WonderCon Day 0

Okay so I'm sitting here at the airport waiting for my flight to board on my way down to San Francisco for WonderCon '09…at 4:38 am….ugh

So last night when I was doing some last min prep for the show I started to think…hrmmm maybe this would make a good Tales from the Asylum since I haven't written one in quite awhile. So I decided I would share a bit of the madness that goes through my head when I am prepping for any show…no matter how large or small.

So the first thing that runs into my head is "How do I want to attend this show" - I'm sure it's not a surprise but I am a huge comic book and pop culture fan myself. I mean I've been going to shows since 1986….and I've been buying comics since 1980 pretty much. So with every show I have to think…
"How do I want to attend this show?"
"Do I want to be a pure fan and bring a ton of stuff to get signed?"
"Do I want to try and fill in the holes in my collection or look for that one book I've been missing for years?"
"Do I want to be the professional and do recruiting and do portfolio reviews?"

Well if you know me at all…then you know the last question there is the one that wins out in most cases. I mean I can't deny it, I love talking to people about comic books and I love looking at portfolios. I mean why else would I do 9.5 hours straight of portfolio reviews every San Diego Comic Con?

But with the exception of the San Diego Comic Con of 2001 I don't think I've done a show as just a pure professional with no fan boy emerging through. I mean I always bring something to get signed….ranging from the weirdest thing I can find for Ron Lim to sign to the cool and ultra rare piece for Bernie Wrightson to sign….or just another batch of Kabuki books for Dave Mack to sign. I mean that is one of the things I love about this industry, the amazing talent that is at every show.

So once I decide on how I am going to attend the show…I then have to go through my mental checklist on things to bring. Now granted my friend/Committed Line Editor Cristy has told me time and time again to just print out a generic check list and make copies and put them in a file so I don't forget anything. Now that would make WAY too much sense….and well I just don't play that game…..so I end up trying to remember all the things to bring and without fail I either forget something or at the last min I'm running around my apartment trying to find ____________ (just fill in the blank)

So here is a mini list of things I have to bring to a show in order to "function"

• Business Cards
• Copies of previously printed work
• Copies of upcoming work
• Marketing supplies (postcard or flier or pins or what have you) - Now granted this isn't an always thing…just for the special shows.
• Comfortable shoes (very important for San Diego and NYCC!)
• Pens and paper
• My laptop
• Digital Camera (how many times have I forgotten this stupid thing!)
• Sketch book (I need a new one right now)
• Show information / guest list / show floor plan

Now that is on top of my clothes and making sure I have enough clothes for the length of time I am gone…one year I had to buy a pair of shorts and shirt at San Diego because I didn't pack enough (yeah I'm that smart!).

Then the final piece of the puzzle is the money….like if I am going as mostly a professional I don't need that much money but if I am going full fledge fan boy then I need to bring like a million to the show.

Okay so now that I have babbled and spit all of this out…you're asking yourself (if you are still reading at this point) "So Tom….what are you going to be at WonderCon 2009?"

Okay so now it's 4:57….and I need more coffee….so I am going to wander SeaTac and try to find a cup of coffee….I mean how hard can it be to find a cup of coffee at the Seattle Air Port.

Until tomorrow…this is the Committed EIC signing off….

Up Next: WonderCon Day 1 Recap!