Yeah, there's a balance that must be acheived. I walked up to tables that had some interesting stuff but some very disinterested folks behind the table who barely said a word, even when I asked about their books. I ended up just walking away while shaking my head.Originally Posted by Lord Retail
The guy with the "please buy my book for $5" sign was awful. He looked pathetic and he had a lame prefabricated pitch where he disinterestedly says that his character finds out that being a super hero "sucks bawls." He said that same sound bite to someone else right in front of me too so it wasn't even customized. Did not need to hear that guy yawn out "sucks bawls" twice in succession. Worst thing I ever saw. Who knows if the comic was good or not because I was totaly turned off. My girlfriend guilted me into buying a copy because we apparently couldn't just leave him there like that. As a salesperson that was terrible. I should have told him that guilting people in and then not having a real pitch sucks bawls.
Honestly? I felt that some people didn't push enough. Its already tough enough to sell a comic that doesn't have a Marvel or a DC on it, so you have to have something real to say to people about why they should look at whatever it is you have. Especially when surrounded by hundreds of other people trying to get attention from the same wandering potential buyers. A nice table display draws me in more than ambient weirdness or people barking at me. Once there, I want to know what the stuff is, what you have to do with it, and why I personally should specifically your thing out as opposed to anything else. I like to feel that someone thought I was worth talking to and that they're onto something they feel proud of and want me to know what it is too. There is no shame in selling yourself and your product, and here's a secret from me, Lord Retail, if you do it right they'll never know it was a sales pitch. It'll be one person who likes comics talking to another. That's how I do it at my shop.
Defferding was excited about his book and through that I became curious to see what it was. He had a sales pitch. And I felt good about buying from him and taking stuff back home to my shop. I'll post feedback when I stop being lazy. Violet Curmudgeon found me later and told me I had to come talk to Brain's neighbor, Brad Guigar. That guy was also very professional and made me feel like it was important to him that I know what he had going on, but not in a pushy way. Maybe he knew I was a retailer and to expect me, but the why doesn't matter. He told me all about his material in a clear way while keeping eye contact and speaking up without being a carnival barker. So I bought from him, we both did actually. And I'm really thinking about carrying his books.
Also Saul from SSS was great. First of all he has a signature look, whether he knows it or not, so I knew who he was immediately. While its probably not in his personality to do cartwheels over anything, I was able to tell that he liked his comics and wanted me to know what they were. He set me up with signed samples to take back home with me that I have put in the hands of a few customers who I thought would like them. I'll post feedback when I have it. But as someone who sells stuff that doesn't have my name associated with it, I was really impressed by Saul. Keep doing exactly what you did when talking to me.
I'm a salesman so I pick up on things like poor sales pitch, disinterest, or "I don't need to talk to this guy, he ain't buying." Regretably I didn't get to spend much time on artists alley at all. Next year I'll spend more time in the alley because for me it is like being at a standard convention as a buyer of new product lines for my shop. I talked to Shane W about Shylock breifly, but never found my way back to Ronin to buy. Ranger Chic and Alysha gave me samples of The Line and FFP sketchbook. After all, retailing has its privaledges.
I really like to talk to people, about my comic, comics in general, and the convention. I'm not going to knock people over the head with a long, rehearsed schpeel. If they show a little interest I tell them about the book, tell them they can flip through stuff, maybe strike up a little small talk, see where it goes from there.
All shouldn't be forgiven because for his sake he needs to know that his entire setup is offputting, even to other neighbors who in theory should understand what he has to do at a con. If nobody tells him it sucks, he keeps doing it, not enough people buy and he stops making comics. What if he is destined to be something real someday and all he needs is for someone to introduce the five fingers to his face and snap him out of what he's doing?
Yeah, I don't need to know sales figures or the behind the scenes mechanics unless I ask to know. I just need to know what it is and why I should buy. I think that some people were actually not prepared for such a direct question when I asked that.
Brent finally got so pissed that he told the guy to "Shut the fuck up."I sat next to that guy on Sunday...he still held the sign and when people approached he would say 'sold out.' What an ass...
Best part, though? He asked if Brent paid me to sit there. He was worried I'd go after him afterhours.
P.
I told Brent I would relieve him at the table and he was happy to go back to the other Ronin tables.
Damn!
Craig
"I am free of all prejudices. I hate every one equally."
Huh. Artists Alley was a regular warzone. Who knew. Anything else behind the scenes happen? Feel free to change names to protect the guilty.
I told him he was pissing me off and that tactic doesn't work on me
and I held onto my $5 like it had life
The fucker was quiet while I was there. I stood up for most of it and I bet he was worried my fists would hammer on his fat head. He just held up his cute little sign and pissed off people who approached his side of the table. Ha ha ha...
P.
This guy, we'll call him... "Noble"... tried to stick a pickle up this other guy's ass... well call him... "Craig".
Craig
"I am free of all prejudices. I hate every one equally."
Well, we do do something. I talk to everybody that walks by the booth. And not just "here's our book" but I ask what's going on, if they're having a good show. I don't pressure the book on them. I had a lot of people buying all five western tales and all three elk's run without knowing anything about us or our books just by 1) showing the work 2) giving a one sentence pitch and 3) talking to them like they were a person and not a customer.
They liked us, liked our books and bought them. No cheesy tag lines, promises of how good the book is going to get, gimmicky signs, megaphones, convoluted pitches involving props, costumes, sob stories, guilt trips, etc. Just good books. And we sell them.
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