SPX10 Recap
By Irma on April 26th, 2010Posted In: blog
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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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Most AWESOME time ever! Sold almost half my book stock. Too tired to think. Can’t wait for another round tomorrow!
Yes! It’s finally here! And I’m so there! I’ve had some issues with registration. Some misunderstandings (none of which were on my part, but WHATEVER)… no matter what, I’m on the list, so I’ve got a table there somewhere! And I’m all ready for it! As you all know if you’ve been following this section here. I can’t wait to get there and get set up!
I know that I’ll be seeing a few of you there. I HOPE that I’ll be seeing a few more of you than I expected. It’s going to be so much fun!
Here are the details:
Location: Kulturhuset, Stockholm
Date: Saturday & Sunday, the 25th & 26th of April
Time: 11:00-17:00
Entrance fee: FREE!
WOO!! For more info click here.
For information on the Stockholm SPX happening next weekend, read more here: In English – På Svenska. I’ll write more info next week once I register and get my table assignment.
So there you have it! A little preview of the merchandise you’ll find at my table (and possibly on the site int eh future *wink wink*) at the Expo! I’m so excited! Just a short while ago all this stuff was just in my head. Now it’s all suddenly in tangible form! I can’t believe it! That is my tablecloth as well. Well, it’s slightly more purple and less red in real life. I wanted to choose a color that went well with the cover of my my comic book. It matches the rug she’s laying on. Haha! (which you can see at the top of this page.) I didn’t want ot have just black. I wanted it to stand out, but not be too bright. I’m really happy with it. And it’s such a nice smooth slightly stretchy material… I can’t stop touching it! I picked it out at the fabric shop today. I can’t stand rough materials, and it would drive me crazy to have a rough material on my table all day.
ANYWHO…
You can see my book, buttons, t-shirt, and bookmarks. There are two things on there that I’m not selling, but giving away. Those are my flyers there at the bottom, and then the the bottom right are the TTF postcards. I gotta look out for my TTF brothahs and sista! And I will only have a handful of t-shirts with me. The few extras I ordered on top of the pre-orders. But anything counts, right?
I’ll also have some small banners hanging over the side of the table, but I haven’t made those yet. And, of course, price tags. I have to make those as well. But otherwise, if someone said I had to go do the expo RIGHT NOW I’m completely prepared! And it feels SOOO GOOD! Wooo!
