One of the things that had struck me in the past was how much more gender balanced the MoCCA show was (is) than any other comic related event I have ever attended. Also, the material does more to promote comics as an art form than any other show too.

The armory is certainly a more convenient location than the Puck Building. The last time I went to the show at the Puck Building it was obvious that MoCCA had already outgrown it’s space and was in need of a larger venue.

It seems to me what everyone seems to be talking about comes down to the organizers being overwhelmed - surely insuring the surroundings are conducive to leisurely browsing is part and parcel of hosting such an event. I think maybe next year the organizers should contact someone in the NYC government and ask for assistance in securing the proper venue because the city has as much of a stake in MoCCA growing as the organizers do.

Isn’t there a place over on 18th by 6th that might be a better spot?

You’re focusing too much on the “industry” part of “people getting together to celebrate this industry,” and ignoring the “people” part of it…

“I’ll make an imperfect comparison, all of the particulars of which touch on problems this year: You can serve the best food in the world at your restaurant, but if someone can’t get a table or reservation easily and can’t be sure of the opening hours or find their table once they get there or a waiter to help, and if it’s so hot that they want to get out even before the appetizer is served, they will almost certainly not linger today and will find another place to eat tomorrow. Again, no matter how good the food is. To take the restaurant comparison a bit further, many will decide to order carry-out (i.e. dash in to pick up Asterios Polyp or listen to Seth talk or see what Bries brought or…) but will leave as soon as possible. And will they come back?”

THIS.

No matter how much the “mainstream” may stereotype us, comic fans are still human beings. That means we have human bodies and human feelings, and since we can’t attend events like MoCCA without bringing our bodies in with us we’ll feel physical things like “ugh, it’s too hot!” as well as intellectual things like “wow, this comic is awesome!”

Hey, if you don’t want people to notice the physical comfort or lack thereof at an event, make it an online event instead of expecting people to physically show up to the thing.

But even though I have a high tolerance for heat, I was actively uncomfortable throughout both days this year. Had my wife attended, she would have stepped inside and immediately said “Too hot. I’m leaving.” And then she would have left, and not looked at a single comic or bought a single t-shirt or admired a single print. Nothing. She likes comics and shirts and prints, but she’s not crazy — there are other things to do in NYC on a pleasant day. Pleasant on the outside, anyway.

I’ll make an imperfect comparison, all of the particulars of which touch on problems this year: You can serve the best food in the world at your restaurant, but if someone can’t get a table or reservation easily and can’t be sure of the opening hours or find their table once they get there or a waiter to help, and if it’s so hot that they want to get out even before the appetizer is served, they will almost certainly not linger today and will find another place to eat tomorrow. Again, no matter how good the food is. To take the restaurant comparison a bit further, many will decide to order carry-out (i.e. dash in to pick up Asterios Polyp or listen to Seth talk or see what Bries brought or…) but will leave as soon as possible. And will they come back?

So, organization and planning and atmosphere (in all senses of the word) matter, and they affect both attendees and exhibitors. In fact, I worry more about the former than I do about the latter. I know I will be back — the good outweighed the bad by a large margin. Always does. But I didn’t pre-pay for 2010: Given the problems this year, there was too harsh a suite of cancellation penalties for not even knowing the dates of next year’s show. Again, planning. I have to do it too.

I had a great time this past weekend, I love exhibiting at MoCCA, and I look forward to doing so again. The problems are real, and shouldn’t be downplayed, but they’re fixable, and I’m optimistic that they will be fixed.

Of course we read the Beat in Denmark - is there anywhere else you can get news

The names of the two Danes are Thomas Thorhauge (on the left), who just had his latest GN “Kom Hjem” (Come Home) published here in Denmark. The other guy I’m not quite sure of, but I believe it should be Steffen P. Maarup.

See you in San Diego!

And may I further suggest that, if you’ve got the time and energy, please volunteer your services in the organization and operation of next year’s festival? I know I’m considering it. The person to talk to for that apparently is Liz Gorinksky at volunteers@moccany.org

The price of the show is what’s more relevant to what’s being shown there. If you can’t afford the table, you can’t exhibit.

it is a shoddily run, overpriced show in a bad facility.

But it was hot and next year is too expensive for me. Also I almost was unable to attend this year as I couldn’t find out the day soon enough to book an international flight at a reasonable rate. If MoCCA wants to have more international attendees this is a problem.

San Diego and HeroesCon bent over backwards to help me but half the time with MoCCA I didn’t receive an e-mail response to my questions. In the more immediate lead-up, information was more forthcoming.

I had a GREAT time, I would hate to miss out on next year, but financially it may become just too much of a stretch for me. Hopefully they read this and take it to heart.

I did like that all the tables where in one large open space this year though, even if it did seem sort of flea-markety.

New York has many indie friendly comic shops who carry most of the NYC crowd’s stuff; if NYers want my stuff they get it at Hanley’s or FB or wherever, making the MoCCA Fest a wash for us. I do it because I’ve been a MoCCA exhibitor and supporter since its inception. Hell, two Team 12 members had their wedding at MoCCA! We consider the museum a treasure. That said, my loyalty has limits, and $400 a table is pushing it. If next years show is as badly managed as the last two, and still has the complete lack of resources (no AC, no advertising, terrible web presence and again, more then one trash can) I’m jumping ship and taking any exhibitors I can convince with me.

Presumably they get a table that faces onto the main flow of convention traffic, and not down some abandoned hallway toward the loading dock or something.

I am surprised that creators and self publishers are not in a position to have a promotional budget for this kind of excellent opportunity for exposure. But I do understand that some of the hand made comics and 50 cent mini comics are labours of love, and every cent that is spent creating and selling them is coming from someone’s own meager after-tax income, or subsidized by loans from loved ones.

Thanks for making me more aware of the financial realities of this activity.

And yeah, I’m one who thinks they should’ve stayed at the Puck.

But I also agree with those saying $400+ makes it no longer a small press friendly show. A real shame because the festival started as NY’s answer to the cancelled 2001 Small Press Expo. You really need to have some graphic novels, t-shirts, toys etc to make back that kind of investment. –But personally, if the increase in table costs goes toward central air I’d probably say it’s worth it. Health over profits!

Breaks my heart.

brian w