More worried about landing a job after graduation than cosplaying “Game of Thrones?” Believe it or not, you still might benefit from a trip to Denver Comic Con.
Tickets went on sale last week for Denver’s Comic Con 2013, a yearly three-day fan convention featuring popular comic books, movies, television shows, video games and more.
According to Tsunami Publicity, Denver’s inaugural 2012 event is believed to be the second largest opening in Comic Con history, with 27,700 in attendance this June.
It’s a little-known secret that braving the crowds at DCC offers more than the chance to get autographs and geek out over amazing artwork. There is the opportunity to network with an impressive roster of artists, authors, web designers, costumers, visual effects gurus and pop culture creators.
DU graduate and publishing professional Rebecca Job thinks signing up for artist alley is a great opportunity for students to break into the business, and advises bringing business cards.
“If you’re a writer, a cartoonist, or a sculptor you can spread the word about your product,” said Job. “There’s even the possibility of being ‘discovered’ by someone who can really help you.”
Robert Winchell, senior tech lead for URL Integrations who also contracts with Google, and designs custom websites, believes volunteering is a great way to enjoy DCC for free. He also suggests networking while standing in line for panels.
“By the end of the wait I had the contact information of everyone around me,” said Winchell.
Some of those contacts were an animator with whom Winchell now collaborates on design jobs, and an online cartoonist who hired him to create his website. He even became friends with a representative of Troublemaker Studios in California whom Winchell is visiting on the set of “Machete 2” in late October.
“Talkbacks” allowed panelists to ask questions. Last year offered a bevy of how-to’s hosted by industry greats, with titles like “Turning Your Arts Degree into a Comics Gig,” “Feature Filmmaking on a Budget” and “How to Break Into Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror.”
Featured guests included Futurama voice talent Billy West, Buffy actor James Marsters, Batman franchise producer Mickael Uslan and Eisner Award-winning illustrator Ben Templesmith of “Silent Hill” and “30 Days of Night” graphic novel fame. Next year’s offerings promise to be even more exciting, with Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee already a confirmed guest.
Zak Hennessey, an accomplished character designer and comic book publisher who worked for Disney, Warner Brothers, Sony, Paramount and Showtime, now runs the Denver Entertainment Art & Design Academy in the Santa Fe arts district and plans to host a panel demonstration at the upcoming Comic Con.
Potential classes include comic character design and monster makeup FX, designed to build portfolios that surpass the competition. Hennessey kept an eye open for talent at the last DCC and recommends bringing a portfolio or writing samples to the upcoming event.
“Talk to somebody. Ask to see their stuff, show your stuff,” said Hennessey. “You never know who’s going to be a big shot. I met Joe Quesada when he was a new penciler, and now he runs Marvel Comics.”
And where else but Denver Comic Con could DU students have their understanding of LinkedIn advanced by Stormtroopers, or be given a dog training business card from Harley Quinn? No matter your area of study, DCC could give you career options.
Polish up your resume. No, don’t list “Zombie Evasion Tactics” under your certifications or add “ability to bull’s-eye womp rats in my T-16” to your special skills. In other words, don’t let the nerd stereotype fool you. Many panelists and attendees at Denver Comic Con are savvy, approachable professionals who want to help you succeed.
The event returns to the Colorado Convention Center May 31 – June 2, 2013. Event coordinators already registering interested artists and gearing up for volunteers, coveted positions that can fill quickly.
