ShortRun Seattle, 2023

If you want all the details, you need to keep an eye on ShortRun's link. The show happens every year in early November. There were great events, talks, and just a bunch of wonderful creative people at the show. Thunder, lightning and a downpour turned into a beautiful autumn day, the bright yellow trees around the Seattle Center fountain sparkling in the sun, and as the sun set, the winter lights came on. 

This report leads off with the beautiful railing art across from the Fisher plaza, detailing the history of the Duwamish people's area. There are 85 panels in the metal sequence, making it a very large and durable comic book.

BE SURE TO SCROLL TO THE END OF THE PHOTOS to see the beautiful Hmong regalia. I'd seen Hmong people strolling around the area all day, and only at the last minute discovered they had an exhibit in the Seattle Center Armory. They were gracious enough to give me a chance to get a few photos, even in the middle of their busy takedown.

The evening before, Fantagraphics Bookstore presented the usual author party, that's always such a treat at ShortRun. For more details, and even some interviews, including with the delightful people pictured below, check out the ShortRun episode of my podcast, A Bazillion Ghost Stories.

WHERE AND WHEN WITH DONNA BARR

How To Draw A Horse Right. Youtube.

For any year, just hit the links: Contact me for meetups, panels, etc. donnabarr at gmail dot com.

Emerald city Comicon - I usually attend, at least for a couple days, as a wandering agent. They have something they call an artist's alley, but it's really a dealer's room. 

Squatchcon - April

Olympic Collectible Expo - April

Comic Book Swap Meet - July. Maybe.

Clallam Bay Comicon - Originally July, not operational at this time. BUT - if you want to run your own comicon, you're welcome to use this as template.

Olympic Collectible Expo - October. Not usually.

ShortRun - November 

Forks Raincon - November

ShortRun 2019 Powerhouse

I can only share one photo because I simply didn't have time to take any more!

Bruce Simon and Me - I told him all
about Ka-Blam, the best floppy printers
for the best prices.

Never in all my years going to hundreds of conventions has the floor been hotter. 4,000 people crowded into the Fisher Pavilion in the Seattle Center, and they were there to BUY. They wanted books, tshirts, facetime - they were in the moment, and ready to party. Thank Goodness my Square reader was working!

The photo is of Hoo-Hah publisher Bruce Simon, who offered, among other books, a truly well-done collection of the classic Out Our Way cartoons from the 1930's. We got on so well we've shaken hands on sharing a table next year, if ShortRun will have us both back! 

I told him he MUST submit the Out Our Way books to the Pulitzers this year, in the publisher category. The books meet all their criteria, especially being a very well-done collection of a wonderful American series.

He came up from Berkeley, and was unprepared in a number of the business points of running a table at a show, because - according to him - the comics scene in San Francisco is badly faded. 

I told him to run right over to this site and look up the Clallam Bay Comicon and start the process of running his own one-person minicon. The secret to this is, after about seven years of what is really quite easily organized, somebody else will want to take it over and expand it, as happened with the CBCC, which has morphed into the Forks RainCon. 

So, anybody in Berkeley or environs who wants to help out, look up the book on Amazon,* where there's always a contact email block.

*(I'm sorry for that - so many of us put our books on Amazon before it went asshole).

I missed the afterparty again because I was just so exhausted. I have a lung infection, and am on antibiotics. So I can't drink anyway! I should have just made up my mind to Uber* home, but I'd only used Uber once, and my brain was fried from the intense show. 

**(AND I will have to transfer to Lyft, because Uber's CEO is calling the murder of a journalist by his Saudi shareholders a "mistake." We know what Friends' Rachel had to say about mistakes. Which is sad, because I really like Uber.)

I did make it to the Fantagraphics afterparty Sunday evening, which featured an interesting music/animation from Berlin.

Sunday, there were two great ShortRun events downtown and on Capitol Hill, featuring Shortrun authors. And did I just pick up an opportunity to talk at the University of Washington? We'll see.

ANYWAY, I was dreading the bus ride back home on Monday, but not because it was a bus ride- Clallam County Busses are fabulous - but because it was Veteran's Day (Properly called Armistice Day, before America got mad about losing the Korean War), and rural areas get stupid. 

BUT - it turned into an opportunity to POSSIBLY start the gay pride festival in Port Angeles. I can't share how, because it's Somebody Else's Story.

But I can share how I walked by the old vets selling vet stuff in front of the Safeway and said, "We're going to try to have a gay pride parade in Port Angeles." 

Their answer? "All RIGHT!"

I will certainly be back to ShortRun next year, especially if I can run at least a quarter table. That's a privilege.  

ShortRun 2018

First of all thanks to the ShortRun staff. Their on-floor map included a tribute photo to dear Mark Campos, whom we lost under such tragic circumstances this year.  
They know what they're doing, and this just gets better and better every year.

Wearing my Ka-Blam tshirt for my $10 printing bonus!
Best POD company going for floppies, especially.

Secondly, thanks to The Stranger for advising the attendees to bring CASH and loads of it. The books and other goodies FLEW off the tables.

Yes, we all have Square, and yes, it works offline, but comics is comics - and you know what we run on. We'll bring a wad of Washingtons if you'll bring a wad of Jeffersons, and we'll swap.

Valerie Niemeyer

Valierie Niemeyer made a great show pal. She and her mom were so much fun and so full of energy. Her mom came with snacks! And Valerie's work is lovely. Especially her skeleton unicorn, just right with Halloween and Day of the Dead just behind us.

What can I say? ShortRun is one of the best comics conventions anywhere. It's small - crammed into the Seattle Center Flag Pavilion - and more and more of us are buying a quarter table, just to get some space.

 

Look at that floor!

 

The show when it was just getting started.

The Fantagraphics Store party was great, as always, thanks to Larry. Even better. Carol Tyler was there to celebrate her new book about growing up with the Beatles - and led a singalong that reminded us just we all knew just where to say "OOOOH" and go up the scales.

Missed the Vera party - but am going to schedule my trip better next year, so I'm up for it, instead of falling apart.

This show is too good.

I can't guarantee I'll get a table space next year, but signs are good.

ShortRun 2017

Me and Ka-Blam at Shortrun 2017. Photo: Anne Bean © 2017

Shortrun 2017 was simply wonderful. 

As usual, I must post the photo of the Ka-Blam tshirt, and let my favorite floppie comics (and more!) company know I'm getting the word out. There sales page is Indyplanet.

Once again, I neglected to take a bajillion photos of the events. Mostly because I was too busy talking to fans and new friends, and roving over the floor to look at the plethora of wonderful books and ideas.

So let me put in some links.

To ShortRun itself. And its Twitter and Facebook links, available there. 

Emerald Comics Distribution has a wonderful Instagram feed, and a Facebook page, for starters. If you want to see some great photos of the show, be sure to hit those pages. Pretty easy to find, just by name. 

Of course, had to hit the Fantagraphics party and say hello to all my old and new friends. A lot of people didn't know it was me until I said my name. This even happened at the Sunday Farmer's Market by the Seattle College on Broadway. I guess I've changed! I didn't recognize them either, though. Didn't matter. Had lots of fun talking to them anyway.

The Vera Project after-show party was pretty great, including the DJ. Lots of 7/8 beat, which I prefer. Lots of fun people to talk to and see what they're doing. Wonderful Vietnamese art show on the walls, including some fascinating little horror-erotica fans.

I probably won't be tabling in the future, because these shows are getting so crowded. Since Clallam County offers the Strait Shot bus, it's harder to bring books for direct sale.

I used to suggest panels all the time at shows, and that's what I'll do. And spend time on the floor. For sales, I'll use my internet show. Like I should be doing!

But you know where to find me - right here - and all the links. Be sure to check out the bookstore on this page, especially! 

Special hugs to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Grateful for the sit-in. I just needed some of your good vibes.

ShortRun 2017 - I'm there!

See you all at Shortrun in Seattle this year! For more info, click here.

ShortRun Seattle 2016

WOW.

ShortRun Seattle audience hard at play

Best show yet from the all-woman team! Note the photo - only partial - of the herd of amazing artists, writers, all-creatives, pin-and-tschotzke-makers. The tables - even those crammed together, four artists to the space - practically sparkled with color, innovation and just plain fun.

I barely had time to zip around the floor passing out souvenir/badge-sticker/business cards for the 2017 Clallam Bay Comicon. 

I wish I'd had time to attend the drawing and animation events, some of them no more than a table and some floor and window space, but chock-full of action, joy and creativity. You notice I'm not using the word "talent," as though creativity is some easy magic spell. Creatives have to work to get where they're going, even if the power of that work is obsession.

My Resting Bitch face

Now for a work photo. Me wearing my Ka-Blam t-shirt. Because when I do that, and post it, I get another $10 printing money! I might use the war chest I've built up with this excellent company to put together a smaller, SECOND Afterdead collection until I get some more pages done. 

Now some photos of good friends and long-time colleagues. One of our new young compatriots said she was excited to be sitting next to the old-guard bad-asses. So let me show you some of the baddest! 

Here's Roberta Gregory and Dave Lasky, setting up, and revving up for this powerful one-day show.

Roberta Gregory - Dave Lasky

And here's Dave, as superhero as it gets on a floor full of originals and single creators.

I didn't get a shot of Linda Medley, who spent a lot of time at Roberta's table, next to me. :( 

I had copies of the new Afterdead Full-Color collection, volume one. Wesely and Ash, here, bought up pounds of collections including The Desert Peach, Stinz and the Afterdead collection. I'd like to thank Square-Up and their offline mode for making everybody's credit cards work without having to find working bandwidth!

Super Dave!

Weseley and Ash weren't the only people wearing great outfits. Everybody had stepped it up, wearing their best Seattle rain street fashion. A lot of nice rubber boots and some lovely embroidered hoodies.

Sadly, I missed both the Fantagraphics and ShortRun parties, but that's pretty much because Roberta and Linda and I ended up both nights at Roberta's,  talkinga and sharing stories and eating leftover Hallowe'en cakes, shortbread skulls and drinking blush wine. 

Wesley and Ash - best show customers. 

Considering the long drives and shopping I have to make both ways, and the intensity of ShortRun itself, it was just as well. And a lot of fun!Of course, everybody was well aware of the presidential election, and one girl showed up with a hat I had to get a photo of. You gotta love her wry expression as the Gringette agrees with the sentiment. 

Best political gear

Shortrun 2015 art

Posted for Shortrun 2015 - we hope! Applying for tables, now. Chose this little IPad piece because it has the light-heartedness and fun style of Shortrun.

ShortRun Hooked

Me and Mark.

I am so going back to ShortRun, the Seattle Indie comics, zines, blah blah festival. It was a chance to see old friends again, like Mark Campos, here. 

Roberta Gregory shared the table with me, and wished she'd brought more of her Cat Toons books. She had to leave for work after a couple hours, but I could have sold a lot more of those books. Unlike my books, which take a lot of marketing - and cough drops - Roberta's books sell themselves.

Got to see Gary Groth, the surviving owner of The Comics Journal. He'd just written a long article talking about webcomics, so I clued him in that webcomics are like the old periodicals - but free or for low cost - that build a market for hard-copy collections. He'd never heard of ProjectWonderful, and after hearing my description of the micro-payment ad-bidding format, said he wanted to look it up, so there's more grist for the TCG mill. Maybe a more up-to-date article in the future. Always love seeing Gary, old buds from way back.

The show was held in Washington Hall, a handsome building from what looks like the turn of the last century, or the 1920's - someplace in there, when women wore a lot more beads.

Speaking of "wearing," everybody stepped it up for the show. They were dressed in their best. And unlike so many fan groups, it's a place where the question of the safety of women and children never even came up. When I mentioned it, people were, "Oh - yeah. You're right." Everybody's treated as an equal. 

Of course the show is run by three women, which makes it like my Clallam Bay Comicon. Us girls aren't in love with the process. We just want to put on a good show and enjoy ourselves. Like my show, ShortRun has no admission fees.

Wonderful books and art and people. And the bake sale - which includes gluten-free goodies. And that hot coffee you need to keep going for a Seattle show.

Ka-Blam!

This is me in my Ka-Blam Tshirt. Earning more printing money. The Indyplanet reprints were a great hit, and I walked out of there with a much skinnier bundle of $1 bills - they'd been exchanged for a great run of sales. 

ShortRun, as I understand, was originally for zines and hand-bound books and pamphlets. But as the show has expanded, so has the definition. Since print-on-demand can turn out any number of books - even though there is no end to the number itself - it's technically a short run of books. Again, girls aren't in love with any process, but the show itself.

After the show and a supper break, everybody was back to watch The Shivas perform their infective version of punk surf-rock. I know I kept warm, bouncing up and down. Couldn't stay for the whole show, but it was sold out, so I could give my place to a young woman who was next in line.

For those of you who need a near-by place to eat supper, Seattle's R&L Home of Good Bar-B-Que is just up the Yesler Hill, on the north side of the street. But when they ask which sauce you want, say "Mild." No, really. There's no reason the place shouldn't be packed for ShortRun.

Shortrun Maybe?

Shortrun needs a square thang.

REVISED. I AM going to Shortrun - and I'll be sharing a table with Roberta Gregory!

I MIGHT be at Shortrun in 2014. Everybody tells me I should be. In the meantime, the show needs a piece of art for the application, and this is the page they can retrieve it from (shut up, Grammar Nazis; if I can get over "transpire," you can learn to live with split infinitives. Welcome to English).

Heard many good things about Shortrun. I wouldn't expect loads of sales from it, but there would be a lot of My People there, so it would be another chance to visit.

So I don't have to hear Gary Groth ask me again, "Do we have to SNUFF somebody to get you to come to town??" 

Oh, and see if Fantagraphics has money for me, while I'm there.

If I did come, I'll be bringing fewer and fewer books. I'd be bringing the shortest runs ever - original sketches, done for you. No, don't ask me to break copyright, unless you can argue a very very very acceptable parody. And I only do Slash with my own characters, thank you. I'll even do Furry stuff, because they seem to have gotten their shit together, at last. And I still do the best boots and horses in the business.