I’m talking specifically comic strips, not comic books. The ones you see in newspapers , magazines and the web. Just wondering because I did a K Chronicles strip about how to improve the National Cartoonist Society’s annual convention and one of the suggestions was to open it up to the public. I’m gonna be joining the NCS (if they’ll have me), and I want to bring some ideas with me.
What would an ideal cartoonist/comic strip convention look like?
I would totally be there. The problem with Comic-Con and other conventions is that the focus is hugely on comic BOOKS, which are a very different animal than comic STRIPS. When you find somebody like Greg “Luann” Evans stuck over in a corner for a two-hour signing, you know the strippers ain’t getting no respect.
But if the convention focused on comic strip folks (especially in conjunction with the NCS meeting), I could finally meet Mark Parisi!
Another idea you could bring to the table: a central “registry” for cartoonists so that when I see a strip that makes me laugh, I can send a “W00t!” e-mail to the creator. Not everybody is as web-savvy as The Knight, and it’s sad when they can’t get positive feedback.
They could also have a list of cartoonist blogs for folks to check out.
It seems like I should be able to go to the NCS web site and find out about cartoonists, you know?
You’ve got a good idea there, Keef, regarding broadening the tent. The Old Guard needs some shaking up from newer types like you, Aaron MacGruder, et al. Remember how P.O.’d all the so-called “real” editorial cartoonists were in the late 80s when Berkeley Breathed got the Pulitzer because Bloom County was a lowly “strip” (as opposed to all those Jeff McNelly imitators and one-panel pushers churning out tepid crapola on a daily basis)?
I can’t see why the NCS “wouldn’t have you,” as talented and successful as you’ve been. If not, SCREW ‘EM and start your OWN organization. You can never go wrong going the D.I.Y. route.
i think for me it would all depend on where it was and who was there. i wouldn’t travel for one, but if i heard there was going to be a comic strip convention in town, featuring you, stephan pastis, darby conley, and/or aaron macgruder, i’d definitely be excited.
I think you will find the members of the organization will balk at the idea of opening up for the public. Aren’t these things just big schmooze events for all the members and an excuse to escape their families? If I bothered to join organizations like this, that would be my main reason for attending–escaping the family, that is.
I would love to be there. I’d have to worry about the expense and I wonder how many of us would be able to make the trip.
I’d love to see a comic strip con. It’d be nice to meet some of my favorite comic strip writers and whatnot and get into their heads a bit. Maybe include webcomics, too.
I would think that, while big cities have a lot to offer, a convention is but one event that draws them in, while Buffalo, New York would be a great place to hold a convention–or our neighbor, Niagara Falls (right on the border to Canada)–we have all the sports teams, bars and putt-putt a man could love and, I could attend! Thats worth it right there!
I would indeed attend if it was nearby, I live in NYC. I think that this is a fantastic idea. I’ve been following the funny pages (not only online) for the past 40 years. It would be a great way for the public to see some panels, meet our fav artists (Bill Waterson… ha, as if) and give the artists a little feedback and/or encouragement.
Thanks for all you’ve given.
Peace,
James
Heck yeah I would! I would finally give the guy who does Ziggy a piece of my mind!
I would travel many many miles to attend something like that. I used to be a comic book collector who loved strips, but now when I go into Comic Relief in Berkeley (or any other comics shop) I find myself walking out with comic strip collections only. (Maakies, K Chronicles, Mutts, Little Nemo, etc.) At WonderCon I’m much more drawn to the comic strip, illustrator and zine tables. I can’t remember the last time I bought a comic book.
And I do follow the NCS Reuben awards- a friend, J.C. Duffy, attends and sends me the programs and such. The attendees sound like a fun bunch, and I’d love to know more about and meet some of the strip artists and writers.
I’m near San Francisco, but I’d fly to NYC or LA or Bunghole, Iowa to attend!
Yer preachin’ to the choir! I’ve been harping on this on my podcast for over a year. Why AREN’T the syndicates more involved in the Cons? If you want to reach a wider audience, there’s your opportunity. Why the major syndicates aren’t pooling resources and getting a reasonably sized corner booth at the San Diego Comic Con, and inviting artists from all the various walks of cartooning to appear…and then advertise the heck out of it for a couple of months prior…is beyond me. Let’s put it this way…my podcast gets a few thousand downloads each week…very nice. Good for me. I had Stephan Pastis on…61,000 downloads. Gee…there’s nothing popular THERE, is there? I think it’s a misconception that comic con goers aren’t interested in strips. Get 10 of the best out there and people will line up. (Of course, the real problem lies with unchanging and unbending Newspaper Editors who won’t make changes to their line ups to bring in new blood like Keith and others….but that’s a rant for another post.)
I think a comic strip con would be great…but probably cost prohibitive for the syndicates. If we could start by getting them to pitch in for a booth at Comic Con and pay for a few of the bigger names in the industry to show up, and extend invitations to everyone else…that’d be a great start.
if it’s in my i’d go but travel is hard.
rob http://www.howcomics.com
My first reaction was ‘great! I’d love to go!’ and then I read the comments thread from the NCS people about your ‘gate-crashing’ strip. The odor of formaldehyde and mothballs coming from my monitor almost suffocated me. That Wiley Miller, he’s a pistol, ain’t he? It’ll be a while before I’ll be able to read ‘Non Sequitur’ without hearing ‘goldang kids, get off my lawn!’ in my head.
I’m starting to get the impression that, in some/many cases, a fan of a comic strip is better off knowing the artist through the strip, and not personally. That said, ‘mixed media’ a/k/a sequential art is easily my favorite artistic medium, and I’m delighted that my older son is now carrying around his sketchbook everywhere.
A little late to this, but by all accounts the New England Webcomics Weekend held this past March was quite a success. They very quickly hit a capacity issue and many people wound up not being able to go.