I just completed my pilgrimage to Canada for VanCAF (Vancouver Comic Arts Festival).
Traveling for comic shows is one of my favorite parts of this job. I talk about how making comics is a solitary practice, and it can make an already insane person (you have to be to make comics) even more insane through isolation. Everyone I got to talk to at VanCAF was incredibly kind and thoughtful. VanCAF is a beautiful show in that I can confidently say I did not have one negative interaction or conversation. I felt rejuvenated by the joy in the Roundhouse, and the kind words from strangers reassures me I’m on the right path for me. Weekends like these, full of inspiration and beautiful art and stories, are so special. I cherish the opportunity to share my art and spend time in a space that cultivates curiosity and celebration of comics!
I had a really good conversation with Jesse Pollard about our shared reverence for the art of tattooing and how it influences our work. I picked up some really cool flash sticker sheets! I think that discussion was one of my biggest highlights from the weekend, and it clarified feelings I have about being a tattoo-adjacent artist who doesn’t actually tattoo. But perhaps that’s a whole blog post on its own. That was a highlight, and so was the one patron who pointed at En’s art and said, “buff, buff, buff… you have a lot of buff women.” And I said, “Yeah haha we have a type. That’s my fiance’s side of the table.” And she goes, “Ohhh that makes sense. You’re buff.” Highest compliment, everyone else can stop now. Oh, and of course, a HUGE thank you to Mel and their dutiful friend Jess for supporting En and I. You really made our weekend! Describing my werewolf riso as, “the one with the wolf fuckin the chick” made me laugh so much. I’ve never felt more understood.
The Perpetual Heartbreak of Distance
I live for these weekends where I can spend time with my friends. Whether it’s VanCAF or a big comic con, my most favorite part is spending time with my friends from all over the country. Event weekends are not always about going out and doing things in the city or jamming our schedules full of programming and dinners. Sometimes the weekend demands cozy nights in, where we cook in the AirBnb and enjoy each other’s company.
Loving people who live far away is a sort of perpetual heartbreak. You’ll never feel full. Someone is always missing, and the weekend ends too quickly, and air travel is hell on the body and mind. My friend Dabi lives in Canada. He cannot come visit me in the States due to his immigration status, and since I have a broke guy job of making comics, I really only get to see him during these special weekends of VanCAF and TCAF. We set aside money and help each other out, but a huge factor in this is my ability to work the weekend at my table in order to make back the cost of the trip.
I’m happy that Dabi gets to see the ocean when we come to Vancouver. I’m thankful for his help in tabling, and for the delicious arepa dinners he makes. I delight in the serendipity of our Airbnb host coincidentally also being Venezuelan and making arepas for his friends on the same evening. I love forgetting that it’s 4th of July because I’m in Canada and I’m swept away with FIFA. Every cafe and bar and restaurant we walk into is playing the game, some on TVs propped up out of place, trotted out just for this summer.
We had plans to see the aquarium this year, but those plans fell through when Courtney’s flight was canceled due to storms in Chicago. We stayed up as she was rerouted onto a different flight, coming in a full 12 hours after she was supposed to, followed by her checked bag coming in 12 more hours after that. But like I said, it’s not always about going out and doing things. Sometimes it’s about greeting Courtney at the door with a joint and a Celsius. Sometimes it’s about sitting at the kitchen counter calling the airline five times to track down her suitcase while she rests and watches Interview with the Vampire on the couch with En and Dabi. It’s about going to the airport at 11pm to retrieve her luggage and being able to take Cam back from YVR with us because they landed at the same time as Courtney’s bag.
I’m really happy that Cam and I got to do VanCAF together this year. Since we both work at the same print shop, we have trouble getting time off together. It wasn’t until after the show that I remembered we had shared a table at the previous VanCAF, too! And now they have a graphic novel coming out, and you can get the first four chapters of Agent Izzy Bunny, which is the funniest, horniest fucking comic you’ll ever read. Much gratitude towards Cam for all that they do to make this weekend work and for introducing us to Thai BL.
Information and Data for Nerds
Anyway, VanCAF ended in the blink of an eye somehow. I’m stunned at how quickly it came and went, but I’m content. Here’s the boring data stuff:
VanCAF is a two day show, free to the public, with hours of 10-5 on Saturday and Sunday, and it draws an amazing crowd from the region and beyond. People traveled from like, the actual US. Not just Washington, but like, Colorado??? To visit VanCAF!! I had many tell me they came to the city from the metro region just to see me, En, Courtney, Cam, which leaves me speechless and humble. Thank you, so much.
To other shows out there, 10-5 are such beautiful hours for your consideration. Compared to comic con artist alleys, which have you at your booth 9:30am to 7pm most days (or longer), the shorter show hours created a better flow of traffic, I think, and left me with enough energy to spare.
I’m glad people made it to VanCAF to say hi and pick up some comics and art from me. I don’t change my price from USD to CAD on stickers/prints and some zines. So for example, a print that’s usually $20 USD is $20 CAD when I come to VanCAF. I like to cut Canadians a break and say thank you for hosting me in your beautiful city, and the margins on these items give me enough wiggle room that I can afford to do it once a year.
Now that said, the conversion rate is hell this year. That plus the event being on a different weekend than previous years, FIFA, Canada Day/4th of July weekend, etc. etc. means that I can’t really give you concrete numbers on how this show compared to previous VanCAFs in terms of revenue, but I was satisfied. It felt comparable to TCAF from last year, and after flight/lodging/transportation expenses, I broke even with a little extra to spare. That’s also on the cost of lodging in the city being up for FIFA/the holiday, and the cost of airplane tickets is BONKERS this year. Like I said, so much is in flux and different this year, I can’t really give you statistics, but it is comparable to TCAF for me, and maybe is worth the flight for you next year!
Coming back to the Roundhouse felt comfortable and familiar, like a home away from home. Even though Saturday was packed like a can of sardines, walking into VanCAF each morning felt less like gearing up for an all day onslaught and more like two pleasant afternoons in a garden of artists. I can’t wait to come back <3