SPX 2011 – Recappin’
By Irma on May 10th, 2011Posted In: blog
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Let’s see if I can remember everything. It was a bit of a wonderful whirlwind! All I can say was that this year was the year my hard work was really starting to pay off. Proof that build up takes some time, but if you keep at it you will start to see results.
There were a couple of things on my table that I think did it for me this year. The first being my book.
I’ve been so proud of how this book came out. It looks GREAT. The cover is everything I wanted it to be, and the full color pages are beautiful. And this book caught the attention of a LOT of people there. I had several people, who’d never heard of my comic, come to my table and drop the money for the book because they were intrigued by the comic and thought the book was something worth having.
Even a guy from a comic book store picked it up, flipped through it and said that I needed to get a barcode for it because it was something he’d like to see on his shelves. I told him I only had a few copies left and he told me to contact him when I had more (inward squeeeee).
Also, a friend of a well known Swedish webcomicker picked up my book because he was so impressed with it and he was trying to convince this webcomicker to put her comic out in print. So he bought it right then and there.
And, yes, I did end up selling out. YAY for me! BOO for anyone who missed out on buying one. But they will print again, and I’ll write more about that at another time.
Not that I didn’t have my older books on the table too…
But, even though they impressed people in other years, they were no match for the Big Volume. 
They sold pretty well this weekend too, and I only have a couple left of each.
But the other big attention-grabber at the table was a life-sized Mick I threw together the day before:
He got some strange looks, some laughs, and a lot of interest. I think his precense was the deciding factor when Marcus Lindmark, who writes for Seriefrämjandet, decided to choose me to interview for his article. THAT, by the way, was super cool! And he’s informed me that the article will probably post sometime this week. I’ll make sure to link to it when it does!
The interesting thing is that no one asked WHY the fish was in a coffee pot. I think I would have…
I had planned to only sell artist’s cards with my books. But one girl returned 3 times to my table only to finally ask for an artist card. She was THRILLED when I sold her one. So much that I decided to just start drawing them up and putting them or sale. There was only one problem: people seemed to think that they were printed and didn’t realize I was sitting there drawing them all day. I guess I should take that as a compliment on my grayscale coloring
I had my watercolors up for sale too, but they didn’t move. I didn’t expect them to. They just looked good on the table 
The venue was laid out MUCH better this year. The room I’m always in usually has some sort of exhibit we have to be placed around. But this time all the walls were removed and we had a ton of space.
And even the big room had more space this year, even though I don’t think there were fewer tables.
It was a complete success and a ton of fun. Thank you to all of you who stopped by, bought things or took a bookmark and showed an interest in Imy!
There were fans, who were fans before coming to SPX, come and visit me. And not just my friends, but readers who wanted to stop by and pick up some stuff. That was a first! It was very cool, and one of the most exciting things for me.
There were also a bunch of people who discovered me at SPX in previous years who came back again to buy the latest book.
And, of course, I had the usual support from my friends, because they are awesome.
I also met a few very cool swedish webcomickers who I am aquainted with through a group I made on facebook: Janna Lundholm of Anywayz, Johan Wanloo of Rock Manlyfist , and Jenny Hannula of Åtta Ben Från Underjorden.
And I really hope that all the people who stopped by and learned about Imy“for the first time this weekend, are here reading this now and checking out the site.
Oh, and do you want to see me there?
Now to start preparing Vol 2.0 and get ready for NYCC! Oh and catch up on some sleep! I’m completely wiped out!
So here it is! The info post! And not a day too soon
SPX Website: Click Here.
When?
Saturday and Sunday, May 7th & 8th. 11-18 both days. However, from my experience, people start packing up earlier on Sunday, so I suggest you try to get there before 4 if you’re coming to see me.
Where?
Kulturhuset, Stockholm, Sweden, Europe, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy.
Where can you find me?
Hörsalsfoajén, the same room I’ve been in the past 2 years, but in a slightly different spot. Click on the map below to see:
What can you buy there?
Books – The new “Imy” Vol 1.0, the older mini volumes (Vol 0.5 & Vol 0.5½) You can see those book here.
Buttons – All the buttons you can find here, plus brand new ones that I just got in today:
I will also have the remaining watercolor paintings with me (see them HERE). I’ll also have my sketch cards with me if you want one with a book with your favorite character.
You’ll also be able to pick up a free bookmark if you’d like
I think that’s everything you need to know. I hope I get to see a few of you there! I’m really looking forward to it!
First, if you missed the SPX related comic I posted today then see it HERE. Also, for all other posts and comics relating to SPX, click HERE.
I’ll start by saying that the lead up to this year’s SPX was a LOT less crazy for me than last year. First of all, last year it was going to be my first con ever, which was pretty terrifying. Second, last year I didn’t know what to expect, having only seen pics of SPX and never been to one. Thirdly, I didn’t think the organization leading up to it (by the organizers) was so great for new people like me. Veterans already knew how things went down, but I didn’t, and the information wasn’t so great. I remember running around a lot and not getting any straight answers about anything from the organizers. But this year they did an EXCELLENT job, and I had zero questions about how things were supposed to be done.
Anyway, moving on…
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It’s that time of year again! It’s time for the Stockholm SPX!
Where? Kulturhuset in the center of Stockholm
When? April 24th & 25th
I had SUCH a good time last year and I’m really looking forward to this year’s! The organization is MUCH better this year and I already have my table assignment. Turns out I’m only sitting a couple of meters from where I was last year. But I think it’s a good spot. All foot traffic will go by it. I’ll just make sure to have a really great banner to catch attention
Here is where I’ll be, click for the full version:
Merchandise wise I’ll have the same type of stuff as last year, but new things! I’ll have new bookmarks, new buttons, and a new book! I’ll have the old stuff too, so there will be lots to choose from.
The new book has a selection of strips from in between strips #100-200. This time I printed the strips vertically (instead of horizontally like last year). I never really did like the horizontal printing, but it allowed for big strips. But the smaller strips look just fine and I think I did a better job putting this one together. I guess it helps that I wasn’t rushing it either!
Whatever I don’t sell at SPX will go up in the store afterwards. At the moment I will be closing the store while I figure out my inventory and will re-open it after the convention.
I’m so excited! It’s going to be a blast! And I’m much less stressed about it this year since I was able to plan better and since the organization and information about it this year is loads better. I hope to see some of you there!
And, no worries, if you happen to not be in Stockholm for this (which would be pretty much all of you, ha!) you’ll be able to catch me at the New York Comic Con in October! But, I’ll post more info on that later in the year
First let me just apologize for the quality of these pics (which you’ll find below all my babbling). I clearly don’t know how to use a camera. Photography is not in my future. I think I’ll stick to cartooning.
So… what a weekend! What a FANTASTIC weekend! If you ask me, it’s the best way to spend a weekend. I am so happy that 5 weeks ago I signed up for this and dedicated the rest of those 5 weeks to getting as much merchandise together as possible. It was absolutely worth it.
When I got there early Saturday morning, the hall wasn’t even open yet. The first person I ran into was a guy on a Swedish comic forum I recently joined. We chatted a little bit and waited (impatiently on my part) for them to start letting us all in. Once we finally got in and registered I grabbed a table as quickly as I could. I learned soon after that there was a bigger room (The Big Room that I’d seen in pictures from previous years), but I was set to be in the smaller one. This bothered me a LOT at first because I thought the area I was in would be pretty much ignored. But I quickly accepted my situation (as more people started showing up and taking tables around me) and instead took joy in decorating my own table.
After a couple of hours things started to pick up fast. More and more people were showing up and soon there were so many that it was hard to keep track of what was going on. Most people just stopped by and read the example strips I had set up. Some picked up my book and flipped through it. Quite a few of them smiled and laughed. And I had a few strange experiences as depicted in my latest strip. Then, suddenly, I started selling things. And not just anything… books! I didn’t really expect to sell my books. But I ended up selling 20 by the end of the first day, which was more than I expected! Sunday was much quieter, but I still sold some books, and it was a better day for my buttons and bookmarks.
I think the most fun was meeting other cartoonists. My “table neighbor” was Karin Käll of “Den Bruna Serien” (The Brown Comic). It was great having such a nice, down-to-earth and fun neighbor. And I liked her comic too! Too bad for most of you guys, it’s in Swedish. Her comic is a basically just a clever take on life and relationships, some (if not all) taken directly from her own life. I bought two of her books, and have read all of the comics she’s posted online.
At one point I was able to take a walk around and check out what other people had to offer. It was a bit overwhelming but I did come across a few gems. One being Liz Greenfield’s Stuff Sucks comic. I talked to her briefly while I picked out which of her books I would buy. She flew over for the expo from the UK, which I thought was pretty cool. The comic is set around a record store in Amsterdam, and it’s beautifully drawn! And the book itself is sold in a little CD cover. How cool is that?
I met a few other cool people too, like Alberto Corradi who flew all the way up from Italy just for the expo! I also met a bunch of guys from that Swedish forum I mentioned (and from another Swedish forum I joined). They were all really nice and they all came over to my table and most of them bought a book too! Some stopped by a few more times to check out how things were going for me and to chat about whatever. I’m very grateful to them for making me feel so welcome.
Needless to say, it was an amazing experience. I can’t wait to do it again. It just sucks that I have to wait an entire year. But, this also inspires me to try to see if I can get in on some other conventions in other cities that aren’t so far away. Like the London Comic Con, for example. I have nothing planned, but at least I know now that I can totally pull it off!
Oh, by the way, I did a Tall Tale Radio interview with Tom today about it where I talk even MORE about the expo. So keep an eye out for when I post about when you can listen to that!
And now, without further ado – The (bad quality) pics!
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