About Comic Con?

[endeserben]

Hey guys, I don't know if this is the best place to post this, but I've been having this doubt for about many days and I decided to ask here in case anyone knows something about this, or can contribute with their experiences.

So my doubt is:
Is it the same to attend as an aspiring comic book artist for a portfolio review to the NY comic con than to the San Diego comic con?

I´m asking because I'm planning to go to my first comic con next year and, as many guys, I'd like to apply for a portfolio review trying to make my break in. So,I would like to know if as an artist I could get the same opportunities and interviews at the NYCC that I could have at the San Diego CC.

It would be easier for me to go to the NY comic con than to the San Diego comic con, because I´d have much more time to save money for the trip, and also, there are so many places at NY that I would like to see during my stay in the city aside the Con. But, if there are more chances to get seen by editors etc, at the SDCC then I´ll be going there instead.

Sorry if this question seems stupid, but well, since it is going to be my first CC I'd like to get the most of it. So if anyone can help with an opinion or comment about your experiences or points of view, would be much appreciated!

Thanks guys!

[WillTurner]

Have you checked the site to see who is attending? If it is a company, artist or editor that you respect I don't see how it makes a difference. Good luck!

[endeserben]

Have you checked the site to see who is attending? If it is a company, artist or editor that you respect I don't see how it makes a difference. Good luck!

Thanks for answering Will, well I don't know now who will be attending, since I'll be able to go until the next year events (and there isn't info about the 2011 events yet).
And well, I think that the big two (DC, Marvel) would be there in both cons. But I'll like to know if the oportunities are the same, if could have similar chances to meet several publishers and editors in both cons, or if there are more publishers at one and fewer on the other.

Anyway, thanks a lot for taking time to answer to my post dude!

[Symson]

You will have the same chances at both.

[Eric Henson]

I agree. Just attend where you can and the possibilities (as far as comics) will be pretty standard across the board for these lager cons.

[Inkthinker]

Honestly, are the giant cons like SDCC even much use for portfolio review/editorial networking? The floor is insane, the crowds are ridiculous, and nobody should be expected to be able to give you their full attention.

The after-parties and impromptu drawing groups and such are better, but even there it's people on their off-time who probably just want to relax, and it may not be the best time to look for professional interaction.

I've never been to NYCC, but SDCC is more like a weekend theme park for media entertainment (with an emphasis on comics and comics-related properties), and not so much like a conference or convention that allows folks to interact effectively with professionals in the field.

[endeserben]

Thanks a lot for everyone who has taken their time to answer me. Based on what I'm reading here I could start thinking of a NYCC trip better than a SDCC. But if anyone else has something to say about this topic, would still be very helpfull!

Thanks everyone again!

[endeserben]

Honestly, are the giant cons like SDCC even much use for portfolio review/editorial networking? The floor is insane, the crowds are ridiculous, and nobody should be expected to be able to give you their full attention.

The after-parties and impromptu drawing groups and such are better, but even there it's people on their off-time who probably just want to relax, and it may not be the best time to look for professional interaction.

I've never been to NYCC, but SDCC is more like a weekend theme park for media entertainment (with an emphasis on comics and comics-related properties), and not so much like a conference or convention that allows folks to interact effectively with professionals in the field.

Hey Ink, this was very helpfull, thanks a lot for sharing your experience. Since I'll be going essentially for a portfolio review and to meet professionals and people inside the bussiness, I'm starting to think that maybe it would be better to go to the NYCC instead of the SDCC. I don't know how big and crwody the NYCC could be, but it seems somewhat easier trying to speak to professionals there.

Now I want to ask, have anyone ever gone to the NYCC?

Thanks!

[D.C.]

I've been to SDCC once and NYCC twice. At San Diego there was a portfolio review area for a few companies where you wrote down your name and waited to be called on. I spent an entire day just sitting and waiting there. Got reviewed by a couple companies (Dark Horse was very nice and quite helpful) while others used up their allotted time before even getting to where I was on the list. Had no luck just walking up to editors on the floor. They were too busy to take a look though at my stuff but did accept a business card and a couple wrote me back at a later time.

NYCC is extremely laid back by comparison. Of course the times I've been there were spent walking around on a Sunday morning (after having a review with Tokyo Pop someone hooked me up with) and spent a Friday afternoon manning a table in artist alley.

I know for both DC requires you attend an orientation before you even have a chance to be reviewed. Not sure if Marvel does the same thing.

[endeserben]

NYCC is extremely laid back by comparison. Of course the times I've been there were spent walking around on a Sunday morning (after having a review with Tokyo Pop someone hooked me up with) and spent a Friday afternoon manning a table in artist alley.

I know for both DC requires you attend an orientation before you even have a chance to be reviewed. Not sure if Marvel does the same thing.

So, based on your experience, do you recomend to attend to the NYCC instead of the SDCC?
I've read about that orientation of DC, I think it's about letting you know that not anybody is ready for breaking in, or something like that. I think they gave it at the first day of the con, isn't it?

Anyway, thanks a lot for your response, it also has been very helpfull.

[Deth]

your better off going to a smaller con

if you want to improve then SDCC is awesome. get good crits from hundreds of artists.

but getting an editor to take a good look at your work is hard

[dfbovey]

Yeah, I got a full 20 minutes from Joe Quesada at Pitt con. Where I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been able to even see the dude in San Diego.

[Inkthinker]

San Diego was a great place to meet other artists, for certain. Just not a good place to meet editors.

[Symson]

Your experience has been very different than mine Inkthinker. Even before SDCC set up the Portfolio Review areas and DC and Marvel set up their own systems to get portfolios reviews by registering, I've never had a problem seeing who I intended to see.

[Inkthinker]

Oh I had no trouble seeing people, just trouble having any sort of meaningful interaction.

As I said, it's a little better after-hours, but then you're impinging upon someone's leisure time, and that's tricky business that varies from one person to the next. I'm told it's much easier at just about every convention outside of SDCC. I've had no problem talking to people at Dragon*Con or MegaCon or APX, but at SDCC it's crazy-time.

It's still a totally worthwhile trip, if only because everyone is there and you never know what might happen. But I wouldn't go to SDCC expecting anything other than a four-day circus.