In the run up to King Con, the Brooklyn-based comics show held at the Lyceum in Park Slope this weekend, it was asked many times, “Do we NEED another New York comics show?” Starting with the Big Apple Con back on October 1, running through New York Comic-Con the next week and on to the Brooklyn Comics and Graphic Fest on December 4, King Con made a total of four cons in three months, not really a heavy workload for a comics town as huge as NYC, but definitely a strain on the wallets of attendees, especially after the NYCC epic. (New York’s fifth show is MoCCA Fest in April.) So from the outset you have a show with big questions hanging over it.
Friends had asked me to come out for various events and I was slotted for the Kids Comics panel on Sunday morning so I ended up going out on three out of four days. What I saw was a scene with enough energy to overcome logistical mistakes and misconceptions to still create a fun and informative afternoon activity. But it didn’t answer the fundamental question of what King Con’s mission should be.
King Con started out with a pair of panels on Thursday night that, perhaps due to rain or lack of promotion, were so poorly attended that the second one was cancelled. Not a good start.
Friday night was a big comics reading/rock fest party. I arrived habitually fashionably late only to discover that I had missed a lot of cool comics readings — none of the press materials had bothered to include a schedule. I was defnitely “non plussed” by that. Luckily a few beers next door led to a lively discussion on a frigid roofdeck with Paul Pope, Charles Orr, Sean Pryor and others. One big plus for King Con — an excellent bar/restaurant next door with a lot of outdoor space and a weird deck covered with mysterious junk in the back.
I returned later the next day to catch some panels, arriving at what seems to have been the apex of attendance. King Con is held in the Brooklyn Lyceum, a former bathhouse that now houses stage productions and craft fairs. Last year, the people who run the facility thought it might be fun to put on a comics show, thus the genesis. The Lyceum has no heating or cooling facilities; a cafe in the front serves food made by heating them in a tiny toaster oven. The venue itself is large (not cavernous) and crumbling, but in a funky bohemian way that sets off the indie comics vibe.
Artist Jen Ferguson and cartoonist Dean Haspiel
The exhibitors room was small and traversed in a few minutes; schmoozing time took much
Okay… we’re spoiled in New York… indy con, big con, curated con, kids’ con, trade show, museum con, book festival, university symposiums…
I didn’t spend much at King Con, less than $50. It was nice being able to chat with people.
Given the lack of HVAC, I would suggest that the dealers’ room be moved upstairs, which has much more space and light. Also, if the crowds are thick enough, the body heat will help mitigate the chill. King Con panels will rarely fill up, so a big space is not needed. The ceiling is high enough, they would just need to move a screen there. The aisles were very crowded, and I wonder what the Fire Marshall would say.
The “women in comics” panel was excellent, and the first I’ve attended where the panel was less about women making comics, and more about the content. The theme was “women and sexuality”, and was the best panel of the weekend.
The panel on pulps was depressing… that fandom is comics fandom condensed.
The highlight of the Con? Seeing the new hardcover, print-on-demand edition of Comics Interview Volume One! I would have bought a copy then and there, but it was only a proof. Looks great! A huge satisfying chunk of reading!
For $10 for the weekend, it was worth the price. The problem with the two “pre-panels” was that it cost $3 each, and the ads suggested that tickets had to be purchased in advance. Those two panels need to be blockbuster events, like SVA’s Dash Shaw talk. What was offered seemed like general con panels, and that won’t convince people to make the trip.
One more suggestion: partner with a local bar/restaurant. Show your armband, you get special treatment. The strength of this show is that it is laid-back, you can talk to just about anyone, and make connections.
I’ll be there next year!
“One more suggestion: partner with a local bar/restaurant. Show your armband, you get special treatment.”
Mission Delores, a fine establishment the next block over, was apparently a sponsor. they were on the poster, and were offering drink specials to King Con attendees on Saturday night.
For some reason this was not advertised at King Con, mentioned at all, or promoted.
I’m surprised to read that the tables cost that much — my friend and I were assuming they were quite a bit cheaper.
It’s way too soon for me to be thinking about next year, but I’ll likely go back.
huh.. my table actually had a really great show. true, i did have to keep my hoodie on for the duration of the weekend & sunday was noticeably slower & those constant super-loud & super-long announcements didn’t help when i was trying to talk to people who were interested in my comics… BUT we all sold an assload of books & met some super-nice people we hadn’t met at the dozen other shows we do every year.
true, there are kinks to be worked out, but i had a really positive experience at King Con. honestly, i’m as excited to sign up for next year’s show as i am to get another table at Philly Alt Con.
This was my second year with a table at King Con and as was last year it was one of my more successful weekends. The laid back, indy comix feel is perfect for up and coming writers and artists. Everyone is super supportive of each other endeavors and mutually excited for the others success. It the friendly, inspiring environment you WISH the bigger shows had.
Oh my god, our Target is TERRIBLE! Every time I go I think, “Oh yeah, the cupboards are bare!” And I still manage to be surprised every time.
Hm. Maybe if this chick spent less time name dropping she wouldn’t be “fashionable late”. Twice. (12:30 is getting up early).I spent two full days at the con, got nothing but positive feedback from artists and atendees, and also – it was not that cold! Sheesh!
I had a great time. I sold more than any other con, met some awesome folks. I didn’t find it too cold except when the doors stayed open. As for the unisex bathrooms, they were fine. Much cleaner than I expected.
Had a great time at King Con.
Torsten, being the highlight of the con for you has been the highlight of our day.
The Comics Interview Volume One hardcovers are now available at http://www.comicsinterview.com
I stopped by with my friend Scott and his son. They bought $30 to $40 worth of comics. I believe Scott went back later and bought several T-shirts for Xmas presents.
I bought an interesting book with a hand done die cut cover by Morgan Pielli called Indistructable Universe Quarterly. His table mates Steve Seck and Sara Lindo also slold me some cute books.
I didn’t notice the temperature. I thought the vibe of the whole things was great and ran into several old friends.
To Tony Warmachine: that was me you were talking to about digital comics and motion comics. Thanks for the book, it’s good stuff.
To Danny Hellman: thanks for the book — totally insane shit!
To Dean Haspiel: sorry we couldn’t hang out, but I had to get back to Red Bank before I turned into a pumpkin.
To Mike Lapinski: wish I knew you were there. Congrats on your book!
We (Americans UK) were very successful at King Con. I made my table money back 3/4 of the way through the first day, so day two was pure profits.
I noticed so many sellers just sitting there silently behind their tables expecting people to come up and buy their stuff. Does that ever work if you’re not a high profile book in the first place? Meanwhile, I gave my elevator pitch to anybody whose eyes I met, and it worked! Ya gotta hustle (without being annoying).
I was surprised how well attended my two panels were (especially for a Sunday) – complete with some good audience questions. King Con was a lot of fun in a low stress environment.