Sign here please

With changes to independent comic book distribution through Diamond Comics Distribution, getting your independent comic into the hands of people and noticed has become increasingly difficult.  While there are lots of different ways to market your comic electronically, one of the most effective ways is still face-to-face marketing through store and convention signings.  One of the goals when we opened the store was to make it more than a place where people bought their comics.  We wanted to make it a comic buying experience.  Our opening day included several local comic creators sketching and signing.  I thought it was a great opportunity for creators to show off their work, but I quickly learned that signings were more than selling product and showing off art.

Community

That opening day, things had slowed down and the creators had migrated over to a single table.  They started talking.   I realized that even though they lived in the same city and worked in the same field that they didn’t necessarily know each other.  Getting to know each other seemed to be one of the highlights of the event.  Since that first event, I’m seen friendships form, collaborations develop and a creator community form.

Presentation

In-store signings let creators get used to crowds and the interesting demands that comic book fans present.  Working with smaller crowds allows you to build up the confidence and experience to market yourself at a big con and to publishers.  My friend, Daniel Davis, recently wrote about his experience at the Alternative Press Expo (APE) this month on his website, www.monstercommute.com.  He talked about how a convention like that a few years ago might have seemed overwhelming, but having built his experience at increasing bigger events allowed him to feel more comfortable.  Developing a pitch and can be important in differentiating yourself from thousands of other creators.  Two years ago, I met Eric Esquivel and Dave Baker at the Phoenix Comicon.  They were promoting their comic for Tucson comic book imprint Indie Only Comics.  They were nice guys, but I didn’t come away with any memorable impression.  Since then, they have attended some other signing events and honed their pitch and persona.  Last year, they had their own booth selling comics from their Modern Mythology imprint.  It was a totally different experience and lots of people I know came away from the con talking about Eric and Dave.

Charity

I try to give back to the community, but I am constantly humbled by Ben Glendenning of www.skulljammer.com.  Ben is constantly using his talent to help charities.  Every event he goes to he donates the proceeds of his sketches to a local charity or national comic book charity.  He donates sketch cards to charities for auctions.  He creates covers for auctions and sketchbooks for the Hero Initiative.  I’m sure if you talk to Ben he would say that he gets as much as he gives by help people with his art.

Community, presentation and charity are just three of the non-conventional benefits of attending a signing at local comic book shop or convention.  I’m sure there are plenty of other great reasons to attend a signing.  Comment below with your reasons.  If you haven’t had an in-store signing before, contact your local comic book store.  The week after Christmas is Skip Week when Diamond Comic Distributors isn’t shipping comics, so many stores are spotlighting local comic creators and hosting signings.

Shawn Demumbrum
SpazDog Comics
www.spazdogcomics.com

Email: shawn@spazdogcomics.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SpazDog
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