Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, entertainment

Could Comic Creators Also Take Home "Garbage Bags Full Of $20s"?

The first time I ever saw a movie/TV actor shilling for cash at a show was decades ago in the UK, the actor who played Mike Teevee setting up shop at a comic con in Bristol. It seemed such a strange thing to do,m selling signed photos of yourself – especially since there were few takers. But that was then. I also remember going to the Big Apple Comic Con a few years ago, a one-day event held in the lobby of the Pennsylvaia Hotel I think it was, to see Val Kilmer doing the same. It felt inconceivable, compared to all the far-more-hasbeens surrounding him. His future in Life Is Short was being written there and then.

Well, the stigma has gone. Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston. Matt Smith, they are all regulars at it. Money talks, and brands are no longer tarnished.

The Hollywood Reporter ran a feature on how actors are coining it on the comic con circuit right now.

Quoting Arrow's Stephen Amell who has set um his own talent agency on the back of this, "If somebody wanted to do a convention every weekend, they could make more on the convention circuit than their episodic fee" and has an investment interest in the Heroes and Villains Fan Fest shows across the country – indeed, the world.

They also quote Firefly's Jewel Staite who did 12 shows in the last year, while pregnant, saying "The fact is, a guest star on a TV show can [get] around $10,000, whereas you can work two days at a convention and pull in the same amount — and sometimes double and triple that… Have I turned down smaller jobs that won't pay as much? Absolutely. It would be silly of me to say yes to the job that pays $10,000 for a week of work and bow out of a big convention where I could potentially walk away with $40,000 in two days."

They state that certain shows are getting tired of actors who do that, but also that it can be a draw to get actors to do genre shows, and add the convention revenue stream to the mental arithmetic, quoting DC producer Marc Guggenheim "In a world where residuals don't mean as much, conventions are like residuals."

They quote unnamed sources breaking out the possibilities…

leads on such current TV series as The Walking Dead, Once Upon a Time, Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries, Netflix's Marvel shows and The CW's DC Comics fare commanding anywhere from $35,000 to $250,000 and up, depending on their popularity and the frequency with which they appear. At top conventions, it's not uncommon for a star to earn anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 on top of their guarantee (more if they spend extra time signing).

And then they name names,

The most sought-after stars include Reedus (one convention owner says he easily could command a $200,000 guarantee and pocket $500,000 per weekend), Andrew Lincoln (who donates his proceeds to charity), Star Wars great Mark Hamill and anyone who played Doctor Who. Sources say ex-Doctor Matt Smith collected $250,000 per weekend at a string of recent events, with any former Doctor said to easily score six figures. Smith's tally recently was doubled by Marvel film heroes, with the stars netting more than $500,000 each in one Atlanta weekend thanks to an overwhelming demand and rare convention appearances.

And also point out that on top of these are outside-the-show arrangements for signing and appearances around the show for dealers, netting between $6K and $250K.

And then that quote which made for such a good headline, an anonymous regular saying "I know someone who literally takes garbage bags full of $20s with him back home."

They name the big three companies, Wizard World, Informa and ReedPop, each with over 20 events for 2017 – and one of the biggest, New York Comic Con happening next week. And noting that Robert Kirkman put the kibosh on a planned official AMC Walking Dead convention

So, the question is – are comic book creators next? Stan Lee has managed to monetise this and is treated in a similar fashion to an A-List actor – the only difference is, he has far more stamina and as a nonagenarian, still managed 6-8 years in a stretch – before launching two products and hitting the parties at night. He is the only comic creator who can bring in the money and the cash in this fashion, that befits his status as a genuine pop culture mega star.

But comic book creators have started charging for autographs now, with the likes of Neal Adams leading the charge, pointing out the worth of a signature and the career that led to its importance, the worth of their brand and how creators who don't charge devalue the act for those who do.

Some creators have followed eagerly, such as Rob Liefeld. While others agree as long as money goes to charity, some use tip jars allowing people to pay what they want, if they want. And some wouldn't dream of charging a bean.

It may be easier for artists, who often sell artwork at conventions. For writers, there are fewer obvious convention revenue streams. Some sell signed scripts, some use it purely as an opportunity to pitch, to network, to schmooze. But some would at least like to break even on hotel costs – and most aren't invited by shows or have their expenses paid.

Watch out for those black bin bags down Artists Alley next week…

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