George Pérez’s Convention Policy
posted Aug 3, 2015, 10:30 PM 

TEXAS COMICON 2015 (07-09 Aug 2015) San Antonio, Texas George Perez writes: With Texas Comic Con in San Antonio coming up, I want to post my convention policy in order to formally answer questions I've been asked the last few weeks. I will try to provide this info before all my shows so please excuse what will likely be multiple repeats of this post: George Pérez’s Convention Policy I always try to set up at a convention one hour before the convention opens to the general public. This way I am available for sketches, autographs and photographs for dealers, staff and those with VIP Passes that allow them early entry. (I really see no point in fans purchasing a VIP Pass and not having any of the guest artists there to greet them) All of these early birds are handled on a first come, first served basis. When the convention floor opens up for those with general admission tickets, I start handing out about a hundred numbered tickets to the arriving fans so they don’t have to get on what may already be a long line. Fans already at the end of the line (behind the tenth person) also have the option of taking a ticket and leaving the line to return later. The first digit of the ticket indicates what convention day it is. For a three-day show, the first day’s tickets would be numbered 100 -199, the second day’s 200-299, and so on. The ticket basically reserves your place in line once I’ve finished with the early crowd. If, say, a fan returns from enjoying the show with ticket number 110 and I’m already serving ticket 125, the returning fan with the lowest number is always next. Therefore, a fan with a higher ticket number like 155 would never be any worse off time wise than if he or she had waited on line for 54 other fans to be serviced first. The reason I use this system is because I personally can’t see spending money to come to a show just to stand in line for what could be hours. This way, it’s the fan’s choice whether to wait on line or not. There is no charge for the ticket and it entitles you to a sketch (limit one per ticket) autographs (I set no limit to the number of things I’ll sign, but do request that fans be considerate of each other) and a photo op. Sketches are quick headshots for $40 and can be drawn on any surface you prefer. I will provide my own drawing paper for those who don’t have their own. There is no charge for autographs and photos. Only one ticket per person, but you can get tickets for family members as long as they are there to use them. Once you’ve used your ticket, you can get another ticket, if any are still available, and come back later to be served again. You can’t use a previous day’s ticket on a following day since that would be unfair to those who may only have one-day passes that following day. On each day, if I finish with all the numbered tickets, I will then serve any arriving fans on a first come, first served basis. Unless there is an unavoidable call of nature, I will remain at my table until the end of each convention day. I hope this helps everyone understand how I work and that it helps you all enjoy the convention experience better. Thank you.

Now that I'm back doing conventions again, albeit not as many as I used to, I have been receiving a lot of e-mails regarding commissioned sketches and I need to clarify a few things.

For the last couple of years I've had to institute a "lottery" style system at conventions to manage the large number of fans who want to get a sketch. What's usually done is that, during the first hour of the convention day, I, or an assistant, gives out a ticket stub to anyone who desires a sketch. The other half of the ticket is put into a bowl. After an hour all the tickets are stirred up in the bowl and a small number (usually about 10) are drawn from that bowl. The 10 winners then pay the price for the sketch (which is now $100) and I get those sketches done during the course of the convention day. Please note that all money earned during my convention time goes to charity (usually the Hero Initiative, but this applies to any charity I'm raising money for).

This method seems to have  gone over very well in the past couple of years and it gives every fan an even chance, whether he or she is a dealer already on the convention floor before the doors open or a fan waiting on line either at the start of the line or the end (the first hour of the show should be enough time to allow everyone on an average convention line to get into the hall)

Now, due to the extremely hectic nature of a convention and the flattering number of fans who line up for sketches and/or autographs I did have to set up some rules and limitations, which, once explained, I hope you all understand and accept.

1. The first ticket handed out to a customer is free. However, due to fan requests and past experiences, you can increase your chances at winning a sketch by donating a dollar for each extra ticket you want. The winner would still have to pay the price of the sketch once he or she wins.
This was actually a fan's idea, and proved to be both popular and profitable. One fan paid over $70 dollars in tickets, knowing he would then have to pay the price of the sketch as well when he won. Ironically, he didn't win and one other fan actually won with the free ticket he had, not having purchased any extra chances. In a touching, and in the true spirit of charity, the winner with the free ticket gave his ticket to the guy who had paid so much money. Now, that's a side of fandom I love to see, and it's one of the wonderful side benefits of the system I've adopted.

2. Only one win per customer per day.
Again, this was done in the name of fairness to everyone, but also brought about a spontaneous act of charity and camaraderie among the fans when the winners started distributing the rest of their tickets to the other waiting fans, thus increasing the chances of winning for those whose numbers had not yet been drawn. The best side of fandom yet again, and it makes for a nice block party atmosphere. This whole process is repeated every day, so a person can conceivably win more than one sketch if he or she has a winning number on separate days. New tickets are used each day, so preceding days' tickets are void after the day of drawing.

3. You have to be there to win.
Pretty obvious, really, since the tickets only have numbers and no names. However, if you need to leave early and it doesn't look like I will get to your sketch before your departure, shipping arrangements can be made for a nominal fee, unless you or a proxy can pick it up the following day. You don't have to be there while your sketch is being drawn since we will write down your name and the character you want drawn. Just check in from time to time to see where you are on the queue.

4. I can only draw portrait drawings (head shots with chest symbol, if any), no full figures.
This is an unavoidable limitation due to the number of autographs I need to sign and panels that I am sometimes required to attend during the course of a convention. Also, please, only fictional characters, no portraits of real people. That's more work than I can do under convention conditions

5. I alternate sketching and autographing times.
In order to get sketches done without interruption, I close my table to autographs for an hour or so in order to get some sketches done. Then I open up for about a half hour for autographs and then go back to sketches for another hour and  so on. Times will be posted at the table as the day commences and will be determined by the number of fans there and the number of books to be signed. However, even if I am sketching, please feel free to say hello and chat. I can still do both simultaneously.

6. Regarding autographs, I do not charge for autographs but do request donations for charity, especially if I'm being asked to sign a large number of books.
The size of the donation is not monitored by me, but, being the charity shill that I am, I don't really like to hear the sound of coins landing in the jar. Paper money is so much more calming to my nerves-- and helps needy people even more.

7. For those wanting full-figure sketches, all is not lost. I am now doing such sketches through The Artist's Choice (www.theartistschoice.com) and you should be provided with rates and specifics there.
The rates are pretty high, but, so far, most buyers feel that they've gotten bang for their buck and my goal is to keep my loyal fanbase happy.

Well, if you've read all this, I commend you for your patience and I thank you for your understanding. Hopefully. I will be able to provide you with a sketch that will meet your heart's desire, either at a con or through the mail. In any case, I appreciate the attention and the consideration and shall always strive to be worthy of it all.

Take care,
GPz