That One Time I Vended at Beaver State Comic Con
I am a nerd, straight up nerd. My brain is a mish mash of movie lines, song lyrics, commercials from the 80’s, and anxiety (which I blame on watching The Dark Crystal over and over as a child.) When I got accepted to vend at Rose City Comic Con last September, it seriously was a bucket list item checked off! I went as a fan the year before and my son and I have memories that will last us a lifetime. Now, I got to be a part of those memories for others, it’s an artist’s dream come true!
The Con was AMAZING, and I hope to get in again this year. I was sincerely on a high for weeks after. It fed my soul in a way that I didn’t even know it needed. I realized that Comic Cons and the like were my jam! The day I got home from Rose City, I applied to Emerald City Comic Con. I was waitlisted, and that’s ok. When I get accepted, I will be ready. Fan Expo was next, and this year (2024) I am vending at 4 Cons throughout the state of Oregon. One of these was Beaver State Comic Con, the very first Comic Con in Bend!
I was super excited to find out that a Con was coming to Bend! We are a large community, and close to Portland, so it makes sense. I applied right away, and was luckily accepted into the show. In the lead up for the Con, I wasn’t sure what to expect. How much do I need to make? Is anyone going to show up? What guests are we going to get? Is my art going to be “too much?”
Some of these questions will always plague me. Having enough is always a question I ask myself before a show. The content of my art has been challenged more this year than ever before, so that has become a new anxiety of mine. I mean, my definition of “family friendly” may be different than yours 🤭
I had a vendor friend staying with me that weekend, since she was also there for the Con. We all had no idea what to expect, as we milled around before the doors opened, and once they did, we were overwhelmed! Overwhelmed with the cosplay, the vibrancy, the engagement. You all showed up, and I was so proud of my community!
Throughout the day, I heard your stories of meeting famed guests, traveling from all over the state, other comic cons you’d been to, etc. It was soul fueling, once again. All of the vendors were kind, talented, and super present. It was my booth neighbor’s very first show EVER, and you made her feel supported. It was an awesome thing to watch and be a part of. Thank you, truly.
Luckily, I wasn’t the only person to feel this way. It was such a success, that not only is it coming back next year, but it’s also going to be 2 full days! Woohoo! This means more nerds, more artists, and more guests!
I know it seems small, but you showing up, helps me in continuing to show up too. Art can be fickle and lonely, full of self doubt and rejection. I wouldn’t have it any other way, and it only takes one event like this to help us realize why we do it, that we love doing it, and it does matter. I will see you next year Beaver State Comic Con 💜
