Digital Download Watch and a Daily Self Audit

By Shon C. Bury

In the Trenches is veteran comic-book writer Shon C. Bury’s new column about the inside workings of the biz. With over ten years of experience as a writer, editor, and agent, Shon’s column is a must-read for fans and pros alike who want to know more about what’s going on inside comics.

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Welcome to the fourth installment of In the Trenches. We have another drive-by column as I continue to catch up on a mountain of jobs and push forward with a few projects that simply must leave my desk yesterday.

Read on...

Random Industry Stuff (or... "Junk That’s Going On")

***I was surprised to hear that Quebecor World, Inc.—still struggling to be awarded its 1 billion bankruptcy loan—has decided to push for a $4.6 million bonus package for its managers, ranging from $700 - $132,000. For those of you who don’t know, Quebecor is the Canadian-based printer that prints most comics in the US and has done so since the emergence of Image in the early ‘90s. They filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on January 21st of this year. So far they’ve been denied the restructuring money that the 28,000-employee international company says they need to keep on trucking.

Losing Quebecor as the industry’s main printer (they also print magazines like Time and Cosmo) would cause a huge vacuum—and possible power struggle—at the printers. Brenner would return as the dominate printer based in the US. Problematic since they’re not set up to assume the volume of business either Marvel or DC could throw their way.

I’d be most interested in seeing how and if the Big 2 shift more of their books overseas. This creates an entirely new set of shipping and lead time logistics that we don’t have to face by utilizing big, domestic printers. I’m also curious to know how they can justify some of the larger bonus (all to be rewarded to managers) to a management that has nearly tanked such a prominent corporation. They state the bonuses are necessary to stay competitive but considering the bonuses are based on goals set by the managers of the failing company themselves—perhaps a bonus four times that of most people’s average income could be trimmed down a bit.

We’ll have to keep tabs on this. And check in with a few people...

***In future columns, I’ll call this Digital Delivery Watch. This is a subject that I’m growing increasingly OCD about. Not because I loooooove reading comics online (I hate it), but because it is rapidly becoming the wave of the near future whether we like it or not. You can read more about it in my first column here. Up this week on Digital Delivery Watch:

• A few weeks back, Random House made Charles Bock’s debut novel, Beautiful Children, available for free download for three days. The book was already in stores ($25 SRP). So what’s the deal? Why cannibalize sales by offering the book for free? Well, here’s the thing... You don’t cannibalize sales when you offer free electronic versions of books, then offer it up in traditional print. Such moves actually enhance product awareness. Although Random House’s act was a little from the hip, it was still bold for such a large publisher to try this method. And a little bit guerilla. They’re clearly still stumbling around to figure out how all this works, but who isn’t? And they got a week-long news cycle out of it. Bravo Random House. Give it another try. And offer up some original content while you’re at it. (Aside: It does beg the question: How effective will this be when it’s common practice by all?)



• Meanwhile, Boom! Studios recently got a bit bolder. And pissed off Diamond on top of it (Yay, Boom!). At the first of the year, Boom!—in conjunction with MySpace—simultaneously released David DiGilio’s North Wind for free online the same day copies hit stores. They’ll be releasing all five issues of this mini series the same way.
  
  In their press release, Boom!’s Marketing and Sales Director Chip Mosher stated, "Gone are the days where people worried about sales being negatively impacted when you put comic book content online for free." I wish those days where gone (because they should be), but it’s going to take more boldness like this to shake up the status quo and prove that you can have online content and eat your cake, too. This method is absolutely crucial for small press companies fighting for shelf space in the direct market. Boom! is still a small press company, and although DiGilio has a large fan base outside comics...relying on the old direct market model won’t translate into sales. It. Just. Won’t.



• And have you checked out Dreamland Chronicles? Its web-to-print™ model is by far my favorite model I’ve seen online. Throw in WOWIO and Amazon...nice. Creator Scott Christian Sava recently signed up to bring Dreamland to IDW’s burgeoning all-ages line. I hope to chat with both Scott and IDW peeps stat about how this will affect Dreamland’s web presence.

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!!!!!!!!!BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, so last column I mentioned I’d have a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT about Space Goat Productions and Seattle’s Emerald City ComicCon. Here it is: Space Goat will be running the official 2008 TALENT SEARCH in conjunction with Emerald City ComicCon. It’s a two-day portfolio review at the biggest comic con in the Northwest. It’s going to be big. Big! You can read more about it here. We encourage all upcoming talent (pencilers, inkers, colorists, letterers) to come out with your portfolio to show us what you’ve got. You’re portfolio will be reviewed by salty-ass industry vets dying to run your hopes and aspirations through a paper shredder.

Seriously, we’re looking forward to looking through your portfolio, and giving you tips on how to better your craft. We’re so dedicated that we’ll spend all day long both days of the show reviewing. Show organizer Jim Demonakos and myself are working to pull in editors from some major publishers to help out with process (and to keep me from losing my damn mind). The best artists will be contacted by Space Goat Production to talk representation.

If you’re not a native of the Northwest or otherwise cannot attend the con, feel free to send your samples to submissions@spacegoatproductions.com. At this time, we’re only looking for pencilers. Preferably superhero and manga guys. Come May, we’ll loosen up on the disciplines we’re looking for.

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Take It From Me (or... "Oh, That’s Because...JAZZ HANDS!!")


So hands down my favorite part about owning my own business is invoicing people and collecting money. I’m not being sarcastic (yes, I am). It sucks, but it is a necessary part of a for-profit business. Space Goat only secures paying jobs for its artists and if any client ever has any questions about that they need only to look as far as the contract they signed. But sometimes...you get a slow payer. "Slow pay" being a biz term used to describe a customer who takes a long damn time to pay you.

I’ve had a curious slow payer of late who’s had the check in the mail for about five weeks now. When I call, I’m told it will get in the mail right away...apology...apology...working 14 hour days...busy... I hear a lot of this "busy on a project" line all the time from this particular customer, but that’s just crap and it doesn’t change the fact that the artist deserves to get paid for the job he performed.

The latest excuse I heard was that the payment was delayed because the client had to touch up some of the art work (fyi, work was approved and turned in weeks ago). I pointed out to the client that any revisions he choose to make on art that has been signed off on is fully his prerogative, but in no way should it effect payment. His logic was the equivalent of buying a new car, driving the car off the lot to have it freshly painted, then telling the dealership he wanted the cost of the fresh paint job reduced from the cost of the car. Which is...insane.

That got me thinking about the Jazz Hands Argument™. And reminded me of a potential customer who wanted to (ostensibly) hire a number of artists. Said potential customer was very eager to utilize my services until he realized money was involved. When he realized he actually had to pay artists to get his comics produced (which is way teh crazy, I know!), conversation fizzled and he said this (and I’m quoting, because the comment was so idiotic that it scorched itself onto my brain): "I’ll get back to you. I’m talking with [Marvel editor name inserted here] in May."

I can only assume that he assumed that I’d be impressed that he was talking to that particular editor and that I’d be so impressed that he’s talking to a Marvel editor that I’d...not charge him for art? I guess?

But in effect both these guys were making non-sensible Jazz Hands Arguments™ that boiled down to "I’m an idiot using words, man do I hope you’re an idiot too [insert Jazz Hands]."

Take it from me...cause and effect arguments actually need to have a firetrucking connection. If they don’t...it just makes you sound like Rain Man trying out for a bit roll in All That Jazz.

And here’s an additional Take It From Me... everyone in comics works insane hours, but it can’t be used as an excuse to not do what you promise you will do. The industry is just too small and word will get out.

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Pluggin’ Junk (or... "Let Me Plug Your Junk")

I need stuff to plug. Send your stuff via email or request shipping instructions: review@spacegoatproductions.com

Got a webcomic? I’ll review it.

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Adult ADD Watch (or... "Daily Self Audit")

I do this every once in a while...

Daily Self Audit

3 - am is the time I went to sleep last night
43 – the number of online portfolios I reviewed until 3am last night
3 - Cups of coffee I drank before noon even though I have crazy high blood pressure
1 - Nap I took because of how late I stayed up
75 - Emails I've written
46 - Emails I still need to respond to
1 - Column I had to write today
15 - Pencil or color files I’ve downloaded and sent to editors
1 - New GoDaddy account and domain name I purchased today
12 - Contracts I've written
12 - Contracts I need to write before I go to bed, but won't
1 - Skrull god design by Rafael Sandoval that Bendis needs approve ASAP before I kill him (hear me, Bendis?!)
2 - Days I've gone w/o shaving...and I look like CRAP!
3 - Zenoscope jobs I landed for my pencilers
1 - FedEx package I received today
2 - FedEx packages where shipped by me today
1 - UPS package from Amazon arrived today
1 - Copy of Y, The Last Man was in said package
9 - Is the volume # of said book
1 - Pro-registration for SDCCI was confirmed today
1 - Is the number of guests I secured a badge for at SDCCI
3 - International phone calls were made to Brazil
3 - Times is the # I cursed myself for not having an International calling card
1 - New graphics-design client I picked up today
9 - pm was the hour I finished writing this column
1 - the number of Supernatural episodes I’m going to watch online as soon as I spell check this

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Got comments for this column? Suggestions for future columns? Give me a shout. comments@spacegoatproductions.com

Or dig in below. I’m easy.

scb

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