Finally picked the cheaper comic con over the big one this year

I had to choose between the huge San Diego con and a smaller local one in Portland last month, and I went with Portland to save cash and avoid crowds. Honestly, I met like 6 indie artists who actually talked to me for 10 minutes each, way better than fighting for a glance at a big booth. Has anyone else had a better time at a smaller show than they expected?

3 comments

3 Comments

sandra_bennett591mo ago

You said "artist alley vibes are just way more personal" but honestly, that personal touch usually comes with way less variety. The big cons bring in heavy hitters from all over the country, not just a handful of local folks with the same watercolor style. Ngl, I'd rather deal with a little crowd than miss out on seeing something I've literally never seen before.

riley_wood841mo ago

Right? Like paying less to actually have a conversation with a human instead of yelling at a celebrity's security guard is the real deal. Maybe I'm just old but that sounds way more fun.

holly_reed551mo ago

Smaller cons let you actually breathe and connect with people, that's the real win here. Met a guy at a tiny show in Ohio last year who did custom sketch covers for $5, something you'd never get at a mega event. The artist alley vibes are just way more personal and you don't feel like cattle being herded through a maze.