Hey guys! Exciting news, especially for those of you in my home state of Maryland: I have a series of t-shirts available on the website SuperFanStyle.com!
Awesome Con (May 29-31) in Washington, DC! We've heard so much positivity about this show and have gotten some very professional-looking flyers for it since it's inception a few years ago. With my best friend and frequent partner-in-crime Fenny of Little Asian Sweatshop living right outside of DC, we figured we'd give AC a shot and see if it's something we'd like to add to our regular convention schedule. This was the first show of 2015 with our regular dream team of pinup goddesses: Fenny of Little Asian Sweatshop, Maria Danalakis and of course, myself.
A video posted by Paige Pumphrey (@paigey_pumphrey) on
Once upon a time 3 little girls went to Starfleet Academy...
Overall I liked Awesome Con. It wasn't perfect, but the stuff that it got right- especially for a show only a few years old- was stuff that will make it into a great con once it's been around a few years. They really had their shit together. Lots of staff, all very friendly and willing to help. Unlike my last show. Lots of room behind the tables as well. Enough room to put on SKITS, because me and my friends are ridiculous. And the three of us donned some classic Star Trek uniforms, of course. I mean both William Shatner AND George Takei were guests there. We HAD to.
A video posted by Paige Pumphrey (@paigey_pumphrey) on
Haha, yes we are ridiculous.
I got my bangs specially cut to be a Vulcan that weekend.
There were a few things I wasn't super crazy about.
A big one was realizing I'm not that crazy about DC in general. When I lived in Maryland I used to avoid it like the plague- the traffic is crazy, it's easy to get lost in and it being an older city who's general infrastructure doesn't handle the influx of people coming in and going out. Also after living in NYC for 8 years (woo!) their Metro system compared to the subway is a confusing, high-stakes nightmare. That closes around midnight. Ugh. Now I remember why I never went to the city without an 'adult' to guide me.
After setup on Friday.
Also it being such a young show, from what I've heard in years previous they have expanded the floor to accommodate bigger crowds every year since the show has been opened. The problem with this however is when you keep expanding the floor, everything gets placed further and further apart. Including attendees. Much like the last Heroes Con I attended in '13, the expansion causes even record crowds to appear smaller which leads to less hype, less excitement and less sales on the convention floor. I'd actually rather have a smaller floorplan with more crowding of attendees in the aisles than large swaths of empty floor shining back up at me. But then that's easy for me to say as a mere vendor. So... ::womp womp::. Also? I think the show could stand to be a 2-day versus a 3-day.
We also had Artist Alley neighbors who were a male artist and his wife who insisted on keeping their small 2-3 year old son strapped in a stroller behind the table with headphones and an iPad for almost the entire duration of the show, and when he wasn't watching the ipad he was sleeping in the stroller. Oh and they fed the kid candy. ALLLLL DAY. Which is a total buzzkill, because now we need to watch our volume, watch our language and listen to the kid freak out and cry when the ipad runs out of juice. Fortunately the mom had the sense to stroll the kid away when he started to melt down, but still... ugh. Originally in our layout of our tables we had Fenny next to the family, which if you've ever met Fenny you'd know in a convention setting she is very loud, very boisterous and very potty-mouthed. Having already witnessed some epic snippiness last year at Baltimore Comic Con over Fenny's volume levels, I had the forethought to switch with her to the furthest table space to avoid further possible conflict. Ever the little adjudicator I am.
We found an awesome Uhura and had to get pics with her. <3 comment-3--="">
Also SAD, my trusty vertical Paigey banner died at this show. I opened it up for the first time after coming back from Dallas and when I pulled it out of the bag about 3-4 little nuts and bolts fell out too that controlled the spring mechanism that brings the vinyl banner back into the base and holds up the support pole. It had a good 4 years and I wanted to get a new one anyways, so now that def has to happen.
We were also near the ever-awesome Jennifer Rose and Ruby Rinesko as Batman and Batgirl!!!
Overall I really liked Awesome Con, but I'll probably give it a couple years to come into it's own before I return. My earnings weren't quite enough to validate the trip down, plus a lot of the folks I saw were my regular customers at Baltimore Comic Con, which is a lot easier for me to get to.
Me on my 34th birthday! I drank whiskey, got the meat sweats and went to bed at a reasonable time!
Haha, WHOOPS. Looks like time got away from me and I haven't updated my
blog in a while. Fortunately you guys didn't miss too much excitement-
my last show of the year was NYCC and after that I kinda crashed for a
month after some supreme burnout, so there hasn't been much new artwork,
either. There were a few birthdays, Halloween and of course the
holidays to enjoy, and strangely enough I found myself just busy enough to just go ahead and live life for a little bit. I know, WEIRD.
Halloween! Actually going out this year, I just grabbed stuff out of my closet to be a waitress. My
wardrobe has actually become ridiculous enough to have several costume
options right at my fingertips. I'm kinda proud of this fact.
"Smoking or non?"
I got a NEW TATTOO!! A super-cool, super-badass old school scorpion on my left, inner forearm by Hunter Spanks, one of my favorite tattoo artists. I got it because I'm a Scorpio and I need more tattoos of animals and stuff to balance out all these pinups, haha. So this is number 18! You can check Hunter out at Have Fun Be Lucky in Baltimore, Md. I love it! The colors are crazy and it's so super bold.
FEEL MY STING!
My NYC BFF Christy's twin sister Megan (who I used to work at Hot Topic with back in the dizzay) had a surprise baby shower! It was gothy and Edgar Allen Poe-themed! It was great to see a bunch of my Maryland pals all at once!
Obligatory bathroom selfie, of course!
My two bibs I made at the bib-making station! Dracula and Wolfman themed!
Such the little over-achiever. I'm was determined to make those fabric paints my bitch.
For my birthday present to myself, I *finally* ordered the What Katie Did Morticia underbust corset I had been eyeing for the better part of the year. And OMG it's AMAAAAAZING. I seriously can't wait to wear this at conventions with my costumes. Who needs dieting? (I kid, I started doing yoga after Thanksgiving...)
OOTD from when I went out for a friend's birthday in Dec
I had it SUPER tight laced, but then had to loosen it as I wasn't able to sit forward enough to do my makeup properly.
REAL QUICK CORSET TALK: I
don't screw with overbusts. They can't contain me, haha. I almost
always prefer underbusts because then I can just wear my normal bras,
plus they push everything up adding to how crazy the waist-hip-bust
ratio looks. If you get a shorter one that doesn't come down far on your
hips I've noticed that the more you sit in it, the more it gets pushed
up under your boobs and you can't get it back down again unless you take
it off and re-lace it. Which can lead to an uncomfortable skewering
feeling as the boning goes up into your underboob, which happened at
NYCC in my Marilyn outfit by the end of the day. The What Katie Did one I
wore however has much lower hips (called 'gored hips'...) which seem to
keep it in place better and actually helps with containing the stomach
bulge that I've noticed in other corsets where the lower gut protrudes
out because it's been squeezed out with no here to go. This
Morticia corset is amazing, I read a lot of reviews (all great) and
could tell when I got it that it was of a higher craftsmanship than most
of my other corsets. It's HEAVY. They're def an investment. I justified
that it would take all the dresses and outfits I already have and make
them look better- you can wear this on top of or underneath clothing
easily. I
wear the Spanx hi-cut underwear underneath it if I'm wearing it under
clothes. I read that it's better for you and the corset to have
something between it and your skin while wearing. Keeps it cleaner,
causes less irritation and friction. And if I'm not wearing pantyhose I'll put some Spanx bike short things on over top to help with chub rub, and it smooths out the seams of the corset if you're wearing it under clothes. I'm actually not as crazy as some of the people who's blogs I've read about corsets. I'm
still amazed my burlesque friends can dance around in them. I can
barely make it up steps without getting gaspy. And going to the bathroom in one
is a skill that takes a year or two to master.
With the holidays queued up, Phil and I started work on our second annual holiday card that we send to friends, family and clients! We started this tradition last year after receiving cards from other cartoonist that were drawing their own cards as well. It's a good little end-of-the-year reminder that we exist to people, even if we only see some folks a few times a year at shows and the like. This years was way more of a seamless collaboration than last year's, with my drawing the pencils for the 20's cartoon Phil and I, and Phil drawing in everything else, including the sled, Loki and the colors. This year we sent out almost 100 cards!
Phil and I at a Christmas party
Why are bathrooms always so nicely lit? A question for the ages!
And then we packed our bags for Christmas family time in both Baltimore for my family and Perryville, Missouri for Phil's family!
Hanging with my nephew Fionn, showing off our Pumphrey good looks!
Monster Mania Convention in Hunt Valley, Md (Oct 3-5) was a bit of an experiment in seeing how well horror movie fans would receive my artwork and merchandise. I plan to attend my first West Coast show in California next year- Monsterpalooza, and don't want to spend upwards of a couple thousand dollars on a trip out to Cali if people weren't receptive. Fortunately the folks met at Monster Mania were perhaps some of the most overwhelmingly pleasant fans I have had the pleasure to meet. Even covered in fake blood and brandishing plastic chainsaws. ;)
On Friday as a gothy pop-art pinup.
!? fascinator by Janine Basil
Monster Mania is another show in Maryland where I can save boku bucks traveling down by bus, staying at my parents house and borrowing my mom's car. My partner-in-crime Fenny of Little Asian Sweatshop joined me Friday and Saturday of the show and we split a 6' table between the two of us. It's an intimate hotel convention, at the old Hunt Valley Inn up in Cockeysville (about a 40 minute drive from my parents house). I'm actually pretty familiar with the hotel because of conventions I attended as a fan many years ago and for conferences when I used to sell tvs and stereos back in the day. There are actually 3 Monster Mania shows a year- two in NJ and one in Md. Everyone kept saying the spring show in NJ is way bigger and crazier and how we should come back and do that one. While this is a possibility- attending a show in NJ means getting a hotel room and meals out and that is a GIANT chunk out of our profits. So maybe, but not likely anytime soon.
All set up!
I had planned on creating more horror/monster themed artwork to sell specifically for MM, but time constraints and a crazy busy schedule between Baltimore Comic Con, this and NYCC along with my dayjob was simply too much. Fortunately I had a little bit of monster art to draw people in- but interestingly enough it was mostly my superhero stuff that was the hot seller. I think because there wasn't a lot of that there- so it stood out from the rest of the vendors. Goes to show- even when vending at a specialty event, bring *everything* with you. Within reason, of course. Monster Mania being the weekend before NYCC, which is my biggest show of the year- I was actually afraid I might sell out of stuff and not have time to make more during the week. Oh!, but what a problem to have, amirite? My inventory definitely did take a hit from MM, but I still had a satisfactory amount to bring for NYCC.
Francesca and the Monster's Mate
We had a
ton of fun selling at our table! We dressed up every day of the show-
including what is possibly our most obscure cosplay to date- me as
Francesca and Fenny as the Monster's Mate/ Phyllis Diller from
Rankin/Bass's 1967 special Mad Monster Party? (The ? is part of the
title...) I don't recall anyone at the show being able to tell who we
were supposed to be- not that that is surprising. I only actually saw
MMP? for the first time about a year ago. Everyone LOVED our outfits
though. Leave it to us to wear something from a kid's Halloween special from the 60's to the blood-and-guts show.
The actual Francesca and Monster's Mate Animagic puppets
They were total sweethearts when I asked for a picture. It's not everyday I feel teeny-tiny.
Jason is Keith. Leatherface is Lance.
This is the reference I sent Fifi's for my wig.
Speaking
of kid stuff- and now I'm not judging as much as I'm making an observation
of the weekend- I must say: I saw A LOT of small, crying children at
this show. Now I'm not a parent (nor do I have any plans to be one
anytime soon) but speaking as a former child, I can completely
understand where these kids are coming from with bawling their eyes out.
Now I'm all for kids having some amount of fear for things in their
lives. It sparks the imagination and may feed creative endeavors down
the road. Myself, for example: I used to be TERRIFIED of skeletons. To
the point that I could not watch any Indiana Jones movies or the second
half of Goonies. Nor could I ride Pirates of the Caribbean without
hiding my eyes until I heard singing. I was also afraid of Judge Doom
from Roger Rabbit, The Greedy from Raggedy Ann and Andy and mere
commercials from Nightmare on Elm Street would give me nightmares for
weeks. I left the theater during The Burbs. Shoot, I even covered my
eyes during the Aliens riff at the end of Spaceballs. I didn't really
get a grip on my fears until junior high, when I started learning about
serial killers and REAL monsters in the world. And now? I'm writing my eventual magnum opus comic about demons, murderers and vampires and watch true
crime shows on the daily. My own wedding was covered in skeletons. I
love me some monsters, and the movies I just mentioned are some of my
all-time favorites now. All the stuff I was afraid of though, was under
controlled circumstances. Movies can be watched beforehand so warnings
are issued to cover your eyes. Ultimately, they can be turned off.
Bringing your kid to a horror convention, you can't control that environment. You
don't know what's around every corner, you don't know what's going to be
on display. People jump out. People wear costumes- some amazingly
terrifying and gory and relish in being in character. And it's really
pretty selfish to think that everyone else at the show who is there to celebrate movies that are rated PG-13, R and worse- should have to take into account the fact that you brought an emotionally unprepared 7 year old girl in a princess Elsa costume. Get a sitter, it's cheaper than therapy in the long run.
Ok, maybe I did start judging a bit there. 9_9;
So tired on Sunday. -___-;
Overall, MM was a very profitable show- I would def like to do it again, schedule permitting. There was a great party atmosphere, especially on Saturday as the vending room was winding down and most of the convention goers were obviously visiting the bar and starting to ramp up their room parties. How funny just a few weeks ago we were being shushed at our table at Baltimore Comic Con when at MM *we* were the quiet, reserved ones(!!!). And Monsterpalooza out in California is def going to happen, which i am super super excited about. ::starts saving money::
Yay! Another Baltimore Comic Con (9/5-7) for the books!! This year marked my *8th* year vending at conventions! This was also the first year Baltimore Comic Con opened up it's doors on Friday- which omg made setting up the table and getting myself prepared for the show SO MUCH EASIER. This year I was set up in Artist Alley with my BFF Little Asian Sweatshop- we each had one full table and our widest selection of products yet.
Every other year with it being a two-day show it's an absolute mess trying to get up to the show with all of my merch, half dressed in costume, all before 10am when the doors open and gads of people start filing through because it's also the BIGGEST day of the show. It was a welcome addition to have the extra day to take my time setting up and even bring my con outfit and makeup to the show separately so I wouldn't get all sweaty and bust a seam setting up. It's actually become my new thing that I do on setup days and at shows that require crazy prep the morning of. I'm really surprised I haven't started doing it sooner.
Tactical error in parking on Friday- 3 trips to the car in 100+ heat.
BUT SO MANY CALORIES BURNED.
This year's Baltimore Comic Con continues to become more and more of a successful endeavor for me every year, with this being my most prosperous yet. I think the combination of having done it so many years in a row, along with it being my hometown show- so many of my friends from various stages of my life come out to see me and say hello and support me with purchases and kind words. It is so appreciated. There are no fans like Baltimore fans- once you've earned their favor they will continue to support you every year you make yourself available to them.
Retro COBRA office ladies!
Saturday was our big day where we finally got to wear our retro Cobra typing pool costumes and they were very well received.We've even inspired a few friends to join in, so hopefully in the future we'll see more snarky (or should I say SNAKEY?) office ladies.
Harvey Awards mixer? Or Cobra recruitment meet-and-greet?
Saturday night my husband Phil and I attended the Harvey Awards dinner- he and his team at Kodansha Comics (where I also work my day job as a manga letterer) were nominated for Best American Edition of Foreign Material for the Attack on Titan manga. Everyone else at Kodansha had already been down in Baltimore for Otakon one month previous, so Phil attended on the team's behalf. The dinner and awards ceremony were great fun, my only gripe was that after a full day of working the show in an uncomfortable outfit- I may have gotten a bit snippy with people (mostly my ever loving and patient husband). Plus actual industry parties with big wigs and editors and old comics guard tend to make me nervous. This is why I don't typically do afterparties. I'm much more comfortable socializing in a 'work' setting like my table.
Phil and I at the Harvey Awards dinner
**And excitement! They won! Yay!!**
Yay!
Sunday was another crazy day- maybe even crazier than Saturday. So many friends and fans came by to say hello. Baltimore truly is one of my favorite shows of the year. I also have to say a special shout to the Friends of Humanity from the 90's X-Men cartoon cosplayers. I literally laughed so hard I cried when I saw them. And they were IN CHARACTER!!! Shouting 'NO MORE MUTANTS!' in that ridiculous redneck accent from the show. If only they had a Graydon Creed with them in a red suit. It was SO GREAT. You guys have NO IDEA how much my husband and I quote from the X-Men cartoon.
IMHO, best cosplay all weekend. I cried laughing.
And now for an amusing story:
Sunday was a cluster of seeing SO MANY FRIENDS that at one point I think we had about 10+ people from various stations of our lives hanging out around our table. It was exciting to see so many people and when Fenny especially sees someone she loves she explodes with unbridled squealy happiness. There was no doubt for that :45-hour that our table was the place to be. It was such a rag-tag gaggle of cosplayers, pinup girls, tattoo artists and punk rockers hanging out with us and having such a good time enjoying each other's company that we actually had to be SHUSHED by an AA neighbor 5 tables down. Which he did so indignantly we initially thought he was joking. No one could be THAT lame, right? But really- dude is 5 tables down from us on the same side. Clearly we're all having a good time. It's a comic show, not a wake. Instead of coming around front and politely asking Fenny or I like people if we can turn down our volume, he goes around behind 5 other AA tables, pops his head out from behind my vertical banner and hisses at us all to 'stop screaming because he keeps thinking someone is hurt!' Because he thinks he'll have to run over here and give us all mouth-to-mouth? I honestly don't know. Fenny and I initially thought he was kidding, he was being so melodramatic about it. My friend badass tattoo artist Hunter Spanks was like 'Holy shit that dude was SO SERIOUS- and I thought tattoo shows had DRAMA! This is GREAT!' Once our pals started to dissipate and Fenny and I were left alone to our tables I kept noticing every time the dude passed our table he would give us a massive stink eye. To which I, in my DILIGAF best- smile and wave back to him with a 'yeah- stop screaming we're so loud, wokka wokka!' Because if he's going to act like a joke then I'm going to treat him like a joke. Fenny couldn't have been happier- she LIVES for people having a problem with her. She loves it almost as much as praise. And if he actually had the balls to say anything to us afterwards (which he didn't) there were SO MANY WAYS we could have played it. There was the standard 'Really? We thought you were joking!' route- where dude has to admit he is a lamoid who can't handle anyone else having fun. Especially since his table? From the looks of it- NOT so much the place to be. (I think someone might have been jealousssss...) There was also my topical favorite- which was 'Excuse me but are you trying to SILENCE MY FEMALE VOICE?' Because yeah, hot button issue of sexism in comics and at conventions. Ready the pitchforks.
Overall, it reminded me way too much of this episode of
Always Sunny in Philadelphia:
Either way, that dude was lame and we are awesome.
