Comic Artist Mike Mayhew Urges Fellow Artists to Skip Comic Cons and Sell Directly Online
By
Rich Johnston
Front-window bakery material. Catches the eye, delivers the goods.
Summary
Comic book artist Mike Mayhew argues that attending comic conventions is no longer financially viable for artists due to high costs (booth fees, travel, lodging) and declining sales. He advocates for a direct-to-consumer model through online studios and social media, where artists can retain more profits and control. Mayhew shares his own success with Mike Mayhew Studio, which sells exclusive variant covers and original art directly to fans. Other artists like Mark Brooks, Dan Panosian, and Dennis Barger join the discussion, sharing similar experiences and strategies for bypassing traditional convention circuits.
Key quotes
· 5 pulled'The math just doesn't work anymore. Between the booth fee, the travel, the hotel, the food, and the shipping of prints and original art, you're lucky to break even, let alone make a profit.'
'I realized I could reach more people in a single day through my online store than I could in an entire weekend at a convention.'
'The model is broken. Artists are being squeezed out of conventions by rising costs and diminishing returns. It's time to adapt or get left behind.'
'We've been conditioned to think that conventions are the only way to connect with fans and sell our work. That's simply not true anymore.'
'Social media and direct sales have completely changed the game. I can interact with collectors worldwide without ever leaving my studio.'
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