Small Comic Convention Market

Chuck · Post by **Chuck** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 4:03 pm

Recently, Betterthanezra (Brian) and I sold comics at the June Sacramento (CA) Comic show.

There were a ton of people, but not many people were looking for Valiant Comics. Brian and I sold a bunch of $1 comics.

Most collectors were completing their back issue runs (I sold mainly X-men and Spiderman issues).

So what are other small comic cons like in your neck of the woods?

Betterthanezra and I plan on selling at the September Sac show. I'm gonna bring a few Valiant CGCs to see if we can draw any interest in Valiants. Fellow board members in the area should drop by

jedimarley · Post by **jedimarley** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 4:24 pm

Small comic cons in my area means 'Trading Card Game Cons'.....

Unblessed · Post by **Unblessed** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 4:29 pm

do you have a shop in San Jose? I live down in Paso Robles and we ain't got spit out here.

Brother J · Post by **Brother J** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 5:09 pm

small show or big show, I'm always looking for the same thing, bargains, bargains, BARGAINS!

The dealer who runs a lot of the small Midwest shows makes his money selling 50 cent comics. He has a way of constantly resupplying his boxes and he leaves just enough good books in there to make people continue to look.

It doesn't even have to be cheap books. If you have a bunch of books that are valuable but you have trouble moving them at guide price, you can sell them by still marking them at guide price and having a 50% off sale.

Just as long as someone feels they are getting a good deal, they should end up being a pretty good customer to have.

betterthanezra · Post by **betterthanezra** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 5:12 pm

We are NOT a Couple

-Brian

Unblessed · Post by **Unblessed** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 5:13 pm

betterthanezra wrote: We are NOT a Couple

-Brian

Let me be the 1st to post: B.S.

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 5:59 pm

betterthanezra wrote: We are NOT a Couple

-Brian

Well...what the hell are we supposed to think? You SAID you like Assian *SQUEE*!

slym2none · Post by **slym2none** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 6:23 pm

Chuck wrote:Recently, Betterthanezra (Brian) and I sold comics at the June Sacramento (CA) Comic show.

There were a ton of people, but not many people were looking for Valiant Comics. Brian and I sold a bunch of $1 comics.

Most collectors were completing their back issue runs (I sold mainly X-men and Spiderman issues).

So what are other small comic cons like in your neck of the woods?

Betterthanezra and I plan on selling at the September Sac show. I'm gonna bring a few Valiant CGCs to see if we can draw any interest in Valiants. Fellow board members in the area should drop by

There used to be small "cons" all the time years ago in the Raleigh/Durham area. One hotel that was just recently imploded used to have one every other month or so, and even the local mall had a weekend where vendors would come set up tables inside. These died off about ten years ago, now I hear of one maybe once a year. Otherwise, it's Heros Con in Charlotte, or traveling to another state.

-slym

stone384 · Post by **stone384** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 6:59 pm

I like the smaller cons...the big ones are too overwhelming. They are great fun, but there is never enough time to see it all. The small ones are more like the old cons where you went to buy comics instead of see movies etc....Here in Bako the only local one is put on by the head of the art dept. of a local hi school and is more focused on cards. Half the time I will rent a table and put up a bunch of $1 boxes. There is also a small travelling show that comes thru once a year. The sellers are usually nearby (Fresno, So.Cal., Sacramento, San Jose etc...)
m

betterthanezra · Post by **betterthanezra** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 7:37 pm

I really like the Sac con there a ton of people at them....I haven't really been sucessful selling Valiants there except the non Superhero ones like Nintindo issues...I sell a *SQUEE* load of cd's there. Working in radio I get a ton of cd's I have NO plans listening too. I sell them for 2-5 dollars...

I sold over 70 dollars of cd's at the last show. Old X-Box games sold well. Cheap issues also I did sell Sandman #8 reg. to someone for $12 dollars I have had that issue on my table for over a year it finally sold.

Next show September 3rd.

-Brian

Chuck · Post by **Chuck** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 8:47 pm

Unblessed wrote:

do you have a shop in San Jose? I live down in Paso Robles and we ain't got spit out here.

Nope, I don't have a shop. Just a bunch of extra comics I need to dump.

Betterthanezra (Brian) is a regular at the Sac (CA) Comic Con and I asked to tag along to dump my overstock.

However, I was really surpised at the amount of people that attended.

gowaltrip · Post by **gowaltrip** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 10:03 pm

The only show we have nearby anymore is a small show in Richmond, VA about 100 miles away. We used to have local comic shows every 6 weeks to 2 months, but those have all died out.

The Richmond show happens about 5-6 times a year. Usually has both extremes in sellers. Seller A, who has Overvalued/Overgraded key and Semi-Keys trying to make top dollar...usually sells next to nothing, no one talks to, associates with, etc. And Seller B who has purchased 3-4 tables and has nothing but $1 boxes and in a few cases, $2-$5 boxes. Has tons of people buying, and looks to be making a killing with the little stuff, while the big timers look on frustrated.

In the end, it makes me feel like what is the use of owning VG/FN Silver/Bronze/Copper age desirables when you cannot hardly sell them, but can sell 100's of books like Common Batmans, Action, X-Men, Thor's, .....etc....all day long if you can get it for next to nothing in bulk?

daydreamscomics · Post by **daydreamscomics** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 2:54 pm

Brother J wrote:The dealer who runs a lot of the small Midwest shows makes his money selling 50 cent comics. He has a way of constantly resupplying his boxes and he leaves just enough good books in there to make people continue to look.

recently, that was thanks to our shop. with moving on the horizon, we decided a couple months back to trim down out backstock. he bought about 80 boxes in the past month. i've known alan for a few years and haev sold him probably 200 boxes in that time.

most of the smaller cons in/around iowa are decent. usually 6-8 dealers, most selling either $0.50 books or selling silver age stuff. usually 1 or 2 will have some newer stuff.

i like the smaller cons better myself. it's nice to have time to actually sift through tons of cheap boxes without bumping elbows or feeling like you won't have time to get through it all.

Heath · Post by **Heath** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 3:22 pm

No LCS and no shows (big or small) anywhere around here.

tarheelmarine · Post by **tarheelmarine** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 6:13 pm

slym2none wrote:
Chuck wrote:Recently, Betterthanezra (Brian) and I sold comics at the June Sacramento (CA) Comic show.

There were a ton of people, but not many people were looking for Valiant Comics. Brian and I sold a bunch of $1 comics.

Most collectors were completing their back issue runs (I sold mainly X-men and Spiderman issues).

So what are other small comic cons like in your neck of the woods?

Betterthanezra and I plan on selling at the September Sac show. I'm gonna bring a few Valiant CGCs to see if we can draw any interest in Valiants. Fellow board members in the area should drop by
There used to be small "cons" all the time years ago in the Raleigh/Durham area. One hotel that was just recently imploded used to have one every other month or so, and even the local mall had a weekend where vendors would come set up tables inside. These died off about ten years ago, now I hear of one maybe once a year. Otherwise, it's Heros Con in Charlotte, or traveling to another state.

-slym

Charlotte has a bunch of miniature cons in a Ramada Inn throughout the year, but I have not been to one as of yet.

dac55 · Post by **dac55** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:03 pm

Heath wrote:No LCS and no shows (big or small) anywhere around here.

Same thing here.

David

childres · Post by **childres** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:05 pm

dac55 wrote:
Heath wrote:No LCS and no shows (big or small) anywhere around here.
Same thing here.

David

For me its 75 miles to nearest LCS, and small con.( Just hope they keep holding them. The last one didn't get many people there.

)

-Joe

SnotDrip · Post by **SnotDrip** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 7:49 am

There used to be a fairly large one in Ottawa (Ontario Canada) about 20-25 yrs ago. I remember getting some Crisis and Vigilantes signed by Wolfman. Then it died out completely. To my knowledge anything that big one has to go to Toronto and I haven't heard anything in upstate NY nor Montreal. There is a "expo" every summer bundled together with Cards and Anime and whatever else - like a flea market.

GGSAE · Post by **GGSAE** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 9:02 am

SnotDrip wrote:There used to be a fairly large one in Ottawa (Ontario Canada) about 20-25 yrs ago. I remember getting some Crisis and Vigilantes signed by Wolfman. Then it died out completely. To my knowledge anything that big one has to go to Toronto and I haven't heard anything in upstate NY nor Montreal. There is a "expo" every summer bundled together with Cards and Anime and whatever else - like a flea market.

I've been to the local shows that go every month and there wasn't much there. When is this summer expo in ottawa, has it passed?

SnotDrip · Post by **SnotDrip** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:03 pm

GGSAE wrote:
SnotDrip wrote:There used to be a fairly large one in Ottawa (Ontario Canada) about 20-25 yrs ago. I remember getting some Crisis and Vigilantes signed by Wolfman. Then it died out completely. To my knowledge anything that big one has to go to Toronto and I haven't heard anything in upstate NY nor Montreal. There is a "expo" every summer bundled together with Cards and Anime and whatever else - like a flea market.
I've been to the local shows that go every month and there wasn't much there. When is this summer expo in ottawa, has it passed?

Its the one out at the SportsPlex I only ever heard of it in the may june timeframe

GGSAE · Post by **GGSAE** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 7:02 pm

SnotDrip wrote:
GGSAE wrote:
SnotDrip wrote:There used to be a fairly large one in Ottawa (Ontario Canada) about 20-25 yrs ago. I remember getting some Crisis and Vigilantes signed by Wolfman. Then it died out completely. To my knowledge anything that big one has to go to Toronto and I haven't heard anything in upstate NY nor Montreal. There is a "expo" every summer bundled together with Cards and Anime and whatever else - like a flea market.
I've been to the local shows that go every month and there wasn't much there. When is this summer expo in ottawa, has it passed?
Its the one out at the SportsPlex I only ever heard of it in the may june timeframe

Yeah i've been to that one last fall i think? It was a monthly show, mostly cards then anything else. I thought there was one each summer that was bigger held at landsdowne?

JCal Fan · Post by **JCal Fan** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 10:05 pm

There is a nice little convention in Dunn Loring, Virginia about every other month, which is very good and well ran.

You can find a wide selection of comics and comic related items. Plus ther are always folks selling a good quanity of Valiant comics.

I always enjoy attending this show, because I do not feel over whelmed and you can find some good comics there without any problems. Also, I can have a good informative conversation with the dealers that attend.

Best to all/Steve Ogden

Schmakt · Post by **Schmakt** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 8:37 am

you guys know of this page?
http://www.comicbookconventions.com/conventions.htm

It has the small Charlotte and Raleigh Cons listed... maybe it'll have a few small ones near wherever you are...

skiw · Post by **skiw** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 11:08 am

ALBERTA COMIC CONS

There are four cons in the spring in Alberta and one or two in the fall that are worthwhile to set up at. My partner in crime and I make a couple of grand per show selling Gold/Silver/Bronze Age books. There are plenty of dealers with cheap books ($0.50) as well, but when I look at the volume of books you have to move in order to make decent coin it is not worth it.

For anyone who is interested you can check out the following websites:

Edmonton Collectible Toy & Comic Show - http://www.edtoyshow.com/

Edmonton Pop Culture Fair (two events per year) - http://www.popculturefair.com/photogallery.htm

Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo (had a couple of thousand in attendance and is going to be larger next year - we did very well

) - http://www.calgaryexpo.com/

Calgary Comic & Toy Expo - http://www.comicandtoy.com/

depluto · Post by **depluto** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 11:12 am

Closest cons I have are in Orlando, which means I have to spend about $50 for gas round trip and $10 or so to get in before I can even start looking for bargains.

Last trip I made was definitely worth the money as I found a guy liquidating Silver Age Marvels for $1 each. Although I'll lspend the money and time to go regardless because I'm starved for these things.

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Small Comic Convention Market

Small Comic Convention Market

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