Latest Posts by nasenaya - Page 4
When a fanfic hasn’t been updated since 1829 but you read it anyways
i always have a hard time finding good stuff to listen to while i’m studying so i’m here to hopefully help some people with the same problem and share some of my faves! i’ll divide this post into instrumental and non-instrumental albums/playlists in order to make it even easier for you guys to navigate :-)
happy studying!
instrumental albums and playlists
signs and wonders by elisha david
interstellar soundtrack
studio ghibli movies soundtrack
theory of everything soundtrack
the immitation game soundtrack
the crown season 2 soundtrack
lofi/jazzhop playlist
lofi/jazzhop playlist 2
new feelings by elijah who
don’t make me cry by elijah who
complete harry potter movies soundtrack
peaceful piano
pride and prejudice soundtrack
le petit prince soundtrack
classical music for studying
disney score to study to
non-instrumental (with singing) albums and playlists
reading, studying, and rainy days
acoustic covers
kpop study music
calm indie songs playlist
your favorite coffeehouse
study zone
paradise by slow club
the lumineers by the lumineers
A master post of Thomas Romain’s art tutorials.
There’s not enough space to post all of them, SO here’s links to everything he has posted (on twitter) so far : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12.
Now that new semesters have started, I thought people might need these. Enjoy your lessons!
I V O R & J E S S E (ep.1 / ep.12) ↳ “You know, I kinda regret punching you right now.” “Yes, well. You weren’t the first.“
The Noragami fandom @ Kazuma right now:
MY GOD
How to Survive College Without Losing Your Goddamn Mind
Most self-care advice just isn’t useful for college students. You have very little time, very little disposable income, and you don’t really have the ability to just “take on less stress”. Playing hooky to have a spa day isn’t really an option when you’re a broke scholarship student trying to get into medical school someday.
So if you’re actually trying to get through school with a solid GPA and your mental health still intact:
Go to your professors’ and TAs’ office hours. Your professors’ contracts require them to sit in their offices for a couple of hours per week, and most of them are spending that time alone and bored out of their skulls. If you’re struggling with the material, uncertain about how your paper is turning out, or wondering if you’re on the right career path, don’t sit in your dorm room until you’re frustrated to tears - go talk to your professors. Most of them will be happy to help you out just so they have something to do, and they’re more inclined to cut you some slack because they can see that you truly give a shit. I can’t count how many Bs and B+s I turned into As and A+s just by going to professors’ office hours. Go.
Ask for extensions on coursework if you need them. I can’t count how many times I saw friends sobbing over their laptops while sitting in emergency rooms or after receiving news of a family member’s death, because they had assignment deadlines to meet and they didn’t realize extensions were possible. Life happens. Professors aren’t heartless. Universities are more under the microscope than ever when it comes to student mental health. If you’ve had a personal emergency, mental health crisis, car accident, etc, email your professors the first chance you get, and ask for an extension on coursework. The worst thing they can possibly say is no, and you’d be surprised how many say yes. As a student, I was granted extensions on coursework five times: after a car accident, after my father was diagnosed with cancer, after my godfather’s death, after spending the night in ER with my very sick roommate, and after having a serious allergic reaction. I’ve had friends get extensions after depressive episodes and bad breakups. It’s possible. Ask.
Don’t intentionally schedule yourself a shitty semester. A lot of students have a weird habit of scheduling all their most difficult or boring required classes in the same semester to “get them out of the way”, usually in their first or second year of school. Don’t do this if you can avoid it. It might seem tempting to have a shitty 4 months and get it over with, but you underestimate the impact that four months of constant stress over classes you don’t care about can have on your grades, your passion for school and your self-esteem. Don’t do it. Space your most dreaded classes out, and try to take at least one class per semester that you look forward to.
Lay down ground rules with your roommate ASAP. What time do you want the lights off at night? Who showers when? How many people can you invite over at once, and how much notice do you have to give? How clean do you both want the place to be? Even if your roommate seems like the most chill person on earth - hell, even if your roommate is your lifelong best friend - you need to discuss this stuff sooner rather than later, before classes really get going. The last thing you need is a stressful dispute with someone you literally cannot escape from when you’re up to your ears in midterms.
Be upfront and honest with romantic partners and hookups. Again, the last thing you need to be doing is having a tearful argument with your sort-of-SO the night before your organic chemistry final. We’re all adults in college, and it’s better for everyone to act like it. Be honest with potential SOs about what you want, and what you have time for. If you’re just looking for a no-strings-attached hookup every now and then, tell them that. If you are interested in a serious relationship but you won’t be able to answer their texts and messages very often this semester, say that. I had a particularly shitty final exam season one semester because my (non-student) boyfriend couldn’t understand why I suddenly had no time for him. Misunderstandings aren’t always avoidable, but it’s important to take steps to minimize miscommunications and hurt feelings.
Check in with your advisor at least once per semester. Program requirements aren’t always clear, new classes get introduced every semester, and most students will change majors at least once. Make sure you are constantly checking with your advisor to make sure that you are on track to graduate, and if you need confirmation that a certain course will count towards your requirements, get it in writing. Staying in touch with your advisor during your first couple of semesters will save you a lot of stress and headaches in your last few semesters.
Don’t use caffeine to pull all-nighters. I can preach to you about “don’t pull all-nighters” all I want, but realistically, you’re probably going to pull one at least once in your college career. I’m in grad school and I still pull them. Be smart about it. Chugging Red Bull isn’t going to keep you alert all night, it’s just going to make you anxious for a few hours before you crash hard. Avoid the caffeine. Drink water, eat healthy snacks, and sit in a proper chair with good posture. If you start to get tired, stand up and do some exercise - do some jumping jacks, go for a quick walk, dance to some music - and splash cold water on your face. You’ll be more effective for longer periods of time if you take frequent breaks and put the caffeine down.
Don’t compare yourself to other people. I know that it’s hard not to see everyone around you as your competition, and it can be tough to not feel a little pang of jealousy or panic when someone else achieves something you want. But this isn’t a healthy mindset. Seeing yourself as being in direct competition with everyone around you is a lonely and stressful way to live. There is lots of room for success. Tens of thousands of people get into medical school and law school and business school every year. Someone else succeeding does not mean that you fail. Celebrate the fact that we have so many brilliant and wonderful people to take on the world’s toughest problems together. Let yourself be happy for others. Invest in dry shampoo and baby wipes. You’re not always going to have time to shower, and nothing pulls your mood down faster than feeling dirty. Find easy ways to freshen up now and then to boost your mood. Use some dry shampoo, take a baby wipe to the essential bits, change into some clean clothes, brush your teeth. Looking like less of a wreck will make you feel like less of a wreck.
Have a life outside of school. Have something. A club. A volunteer position. A band. A writer’s group. Have something that you look forward to, that lets you socialize with other people you have things in common with. Having nothing but school and homework in your life is a quick recipe for going full-on “Jack from The Shining”. My best memories from college are all from the clubs and organizations that I joined, and all of my most meaningful, long-term friendships are with the people I met by being involved on campus. It matters a lot, and it can mean the difference between enduring college and enjoying it. Go easy on yourselves, drink water, eat vegetables, and have a safe and healthy semester, everyone.
I survive for this very moment ;3;
All About Writing Fight Scenes
@galaxies-are-my-ink asked,
“Do you have any advice on writing fight scenes? The type of scene I’m writing is mostly hand to hand combat between two experts. I’m definitely not an expert so when I try to write it, the scene ends up sounding repetitive and dull.”
Fore note: This post is coauthored by myself and one of my amazing critique partners, Barik S. Smith, who both writes fantastic fight scenes and teaches mixed martial arts, various artistic martial arts, and weapons classes.
I (Bryn) will tell you a secret: I trained MMA for seven years, and when I write authentic hand to hand fight scenes, they sound dull too.
The problem with fight scenes in books is that trying to describe each punch and kick and movement (especially if it’s the only thing you’re describing) creates a fight that feels like it’s in slow motion.
I write…
Lowering her center of gravity, she held her right hand tight to her face and threw a jab towards his chin. He shifted his weight, ducking under her punch. His hair brushed against her fist, and he stepped forward, launching a shovel hook into her exposed side.
But your brain can only read so fast. In real life that series of events would take an instant, but I needed a full eight seconds to read and comprehend it, which gave it an inherent lethargic feel.
So, we have two primary problems:
How do we describe this fight in a way the reader can understand and keep track of?
How do we maintain a fast paced, interesting fight once we’ve broken down the fight far enough for readers to understand it?
(We will get back to these, I promise.) But for now, let’s look at…
Different types of “fight scenes:”
Keep reading
the background cheat digital artists don’t want you to know about
step one build that shit in minecraft
step two take a fuckin screenshot n then trace that shit
step three what the fuck is up!
doodles for this au
Voltron band: Shiro,Allura,Pidge and Hunk
p.s.I have twitter now.Probably for geek stuff, reblogs and drawings xd
“You started young, right? What is your advice for young people?”
Artist block? Launching Our Idea Generator!
Hi guys! I spent all day working on this and I’m really excited to show you!
→ https://artres.xyz/ideas/
A pic of it in action:
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this, please consider reblogging it or sharing it with your friends! It really helps me out! ❤️ Have feedback or ideas for the generator? Let me know by messaging me at @astrikos
More useful articles and resources / support Art-Res |
did someone say noragami?
when you make good art but it took a ridiculous amout of time and effort
![“I’ll Always Wait For You.” Thank You Telltale. For Breaking My Heart. Always. [winky Face]](https://64.media.tumblr.com/24496d530677efe860f741fc60223adc/tumblr_pdnl1ywF4I1sr5h0oo1_540.jpg)
“I’ll always wait for you.” Thank you Telltale. For breaking my heart. Always. [winky face]
ladies and gentlemen the one thing that bothered me for two years
I decided to create a masterpost that would help you with what you are struggling with. Hopefully any of the links below will help you! Reminder; You’re going to be okay. What you are going through will pass, just remember to breathe.
————————————————————————————-
Distractions;
Here are some distractions to help keep your mind occupied so you aren’t too focused on your thoughts.
-Draw something
-This website translates the time into colours.
-Create your own galaxy.
-Play flowing.
-Make a 3D line travel where ever you like.
-Listen to music.
-Calm.
-Ocean mood, do nothing for two minutes.
Sleep issues;
- 8 hour sleep music.
-Rainy mood.
-Meditation.
-Coping with nightmares.
-How to cope with nightmares, 11 steps.
-Calm
-Foods that can affect your sleeping, both positive and negatively.
Uncomfortable with silence;
-Rainy mood.
-10 hours of rain and thunder.
-3 hours of rain and thunder.
-Human heartbeat.
-Rainforest.
-Sound of rain on a tin roof.
-Autumn wind.
-Rain on a tent
-Traffic in the rain.
-Soft traffic.
-Fan.
-Train.
-Simply noise.
-My noise.
-Rainy cafe.
Anxiety;
-How to stop worrying.
-Tips to manage anxiety and stress.
-The 10 best ever anxiety management techniques.
-Self-help strategies for anxiety.
-Helping a friend with anxiety.
-All about worrying.
-8 myths about anxiety.
Sad, angry and depressed/depression;
-“I’m always sad”
-Feeling sad.
-Going through trauma.
-“I’m always angry”.
-Anger management.
-All about anger.
-National helplines and websites.
-Self-help strategies for depression.
-Dealing with depression at work.
-Dealing with depression at school.
Isolation and loneliness;
-Pets and mental health.
-All about loneliness.
-“I feel so alone”
-10 more ideas to help with loneliness.
-How to deal with loneliness.
Self-harm;
-Alternatives to self-harm and distraction techniques.
-146 things to do besides self-harm.
-More alternatives to self-harm.
-Self-harm alternatives.
-How to take care of self-harm wounds/injuries.
-Getting rid of scars.
Addiction;
-How to help a friend with a drug addiction.
-What is addiction?
-All about alcohol and addiction.
-The facts about drug addiction.
Eating disorders;
-Helping a friend with an eating disorder.
-Eating disorder treatments.
-Support services for eating disorders.
-Self-help tips with eating disorders.
-Eating disorder recovery.
-Recovering from an eating disorder.
-100+ reasons to recover.
-Understanding and managing eating disorders.
Dealing with self-hatred;
-3 ways to ease self-loathing.
-How to turn self-hatred into self-compassion.
-Self-hatred resources.
-10 step plan to deal with self-hate.
Suicidal;
-International suicide hotlines (1) (2)
-Preventing suicide.
-Reasons to stay alive.
-Dealing with suicidal thoughts and feelings.
-Coping with suicidal ideation.
Schizophrenia;
-All about schizophrenia.
-Helping a person with schizophrenia.
-Understanding and dealing with schizophrenia.
-Delusions and hallucinations.
OCD;
-Managing your OCD at home.
-Overcoming OCD.
-How to cope with OCD.
-Strategies for dealing with the anxious moments.
Borderline personality disorder;
-Helping someone with BPD.
-All about personality disorders.
-Treatment for BPD.
Abuse;
-Healthy relationships VS abusive relationships.
-Emotional abuse
-Overcoming sexual abuse.
-Hotlines services.
-5 ways to escape an abusive relationship.
-Domestic violence support.
-Signs of an abusive relationship.
-What do to if you’re in an abusive relationship.
-Surviving abuse.
-What you can do if you’re sexual harassed.
-Sexual assault support.
-What to do if you’ve been sexually assaulted or abused.
Bullying;
-How to stand up against bullying.
-How to protect yourself when it comes to cyber bullying.
-How to help stop people bullying you.
Loss and grief;
-How to cope with a suicide of a loved one.
-Grieving for a stranger.
-Common reactions to death.
-Working through grief.
(Other loss and grief)
-Moving away from friends and family.
-Coping with a breakup.
Getting help;
-Seeking help early.
-All about psychological treatments.
-Types of help.
-All about age and confidentiality.
Things you need to remember;
- Don’t stress about being fixed because you’re not broken.
-Remember to remind yourself of your accomplishments. Tell yourself that you’re proud of yourself, even if you’re not.
- This is temporary. You won’t always feel like this.
-You are not alone.
-You are enough.
-You are important.
-You are worth it.
-You are strong.
-You are not a failure,
-Good people exist.
-Reaching out shows strength.
-Breathe.
-Don’t listen to the thoughts that are not helping you.
-Give yourself credit.
-Don’t be ashamed of your emotions, for the good or bad ones.
-Treat yourself the same way as you would treat a good friend.
-Focus on the things you can change.
-Let go of toxic people.
-You don’t need to hide, you’re allowed to feel the way you do.
-Try not to beat yourself up.
-Something is always happening, you don’t want to miss out on what’s going to happen next.
-You are not a bother.
-Your existence is more than your appearance.
-You are smart.
-You are loved.
-You are wanted.
-You are needed.
-Better days are coming.
-Just because your past is dark, doesn’t mean your future isn’t bright.
-You have more potential than you think.
- Your value doesn’t decrease based on someone’s inability to see your worth.
Please remember to look after yourself and know that you are more than worth it and you deserve to be happy. Keep smiling butterflies x
This is the funniest joke I’ve ever made
ARTIST ALLEY STARTUP GUIDE
Hello! My name is Toril, or Starlock, and I’m an independent comic artist! In the past two years I’ve tabled at a number of extremely different conventions, including Boston Comic Con, Rhode Island Comic Con, Otakon Vegas, Anime Boston, Emerald City Comic Con, MoCCA Fest, TCAF, Anime NEXT, Anime Expo, Otakon, SPX, MICExpo, and YaoiCon.
Prior to this, I had never sold anything at a convention before, and I had barely considered the possibility of being able to make a living from my own work. To put it simply: I had no idea what I was doing. I would have crashed and burned without the help of my incredible friend Emily, but since not everyone has a friend who’s been making a living off of anime conventions for years, I thought I’d put together a post about everything I’ve learned to help out artists who may be thinking about jumping on this train.
Full disclosure: I was able to earn back my expenses (and profit) at every con I attended except Otakon Vegas and TCAF. Otakon Vegas in 2014 was a small con with low attendance, high expenses, and I was ill prepared. At TCAF 2014, I failed to account for the currency exchange rate in spite of selling out of everything, and spent a lot on transporting books over the border (I’m from the US and couldn’t drive at the time).
Of course, every person’s work, circumstances, and personality are wildly different, and your experiences will assuredly vary from mine. I can’t guarantee your success. However, I learned a remarkable amount about art, business, and checked bag fees over the past few years, and I hope what I include here proves valuable (or at least interesting) to anyone who’s interested in the North American con circuit!
☆
Before you even think about choosing a convention to attend or what you’re going to sell, there’s an unfortunate truth we have to get out of the way: You need to spend money to make money. I recommend setting aside $500 USD for registration, production costs, travel, and other expenses. This is an extremely rough estimate. Your actual expenses will vary wildly– that said, be prepared to spend at least this much. Anything you save is a bonus.
☆ TYPES OF CONVENTIONS
Choosing the first con that you’ll sell at– or any con, for that matter– can be overwhelming.
Comic: once a haven only for fans of the classic DC and Marvel empires, comic cons now often invite videogame, television, and film guests and companies. Cons like NYCC and SDCC are some of the biggest in the country, but can be difficult to land a table at, especially for a newcomer.
Anime: Mostly centered around fandoms for Japanese media and culture. AnimeExpo and Otakon are among the largest in the US, but more and more are founded every year, and you can find them all over the country.
Small Press: Shows dedicated to independent comics, webcomics, zines, and their creators– shows like TCAF, VanCAF, SPX, and MoCCA can be quite exclusive, as well as expensive– MoCCA’s 2015 tables went for $460 each. Never be afraid to apply, though, because they’re always on the lookout for new blood!
Furry: Cons specifically geared towards furries, and furry and anthro artists. I personally have not been to a furry con, but I’ve heard they can be extremely profitable for artists.
Try to choose a con that suits your taste and intended audience! Artist Alley is the most common name for the venue set aside for independent artists and craftspeople to sell their products. Artist alley tables can range from $50-500, but usually fall around the $75-150 range. Larger cons also often have Dealer’s Halls which provide space for vendors, publishers, and artists who have a lot of stock. Dealer’s Hall booths tend to be far more expensive, often upwards of $1000.
If the cost is daunting, or you’re afraid that you won’t have enough merchandise to display at your table, consider splitting with an artist friend! I’ve split a table several times and it has never affected my sales– if anything, it makes the whole con a lot more fun~ you’ll have someone to talk to and complain with, and you can take turns watching the table while the other takes a break! I can’t recommend splitting a table with more than one other person, however, unless you all only have a few items to sell.
Signup is usually six months to up to a year in advance– get on mailing lists, follow con twitter accounts, and keep an eye out for announcements! Some cons sell out in seconds after they open for artist alley signup, others have tables available for months.
If you can, try to find an event happening in your area– close enough that you won’t have to pay for a hotel or transportation (aside from gas or a train ticket). However, beware smaller cons that no one seems to have heard of! Even if it’s in the neighborhood, putting time and money into preparing for a con where there will be more artists than attendees isn’t worth it. It also helps to apply for a table at a con you’ve been to before as an attendee! That way you’ll have a feel for what people sell there, the attendance, and what the general atmosphere is like. Don’t make any travel arrangements until you’re sure you’ve got a table at the con.
☆ MERCHANDISE
I don’t have time to go into detail on how to make merchandise– and there are tutorials for making nearly anything online– but figuring out what you’re going to be selling is important! You’re also going to have to decide whether to manufacture it yourself or pay to have it done for you. Here are some products I’ve seen sold at cons to give you an idea of what’s possible: business cards, prints, postcards, bookmarks, keychains & phone charms, stickers (some cons don’t allow stickers: make sure you’ll be able to sell them beforehand!), comics (zines, books, etc), printed sketchbooks and artbooks, dolls & plushes, apparel, patches, washi tape, buttons & badges, and commissions.
FAST PRICE GUIDE (USD):
8x10" print - 10$ or 3/$25
11x17" print - 15$ or 2/25$
books: 3x the printing cost per book
Always bring AT LEAST enough merchandise so that if you sold 100% of it, you’d earn double your expenses.
☆ FAN vs ORIGINAL CONTENT
There’s a lot of waffle over whether original content or fanart sells better at conventions, and the truth is that in my experience, there’s no solid answer to this question. The best advice I can offer is: make what you care about.
It doesn’t matter if it’s fan art for the latest, trendiest manga, or a promotional poster for your own webcomic– your audience can tell when your heart isn’t in the work. If you make things to sell based solely on what you imagine is popular at the time of the con, you won’t get very far.
Do not make fan art of independent properties– especially if they’ve asked publicly that no unlicensed merchandise be sold. It’s disrespectful, and can be damaging to their business. The ethical and legal dilemma around the production and sale of fan art in general is not one I want to get into in this post, but I tend to support fan culture.
If you don’t have an audience for your original content already, it’s true that no one will know what it is and that it will be harder to sell it. That’s okay! You’re at the con to promote your work, and you have to start somewhere.
☆ PRODUCTION TIPS
Make sure everything’s in your hands a week in advance before the con.
If you’re printing books, try to leave enough time to order proofs. Make sure everything you’re bringing can fit in your bags without being damaged. For prints, you can buy a file case, but I find the box they’re shipped (if you’ve ordered them online) in works just fine.
☆ TABLE DISPLAYS
There are a number of display methods, but the two most common are wire storage cube displays and pipe/clamp displays. I prefer the latter– for a basic pipe display, you will need:
2x Irwin Quick-Grip Clamps
6x 24" long, ½" diameter PVC pipes
1x 18" long, ½" diameter PVC pipe
6x ½" diameter straight PVC pipe connectors
2x ½" diameter elbow PVC pipe connectors
this will run you around $30 USD at a home improvement warehouse like Home Depot or Lowe’s.
You may also need: book stands, business card holders, tape, scissors, zipties for the cubes, clips, and post-its to write prices on.
Here’s a shortlist of online manufacturers & printing services!
Fireball Printing
Catprint
Vistaprint
Gotprint
OvernightPrints
RA Comics Direct
Keness
1984 Printing (vegan!)
Amazon Createspace
Artscow
Digital Art Wear
Zap Creatives
☆ TRAVEL
Pack light. Most of your luggage will be your merchandise & display. Bring a change of clothes, toiletries, and other essentials– phone, sketchbook, etc. Leave valuable jewelry and electronics at home.
ESSENTIAL CON EQUIPMENT
- tax papers & registration confirmation & cheques (you may have to pay your taxes at the con, or register for a table for next year!)
- square reader (or equivalent mobile POS system) + smartphone + exta battery
- notebook to keep track of sales
- water bottle & snacks, painkillers, any meds you take
- small bills for change
- do NOT bring a cash box. they’re bulky, heavy, and more likely to get stolen than a money pouch.
Be aware that most domestic US airlines start charging you anywhere from $50-200 if your bag is oversized or over 50lb. You can usually avoid a 50lb+ bag by having two smaller suitcases. Most airlines will also let you check boxes or crates, provided they’re securely sealed and labeled. CHECK on your airline’s website before getting to the airport so you won’t be surprised by a fee.
Be careful taking luggage on Amtrak or buses: usually you’re only allowed one piece of checked baggage, and Amtrak sometimes won’t take check bags at all.
Do NOT book a connecting flight to the con. You don’t want to miss your connection and arrive a day late!
Do NOT carpool with strangers. Ever.
Cons often offer deals on rooms at nearby or sponsoring hotels. These are the most convenient option but can still be pricey– if you have friends going to the con, share the room! I find 3-5 people can generally split an average hotel room comfortably, as long as everyone manages to be respectful and sensible. If you have friends or family in the area, ask if they can put you up! Of course, pay them back with a dinner date or baked goods~ Finally, check out AirBNB! You’d be surprised at the level of accommodation you can find.
Here is a list of travel services and airlines that come recommended: kayak.com, MegaBus, Porter Air, Jet Blue, Southwest Airlines, Virgin America, Alaska Airlines, Amtrak
☆ AT THE CON
Confirm that you’ve arrived with the Artist Alley staff, check in for your table, and set up ASAP. Confirm what times the artist alley opens & closes. Ask if the hall will be locked overnight– most cons do this, so you can leave your things under the table (NEVER leave your money or any valuables unattended)
REMEMBER: you’re at the con as a working professional. Act like it!
Get to your table before the alley opens. Regardless of how busy you think business will be, it’s nice to be early. Greet potential customers warmly and engage them in conversation.
Some fall-back lines I use: “How’s the con so far?” “ I like your cosplay/outfit/hair!” “Are you dressed as ____? They’re my favourite character from ____!” “ What’s going on out there? I’ve barely left my table” “This is my webcomic, it’s about _____” etc.
NEVER TALK DOWN YOUR WORK. If you can’t speak about your work or yourself without being self-deprecating, why are you at the convention? If you don’t love your work, why should anyone else? This is the most important point in this entire post.
Never pressure anyone into a sale.
If business is slow and nothing’s going on, feel free to pass the time by drawing, checking your phone, or otherwise occupying yourself– but pay attention. I can’t tell you how disappointing it is to go up to an artist and find them withdrawn behind their table and totally off in their own little world, with barely a word to say to their fans. A lot of us– artists and fans alike– are shy, but we’re all people. Make an effort. Be polite.
SELF CARE:
- drink lots of water
- eat properly
- get enough sleep
Finally, get out from behind your table and walk around! You’ll never know who you’ll run into, what cool artists you’ll discover, or what new friends you’ll meet!!
☆ PROFIT!
Congratulations! You’ve spent a weekend selling your own merchandise, and you’ve earned back your expenses– and then some. Treat yourself to dinner with some of your fellow artists, you deserve it!
…or maybe it didn’t go so well. If you weren’t able to break even, it’s okay. Take a deep breath. It’s not easy to earn a living with your art alone, and conventions are by no means a reliable source of income. Even the most profitable cons– and artists– have off years. However, now isn’t the time to make excuses. Ask yourself the following questions– and be honest when you answer them. It’s likely your answers will tell you why you weren’t as successful as you hoped you’d be:
1. Do I have a significant pre-existing following online– fans who are ready and willing to buy my products? Did they know I would be here?
2. Did I bring enough merchandise to sell? Did I price it correctly?
3. Was the con busy, or was it clearly low attendance? If it was busy, was my table ignored or bypassed due to a poor or unclear display?
4. Was I friendly, polite, and engaging? Did I make an effort to sell my products and appear happy to be there?
5. Are my products appealing and well-crafted?
When it comes down to it, you should not be attending a convention if all you want to do there is make money. Cons are an opportunity to meet and befriend peers in your field– people from all over the country (and world) who you would otherwise only interact with online. Don’t be afraid to spend time socializing, buy the things you like, and remember– stay in touch! The weekend will be over before you know it, but you’ll be chatting online (and meeting up at future cons) with your friends for years to come.
And finally, the last piece of advice I have to offer:
DO YOUR TAXES!!!