WonderCon 2025 -- Set up and SNB at the show (updated 4.4.25)

 Set up starts weeks and months ahead... with selecting books especially for each event, and packing them up for delivery. There's also lots of behind the scenes work making signs and configuring fixtures. Stuart oversees all of it.

For WonderCon, the on-site set-up occurs all day on Thursday. Friday morning is also busy with the exhibitors who load in that day. As exhausting as a convention can be for attendees, seeing it as an exhibitor extends those long hours and the commitment. Yes, it's fun... but also lots of hard work with few breaks. Essentials for exhibitors include some sort of wheeled carts, water and snacks. And a booth helper! Doing a show solo is sometimes unavoidable, but try to enlist help when you can. At least get outside of the exhibition hall a few times a day. Fresh air and sunshine!

If you exhibit at the same shows, you may be lucky to develop a community of friends and colleagues. Sometimes these events are the only chance you'll have all year to see each other. Even over a con of many days, finding that time is difficult, but worth it.

Here are some examples of tables that were set up on Thursday. Even when your table is closed, you can use signage etc to promote your brand.

Early on, it was just Stuart and me setting up at book fairs (remember those? In the pre-internet days). By the time we were selling at conventions, we had helpers. Now, Stuart has both store team and helpers that assist with specific conventions. He still does a lot of lifting and driving himself. And we've had nearly 30 years of this. Clients come to the booth to see Stuart and ask him about books and artists, as well as buy books at the booth. Starting this year, Stuart will be at conventions, but there may be fewer books. The website and physical store in Torrance are more efficient ways for Stuart to sell books. Hauling boxes of books in and out of convention halls is wear and tear on people as well as merchandise. 

Here are some views right before the show opened..

Here are some items Stuart featured at this year's WonderCon booth...

"Draw Stronger: Self-Care for Cartoonists and Visual Artists" by Kriota Willberg below is a book Stuart found in New York when he attended the Printed Matter's New York Art Book Fair. Stuart described this event as "the old APE in NYC. 

This "Draw Stronger" book is fantastic. The author is an artist and the book is step-by-step instructions for exercises that help prevent injuries associated with long hours at drawing tables/sitting. The author emphasizes the need to consult with medical professionals (she is a massage therapist, part of a group of exercise therapists she explains can help treat, but can't diagnose). Stuart is selling copies at WonderCon. 

UPDATE 4.4.25 -- Now on the SNB website: https://stuartngbooks.com/products/draw-stronger-self-care-for-cartoonists-and-other-visual-artists-68802.

Below is the Moebius area of the booth getting set up.. along with a poster from Stuart's last France trip.

Here's the booth after the show opened to attendees..

WonderCon at Anaheim is a favorite show for me because it's close to home.

Update 3.30.25 -- here are some photos of the booth from the SNB Facebook page:

WonderCon 2025 -- shopping the show. Support what sustains you. (Updated 4.4.25)

Here are some of the items I purchased at this show, as well as links for the artists.

First, the new-to-me discoveries from this year...

Tworgis https://tworgis.com/

The very smart merchandising at this booth caught my eye. 

Charming prints. Practical merchandise well displayed to showcase and sample. Cohesive booth branding. Very smart use of their endcap/aisle exposure. 

The hard-to-find features on these crossbody bags -- sturdy, smooth action zippers and multiple practical pockets literally stopped me in my tracks to look further. 

The customer service was also exceptional. Knowledge about the products, brought out additional patterns, referred to website for more options. 

Artists hate to sell --- but it's an essential skill. Customer service at a con provides vital interaction with your clients. Building a brand and customer base that wants to support you is the best way to fight back against Art Theft, unauthorized use of your designs by fly-by-night online 3rd party vendors who you'll never whack-a-mole away even with legal help, and now, pervasive use of AI generated images. Yikes! Don't get discouraged. Get in touch with your clients. Feedback at a show helps you connect with your audience and produce items you are proud of and they want to purchase. 

Another great example of successful brand building is this table that caught my eye... 

Flora Makes Me Smile https://www.floramakesmesmile.com/

We all need more joy in our lives right now. This little table in Artist's Alley was exploding with it. The more I chatted with artist Giada Conte, the more I was intrigued by the history of her brand and the mission she's on. You can read more here: https://www.floramakesmesmile.com/origin-story

She's an art teacher too... so there's lots to explore on her website. And she has books: https://www.floramakesmesmile.com/books

Here are some of the charming items from her table that I'll be sending to friends soon.

And of course, WonderCon is a chance for me to shop longtime favorites..

Karen Hallion https://www.karenhallion.com/

This table photo is from Karen's Facebook page:

I'm a fan of her art ... and her passion for educating artists and her fans. She is art in action -- raising awareness for human rights issues. Her book is awesome! https://www.karenhallion.com/thesheseriesbook

I purchased several of her "Support Human Artists" pins. I wore mine and gave the others to artist friends at the show. You can see this pin and many more by her on her Etsy page 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1803367422/ai-art-is-theft-enamel-pin?ref=shop_home_active_16&sts=1&logging_key=cfe1826738b8d803bd7e2c9ba7539da9b394fe98%3A1803367422

The Little Red House https://www.thelittleredhouse.co/

My pen pals love these adorable cards and stickers. Please note how the website is on the back of the card. Blank greeting cards.. with artist info on the back.. are a great way to share a small art gift. And introduce others to artists whose work sustains you.

Update 4.4.25

Boston Metaphysical Society https://www.queenofmercia.com/about/

Here's a pic from their Facebook page. This table is always a stand-out in the Small Press area. 

Author Madeleine Holly-Rosing's gripping comics saga combines real-life historical characters with an amazing "X-files" type story in a steampunk-esque setting. More on her website: https://www.queenofmercia.com/

Madeleine always hires outstanding artists for the covers, interior art etc for her books! 

Real art by real artists. 

It's important that authors and other creators protect everyone's creative rights by working together. These choices matter. 

Never settle.. as a collector or a creator... for AI generated image covers etc. 

Madeleine is also known for her awesome Kickstarter campaigns. She literally wrote the book (and gave many workshops) on how to run a great Kickstarter: https://www.queenofmercia.com/books/kickstarter-for-the-independent-creator/

Check out her latest project here:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mhollyrosing/morgana-pendragon-1?ref=8uy6nu

Help Your Local Library

Did you know Local Libraries exhibit at conventions?? I picked up these from the tables for the Anaheim Public Library https://www.instagram.com/anaheimlibrary/?hl=en

and the Orange County Library. https://www.ocpl.org/

I always check the exhibitor listings for libraries. It's good to stop by and chat with the staff. Let them know they are appreciated. I asked what we can all do to help libraries. Go to local city government meetings and speak in support of your local library. I've been to many City Council meetings in Torrance. There is always an open forum time at the beginning of the meeting for the public to address the City Council regarding items that are NOT on the agenda for that particular meeting. That's the perfect time to speak up with praise and support for city services. These meetings are always important.. but they can be tedious, and often cantankerous. Being there to address your local city government as a voice with gratitude will be welcome, and important for the city services (library or whatever) that you find essential. 

You can also connect with the "Friends of the Library" for your local branch. They host fundraisers, and can assist with donations of cash and/or books.

WonderCon 2025 -- Trends, observations, and cosplay! (updated 3.30.25)

(UPDATE -- reports are by Saturday the crowds returned, and lines were longer. Sunday had some unexpected morning rain! Another observation -- even though the crowds returned on Saturday, WonderCon continues to be a convention that is particularly well-designed to accommodate folks with mobility issues/devices. There are special automated entry doors w/ attendants for ease of access to the exhibition hall. The size of the hall means wider aisles and more open areas in general. San Diego Comic Con and WonderCon have always made sincere and effective efforts to be disability friendly.)

With just one day attending WonderCon on Friday, I was busy making the rounds to see artists and colleagues who are also longtime friends. Sadly, I didn't take many photos. I was visiting their booths and tables during moments when they weren't busy with customers. Which is a good problem to have. No one takes on the expenses of a convention -- housing, transport, food and exhibitor space -- hauls in merch, and works long days far beyond show hours, just to sit there. 

I was especially glad to see vendors busy because of the unusual, ample open space in the aisles most everywhere on Friday. The sales I saw happening indicated there was a buying public at this show. But not the aisles jammed with crowds I expected to encounter. When the first day of a convention falls on a weekday, naturally attendance will be lower. Peak days will always be Saturday and Sunday. Still, the space in the hall aisleways on Friday made this WonderCon very attendee friendly. It was rare to see lines in areas that are usually packed.... for coffee, food, restrooms etc. There were only a few times I encounter bottlenecks in the aisles. 

This year... I even saw empty booths and tables. Towards the end of the day, some spare chairs were placed near the supporting columns in the exhibition hall. A place for attendees to sit down inside the hall... especially at the end of the day... is a rare treat!

We've been exhibiting at cons since 1998, and attending even before that. I've seen the conventions grow.. and then explode into a pop culture fixture. There are still comic book dealers at shows, but over the decades the demographics of con attendees and exhibitors have changed. 

A trend I watched grow over the years was attendees clamoring for "con exclusives" -- usually a plastic toy or collectible that you had to stand in line to get a wristband for.. then stand in another line to get. (Many times, these Con Exclusives are purchased only be sold later at premium prices online). That trend was followed by the popularity of "mystery boxes" -- paying a set fee for a box of unknown items. Obtaining these trend-driven purchases kept people in lines for hours... an all day commitment that prevented them from attending programming or shopping the other vendors. Another factor that drew attendees away from the exhibition hall floors was the increase in star power at industry-sponsored panels. This WonderCon lacked any of those lines from what I observed. The longest line I saw was for an artist signing. Below is a very large booth selling mystery boxes (photo below was taken on Friday before the show opened to the public).

This next photo near one of the entrances to the exhibition hall shows a legacy convention interest (the National Cartoonists Society Booth on the right) across the aisle from a recent trend (another booth from the "mystery box" vendor) 

Artist signings continue to be popular. Friday is a great day to see artists as the lines aren't as long, so there's a chance to have more time for fan visits. Artists and publishers will post appearances online. For crowd control, the line will often be against a wall, or down the middle of an aisle, with fans advancing to the table/signing area in smaller groups.

Cosplay is the con staple that has captured the public's imagination. I always look forward to the creative artistry on display in this fandom. WonderCon attracts lots of marvelous cosplayers! I've always appreciated the research, talent and time commitment re-creating costumes requires. These fans have an infectious respect for and delight in the characters they pay homage to. After every con, you can usually find wonderful galleries of cosplay photos online. Saturday is always the best day to see the most elaborate cosplay. I see a lot more cosplay than I can ever capture.. but here are a few fun photos...

I wish I got a better photo of this cosplayers elaborate "Glinda" costume from "Wicked" -- wow, the detail, and the volume of the skirt!

Below is a popular pairing -- young Anakin with Darth Vader..

Sometimes cosplayer groupings are intentional..

Sometimes they are fun random encounters...

While not exactly cosplay, groups that build and operate remote control droids are fan favorites too..

I didn't realize until the end of the day on Friday that one of my favorite actors from The Mandalorian was making a personal appearance at WonderCon! 

Emily Swallow brings so much gravitas to The Armorer. (She is the voice and performance actor. Lauren Mary Kim does the stunts). The Armorer is a wise female warrior character -- a figure of moral and cultural authority the other characters look up to.  We got so few female role model characters when I was a young Star Wars fan. Seeing many of them take on their own franchises now, or be vital supporting players, makes me grateful. I didn't get a chance to get any closer than this to Emily (she's the one wearing a hat) ... but I was glad to see fans appreciating her.

Actor autographs and meet-and-greets are a very popular attraction at conventions.

WonderCon 2025 -- Program and Perks near the Convention Center

 WonderCon 2025 had an interesting vibe on the one day I was able to attend. 

But let's start with the basics. Here's the official program cover..

The welcome page from the organizers...

Info on one of the show highlights..

The Program also has all the programing for all three days, advertisements, and of course, the map of the exhibition hall

I highlighted the SNB booth 1500..

The logistics for attendees and exhibitors are so much easier at WonderCon than SDCC. March weather means sometimes rain, but usually mild and slighter cooler So Cal days that help the cosplayers. Inside the hall, the crowds don't overwhelm the capacity of the convention center. That's an ongoing problem at SDCC, where attendee tickets sell out in a blink. There are ample hotel options in Anaheim, including the massive Hilton and Marriott facilities just steps away from the show. During WonderCon, the exterior entry way features a line of food trucks.

There is shaded seating nearby the trucks. The food trucks are popular grab-and-go options as well. If you prefer a break from the crowds... both the Hilton and Marriott have large, coffeehouse/market cafes to enjoy. As well as hotel full service restaurants (at full service prices). Usually... the lines for all of these options can be quite long. However, at least on Friday, there was rarely a wait.

Here's a view of the Hilton Starbucks. It's a cozy, darker decor, enclosed environment that opens out to the lobby but has no windows. There's also sofa and chair seating just outside the doors to the left in this photo.

The Marriott "Marketplace" has more sunlight, to-go meals and snacks, and serves Starbucks coffee. 

This cafe has indoor seating under some opaque skylights in a hallway, and a few tables near large windows or on an outdoor (often VERY WINDY) patio.

The open courtyard at the convention center entrance is a popular gathering place for cosplayers. There's also a garden area nearby with shady trees and lots of benches.

This elegant, kind Loki projected character-perfect affectionate distain...

These next 3 pics capture a "screen-ready" level Wookie approaching the convention center, and being stopped for photos..

The weather for this WonderCon was convention perfect -- partly cloudy to sunny skies with highs in the upper 60s. 

xxxx