My biggest advice to new comic creators has NOTHING to do with comics: Be kind. Treat everyone with dignity and respect. Genuinely care about those you meet. Relationships are not a means to an end. - ThreadSky

ibuiltamountain.bsky.social • 12 days ago

My biggest advice to new comic creators has NOTHING to do with comics:

Be kind. Treat everyone with dignity and respect. Genuinely care about those you meet.

Relationships are not a means to an end.

Comments

kamosemills.bsky.social•12 days ago

toddblack.bsky.social•12 days ago

That is very true. Thank you for putting those words out there.

nowayjosecardenas.bsky.social•12 days ago

Every time I’m tabling at an event, I’m not networking. I’m making new friends!

ibuiltamountain.bsky.social•12 days ago

Love to hear that, Jose.

davallone.bsky.social•12 days ago

Networking — done correctly — is just that. Making new friends.

If it’s not making new friends it’s doomed to failure. People see the desperation and the dollar signs in your eyes and get turned off.

ibuiltamountain.bsky.social•12 days ago

Love how you said this, David.

davallone.bsky.social•12 days ago

Thanks! I do panels on networking at cons and try to spread the word.

I think it’s a vastly misunderstood phenomenon and the common perception of networking sets people up to fail and embarrass themselves.

ibuiltamountain.bsky.social•12 days ago

No way, David! That's so important to learn and understand, especially as a new creator. Do you have any resources or videos I could check out?

davallone.bsky.social•12 days ago

I have never done a video on “how to network,” though maybe I should.

I do have a podcast called THE WRITERS BLOCK, with @rylendgrant.bsky.social, where we interview our fellow pros and it comes up a lot. We just rebooted the channel here:

https://youtube.com/@halfevilcomics?si=94ISiZQrNtVD7Afr

nowayjosecardenas.bsky.social•12 days ago

Perfect description! My dad does it the same way.

davallone.bsky.social•12 days ago

Funny you say that, because my dad taught me it was all about making friends. Genuine friends.

Someday that friend may suggest you work on something together. Or they may not. The important thing is the friendships and not the potential for jobs.

davallone.bsky.social•12 days ago

Anecdotally, I can’t think of a single great gig I ever got that didn’t start with a friend either recommending me, or hiring me outright.

ibuiltamountain.bsky.social•12 days ago

That makes total sense. People are more willing to work with their friends. It's one of those ironies in the creative world. We shouldn't see people as a means to an end, yes, but making friends in the community will likely result in more creative opportunities.

ashleylynch.bsky.social•12 days ago

You see this at film events where you can smell the hunger on some people and you know the only reason they're talking to you is because they want you to give them a job. I always just tell youngins to just socialize and be friendly, and the work will come on its own.

ibuiltamountain.bsky.social•12 days ago

That's such a great way to put it, Ashley: "you can smell the hunger on some people." I know that experience, well, which is why I tell people to just focus on building friendships.

Really appreciate your perspective.

davallone.bsky.social•12 days ago

Yep. Film is a community, and comics is an even smaller one. Be a positive part of the community and the work will come.

ashleylynch.bsky.social•12 days ago

Good advice for any creative industry.

minervafoxart.bsky.social•12 days ago

100%

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply