Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reports On... The 1st Night of the 2011 Leo Carrillo Film Festival - August 26th Subtitled: 'No Hotdogs!' Held at the Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park in Carlsbad, California   -  - Left Column Top Photo:  After the pizza arrives from Allen's New York  Pizza... much happier with real food on the table! - Topmost Photo This Column:  Finding out that there wasn't any hot dogs on the 1st Night of the 2011 Leo Carrillo Film Festival...  -   Photo Directly Above:  The credits running after the 1942 film "What's Cookin'?" was over... Showing that indeed, it was Donald O'Connor in an early film appearance!   The rest of the dancers were called 'The Jivin' Jacks & Jills!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3499:

As blogged about in blog #3492, the 2011 Leo Carrillo Film Festival started last Friday night, August 26th, in Carlsbad, San Diego County, California.

The previous Friday night had been a fund raiser event, which we had to unfortunately miss, as it was also the last evening of the 2011 TGIF Jazz In The Park series, also in Carlsbad. (See this photo album for pics from the last night!)

So, a couple of our neighbors and my youngest son decided to take in the 1st evening of the 2011 Film Festival.   Tina was not feeling well, and decided that she needed to conserve her strength for the 2nd Annual So Cal Comic Con that was taking place the next day. (See blog #3495 for that report.)

Everything went well packing for the 1st evening... We had our high back chairs, which meant we had to sit in the back of the expected crowd, and appropriate clothes for being outside in the dark, along with flashlights.  We didn't bring our table with us for a picnic, as after attending the TGIF Season, we wanted a break from bringing food.  Plus the Leo Carrillo Historic Park staff had great hot dogs the previous season!

So we arrived there after 6PM and there were just a few parking spaces open for us to park.  We took our chairs and walked down to the house where the Cisco Kid episode & the feature film would be shown.

After grabbing an open table that no one was occupying, I went to the food shack and was very surprised to see that wasn't any food!   Except for candy, pop corn & ice cream!   That was very disturbing, as it wasn't mentioned on the websites, nor on the flyer!  And we had brought nothing but wine!

We decided to call for pizza to be delivered.  The first choice, as we knew it would be hard to get delivery to a non-residence / non-business place would be hard, was Domino's.  After 10 minutes haggling with the people on the phone... No, they wouldn't deliver to the Historic Park.  Sheesh! 

Thank goodness for Allen's New York Pizza in Carlsbad!  They came through for us!   AND the pizza was very good!   We all enjoyed this pizza, as it was getting pretty late, and I missed the opening scenes of the Cisco Kid episode. 

Oh, I mentioned the Cisco Kid?   In the earlier blog #3492, (linked above), I mentioned that Leo Carrillo was 'Pancho', sidekick to the Cisco Kid, which is why I'm blogging about this Film Festival here. The Cisco Kid had 40 comic book issues as well, as seen here.  That is the 'tie-in' and why I've blogged about the Film Festival for the past several years. (Note:  I sell western comics, including issues of the Cisco Kid, when available, at my online comic book shop.).

The film that was shown? Well... It was from 1942, and titled: What's Cookin'?, which I found very appropriate for the lack of food on that Friday night!   What's Cookin'?  Definitely NOT Hotdogs!

What was the "What's Cookin'?" film about?  Here's what is at the Imdb for the 69 minute film:

A group of entertainers visit the home of a radio singer to try to get her to book them on her show.

J. P. Courtney wants to update the music on the radio program he sponsors, but his wife, Agatha Courtney, is the final authority and addicted to the classics and won't allow him to replace Professor Bistell and his symphonic orchestra. Conspiring with his daughter Sue and her friends, Marvo the Great, the Andrews Sisters, Anne Payne and bandleader Woody Herman, they devise a sabotage plot that gets rid of Professor Bistell, and a new sound is soon heard on the program.

Here's a list of the credited cast:

The Andrews Sisters...Patty, Maxene, LaVerne

Jane Frazee...Anne

Robert Paige...Bob

Gloria Jean...Sue

Leo Carrillo...Marvo

Charles Butterworth...J. P. Courtney

Billie Burke...Agatha Courtney

Grace McDonald...Angela

Donald O'Connor...Tommy

Franklin Pangborn...Professor Bistell

Charles Lane...Reynolds

Tag-a-long (as Tag-a-long)

The Jivin' Jacks and Jills...Themselves

Woody Herman and His Orchestra...Themselves

So... what did we think?  Mary Lou thought it was the worst film she had ever seen.   Joe thought it was pretty bad, but spotted that Donald O'Connor was in the cast first, as a young man.  My son Vinnie was kind of closed mouth about the film, but liked the Cisco Kid episode that was shown first.

As for myself... I enjoyed seeing this for what it was.  A 'war time film'.  A 'feel good' film to make those watching the film in the theater forget what was happening in the outside world, WWII.   I expected more upbeat 'swing' music, because the whole premise of the film was that 'swing' was bad.   Shades of what rock n' roll would be 'bad' ten years later!  

The film was okay for a period pieced, but yes, it could have used some addition editing!   The Andrew Sisters were fine in the film, and made it worth watching.  And Leo Carrillo?  Another one of his typecast roles, which he couldn't help but pull off!  Funny guy!

So, yeah, I'm going again tonight to the 2nd evening of the 2011 Leo Carrillo Film Festival!  Along with Tina & Mary Lou.  Whether there is a 'report' or not afterwards... I don't know.

I do know this, however:   We are definitely bringing our own food tonight!  If you are coming, I'd suggest you do the same!  There's No Hotdogs!   

Here are a few links you may want to check out further:

Photo Album:  1st Night of 2011 Leo Carrillo Film Festival - What's Cookin'?

Photo Album:  2nd Night of 2011 Leo Carrillo Film Festival - Larceny with Music.

A link to the 2011 Leo Carrillo Film Festival flyer so you can see what the rest of the films being shown are this season.

I also want to mention that the Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park has a Facebook Fan Page, that I suggest readers of this blog 'LIKE', if you are into Leo Carrillo, the Cisco Kid, and / or the Leo Carrillo Film Festival.

~Michael D Hamersky - who is asking you for your vote in the current voting going on over at The Shel Dorf Awards web site. I was nominated for 'Comic Blogger of the Year' on Monday, August 8th!   While being honored to be nominated, I'd also like to win! The competition has some other good nominees for the same category I was nominated for, so I'm asking for your help on this!

If you have enjoyed this blog or any of the others in the now over 3,498 blogs in this series of mine, I'd appreciate your vote!

Here is a direct link to the voting page. 'Comic Blogger of the Year' is the category, and 'Michael Hamersky On Comics' is the name I'm listed as to vote for.

Here is a link to blog #3481, where I went more into depth on this topic.

My thanks to any of you that take the time to vote for me!  The voting ends on September 4th of 2011, only two days away!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!  We currently have over 2,536 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button! 

And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

~ Michael D Hamersky

If I have it... You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at:  

http://www.ComicBooksCircus.com/ 

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up differently, sorry about that!

The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer.  Note:  As of Monday, June 27th, 2011, I have been using my new laptop, where the default resolution is 'higher', so there may be some viewing glitches.

NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works!

To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:

Make It So Marketing Inc., PO Box 130653, Carlsbad, CA 92013

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there.  Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page! 

---

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents... Tina LoSasso's Take On... Days Missing Vol 2 Kestus The Hardcover Written By Phil Hester / Illustrated By  David Marquez /  From Roddenberry Productions / Published by Archaia Entertainment!   -  - Left Column Top Photo: The Archaia Entertainment Logo - Topmost Photo This Column:  Tina LoSasso reading this hardcover book at the 2011 'Read A Comic In Public Da'y at the nearest event location to her in San Diego.  (See blog #3496 for full details!) -   Photo Directly Above:  The 'Boxshot' of the Front Cover to the hardcover book that Tina LoSasso reviews here today!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3498:

"Days Missing: Vol 2 Kestus"
Written by Phil Hester
Art by David Marquez
Cover by Alex Ross

Sunday was 'Read Comics in Public' Day, the perfect excuse for me to laze around on a beautiful San Diego afternoon, sipping an outrageous coffee drink at Starbucks and catching up on the latest adventures of The Steward from Days Missing.

In this beautifully illustrated hardcover The Steward finally gets a girl, and boy she's trouble.

If you're not familiar with this series from Archaia Black Label and Rodenberry, here's the 411:

The Steward is a mysterious being whose ability to 'fold' days of time has resulted in critical human events being absent from our historical record. Their existence is not remembered, but the occurrences of these days have forever changed the course of our evolution. Since humanity's birth, The Steward has stood as a guiding force for our species. But now, he is not alone! The emergence of the ancient being, Kestus, may put everything he knows in question, and the future of those he means to protect in jeopardy. Days Missing: Kestus spans the ages, featuring adventures about ancient China, the burning of Egypt's Alexandria, the 1969 moon launch, Y2K, and the Large Hadron Collider.

As The Steward wings his way through history saving humanity from disaster after disaster, Kestus appears at every turn to challenge him. It's great fun to see such a strong female character popping up at the center of the action - and always in charge of the humans on the scene. Poor Steward is the perennial outsider while Kestus has lived among humanity since the beginning and always manages to enjoy a position of power over the silly mortals.

Days Missing: Kestus explores significant events in history and issues of war, power, fear, love, and isolation. It's an interesting, intelligent and entertaining look at mankind's evolution and commentary on how we're doing. A narrator's voice weaves through the story speaking to The Steward and fleshing out his characters and emotions for the reader. Who that narrator is hits you like a punch at the end and sets up the next arc in the Days Missing story.

Kestus is a terrific read with beautiful artwork by David Marquez who has the challenging task of illustrating a story that moves from ancient China and Egypt to the 1960s and present time. I thoroughly enjoyed Days Missing: Kestus. My only quibbles were the slightly pretentious narration which was also tough to read.

I'd give Days Missing: Kestus a grade of VERY FINE / NEAR MINT (VF/NM) 9.0 on the comic book grading scale.

~ Tina Lo Sasso

Here's the Publisher's Info on this book: 

Reading level: Ages 13 and up
Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: Archaia Entertainment; 1st edition (August 2, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1936393107
ISBN-13: 978-1936393107
Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 6.8 x 0.7 inches

From Roddenberry Productions, the creators of STAR TREK, comes a story about the hidden pages of human history. Since the dawn of time, a being has existed whose interaction and interference with mankind has shaped human development. His powers of time and intellect have allowed him to secretly remove certain critical days from the historical record. Their stories have never been told. Their details have never been documented. Their existence is not remembered. But the occurrences of these days have forever changed the course of humanity’s evolution. These are the DAYS MISSING from our existence, and they are about to be revealed…

NOTE:  The publisher has multiple ways you can purchase this book!  You can purchase it at your Local Comic Book Shop (LCBS),  local bookstore, or direct from them at their online shop, whichever is more convenient for you! 

Thanks, Tina, for the above review!   I appreciate your guest blogging here today!

I want to mention that Archaia Entertainment has a Facebook Fan Page, that I suggest readers of this blog 'LIKE'.

~Michael D Hamersky - who is asking you for your vote in the current voting going on over at The Shel Dorf Awards web site. I was nominated for 'Comic Blogger of the Year' on Monday, August 8th!   While being honored to be nominated, I'd also like to win! The competition has some other good nominees for the same category I was nominated for, so I'm asking for your help on this!

If you have enjoyed this blog or any of the others in the now over 3,498 blogs in this series of mine, I'd appreciate your vote!

Here is a direct link to the voting page. 'Comic Blogger of the Year' is the category, and 'Michael Hamersky On Comics' is the name I'm listed as to vote for.

Here is a link to blog #3481, where I went more into depth on this topic.

My thanks to any of you that take the time to vote for me!  The voting ends on September 4th of 2011, only three days away!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!  We currently have over 2,536 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button! 

And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

~ Michael D Hamersky

If I have it... You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at:  

http://www.ComicBooksCircus.com/ 

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up differently, sorry about that!

The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer.  Note:  As of Monday, June 27th, 2011, I'll be using my new laptop, where the default resolution is 'higher', so there may be some temporary glitches until I am used to the new resolution.

NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works!

To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:

Make It So Marketing Inc., PO Box 130653, Carlsbad, CA 92013

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there.  Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page! 

---

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents... Tina LoSasso's Take On... The Long Tail! By Chris Anderson / Illustrated By Shane Clester / Published by SmarterComics!   -   - Left Column Top Photo: The Front Cover to 'The Long Tail', Published by Smarter Comics! - Topmost Photo This Column:  The SmarterComics Logo -   Video Shown Above:  The promotional video on this latest version of the best selling book... Available in comic book format via eBook & hard copy from SmarterComics!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3497:

The Long Tail: why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More by Chris Anderson
Illustrated by Shane Clester

I'm a big fan of Smarter Comics reimagining of popular business books in comic book form. For me, "The Long Tail" really shines in this format. The illustrations by Shane Clester enhance the understanding of the material. It's a bit like watching a really great powerpoint presentation. (I know, when have you actually seen one of those?) Here the images match the text perfectly. 

In some of the other books in the Smarter Comics catalog, the illustrations are at times distracting and confusing images of what the artists seem to think the authors mean. In "The Long Tail" the images clearly work with the content. 

For example, when Anderson contrasts his experience as a teenager with that of a typical teenager today, you see how different they are with images of each sitting in their bedrooms amidst their gear and gadgets. Today's teen has 9 tech items while Anderson only has 4. Even better, the charts, graphs and diagrams come alive in this format.

"The Long Tail" explains how the marketplace has moved from a mass market to a mass of niches. Simply put: what kind of ice cream do you like?  Chocolate? Vanilla? Some people are addicted to Chunky Monkey, pistachio, maple, or strawberry cheesecake, cardamon gelato or dulce. The 'long tail' is the myriad of options beyond chocolate or vanilla. With the ease of access to consumers and no need for inventory by sellers afforded by the Internet the long tail is actually larger than the seemingly more popular 'mass-market' options. 

Want to see the long tail in action? Visit a comic convention. You'll find everything from Smurfs, Archie and Veronica to Superman and Batman, and time-traveling zombie-killing robots. There's something for everyone in the independent self-publishing world of the comic book long tail. If you want to understand the phenomenon better, pick up a copy of "The Long Tail" from Smarter Comics.  

I give "The Long Tail" a NEAR MINT (NM) 9.4 on a comic book grading scale of 10.

~Tina Lo Sasso

Here's the Publisher's Info on this book: 

Publisher's Info:   The Long Tail

Author: Chris Anderson   -   Illustrations by Shane Clester

Now in comic format, this 2006 New York Times bestseller introduced the business world to a future that’s already here. It explains why the focus of Internet commerce is not on hits but on misses—the long tail of the demand curve – and illuminates the reasons behind the success of niche operations like Amazon.com, iTunes, and Netflix. A must-read for every entrepreneur and manager!

 In the era of pre-Internet, businesses focused on providing lots of inventory items that were in high demand, but this left consumers searching for niche products that no one wanted to bother to provide. In the Internet era, the focus is on serving niche consumers, who collectively spend more on low-demand items than the public does on “hot” products. This entails an entirely different approach to mission and to marketing than the philosophy traditionally taught in business schools. Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, says Anderson’s ideas “influence Google’s strategic thinking in a profound way.”

NOTE:  The publisher has multiple ways you can purchase this book! Here is the link to where you can purchase it direct from them at SmarterComics!  Either ebook via iPhone, Android, online, iPad, android tablet, or hard copy!

ADDENDUM (September 2nd, 2011): Corey Blake has brought to my attention that Round Table Companies did the packaging for this book.  Also that Shane Clester is a staff artist at the company. Thanks for the additional info, Corey.  Looking forward to see some of upcoming publications!

Thanks, Tina, for the above review!   I appreciate your guest blogging here today!

I also want to mention that SmarterComics also has a Facebook Fan Page, that I suggest readers of this blog 'LIKE'.

~Michael D Hamersky - who is asking you for your vote in the current voting going on over at The Shel Dorf Awards web site. I was nominated for 'Comic Blogger of the Year' on Monday, August 8th!   While being honored to be nominated, I'd also like to win! The competition has some other good nominees for the same category I was nominated for, so I'm asking for your help on this!

If you have enjoyed this blog or any of the others in the now over 3,496 blogs in this series of mine, I'd appreciate your vote!

Here is a direct link to the voting page. 'Comic Blogger of the Year' is the category, and 'Michael Hamersky On Comics' is the name I'm listed as to vote for.

Here is a link to blog #3481, where I went more into depth on this topic.

My thanks to any of you that take the time to vote for me!  The voting ends on September 4th of 2011!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!  We currently have over 2,534 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button! 

And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

~ Michael D Hamersky

If I have it... You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at:  

http://www.ComicBooksCircus.com/ 

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up differently, sorry about that!

The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer.  Note:  As of Monday, June 27th, 2011, I'll be using my new laptop, where the default resolution is 'higher', so there may be some temporary glitches until I am used to the new resolution.

NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works!

To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:

Make It So Marketing Inc., PO Box 130653, Carlsbad, CA 92013

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there.  Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page! 

---

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reports On... The 2011 'Read A Comic In Public Day / Remembering Jack Kirby' Event!  That Was Held In The Claremont Area of San Diego, California, On Sunday, August 28th! -  - Topmost Photo: Just a few of those that attended the 2nd Annual 'Read A Comic In Public Day' event in the Claremont neighborhood of San Diego, California.  Where we also 'Remembered Jack Kirby', who would have been 94 years old yesterday! - Above Bottom Video:   A three minute video of Michael D Hamersky with the sponsor of this event in the Claremont neighborhood, Chris Cornish!   - Top Photo At The Left Column.:  Michael D Hamersky with the sponsor of this event for the 2nd year in a row, this time in the Claremont neighborhood of Metro San Diego!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3496:

Yesterday, on Sunday, August 28th, my youngest son Vinnie, my wife Tina LoSasso & I attended the 2nd Annual 'Read A Comic In Public Day' event that was sponsored by Chriss Cornish.   This was held at the Starbucks as shown in this Facebook event page, 2nd Annual Read Comics in Public Day - San Diego!

This event in the San Diego area of California was sponsored by Chriss, as part of the 'International Read A Comic In Public Day' event. 

'Read Comics in Public Day' was created by Brian Heater and Sarah Morean at The Daily Cross Hatch.  Here is the link to their Facebook fan page, where you can see others reporting in from what happened at their event yesterday! 

My blog #3493 went into the history of this day, as seen here.

My blog #3494 brought up the fact that the event was being held intentionally on what would have been Jack Kirby's 94th birthday, as seen here.

The event in Claremont was held from 11 AM to 3PM.  Chriss arrived early at the Starbucks on the corner of Balboa & Genessee (4227 Genessee) in San Diego.  Staking out a claim on a few tables with umbrellas for shade.

When Vinnie, Tina, and I arrived at 1PM, the event was in full swing!  We had iced coffees from Starbucks, and mine was really good, as I had asked for a different taste combination and got it!  Thanks, Tina!

Several of the attendees were reading comics, others were talking about comics, and a couple were illustrating what would be comic pages pinups, so it was a mixed event.  

I brought a few issues of Jack Kirby's 'Kamandi' series he had produced while at DC Comics, and several persons talked about & thus remembered Jack Kirgy on this special day.

There is a three minute video from this event, myself with Chriss Cornish, on how this event was sponsored by her in the San Diego area last year.  The video is seen at the top right of this blog, part of my videos from my YouTube Channel at 'Hamersky On Comics'.

The photos taken by Vinnie and myself, all 54 of them, can be seen in the special Facebook photo album at my Facebook Fan Page: '2011 Read A Comic In Public / Remembering Jack Kirby day'.  Thanks to all of my Facebook Friends & Semantink's Comic Savvy Meetup members for coming out to support this important day!  It was good seeing you all again!

Tina read and finished a graphic novel published by Archaia Entertainment, which should be review blogged later this week.  

Vinnie read several different comics and watched the two illustrators sketch their pieces.

I circulated around the tables, and talked with those that put down their comics long enough to do so...

All in all... A fun afternoon in the Claremont neighborhood of San Diego, California!

Thanks again to Chriss Cornish for sponsoring this event here 'locally', and to Brian Heater and Sarah Morean for starting this in 2001! 

I'm sure that others will see their efforts and expand this special day even further for 2012!

~Michael D Hamersky - who is asking you for your vote in the current voting going on over at The Shel Dorf Awards web site. I was nominated for 'Comic Blogger of the Year' on Monday, August 8th!   While being honored to be nominated, I'd also like to win!  

The competition has some other good nominees for the same category I was nominated for, so I'm asking for your help on this!

If you have enjoyed this blog or any of the others in the now over 3,495 blogs in this series of mine, I'd appreciate your vote!

Here is a direct link to the voting page. 'Comic Blogger of the Year' is the category, and 'Michael Hamersky On Comics' is the name I'm listed as to vote for.

Here is a link to blog #3481, where I went more into depth on this topic.

My thanks to any of you that take the time to vote for me!  Voting ends online on September 4th!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!  We currently have over 2,533 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button! 

And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

~ Michael D Hamersky

If I have it... You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at:  

http://www.ComicBooksCircus.com/ 

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up differently, sorry about that!

The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer.  Note:  As of Monday, June 27th, 2011, I'll be using my new laptop, where the default resolution is 'higher', so there may be some temporary glitches until I am used to the new resolution.

NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works!

To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:

Make It So Marketing Inc., PO Box 130653, Carlsbad, CA 92013

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there.  Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page! 

---

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reports On... The 2nd Annual So Cal Comic Con!  That Was Held ONE DAY Only In Oceanside, California, On Saturday, August 27th, 2011! -  - Topmost Photo: J. Scott Campbell, 'Guest of Honor' at the 2011 So Cal Comic Con was 'superheroic' for sure!  Here he is in the final hour of the comic con, still going strong sketching for his legion of fans that showed up on Saturday. His line never ended! - Above Bottom Photo:   My youngest son, Vinnie, with a STAN LEE 'Spider-Man' action figure that he won at one of the raffles!  With con co-promoter Joel Elad presenting it to him!   - Top Photo At The Left Column.:  Michael D Hamersky with the 2011 So Cal Comic Con co-promoters Rey Reyes (middle) and Joel Elad at the end of the show!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3495:

Yesterday, on Saturday August 27th my youngest son Vinnie, Tina, and I set up a dealer's table at the 2nd Annual So Cal Comic Con.  It was held at the Boys & Girls Club in Oceanside, California.

I hadn't set up at a comic con or show for over 15 years, (being an online comic book dealer only!), and I saw it as an opportunity to show Vinnie the difference between setting up at a physical convention, versus being set up for online sales.  A good way to show a young teen-ager how to set up and run a small business, while dealing with the public in person!

In addition, out of the twenty short boxes of dollar comics that we were able to store in our new SUV and actually drive over to the show in... Three of those boxes were Vinnie's own comics, plus those accumulated by his older brothers, that he would be selling on a commission basis for them.  I like how his young mind thinks when an opportunity arises.  He could learn the business without buying inventory to resale, just invest his time, and learn from my know how from first setting up during my own college years at the San Diego Comic Con back in 1972!  

So as stated back in blog #3484, this comic con (show) would be a good learning experience.  For both him and myself, working as father & son in a business set-up together... Plus, Vinnie's step-mom, Tina, would be setting up for the first time also! She had been to many comic cons and shows, but had never been on the other side of the table! So this would be a new experience for her also!

So... Here it is Sunday morning, and I'm up early as usual!  All three of us have another 'comics related event' to attend today, the 'Read A Comic In Public Day' event in San Diego.  As seen at blog #3493!  I'll be mobile Facebooking a few pics from there as well.  And then uploading pics to a special photo album later, as I'm not taking my laptop with me... Just my Droid!

As promised in my earlier blogs, and on my Facebook Fan Page, 'Michael D Hamersky On Comics', I did some mobile Facebooking from the con itself yesterday in Oceanside.

I uploaded those pics from my Droid to my Facebook Fan Page, 'Michael D Hamersky On Comics'. Those pics went first to my generic 'Mobile Uploads' album. They will be moved to a special 2011 So Cal Comic Con album, which had already been set up for that purpose! 

I also found I was able to upload 196 photos while at the con via my digital camera / laptop that I also brought.  (Thanks to Joel Elad, co-con promoter for the use of his Sprint system!)  Those photos were from the setup period before the con opened, outside before the doors opened, and during the con in the morning and the early afternoon, with more to follow in the late hours of the con, and possibly the three of us celebrating a hard day of working a con at an Asian seafood buffet!

Just so you have the 'full picture':

The So Cal Comic Con's Facebook Event Page can be found at this link.

The So Cal Comic Con's Facebook Fan Page can found here. You didn't have to attend this year's comic con to 'Like' it.  So that your Facebook Friends can see you 'Liking' it, and be aware of it for next year!

In the earlier blog I posted the 'Press Release' on this con.  So for all the details please that blog #3484 to see who was scheduled to be there. I'm just going to 'report' on the 'highlights' of this con from yesterday.

So for the 'report' itself, as mentioned in the title of this blog:

Dealer info:  The doors for entering for setup were at 7:30 am.  We arrived at 8:15 as we just had 20 short boxes to cart in, with no banners and no display racks to set up behind us.  The access was from the parking lot and the side parking was easy to use.  You needed to bring your own dolly or cart to bring your inventory in. Vinne & I used a small dolly bringing in 3 -4 boxes at a time, while Tina starting placing the box display sheets on the boxes.  The total setup time for us was minimal, being the three of us there, but Scotty who was next to us with two tables by himself had a longer period of time carting in & out multiple boxes.  However, he is used to doing so at other cons as well.

Opening hour:  Unfortunately it was getting a little warm by 10AM and the front area had very little shade.  So those in line for opening were getting a little warm.  The doors did not open exactly at 10am, but shortly afterwards. So those in heavier cosplay costumes had experienced a little uncomfortableness. When I went out to front doors just about 9:45 AM, there was a good sized line, of which some of the photos are shared in the photo album link.

Morning hours: The first hours had good traffic, and a long line at the 'Guest of Honor's table. J. Scott Campbell sketched for endless hours, and the line for him seemed to never let up. The line went down past the rest of the guest artists, totalling ten in number. That side of the room was always busy throughtout the morning into the late afternoon.  

As I told J. Scott at the end of the show, I thought he did a 'superheroic' job of satisfying all attendees! And that he reminded of Jim Lee in the early years, where Jim, even after the scheduled signing was done, would get up and sign one each of the items for those still in line before leaving. J. Scott thanked me for saying that, as he has had a table by Jim at other cons, and seen the same thing. J. Scott took it as the compliment that I meant it to be.

The other comics artists were pleasant and a couple stood out to me that I had not seen before... A couple were early setups, and others came in closer to the opening time.  All stayed until near closing time at 5PM.

The dealers had varying crowds at their tables.  Some were high end dealers with great display racks.  Others were low end sellers.  I had purposely brought only dollar comics (20 boxes worth) & a few CGCs to sell, so as to make some room in our backstock room.   There were quite a few collectors there buying expensive comics, but not in any quantity that I saw.    There were several attendees there who bought bargain items, but again not any in quantities.  It has to be the local economy as there was plenty of good bargains at many of the tables there! 

The heat in the room started rising during the early afternoon.  I hadn't seen this at the 1st Annual Con, but then realized it had been held in November.  Even though this Boys & Girls Club of Oceanside is relatively close to the Pacific Ocean, the heat in the room was noticeable.   The cosplayers that I had seen wearing heavier costumes had changed out of them.  As the afternoon wore on I noticed that the crowd wasn't staying as long.  Several of those that were there because of my Facebook efforts, stopped and told me that they were leaving because of the heat, and wanted to say goodbye before leaving.

The raffle prizes didn't always get raffled off on a timely manner.  It is hard to run your table, make sure your guest artists are taken care of, and get the raffles out on time.   However, those that had winning tickets were very happy with the prizes!  Including my son, who won a Stan Lee signed Spider-Man action figure MIB! 

The three of us stayed until closing time, as I wanted to see the whole con from an exhibitor's standpoint this year.  The breakdown process went pretty smoothly.  No major jockeying for the back door exit. Very courteous exhibitors.

All in all, the three of us had a fun day, a good learning experience, and fun networking with our customers, Facebook Friends, and other dealers & the guest artists.  We look forward to doing this show again, which will probably go back to the November time slot, due to the heat in August.  Which is probably a good thing.

That's it for this 'mini-report'... I want to thank the con promoters, Rey Reyes & Joel Elad for their efforts into making this 2nd Annual Con a fun one to attend. North San Diego County needs con promoters like them to bring a comic book convention to the area, as the oversized Comic-Con International: San Diego is held only once a year in July at the San Diego Convention Center. It is too darn hard to even get one day memberships there any more. We need smaller shows like Joel & Rey put on this weekend!  Thanks again!

~Michael D Hamersky - who is asking you for your vote in the current voting going on over at The Shel Dorf Awards web site. I was nominated for 'Comic Blogger of the Year' on Monday, August 8th!   While being honored to be nominated, I'd also like to win!  

The competition has some other good nominees for the same category I was nominated for, so I'm asking for your help on this!

If you have enjoyed this blog or any of the others in the now over 3,482 blogs in this series of mine, I'd appreciate your vote!

Here is a direct link to the voting page. 'Comic Blogger of the Year' is the category, and 'Michael Hamersky On Comics' is the name I'm listed as to vote for.

Here is a link to blog #3481, where I went more into depth on this topic.

My thanks to any of you that take the time to vote for me!  Voting ends online on September 4th!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!  We currently have over 2,531 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button! 

And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

~ Michael D Hamersky

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