webcomics
print
inventions
presentations
consulting

Things Y’Can’t Just Show Up To

Webcomics Weekend is upon us. I’m not there myself, but I figured I’d add to public service messages out there that registration is full, so don’t just show up at the door and expect to register. 

Ditto for Comic Con hotels and four-day registration, but you probably already knew that.

I’m sure it’s annoying for spontaneous types, but trust me, it’s better than the reverse. I remember when there were a lot more empty patches in comics’ social arenas. I thought for sure that this would be the year that Comic-Con finally slowed down a bit, but maybe I was wrong. As for webcomics, give it a decade or two.


Discussion (12)¬

  1. Mike L says:

    I just found out about the webcomics weekend. I wish I could have gone to that. It’s kind of in our old back yard, yes? Comic Con.. the last time I went to that, you were the only person there I knew. I think it was 1988. Gah!

  2. […] New England Webcomics Weekend (remember?) was a big hit and newsworthy in and of itself, but of special interest to the mad scientist set […]

  3. Bengo says:

    ??
    Hi,

    If I made an off the cuff remark predicting either the success or failure of webcomics in a couple of decades (it’s hard to tell what you’re saying from the wording), my readers would be all over me like a cheap suit, demanding documentation, support, offering alternative views. How did you get exempted? And what exactly are you saying?

    • Scott says:

      Yes, I’m making an off the cuff remark that I expect webcomics to continue to grow in number and importance to the comics scene in coming years. Obviously, I’m just guessing (immediately following a reference to another guess which I freely admit I’d gotten wrong!) but I hardly think I’m going out on a limb.

      I’m honestly confused by your complaint. People make off the cuff predictions all the time. This is obviously just a conversational blog, not the IEEE Journal.

      I followed your link and you appear to be doing a lot of hard work measuring data in this area. But to expect all informal speculation elsewhere to stop dead in its tracks is hardly reasonable.

      [Edit to add: I’ve since discovered that a lot of those data measurements are hotly disputed, but I’ll let others debate that end of things.]

    • With all due respect, Bengo, the reason people demand evidence for the claims on your blog is that you have accused many specific artists of bad behavior and misdeeds. Scott has not questioned the integrity of anyone.

    • Jacobo says:

      Your readers would be all over you like a cheap suit? That’d have to be an awfully, awfully small suit.

      You have an over-developed sense of self importance, Bengo. That’s why you get called to task about the off the cuff (and frequently nonsensical) remarks you make about webcomics, the future of webcomics, why webcomics should do what you say, what a webcomic should be, and last (but not least) the vast Twitter conspiracy that keeps hiding your keys.

    • So you are not sure what Scott was saying yet somehow you still take offense to it?

      I agree that the wording was not the best “As for webcomics, give it a decade or two.” could be taken a few ways and perhaps Scott could have added a bit more to that sentence to clarify it. Taking offense at such a simple statement seems like a complete waste of energy, it’s not like he equated anyone who has a tip jar on their site to a street derelict.

      • Scott says:

        Agreed that it was vague phrasing. Basically, I was saying that I expected it to be a decade or two before webcomics “slowed down” — i.e., stopped growing.

        And lest anyone out there think I have a time machine at my disposal, yes, that was speculation only. 😉

        • Well, we all know the probably time machines cause with temporal mechanics so it is probably best that you don’t have one.

          So stop tinkering down in the basement trying to make one! }:-(

  4. Donna Barr says:

    Webcomics? Marketing? I just draw and post and upload and let other people worry about where the market’s going. AND…. my Projectwonderful ads are now up to 40 cents, and the income streams are leaking in all over the place. What, me worry? Me gots to draw stuff. And close my eyes when the Street Team (Sugar Brigade) gets unleashed with the new website. Do you think it was a good idea to… tell them to anything they wanted with my permission (just don’t get us arrested — unless it’s a really good PR opportunity)?

  5. fesworks says:

    I recal Bengo from TWCL forums. If I recall correctly (and sorry if I am wrong), but he was obsessed with information gather on webcomics. I essentially told him that it was near impossible to get accurate data because of inconsistent stat recording between THOUSANDS of webcomics. Polls are useless (unless you force EVERYONE to take them), asside from getting a rough estimation of data only from those that like to take polls… and even then you can’t always says each comment is either the truth or even a unique person.

    In any case, gathering such general information over the vast multi-verse of webcomics is pretty much impossible. Micromanaging webcomics or webcomic communities or niches would be a much better way to go about things.

    I agree whole heartedly that Webcomics are going to boom (with successful and acclaimed webcomics) in the coming years, and also that there will be better business models in place. You can look at the big picture, but I don’t think it’s logical to try and create a wide general, working market strategy for the WHOLE thing…. but then, time will tell.

  6. BLAH:] says:

    HEY WATS UP
    MUH NIGG
    YEH IM L;L TASTE TESTER YEH THOUGH
    MAYNE I GO TO INDEPENDENCE MIDDLE SKOOL -ND I AM IN 8TH GRADE MAYNE ERIN TURNER SO FINE