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Portfolio Reviews At San Diego Are A Lottery, Literally (UPDATE)

Published Thu, 24 Jun 2010 06:00:21 -0500

Last updated Thu, 24 Jun 2010 08:51:00 -0500

There' always been an element of chance getting into the comic industry. Buying the right drink for the right editor at the right time. Showing your portfolio just when an editor has discovered their artist has gone exclusive for the opposition. Or drawing a comic about an editor's wife's favourite type of cat.

But at San Diego Comic Con this year, it will be a literal lottery.

Hundreds of people come from around the globe with their portfolios of work, hoping, prayng that an editor will look at their pages without saying the dread words "your anatomy needs work". Since the big companies withdrew their open submission policies, this has been the only way for hopeful talents to show their stuff off.

But this year, no matter how long they wait in line, their hopes may be dashed.

San Diego have now imposed a new procedure for the Portfolio review.

1.Up to 30 minutes prior to that Company's first review time, applicants may fill out a Portfolio Review Sign-up Ticket for the Company they wish to be reviewed by and give it to the CCI Portfolio Review volunteer at the Portfolio Review Sign-up table.

2.CCI Portfolio Review volunteers will randomly draw from the collected tickets for each Company, and the applicant names will be listed in the order they were picked. This list of selected participants will be available at that Company's portfolio review booth approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of their review time. It is the applicant's responsibility to find their place on the list, and for each participant to be in the Portfolio Review area when their name is called.

3.A CCI Portfolio Review volunteer will be assigned to the Company's booth, and will call the names of each participant on the list as needed by the Reviewer. There will be a chair available next to the volunteer for the next participant to wait in. Each upcoming participant slot name will be called up to three times. If a participant does not answer after their name is called the third time, they will be marked as a no-show, and the next participant on the list will be called.

4.If there are more applications than available slots for a Company's schedule, after all slots are filled the remaining names will be placed on a waitlist in the order in which they were picked.

Some people have written to me incensed at the new system, and see this as the only way they have left to get into comics. And, despite spending thousands in travel and accomodation, it may all come down to the luck of the draw. Or indeed, the luck of the drawer.

UPDATE: CB Cebulski tweets;