Economic Downturncrisismeltdownemergencyapocalypse....

So how are you doing?

You can't turn your head without seeing a graph chart these days, most of them trending steeply downwards, as the world economy rides a well-greased slide. I do hope that you have not been affected too terribly by it, but I know that some of you have been, and undoubtedly others will be.

Over the last few months we've sat down here at studio Gallegos and reviewed and reappraised our plans for the rest of '09. Before sinking in time and money, there were important questions to ask regarding the coming year's conventions and activities in the light of the economic realities we all face.

2008 was sort of a milestone in terms of events. Between Magic Pre-Release signings and conventions I was a very busy guy. I think '08 was my year of most events. Well, '09 is looking a lot leaner. I'd targeted a few cons to try for the first time this year, increasing my load over '08, but in light of where the world is, I've had to cut back. The potential list had been: NY Comic-Con, Boskone, Emerald City Comic-Con, San Diego Comic-Con, Gen Con, Dragon Con, World Fantasy Convention (in my hometown of San Jose, no less). I've crossed out the ones I've decided against. This does not include events like this weekend's appearance in Rotterdam, Netherlands--as an invited guest, it does not have the same sorts of expenses involved.

This all makes me sad. I'm working on the informed presumption that many of the people who like and purchase my work are in financial pain, and that even more of them will be in pain over the next 9 months. So, before I plunk down $4-5k on total convention expenses for all of the above, plus up to 7 weeks off of work, unpaid, to attend all these conventions, it's important to really sit back and decide what's more likely: that I could do them and recoup the time and cost, or that I'd be better served saving the expenses for all these shows, and then working for 5 of those weeks (hopefully)? There are intangibles involved, mainly revolving around networking. Can I make up the difference by instead putting some of that money and time into advertising?

More sobering still: what am I doing to the economy on my own by these decisions? Airline tickets will go unpurchased, hotel rooms unbooked, the Field and Rei do Gado restaurants unpatronized, and so on. Super Shuttle will miss out on fares to the airport. Starbucks will certainly sell fewer coffees. Those decisions will contribute to some of you, maybe, being negatively affected in return.

And that's how the economic cookie crumbles, one consumer at a time running for cover.

Back with some art next week, I promise.