Perspective: Why Artists are Losing Appeal on the Convention Floor and What Can Be Done (A Response to Denise Dorman's "Is Cosplay Killing Comic-Con?")

Yesterday, I’ve read an article from Bleeding Cool written by Ms. Denise Dorman who is the wife of famed illustrator Dave Dorman about how cosplayers could possibly be ruining cons. She argued that convention attendees nowadays are more interested in cosplaying (seeing cosplays or cosplaying) rather than spending money at the exhibitors' hall or the artist alley. I believe that’s partly true but I disagree that cosplayers are the ONLY reason why artists are doing bad in conventions.

Here are some other possible reasons why.

First of all, ticket prices are getting more and more expensive (not to mention food, lodging, parking and other expenses) because most conventions invite big-name celebrities as guests/panelists. It just makes sense for attendees to make sure that they use their convention time to line up and see one of these panels to justify the cost of the ticket. If you go to a concert, would you go check out the merchandise first or will you prioritize seeing the concert you paid for? 

Secondly, almost everything is available online nowadays. Gone are the days when conventions are all about the con-exclusives. There’s just not much to expect from exhibitors anymore. Unlike a toy, attendees cannot own and take cosplayers home and that’s why there is so much appeal to see them in-person. However, with toys, collectors can just pre-order them online and still bask in the joy of having it once it arrives at their doorsteps. There was also a time when people see and buy art because there’s no other way to enjoy it. However, in today’s digital world, one can easily Google an image and make it into their phone/computer wallpaper. Most artists also have an online shop where people can buy their work. The shipping fee might be a problem but it will still be less expensive than paying for a ticket. The only incentive in buying them from their convention booths is that they are physically there to sign it for you, talk to you and maybe, network with you.

Thirdly, artists are competing with a wide variety of products and entertainment on the floor. I understand that artists might have been successful in comic conventions in the past but like I said, the conventions and the demographic are evolving. In the past, there are probably more art to show than mass-produced products. “Collectibles” range from limited edition pins to DVD boxsets to toys/statues/figures to prop and costume replicas. Mrs. Dorman mentioned that maybe the "creators" are starting to become irrelevant and that "conventions are no longer shows about commerce, product launches, and celebrating the people who created this genre in the first place" but it still is! Who were these "creators" she was talking about? Comic book "creators"? I don't think they're getting ignored because of cosplay though. It's the evolving entertainment itself that's phasing them out. Now that "comic" conventions are becoming more and more about TV, film and game entertainment than comic books, there's much more to be appreciated and celebrated. Sad as it is but people just cannot give everyone the attention they deserve. It's like expecting someone to watch every single show available on Netflix. It's just impossible. Prioritizing something and ignoring the other is inevitable.

Lastly, maybe the artist was just at the wrong place selling his/her goods to the wrong market. If it wasn’t selling, it’s probably because it wasn’t desired. Enough said.

So what could artists do?

Know the market. 

For example, at Animé  Expo, it would be best if the artist sells fan art of animé  characters since a huge part of the attendees are animé  enthusiasts. Live-action series like Doctor Who or cartoons like Adventure Time probably did fine at AX only because a huge part of AX Artist Alley buyers are women (or that's what I think, at least) who like attractive and cute characters. For San Diego Comic-Con, it would be wise NOT to have the animé stuff because people aren't there for that.  In both conventions, personal work might not appeal so much. If an artist wants to showcase personal work, art conventions such as IlluxCon or CTNX are better choices because the markets over there are professionals and art enthusiasts, not pop culture fans. 

The pricing of the art plays into this too. I’ve noticed that art at AX tends to be cheaper. Not because the quality of art is less but because the attendees are mostly kids. At CTNX, the attendees are mostly professionals who could afford $20-40 prints.

Know the trend. 

Maybe the artist’s style didn't appeal to the current market because it was outdated. It seems that highly stylized art styles such as Skottie Young’s and Jake Parker’s are popular right now. Drawing realistically is one thing and drawing stylistically is another and yet I’ve seen some artists already try to make themselves more marketable by learning to do both. 

(Personal example: I’m a graphic design major interested in print and packaging. However, I’ve come to realize that no matter how much I’m passionate about the two, it’ll be better for me to know web design and programming as well because our society is heading deeper into the digital age.) 

Also, the customer is always right. It doesn't matter if the artist thinks that his/her composition or technique is far more superior than anyone’s in the room. If the art is not what the audience wants, it’s not going to sell.

Accept that times have changed and adapt. 

Mrs. Dorman mentioned that the time they wasted tabling at a con was “time [they] could be spending with [their] family and friends” and “time [they] could be actually earning money working from [their] studio and offices at home”. If selling art at a convention was not worth the time and money investments, then why go? If there was a more effective way to make money, then why bother? Maybe at this point, it's better to focus on that day job, developing personal work or spend time with loved ones instead. Conventions were never meant to be a stable means of income anyways. But if it used to feed the family and it doesn't now, then I'm sorry but that's just the way it is. Things and jobs get phased out here and there. 

I can imagine how frustrating it must be to put in the time and the money into con tabling and not getting rewarded for it but I find it very unfair to blame it on the cosplayers. They're definitely changing conventions but I wouldn't say they're ruining it. These cosplayers paid for their tickets as well and spent time and money crafting their costumes without expecting that they will get their money back. They didn't put all that work into showing up in costume to purposely sabotage anyone's sales. We should at least give them some credit for providing free entertainment. You can't blame attendees for enjoying something that's free. Also, it does not make sense to point fingers in the first place. Artist tabling is a business. Risks and losses should not be news to these kinds of endeavors.

I believe that people would still buy the product if they really want it whether there’s a cosplayer in front of them or not. The absence of a cosplayer also does not mean that it would boost everyone’s sales. When we went to SDCC last year, we didn’t even see that much cosplayers because no one wants to be in-costume in that chaos. Did we end up shopping though? No. We went around the exhibitor’s floor Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning and barely bought anything.

Bottom line is, change is the only permanent thing. Adapt or go extinct. Make art that’s unique. Spend time utilizing the changes to your advantage. If something is not working, blaming what could have caused it will not make it repair itself. Either you fix it or leave it be and find something else that would do the job.