Before we begin, some big news to share…
Stay Cool: Sequential Magazine Award Nominee!
Stay Cool has been nominated for two awards by the entertaining and informative Sequential Magazine:
Be sure to vote! Voting ends March 31.
I appreciate everyone who takes the time to go to this page and help put Stay Cool on the map.
With that in mind, let’s talk about how…
“Networking” Feels Gross
In my day-to-day life, I’m a regular corporate schill. Some would argue that I excel at it. Though, that has probably changed a bit working from home. It’s a lot harder to smooth things over with a smile and a laugh over the phone. Things just tend to come in a smidge more phoney.
But the truth is that if your intentions are pure, it works. Networking only feels gross when someone is just trying to sell you something or get something from you.
The trick to it all is to take a genuine interest in the people you’re trying to network with.
It’s not about what either of you can do for each other up front. You know why you’re there. It’s a secret to no one, so when people act like they might be able to get something without having to put themselves into it - it shows.
Be yourself. Be generous. Be a friend.
The rest comes later.
Have Something to Share
All that said, there will come a time when you get comfortable with someone and your opportunity arises to sell your wares. This shouldn’t be the only reason you’re talking to someone, especially early on, but if you get the chance you should be ready.
Do you have a portfolio? I don’t mean a literal one that you carry around and shove in peoples’ faces. There’s no quicker way to turn someone off.
But it’s good to have something to show that you’re serious about what you’re trying to do. For example, are you a writer? Do you have a Substack or short stories on your website? An Amazon or Kobo author page?
Keeping it simple and easy to remember helps. For me, you can find everything "@pestocomics” on nearly every social out there or at pestocomics.com
The easier it is to remember, and the higher it comes up on a Google search, the more likely it is that people will take the time to look at what you have when they’re ready.
If you have something a little more time sensitive, like say a Kickstarter launching this Spring, have your elevator pitch on lock. Do you have an over-caffeinated romantic thriller? A story of boy meets girl, girl happens to be into some sketchy stuff that gets guy in heaps of trouble he wasn’t ready for?
Good. Have that in your back pocket for when it’s appropriate. Usually, you’re asked “what are you working on now?” or “anything I might have seen?” You don’t need to awkwardly bring it up or derail a conversation.
Just be a human and let the conversation flow naturally.
Splash Some Cash
Money is always a touchy subject. Not everyone has it. Some people have too much of it. Definitions of who fall into each bucket vary wildly from person to person. Best not to mention it…unless you want to exploit the best networking hack there is.
Hire people.
That’s right. If you want to make some truly fruitful and lasting connections, actually working with other creatives on a project and ensuring they’re fairly compensated has no equal - especially in creative fields.
You’ll have some work to do to get there. Money alone won’t motivate every artist. They’ll want to see that you’re serious. Not just that you have a clear creative vision, but that you have a decent business acumen that will get their work seen by others.
If you’re not there yet, that’s okay. Maybe you can’t launch a successful Kickstarter with just your mom and cat as potential backers. You can still work with them on something. Perhaps a lead magnet? (BTW, have you picked up your free copy of Brad(s) yet?!)
That’s how I got started. I wrote a four-page story based on a flash fiction piece I had written. I went on Twitter, seeing that amazing Lane Lloyd was open for commissions and shot my shot. That became my showpiece to work with Valentin on Unlimited Udo…which connected me to Rafael Chrestani and Riccardo Faccini…with whom I worked with on, the Sequential Magazine Best Comic nominee, Stay Cool…which connected me to Brian Azcurra and Mattia Monaco who is working away on Crazy Latte Thing Called Love.
You can see how quickly your network can expand. There’s a lasting connection that is made when you create together that’s hard to replicate otherwise.
“But what if I can’t afford to buy myself new friends?” you ask cynically.
I have an answer that might be a bit controversial.
Works Well with Others
Look for people who need help - and offer it.
What’s controversial about that? Nothing on the face of it, but what I’m recommending is you think about the money second.
It’s easy to say that when you have a swell corporate schill day-job, like I fortunately do for now, that covers the necessities and funds the aforementioned friend making scheme. I’m well aware of this.
But at the early stages of building your portfolio, what else do you have to trade but sweat equity?
I’m not saying not to get paid either. Doing things for free can actually create some enemies. If you’re planning on doing things for free, I don’t recommend advertising it. Not only will it devalue your work but it will devalue the work of those around you.
That said, if you see someone that could use your help - don’t be afraid to reach out directly. Work something out.
If you do get something together with them, there’s something critically important to do: treat it like you’re getting paid big bucks.
There’s no point in doing all this work for little to no pay, just to end up being flaky or half-hearted about it. The whole reason you’re doing this is to build up your reputation. You’d want that to be a good one, so don’t do anything to mess that up.
Once that’s done, you might have a friend and you might not. There’s no guarantees, but keep putting yourself out there until you build up your stable of folks that know they can turn to you for help - and you can to them in turn.
Surrender Some Time to the Time Suck
Speaking of putting yourself out there: social media.
Yes, it’s a cesspool at the best of times. The trick is to ignore it and find the good.
And there’s a ton of good out there if you know where to look.
Twitter / X, Bluesky, Threads
Without getting into the chaos that has come to Twitter, you’re looking at a fragmented environment for your text-based apps. Twitter is still where I find the most of the engagement with indie comics - even if some folks have sworn it off entirely. It helps that most APIs continue to work with this, so you’ll get a lot of the scheduled stuff along with actual engagement.
Bluesky and Threads still feel nascent. A lot of bugs to work out and features that aren’t quite there yet, but they improve every day. If I have any pet peeves about these two, it’s that a lot of conversations tend to revolve around Twitter - how it’s changed or how “this” platform is better than current Twitter. They still need their own identity.
Instagram is a tricky one. You never know who you’re speaking to - if anyone. Some hit, some don’t. The only surefire way to drive engagement is to open your wallet.
Still, if you have art to share, there’s not much better than here. Videos grow your audience more than anything though, so I’ve been experimenting with that a lot lately (and cross-posting on Tiktok and YouTube).
You need to please the algorithm to get that attention and you never feel that as much as you do on these platforms.
Discord
If anything feels like the glory days of social media, it’s Discord.
Nothing else will make you feel like it’s a small world like Discord either. Many of your new creator friends you’ve made in other Discord servers, on Instagram or Twitter - they’re all in servers here.
As for which ones to join, I’d recommend keeping an eye open for when Travis Gibb opens up invites to his servers.
Or joining the Two Headed Nerd - a server of comic fans of quite possibly my favourite, if not my most listened to, podcast. The conversations here are the closest I’ve had to replicating a crowded Wednesday in a good LCS.
Or start your own (and invite me!)
Substack
It’s me, hi. (Are people over Taylor Swift post Superbowl?)
This platform is one of my favourites. The engagement is truly impressive. With over 300 or so of you following along - and more than half actually reading the posts - nothing compares.
They’ve been experimenting more and more with social features like DMs, followers (rather than subscribers) and chat features. Outside of podcasting and the “Notes”, which is another Twitter offshoot, I haven’t used many of them.
I’m all for the experimentation anyway. This platform has been very promising and I will be on here for a long time. If you haven’t started your own Substack, I highly recommend it.
If you have, share it in the comments!
Meet Me at the Con
Conferences in the corporate world are usually a dull affair. Everyone in full icky “networking” mode, just doing it completely wrong left and right. It’s hard to leave a corporate conference without feeling drained in the worst way. A day (or more, if you’re unlucky) of big, fake smiles and hidden intentions.
Comic Conventions, on the other hand, are a celebration.
Yes, there’s still a lot of fake smiles and exhausted people, but most people are there because they truly want to be. They’re a fan of the medium. They wouldn’t be there if they weren’t. Every single person has staked something to get in - whether it’s the attendee who paid to get in or the folks in Artist Alley just trying to sell enough to pay off their table fees before the weekend is up.
Cons are a great opportunity to meet people at your level, above it and below. Be open and understanding. Tell people if you’re a fan of their work. Buy something!
Just try to remember not to crowd or block a creator’s table. As much as they may love talking to you, unless you’re clearing out their inventory - they have work to do.
The time and place for lingering is not on the show floor — or even in the building.
Informally, “BarCon” is the Con away from the Con. Don’t be shy to grab a drink or a burger with new friends you’ve made on the floor. Chat everyone up - or just sit back and listen. Just be a human and relax.
Don’t Overthink It
Making friends can be hard. Especially as you get older. It was easy when you were in school and the same people would be there every day. It would happen organically.
As people have lives to get back to after work, making and keeping friends takes effort.
But that doesn’t mean it has to be hard.
Put yourself out there when you find people with common interests. Take a real interest in those you meet. Extend an olive branch without being pushy.
Don’t overthink it. Just be a good friend to those around you and new, long-lasting friends will come.
Thanks, Friend
If you’ve read this far, consider me a friend.
I really appreciate the time you’ve taken. Feel free to let me know about you in the comments, this new-fangled Substack DM or email me at adriano@pestocomics.com
If you’re in Toronto, find me at one of the Cons and say “hi!”
Until next time, buddy….
What’s Next?
April 1
Recalculating Route
Why changing course and being able to pivot is critical
April 15
A Personal Story - Il Pescatore
My entry in "The City We Chose" by TO Comix
Networking is Icky