Birmingham International Comic Show 2009

[Abigail Ryder]

A way off I know, but I was wondering who might be interested in getting another table for the collective at this year's BICS? Dave and I will definitely be up for it. How many of you lovely chaps would consider joining in?

[Tom Swingler]

Well Jaime and I will be there as usual. Its one of the best UK cons.
Probably not on the table side of thing but we would be willing to help out behind the scenes (If anyone need stuff transporting down and the like).

[Adam Cadwell]

Me.

[Chris Doherty]

Count me in again. And will do my best to stick it the whole weekend this year.

[M D Penman]

Id like to get some stuff together for this

[Shane Chebsey]

Hi Guys,

Didn't realise a thread was already started here when I posted mine. Sorry.

Would be great to see you all there this year. :-)

If you want to book a table you can now do so via our new website.

all the best
Shane

[Joe List]

I'd be up for collective effort, on the condition i get a comic book done and printed by then. i've got 5 months, but i 've also got a nintendo wii.

[Chris Doherty]

Hey, Abby. Any news on whether the MCC's got anything arranged for this yet?

[Abigail Ryder]

Sorry, I've been slow booking the table but if it's cool with Adam I'll sort it out this weekend!

[M D Penman]

How much are the tables? Will we all be chipping in yes?

[Adam Cadwell]

The tables are £120 for small pressers. Tickets are £12 for a day and £20 for the weekend.

I think this extraordinarily high for a show that is only hoping to attract 3,000 people, when compared to shows like the MCM Expo and San Diego. Because of this I think the best and possibly only way of making BICS successful for any self published creator (who doesn't have a sizable on-line following) is to share a table with numerous creators and handle the table more like publishers do with an array or books and a couple of people staffing the table rather than a line of creators crammed together staring out from behind the table. This would be the only way I'd attend BICS this year and I think would work really well for the MCC.

I'd suggest a model like this:

6 people attend the show to staff the table and stock their comics on the table - each pay £15
6 people stock their comics on the table - each pay £5

The 6 people attending would take turns to staff the table over the two days, shifts of 2-3 hours a day.

A timetable would be worked out once we know who would like to attend and displayed on the table from the very start of the show to allow people who'd like a signed book or a sketch to know when the can meet the creators.

I think getting 12 people involved would be the minimum we need and of course if more people would like us to stock their comics at the show then it would work out less for everyone.

I think we'll have to be stricter than we were last year and ask everyone to pay before the show. If it works out cheaper people will get the money back with any profit they made from the weekend. Also, unless everyone disagrees with me here, I think 6 would be the maximum for people attending the show. Any more and we run the risk of overcrowding the table and annoying the organisers by asking for extra passes everytime one more person wants to come or someone wants to bring a plus one.

If we do get enough people involved I am happy to design and buy a PVC MCC Banner for behind the table. Abby has said she can provide upright stands and display material for the table, kindly on loan from Travelling Man. I will not insist everyone wears red t-shirts and MCC badges this year but it would be nice.

Okay, so people interested so far:

Myself
Chris Doherty
M D Penman
Joe List
Abigail Ryder
Dave Bulmer

That's 6, I imagine Tom and/or Jaime would also be interested in helping out if that number changes as they'd save a fiver on a weekend pass. Tom has also said he's happy to transport stock down there for people. Thank you The Tom.

Other MCCers who I suspect may be interested in stocking their comics:

Harry Shotton
Rob Jackson
John Allison
Jim Medway
Oliver East (if he's not there with Blank Slate)
Stephen Hitchen
Peter Beare (Dang Nabbit)
Tom Newthink
David M Birchall

And if all those tell me to get lost, then there must be more people in this collective of 131 members who are interested.

So, what do people think then?

[M D Penman]

Sounds good to me man

[Abigail Ryder]

I'm happy, although I know Dave prefers being at the table at these cons than wandering around. He likes doing the sales thing and talking about the comics on offer a lot. I'm happy to just leave him there and wander for most of it though myself. ;-)