New York Comic Con 2014 was a sweet success for Curls Studio and by all reports it seems like NYCC has now surpassed San Diego as the most attended comic convention in America, as NYCC reported 151,000 people. There is no denying NYCC has majorly grown in the course of one year.
In previous years, Thursday was slow and was only for those with VIP or special pro badges. This year there was already a crowd as soon as we arrived at the convention with our cart to set-up at noon on Thursday. Of course our morning was filled with packing the car in the dark morning light of Virginia, getting gas, and withering the New Jersey Turnpike until we pulled into the Javits Center to unload. The night before we recorded our podcast with Teresa Roberts Logan from Laughing Redhead Studio who exhibited with us at booth #1162 for the second year in a row. Next year we should leave a bit earlier to be fully prepared for the noon crowd charge and it was a pleasant surprise to have a successful Thursday.
I noticed several vendors had already given away their free promotions by Friday. For example, Cirque du Soleil had tote bags that did not replenish for the weekend crowds and Ghostery was giving out blue ghost stress balls that were gone quickly. I don't think anyone anticipated the Thursday crowds.
I enjoyed my time on Friday signing at the National Cartoonists Society booth. It was great to meet people interested in what we do and they were selling special t-shirts as well. On Friday evening we also got to see the "Juanjo Guarnido in the Freak Kitchen" panel. He is the artist of one of my favorite books, Blacksad.
As an exhibitor it is hard to see the scope of the show, attend panels, or even step away to go to the bathroom. This year I got to see most of the show by arriving early on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before the show started. I was most impressed with the Weta Digital booth which featured a gigantic resting dragon. The dragon's eyelids would slightly open to reveal glowing eyes as if visitors were interrupting a nap.
Adventure Time #29, the exclusive cover I did for Boom! Studios did very well. I also premiered new Comics Heart t-shirts available in aqua and asphalt in sizes XS, S, M, L, and XL as well as the new Sad Fish button collection. I plan to have both available online shortly, but you can email me at info[at]curls-studio.com if you'd like to purchase!
On Saturday I tried to see a panel in the day, but that was quickly shot down as it was full and tons of people were sitting on the floor waiting for the room to open. At that point I really just wanted to go back to my booth, where I should be anyway! Gone are the days of NYCC a few years ago where there were some lines, but you could basically walk into a panel. However in the evening, we got to see the "Eastern Championships of Cosplay" event. It really made me want to create an outfit! Cosplay was amazing this year for sure.
NYCC 2014 was enjoyable, but exhausting! It does take a few days to recover back to 100% after preparing for the show, interacting with so many people, traveling, and overall visual stimulation. It was great to hang out with Joe and Teresa once again the share the booth. I think we really work well together and we are already discussing ideas for next year.
I've posted many more fabulous photographs taken by Joe and I on the Curls Studio Facebook page. Check them out and give us a "Like" while you are at it.
Thanks to everyone we met and everyone who keeps coming back to our booth each year! That's why we do this show -- to meet you! Hope to meet you in the near future.
Joe and I will be at Annapolis Comic-Con this Sunday, October 19, 2014. It will most likely be our last tour date this year. After that my next appearance is this Wednesday, October 22, 2014 hosting the sold out Design & Doodle Workshop for DC Design Week.
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