[Spotlight Post] North Texas Comic Book Shows
Oh, yeah, Friday. Tomorrow I’m doing something for Fan Day’s Saturday Night Shindig, which reminds me I didn’t get to talk about North Texas Comic Book Show last week.
North Texas Comic Book Show (NTCBS) is a similar but much smaller show than Fan Expo. Chris is the organizer and focuses on the artists and cosplayers – at the moment. It might expand in the future, because it does seem to be gradually getting bigger and better for the attendees.
The attendees that currently come to NTCBS are a core group. Some were friends of the organizer and/or the artists – but it does appear those core people are telling people. And this last show, News Fix 33 (CW 33) came by and did a story – which is awesome. Though I do have to question their title – “Comic Book Show Draws Thousands” – thousands of WHAT they don’t say, because it wasn’t PEOPLE.
Don’t get me wrong there were people there over the two days – but they were a lot of the SAME people. Hundreds maybe, but not thousands – because if there were, we’d’ve been shut down for breaking a bajillion fire codes – which is always a good problem to have.
This was a “squeaker” show for me. I made just over table costs – but barely and not until the last few hours of the show. I sweat the show. I did, because though it’s NOT all about the money, that’s a major factor. The other major factor was, and is, meeting people and trying to attract new readers. The comic books shows are a harder sale to make – because these are folks generally looking for specific things. They’re not always there to look for prose, but I get some – and they’re not people I’d necessarily meet anywhere else.
It’s completely worth it. THIS show… though not as flashy (or expensive – WAY, WAY less expensive) as Fan Expo – it’s got heart. It’s got GOOD people involved. Even if I’d not made money at this particular show, I would go back. In fact, I “strayed” to do the bigger show and have come back just because it’s less expensive and more intimate. I can get to know people here. I can’t at the big show.
So if you’re into comic books – really into comic books – and comic book art, consider coming to the next NTCBS (I hear they’re doing a Spiderman theme) and support a growing show.
2 Comments
My wife Julia wants to know if you and the other Redheads of the Apocalypse will be hosting a Yarddog table and/or events at ConDFW next weekend. Are you?
The Redheads will not be hosting a YDP table – I don’t know if anyone specific is. There is a Road Show on Friday night, and the Redheads are signing on Saturday afternoon, but that’s the only “offical” stuff I know of.