All posts by dsparano

Hello Pronto Comics,

Is everyone ready for NYCC!!!

Here is what Pronto Comics is doing this year for the con:

Books and Booth

Collectors Kingdom has been kind enough to give us a small amount of space at their booth to house our books. The booth # is 126. In return, we’ve agreed to promote the booth as much as possible and bring as much business to it. So if you are going to the con, make sure to talk up Collectors Kingdom Booth 126.

Our New Books

Slice of Life

Cross

Blackout 2

American Monsters

Phrases to Pages

Pawn

Strange Stories – Will be available next week

***Remember though, this is NOT our personal booth, so please do not treat it as such.***

Promotions 

 

As always we will have a bunch of different ways to promote ourselves this year. We will have postcards, business cards and fliers. If you need any of these text me or message me and we’ll meet up and I’ll give you what you need.

Of course the best promotions are word of mouth. So please talk about Pronto Comics and the books we have. If you can please also talk up our friends and previous guests like Buddy Scalera, Simon Fraser, Ken Knudtsen, Sean Von Gorman, George O’Connor and so on. They’ve all be kind to us and we should be kind to them.

Stop by their tables, if you can buy their books and tell others you may meet how great these people are!

Panels

 

Great ways to talk up new people and new talent is to go to panels. We have comprised a list of the professional panels. They are mostly concentrated on Thursday and Friday.  Here is a link to all the Professional Panels

Saturday there are will be other opportunities to promote:

 

Kubert School Spotlight 2:30 1A23

 

Breaking in with Dark Horse 5pm 1A03

 

Kubert School Portfolio Reviews 7:45 1A15

 

Twitter

 

We’ll be promoting a lot on twitter during the Con. So key things to remember if you are on twitter.

 

Retweet often preferably from Pronto Comics (@prontocomics) and Collectors Kingdom (@collectorskingd)

 

Include @NY_Comic_Con in your tweets, if you are following them, they will retween

 

#NYCC often

 

Last minute tips

 

Try to move light, with light bags. Heavy bags will take a toll on the body after 3-4 days. 

 

Wear comfortable shoes or buy gelling soles.

Use hand sanitizer, Airborne, or supplements to boost your immune system and warding off the after con flu

Bring a charger or extra battery for your smart phones

Try to dress professionally, wear deodorant and shower.

Hope this helps everyone and see you at the con.

Sincerely,

Dominic Sparano

Editor-in-Chief

Pronto Comics: If one succeeds, we all succeed!

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by dsparano on October 10, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in conventions
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Posted by dsparano on October 10, 2012

https://prontocomics.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/345/

Signings, T-shirts and other Pronto Comics News

Hey Pronto Comics!

Big things are happening this summer and we wanted to make sure you all knew about it:

On June 21st Collectors Kingdom will be hosting a signing during their summer sale. Pronto comics will be signing copies of Pawn, Myth vs. Zombies and Comicly Absurd Comics. They will also be selling special, limited edition t-shirts and doing sketches!

Pronto Comics is now taking orders for t-shirts. There will be 4 different style: the standard black with logo, logo over the breast pocket and baseball shirts in 2 colors – red and black. Printing will be done by Five Star Printwear and a previous Pronto Comics collaborator Gary Cohen. If you’d like a t-shirt please email Editor-in-Chief Dominic Sparano (eic@prontocomics.com) and you can  paypal the money (shirts are $18) to prontotreasurer@hotmail.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally don’t forget about our upcoming event, Phrases to Pages. If you’d like to know more, check the link and we’ll see you on the 28th!

Sincerely,

Dominic Sparano
Editor-in-Chief
Pronto Comics: If one succeeds, we all succeed!

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by dsparano on July 12, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in pronto news

Posted by dsparano on July 12, 2012

https://prontocomics.wordpress.com/2012/07/12/signings-t-shirts-and-other-pronto-comics-news/

Phrases to Pages

Hello Pronto Comics,

I am pleased to announce that Pronto Comics is hosting its first fundraiser, entitled “Phrases to Pages” at Pearl Studios, 500 8th Avenue, on Saturday, July 28 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. The event will feature contests, industry guests, refreshments, music, and more, including free drinks sponsored by Brooklyn Brewery and Casa Herradura Tequila. Bring your portfolios and scripts, as Pronto Comics will also be reviewing portfolios and scouting for new talent.

Contests will consist of writers and artists pairing off, being given a mystery phrase, and drawing and writing one comic book page based on the phrase. Special guests from the industry, including Simon Fraser and Ken Knudsten (plus more names to come) will judge the winner. Winners will receive prizes!

Please note, this event is 21+ only. Entry is only $10. Funds raised from Pages to Phrases will help in the operating costs of Pronto Comics and will allow Pronto Comics to continue to provide services for everyone working to develop their comic book career. RSVP on Facebook is requested but not required.

Sincerely,

Dominic Sparano
Editor-in-Chief
Pronto Comics: If one succeeds, we all succeed!

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by dsparano on July 12, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in pronto news

Posted by dsparano on July 12, 2012

https://prontocomics.wordpress.com/2012/07/12/phrases-to-pages/

Advice from Jamal Igle

 

At November’s monthly meeting, Jamal Igle was kind enough to speak to Pronto. Jamal can be described as nothing less then a consummate professional. He has worked on Nightwing, G.I. Joe, Firestorm, and Green Lantern, just to name a few titles. He has been called a triple threat: talented, reliable, and pleasant to work with! Here is the advice he gave Pronto:
On Breaking In
Started as an intern
Held onto his editorial contacts from interning
Get editors business cards
Ask if you can show them your portfolio
Have work online
Deviant Art is important
On Pitching
Bank as much material as you can
Have at least 3 issues done
The business has changed because of lawsuits (ie, DC + Marvel won’t read unsolicited pitches)
On Getting Work
He made the decision early on that he would work in comics no matter what.
Took whatever job he could get for whatever money
Wore a lot of hats
Independent work indirectly led to getting comics work
Be aware Indies will low-ball you
Know what your time is worth
You can’t just put anything out there (focus on quality)
Ape and Arcana are good to new talent
The playing field is very high; you are competing with pros, even in independents
Make sure your game is tight, on par with Marvel, DC, IDW and so on
On Staying in
Have a good work ethic
Work even when you don’t want to draw
Stay on schedule, even if you don’t have motivation
When you are working on a monthly, you are behind schedule most of the time
Don’t expect to have references supplied
Average 1 page a day
On Craft
Concentrate on storytelling not style
Everyone is an individual
If it is in the script, try to get it on the page
Focus on character first; build around the character
Create complete personalities
The character will dictate his/her world
Super hero comics should have 4 to 6 panels per page
More panels slow down beats of time
On Money
If you have a day job, hold onto it
There is a financial toll for doing creator-owned work
You need 12 issues, a solid year, to gauge your sales

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by dsparano on November 30, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in advice, podcasts

Posted by dsparano on November 30, 2011

https://prontocomics.wordpress.com/2011/11/30/advice-from-jamal-igle/

Advice from Brian Smith

 

During our September meeting, Brian Smith, a former Marvel editor, freelancer for Nickelodeon, and creator of Stuff of Legend and Intrepid Escapegoat, came to talk to Pronto Comics. He offered advice on breaking in, staying in, small publishers, conventions, promotions, and good city colleges to attend. His advice was well received and Pronto was lucky to have him.

On Breaking In

Put your work out there.
Constantly network cause you don’t know where it will take you.
You have to make people aware of your work.
The more you know how to do the better.

On Submissions

Send a letter first, a query letter.
Physical, snail mail letter is best.
Be specific in the editors you send it to, don’t blanket the company
Breaking in as a writer is a nightmare.
They won’t read a pitch, but they will read a comic.

On Staying in

You constantly have to prove yourself.
Everyone is only interested in your last project.
When you’re working with other people, just do your job.
Don’t overstep your role and dictate.
Give your artist things they like to draw.
Be easy to work with, do your best to walk away when it’s done.
Editors are involved, but are hands off.
They’ll help you generate ideas and connect the dots.

On Process

Not-so-good ideas can have merit, if executed well.
Find good, honest sounding boards for your ideas.
As yourself, “Is it as entertaining as something I can buy at a store?”

On Drawing Craft

Life drawing will lead to everything else.
Draw what you see, use books and life drawing sessions
Always look at original art when you can.
You will see more then what is in the original comic

On Work Ethic

Go to work, even if you don’t feel like it.
If you can treat it as a 9 – 5 job, that’s half the battle.
Time is more valuable than money.
If you can put the time in, everything else will fall into place.
You’ll figure out your schedule as a freelancer.

On Publishing

Self publishing and small publishers are a good way to go.
Start with small publishers.
Small publishers are more personal and hands on.
Digital is a good way to go.

On Stores

Free Comic Book Day is huge for small publishers.
Develop relationships with store owners.
They can help recommend you book to customers.

On Conventions

Pick the conventions carefully for what you want to get out of them.
San Diego is a massive show and a tough show to work.
N.Y. is similar, but there are more editors.
Smaller shows are better.
Hero’s con in Charlotte is good, so is Baltimore.

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by dsparano on October 8, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in advice, podcasts

Posted by dsparano on October 8, 2011

https://prontocomics.wordpress.com/2011/10/08/advice-from-brian-smith/

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