here’s the site: http://phillyzinefest.com/
Diversity Comic Con this THURS & Biz Basics NEXT WED!
There’s a new con in town: Diversity Comic Con at FIT! Celebrating diversity in the comics world! It’s this Thursday 10/11, so if you missed NYCC this is perfect for you - their panel lineup is all the best of what NYCC should have had, such as “breaking in” and “self-publishing.” Since cosplay has had such a boom, FIT is the perfect venue. It’s FREE but you must get a free eventbrite ticket. I’ll be exhibiting at table 41 in the corner near the stage, along with many other diverse comic creators.
In other news, the next Business Basics for Freelancers class is NEXT WEDNESDAY October 17th from 6-9p at Anyone Comics! I promoted this class like crazy at NYCC, and will at Diversity comic con, so don’t wait til the day before to get a ticket if you’ve been considering it. People always ask “will I have other classes?” and I try to have them once a month, but if you can actually make this time, go for it, because my classes may start to fill up! Thanks!
Eternal Con This Weekend!
Mindy Indy is returning to Eternal Con in Long Island! I'll be at table 39 along with my writer friend Patrick McEvoy, and we'll be selling our comic "Other Realms!" I'll be sketching as usual, and as always please get your sketch orders to me earlier in the day. More show info:
If you're in Long Island, hope to see you there!
Motor City Comic Con This Weekend!
I'm heading back to my homeland in Michigan for Motor City Comic Con this Fri 5/18 - Sun 5/20! If you're around southeastern MI, check it out - XENA's going to be there! She has a panel at 2p on Sunday. Also I'm table H-6 in Artist Alley. If you stop by my table you'll get to see my newest comic, Other Realms! Also doing sketches as usual. Another panel that looks good is Promoting your Comic Books Through Podcasts at 4p Fri. Tickets start at $25 and up. Also get there early, especially for Saturday, as traffic gets really bad in the afternoon. It's always great to exhibit at Motor City - I went to that convention as a kid and it's really changed and gotten way bigger and better! Hope to see you there!
Free Comic Book Day THIS SATURDAY at Anyone Comics!
Did you know there's a day called Free Comic Book Day? It's always the first Saturday in May, and you can go to ANY comic shop all over America and they will have a certain selection of comics for FREE! No, it doesn't mean that all the comics in the store are free... they'd go out of business. Note that the above image is meant to read May 5th, 12pm - 8pm (it is NOT May 12).
Some stores, like Anyone Comics in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, are also making it into a party/ Indie Art Fair! I'm one of 15+ local cartoonists selling comics, zines, toys, games, prints, clothing & more from NOON to 8pm - all day! My friend Patrick McEvoy will take over the later half of the day, selling our new comic "Other Realms," so if you want to see me, please get there before 4pm. Even though it's supposed to rain this Saturday, all the festivities are inside. At least it's going to be warm - almost 70°! It's at 1216 Union Street - take the 2/5 to President Street and it's right around the corner.
Hope you can make it out to get some free comics, discover a new favorite artist, and enjoy just hanging out at a comic shop - the peeps at Anyone Comics are very friendly :)
OTHER REALMS Debuting at BIG APPLE This Weekend!
EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT! I'm debuting a brand new officially printed (like an actual comic - not from Staples!) called "OTHER REALMS" at Big Apple Con this weekend! I've been working with writer Patrick McEvoy for awhile on short stories for the past year or 2, and now we have enough material for a book! Inside, you can jump to 8 other realms where technology has unexpected consequences! It's a sci-fi 'zine of short stories, printed in comic book format, but features a mix of comic art with prose/poetry + illustrations.
I sent the files to Ka-Blam for printing, and when I got this box in the mail on Monday I was literally JUMPING ALL OVER MY LIVING ROOM with excitement! This really feels like a "level-up" for me professionally, as I've printed mini comics at Staples now for many years. We'll be selling OTHER REALMS for $5 each at conventions. We don't have an online store YET, but if you'd like a copy and aren't going to Big Apple in NYC or Motor City Comic Con in MI, just email me at mindy at mindyindy dot com and we'll work it out. Speaking of Big Apple...
The flyer pretty much says it all! Tickets are $25 per day. If you think NYCC is too expensive, this is your chance to attend a comic con for a better price and get a feel of an "old school" convention. In their own words: "Low ticket prices and family-friendly fun is the lure of this classic style convention that brings together fans of all kinds of entertainment from all walks of life. Through the central theme of comic books, the convention features a large range of pop culture elements including science fiction/fantasy, film/television, cosplay, animation, anime, manga, toys, horror, collectible card games, video games, web comics, and fantasy novels. Including panels with celebrity and artist guests, the Big Apple Comic Con also features an amazing Artist Alley with the best local talent, and two main event Costume Contests, one each day!"
Comic cons are GREAT for deadlines to publish new work, and debuting OTHER REALMS at Big Apple is a prime example. Even though ideally we wanted to debut it at MoCCA Fest, it couldn't get shipped in time. However, I was able to make some postcards for it to give away at MoCCA to create some buzz. Look for opportunities even in possible setbacks!
Hope to see you at Big Apple!
MoCCA Fest THIS WEEKEND!
It's springtime, and that means the start of the comic convention season! This weekend, I'm tabling once again with my friend Nadia Burgess of Toughspirit Creations at MoCCA Arts Festival! Here are the details:
Sat April 7, 11A-7P
Sun April 8, 11A-6P
at Metropolitan West 639 W 46th st.
We're at table E174 on the first floor near the Wacom booth.
Tickets are just $7 per day!
https://www.societyillustrators.org/mocca-arts-festival
I was just emailing someone today about some differences between MoCCA Fest and other comic cons. It's an indie comics festival, so you'll see lots of self-published comics focusing on personal stories, rather than a more hard-core comic con with Marvel/DC stuff. But there's something fun for everyone at MoCCA Fest! There's a Wacom booth where you can try the latest tablet gadgets, Patreon Lounge where you can learn about all the awesome stuff Patreon does (and if you're a freelancer, you SHOULD know about Patreon), and a RisoLab. There are panelists who will talk about issues like "Comics, Community and Career", and everything from the New Yorker comics to experimental comics. Hope to see you there!
I GOT A NYCC TABLE!! K8
Being on wait lists seems to pay off a lot where comic cons are concerned. Visit me and ToughSpirit Creations this week at NYCC in Artist Alley table K8 !!! Think of K-9, like the dog, and we're right next to it. Here's a link to our listing on the official NYCC site: http://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/en/Exhibitors/3751487/Mindy-Indy-ToughSpirit-Creations
Note that Artist Alley is in a different location this year! We're on Level 1, which is the underground level - take the escalators downstairs. This is different than in previous years when we were off in a separate annex. Fingers crossed we'll all still get reception down there. In the map below, we're the first blue rectangle on the left. See a more detailed map here.
It's nice that NYCC has a space to put info about us artists online.
In the NYCC Gallery Grid
Super excited and hope to see you there! Thursday tickets to NYCC are still available as of this posting!
Boston Comic Con This Weekend!
The most important thing you need to know about Boston Comic Con is that it's in a new place this year - kind of near the old place, so you won't get totally lost, but it's at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center instead of the Seaport WTC. A few blocks south from the seaport at 415 Summer St. I'm sharing a table once again with my friend Jennie Wood in Artist's Alley #AA300.
BCC is also run by a new company this year - Fan Expo - so we'll see what new changes are in store. I think that the convention will be bigger, as this is a larger building.
Once again I'm blogging last-minute. OK now to catch some Z's before waking at 5:45AM. If you're in the Boston area, hope to see you there!
Comic-Con International in San Diego - This Week!
I'm an official artist in Artist's Alley this year in Comic-Con International in San Diego! I'm listed under my real name, Mindy Steffen, at table BB-23. Last year, I was able to get a table mid-way through the convention, but this year I'm all in! I've been spiffing up my sketch folio and am very excited to see what will happen this year! Since I'll mostly be glued to my table, I won't get to see cool panels, but I plan to network at some after parties. SDCC is pretty overwhelming, and there's way too much to put all in one blog, but here's some useful links:
Tickets are sold out! SDCC is super hard-core, so you need to buy badges way in advance - start planning for next year! https://www.comic-con.org/cci/purchase-badges
If you're already going to the convention, here's a link to the show map - Artist's Alley is that blue box waaaaay to the left: https://www.comic-con.org/sites/default/files/forms/CCI17_ExhibitHallMap_Small.pdf
Get your best artwork ready for the folio review section - I actually got some coloring work for Action Lab Comics through meeting them here: https://www.comic-con.org/cci/portfolio-review
The Quick Guide - scroll 3/4 of the way down to see a color-coded schedule of panels: https://www.comic-con.org/sites/default/files/forms/CCI17_QG_Online_V1_LR.pdf
Lots of awesome stuff going on and I'm very excited!
So if you've been following me, you know I haven't posted in awhile! Summer's here and my priorities have shifted a bit. Is it possible to ever reach a true work/life balance? Added to that, as an artist, I have personal projects, which count as both work and life. But lately I've preferred sketching in parks outside rather than blogging - carpe diem!
MoCCA Fest THIS WEEKEND!
This weekend I'll be exhibiting at MoCCA Fest with my friend Nadia Burgess of Toughspirit Creations! We're table i265 on the 2nd floor. MoCCA Fest will be this weekend April 1 - 2nd from 11:00AM - 6:00PM. It's held once again at Metropolitan West, on West 46th Street between 11th and 12th Avenues. Admission is $5 per day and will grant attendees access to the Fest including the Exhibitors Hall, on-site Gallery space, and programming. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door. Children under ten are free. Besides awesome artists creating unique indie comics in the main floors, there's tons of great programming going on at Ink48 Hotel nearby, including Reading Without Walls: Diversity in Comics, Saturday 12:30PM / Garamond Room and
Covering Trump: Steve Brodner Edel Rodriguez in Conversation, Saturday 2:00PM / Helvetica Room.
Hope to see you there!
Big Apple Con THIS WEEKEND!
I'm exhibiting at Big Apple Con this weekend with ToughSpirit Creations! Here's the scoop:
Saturday, March 11, 2017: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday, March 12, 2017: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Penn Plaza Pavilion 401
7th Avenue New York,
NY 10001
All artists/authors/small press will be on the second floor of the Penn Plaza Pavilion, the storefront right next door to the entrance to the hotel. Looks like Big Apple has a big focus on cosplay this year - lots of panels and even an "Intergalactic Cosplay Dance Party"! Big star appearances include Stan Lee and Jason David Frank. As always, I'll be drawing custom sketches and selling mini comics! For more info and to buy tickets, go to https://www.bigapplecc.com/
Hope to see you there!
Venn Diagrams of Artist Work
One of the things I've learned from being a freelance artist is that you need to have a mix of stable and variable work. Most full-time artists these days must juggle 3 to 10 or more smaller jobs at once rather than having a 9-5 (this does not include artists that have a non-related day job). In my Venn diagram above, "stable" means recurring - either monthly, weekly, or daily. Teaching has set hours, but the rest of my jobs are flexible, meaning I can fit them in from home on my own time, so even though work is stable doesn't mean it's inflexible. The key to create stable work is to align yourself with a few solid companies or non-profits and have ongoing positive relationships with them. Now that I have a solid 3 forms of recurring work, I am finally starting to grow financially instead of just keeping afloat.
Variable artist work is the most random. Earlier in my comic career, I relied too much on these forms of income: comic conventions, illustrations, and comic coloring. These projects are fun to be involved in, but unless you have a constant client base, it's very difficult to make ends meet solely on variable, non-recurring work. Comic cons are great, but I realize I shouldn't exhibit too often due to burnout, since I sketch on-the-spot. Also, there's no guarantee there will be a large crowd so I may not make as much money as hoped. Now that I have more stable work, I can target only the larger conventions I know will have good traffic flow, and not feel compelled to exhibit in every single show. I can also fit in illustrations like custom comics in between my stable work, especially if there's a flexible deadline. I just squeezed in a short comic coloring gig for Action Lab Comics last week. I hired an assistant to do the flats instead of struggling to do the entire thing myself in such a short amount of time, which allowed us to meet the deadline comfortably without killing myself over no sleep. ("Flats" are the first step to comic coloring work - like the solid colors in a coloring book. The next step is making sure all colors harmonize, then shading/rendering.) Before, when I didn't have the trio of stable work, I'd do almost all the flats myself to get more money, but I'd have major burnout. Having stable work can be more freeing to consider options like hiring assistants instead of being in "survival mode" all the time, which is not healthy.
I encourage you to make an artist's Venn diagram of your own paying projects to help see your situation more clearly. What projects are you spending most of your time in - the variable diagram or the stable diagram - and what steps can you take to improve your situation? One step could be reaching out and reconnecting with past clients.
You could have another Venn diagram of fun comic projects of your own that are not paid projects. Just be careful not to spend too much time in the area of unpaid work though, because we can trick ourselves into thinking we're being more productive and making more money than we actually are. Good luck!
A Valentine's (D)(R)!
The next in my (D)(R) series - Happy Valentine's Day!