Merrily We Roll Along...

[the_gneech]

Started doing the "real work" on the SJ site redesign last night; so far my beta viewers have had mixed reactions to the very rough bits and pieces that I've sent around to them. I do like the way the design concept I'm working on highlights Tiffany; I think she's kinda gotten shafted by the way the story keeps wandering away from her for months at a time. With the new design, Tiffany is always the star, even if today's, this week's, or this month's strips are about somebody else.

I've been thinking about Dragon*Con and plans therefor (is that a proper use of that?); I was originally not planning to take art materials, on the grounds that I didn't know how much use I'd have for them. And I still don't know ... but I find myself wanting more and more to some art for its own sake, rather than directly related to SJ, and I haven't been able to do as much of that as I'd like. In particular, I'd like to do some stuff outside of the furry genre ... I don't want my skills to become so specialized that I can't do anything else!

Unfortunately, space to carry stuff is at a big premium for D*C ... gotta go on the plane, and don't really want to take anything that can't go in a carry-on. Unfortunately, that includes clothes, any incidentals, and space to bring stuff back, such as the various Mage Knight figs or anime goodies that I might want to get. That right there blows the markers out of the water (I love my markers with a passion that would make my counselor nervous, but they definitely take up a lot of space); I can take a sketchbook and some pens without too much difficulty, and might do that as a compromise. But I wanna do some more finished pieces! *pout*

On a vaguely-related note, there is a movement afoot in the SJ forum to recruit _litho_ to do the art for NeverNever ... whether he wants to or not. FWIW, Litho has his own comic and has officially stated that he doesn't want to do NN, and his style, while very nice, isn't really what I'm looking for with it anyhow. So hopefully the jungloids will let that drop.

-The Gneech

Comments

[makovette.livejournal.com]

UPS the ahhht goodies to an ATL friend/fan and UPS 'em back from the hotel? $ but you get to enjoy the cake without all the messy carry on hassle.

I figure we'll all be flying nude soon, with full body x-rays (Anyone remember that X-ray scene in Total Recall? It's coming to an airport near you soon :)and dentists on hand to verify you don't have exploding fillings in your molars.

Litho does have a golden pencil, no doubt about it. Topics like Lithographing NN in the forum flare briefly, given both of you are against the idea, I'm confident the concept will fizzle out in a few days.

CYa!
Mako

[lady-anne.livejournal.com]

A suggestion - anything you buy - ship it back to yourself - don't worry about carrying it (or explaining what it is to security in the airport:)

Do you know anyone living near the Con? Maybe you could send your supplies to them, and ask them to bring them along.

If I were a vendor at a con, I'd 'up' my prices a little and offer to ship (ground) to my customers. That way I'd get their names and addresses for future marketing. And, of course, I'd ask for their EMail address so I could inform them when the package was shipped.

I've done this in the past (in other venues) and it's effective.

Here's a tip you might pass on to vendors - it's been my experience that many of them are very 'clannish' - spending a lot of time talking to each other and not much time talking to browsers - asking them what they like about the event and what they'd change if they could. And/or what they'd like to see being offered (but haven't found).

While I'm at it - here's something I wanted to offer some time ago when I saw postings and comments about "how to make money" doing your art thing:

If I had the talent to draw - and enjoyed it enough to want to make a living at it - I'd go to local, privately owned businesses. I'd do a piece for them - maybe the owner with something that has to do with the business - and give it to them as an introductory gift. During the 'thank-yous' I'd work in a pitch to do commission work for them.

It wouldn't pay off every time, but it sure would give me some experience in sales - and I'd learn a lot about WHO would pay HOW MUCH for WHAT.

It could lead to doing a line of custom Tee Shirts for a chain. Who knows?

I could go on and on about this subject - you know that Marketing is a passion with me - and all thru life that's what we do - we market ourselves to others - on the job - in relationships - everywhere we go.

Time to do something useful around here - enjoy the trip and be good (can a phrase be an oxymoron?).

The Lady, Anne

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Well, Dragon*Con is a pure fun con for me, as opposed to a "working" con like Further Confusion was. However, I will very definitely look into your recommendations! Thanks!

-The Gneech

you're going to dragon con? sweet.

[electronin.livejournal.com]

aw, snap! When will you be there?

Re: you're going to dragon con? sweet.

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

I get there Friday morning, I leave Monday afternoon. :)

-The Gneech