If you ask me a decade ago what I’ll be doing, I probably wouldn’t think much as to tabling compared to consistently working on my illustration and narrative storytelling. I still think there’s far more to go, but another thing that some folks may not realize, or rather maybe they haven’t got a chance to get around, is the dreaded “networking” of peers within your practice. Networking itself isn’t a bad thing; I treat it more an opportunity to see new works, get inspired, and making friends or getting to know folks to support the craft.
The arts are not meant to be consumed as an idle practice. You have to be active in the scene to make most of your work, at least for me. That’s why something such as zine fests or indie expos are equally important. It’s the bonus of seeing cool stuff from cool people part of the same global art community. And the range from that can vary within your region, country, etc.
Last weekend, I recently went to Lansing Indie Comic & Zine Fest at the Grewal Hall. LICZ is a relatively new art event in Michigan, going towards its 3rd year for 2027. I was waitlisted for this year’s event, but I wanted to check it out the new venue. It’s different from last year’s, though the space feels more intentional in terms of layout. Table arrangement for the space didn’t feel crowded; it was easy to navigate around, even when circling back in near the stage.
One thing I noticed walking around the venue: I think there were some booths that didn’t have a focus on comic/zine work for display. Some indie scenes would allow this, but I would encourage it more in these spaces. It’s fun seeing folks who aren’t versed in comics crack an attempt. Sometimes it can be another venue for exploring new ways to keep artwork fresh too. But overall, it was a good show. I enjoyed my time there, my friends and peers also shared similar thoughts too. I hope that its 3rd year will be equally good, with new fresh faces and folks sharing their passions to the public.
When you have been traveling and tabling for over 5 years, some things do come in mind in terms of access, staff support, and overall feel. I’m thankful that my experiences have been pretty good so far within Michigan and out of state shows.
Next week I’ll be at CAKE for the first time, so I hope I’ll have more of a thorough view on bigger shows than the smaller events I enjoy dearly. It will be a lot different compared to the smaller shows I’ve attended in previous years. Looking forward to it!