Jason Rodriguez - The Moose in the Closet: Checking in

I'm a douche, huh?

Postcards has been keeping me very busy - there's some big news coming soon so maybe that'll make some of your folks go, "Ohhhhh." Maybe not. But I do want to tell stories here, again, soon, I just haven't had the time. Here's my SPX wrap-up, though, if you're interested:

SPX Post-Game Show

Friday I left work at around 5 and hopped the train to White Flint so I can start my weekend of SPX fun.

The new venue was interesting. It was bigger, brighter, noisier - it didn't feel as intimate and swanky as the old venue. But I found myself running into a lot more people and that's always nice.

The dinner situation was a nightmare, though. Unless you wanted fast food you need to drive to get some grub. Friday night I went out with some DC Conspiracy folks - we ended up driving to a TGIFridays that was way too crowded so we ended up going to Ruby Tuesday's. At the old venue, there were several amazing non-franchise restaurants within a couple of blocks of the hotels. So, that part was annoying.

Got back to the hotel and hung at the bar. Talked baseball with Rob G while the Mets got their asses kicked. Headed home on the metro - the train ride was long, I was drunk, and it made me really want to get a new car.

Saturday I got a ride to the expo with Carlton and (local cartoonist) Molly - it was Molly's first SPX so I wanted to show her around a bit. I got to walk around, so some shopping - got to chat with Postcards creators who were on-hand: Gia-Bao Tran, Danielle Corsetto, Rick Spears, Rob G, Chris Stevens, and Matt Dembicki.

Bought some great books. I've read PulpHope, The Beast Mother, and most of Project: Romantic so far and haven't felt the sting of buyers remorse. I purchased Hellcity and Pirates of Coney Island, there were several minis I've purchased but their names are escaping me at the moment.

Saturday night I went to On the Border with Chris Stevens, Farel Dalrymple, Jason Lex, and Stephen Gilpin - had some chicken tacos and one-too-many margaritas. Came back and hung at the hotel bar for a little bit before catching a ride home with Evan. I was in a bit of a sour mood by the end of the night despite avoiding the Mets game like the plague from the moment it became 5-0.

Highlights:
* Getting to see so many Postcards folks
* A long conversation with Chris Stevens and Bob Schreck
* Dinner on Saturday with people much more creative than I am
* Finding my cell phone
* Lady at the bar poured me a huge glass of Johnnie Red
* A decent amount of free books passed my way. I can't wait to read them all

Lowlights:
* Taking the metro home Friday night. I need to do something about my current car situation
* Losing my cell phone
* Robin being busy both days - she'd like SPX

Best pitch:
* The Beast Mother didn't even need a pitch, it had an amazing cover. I handed over my money without saying much of anything.

Worst pitch (TIE!)
* Someone told me that I should buy their book because two years ago they reinvented comic-book marketing. I never heard of the book, though.
* A guy whom I've spoken to online, after holding my hand out and saying, "I'm Jason Rodriguez, nice to meet you - you having a good show?" responded, "It'll be better if you buy my comic." Didn't shake my hand, by the way. I just walked away.

I don't know - you'd think a guy who's had his book pulled from Diamond, and lost Small-Press Idol in the first round and never got invited to the pitch round of Platinum Studios Contest would learn how to, you know, network and sell his books. Guess not.

How did I unwind? A nice, long bike ride on Sunday. Georgetown to Bethesda. Stopped at Fletcher's Boat House on the way back and read some comics while sitting along the Potomac.

Labels: news

Checking in

Monday, October 16, 2006

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