MCM London Fun!

Well MCM London was fab the other week! Felt like a return to 'normal' and certainly in Artists Alley it was if anything better than 'normal' with footfall pretty steady throughout the three days which helped many, including me post record sales!

The interest in comics was pretty strong and although print artists appear to be in the majority at the show, most of my other comic making chums had also done well, which is great to hear. Oddly my own new prints didn't do so well although they did generate a lot of interest in my table and helped promote the comics so that was good. 

It was great to see so many familiar faces and meet lots of new people too. I had many interesting conversations about comics, creating and lovely comments about my artstyle with a couple even comparing me to Herge's Tintin - I wish! I hardly left my table but did though have a sneaky look at Covent Garden's 'pop-up' Tintin store at the show and bag myself some goodies to celebrate!

I didn't get many photos at all, mainly just folk who came past the table - thanks to all those who kindly posed - but there were many wonderful costumes and characters.

Special thanks to my Artist Alley neighbour, Eilidh Price who, with her partner, were a delight. It was her first-time exhibiting at the show but she was very well received and sold well with her amazing prints and art - I had to snag one myself as a forthcoming birthday gift for someone special, who I know will love her style. Check Eilidh's site out here and I hope to see her on the circuit again soon :) 

All great fun and here's hoping I can attend again for their next one in the Fall, end of October.

Oxford Makes The Grade!

The Examination School Oxford - venue of Ox-Con!

Well that was more like it! I'm pleased to report that last weekend's new Ox-Con, (the Oxford Comic-Con), was a success for all participants. Within the stunning historic examination school buildings, comic creators, authors and actors mingled with comic fans, cos players, families and bemused Oxonian academics as comics came to town.

The venue behind - no signage or queue?

Great Oxford views

 




This was perhaps a more modest show launch than perhaps we'd seen elsewhere - no huge snaking queues here - but perhaps it reflected the quiet efficiency of the organisers and Oxford itself. Signage was largely absent but didn't seem to matter as social media & word of mouth had insured that the show had sold out of tickets in advance so there was minimal 'walk in' opportunity.

The Impressive Corridors

Upstairs to the convention!

Entrance Hall - Wait! Is that our The Man Of Glass comic?

 
 
The advance sales had also been carefully organised into early bird and general admission with a two hour gap between ensuring that there was a gentle stream of people making their way up the impressive stairwell to the two oak panelled vendor rooms, with talks taking place below.

Set up at Ox-Con - note the oak panelling? Other shows please take note!

People seemed quietly relaxed about the show, taking their time to study the stalls and options before carefully making their choices, meaning you soon saw the same people make their way round several times before making their purchases. That though was the immediate difference compared with our recent Bolton experience, people were genuinely interested in comics and wanted to find out about them before deciding if their interest was piqued enough to buy, meaning that we had a steady stream of browsers and purchasers from the start.

Inside our 'wing' of the convention floor

Our surroundings!

Although the show was a sell out, the numbers had been restricted by health and safety requirements to 'modest' levels, meaning that, with the rich variety of talks and attractions on offer, the halls did regularly empty with the crowds ebb and flow.

This was fine though, given us frequent chances to nip out for refreshments, (one downside with using a historical building is that no hot drinks were allowed inside!), and to catch up with familiar faces, like T-Pub's Neil Gibson, Mild Frenzy's Iqbal Ali and Richy Chandler amongst many new folk who were also pleased with the way the show went.

Chewie asks Dave to dance

Well dressed customers!

The pauses also allowed us to enjoy the great soundtrack provided through the school's speakers, a carefully curated play list of contemporary music and movie themes which caused many impromptu dancing and movement between the aisles - don't worry those pics are staying hidden!

The Troll find's a home!

Excellent Bowie/Goblin King tribute

So an enjoyable show and although sales were slowly steady, given the attendance restrictions, we were pleasantly surprised to see that we had in fact done pretty well for a first-time show and had indeed covered our costs - despite Oxford City Council's best efforts with outrageous parking charges and aggressive traffic cameras!

The devil's in the detail, they say!

We understand from the organiser's that this was a bit of a trial for both them and the building's trustees and that plans are already underway to open up more areas to allow for a bigger show next time, increasing the attendance restrictions. On this basis, and providing the dates don't clash in the crowded convention calendar, we will gladly return, and review our assessment on Ox-Con's pass mark which on it's 2016 intake, I would award a respectable 2.1 :)

Dave's Oxford thesis can be assessed here.

MCM London Comic Con Moments

Well that was fun, Accent UK returned to London's MCM Comic-Con last weekend and had a pretty cool time. Our appearance at the earlier May show produced record sales and really opened our eyes to the behemoth that these shows have become. This time felt busier and its since been confirmed that some 110,000 fans flocked to the Excel centre, which certainly explains the epic sandwich queue!.
 

MCM is all about Cosplay - see this wonderful Disney Group!

That said, we were a little down on sales, selling just over 75% of May's record and at times, despite the crowds, the Comic Village felt a little quiet. This is probably explained by the fact that the show has grown even bigger and, I think, used at least one more of the Excel's huge exhibition halls than last time. This, like the recent MCM Manchester show, is actually a welcome move, allowing more space for people to move round so there are less of the problematic 'bottleneck's early MCM's were known for. However there is just so much to see now that it is a challenge to get round it all and of course, fans have limited funds so can't buy everything they see, even if they want too.
 

These were a fun couple - Steampunk Golden Syrup Soldiers!

This was pretty noticeable in the Comic Village where more so than last time folk wanted to have a good look round first before committing to buy and who can blame them, with so much to see.  Thankfully we had several folk who did just that and returned, some even after queueing at the crowded cashpoint machine to ensure they had money for our books, which we are very grateful for.

Our Zombie 2 cover model turned up!

Steampunk cosplayer Xander Boo

We also had several returning readers who had picked up and enjoyed our books for the first time at the May show and wanted to see what else we had so again thank you!  Actually this, bizarrely, may also explain why sales were down from last time as in fairness we had no new books to offer since May. This may also be the reason why there were several exhibitor notable absentees from the May show, who without new product, may have decided to skip this show in the increasingly crowded UK convention calendar? Although sales were slower than May, they were still our 3rd highest ever, comfortably above our previous best ever figure from 2010, so we're certainly not going to complain!

Accent UK banner competes with The Hobbit during the London MCM set-up

But as happens, this opens opportunities for others and our immediate table neighbours were all, I think, first-time MCM exhibitors; Charlotte Franks 'Made by Anxiety', Lissy Raine 'Lillyluft' and Elizabeth Querstret, a fine friendlier bunch you couldn't hope to meet! There were many others so apologies if my geriatric head can't recall all the names or website links! Actually, amongst Rich Johnston of Bleeding Cool's prompt MCM reporting is a pretty comprehensive file of all Comic Village exhibitor tables on the Friday afternoon here  so you can see some of the awesomeness for yourself!

Scott set for Friday business

Rich's photos were from early Friday afternoon just after the show opened when Scott and I had barely arrived and were still unloading the car. We'd had a reasonable drive down but things always take longer than you think so it was a wee bit of a last minute panic to get registered, wristbands, parked, located and set up but that was down to us not the excellent organisation I hasten to add. Although vowing to leave earlier 'next time' I may not need to as MCM announced that next year's London shows will be over 3 full days, presumably meaning Thursday set-up's where in theory you have all day to drive down and unload etc. While this makes perfect sense for the show I didn't really get a chance to discuss this too much with fellow exhibitors and punters so we'll see how this goes. Our Friday afternoon sales were pretty modest it has to be said despite there being pretty good crowds - maybe between 6,000 and 10,000? Well, Mr Harry Potter himself,  Daniel Radcliffe was there don't you know!

It's not a 'proper' comic-con without Stormtroopers!

There was actually quite a full programme of panels, talks, media announcements etc which took part away from the show floor in various conference suites that the Excel offers. I don't know if this was a new aspect of the event but helped keep those queues and disruptions to a minimum even if it did mean that sadly we didn't get to see anything. I believe that as well as Mr Radcliffe, Brian Blessed and comics giants, Mark Millar, Dave Gibbons - and Accent UK contributor! - Kieron Gillen were also in attendance but I failed to spy any of them on the show floor afterwards.

Mr 'Time Bomb Comics' Steve Tanner works hard

Everything else went smoothly, Scott and I caught up with Time Bomb Comics Steve Tanner who we had arranged to share a Greenwich apartment, being as the Excel hotels had either sold out or got incredibly pricey. It's always good to catch up with Steve and share recent comic show experiences etc and find out about the brand new Birmingham Comic Festival next year that he's co-organising, and we're committed to attending.

It was amazing the transformation when Steve Tanner took his jacket off!

Dave and Jemma arrived by train the following day - after Scott and I had done all the hard work setting up it has to be said - and a jolly time was had by all! Accent UK has always been a bit of a family affair but it is a real delight to Dave and I to be able to regularly escape the table for a look around or a cuppa, knowing its in good hands, so thanks Scott and Jemma for your hard work, although both of you probably did your best to spend as much at the show as we took in!

The Mathieson Team Pose!

The West Team Pose!

Socially we were pleased to also catch up with long-time friend and comics guru Chris Dingsdale who joined us and Steve for a meal and a few Saturday night beers and then that was more or less that. There were several other fine folks we caught up with at the show, including Jenika Ioffreda who was launching her delightful Vampire FreeStyle collection, Gary Erskine, set to go on the much anticipated RollerGrrrls comic, Jeremy Biggs's mighty expanded Subversive Comics line and the irrepressible Stuart Gould.

Dave's the one in the silly hat.....

We've really embraced the MCM series of shows and by combining them with carefully chosen, more 'traditional' comic shows Accent UK have enjoyed our most successful year ever! So thanks to all concerned and we will definitely return next year with plans already made for a bigger Accent UK MCM presence!

Unlike this excellent Cos-player, with MCM shows "There can be more than one!"