Not with my name on it…
THANK YOU to everyone who showed up for Big Fun Signy-Time Goodness yesterday. It went even better than I hoped, and the time sort of just zipped on by. (Was it really two hours? It couldn’t have been two hours….)
Photographic evidence of my existence (and that of Ms. Gofflin and her big pillowy home-made troll doll, Toofus) can be found on Alakazam’s Facebook thingee RIGHT ABOUT HERE.
And thanks again to Holly, Will and Marco at Alakazam for organizing the event! God, that store is just BLEEDING cool… Nicely designed, well-stocked, not a single CHUD hiding in the corners… Honestly, if everyone in the comic industry had the same enthusiasm, creativity and commitment to detail these Alakazamians have, our business would be bigger than Moving Pictures. We need loads more people like that, so please, if you live in the SoCally-type area, show your support! (I hear they might have some extra signed copies of my books, if you’re into that sort of thing…)
And now a small story…
The first time I ever approached someone with the specific intention of obtaining their autograph was when I spotted Siouxsie Sioux at O’Hare Airport in Chicago eight years ago. We were both waiting for the same flight to San Francisco, and we had a LONG time to wait, so I had PLENTY of time to sit and squirm and just generally work my stomach into thick, twitchy emotional knots over whether or not approaching her would be “the thing to do.”
As we were about to board the plane, I sprang into action:
“Excuse me, I’m, uh… I’m a big fan of, uh, yours… Would you, uh… would you mind, uh, signing… uh, something… for me?” (12 additional “uh’s” removed for clarity.)
“Well I don’t know. What do you have for me?”
NOW. One way of interpreting this question -the normal, not-insane-person kind of way- is that she’s asking me for some specific object upon which to write her name. A sheet of paper, say. Or a Compact Disc. Perhaps even a boob.
I, however, chose to interpret the question as a request for a trade: “I will give you my autograph, strange twitchy kid who’s been gawking at me for the past hour while I discussed Coen Brothers movies with my fellow Banshees, provided you have something of equivalent value for ME.”
I glanced down at my clipboard (the VERY ONE YOU SAW YESTERDAY, assuming you were at the Alakazam signing, which you were because you’re awesome-sauce).
“I um… I could give you this, um, lovely… drawing here.”
She took the clipboard from me and did her swirly little name thing right under the top-most drawing.
“THANK YOU!” I said (probably). She smiled and turned to get back in line.
“THE TRADE, YOU FOOL!” my brain shrieked at me, in the style of Ralphie from A Christmas Story. “YOU’VE FORGOTTEN THE TRADE!”
Thinking fast, I unclipped the drawing -the very one she had JUST SIGNED- and tried to hand it to her. “I was serious, you know! You, uh, you can seriously have this drawing!”
She didn’t even look confused. She just smiled again, said “Not with my name on it,” and strolled onto the plane. I got on a few minutes later and tried not to make eye contact as I looked for my seat.
NO, THIS STORY DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE.
But it does explain why I have, on my wall right at this moment, a framed printout of Mary Ann Mirolette signed by Siouxsie Sioux:
Why did I tell that story? Well, if you are a fan of Serenity Rose or my stuff in general, there is a greater than 50% chance that you are sort of introverted. You’re a shy person, like me. Not the type to go up and talk to one of your favorite artists at a book signing or a comic convention or, y’know, just out on the street. Maybe you’d really LIKE to do that kind of thing from time to time, but you just feel too… I don’t know, intimidated or whatever.
But you shouldn’t feel that way.
I’m the guy who tried to pay Siouxsie Sioux for her autograph… WITH HER OWN AUTOGRAPH.
And I’m not the only artist with a story like that, either.
I’ll see you at the next signing!
That’s a heart-warming tale. Makes me feel a bit better about my own introverted fumblings.
Glad to hear the signing went well 🙂
If you remember correctly, I was super nervous to meet you and even approached the wrong person at the SLG booth, thinking that it was you. A few minutes went by before we both realized that i was talking to the wrong guy and he pointed me in your direction. I wanted to crawl under a rock! o_O
Wow! I don’t remember that… Who were you talking to?
I don’t recall, but i sure felt stupid. You were away from the table talking to your friends. i didn’t want to interrupt so I stood off to the side to wait, and possibly craw under the carpeting back to my booth. One of the girls who was talking with you noticed me and interrupted you mid sentence, turned you toward me and gave a gentle push.
Aw, you shouldn’t feel stupid. I don’t remember any of that… Usually I’m too concerned with not looking stupid MYSELF to concentrate on other people’s awkwardness.
Awesome tale, awesomer keepsake…. j/w, did she perhaps comment on how unbelievably *adorable* Maryanne was? 😉
that experience is very similar to a dream I’ve had before, though i’ve never really met an artist i admired in person. 🙁
Thank you for making my day!!
I have a similarly embarrassing story involving Joss Whedon and The Guild, which made me think that perhaps I should never attempt to talk to someone I idolize again, but I will definitely ask you for an autograph if I ever get the chance, though I am likely to make a complete fool of myself. >.<;;
Don’t feel bad Aaron A. I babbled incoherently to Amanda Palmer, stumped Brian Viglione, didn’t really talk at ALL to Ben Folds, and practically ran out on Kim Harrison.
The only really funny one I have is when my bestfriend and I met Brian Viglione, My bestfriend told me I had to tell Brian that I came all the way from Charleston, SC to LA to see him. He was flabbergasted. Then of course, my bestfriend and I started bickering like an old married couple. He asked us like twice if we were married.. It was rather funny.
Hehe, I have similar stories at book conventions that is the only chance for me to meet comic people that is alive and not kidnapped. There was as special convention I came to each year. And for one of my favorit comic writters I became know “as the shy kid who never could spell his name right when asked”. The last year I was there he joked about it. ^^
Speaking, what s up with the signed preorderd books? You are killing me aaron! KILLING ME!
Bastard! Sending email about the preorderd books right when I revealed myself ^^
I talked to Tavisha a little at Ohayocon (to which I wore a heartshapedskull shirt!).
Rikki had to run off to pee really really badly, so I didn’t get to say too much to him.
Poor Squeek was ambushed by a gentleman with them, an agent, publisher or someone who was there with them that started blabbing about his military career instead of letting her talk to Tavisha and Rikki that she had waited HOURS to do so.
It’s usually my own brain that drums up too much anticipation and emphasis on meeting people. Once I start to speak to them, I remember they are just people too, often just as geeky/awkward as myself.
We at Alakazam Comics wanted to thank Aaron for being so gracious! Thank you for coming to the signing, for saying those nice things about us in your post, and THANK YOU … THANK YOU … THANK YOU … for a wonderful sketch of Serenity Rose and our mascot AL. That sketch is awesome! With your permission, we’re thinking of making it an Alakazam T-Shirt for 2010. (For those that want to see the sketch, check out our facebook page at facebook.com/alakazamcomics).
Anyway, Holly, Will, and I really want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts. My only regret was that I wasn’t able to be there. Hopefully I’ll be able to meet you at a convention in the near future.
@Snemmy: heh, sounds like a sharp-eyed bodyguard caught a look at Squeek & instantly recognized her as the most dangerous member of your party…. 😉
Awesome story! And quite encouraging, too – now many of us won’t be afraid to approach you or any great artist, remembering the moral here.
WHOA- this is a late response.
heh. I am usually sweating glass by the time I meet someone that I admire..
I was so upset when I went to meet Tavisha and Rikki b/c I couldn’t find them anywhere (They’d been scheduled 3 panels back-to-back.)
So when we finally found them I was completely ecstatic.
When I got to their table I was so embarrassed, but I had made them little
keychain-chibis of themselves (I was nervous b/c I didn’t get to put as
much work into them as I wanted..) so I didn’t feel as horrible about asking for their signatures..
I have this odd idea that I’m constantly irritating people-
so the fact that they looked exhausted didn’t help that delusion..
HOWEVER- I was able to turn my anxiety into humor when I finally got to their table, b/c I am SO short that I couldn’t see the top of the table and their prints..
(it WAS raised on a platform- but I am extremely short, as well.)
So that was a nice ice-breaker. 😀
but yes….I just wish I could have spoken to them more T^T
Wish I could have made it to the signing!