Artist Alley and Tabling advice for a newbie

[GabiWolf]

Hello everyone!
I wanted to get some insight on how to best use conventions and artist alley to get your name out there. I recently applied to a small local con for an artist alley table. My webcomics haven’t been out long enough to warrant printing them, and considering this is a small con, I mostly wanted to use it as marketing.
My question is, how to you use conversation to spread the word of your webcomic, and what items do you sell that isn’t a physical comic book. Also what items are a “must have” to come off as professional, and interest people.
Thank you in advance for any advice.

[sakebento]

Every time I come across an artist I like at a con, I find myself exceedingly devastated if they do not have a business card with their URLs and socials on it. Please have more than enough business cards at the front of the table for anyone to grab as they pass by.

And I know it's not what you asked, but as a side bit of advice: bring loooots of healthy snacks with you. Nutrition bars, mixed nuts, dried fruits, drinks, etc. It is way too easy to under-eat when you are running a table. You should be eating proper meals as well, but the snacks (and drinks!) will save you.

[Shanny8]

Make some small inexpensive prints, or some small DIY ashcan/comic that you can handout. The clencher- business cards. Like @sakebento said, if you have a nicely designed card, it helps toward customers remembering something about you.

[Iris-Grimoire]

I forgot the essentials list but basically:

• Business cards with all your links. The more the better. Also try to have them in a display big enough to show off both sides, someone always messes with the pile and makes it hard to notice.
• 50-100 dollars in change. It's ideal if you have something to allow credit cards, but if you can't afford it like in my situation, you want change for people who come in with a huge bill to get like one print.
• Both sugary and salty foods, and plenty of water. The food is more if you have some nutritional problem but it's also good to keep yourself awake as you see yourself lacking in either. People tend to avoid your table if you're dozing off even if you think you're fine.
• If you don't know the situation of your table, pillows or something to keep your seat comfortable. The chairs WILL fuck up your back, the question is just how much, adapt to that.
• Tall displays, things that glow like string lights or a decoration. It's good to look up picture reference and see what catches your eye first because that'll be the point of view of a buyer. Wire displays are the best for prints and stickers, but you also want boxes and smaller panels to lift up a book or something. Remember, if it's just laying on the table, it's invisible to the buyer.
• Tape, table cloth, clothespins, scissors. Again, if your table situation isn't clear, you want anything possible to make sure everything fits and you won't drop the whole display with one bad movement.
• If you've got funds, a big vertical banner to stay behind you and make a visible spot from afar. Be careful with it, every con I see one fall and hit another artist on the way down, one time that was me.

As for what to bring other than your book - what fits the book! Prints are a given(A3,A4 and A5 are best, but make sure there's table space to display a bunch), especially if you've got good fanart, but make sure to have one or more of your original work in case a fan goes to check it out. Stickers are also good, buttons and pins are a bit more expensive but more eye-catching, and people also like small previews that they can get for free and weird things that aren't sold by most artists(lanyards, charms, felt plushies, fridge magnets anything you think could be cool).

Another tip is to have some offer to get free stuff or a discount. As an example, last con I put up a drawing of a Pokémon and gave free prints to whoever guessed it. Tons of people came by just to try and guess and some bought more things that they noticed they wanted.

That's... A lot, but mostly what comes to mind since I recently went to a con last month. Always keep in mind you're not there to sell unless people already buy your stuff like crazy (I haven't made a profit since the only time I actually got paid to be there), it's to make other artist friends and create interest in your work.

[Beatrush]

Im fairly new to the con game myself but what I learned from the 2 cons I have done so far: (Im not gonna restate too much of what Iris-Grimoire already mentioned)

1 - Make sure you have at least $150 in change. As well, invest in a Square Reader with Tap for people who dont have cash
2 - Make sure you have business cards! Just have them in a pile on your table with something that says "take one". Make sure it has all your links and name. Have the other side have some sort of artwork.
3 - Bring snacks and water.
4 - Make a "BRB - Washroom" sign if you don't have someone who can cover for you
5 - Have a pitch, if someone asks what is your comic about, have a 30 second pitch you can explain what it is about
6 - If you have no physical version of the comic, print out some pages and put it in a binder for people to read and look at
7 - Don't hide behind your display, make sure people can see you
8 - If you can draw on physical media, do some sketches at the table. People like to stand and watch others draw
9 - Have some sort of gimmick to make your table stand out. I use a large cut out of my characters for my table. https://www.instagram.com/p/B2pNYRVl6tG/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
10 - Have a clear price lists and signs so if someone is shy, they can inquire about your prices without having to ask you
11 - Have a banner or two if you can afford it. If not, just hang your prints along the table
12 - Have some sort of headache medicine
13 - If you take commissions make sure you ask how long the person is planning on being at the con. As well, take down their info so you can get a hold of them later. Take payment upfront as well.
14 - If the con has a social media account, make sure to post photos and use any hashtags you can find pertaining to the con. I got a tons of people who had no idea who I was stopping by because they saw my photos searching the con's hashtags.

That's what I can remember off the top of my head.

[Buurd]

I has similar questions while going into my first (small) con, here's the thread with some tabling advice others passed along to me! https://forums.tapas.io/t/artist-alley-tips/31138

[inkycharland]

I was gonna link that thread.

[Iris-Grimoire]

Damn, I forgot entirely about table safety too! If you can't make friends with your table mates or everyone is far apart(I've seen people buy like 3 tables and be isolated entirely), take all your valuables with you when you leave for the washroom or lunch. It's unfortunate to suspect other artists on possibly stealing from you, but it's best to lose a print or decoration on a bad congoer instead of your change and documents.

[Beatrush]

Also another good practice is (and it may sound silly) use some kinda bike chain or whatever to lock your float(cash) to your table. I’ve heard countless stories of people having their money stolen because someone grabbed their bag while they were distracted helping other people.

Also anything valuable just take it back with you at the end of the day or bring a lock for your luggage/ storage container and lock it. Then lock it to the table with a chain or something