John, I know how you feel about travelling to conventions. My question is, did DC try to get you to come out to either/or WonderCon and San Diego to promote your upcoming work?
Hmmmm. I'll be in San Diego this year. I luv ya, JB (no, not THAT way!), but I'm sorry. I'm gonna start a massive letter writing campaign to get DC to make you go!!!!!!!
Is there a UGO commentary or a thread where I can see why Ohio will be the last convention for JB? And a thread explaining why doesn't JB like conventions?
If there isn't....Mr. Byrne, could you please tell us why you don't seem to be so excited about conventions?
JB said a while back that the traveling takes too much out of him. He would rather spend days lost to attending & recovering by creating. Can't say that I blame him, since he's one of the few who cares if his work comes out on time, as solicited.
Yup. Time was I considered a Con a mini-vacation. I'd fly in on Friday, do 2 days of conventioneering, fly out Sunday night, and hit the drawingboard by Tuesday morning. Then it got to be Wednesday morning. Then Thursday. Then the Monday of the following week.
I know it's a kick for fans to meet the pros, but in all honesty, given that Conventions have never been shown to have any real impact on the sales of the books, I would think my time is better spent serving the greater number -- that is the people who will buy the book(s) I work on in the time I would otherwise be recovering from my latest convention experience!
I'd have to agree with that. For one thing I've been buying for a little over a decade and have never been to a comic convention. It would be neat to meet my favourite artists but it isn't necessary.
It's all whatcha decide you're gonna get out of it. I enjoy comic cons for several reasons. First, it gets me out of my goddamned apartment for a few days. Next, I meet a lot of very talented and interesting people with whom I can talk about this rather unusual hobby of mine.
One of the main things I get out of it is the access to pros who can look at my work and give me pointers and advice right there on the spot. I usually can't wait, once I get home, to start back in working on my drawing and writing skills, incorporating what I learned at the con.
Which, JB, is my way of saying that, while your reasons for putting con appearances behind you are certainly understandable, the time that you HAVE put in at conventions is very worthwhile, deeply appreciated--and does mean a great deal to many of us.
Some of the professionals whose advice, criticism and encouragement have really helped me learn: George Pratt, Mark Chiarello, Jim (yes, I know) Shooter, Len Wein, Roy Thomas, and many more.
This message has been edited by MarkLerer on Mar 31, 2004 5:29 PM
