Tips for exhibiting at a comic Convention - Updated!

We wrote this blog post a few years ago, but things change, so we wanted to give it a little refresh! Below are tips and tricks for exhibiting at a comic convention;,Thought Bubble or otherwise; we’ve used a mix of input from exhibitors past and present, and Team Thought Bubbles own experiences in front of, and behind the table! 

🔵 Before the Convention

Get stocked up!
First things first…get stocked up! Printing and delivery takes time, and there can be unexpected delays, so make sure you arrange it well in advance of the convention to make sure you’re not worrying if your latest comic will arrive in time for the show.

Practise your table set-up!
Practising your set-up is a really great way to take some stress away from the convention weekend; map out what space you’ll have on your table and plan how you’ll display your work.

A tablecloth is a great way to make your set-up fresh and neat; one that goes to the floor in front of your table is a great way to hide all the extra stock and bits you don't want people to see too. Think about how you will display your name so people know who you are! Pop-up banners are a great option for this, but there are lots of other ways too.

                     TOP TIP: PRICES! Think about how you can  boldly display your prices! Some people would rather walk away than ask how much something costs; so make your prices extremely clear. 

Some extra bits you could consider: could you write out a synopsis for your comic for people to easily read? Or highlight the genres of your comics and summarise them so that people can get an idea of what it is at a glance? e.g. “All Ages comic - 36 pages about two dogs that are best friends!”, “Horror comic inspired by 90s children's cartoons. Lots of gore!”.

                 TIP: Make sure your name/website is on EVERYTHING you sell, so people can find you and your work after the event. 

When you’re finished, take a step back and see how a customer sees it. Is it clear and inviting? If you’re happy, take some photos on your phone to reference on the convention weekend so you can check back. Also use your set-up practice to make a check list of everything you’ll need to pack!

Taking payments
Card payments have definitely overtaken cash payments in recent years. Although we do always encourage our ticket holders to bring cash (just in case!), in 2024 we surveyed our audience and almost all expected to pay on card. Try your hardest to have a card reader; this can be difficult if you’re coming from overseas, but there are other things you can do to make it so people can transfer your money, like printing out a QR code that links to your Paypal! 

Make a check list!
Make a check list of everything you’ll need so packing is easy. Does the convention have any clothing requirements for set up? e.g. a hi-vis vest (Thought Bubble does!)? Would a power bank be useful? Maybe some blue-tac and gaffa tape just in case! Think about how you are getting to the convention and how far you need to carry your comics. Could a trolley or wheeled suitcase help?

🔵 It’s the Comic Convention Weekend!

Setting Up
This should be a breeze when using the photos you took of your practice set-up. Be mindful on the day you’ll likely have table neighbours close by, so be sure to be kind and don’t let your display encroach on theirs. 

When the doors open! Exhibiting at a convention can be daunting, do you say hi to everyone that comes to your table? Do you want to have an elevator pitch to sell your comic to everyone that picks it up? Do you stand up every time someone comes over? Thought Bubble visitors are here because they love comics and they love artists and creators, they’re kind and nice people, so keep that in mind, you’re not cold-selling! The bottom line is do whatever you are comfortable with, if that's sitting back and letting people browse at their own speed, then that's perfect. If it's starting a conversation with every person, that's perfect too! Do make sure to chat to your table neighbours too, you probably have a bunch in common! And maybe they’ll watch your stuff when you need to run to the toilet or re-fill your water bottle.

🔵 Your Well-Being

Take care of your body! If you are able to stand, don’t feel like you need to do so all day! Thought Bubble, and most conventions, will give you a chair, so take a load off; convention centres usually have concrete floors that can really take it out of your feet! Some people bring yoga mats or similar to stand on, it really helps soften the blow of the hard flooring. Wear your comfiest, softest shoes. Maybe even bring a cushion for your chair! You can also wear a mask if you want to, and bring a hand sanitiser for extra protection.

Take care of your mind! Conventions can be A LOT; they can be loud and busy and can be a sensory overload. Make a plan for what you can do to ease it and calm your mind if you start to feel overwhelmed; does taking regular breaks help? Wearing earplugs or sunglasses? Would having a caring friend by your side? Does getting fresh air regulate you? You don’t have to be behind your table the whole weekend, take breaks whenever you need to.

Bub’s Lounge is open to all exhibitors, this is our quiet space so if you need to take some solid quiet time, head up to the Queen’s Suite. Whatever you need, make a little plan just in case so you don’t have to worry on the day.

Have water and food with you! As good as your intentions may be to have a break to get food, the day can sometimes fly by, so having something in your bag just in case is a great idea; water, fruit, breakfast bars, a nice little packed lunch!

Help others If you can! If you’re able to, check in on your table neighbours; if you’re doing a water run, do they want a top up? Share some snacks. Cover each other's tables when you need to nip to the toilet! Or just tell them how awesome their work is.

Serious bits. Thought Bubble will email all exhibitors direct contact numbers for the core staff members, this is in case of emergencies, where you might feel uncomfortable or harassed or unwell; save these in your phone so you have easy access to them. At other events they might have similar, an email, or way to contact someone, make a note or save the info so its easy to find if you need it.

🔵 Finally, and most importantly…

Enjoy the show!! Give yourself time to walk around and take in the convention too, maybe buy some comics, say hi to the mutual you’ve had an instagram for years and never met, or stick your head into a panel for a little bit. Thought Bubble is really good, we promise, so make the most of being there!

Comic Convention 2024 - Tackling the Queues!

Hello amazing comic convention attendees

If you’re a regular at Thought Bubble, you’ll know that every year we send out feedback forms to all ticket holders; we use this feedback to make our convention better every year. In 2023 there was one thing that really stuck out as being a little snag on your day: the queue to get in!

Our attendance numbers jumped significantly in 2023 (which is SO exciting) and with it the queue got longer, so this year we’ve made a few changes to ensure that it runs a little smoother:

• Two entrances!

  We’ve decided to open up Entrance 5, alongside Entrance 4 (our regular doors). This means we’ll have twice as many staff, security and volunteers to get you into those halls quicker. Both entrances will be in use the whole weekend and you can buy tickets, exchange wristbands, as well as enter and exit!

  Both entrances are fully accessible and, as you can see below, they’re quite close to each other.

• Friday Wristband Pick up

  This year you’ll be able to exchange your ticket for a wristband on the Friday of the convention weekend; we’ll have a few different points in Harrogate for you to do this (we’ll email the details to all ticket holders later down the line). This cuts down the steps you’ll need to go through to get into the convention centre, and speed up the process for everyone.

• More technology

  And finally, we’ll have more scanners to bip your tickets.

We still do anticipate some queues, but we’re aiming to have them moving much, much quicker. All the information needed will be sent to every ticket holder closer to the convention dates, so you can plan your weekend down to the tiny details!

Thank you so much, as always,

Team Thought Bubble

Exhibitor Application Tips - UPDATED!

Back In 2020 we shared some insights into our application process, and how to make the most of yours! The number of applications Thought Bubble  received has jumped up a lot since then, so we thought it was time to revisit and update a few things!

First, it's important to remember that if you don’t get the result you hoped for it is not a reflection on the quality, appeal, or excellent-ness of your work. We say this a lot, and it might feel like an easy-get-out, but we simply get more applications than we have space for.

“BUT MAKE THE CONVENTION BIGGER!!”, I hear you cry! Well, we kinda have, since 2019 we’ve added in a lot of tables (+1.5 extra halls)! BUT we still have to ensure a good balance between exhibitors and ticket holders, and there are a load of other factors that come into it too. We do not enjoy turning people down, but that is part of it being a curated show. If you don’t get in, try again next year!

SOOOOO WHAT HAPPENS TO MY APPLICATION

Once we receive everyone's applications they’re collated into one giant spreadsheet and the team starts reading straight away. Curation becomes the whole team's primary focus for a few weeks. We check the links you’ve sent us, read what you’ve written and then each one of us will individually mark them with a key. 

Amy, Martha and Chloë all have different likes and styles we gravitate towards, however when curating we’re actively thinking of appealing to different genres and demographics, we’re also looking for a few other things: people making new work, people with something powerful or interesting to say, incredible eye-catching illustration and those creating traditional comics. Alongside this, we look for publishers and retailers who have things like back-issues we know our ticket holders love.

Once we get through all the applications we have a big team meeting (or two) to chat through our selections where we make the final decisions.

Here are a few points on how to make the most of your Thought Bubble Comic Convention application:

✰ COMICS ARE NUMBER ONE

We’re a comic convention that focuses solely on comics; artists, writers, publishers and the very adjacent art forms. You don’t have to have worked for DC or Marvel, far from it; we love indie comics, zines you’ve printed at home, anthologies you’ve contributed to. If you’ve created any of these pieces, show and tell us!

If you’re linking to your Instagram (for example), are we going to see those comics in the first 6 posts? Is it really clear from an outsider that it’s a fully printed piece of work that you can physical put on a table at a convention? If that’s not the case, maybe rethink the way you’re showing your work to us.

If you’re working on a comic you’re aiming to have printed for November, tell us about that in the supporting info and use the links to show us concept art, or unfinished pages too if you have them. e.g “I’m working on a 32 page zombie/romance comic that I’ll have printed for the convention! The first link shows you some concept art.”

Comics being our main focus does not mean we don’t accept other types of great creators like illustrators, poster artists, or that you aren’t able to sell other work you’ve made alongside comics, but comics take precedence at Thought Bubble and are what will make your application stand out.

✰ BE VERY CLEAR

Keep it short, keep it concise.

In your Supporting Info we love hearing stories about how you got into comics, but make sure it’s snappy so we can digest it quickly. Imagine we’re 500 deep into reading applications - make it as easy as possible for our tired, tired brains. If you’re unsure if you’ve sold yourself, ask a friend to give it a read over!

✰ MAKE USE OF THE LINKS

You can link your own websites, webstores, dropboxes, social profiles, digital portfolios, and/or PDFs of your comics. Even photos of your work are great. You don’t have to use them all, just whatever works best for you!

Imagine you’re showing us what you’ll have on sale at your Thought Bubble table.

We love social media so linking your Instagram, Facebook or Bluesky is great. BUT, it is not about follower numbers to us; it’s more important that we can see your work in the top few posts.

Remember we might be looking at your application a few weeks after you send it to us, so if in that time you’ve posted a bunch of family holiday snaps, it might not work out great.

TIP: Double and triple check your URL’s, if the links are broken, we won't be able to search out an alternative. Make sure your google drive links/dropboxes have access granted. It makes us so sad when they don’t work and we won't have a chance to contact you if they don’t work.

TIP TIP: Tiktok/youtube/other video platforms don’t work for us when curating, so maybe give those a skip.

✰ SHOW US YER TABLES!

A really useful resource for us is to see past tables you’ve had at conventions. We LOVE to see table set ups, it really helps sell how you’d fit at the convention. Of course we know that Thought Bubble might be your first ever convention, so don’t worry too much if you don’t have one, it will not count against you.

TIP: Take your time with your application, read each question carefully and triple check you’ve put in everything you want to before you hit apply. Providing you meet the deadline, there is no benefit to getting your application in early, so take it easy and send it in when you’re ready.

GO APPLY!

   Team Thought Bubble

What to expect - Thought Bubble Comic Convention 2022

Hello Pals of Thought Bubble,

We hope you’re doing great!

As always, we love to keep you up to date with the goings on and the plans for the upcoming year’s festival and comic convention, here is a little update on Thought Bubble Comic Convention 2022, and what you can expect to see:

If you visited the convention in both 2021 and 2019, you’ll have noticed a few changes to the convention layout in reaction to the pandemic, here is a reminder of what they were:

• In the first hall we cut out the central island of exhibitor tables to create much more space for visitors to move about freely. This made aisles around 13-15ft wide (as opposed to the usual 8ft).

• In all halls we widened the exhibitor space in the centre of the islands, meaning exhibitors have more room behind their tables.

• We extended into the whole of the third hall (rather than just the half we used in 2019), again to give more space to exhibitors and visitors.

• The signing area was a dedicated space at the back of the second hall to allow for more queuing space, and minimise queuing near exhibitors or blocking aisles.

We loved the openness, we loved the extra space, and the feedback we received from ticket holders and exhibitors reflected that too, so we will keep all of the above in place for Thought Bubble 2022.

Here are a couple of extra changes you can expect this year:

• Removal of some end-tables (the single tables at the end of islands) to increase visibility for all exhibitors, so that everyone can see their amazing creations!

• Panels and workshops will now be held in a fourth hall, meaning no stairs or lifts and no navigating to another part of the convention centre

• Bub's Lounge (our Autism friendly, quiet space) will also be on the convention floor level, making it much more accessible 

• Addition of a specific Kids’ Zone workshop space; which will have a full programme of activities for children of all ages

• Addition of a specific space for industry-led talks, with educational and creative workshops.

The aim of all of the above is that everyone who visits Thought Bubble; all exhibitors, all ticket holders, all volunteers, guests and staff, have the best experience possible! Less congestion, more space to explore, and more time to buy COMICS.

Covid 19 Policy

At this time it is too early to put any specific rules in place, however, we have no issue inputting a mask policy for all those visiting the convention if covid infection numbers are high. As always, we’ll update you every step of the way.

Hope you’re all as excited as we are!!

Love, Team Thought Bubble

Farewell 2020...

Well, 2020 was a lot, huh?

When it became clear that there was a chance that a physical Thought Bubble could not happening in 2020 we were… a little worried. As a not-for-profit organisation things are always a little tight, however holding the convention each year, with exhibitors and tickets, means we can keep going year on year, and suddenly, those things were gone. Weighing up the options we had was extremely difficult, a huge unknown; and we were so nervous making the announcement back in June that we were going to postpone and hold a digital convention. But, you all stood by us, you supported us and our decision, and you are the reason it all worked. If we hadn’t had your support we would be in a very different position right now, we would not be planning our 2021 convention, that is for certain.

So, here is our hugest thank you to every single one of you, anything you did to support us, big or small, meant everything to us and is the reason we will be returning in 2021.

There are a lot of other people that we want to give special thanks to this year too:

Our exhibitors, new and old, every year you blow us away with your support, your creativity and all around awesome auras.

Our sponsors who stuck with us through a strange year, comiXology, Leeds Arts University, Travelling Man, Jonathan Cape, and Artgecko Sketchbooks.

Special thanks too, to 2000AD, Leeds Specialist Autism Services, Vice Press, Awesome Merchandise, Mondo, Diamond Comics, Image Comics, Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen, Serial Box and Leeds Libraries. Your support means so much.

Also a huge thank you to Arts Council England for continuing to support us, and so many other creative organisations around the country. To all of the team at San Diego Comic Con International - Especially Laura and Gary! Every single guest and host who donated their time and energy to making videos for us. Everyone who took the time to hold a Fringe event for us, it was really special to have our community behind us, even at a digital distance. Big thanks to Nathan and Joe at Brudenell Social Club for helping us record some of our panels. To Chris Madden (our digital therapist), Geraldine at Leeds Arts Health & Wellbeing Network, Fiona, Laura, Emma and Richard who helped us proof and subtitle every single video we hosted this year. Eternal thank to our Friends of Thought Bubble members, you’re amazing. To Black Lives Matter Leeds for your guidance, especially Marvina.

Harry and Sam of Hanglands, our incredible PR support, we couldn’t have done it without you. To each Red Shirt volunteer for your enthusiasm and constant positive energy, to Kate for the amazing editing work (and for bleeping those bleeps), Andy for the now famous blips, Bis for the guidance and support.

And to everyone else behind the scenes; our friends, our partners, our family, our pets, who held us together when we were crumbling under the pressure this year. Thank you so much.

We’re so proud of the huge community of incredible people that surrounds Thought Bubble, every one of you are incredibly special to us. Team Thought Bubble wishes you all a wonderful new year.

See ya 2020, hello prosperous, positive 2021.

Love, Lisa, Martha, Amy, Chloe, Steve, Nabil, Pete and Mikey.

Applying to Exhibit at Thought Bubble

take A peek into our curation process and get some tips on what we look for to help you make the most of your application!

Thought Bubble exhibitor applications are curated and every year we are asked for feedback on applications that don’t quite make it through the process; it’s really difficult for us to give individual insight because we receive so many! So we’ve put together this blog to give you a peek into our curation process, help you make the most of your application and hopefully shake off a little of the mystery.

Before we start, it's really important to remember that if you don’t get the result you hoped for it is not a reflection on the quality of your work. We get a lot of applications and have limited table space, which means we have to turn down more applications than we’d like to. We don’t enjoy turning people down, but sometimes we simply don’t have the space! If you don’t get in, we say keep trying!

SO… WHAT HAPPENS TO MY APPLICATION ONCE I HIT SUBMIT?

Once we receive everyone's applications they’re collated into one giant spreadsheet and when applications close, the team starts reading. Curation becomes the whole team's primary focus for 2-3 weeks. We check the links you’ve sent us, read what you’ve written and then each one of us will individually mark them with a key: Yes, No or Maybe. Once we get through them all we have a big team meeting to chat through our selections, where we’ll make the final decision.

By this point at least four people from Team Thought Bubble will have looked at your application. Sometimes it can be really tough coming to a decision we all agree on as we all have different likes, styles that we gravitate towards and genres we love, plus we hate turning people down. But this process means that we have a really great, diverse selection of exhibitors that make it through. Here are a few points on how to make the most of your Thought Bubble application:

COMICS ARE NUMBER ONE

We’re a comic convention, that means comics will always be number one to us. You don’t have to have worked for DC or Marvel, far from it; we love webcomics, we love indie comics, zines you’ve printed at home and anything sequential. If you’ve created any of these pieces, show us! This definitely doesn’t mean we don’t accept other types of great creators, but comics take precedence at Thought Bubble.

Kristyna Baczynski amazing table at Thought Bubble 2019! - @kbaczynski

BE CLEAR

Thought Bubble receives around 700 applications each year and like we said, we look at every single one! So your main aim with your application should be to make it really clear who you are, what you do and what you’ll bring to the con.

MAKE USE OF THOSE LINKS

From 2020 onwards we have made applications so you can add more web links in your application; up to three! You can link your own websites or webstores, dropboxes, social profiles, digital portfolios, and pdfs of your comics. Even photos of your work are great. You don’t have to use them all! Just show us a range of what it is you’d have on your Thought Bubble table.

And yep, we love social media so linking your Instagram, Facebook or Twitter is awesome. But, it’s not all about numbers to us; it’s more important that we can see your work on there. And if you don’t use social media for your work, that is totally fine with us too!

Seeing digital illustration is great, but how does that translate to physical pieces? We do get a few applications where all we can see is digital images, and it’s really tough for us to judge how you’d fill the space. Got prints? Got books? Got stickers and merch? Let's see ‘em!

TIP: Double and triple check your URLs, if the links are broken, we won't be able to search out an alternative. It makes us so sad when they don’t work!  And if you’re using dropbox, make sure we can access it!!

CHIP Collective showing off their set up at Thought Bubble 2019 - @chipcollective

SHOW US YER TABLES!

A really useful resource for us is to see past tables you’ve had at conventions. We LOVE to see amazing table set ups, it really helps sell how you’d fit at the convention. It doesn’t have to be fancy and bright, but if it's full of comics and beautiful illustration, you’ve got our attention. Of course we know that Thought Bubble might be your first ever convention, so don’t worry too much if you don’t have one, we won't count it against you.

TIP: Take your time with your application, read each question carefully and double check you’ve put everything you want to before you hit apply. There is no need to rush, as long as its in by the deadline you can take all the time you need.

SUPPORTING INFO

There is a section of the application form where you can let us know a little supporting information for your application. This is a really great way to tell us more about you and why you would love to be at Thought Bubble. It’s a great place to let us know if you have anything that hasn’t gone to print yet. It’s an important part of your application for sure as it puts the links you’re provided into context. Keep it short, keep it concise.

If you’re still on the fence about applying, we would say… go for it!

Love, always,

Team Thought Bubble

Comic Con Education Highlights

This year, Thought Bubble have created an education programme which is tailored to give tools and guidance to anyone who wants to forge a career in the creative industries.

Sequential storytelling is the perfect way to gain understanding of film directing, cinematography, script-writing and dialogue, world building and costume design, and all types of art for film, games and more. So whether you want to work in the comic book world, or elsewhere in the creative field, Thought Bubble Comic Con is the perfect place to gain tips, insight and inspiration directly from the very best in the industry.

Here are some highlights from our comic con programme taking place on November 9th and 10th 2019 which will all be included within your comic con ticket:

Strip Panel Naked

Sat 11:10-12:00 | Room B - Queen’s Suite

Panel | All Ages

Strip Panel Naked is a regular YouTube show, hosted by editor of the Eisner-winning PanelxPanel, that takes a deep-dive into exactly that. Join us for a live edition of the show, where we'll talk to Dave Gibbons, Mariko Tamaki, Daniel Warren Johnson and Matt Wilson about how they went about the writing, art, colours and lettering across a few pages of their work, and how those choices end up affecting the reader.

Hosted by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Sketching Spotlight

Sat 15:00-16:30 | Room A - Queen’s Suite

Panel | All Ages

Come and watch the amazingly talented Glyn Dillon, Marc Ellerby, Sweeney Boo and Tula Lotay draw live on stage, hosted by the awesome Peter Doherty.

Our amazing guest artists will talk you through their creative process and give you some real insight into how they work real time! A fun, informal interview style panel.

All sketches produced will be auctioned off in aid of Barnardo's Children's Charity after the festival.

How Publishing Works

Sat 17:00-17:45 | Workshop Queen’s Suite

18+ | All ages

Publisher of BHP Comics and Rights Agent at 9 Panels Agency, Sha Nazir guides you through some practical tips and shows you the steps you need to take from small press to UK-wide indie and international distribution, the highs, lows and pitfalls.

Vault Comics Portfolio Review

Sun 11:00-12:00

Table 39, comiXology Originals Hall, Harrogate Convention Centre

Workshop | All Ages

Alex Paknadel, Martin Simmonds and Dee Cunniffe, the team behind Friendo, will be at the Vault Comics table welcoming people to bring along their work for advice, guidance and review. 

Vault Comics publish original, creator-owned science fiction and fantasy comics such as Heathen, Sera and the Royal Stars, These Savage Shores and Fearscape.

The Freelance Rollercoaster: Getting Down To Business

Sun 11:10-12:00

Room B, Queen’s Suite, Harrogate Convention Centre

Panel | All Ages

Eisner-nominated cartoonist and freelance illustrator Kristyna Baczynski shares advice on how to navigate the ups and downs of a freelance career in comics and illustration.

A career in comics and illustration can be exciting, but also uncertain, with high, lows and loop-the-loops aplenty. With a decade of experience under her belt, Kristyna Baczynski shares pieces of advice and hard-earned business tips that have helped her on a wild journey from creative kid, to arts graduate, to designer, to full time comics author and illustrator.

Kyle T. Webster Digital Brush Demo 

12:00-13:00 & 15:00-16:00 | Both Days

Demo Zone, The Pride Hall, Harrogate Convention Centre

Workshop | All Ages 

Gather around the digital brush master in our Demo Zone, watch Kyle Webster as he guides you through his creative process on a Wacom Tablet. 

 Kyles digital brushes have become the industry standard used by Disney, Pixar and other giants in the industry, drop by our Demo Zone to see Kyle at work; an informal demo where you can ask questions and gather tips from a pro!

The Importance of Colour

Sun 13:10-14:00

Room B, Queen’s Suite, Harrogate Convention Centre

Panel | All Ages

Eisner award winning colourist Matt Wilson of Paper Girls and The Wicked + The Divine fame demonstrates how colour can take a flat image to another level.

Matt will be joined by fellow colourist Peter Doherty, and will talk you through the process of colouring a page. Highlighting how important colour can be for setting the scene and bringing real drama to the comic pages we all love.

Finding your style as a cartoonist

Sun 15:00-15:45

Workshop, Queen’s Suite, Harrogate Convention Centre

Panel | All Ages

Neil Slorance, the artist behind the graphic novel Dungeon Fun and Doctor Who, walks you through how he found his distinctive drawing style as a cartoonist, and how you can discover your own as an artist.

________________

Alongside all of the above we have 450+ exhibitors tabling their work and 100+ guests from classics like 2000AD, Marvel and DC, to independent self-published, illustrators and incredible webcomic that are bound to get you inspired!

Grab your tickets here: thoughtbubblefestival.com/tickets

See you there,

Team Thought Bubble

Tips for a fun, STRESS-FREE and SUCCESSFUL Comic Con

You’ve got your congratulations email from your favourite comic book convention and your payment is in... Now what?!

The lead up to a convention can be just as important as the event itself; it’s a great chance to get organised and promote yourself. Start off by letting everrryyyonnne you know you'll be there; get on your favourite social media channel and let your followers know. Sharing what you'll be selling is a great start, have you got anything new? Shout about it… multiple times. You could even find some fellow exhibitors to make friends with online, and maybe even make plan to meet up at our legendary mid-con party!

Table Planning

There are lots and lots of "Do's and Don't"s on a table set up... but the most important thing is do whatever works for you. Just follow the two main rules, 1) Make the most of your space and 2) Don’t intrude or obscure your neighbours space. There are some things you might want to consider to help you with rule 1, firstly having your own or your business name somewhere clear and obvious; pop-up banners are great for this. Having your social media handles somewhere on show is a great idea too. People might love you and your work but be all out of spending money for the day, make it easy for them to find you online later. Build dat fanbase!

“A table-cloth that goes to the floor of the front of your table is a great way to hide extra stock and all the messy bits you don’t want people to see! ”

— @okaychloegreen

Practice Set-Up
Practise your set-up is invaluable. Measure out how much space you'll have on the day and play around with it. Think about how you are going to price your stock clearly. Step back and consider if passing customers will be able to see all your amazing work. Make sure your display is sturdy and safe!

Have fun with your space. Look for inspiration online, it doesn’t have to be all lights and bunting, make your display reflect you and your work.

When you're happy take some photos on your phone to use as a reference on the day. It definitely relieves stress and saves time having your table planned out in advance. It’s also a great way to get a base-stock level to take with you; if someone buys x, y and z is my table going to suddenly look empty? It’s a good idea to have plenty of spares with you if that’s the case!

Weeks before the Comic Con…

Stock and Prices
This is the time to think about the stock you’ll be bringing. Do you have a good selection? You might want to consider having a range of price points; little pieces like badges or sticker packs are great to have alongside graphic novels, prints or original pieces that will have a higher price. This part is individual to your work so do what makes sense for you, but giving customers a choice is always a good thing.

Taking payments
Remember, cash! Organise getting your change float in advance, some banks will need you to put an order days before, so don’t leave it too late. Plan to have somewhere portable to store your money (a little lockable safe or a fancy bumbag works perfectly). You could also look into getting a card reader; they're super handy and mean no messing around with coins or maths. A portable phone charger is pretty handy if you have a card reader or not. You might not have access to a plug and it'd suck if your phone ran out half way through the con!

Make a check list
Write out a “To Bring” list; include all the things you’ll use or need on the convention weekend so you can get them ordered in advance if you need to. Other than your stock and display, you might want to bring poster tubes, covers for your comics/prints or carrier-bags. Add a drink and snack down on that list too; there will probably be catering near by but a convention can be busy, you might not want to leave your table for too long. Having something in your bag is a great idea. Think about comfy shoes, a cushion, something warm (just in case) and all those useful bits everyone over looks; blu-tac, pins, tape! You never know when you’ll need them.

It’s the Comic Con Weekend!

Setting Up
Pack those bags, use your handy check list and get there with plenty of time to find your table and get set-up (remember those reference photos you took earlier? Smart!). Before the doors open is a great time to make friends with your neighbours. Not just because they're probably super great creators who you have a lot in common with, it will come in handy when you need a toilet break... or when they do. Or maybe they’ll have biscuits…

Take a bunch of photos of your stall on the day, and get someone to take a photo of you with your stall too (maybe the wonderful neighbour you just befriended?). They work great for promoting other conventions or events you're attending, and are lovely reminders to have for yourself too. Post them on social media and show where your table is to help people find you.

“Engage with people. Not for the sale but for the community. We probably like similar things. If we don’t we can learn from each other.”

— @RECKLESS_IMBER

Selling and Networking
When the doors open, smile, say hi, let your work do the talking! Be friendly, be ready to answer questions, offer help and just make general conversation. Thought Bubble visitors are pretty great people so don’t be nervous!

Remember that not everyone is going to buy from you, that can sometimes be tough but do not take it personally. They might not be buying today, but how about giving people a sticker, or a badge, or your business card. Let them know where they can find you online. And listen to what people say, getting insight from people physically seeing your work is super valuable.

““Maintain your sense of humour and occasion when sales aren’t so good. Not everyone will break even but everyone can have a good weekend.””

— @olivereast

Your Well-being
Remember to take breaks where you can. A weekend long convention can be extremely tiring, especially on your feet, so be kind to yourself. It can be hard staying positive and chatting to people a l l w e e k e n d; staying comfortable and hydrated can really help keep you going, so make sure to take those breaks when you need it and drink loads of water. Ask your neighbours to watch your stand or flag over one of our lovely volunteers who can man your space whilst you have a stretch or break. They’re here to help, so make sure of them.

Finally, and most importantly…

Have fun! Meet new friends, buy some stuff, swap some stuff and just have a great time. Every convention is different, and every convention is a learning curve so ride with it and just have the best time you can!