Comic Lab

Latest Episodes:

Working with a Collaborator Apr 17, 2019

Show notes

This week, the guys talk about a LIVE ComicLab session! NEXT we hear about the upcoming ‘Ringo awards and AFTERWARDS, the guys go into how much direction and detail they give to a colorists. THEN they grapple with a question about a Kickstarter for commissions. NEXT, Dave shares his experience selling work on eBay. FINALLY the guys talk about how you can get the most out of your Comic Con weekend.
BUT FIRST, Brad tells us about his recent trip to Mexico.

00:00 — Brad’s trip to Mexico!
14:06 — LIVE ComicLab and ‘Ringo Awards
26:45 — How much direction do you give your colorist?
35:56 — Stretch Break!
36:48 — Kickstarter Commissions
46:55 — Selling on eBay
53:16 — Getting the most out of Comic Con

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

$2 — Early access to episodes
$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. He is available for personal consultations. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive. He is the co-director of the comics documentary, Stripped.

Writing yourself into a corner Apr 10, 2019

Show notes

Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking shop! On this week’s ComicLab the fellas talk about writing yourself into a corner. NEXT a question-asker asks "is my Patreon reward tier too high?" And FINALLY, they grapple with this — if they could time-travel back to the early 90s with their current skills, would they have been able to make it as syndicated cartoonists?

BUT FIRST, Brad bends over to pick up a 12-pack of soda and throws out his back in the process. Getting old sucks.

Show notes
• 00:00 — “So-so art”
• 06:24 — My Back!
• 17:23 — Creative problem solving
• 33:35 — Stretch Break!
• 34:34 — Patreon tiers
• 47:38 — Getting popular now versus then
• 01:05:56 — When community building gets complicated

Great rewards when you support ComicLab
$2 — support the show
$5 — submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast
$10 — record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast
$50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast
Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com
Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

$2 — Early access to episodes
$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

Special Guest Tony Cliff Apr 03, 2019

Show notes

Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking shop! On this week’s ComicLab we have an interview with Tony Cliff, creator of delilahdirk.com
Brad has a failed attempt of a formal introduction. DURING the interview with Tony, the guys all answer the question on what they choose as their career titles. THEN discussing their routines when it’s time for deadline crunch. ENDING with the most sophisticated outro Brad and Dave are capable of.
BUT FIRST, Dave shares some fond memories of wooing his wife!

• 00:00 — Dave Kellett: the Master of making the first move
• 05:09 — The most formal intro ever
• 06:48 — Interview with Tony Cliff
• 31:21 — Cartoonist or creator
• 41:36 — Deadline crunch time
• 54:03 — The most formal outro ever

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

$2 — Early access to episodes
$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

Dave's Emerald City Comicon Recap Mar 27, 2019

Show notes

Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking shop! Dave dives in on his full experience at ECCC this year, including some wonderful critters he met and his interaction with a rep from Nickelodeon. Dave answers the burning question — Did he do well enough to justify going back next year? Following this, Brad shares his thoughts on the recent success of Nathan "Strange Planet" Pyle. Next, the guys answer the questions on options in going digital.

BUT FIRST, Dave tells us about his lovely ECCC roomie, Inktober's Jake Parker.

00:00 — ECCC Rooming with Jake Parker
04:40 — Dave’s ECCC recap — will he go back next year?
33:59 — Shaking dogs and bird poo
35:45 — Nickelodeon lady faux pas
40:33 — Stretch Break!
41:23 — Smooth Move
43:18 — Nathan Pyle’s “Strange Planet” proves Guigar’s Law of Worthless Ideas
52:00 — "Calvin & Hobbes" ... the audiobook
55:29 — Going digital — buy big now or buy small and work upwards?
01:04:30 — Digital originals
01:10:29 — I love my day job

Great rewards when you support ComicLab on Patreon
$2 — support the show
$5 — submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast
$10 — record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast
$50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast
Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com
Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

$2 — Early access to episodes
$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

The Joys of Artisanal success Mar 20, 2019

Show notes

Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking shop! Going back to the discussion of publishers vs crowdfunding: What really brings you success? THEN, selling Patreon rewards on different platforms. ALSO, answering questions about background and comic structure WHILE bringing up the more modern characters seen in comics today compared to years ago. FINALLY, figuring out when it is beneficial to hold on to old domains or cut loose.
BUT FIRST, "f--- Voltron!"
Show notes
** • 00:00 —** f--- Voltron
** • 6:33 —** “Artisanal Success”
** • 23:17 —** Is it OK to sell Patreon rewards elsewhere?
** • 28:29 — Stretch Break!
** • 29:19 — Backgrounds
** • 43:35 — **What is an idea best for? Longform? Shortform?
** • 50:43— **4 panels comics, then and now
** • 52:48 — **New age characters
** • 01:00:55 — DAVE! See a doctor!
** • 01:01:42 — Holding on to old domains

Great rewards when you support ComicLab
$2 — support the show
$5 — submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast
$10 — record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast
$50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast
Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com
Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

$2 — Early access to episodes
$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

Crowdfunding - Diversifying vs Duplicating Mar 13, 2019

Show notes

Webcomics pros Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking comics! In this episode, they discuss the secrets of Instagram tagging. THEN ... if a backer asks you to add a crowdfunding platform to Patreon, should you? ALSO... what's the danger of waiting too long for success? AND FINALLY... Rob Salkowitz from Forbes drops by to discuss the changing comics industry.

BUT FIRST... Dave tells Brad about the time he ate his whole wedding cake.

Show Notes

00:00 — The time Dave ate his whole wedding cake
04:15 — Instagram tagging
08:18 — Crowdfunding - Diversifying vs Duplicating
18:31 — Waiting for success
29:25 — Managing multiple projects
45:56 — Copyrighting digital rewards
1:00:36 — Interview with Rob Salkowitz on the changing comics industry

Great rewards when you support ComicLab

$2 — support the show
$5 — submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast
$10 — record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast
*** $50 —** Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com
Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

$2 — Early access to episodes
$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

What's your creative process? Mar 06, 2019

Show notes

Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett are talkin' comics! In this episode, each cartoonist offers a step-by-step guide to their creative process — from the idea stage to posting the finished comic. Then, they take a moment to talk about how real-life struggles can often interfere with our goals as creators — and that's OK. Finally, a Patreon backer asks how soo is TOO soon to launch a new Kickstarter after their current crowdfunder closes.

BUT FIRST, Dave fondly remembers Screwgie, perhaps the only syndicated comic strip written by a baseball hall of famer.

SHOW NOTES

00:00 — Screwgie
10:49 — What is your creative process?
42:53 — Anything worth doing well is worth doing poorly
53:02 — How soon is TOO soon to launch a new Kickstarter?

Great rewards when you support ComicLab

$2 — support the show

$5 — submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast

$10 — record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips
podcast

$50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com

Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

$2 — Early access to episodes
$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

The perils of Magic Number Thinking Feb 27, 2019

Show notes

Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking shop! They discuss what percentage of your readership you can expect to become Patreon backers. That leads into a fascinating trip down Memory Lane as they recall a disgruntled "How To Make Webcomics" reader. Then, they make suggestions on how many tiers a first-time Kickstarter campaign should have. And finally, they make suggestions on Kickstarter stretch goals and add-ons.

BUT FIRST, was a part of Stan Lee's success based on his iconic Look?

Show notes

00:00 — Stan Lee's iconic Look
07:54 — Brad's 19th anniversary in comics
21:01 — Dave looks back on Emerald City and Comic Con International
24:43 — Shipping books on a Greyhound Bus
27:34 — Fed Ex Freight Box
29:15 — Spike Trotman: "Don't fight success."
32:45 — Kenny Rogers' face
36:39 — What percent of your audience are Patreon backers?
40:06 — A story from the "How To Make Webcomics" book
44:22 — The danger of "Magic Number" thinking
49:02 — Superstitions
51:38 — How many Kickstarter tiers should a first-time creator have?
01:01:54 — Effective Kickstarter stretch goals and add-ons

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com

Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

$2 — Early access to episodes
$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

You can't teach a new dog old tricks Feb 20, 2019

Show notes

In this episode, Cartoonists Dave and Brad are talking shop. They share which pieces of original art they would most like to have. Then, it's on to tips and tricks for selling prints. Next, Brad revisits the "social media/ fool's gold" discussion. Then, as Brad approached fifty, the lads talk about preparing for old age. That takes a wild turn as Brad shares an AMAZING fact he learned about teaching business to art-school students. And finally, despite Brad's gain being turned up waaaaaay too high in this recording, a listener asks how they keep their show sounding so good. Most of the time.
BUT FIRST... Brad has a dirty throttle body. Just like Dave always suspected.

SHOW NOTES

0:00 — Dirty throttle body
05:45 — Whose original art would you like you own?
27:22 — Selling prints
35:59 — Stretch Break!
36:47 — Social media fool's gold, part two
52:02 — Preparing for old age
01:03:56 — Teaching business in art schools
01:11:14 — Podcast equipment

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

$2 — Early access to episodes
$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

The danger of "at all costs" success Feb 13, 2019

Show notes

Webcomics pros Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking comics! In this episode, the guys talk about the cartoonist from history that they would have most appreciated a chance to be tutored by. Then, Dave delivers an update on how Backerkit has been working out for him. After that, Dave points out that Brad keeps saying "Time is a continuum," but... what does that actually MEAN? Next, Brad references a recent social-media post by Joe Rogan that glorifies success — at all costs. Brad and Dave talk about how dangerous — and counterproductive — that kind of attitude is. And finally, Dave has some financial advice for cartoonists" Plan for a recession NOW.

BUT FIRST... Ikea is offering inspirational e-mails, and Dave wants to know what's in those messages.

SHOW NOTES

00:00 — Inspirational Ikea
07:17 — 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary
12:25 — Which cartoonist would you love to have had as a tutor?
24:54 — Backerkit
31:50 — Stretch break!
32:40 — What does "Time is a continuum" mean?
40:45 — The danger of "at all costs" success
52:04 — Prepare NOW for a recession

Great rewards when you support ComicLab

$2 — Support the show
$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast
$10 — Record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast
$50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com

Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

$2 — Early access to episodes
$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

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