When I first started setting up at conventions as a professional, I really just stayed around my area. Really just going to the Chicago Comic Con (now Wizard World Chicago) and that's it. After going to just a couple of conventions there setting up, I got what's called "the Con Life". Meaning I had a taste for meeting new people all the time and selling at shows. As a professional, it's SUCH a good feeling to sell that first piece of art you worked on. Be it a print you worked on, comic or commission. It just feels good because someone else thought it was good enough for them to buy. You can't put a price on that feeling.
After setting up at the Chicago Comic Con for 2 years (2007-2008), I had the itch to do a couple of more shows. So the next one I attended was Wizard World Texas (2008). Yes I started building my name as a colorist locally in my area, but I wanted to expand. I had a friend in TX I could stay with, so, that worked out perfectly. At the time, driving to conventions wasn't even an option (mainly because I was still working in retail management). So we flew (Brandon and myself). I didn't have much to pack up and take with me. My marker set was smaller and I didn't have a lot of prints or books, so it was pretty easy.
After the Wizard World TX show, I was hooked. I wanted to do as many conventions as I could. But working retail, I couldn't take off a lot of weekends. I was lucky to get a weekend day off a month (if you work retail, you know how that goes). But in 2009, one of the best things happened to me which changed my life forever. I was fired. Yup, I was fired from my retail job at Crate and Barrel. Which most people would be down about, but I was actually pretty excited. Because now, I can do a LOT more shows.
Over the next few years, I started picking up more shows and starting meeting my "Con Family". We'd always see each other at shows and started to get to know one another. It got comfortable. I'd see these HUGE set ups people would have and wanted to expend my set up as well. As I did, I didn't realize I'd have to get this all on a plane. It didn't occur to me. With a bigger set up, means you can have more stuff at shows to sell and display. So trying to get everything on a plane wasn't working. I've heard horror stories from some of the artists that their luggage was overweight and charged over $200. Shipping banners or art, it would get lost or completely damaged. I didn't want to have a horror story of my own..lol! That's when I decided to start driving to conventions (about 2011). I'd drive to as many shows as I could make it too. No matter if they were back to back shows for weeks.
2012, I suggested to Brandon that I really needed his help at conventions and we do better as a team on the road. So he quit his job and came with me on the road. Now, we can drive anytime to ANY convention. Boy did we ever. We drove to Florida, New York, Canada, Texas, Seattle, San Diego, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City (all more than once). We got to see a LOT of this beautiful country. Seeing mountains for the first time (on our own) really opens your eyes to how amazing this country is.
After about 200,000 miles we decided to relax our car for a little bit and last year, for the first time, take a train to a convention. We went to Seattle. That train ride from Wisconsin to Seattle. WOW! I suggest if you want to take a nice ride (long), but a nice ride, take a train from the Midwest to the West. It's amazing! And since we were off to a convention, I had to take my set up with me. The best thing about taking stuff with you on the train, it's not like a plane. There isn't a weight limit. We brought everything for MUCH less than the flight. Would we do that again? YOU BETCHA! But we'll get the "sleeper". We sat in the regular seats (which were comfy), but sleeping in a bed, and bathing would have been nice..lol!
I can saw that over the past 5-6 years of me traveling, I don't regret it. It was a LOT of fun and both Brandon and I got to spend more time together. Even though it was in a car..lol.
But now, we're pretty much staying locally and with the animation studio (Jeff Balke Studios), I really can't travel as much as I did (which is FINE by me..lol). Yes driving/traveling is amazing, but it takes a lot out of you.
An older pic at a convention. My little island I had
