Blog Dis
To be a pimpette...
2025-09-04
The learning process as a human, woman, and especially a writer will never stop, I suppose, until I kick the proverbial bucket and pass over to the other wily side. Until then, I will absorb whatever lessons I can, if they are deemed to be of use to me, of course.
And so, this morning, I will began to get ready for the upcoming Comic-Con event, to be held in Ottawa's EY Centre, which is located near our Uplands Airport. When I say get ready, I mean set out all that I will pack up and haul to the centre for set-up today, on this Thursday, which requires me to order the services of an Uber car, given the amount I'll be bringing, which is one hard-case suitcase on spinner wheels to carry my brand-spanking new copies of POM, to include two copies each of my Crimson series of six fantasy novels, as well as not one but three banners, two of which will be attached to the suitcase with bungie cords. I often feel like a traveling salesperson because when all is said and done, and all is set up, I enter into selling mode.
When attending a selling event, one that is as large as a Comic-Con, where a minimum of 44,000 visitors are expected to attend, over the three day event, you mouth with many people at the exhibition, and I mean you engage potential clients in dialogue, not just to sell them, but to make connections, and potentially some of these connections might lead to somewhere. Where you ask? Good question. I've landed interviews in magazines in the past, as well as my publicist. I've been interviewed on live TV at selling events, as well as make connections with book reviewers who are editors of their own e-Zines and/or magazines. I've met amazing graphic designers, and photographers, CosPlay players who attend for the sole reason to enter into competitions for the best costume, or to compete against other cosplayers playing board games. By the end of three days, my brain is typically fried because of the hours put into these shows, given that I have to utilize public transportation to and from the event site each day, which requires that I arrive before the doors officially open. I've calculated that on average these are anywhere from eight to ten-hour days. In this three day period, it feels like I've worked a full week because the hours add up to anywhere between 30 to 35 hours in three days vs the typical 37.5 work week.
It's all worth it, in the end, when I sell out on the first night and subsequent days. Nothing gives me a shot in the arm more than selling out. I make friends with my table-mates; those who have a table to my left and right, and how we engage in dialogue throughout the entire weekend. Comic-Con becomes it's own city of dwellers, and we make connections. And this, my friends, is what it's all about, to get out and pimp your wares, to mingle, converse with like-minded people, and to gawk at the amazing costumes, taking pictures. Those who arrive in their amazing costumes will begin working on their costume for next year's event, which they'll then re-use at Comic-Cons in other cities. Out of all the small business ventures that are started in countries, nothing has succeeded to the degree that has Comic-Con has in North America, Europe and elsewhere. On the news recently, they highlighted Africa's first Comic-Con and how it was a sell-out, with visitors lining up to show off their costumes.
To be a successful pimpette, this girl must dress for comfort, in bright colours, look bright-eyed and willing to relate to one and all. I've been told by my table-mates in the past that I'm charming. I've never really thought of myself this way but I guess I am to a degree. I've had people stand before my table, telling me they have no intention of buying a book, only to leave with a copy of one of my books by the time I've finished speaking with them. It's really all about sincerity. If you enjoy what you're doing, such as I do, when I attend a Comic-Con event, this sense of fun will be transmitted to your clients.
Wish me luck this weekend! This is what my table set-up looked like earlier this year when I attended the Anime convention in April. I had hoped to have worked up a new banner for this Comic-Con in Ottawa but it wasn't meant to be. However, I'll switch up one of my banners, and rather than show my face, my Crimson Dream banner will be used that depicts the church door in Ottawa, as part of my Crimson series.
And so, this morning, I will began to get ready for the upcoming Comic-Con event, to be held in Ottawa's EY Centre, which is located near our Uplands Airport. When I say get ready, I mean set out all that I will pack up and haul to the centre for set-up today, on this Thursday, which requires me to order the services of an Uber car, given the amount I'll be bringing, which is one hard-case suitcase on spinner wheels to carry my brand-spanking new copies of POM, to include two copies each of my Crimson series of six fantasy novels, as well as not one but three banners, two of which will be attached to the suitcase with bungie cords. I often feel like a traveling salesperson because when all is said and done, and all is set up, I enter into selling mode.
When attending a selling event, one that is as large as a Comic-Con, where a minimum of 44,000 visitors are expected to attend, over the three day event, you mouth with many people at the exhibition, and I mean you engage potential clients in dialogue, not just to sell them, but to make connections, and potentially some of these connections might lead to somewhere. Where you ask? Good question. I've landed interviews in magazines in the past, as well as my publicist. I've been interviewed on live TV at selling events, as well as make connections with book reviewers who are editors of their own e-Zines and/or magazines. I've met amazing graphic designers, and photographers, CosPlay players who attend for the sole reason to enter into competitions for the best costume, or to compete against other cosplayers playing board games. By the end of three days, my brain is typically fried because of the hours put into these shows, given that I have to utilize public transportation to and from the event site each day, which requires that I arrive before the doors officially open. I've calculated that on average these are anywhere from eight to ten-hour days. In this three day period, it feels like I've worked a full week because the hours add up to anywhere between 30 to 35 hours in three days vs the typical 37.5 work week.
It's all worth it, in the end, when I sell out on the first night and subsequent days. Nothing gives me a shot in the arm more than selling out. I make friends with my table-mates; those who have a table to my left and right, and how we engage in dialogue throughout the entire weekend. Comic-Con becomes it's own city of dwellers, and we make connections. And this, my friends, is what it's all about, to get out and pimp your wares, to mingle, converse with like-minded people, and to gawk at the amazing costumes, taking pictures. Those who arrive in their amazing costumes will begin working on their costume for next year's event, which they'll then re-use at Comic-Cons in other cities. Out of all the small business ventures that are started in countries, nothing has succeeded to the degree that has Comic-Con has in North America, Europe and elsewhere. On the news recently, they highlighted Africa's first Comic-Con and how it was a sell-out, with visitors lining up to show off their costumes.
To be a successful pimpette, this girl must dress for comfort, in bright colours, look bright-eyed and willing to relate to one and all. I've been told by my table-mates in the past that I'm charming. I've never really thought of myself this way but I guess I am to a degree. I've had people stand before my table, telling me they have no intention of buying a book, only to leave with a copy of one of my books by the time I've finished speaking with them. It's really all about sincerity. If you enjoy what you're doing, such as I do, when I attend a Comic-Con event, this sense of fun will be transmitted to your clients.
Wish me luck this weekend! This is what my table set-up looked like earlier this year when I attended the Anime convention in April. I had hoped to have worked up a new banner for this Comic-Con in Ottawa but it wasn't meant to be. However, I'll switch up one of my banners, and rather than show my face, my Crimson Dream banner will be used that depicts the church door in Ottawa, as part of my Crimson series.
