Comic Lab

Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking shop! They discuss what percentage of your readership you can expect to become Patreon backers. That leads into a fascinating trip down Memory Lane as they recall a disgruntled "How To Make Webcomics" reader. Then, they make suggestions on how many tiers a first-time Kickstarter campaign should have. And finally, they make suggestions on Kickstarter stretch goals and add-ons. BUT FIRST, was a part of Stan Lee's success based on his iconic Look? Show notes 00:00 — Stan Lee's iconic Look 07:54 — Brad's 19th anniversary in comics 21:01 — Dave looks back on Emerald City and Comic Con International 24:43 — Shipping books on a Greyhound Bus 27:34 — Fed Ex Freight Box 29:15 — Spike Trotman: "Don't fight success." 32:45 — Kenny Rogers' face 36:39 — What percent of your audience are Patreon backers? 40:06 — A story from the "How To Make Webcomics" book 44:22 — The danger of "Magic Number" thinking 49:02 — Superstitions 51:38

In this episode, Cartoonists Dave and Brad are talking shop. They share which pieces of original art they would most like to have. Then, it's on to tips and tricks for selling prints. Next, Brad revisits the "social media/ fool's gold" discussion. Then, as Brad approached fifty, the lads talk about preparing for old age. That takes a wild turn as Brad shares an AMAZING fact he learned about teaching business to art-school students. And finally, despite Brad's gain being turned up waaaaaay too high in this recording, a listener asks how they keep their show sounding so good. Most of the time. BUT FIRST... Brad has a dirty throttle body. Just like Dave always suspected. SHOW NOTES 0:00 — Dirty throttle body 05:45 — Whose original art would you like you own? 27:22 — Selling prints 35:59 — Stretch Break! 36:47 — Social media fool's gold, part two 52:02 — Preparing for old age 01:03:56 — Teaching business in art schools 01:11:14 — Podcast equipment

Webcomics pros Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking comics! In this episode, the guys talk about the cartoonist from history that they would have most appreciated a chance to be tutored by. Then, Dave delivers an update on how Backerkit has been working out for him. After that, Dave points out that Brad keeps saying "Time is a continuum," but... what does that actually MEAN? Next, Brad references a recent social-media post by Joe Rogan that glorifies success — at all costs. Brad and Dave talk about how dangerous — and counterproductive — that kind of attitude is. And finally, Dave has some financial advice for cartoonists" Plan for a recession NOW. BUT FIRST... Ikea is offering inspirational e-mails, and Dave wants to know what's in those messages. SHOW NOTES 00:00 — Inspirational Ikea 07:17 — 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary 12:25 — Which cartoonist would you love to have had as a tutor? 24:54 — Backerkit 31:50 — Stretch break! 32:40 — What does "Time is a continuum" mean? 40

Webcomics pros Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking comics! In this episode, they point out that the Eisner Awards have changed their submission guidelines — and that's great news for short-form webcartoonists! THEN they discuss a tweet by Nate Powell that has everyone talking. This Eisner-winning cartoonist claims his income breaks down to about $455 a month! NEXT, it's all about joke theft — what do do when you're accused of it, and what to do when it happens to you! THEN, Dave and Brad do a deep dive on exclamation points. How many it enough? How many is too many?! And what about the interrobang? FINALLY, the guys talk about embedding ads in your comic to promote a Kickstarter or Patreon campaign. But first... Dave's son explains how Superman shaves, and it has us in stitches! SHOW NOTES 00:00 — Kryptonite razors and hypnotic glasses 07:44 — New submission guideline for Eisners 15:58 — Publishing vs Self-publishing 21:45 — The offensiveness of rigidity 29:12 — Stretch break! 30:08 — Joke theft 48:39 —

Webcomics pros Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking comics! In this episode, they discuss what you should do when you realize you've lost longtime readers. Then, where should you work, when you work from home? What kind of day job should you have? And finally... how do some cartoonists produce those amazing sketchbooks? But first... Dave's going to Alaska Robotics' Comics Camp! SHOW NOTES 00:00 — Comics Camp 06:10 — Why do longtime readers fall away from your comic, and how can you address it? 14:21 — Where should you work, when you work from home? 28:00 — What are some things folks need to know before going into comics full time? 40:54 — What kind of day job is best — menial or creative? 55:43 — How do some artists release those massive sketchbooks? Great rewards when you support ComicLab $2 — Support the show $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast $10 — Record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast

Webcomics pros Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking comics! In this episode, Brad makes another lasting contribution to webcomics: Guigar's Law — The first person to comment that they'd buy a certain type of merchandise is the first person to disappear when the merch is offered! BUT FIRST, Brad and Dave fondly remember comic-convention cosplay. Show Notes 00:00 — Spotting the batawang at a comic convention 06:35 — Dave clarifies his production schedule 07:54 — Guigar's Law: The first person to say "I'd buy that" is the first person to disappear when you offer the merch. 17:48 — Is it important to have a consistent theme to your comics? 25:54 — Comics anthologies 37:04 — Stretch Break! 37:53 — What should YOU be planning for 2019? 49:27 — Dave doesn't buy as many comics as he used to. Should that be worrisome? 56:29 — Dave and Brad were both Little League umpires... with very different styles, and Brad shares his utter failure as a baseball player 01:03:36 — Advice for launching your first Patre

Webcomics pros Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking comics! In this episode, they discuss best practices for sound effects and promoting longform comics on social media. NEXT, they discuss "Chapter Zero" — what it is, and whether it's right for you. THEN it's strategies for coping with the Q1 slowdown. AND FINALLY, they take a handful of questions from 2018 and drill through them in a Lightning Round! BUT FIRST, as Dave prepared to receive a shipment of books for his latest Kickstarter campaign, he learns something about his co-host's tipping habits. Show Notes 00:00 — Dave's books and Brad's tips 07:39 — Finding the right word for sound effects 20:14 — Promoting longform comics on social media 30:23 — Stretch Break! 31:14 — Chapter Zero 42:31 — Coping with the Q1 slowdown 49:54 — Lightning Round! Drilling down several questions from 2018. Great rewards when you support ComicLab $2 — support the show $5 — submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast $10

Dave and Brad are planning 2019 — PLUS, Steve McGarry from the National Cartoonist Society drops in to talk about NCSFest in Huntington Beach, Calif, May 17-19, 2019. But FIRST... Brad's teenagers give Dave a look at what's in store for his kids in the future — and it includes sleeping in till noon. Show Notes 00:00 — Teenagers 06:06 — Brad's plan for 2019: Hiring an assistant 20:22 — Dave's plan for 2019: Five personal appearances 22:55 — Dave's plan for 2019: Publishing schedule to include an all-pop-culture Sheldon collection and a children's book! 40:44 — The NCS's Steve McGarry joins us to talk about NCSFest 54:00 — Brad's plan for 2019: Publishing the second collection of Evil Inc After Dark and the second edition of The Webcomics Handbook. 01:07:17 — Dave's shoot-the-moon plans for 2019: A comics-related TV show, a podcast book club, and a ComicLab Quickstarter. 01:09:25 — Revisiting our three-year plan and five-year plan project from 2018. Great rewards when you support ComicLab $2 — support the sh

Webcomics pros Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar talk social-media strategy with Kevin McShane of Buzzfeed, the Lusty Horde, and more! BUT FIRST, Dave marvels over the exercise craze of the belt vibrator. And that leads to this little-known story about the true-life origin of Marvel supervillain, the Shocker. Show notes 00:00 — The belt vibrator 08:10 — Understanding "sharing statements" in social media 27:05 — Sharing on Instagram 47:50 — We use the passing of Stan Lee to get Kevin to do his Fake Stan Lee impression 55:48 — Possible replacements for Tumblr for web hosting Great rewards when you support ComicLab $2 — support the show $5 — submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast $10 — record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast $50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil In

Webcomics pros Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar look back over another year in webcomics and discuss what worked really well — and what didn't. BUT FIRST, Dave marvels over the British idiom, "hard cheese," and that leads to a discussion of British humor in general. Show notes 00:00 — "Hard cheese, old chap." 05:00 — 52 ComicLab episodes in 52 weeks — thanks to our Patreon backers! 08:00 — Dave and Brad disagree on buffers 11:45 — "Webcomics is constantly evolving... so we need to be constantly questioning" 14:40 — Adapting to mobile 16:45 — "Quitting comic conventions improved my webcomics business" 22:17 — Planning saved Dave from a potentially disastrous year 27:30 — Kickstarter planning 30:10 — Making better hiring decisions 36:16 — Crisis management for creators 44:10 — "Spanish Flea" and mutual admiration 47:00 — Bonjoro 53:00 — Sometimes social media should be a one-way communication 56:26 — The power of ComicLab LISTENERS has gone untouched! Great reward

Webcomics pros Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar discuss the Patreon Special Offer — and why comics artists should be using it — RIGHT NOW. Plus... running concurrent campaigns on Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Is it a little skeevy, or super skeevy? And then, the burning question for the ages... What's it like being the most handsome host of ComicLab? BUT FIRST, Brad finally wins the artificial-Christmas-tree argument at his house. And he's miserable about it. Show notes 00:00 — Brad's artificial Christmas tree woes 8:00 — The Patreon Special Offer... what it is, how to do it, and WHY you should be doing it NOW 45:10 — What's it like being the most handsome host of ComicLab? 50:07 — Running concurrent campaigns on Kickstarter and IndieGoGo 01:05:00 — What's your stance on offering cameos of people or their original characters as higher tier Kickstarter or one-time Patreon rewards? 01:13:10: — Brad has a new microphone, thanks to ComicLab's Patreon backers Great rewards when you support ComicLab $2 — support the sh

Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking shop! Still reeling from an action-packed weekend at PatreCon, the guys are talking Patreon! For example — should you hide your Patreon numbers or display proudly how much you're earning? And what do you do when a backer expects more than you're offering? And how soon is too soon to launch your Patreon? Also — can a story-driven comic strip like "Bloom County" survive on the Web today? And the guys discuss which of their many projects have brought them the most joy. BUT FIRST, before they drill deep on Patreon, Dave's dentist does some drilling of his own — and gets an unexpected result! Show notes 00:00 — Dave's trip to the dentist 04:00 — Do public-facing $$$ numbers cause Patreon patrons to drop because "you don't need any more help"? 05:49 — The two approaches to Patreon — Exclusivity vs Support 10:30 — Dave insists that public-facing Patreon numbers should be hidden 17:40 — Making Dave blush is fun 19:17 — Can a story-driven comic

Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking shop! Redbubble has killed off its support for print-on-demand calendars. Should you be doing the same? ALSO, how to prepare for a portfolio review. THEN, building a digital press kit and approaching comics-media outlets. FINALLY, when a cartoonist has 1.1 million Instagram followers and only about 400 Patreon backers, is something amiss? BUT FIRST, Brad builds a podcasting fort with a heavy blanket to combat the echo in his studio… and it works! Show notes • 00:00 — “Let’s go to Upright Citizen’s Brigade!” • 04:04 — Brad’s recording under a blanket • 08:35 — Dave’s healthy lifestyle • 10:33 — Redbubble kills print-on-demand calendars. Should you? • 15:50 — Producing 25 different desktop wallpapers / mobile backgrounds quickly • 18:29 — InDesign Calendar Wizard • 20:00 — Portfolio reviews • 29:25 — Press releases and comic-media outlets • 32:17 — How to make a digital press kit • 45:19 — A cartoonist who has 1.1 million Instagram followers… but only 387 Pat

Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking shop! Brad flew out to Los Angeles to attend PatreCon with his podcastin' pal Dave. Today, they talk about what they thought of the conference in general, what they learned, and most importantly how their approach to Patreon is going to change in the immediate future. BUT FIRST... Brad took delivery of the print run of his new book, and everything went wrong. Show notes 00:00 — Brad took delivery of his new book, and everything went wrong 12:48 — Flying Spirit Airlines 19:53 — PatreCon… first impressions 24:10 — PatreCon… good food! 28:38 — SimpleCast has ComicLab considering changing podcast hosts 29:55 — Eyeing the Reddit/Patreon integration 30:44 — The ComicLab Discord server is bustling with activity 31:49 — Backerkit is pushing physical rewards… hard. Good luck with that. 34:43 — PatreCon’s Main Stage… inspirational vs pragmatic 41:03 — Brad’s major complaint… too many people on stage with no skin in the game 45:08 — Dave’s note-t

Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are joined by the wonderful Alex Heberling to talk shop! They talk about handling discouragement and burn-out, staying motivated, and taking time for self-care. Then Alex shares the harrowing story of the trepidatious phone call Brad made when he approached her to work on Evil Inc After Dark. BUT FIRST… Brad questions his own judgement when get gets into a Twitter fight over typography.  Show notes 00:00 — Brad gets into a Twitter fight over typography 07:44 — Introducing Alex Heberling 10:43 — Dave is color blind 14:12 — Handling discouragement 17:19 — The beauty of a quiet readership 23:23 — How to keep motivated 31:03 — Handling burn-out 42:57 — The creative cocoon 44:00 — How to find a good therapist 46:17 — Promoting a new comic with a “Coming Soon” announcement 55:49 — Alex talks about the trepidatious phone call Brad made when he approached her to work on Evil Inc After Dark Great rewards when you support ComicLab $2 — support the show $5 — submit a question f

Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking shop! When a Patreon backer asks for tips on hustling and networking, Brad gets uncomfortable. Then, the guys struggle to make sense of demographic data. And finally, they help a fellow cartoonist navigate book distribution. BUT FIRST, Dave asks... if you could see one statistic floating over people's heads, what would it be? Show notes 13:17 — Game show themes for fun and profit 15:27 — Brad thought Graham Chapman did the Monty Python animations — not Terry Gilliam. He is a dunce. 17:12 — Tips on hustling and networking 34:37 — Understanding demographic information 52:34 — Navigating book distribution

 Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking shop! This week, they’re talking about avoiding boredom, and they take a deep dive on grappling with self-doubt. THEN they talk about how they adapt their writing processes to address those issues. NEXT, they talk about the dangers of sharing your self-doubt on social media. AND finally, a crucial question for today’s independent creators: What level of Patreon support denotes success? Show notes 00:00 — The “hi-five retweet” 06:10 — Since you have long-running series, how do you stay interested and not get bored nor riddled with self-doubt? 07:45 — Talking about Brad’s writing process 15:56 — Give yourself the option to switch comics 17:17 — Self doubt 20:12 — Don’t share your self-doubt on social media 24:23 — What level of Patreon support denotes success?

Webcomics weirdos Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking comics with Ngozi Ukazu, creator of “Check, Please.” She talks sports comics, art school, self-publishing, and a wide range of creative challenges. BUT FIRST, Raina Telgemeier’s new book, “Guts,” receives a million-book print order, and we’re stoked! Show notes 00:00 — Raina Telgemeier’s new book, “Guts,” receives a million-book print order 02:34 — Introducing Ngozi Ukazu, creator of “Check, Please.” 03:12 — The comics scene in Austin, Texas 04:48 — The Philadelphia Flyer’s new mascot, Gritty 06:42 — Ngozi’s love of hockey — and sports, in general 10:46 — Sports manga 17:58 — The “Check, Please” website has a design worth swiping. 25:19 — The creative backstory to “Check, Please.” 28:10 — The “Check, Please” book is the highest-funded webcomic project on Kickstarter, and here’s the story behind his that happened 34:56 — Ngozi threads the needle between indie publishing and traditional publishing 37:17 — Getting an MFA at SCAD (with an undergraduate d

Webcomics weirdos Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking comics! When a Patreon backer hits the viral jackpot, they wonder if it wasn’t fool’s gold. This turns into a discussion of smart online marketing, how publishing religious content is like posting NSFW comics, and one overarching theme — social media isn’t about generating Buzz so much as it’s about building Community. Then, the boys talk about getting a publisher excited about comics, and finally, those sentimental things we hold onto that we should probably let go. BUT FIRST, “Muaauughhh, the French… champagne…” Show notes 00:00 — Orson Welles stumbles through a Paul Mason wine commercial blitzed off his keister. 09:48 — It’s illegal to run a raffle on Patreon… unless you do it this way. 18:10 — Going viral… is it “fool’s gold”? 22:40 — If your promotion isn’t clickable, it’s useless 24:46 — Frequent/Consistent/Significant still plays a role in today’s webcomics publishing 28:19 — Posting cartoons about divisive topics will have significant consequ

Webcomics watchmen Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking Inktober with  Jake Parker, the founder of Inktober. They discuss Inktober, how it started, and where it’s going. BUT FIRST, Dave’s niece sums up his fashion sense with brutal accuracy. Show notes 00:00 — Dave’s fashion sense is “Costco New Balance shoes and a single-color polo.” 03:06 — Introducing Jake Parker, founder of Inktober 03:38 — A look inside the Inktober inbox 07:26 — What is Inktober? 10:22 — Inktober is one of many, many equally-good art-related challenges this month 24:14 — Is digital art allowed in Inktober? 28:16 — The psychology of Inktober 29:37 — Now that Dave’s Kickstarter is over, the gang talks about what they’ve done that has worked well on Kickstarter — and what hasn’t worked so well. 48:42 — Brad has officially convinced Dave to try Backerkit! 49:36 — How far do you take a pencil sketch before you start inking? 59:59 — Jake has talked to his podcast co-hosts about having Brad as a guest on their show. That talk, evidently,