So, this weekend is Comicon weekend in my old stomping grounds of Phoenix, AZ as the Phoenix Comicon 2010 opens it’s doors and puts out the call to arms to geeks the world over. And, as I look at all the excited chatter online from fans and pros alike, I can’t help myself from thinking “I remember when Phoenix Cactus (oh yeah, there used to be a Cactus in there) Comic Con was a 500 attendee 6-hour show; now it’s this 3.5 day behemoth that’s spawned 2 more shows and looks like it’s gonna keep growing. That’s so crazy and awesome.” Now, you’re probably wondering why I care. “Dane,” you say to me, “you’re a moderately successful sketch-card artist, and burgeoning illustrator with a line of greeting cards and a new book to your name. You’ve been to more than a dozen comic conventions all over the US – why does the success of one convention open the nostalgia glands in your brain so wide?” Well, the answer is somewhat complicated. Yes, I have been to many cons and shows as an artist, but as an artist who does these shows let me tell you something: you never forget your first. For me, that first was Phoenix Comicon, and I can safely say that if it weren’t for PCC, Monkey Minion Press wouldn’t exist in the form it now does.
A little history for you: For 4 years, Phoenix Comicon was originally Phoenix Cactus Comic Con (or, PCCC) an itinerant half day comic-themed flea market show that barely drew 500 people. It was a nice little diversion for a geek on his way to the comic shop or, with nothing else better to do with a Sunday afternoon. I learned of this show by accident (maybe a small article online somewhere?) my first year in Phoenix and decided to head on over to Glendale to check it out. (Keep in mind at this point, I was merely a nerd with few aspirations toward doing art the way I do now.) So Ashlie and I drove over to the show, and got in and took in the show. After a couple of hours, a win in the art contest, and a few guest no-shows, we’d pretty much exhausted the entertainment possibilities of PCCC, so we headed home. Before we headed out the door, though, we signed up to possibly help out at future shows, because we were new in town, and thought it might be a good way to meet new people with similar interests. All in all, my first comic convention was ok, but I was a little let down.
Fast forward to a few months later, and I get an email from Erik, the volunteer coordinator about a “volunteer meet and greet” at a local sandwich shop. So we go. We meet Matt, the organizer, Rick, his right hand, and a bunch of people who came to talk about what the con can do better but aren’t really interested in actually volunteering and a few people who are. As the meet and greet wraps up, Matt lets drop that the Staff for the con is meeting a few weeks later at a coffee shop nearby and anyone who is interested in ‘helping out a little more’ should swing by. So, Ashlie and I decide “Sure, why not?” At this point, I feel that I should mention that Ashlie’s just kind of tagging along, but is supportive of my desire to be useful and comes along anyway. I don’t think she really intended to get too involved… So we meet the staff – it consists of 5 or 6 people at this point in time, one of whom leaves for MN very shortly afterward. I’m like a 16 year old with his first job I’m so excited; it turns out that my limited skill set is not of much use as the con already has a design/advertising director, so, I become the Guide coordinator and promotions coordinator. It is learned that Ashlie, however, is all kinds of useful with background in writing, editing and web maintenance, and she becomes the content coordinator for everything the con puts out. LOL! For that year, we worked our butts off with Joe, Gareth, Cinda, Matt, Cira, Eric, and the rest of our ragtag band of con staffers and put on the first and best 2-day comic extravaganza AZ had yet seen. It was a proud moment.The next year, I stepped back from staff as I decided I was going to try to make a go at this art thing. I joined the AZCBA and we put up a table at the 2007 show where we did sketches for charity donations.The next 2 years, I had my own table. PCC was the first show I ever set up a table at, and if I hadn’t worked for the show that first year, I probably never would have set up at all.
And the rest, as they say is history. Since 2006, I’ve been at the PCC as either a volunteer or as an artist. It’s a little weird for me not to be going this year. However, I know it’ll still be an awesome show, for everyone involved.