GSCF 2025

Garden State Comic Fest was my first major convention of 2025, a two‑day show in June that I was able to commute to from home. The last big event I did was Flower City Comic Con in Rochester back in September, and that one left me feeling pretty invisible. I promised myself that the next time I tabled at a large show, I’d come in stronger. So for GSCF, I brought more equipment than ever before and built the tallest setup I’ve ever had. I wanted people to see me this time. Even with all of that, the experience ended up feeling very similar. I spent most of the weekend by myself behind the table, watching the crowd move past in waves. A few friends stopped by to help keep me company, but the long stretches alone were still tough. Even so, I was glad to be there. I attended this convention the year before and knew it would be a good place to learn, and it was.

The biggest thing I took away from the weekend is that I need more material people recognize. My original work means everything to me, but at big conventions, familiarity helps people stop long enough to discover it. Once I finish production on Rin’s Comet Part III, I want to start building a small lineup of fan art prints to support my table and help draw people in. Garden State Comic Fest didn’t go the way I hoped, but it pushed me forward, and right now that’s enough.