Just skimming this on Von's computer on my way to bed and....yes, he said it right, Tony is one of the good guys. This is a real shame. If you need representation, get in touch with Tony, you won't regret it.

Moggy

Argh...I hate reading about things like this :(

BUT!

I do like your beard :D

Hey, I know Tony. Haven't seen/heard from him in a the past year or two, but that's probably my fault for striking APE and SPX from my con lists. I'll drop him a line. And yes, I think he is the only independent comic sales rep.

Two reasons:

1. Traveling expenses + the hassle of transporting books, graphics, and table stuff.

2. At both shows, my sales were mediocre at best. I tend to do very well at all conventions, but for reasons I can only guess, I never broke past the break-even point at either and did both for two years running. Granted, my break-even point was higher than the usual show because of the aforementioned traveling expenses. If I had to guess, I would say that the crowd was looking for the more 'mainstream-indie' books from Fantagraphics, Top Shelf, Oni, etc. SPX was always a little better than APE for me and the crowds there were always larger. At APE, it seemed like the crowd checked out the main floor and then right out the door again.

For the past two years I have kept my appearances within a 5 or 6 hour driving radius. SPACE (in Columbus), Pittsburgh, Chicago are my best shows and I've learned from experience that 4 or 5 shows a year is all I can handle -- anymore than that and I'm cutting into my comics production time. I will, however, be breaking that geographic barrier in September when I go to Baltimore.

I'm sure I'll try one or both of these shows again in the future when I have some new material to promote, but for the present, I'm better off skipping them.

This really sucks. Tony is a long-time and good friend, and he's generally had it hard enough...

I'd been wondering how that part of the industry worked. Tony sounds like the kind of guy I would have liked to do business with.

Ah! I misread too quickly last night. If he's still in business, then. I will make it my goal to one day have something for him to sell! And maybe even better have some people for him to sell to.

I think I shall have to do some business with him, we should start and indy publisher drive to all work with Tony, heck I would be glad to give him exclusive distribution rights as I am avoiding diamond at all costs right now.

Saw him at MoCCA last year, wandering around, intensely focused on some mission or something. My comics did not appear to hold his attention, but that isn't his fault, especially in view of the list of things he looks for as mentioned in the interview by Spurgeon.