Convention sketchbooks question

[TheRonin]

Hi guys,

I am about to send off the files to the printer, but I was wondering (asking to
those who have experience in the field) how many copies should I print? What is your
average sale at a convention? 100 books? 200? 1000? Any info is highly appreciated:
I am trying to decide if I need to print 500 or if I need to go less than that (planning to be
at Heroes and SDCC)

Thanks,

Francesco

[JoelRCarroll]

Honestly, the more you print, the cheaper it'd be....(well, depending on the print house, I guess)

How many shows do you anticipate attending this year?

[TheRonin]

Thanks for replying, Joel :D
I am planning to be at Heroes and SDCC, two conventions that seem to be very big this
year (well, SD is always big, but Heroes is gonna be huge as well). Maybe
WizardWorld Philly (maybe).
I am also planning to put the books available online on my website (I have a paypal
account), so I guess you have a point on "the more you print the less they cost".

I am posting below the books I will have at the Cons.

Hope someone else can chime in and share info and experience.

Thanks
Francesco

[Nofret]

Hard to say really. Don't think you'll sell everything at a convention (it rarely if ever happens, but if it does, great!), but definitely plan on the long run: conventions this year, next year, any future years... Plus, as you mentionned, online sales.
It may take you a few years to get rid of the lot, but in the end it will be easier to recoup the cost.

Go for a slightly larger print run (say 500 or 750), to keep the cost manageable, both for you and the people who will buy them. I suggest bringing between 50 to 100 copies to a big con like San Diego, perhaps a bit extra if you plan on doing trades. Let me tell you that bringing 100 copies of a book with you on the plane can be a hassle...I've done it. Augh!, and may even cost you extra...see if you can't ship everything in advance, via a good courrier.

See you in SDCC

[ben c]

last time i printed 250
of each sketchbook,
i mostly sold out of 2
of them, the third one
sold about half. (this
was all from SCCC
and an order from bud
plant).
the first time i did sketch-
books, i sold a lot over
the internet, but since
then i haven't had many
online sales.

ben c

[senti]

I sold about 200 of my childrens book at SDCC last year and more after. If that helps.

[TheRonin]

Johane, Ben, and Senti: thank you very much for the info and the
insights. Pretty much you guys confirmed my plan to print 500 of each. I know it might
take some time to sell'em all, but cost wise printing a larger amount is cheaper

Thanks guys, I really appreciated it

Francesco

[Killdozer]

Indeed. If you're going with offset, printing as many as your budget allows is the best plan. You may end up with some in reserve, but any publishing venture is likely a long term one. 500 should go like that (snap!), judging by the covers-- they're snazzy.

s

[tsm]

Congrats on your books! They look really sharp.

500 sounds good; a small run in the eyes of a printer, but still cost-effective to the independent publisher. I printed 500 of mine and sold/gave away/traded about 200 at the con. The rest were sold to comic shops/online orders/paypal within a few months.

[RodGuen]

me want bad.

I'm happy to be able to finaly meet you at SDCC!

I 've been printing my sketchbooks at 250 copies.
"Diz n Dat" at only 150 because i thought people wouldn't be interested.Not as much as with the "Croquettes" anyway...and i was sold out at the convention pretty fast...

Considering the quality and the professionnal look of your books,
i wouldn't hesitate to print 1000 or more.
I'm sure Stuart Ng and Budplant will buy tonnes for their stores.

Congratulations, buddy.

r.

[drugmassacre]

you can put me down for a copy of each, francesco....I'd also like to make it my pleasure to buy you a beer (or your drink of choice)

man, the countdown is really starting...

[Attezarf]

Yeah, I printed 500 of mine.. back in 2003. I still have around 200 copies left. Maybe a bit less. If I ever get a website rolling, I'll be able to put them on a 'Store' page. But they come in pretty handy, when sitting at an Artist's Alley table, too.

I wanted to get a lot of "new" material ready for the TORONTO COMICON.. But just couldn't find the time to get it done & publish anything. When that happens, it's nice to fall back on older stuff that's still kickin' around. There's always a chance someone will be seeing it, for the very first time!

Re: Stuart Ng and Bud Plant taking copies..
I think if you're going to try that, you need to do it simultaneously.. I tried selling copies of my sketchbook to Stuart AFTER I came home to Toronto. And because Bud Plant was already carrying it... Stuart balked at purchasing any copies.
Saying he "didn't want to compete with Bud Plant, 'cuz his operation is so much bigger than his.."

Makes sense, I suppose. Though I have seen SOME books carried by both distributors..

-- Richi

[drugmassacre]

that sounds a little like BS to me Rich, Stuart always has tons of the same stuff as bud plant.

[senti]

Francesco, also contact House of Secrets In Burbank, Ca. They are very artist friendly and would most likely buy your books anywhere from 10 to 40 copies.

[TheRonin]

WOW guys, I am speachless... well not really but deeply humbled by the big response.

I really appreciate your info, suggestions, tips because I am at a point where I have to
make some important choices, and the help of you friends is highly appreciated. As I
was telling in the comics/storyboards forum (I think on Martin's Xmen thread), I switched
from full time multimedia production artist/graphic designer to full time comicbook and
freelance artist, and the switch (in the last 6 months), while providing me lots of
professional satisfactions (like published and upcoming comicbooks), it has been a bit
painful on the financial side. I know everything needs time (especially with my back-end
pay on the comics gigs) but I have to see if I can actually make a living from art
That's why I decided to go with the sketchbooks. I know I will probably trade and/or gift
quite few (mostly of chiaroscuro, my sketches one) but I am planning to make a profit
from them, enought to pay for the printing (which on 1000 copies is not that cheap) and
the trip to SD (living on the East Coast here). Sorry for the rant, but I thought to share
since I feel between friends here
That was, anyway, for telling you how much I appreciate all the info about Stuart NG,
Bud Plant, and House of Secrets: that's a terrific way to sell part of my books if I still
have them after Heroes and SDCC, or to print more if I see that the books actually sell
well

Killdozer: thank you, Stuart: I wish it would happen just like that, with a snap
Glad to hear you dig the design of the covers: that is graphic designer part of me, not
the comicbook artist
tsm: thank you, Ted Your experience is another that makes me feel safe to go
with 500. I DO need to put my dirty hands on your Rose & Isabel (the books, of
course ) as soon as possible
RodGuen: I am as happy as you, Rodolphe I am still waiting to hear from our
own Steve Gordon: he is in charge to get the table which we will be sharing. So
far from the con they said we most likely have one but has not been confirmed yet. I
don't know if APE Ent. will have a booth or not. We will see. Yes, you were low on
expectations when you printed 150 copies of your book, but I am happy because it
makes it even more precious (since I own a copy ). And you are being way too kind in
suggesting to print 1000 or more of each. Thanks for the "faith"
drugmassacre: you got it, Andrew and I never said no to a free beer (let's
make sure it is European, thou )
Attezarf: Rich, your experience is a bit scary instead: 3 years and still having
books around would make me think twice before going with that number, but it's too late
now for changing mind Thanks for sharing the experience and for the tips
senti: thank you very much for the precious info as well, Senti

Again, thank you everyone: I love you all

Francesco

P.S.: FOr those who missed, here's the ad for Schermoscuro, which is the book I really
spent lot of time on and I am quite proud of The last page has a blank space for instant sketch at
the con (I did the same for Chiaroscuro, my other book, and for Expressions and
Attitudes, SteveG's book which I put together.