So I'm an illustrator that's been trying to get comic book work

So I'm an illustrator that's been trying to get comic book work.

My boyfriend is very supportive and tries to find opportunities for me, but sometimes his plans are unrealistic.

So today, he tells me that Kevin Smith is signing at his comic book store for free comic book day tomorrow. But it's only for the first 150 fans that show up and buy his comic bundle to get signed by him.

The comic book shop is a 40 min drive from where we live.

The signing itself starts at 12pm, but lining up for the signing starts at 8am. My boyfriend thinks I should go to the signing with the chance of giving my business card and comic zine I made to give to Kevin Smith.

I tell him this is an unrealistic situation, and that I dont want to wake up at the crack of dawn, drive 40 min to stand online at 8am and then have to wait another 4 hours to meet Kevin Smith, with no guarantee I'd be even able to network with him. Even if I do give him my card, there is no guarantee I'd be contacted by him to hook me up with any of his comic connections.

I try to explain this to my boyfriend, and he just keeps thinking I'm missing out on an opportunity. He also thinks I don't appreciate him trying to help me. I'm just looking at the logistics of a networking opportunity actually happening from this.

It's not that I don't appreciate him trying to help me, because I do, but I just don't think this is a good opportunity. Especially one that requires waiting in line for at least 4 hours.

How can I get my boyfriend to listen to reason? Now he's being moody, saying he doesn't give a fuck, and says he won't try to help me anymore

Attached: kelcy.jpg (300x466, 22K)

>this is an unrealistic situation
Yes.
>I dont want to wake up at the crack of dawn, drive 40 min to stand online at 8am and then have to wait another 4 hours
Dude what. It's nothing compared to the chance it might work. You're right that it's very unlikely but at the very worst you'd just lose a day (considering you'll be a groggy fuck later), which seems like a fair price for a big chance.
>saying he doesn't give a fuck, and says he won't try to help me anymore
What do you expect? He's trying to help while you're being painfully lazy and don't seem driven enough. Have you even considered that maybe he isn't the one who's wrong?

If you are really passionate about your work a 4 hour wait in line witht the chance of skyrocketing your careershould be nothing.

I see your point but I also get his frustration. I worked as an illustrator and quit because it IS a job you need to bust your ass for. I don't think he's wrong, he probably knows as well as most that your field requires max effort and taking those slim chances.

Also I used to be a broke fuck and my ex used to have to take more of the financial burden. I wonder if your BF is upset due to the fact that he knows this is indefinite unless you make it big.

I know it is a field that you need to bust your ass for, because I’ve been in this situation before too many times. I’ve given my card to other established comic artists at artist alleys, I’ve gone to portfolio reviews at comic cons, I’ve given cards and comic zines to editors and publishers, only to never hear back. I went to the damn Joe Kubert School and didn’t get jobs through that. I know a colleague who is an editor at Dynamite Comics and when I emailed or messaged him for work, he never answered back.

I’ve just come to the conclusion that my art isn’t good enough for the comic industry. I’ve had my hopes struck down too many times, and I don’t think this event would be any different from the others. I’m better off focusing on bettering my portfolio and learn skills in another field that will give me a job with a steady income in the meantime. I also decided to go back to a traditional college to earn a degree to help me become more employable as a backup plan.

It’s not that I haven’t gotten commissions, but the jobs are few and far in between. I will never give up on my goals, but this industry is brutal and work is not always guaranteed, so I need to be realistic.

Sounds like he believes in your dreams more than you do, and is sad for you that you're giving up on them. Cut him some slack, it's nice to have an encouraging partner

HE IS TRYING TO HELP YOU!

Statistically, you're correct. The odds are out of your favor, but what magical and strenuous heights are you willing to jump to to get your stuff noticed? If 5 hours is too much effort to expand your options, then you should've given up long ago (that's going to sound more harsh than I really mean it to be).

Be honest, what's the extent of your efforts to get work otherwise?

Staying in your own bubble of social media accounts, strewn across several different sites, until someone comes to you?

That wasn't meant to come off as condescending, but the point is still stated. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY! TAKE IT!

Read
I have met many comic editors, artists and publishers. I even had a table at New York Comic Con 3 years ago and met Dave Gibbons

I have an acquaintance who works at Dynamite Comics as an editor. I asked him at a con if he was looking for new artists. He asks me to email him my work, and I get no response.

It’s hard to stay hopeful when you’re turned down or ghosted so much

OP you're either gonna have to quit like I did or just keep busting your ass.

Honestly our recommendation seems to be to go to this thing. Further get off Jow Forums and go draw from life/reference images.

You got your advice, now you can do what you will with it.

>It’s hard to stay hopeful when you’re turned down or ghosted so much
That's the artist life yo.

As i see you dont even want this shit bad enough so you will never have great success actually your bf wants you to be successful more than you lmao

OP here

Maybe I should also clarify I am also a college student with 4 projects due in the next two weeks while preparing for an artist alley next Saturday. I also am in the midst of taking on a children's book job that costs $1500

So
>You're right that it's very unlikely but at the very worst you'd just lose a day (considering you'll be a groggy fuck later)

If I waste a day due to a chance that may not happen, I am going to be severely pissed about having my time wasted.

Its ironic my boyfriend was the one who persuaded me to go back to college. He knows how vicious this industry is and told me I needed to thinking up a back up plan.

Not OP, but how would one even network at an event like this.

Let's say OP does go to this event and meet Kevin Smith. Assuming theres a bunch of other people standing online to get there shit signed, how would one initiate that they're an artist and ask Kevin if he knows anyone who could give them work in an autograph line without any awkwardness.

I ask because I'm also an artist who goes to comic shows and stuff to network, but I'm socially retarded when it comes to specific situations. I've wanted to talk to Seth Green at a con and network, but it was an autograph line, so I felt super awkward about holding up the line or something.

Protip: what your job is is not art, your main job is actually marketing. Art is what you sell, but your main job is marketing yourself. You need to be out in the public doing things, networking, meeting other artists, other artists who have "made it," and shilling them, and yourself to them, relentlessly. Shill Shill Shill. Someday, one of those artists is going to be asked at work if they know anyone who could use some work coloring or some shit. Who do you think they will choose? Some person with some talent? Or some person with some talent who has also been shilling for them on social media saying how great they are, supporting their projects, met in person, maybe even bought their merch? The second, of course. Just like that, you have your first pro gig. Once you've got that foot in the door, baby you're set.

SO MANY jobs in music, art, and "the industry" (as we call the film industry in LA) are gained that way. I imagine in all sorts of other businesses too, in one way or another. Creative industries depend so much on exposure though, that giving someone in those industries free exposure is a big deal, and can be rewarded.

That plan is stupid as hell. But I think the real reason your bf is upset is that you didn’t take him seriously. Did you actually tell him you appreciate his help? Is there a pattern of you dismissing him when he tries to help?

Hi, big fans.
I want you to read this if it's okay.

Great, here's how you can contact me.
Let me know if you hate it or love it.
Thank you.

Or,
No? It's okay. Thanks anyway.
Can i still take a picture with you?
Ok.

see? only take seconds.

People don't hate people that wanted to success.
He will probably help you.
Unless he's in a bad mood recently or that he's just an asshole.
Either way, no loss just trying.

I was more asking about, as an artist, how would I initiate giving a big name director or editor my business card?

In my case, I'm not only looking for comic work, but I've been building a storyboard portfolio to get storyboard work in the film or animation industry. Assuming a director has connections to these things, how would I bring up the fact I'm looking for storyboard work when meeting a director in an autograph line..?

you don't.
Nobody have time for people like you.
It's cute to help someone to start their career.
But it's not cute to help someone to find a job.
What is there in it?

Think of it this way.
Put yourself in their shoe.
Some no name idiot that can't even find a job is here to asks you to do the job searching for them.
I assume they are either a talentless idiot, or a leech that depends on others to solve their problems each and every day.
What a bunch of scums.
I don't want to have anything to do with them.

Isn't that exactly what OP was asking about though? OP said her boyfriend told her to go to this event with the purpose of meeting Kevin Smith, to network and give him her business card. Everyone said she should do it. So here I am asking how to approach that kind of networking in a similar kind of situation at a con, and I'm told not to do that..? I'm confused

Hey OP, I know this is unrelated, but as a writer how do I find comic illustrators looking to collaborate on projects together outside of school?

Hey guys, OP here again. I've somewhat mended things with my boyfriend.

It's going to pour tomorrow, but if I try waking up early enough, I'll see if I can make it to the event. It's not that I'm lazy. I have a tendency to get overwhelmed easily, and need to plan shit out way in advance or I'll feel totally disorganized and mentally exhausted. Combine that mentality with the fact I've been turned down in past similar situations, and I'll feel like the idea of going is pointless. But if I have the strength to get up early, and if the weather isn't too bad, I'll try to make it to the signing.

If I do meet Kevin Smith, I'm not really sure how to network with him once I'm in line though. I also suffer from social anxiety when meeting people, so I have tend to worry about first impressions.

Depends on the project itself.

If it's a graphic novel that's at least 100 pages long, it's going to turn artists away because that's at least 5 months of work. If it's a shorter project, no longer than 20 pages, then I'd spread word out on social media sites like Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, etc.

I believe Facebook has a Comic Artist/Writer networking group if you're specifically looking for comic artists.

There's also work-for-hire freelance sites like Upwork. I've gotten a few illustration gigs through there, although clients can be very hit or miss.

The other option is to sell your written work to a publisher, and let them hire an artist.

Hope I helped!