I should be horrified, but, having heard so many stories over the years from people like Norm Breyfogle, Alan Grant and others, I'm really not. The small grace with coming to Australia is that the bulk of the comic book community here is decent. We're a small lot, and that is a good thing as utter swine like you've had to deal with are called out and shunned instantly.
The good ones here - and you've met one of the best with Julie Deitrich - are excellent. If you find your way down here again, and find yourself in a bad situation, you only need to call her, or someone like Gary Chaloner, and before you know it, problem solved. If they can't physically do it, they'll arrange for someone to do so. We're small, and we look after everyone.
And looking after each other makes for a great show, and a wonderful experience. It's not hard, nor is it rocket science.
Wow. You didn't want to stay with the cat piss pedo? LOL. Man, I'm glad things have worked out better for you recently but your trips sound pretty brutal. Of course, they make for good stories now that you know you're going to live through them. I think you could piece all of this together for a book. Really good storytelling, Colleen. By that, I don't mean I don't believe you. I mean, that you told about the incidents (or horrors) very well. Awesome post.
You truly are to be commended, Colleen, for your unwavering commitment to your craft. MANY would not have lasted, or tolerated in the slightest, what you have. May only Good come your way, from now on.
I’ve heard your friends and colleagues share on social media their bad experiences but yours top them all. Sorry you went through all that. Glad they’re better and hope one day we can meet in person at a convention here in Denver.
The seat was stuck in the lowered position. Which means I had to sit in it with nothing bracing my back unless I wanted to be lying prone in the car. I could not wait to get away from that guy.
JFC. Most of my stress dreams involve travel mishaps, losing an important item, circling back to get it and either losing something else or getting lost and missing a connection. Now they’ll involve shady strangers and being trapped in hostile places too.
In the 90s in my country, there were 0 comic stores. I think there might be a couple now (not comic stores exactly, but... let's say stores that sell comics as well) and only a few events sometime in the past decade. I am so far removed from your experiences but damn do they sound so freaking interesting.
I am sorry for what you've been through (who the f*ck does things like that?), but I would read a book about your past experiences.
That is an eye opening account. Abuse and robbery describes well. Grossness too. I’m glad you found your agent and conventions and signings are better now for you. Thanks for the insight.
You just keep telling these stories and teaching these lessons, and it is glorious. I genuinely hope others in the field are listening and taking heed.
The thing about conventions is that it is almost always worth going EVENTUALLY. The ones where things go right are a joy. And the other ones give you some great stories to tell ... Later once you've paid off the fiasco and and some time to look back (like one where I was signed up to do one event twice and one event once. But only sent half the materials for the one I was to do once and the WRONG materials for the one twice ... On site they corrected everything, first event went well enough but I lost track of where I was supposed to turn in everything after. Just as I find the right place, I get DRAFTED to do a different event. Get a seat between the two, find out the one I was originally assigned did not need me and furiously read through the materials for the one I'd been drafted for .. finished just as the last group goes out and three of the forty people to run the event were dismissed. Technically I was running. Two events, actually I was wandering the dealers room. Four hours later, I show up for the second time I'm supposed to run The event and find we have 8runners and six participants - yep, enough runners for a full event if six of us want to "play dumb"; I talk to the coordinator and ask if there is anything they need help with. "I don't know, stand right there. Do you have (materials I was drafted to run earlier)?'" pulling it out, I ask: "This?" "Yes, good - there's your group. Have fun..."
Oh, nothing but sympathies. I’ve dodged so many bullets with bad conventions that I should change my name to “Neo.” (The real fun part is with the people who tell me “I’ve never met a Cat Piss Man, so I don’t believe they exist,” and they’re always with someone whose stench is positively Lovecraftian.)
Merciful heaven! Those are some truly awful experiences, and it's amazing you came through them in one piece.
I was reminded again this last week that I do not do well when major situations are changed on my unexpectedly, especially if it can affect my meager finances. I'm not proud to say I had a meltdown.
From the sound of it, you adapt to disaster changes better than I manage to do.
But I'm glad such events are a thing of the past for you (at least I hope they are). You deserve top tier treatment!
I should be horrified, but, having heard so many stories over the years from people like Norm Breyfogle, Alan Grant and others, I'm really not. The small grace with coming to Australia is that the bulk of the comic book community here is decent. We're a small lot, and that is a good thing as utter swine like you've had to deal with are called out and shunned instantly.
The good ones here - and you've met one of the best with Julie Deitrich - are excellent. If you find your way down here again, and find yourself in a bad situation, you only need to call her, or someone like Gary Chaloner, and before you know it, problem solved. If they can't physically do it, they'll arrange for someone to do so. We're small, and we look after everyone.
And looking after each other makes for a great show, and a wonderful experience. It's not hard, nor is it rocket science.
Wow. You didn't want to stay with the cat piss pedo? LOL. Man, I'm glad things have worked out better for you recently but your trips sound pretty brutal. Of course, they make for good stories now that you know you're going to live through them. I think you could piece all of this together for a book. Really good storytelling, Colleen. By that, I don't mean I don't believe you. I mean, that you told about the incidents (or horrors) very well. Awesome post.
Yikes some real horror stories in there. BTW everybody looks small next to him. 🤣
You truly are to be commended, Colleen, for your unwavering commitment to your craft. MANY would not have lasted, or tolerated in the slightest, what you have. May only Good come your way, from now on.
I’ve heard your friends and colleagues share on social media their bad experiences but yours top them all. Sorry you went through all that. Glad they’re better and hope one day we can meet in person at a convention here in Denver.
Yikes! There’s a horror anthology’s worth of stories here!
You sure dodged one with the cat piss guy. Definitely had ill-intentions.
The seat was stuck in the lowered position. Which means I had to sit in it with nothing bracing my back unless I wanted to be lying prone in the car. I could not wait to get away from that guy.
What a scumbag.
I had my own reasons for figuring this could be a painful experience, but now you've given me new ideas!
JFC. Most of my stress dreams involve travel mishaps, losing an important item, circling back to get it and either losing something else or getting lost and missing a connection. Now they’ll involve shady strangers and being trapped in hostile places too.
I always have an exit plan.
In the 90s in my country, there were 0 comic stores. I think there might be a couple now (not comic stores exactly, but... let's say stores that sell comics as well) and only a few events sometime in the past decade. I am so far removed from your experiences but damn do they sound so freaking interesting.
I am sorry for what you've been through (who the f*ck does things like that?), but I would read a book about your past experiences.
That is an eye opening account. Abuse and robbery describes well. Grossness too. I’m glad you found your agent and conventions and signings are better now for you. Thanks for the insight.
I've enjoyed my share of upsetting convention experiences but not like this. Vile and terrifying. I'm sorry you had to endure any of this.
You just keep telling these stories and teaching these lessons, and it is glorious. I genuinely hope others in the field are listening and taking heed.
The thing about conventions is that it is almost always worth going EVENTUALLY. The ones where things go right are a joy. And the other ones give you some great stories to tell ... Later once you've paid off the fiasco and and some time to look back (like one where I was signed up to do one event twice and one event once. But only sent half the materials for the one I was to do once and the WRONG materials for the one twice ... On site they corrected everything, first event went well enough but I lost track of where I was supposed to turn in everything after. Just as I find the right place, I get DRAFTED to do a different event. Get a seat between the two, find out the one I was originally assigned did not need me and furiously read through the materials for the one I'd been drafted for .. finished just as the last group goes out and three of the forty people to run the event were dismissed. Technically I was running. Two events, actually I was wandering the dealers room. Four hours later, I show up for the second time I'm supposed to run The event and find we have 8runners and six participants - yep, enough runners for a full event if six of us want to "play dumb"; I talk to the coordinator and ask if there is anything they need help with. "I don't know, stand right there. Do you have (materials I was drafted to run earlier)?'" pulling it out, I ask: "This?" "Yes, good - there's your group. Have fun..."
Oh, nothing but sympathies. I’ve dodged so many bullets with bad conventions that I should change my name to “Neo.” (The real fun part is with the people who tell me “I’ve never met a Cat Piss Man, so I don’t believe they exist,” and they’re always with someone whose stench is positively Lovecraftian.)
Merciful heaven! Those are some truly awful experiences, and it's amazing you came through them in one piece.
I was reminded again this last week that I do not do well when major situations are changed on my unexpectedly, especially if it can affect my meager finances. I'm not proud to say I had a meltdown.
From the sound of it, you adapt to disaster changes better than I manage to do.
But I'm glad such events are a thing of the past for you (at least I hope they are). You deserve top tier treatment!