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Post by alaird on Apr 28, 2024 14:44:43 GMT
who's going to be at tcaf? i've kinda snuck my way in by organizing a comic reading event. a lot of friends were waitlisted this year (i think bcuz of their every other year rule.) bcuz of this i do not know a lot of people on the exhibitor list. my vibe from going last year is that they are veering more towards the YA graphic novel-aspirational types, but curious if anybody has thoughts as well. i think this is a trend that is connected with all the big "indie" comic festivals and there are worse offenders for sure. there was always something a bit off with the big festivals and how it was insisted upon how important they were, but it's become more clear that they're not the best avenue to get your work out there if you're not a certain type of cartoonist. i like tcaf cuz im from toronto and its a fun excuse to visit friends, but i know a lot of people who are kinda just writing it off and i cant entirely blame them. ending the wowee zonk browsery was a big reason for a lot of people. i think its a general trend towards decentralizing and more and more specific niches within indie comics, but it was nice how much diversity and quality of work was in the wowee zonk browsery like 5 years ago. def did not see that last year at tcaf in the entirety of the show lol. and i think that's on purpose - they're zeroing in on the YA crowd. im guessing there's a lot of eyeballs and money in that? anyway come say hi to me. ill be somewhere on the second floor.
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Post by dominocorp on Apr 29, 2024 18:04:11 GMT
I always felt the Wowee Zonk room was condescending, grouping all the 'weird' stuff together as if they were doing people a favor by including it at all---then, building up good will from the favor/ using good will to bolster the festivals reputation, only to not even bother with it in the end. Glad overall, I guess, that people making $5 zines wont get conned into making a trip all the way from USA to Canada and spending $100s on gas/accomadations to sit around for a couple days in a mostly hostile to what you're doing library.
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tcaf
Apr 29, 2024 19:04:58 GMT
Post by alaird on Apr 29, 2024 19:04:58 GMT
it didnt feel condescending at all, and patrick and ginette are great curators who had a very good read on what was going on in comics. i would say during peak wowee zonk at tcaf the quality of unique artists spilt over past the curated section over into the rest of the festival. there was a genuine excitement for the curation wowee zonk was doing, that made other cartoonists want to just attend tcaf bcuz of that. everyone i know did pretty well at wowee zonk too so it was usually worth the trip for people, but i think bcuz of how the fest is now and who they are catering to that audience doesnt really come anymore, like i said above.
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tcaf
Apr 29, 2024 19:21:14 GMT
Post by dominocorp on Apr 29, 2024 19:21:14 GMT
oh i dont think the curation was condescending, just how it was treated.
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tcaf
Apr 29, 2024 20:21:52 GMT
Post by BubblesZine on Apr 29, 2024 20:21:52 GMT
I'll be there, I went two years ago, had a decent time and didn't go last year just to do other stuff. This year I'm trying to promote my books so I'm looking forward to being there.
As far as them focusing on YA, I'll say I'm surprised by how few special guests I'd heard of, maybe some are in that scene? I think I cast my net pretty wide, but maybe not as wide as I think.
Either way should be fun even if just a reason to see some friends.
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tcaf
Apr 29, 2024 21:52:44 GMT
Post by alaird on Apr 29, 2024 21:52:44 GMT
yeah i dont even know if all the special guests are even YA. im in the same boat as you, im just genuinely curious who these people are, with a tiny bit of shade on the side for there being less tables for people who i like.
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Post by mikesheawright on Apr 30, 2024 0:22:18 GMT
i went last year and loved it, met up with a bunch of cool cartoonists i mainly know through online places. got invited to dinner with a few people randomly, we went to the doug wright awards which were super charming. i sold a bunch of my stuff, bought a bunch of weird stuff like Michael Mouse, didn't get the feeling that it was YA heavy. it's just an enormous show so there's a little bit of everything. it's super well-organized and there's a really cool energy in that library space. not going this year but hope to go next year again, do recommend.
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Post by jporcellino on Apr 30, 2024 13:56:10 GMT
I would like to think the shows are not intentionally leaning towards YA stuff, but more that's what artists who want to go to those shows are making. But it is always sad to see once cutting edge shows gradually get their grit sanded off.
Unfortunately, I never really did very well at TCAF, especially considering what a major show it is. Even at SPX, which felt to me the last time I attended (a long time ago now) that it had gone full bore MOR, I always did well with sales. Perhaps it's (SPX vs TCAF) just an easier show for US readers (ie more readers) to attend?
I managed to get into the Wowee Zonk room at TCAF once. I remember it being my best TCAF, if not only for sales (which I do remember being better than average) but for the camaraderie. It felt like a zine fest bubble inside a giant comics show. Which I guess it is, or was. Why did they stop including it?
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Post by jporcellino on Apr 30, 2024 14:01:04 GMT
Also, I always drove up to TCAF, and the last time I crossed, the border experience was harrowing. US Customs searched every inch of my car, including the open potato chip bag on the passenger seat, and basically made it clear I was now on their "list" and had to use the Commercial Lanes with the 18-wheelers, and to expect a three hour delay every time I crossed. I was also detained once coming into Canada, a stop that seemed to include them taking apart my rental car. I don't know for sure. I was in the separate "waiting area" listening to mechanics take hydraulic bolt removers to it. Just not worth the hassle.
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Post by alaird on Apr 30, 2024 19:18:22 GMT
yeah ive heard driving up for americans never goes well. i had a similar situation driving up two years ago where they lined us all up and made us watch as like 7 guys tore our car apart lmao. flying in with a checked bag seems to be the move, they're not scrutinizing you as much and dont assume you're a major drug smuggler.
the festival also came under new leadership in the last 2-3 years as well, which may explain the major tone shift. but honestly this has been a gradual transformation for awhile across the board at most major festivals.
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tcaf
Apr 30, 2024 23:22:49 GMT
Post by BubblesZine on Apr 30, 2024 23:22:49 GMT
Damn John! I've never had an issue driving over. Hoping for the same this year... Putting all my books in suitcases and hope to just cruise though like last time.
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Post by mikesheawright on May 1, 2024 23:13:15 GMT
i'm sure they mentioned this in the emails but if you're going over the border the organizers always suggest making a fake invoice for The Beguiling that says your books have already been purchased by them and you're just going to drop them off.
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mamalips
Junior Member
Posts: 97
Member is Online
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tcaf
May 7, 2024 10:40:39 GMT
via mobile
Post by mamalips on May 7, 2024 10:40:39 GMT
Anyone know of any new releases debuting at tcaf?
GoPressGirl are releasing Luke Kruger-Howard's The Big Mystery Case in a fancy edition
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tcaf
May 11, 2024 22:45:38 GMT
Post by cartoonysam on May 11, 2024 22:45:38 GMT
I'm not tabling at TCAF in-person (as much I would love to), but I am selling all issues of The Shapes on their Digital Marketplace.
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