Recap: Awesome Con 2018

Curls Studio celebrated our sixth appearance at Awesome Con this past weekend. For me the show was very enjoyable and it brought back feelings of the first Awesome Con. That was special because the show has grown so much and this one felt comfortable and less overwhelming than other years. I had fun seeing the guests, participating in a panel, and having more time at our table this year.

For those of you who don't know about Awesome Con, it's a three day extravaganza of all things awesome: fandom, sci-fi, comics, movies, cosplay, celebrities, voice actors... they have it all!

On Friday I was on the "The Other Side of the Table: Lessons from Creators" panel with Thom Zahler and Chrissie Zullo. We gave great advice about the transformation of attending the show as a spectator and transforming into an exhibitor. Audio of the event will soon be up on the Carolyn and Joe Show podcast.

Great, filled to capacity, crowd during day 2 of The Awesome Con Short Film Festival: Comedy and Drama today. Here's the view during @atothedoublej short film "Lines" #awesomeconshortfilmfestival #awesomecon18 #ac18 #lines #amyjojohnson #shortfilm #awesomecon

A post shared by JOE (@astrayj) on Mar 31, 2018 at 8:01pm PDT

Joe continued to produce the "Awesome Con Short Film Fest" to a standing room only crowd on both Friday (Horror, Action, Sci-Fi) and Saturday (Comedy, Drama) afternoons.

On Friday I had the opportunity to meet WWE wrestlers The New Day and get their autographs. I was wearing their t-shirt, so it was exciting to represent the power of positivity!

I was hyped that the guys from the TV show Boy Meets World (Ben Savage, Rider Strong, Will Friedle) were going to be at Awesome Con the moment the show made the announcement! Boy Meets World and Freaks and Geeks are hands down my favorite TV shows of all-time. Apparently this was Ben Savage's first convention. It started with Will Friedle as a guest at last year's Awesome Con (I got the opportunity to moderate his panel with Grey DeLisle Griffin -- you can listen to the audio here). Will has done several conventions and then he started to get Rider interested in attending them as well. Now they brought in Ben!

A great day at Awesome Con meeting @dbmcn! You know him as Harley from Boy Meets World, my all-time favorite television show (along with Freaks and Geeks). It was wonderful that he was at the show and took time for a photo. Thank you, Danny for everything you give back to the fans. #AwesomeCon @awesomecons #awesomepanels18 #awesomecon2018 #ac2018 #BoyMeetsWorld #BMW #GirlMeetsWorld #TGIF #whenitsboymeetsworlditsboymeetsworld

A post shared by Carolyn Belefski (@carolynbelefski) on Mar 31, 2018 at 6:43pm PDT

Saturday was the Boy Meets World panel and I was lucky to have a moment to step away from the table and attend the panel -- to my surprise actor Danny McNulty who plays the bully Harley Keiner was in the audience! That was so cool that he came to the show. I got to tell him how much I love BMW and how he is a legendary like "A Christmas Story" bullies. After the show, I found him on social media and he is doing a lot of good working on anti-bulling efforts. Yet another message BMW continues to share years after and with the Girl Meets World series.

The panel was amazing -- all the guys are so charismatic and charming and funny. So many great BMW lessons and behind-the-scenes memories were shared during the audience Q&A. I loved being there with a huge audience full of BMW fans. Discussing topics that are still relevant today like Shawn and Angela's relationship, #MeToo movement, and more. The day was also actor William Daniels's 91st birthday and they talked about their respect for Mr. Feeny.

Sunday was Easter, so I went to mass in the morning while Joe covered the table responsibilities. We had a blast hanging out behind the table with our neighbor Jessica Howard, the creator of "Love Metal."

I asked him how the marmalade business was doing and he gave me a thumbs up! #paddingtonbear #trouble #AwesomeCon #awesomepanels18 #ac2018 @awesomecons #awesomecon2018 #insidertrading #paddington #marmalade #bear

A post shared by Carolyn Belefski (@carolynbelefski) on Apr 1, 2018 at 6:50pm PDT

I met Paddington Bear! Also Phil LaMarr came to our table to chat and I told him all about the 100 Sad Fish I recently drew. So. Much. Awesome.

Mega thanks to the Awesome Con staff, volunteers, fellow exhibitors, guests, and attendees for an AWESOME event. I can't wait until next year and hope to be back -- mark your calendars for April 26-28, 2019.

As of right now, the next comic show will be a new one -- Fairfax Comic Con -- on August 25-26, 2018. There might be smaller appearances that could pop up, but I don't envision doing a big show before that. This will give us time to produce a new book. One of the benefits of going to shows is meeting people in-person. I value the interactions of chatting with people in real life, but it does take time to make comics and many creators struggle with the tour schedule and finding time to make new books. Not to mention sometimes the touring is our actual "vacation" time!

You can also catch me this Friday -- I'll be a guest at DC Web Fest. I won't have any comic displays, but I will hanging out if you want to say hi!

Recap: Awesome Con 2016

This past weekend was the fourth Awesome Con on June 3-5, 2016. It's hard to believe Awesome Con has only been around for four years. Early on Sunday I was able to walk around at several segments of the DC Convention Center. The second year's main floor event location (with the small balcony section) is now used as a holding room for crowds. The registration area was the place where the first Awesome Con was held. The show has grown leaps and bounds and I don't see it stopping anytime soon.

This show is the most fun I've had in a few years and has rejuvenated my excitement for conventions. Awesome Con had everything: inventive cosplay, guests, comics, video games, merchandise, etc.,  but the most important element of the convention is consistent energy. Every second of the show was pumping, down to the last minute.

On Friday, Joe moderated the Jeremy London Q&A, then later in the evening Joe and I were lucky enough to be able to record a live podcast for the Carolyn and Joe Show with special guest Phil LaMarr! You might know him from Pulp Fiction, Mad TV, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, The Pee-wee Herman Show, and many more. I can't wait for you to listen to the show. It will soon be available -- along with all our panels -- at www.carolynandjoeshow.com.

On Saturday, we had many more panels! I moderated the Will Friedle & Grey DeLisle Q&A and it was so fun! I was most nervous about this one, because I had talked to Phil LaMarr before and could jive with him, but I had never met Will or Grey before in-person. I had been asking Ben from Awesome Con to bring in Will Friedle as a guest for the past two years and this year the stars aligned to make it happen! I've always been a fan of Boy Meets World, Batman Beyond, Kim Possible, and more recently Girl Meets World. I already knew Will was awesome, but was not as familiar with Grey, in fact I'd never heard of her until her being asked to moderate the panel (crazy, right?). I'm so impressed with her and completely educated with her talents now. I've been questioning myself why I didn't know her name because I've heard her as Frankie in Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends and as Black Canary in Batman: the Brave and the Bold (check out the song "If Only" in Mayhem of the Music Meister). Big thanks to Will and Grey for such a fun time onstage -- I attempted to start a hashtag #WillGreyQA with audience members so look that up on Twitter, Instagram, etc. for more photos and excellent quotes.

Directly after #WillGreyQA, I walked across the hall to a panel I was asked by Heidi MacDonald to be a panelist on called "How To Break Into Comics (and Survive)" with Bryan Tillman, Amy Reeder, Justin Jordan, and Shawn Martinbrough. We discussed our successes and methods that work for us -- it was amazing that everyone had a different style, path, and approach to our careers.

Meanwhile, Joe was moderating the Summer Glau Q&A. I'm sure we will be able to hear his take on meeting her on the podcast soon.

On Saturday afternoon, I lead an art seminar in the Kids Zone called "Create Your Own Superhero Symbol." This is always fun for children and their parents -- even some adults without children joined in. I had collected Peanuts, Iron Man, and Captain America posters from random places in the past (last year's NCS convention and the friendly neighborhood movie theater) and gave them away to all people who completed their own personalized superhero logo.

Later at night, Joe lead the "Awesome Filmmakers: Making It Happen" panel. As with all the speaker panels, we have audio we will be releasing week-to-week on the podcast.

On Sunday, we only had one panel and were able to enjoy the show at the table most of the day! "The Other Side of the Table: Lessons from Creators" is a panel we had hosted at New York Comic Con for a few years and are glad to bring it to Awesome Con for a second time. We had some new panelists because we like to mix it up and learn from several exhibitors each time we host this panel. This year Bryan Turner and Chris Flick joined Joe Carabeo and I! Chris Flick filled in for Dawn Griffin because she had a knee injury and unfortunately could not make it for this year's Awesome Con. Bryan and Chris brought a great dynamic to the panel and I loved the discussion!

Now that the show is over, I'm still riding off the high it has created in my mind. I know eventually it might wear off, but what a great feeling to know we had a fun time with fans, friends, and other exhibitors. Thanks so much to Teresa Roberts Logan for watching the table while we were gone at panels and thanks to the Awesome Con staff and Brute Squad for organizing a prime event in DC. In addition, thanks to everyone we talked to at the Curls Studio table -- even if you didn't buy anything and only took a promo postcard -- thank you for stopping by. We hope to see you at our next shows this fall -- Baltimore Comic-Con, Small Press Expo, and New York Comic Con.

Awesome Con is June 3-5, 2016

We hope you can join us at the beginning of next month for the fourth edition of Awesome Con DC on June 3-5, 2016 at the DC Convention Center. Curls Studio will be located at table N5. Check out the awesome map above where the yellow pulse signal circles are so you'll know where to find us.

We also have several panels we'll be taking part in. Please note that some of the panel info may change, but it looks to be pretty solid.

Jeremy London Q&A
6/3/2016 / 4:30 PM-5:30 PM/ Room 150
Jeremy London will discuss his exciting career and answer audience questions.
Rated: G 
Moderator: Joe Carabeo

LIVE Carolyn and Joe Show Podcast
6/3/2016 / 6:00 PM-7:00 PM / Room 150
Phil LaMarr is the special guest on the Carolyn and Joe Show! It’s no secret that the LIVE Carolyn and Joe Show at Awesome Con is the wildest, funniest, most unpredictable, must-see panel at the convention! This year we’re taking it to the next level. We have one of the greatest performers on screen, stage, and behind a mic -- Mr. Phil LaMarr! It’s gonna be a MAD time. Do not miss this show!
Rated: PG-13

Panelists: Phil LaMarr, Carolyn Belefski, Joe Carabeo
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1032602296823866

Will Friedle & Grey DeLisle Q&A
6/4/2016 / 11:30 AM-12:30 PM / Room 150
Will Friedle and Grey DeLisle will discuss their exciting careers and answer audience questions. 
Rated: G
Moderator: Carolyn Belefski

Summer Glau Q&A
6/4/2016 / 1:45 PM-2:45 PM / Room 146
Summer Glau will discuss her exciting career and answer audience questions. 
Rated: G
Moderator: Joe Carabeo 

How To Break Into Comics (and Survive)
6/4/2016 / 12:30 PM-1:30 PM / Room 144
Comics! It seems like such a glamorous life, but what are the nitty gritty secrets of staying in the business? Everyone wants to know how to break into comics, but there are many paths to get there, and many ways of staying in. Our panel of not artists and writers talk about developing as artists, branching out into other fields, and the rest of the skills needed to maintain a career. Presented by The Beat.
Rated: PG-13
Moderator: Heidi MacDonald
Panelists: Bryan Tillman, Amy Reeder, Justin Jordan, Shawn Martinbrough, Carolyn Belefski
The Beat: http://www.comicsbeat.com/preview-awesome-con-is-going-to-be-awesome

Create Your Own Superhero Symbol with Carolyn Belefski
6/4/2016 / 4:00 PM-4:45 PM / K Zone
Every hero needs a logo! Many superheroes have personal branding on their outfits and My Little Pony characters even have cutie marks! Join artist and designer Carolyn Belefski and learn how to incorporate graphic design elements to create an icon and establish your own powerful visual identity.

Awesome Filmmakers: Making It Happen
6/4/2016 / 8:15 PM-9:15 PM / Room 149
The legendary Awesome Con filmmakers panel that had everyone talking has retuned! Join filmmaker panelists Jai Jamison (TRI, Speak Now), Drew Bolduc (Assassinaut, The Taint), Kevin Sampson (Picture Lock), Cinematographer - Kunitaro Ohi, and Director of the DC Web Fest - Otessa Marie Ghadar (20/20 Productions) as they break the 4th the wall and reveal the realities of being a filmmaker and making it happen in today’s media consuming society. You might see an exclusive trailer or two.
Rated: PG-13
Moderator: Joe Carabeo (Astray Productions)
Panelists: Jai Jamison, Drew Bolduc, Kevin Sampson , Kunitaro Ohi, Otessa Marie Ghadar, Joe Carabeo

The Other Side of the Table: Lessons from Creators
6/5/2016 / 12:30 PM-1:15 PM / Room 149
Are you a creator considering exhibiting at Artist Alley or Small Press comic conventions? This panel will give you tips and suggestions on how to create your professional appearances from the POV of being behind the table. We will discuss the metamorphosis from attendee to exhibitor, effective table display design, how to talk and interact with people at your table and how to generate sales with your table pitch. We will highlight the process of starting a comic book tour on a low budget and methods of attracting potential readers by promoting your appearances and will take questions and comments, as this will be a conversation on multiple subjects regarding how to build rewarding convention appearances from the ground up.
Rated: G
Moderator: Joe Carabeo 
Panelists: Carolyn Belefski, Bryan Turner, Dawn Griffin
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1734212596834918