Okay, so as you all know, I’m planning on going to ConnectiCon this year. I’m not gonna be set up anywhere, I’m just going there as a fan. Mostly, what I’m doing is checking out how other people set up to see how I should try and do things. I’ve never been to a con before, mostly because I don’t read comics (I read a few webcomics, but that’s still only about 26 or so), so I really have no idea what to expect.
That doesn’t bother me. People cosplaying or LARPing outside won’t bother me, either. Hell, I will probably laugh my ass off if someone starts screaming “Lightning Bolt! Lightning Bolt!” while throwing a crumpled up napkin. However, I am nervous about how I’m supposed to present myself to people. As someone still trying to get a foothold in the webcomic world, I haven’t really had practice interacting with fans. Sure, a couple of e-mails here and there, but nothing face-to-face. I don’t take a compliment well at all, so if someone told me they really liked my comic, my default response would be “Why? Is it really any good?”
Moreso, I don’t really know how to present myself to other comickers. It’s simple enough to talk with people over Twitter, but it’s another thing entirely meeting someone in person. Is it rude to introduce myself as a fellow comicker rather than a fan if I go to someone’s table, or is that the right thing to do as it gets my name out there? Should I get the list of everyone who is going to be there and read all of their comics? Right now, it’s tough because as I said, I only read 26 comics, and I think there are only going to be five of them there.
Also, looking at both this and the New York con in October, there are a few people who I know through Twitter that will be at these events. The thought of introducing myself to them scares the hell outta me. I haven’t met alot of famous people, and the only one recently was Brandom DiCamillio from Jackass/cKy/Viva la Bam. Meeting him though wasn’t the same. I was meeting him purely as a fan, nothing more. Now I need to try and introduce myself to people who, not only do I read their comics, but they read mine.
Anyways, I’m done ranting. Any advice please leave it in the comments section. Thanks.
