Con Review and News!

Hey all! So I missed Self-Promotion Sunday (SPS) by like a mile, which I am a bit sad about cause I got a lot of new stuff up! However, I was a bit preoccupied by being at LI Tropic Con for all of Sunday, so I think I can be forgiven. That being said, just a heads up: I am moving a lot of my stuff from my Redbubble page to my TeePublic page. I have not updated this in a while, focusing solely on Redbubble. But, make sure you check out the TeePublic page as some of my designs are no longer up on Redbubble. 

Redbubble Link: https://www.redbubble.com/people/TrotLOeilArt?asc=u
TeePublic Link: https://www.teepublic.com/user/trotloeil

via GIPHY

While you go check out my designs, let me review LI Tropic Con. First off, I have never done this convention before, so I have no idea if they have done this before or not, or if this was a new venue or not. Now, I have stated MANY times that I am a big supporter of smaller cons, and I stand by my statement. Small conventions are VITAL for us who sell at them, because without the small cons, the big ones would not exist. Heck, even San Diego Comic Con and New York Comic Con started out very small. 

Oh, on a separate note: MY PANEL GOT APPROVED FOR NEW YORK COMIC CON! I and two others will be presenting a panel on Thursday, October 3rd, at the Educators Panels in the New York Public Library on Fan Art in the Classroom and Why It's OK! OH MY GOD!! THE REALITY OF IT! I AM SUPER EXCITED!!!!

via GIPHY

Ok, I digress. Now, back to LI Tropic Con. So, I still stand by my statement about small conventions. However, if a small con is going into year two or three, hopefully they should have figured out MOST of the kinks that they need to work out. If not, then it shows. Now, I do not know how many years LI Tropic Con has been running, but there were DEFINITELY some things to be worked on. First off, the directions they gave for where the artists were supposed to unload, while fine, was lacking direction. They said people would be there to guide us, and no one was there. I was one of the earliest to arrive, so I get that not everyone might have been there, but that's still not an excuse to not have staff waiting. Next, while a cute idea, the "vendor badges" were nothing but flower necklaces for like a luau. How can you tell who is a vendor and who is an attendee? Seriously! Also, their main stage was RIGHT by the AA, and I didn't even figure out where the vendor area was until I had to go find food.

While I had a decent amount of foot traffic, not enough people were buying, so I didn't even make table. Even with nice table neighbors again (I seem to get very lucky in that department), I was unable to break even. Ugh!

Con Review Tuesday! Looking Terrific at TerrifiCon!

Hey all! I am back from con 3 of 4, and am starting to hit the wall!

via GIPHY

But anyway, I got one more con before I start to close out my con season for this year, although I might have a few smaller ones before the end of the year. However, the next con is another small one, which honestly, after these past two cons, I think is the wiser move for me. So, next up is LI Tropic Con, which is another con I have never done before, but I am excited to try out. We will see how it goes, but come check it out!

In the meantime, let me talk a bit about TerrifiCon. First off, I have done events with the people who run this event before, specifically CT Gamer Con (which I intend to go to again if timing works out), and I usually make bank at that con, so I figured why the heck not, give this one a shot. Figure it's in the same location, run by the same people so they know their sh*t, can't really go wrong, right?

via GIPHY

TOTALLY RIGHT!!! I will say, though, I was BEYOND intimidated by the space. This was NOT CT Gamer Con! We were in a TOTALLY different space, what felt like a sort of warehouse, but when I saw ALL the vendors and artists and such, I was SUPER grateful that it was in that area! Oh my goodness! This thing was NUTS!!! Like honestly, my friend from Action Fuzz who came up for this, he was like, "This is a lot bigger than I expected!" I know I missed half the hall myself, but seriously, it was just beyond!

Size of the space aside, this was a very good con for a first time. Friday was slow, but I totally made up for it on Saturday. Sunday was an in-between day, which was better than I could expect. I definitely made friends with my neighbors who were around me, super nice guys, who were great to chat with. While I missed getting autographs and such (seriously, guys, this place was PACKED beginning to end, no way I was able to get away for more than a few minutes) I DID take time for myself to get a voice recording from Phil LaMarr doing a Hermes impression using a quote from my favorite movie, "Clue."

It was definitely a different set-up than what I have been used to before, and the space I was in felt pretty tight, but my neighbors and I made it work. I couldn't use my extra gridwall, but one neighbor made a suggestion with my set-up that worked out fabulously. Overall, I did well for the first time at this con, and I hope to return next year!

In the meantime, COME TO LI TROPIC CON! (Oh, and come to TrotCon, which I applied for!)

via GIPHY

HAPPY FLUTTERSHY FRIDAY! BRONYCON FINDS!! (#125, 126, 127, 128)

Of COURSE I was going to be getting at least one Fluttershy plush while I was at BronyCon. With that haven of a Marketplace??? There was NO WAY I would escape without ONE new girl! But with all the temptation, I found FOUR! Well, technically two, since two were preordered. Honestly, I should have stopped at those two, but I could not resist! And since I was helping my friend set up, I got to check out the merch early. Plus, by Friday, all the plush artists were at least 80% out of their plushies. It was NUTS! 

via GIPHY

However, this year was very much bitter sweet. I not only also got to say hi to Andrea again, but I got a pic with her with my 100th Fluttershy, which is just special to me in and of itself. I also got her to do a voice recording for me, which just made me super giddy. And the fact that she remembers the VERY FIRST piece I made for her--a Zilla Flutterbat with fluffy and posable wings--just means the world to me. 

So, 5 cosplays (regular Fluttershy, two variants of Gala Fluttershy, Flutterbat AND a half Fluttershy half Flutterbat combo), 3 autographs, 2 pictures and a voice recording later, we are almost at 130 Fluttershys. I am seriously running out of room, guys! And yet, I found soooo many more I want! So let me show off the newest girls! First up, the newest addition to the Flutterbat Special Unit, this one is from Emberfalls. I have a slightly larger Fluttershy from this studio already, and I couldn't resist a Flutterbat from them.

Next up, this ADORABLE Seapony Fluttershy from SenSews!! Oh my god, I could not resist! And the BELLY! On my god, it's like my kitty's belly! And the tail is perfectly floppy!

Another pony here was from a bigger vendor that I missed the name of, but they said they were from Russia. All I know is, the minute I saw this girl, I squeed sooo hard! All I wanted to do was cuddle with this little girl! I wish I could remember the booth that had her! Would love help, anypony!

And lastly, an absolutely GORGEOUS girl from Serenity Studios. I'm seriously reminded of the Puppy Plushie Studios when I saw this girl, only she's in mini form whereas my Puppy Plushie is much bigger!

As one of the cosplayers at the Princess Brunch said to me: "Here's to 100 more!" Now to find the room...

Con Review, pt. 2: BRONYCON!!

Hey fellow readers! Welcome to part two of this Con Review Tuesday, and now, we review BronyCon!

First of all, TERRIFICON is coming up this weekend, y'all! Yours truly will be there selling my wares, so just come by and give me all the money! Remember, I'll be in the Artist Alley area, at table 65, so make sure you come by!

Now, BronyCon has been a con near and dear to my heart for many years. It was the first BIG con I ever vended at, and I vended at it for many years. This fandom was also a fandom where I made many friends, many of whom have been there through the years where I had my highs and my lows. I can honestly say, without this fandom, I would not be where I am today. So I was extremely sad this year to find out that it would be the LAST BronyCon. I was also a bit bummed that I did not OFFICIALLY vend at the con, but I got lucky. My good friend, Kitty Sapphire, got an AA table and graciously allowed me to share with her. So I brought a few items, and I got to sell some of my work. I was super happy I got to do that. I also had items in the BronyCon Art Show, as many of you know, since I have been posting about them. I had about half of them sell, the other half did not, but I am getting them to the Traveling Pony Museum to travel with them. One of my biggest moments came when someone came by wearing my "Opposites Attrack" design from For Fans By Fans. I geeked out and was like, "THAT'S MY SHIRT!" The guy geeked out too, asked for a pic with me and for me to sign the shirt. It was awesome!

Kitty did very well herself, so check out her set-up below. I was between being with her and doing my own thing, since the share was last minute and I had already paid for a few panels in advance (mainly ones that required supplies). My biggest thing was actually the Cosplay Fashion Show. I have NEVER done anything cosplay related, cause usually contests, you have to make almost everything yourself, and I have next to zero sewing skills. You give me a base, and I can do epic stuff to it, but honestly, I can't sew. However, I got a LOT of compliments on the cosplay, and had a lot of fun with it. I am sorry to see this con go, as I have made lots of friends and have many good memories from the convention. I am just grateful for all the memories I have been given over the time that BronyCon was in my life.

Con Review Tuesday Pt. 1: Lock City!

Hey fellow readers! I know it's been a while, but I have been working my little behind off! I got two cons to review today, so don't go too far!

First of all, TERRIFICON is coming up this weekend, y'all! Yours truly will be there selling my wares, so just come by and give me all the money! Remember, I'll be in the Artist Alley area, at table 65, so make sure you come by!

via GIPHY

Now, let me review: Lock City and I go back a few years. I found out about this con when it went to a hotel not too far from where I live. I'm not kidding, the con used to be like around the corner from me. You can't beat that sort of non-existent overhead. This con is another smaller one, but the guy who runs it takes care of his people, so this has always been a favorite of mine to go to. Last year, I did very well, and it was nice to see a bunch of return attendees come by and say they recognize me. The downside was, despite foot traffic, I didn't do as well as I would have liked. Oh, I made back table that's for sure, but I would have liked to have had more in sales. But, we shall see what happens. I hope this con comes back next year, since it's switching hands. But the new guy already seems to have much in hand, including a theme. So here's hoping!

Check out how my booth came out! Considering I forgot HALF my grids, I think this came out rather well!