Quickie Update from AnimeExpo
I've earned only a C- on this con trip, I'm afraid, since I seem to have utterly failed on doing any of the traditional con thingies. No panels, no workshops, no shopping, no manga buying, etc. But we had a blast anyway! Myung volunteered us to work the Del Ray booth both Sat and Sunday-- and that earned us an industry badge, dinner with the rest of the minions on Saturday night, a double handful of Tsubasa and possibly more CLAMPy goodness to come. The process by which congoers got a chance for CLAMP's autograph was convoluted and stretched over 2 days (in the end you were selected by raffle to limit the number) but it was cool being involved in the endstage as we helped to hand out the tickets to lucky (and REALLY excited) lottery winners. I talked to a bunch of people who'd come from Very Far Away toget a chance to meet them, a couple of people that stick out in my mind were a guy from HongKong and a woman from Finland.
Possibly the best part about working the table, aside from geeking with fellow CLAMP fans, was talking to people about Flight. So Ballantine Books is publishing Flight 3, apparently, and replubishing the first two, so there was a gloriously produced copy of v. 3 on display at the table and it attracted the creators from all over. Had a great time talking to people about the whole comics scene and how Flight is such a wonderful success story. Wish I'd handed out a few more cards in retrospect, but I have to say, a great way to meet kindred souls is to wave around a copy of Flight as a conversation starter.
Another highlight was getting a chance to talk to people who're involved in the publishing industry outside of the creator role. The publicist was a cool guy (he'd some great stories about handling the CLAMP presence this trip, as you can imagine!), had a great time talking to one of Del Ray's editors (very cool, very geeky woman, what a treat!), also met one of Random House's minions, he was cool, and a freelance translator who's email addy I hope I haven't misplaced. All very VERY bright, dedicated people. A real treat to get that side of the comics equation. And, of course, Dallas M. was a real trip. Wish I'd had a similar chance to meet the professionals from some of the other publishers there, but our time was so limited all I got a chance to do was swamp a few pleasantries.
Last night we ate at a Brazilian BBQ place where guys walked around with great hunks of meat on skewers, right off the fire, and sliced you off great bloody slabs until you begged them to stop. Endless meat accompanied by sweet, limey, brazillian rum drinks. And brilliant company. Couldn't have been more enjoyable!
And today-- ART DAY. Whee! MOre later!
Possibly the best part about working the table, aside from geeking with fellow CLAMP fans, was talking to people about Flight. So Ballantine Books is publishing Flight 3, apparently, and replubishing the first two, so there was a gloriously produced copy of v. 3 on display at the table and it attracted the creators from all over. Had a great time talking to people about the whole comics scene and how Flight is such a wonderful success story. Wish I'd handed out a few more cards in retrospect, but I have to say, a great way to meet kindred souls is to wave around a copy of Flight as a conversation starter.
Another highlight was getting a chance to talk to people who're involved in the publishing industry outside of the creator role. The publicist was a cool guy (he'd some great stories about handling the CLAMP presence this trip, as you can imagine!), had a great time talking to one of Del Ray's editors (very cool, very geeky woman, what a treat!), also met one of Random House's minions, he was cool, and a freelance translator who's email addy I hope I haven't misplaced. All very VERY bright, dedicated people. A real treat to get that side of the comics equation. And, of course, Dallas M. was a real trip. Wish I'd had a similar chance to meet the professionals from some of the other publishers there, but our time was so limited all I got a chance to do was swamp a few pleasantries.
Last night we ate at a Brazilian BBQ place where guys walked around with great hunks of meat on skewers, right off the fire, and sliced you off great bloody slabs until you begged them to stop. Endless meat accompanied by sweet, limey, brazillian rum drinks. And brilliant company. Couldn't have been more enjoyable!
And today-- ART DAY. Whee! MOre later!