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 an...
Feb 13, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 59
Webcomics pros Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking comics! In this episode, they point out that the Eisner Awards have changed their submission guidelines — and that's great news for short-form webcartoonists! THEN they discuss a tweet by Nate Powell that has everyone talking. This Eisner-winning cartoonist claims his income breaks down to about $455 a month! NEXT, it's all about joke theft — what do do when you're accused of it, and what to do when it happens to you! THEN, Dave and Brad do...
Feb 06, 2019•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 58
Webcomics pros Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking comics! In this episode, they discuss what you should do when you realize you've lost longtime readers. Then, where should you work, when you work from home? What kind of day job should you have? And finally... how do some cartoonists produce those amazing sketchbooks? But first... Dave's going to Alaska Robotics' Comics Camp ! SHOW NOTES 00:00 — Comics Camp 06:10 — Why do longtime readers fall away from your comic, and how can you address ...
Jan 30, 2019•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 57
Webcomics pros Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking comics! In this episode, Brad makes another lasting contribution to webcomics: Guigar's Law — The first person to comment that they'd buy a certain type of merchandise is the first person to disappear when the merch is offered! BUT FIRST, Brad and Dave fondly remember comic-convention cosplay. Show Notes 00:00 — Spotting the batawang at a comic convention 06:35 — Dave clarifies his production schedule 07:54 — Guigar's Law: The first person ...
Jan 23, 2019•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 56
Webcomics pros Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking comics! In this episode, they discuss best practices for sound effects and promoting longform comics on social media. NEXT, they discuss "Chapter Zero" — what it is, and whether it's right for you. THEN it's strategies for coping with the Q1 slowdown. AND FINALLY, they take a handful of questions from 2018 and drill through them in a Lightning Round! BUT FIRST, as Dave prepared to receive a shipment of books for his latest Kicksta...
Jan 16, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 55
Dave and Brad are planning 2019 — PLUS, Steve McGarry from the National Cartoonist Society drops in to talk about NCSFest in Huntington Beach, Calif, May 17-19, 2019. But FIRST... Brad's teenagers give Dave a look at what's in store for his kids in the future — and it includes sleeping in till noon. Show Notes 00:00 — Teenagers 06:06 — Brad's plan for 2019: Hiring an assistant 20:22 — Dave's plan for 2019: Five personal appearances 22:55 — Dave's plan for 2019: Publishing schedule to include an ...
Jan 09, 2019•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 54
Webcomics pros Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar talk social-media strategy with Kevin McShane of Buzzfeed, the Lusty Horde , and more ! BUT FIRST, Dave marvels over the exercise craze of the belt vibrator . And that leads to this little-known story about the true-life origin of Marvel supervillain, the Shocker. Show notes 00:00 — The belt vibrator 08:10 — Understanding "sharing statements" in social media 27:05 — Sharing on Instagram 47:50 — We use the passing of Stan Lee to get Kevin to d...
Jan 02, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 53
Webcomics pros Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar look back over another year in webcomics and discuss what worked really well — and what didn't. BUT FIRST, Dave marvels over the British idiom, " hard cheese ," and that leads to a discussion of British humor in general. Show notes 00:00 — "Hard cheese, old chap." 05:00 — 52 ComicLab episodes in 52 weeks — thanks to our Patreon backers! 08:00 — Dave and Brad disagree on buffers 11:45 — "Webcomics is constantly evolving... so we...
Dec 26, 2018•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 52
Webcomics pros Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar discuss the Patreon Special Offer — and why comics artists should be using it — RIGHT NOW. Plus... running concurrent campaigns on Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Is it a little skeevy, or super skeevy? And then, the burning question for the ages... What's it like being the most handsome host of ComicLab? BUT FIRST, Brad finally wins the artificial-Christmas-tree argument at his house. And he's miserable about it. Show notes 00:00 — Brad's artificial Christ...
Dec 20, 2018•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 51
Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking shop! Still reeling from an action-packed weekend at PatreCon, the guys are talking Patreon! For example — should you hide your Patreon numbers or display proudly how much you're earning? And what do you do when a backer expects more than you're offering? And how soon is too soon to launch your Patreon? Also — can a story-driven comic strip like "Bloom County" survive on the Web today? And the guys discuss which of their many project...
Dec 13, 2018•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 50
Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking shop! Redbubble has killed off its support for print-on-demand calendars. Should you be doing the same? ALSO, how to prepare for a portfolio review. THEN, building a digital press kit and approaching comics-media outlets. FINALLY, when a cartoonist has 1.1 million Instagram followers and only about 400 Patreon backers, is something amiss? BUT FIRST, Brad builds a podcasting fort with a heavy blanket to combat the echo in his studio… and it wor...
Dec 06, 2018•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 49
Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking shop! Brad flew out to Los Angeles to attend PatreCon with his podcastin' pal Dave. Today, they talk about what they thought of the conference in general, what they learned, and most importantly how their approach to Patreon is going to change in the immediate future. BUT FIRST... Brad took delivery of the print run of his new book , and everything went wrong. Show notes 00:00 — Brad took delivery of his new book, and everything went wrong 12:...
Nov 29, 2018•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 48
Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are joined by the wonderful Alex Heberling to talk shop! They talk about handling discouragement and burn-out, staying motivated, and taking time for self-care. Then Alex shares the harrowing story of the trepidatious phone call Brad made when he approached her to work on Evil Inc After Dark. BUT FIRST… Brad questions his own judgement when get gets into a Twitter fight over typography. Show notes 00:00 — Brad gets into a Twitter fight over typography 07:...
Nov 22, 2018•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 47
Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking shop! When a Patreon backer asks for tips on hustling and networking, Brad gets uncomfortable. Then, the guys struggle to make sense of demographic data. And finally, they help a fellow cartoonist navigate book distribution. BUT FIRST, Dave asks... if you could see one statistic floating over people's heads, what would it be? Show notes 13:17 — Game show themes for fun and profit 15:27 — Brad thought Graham Chapman did the Monty Python animati...
Nov 15, 2018•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 46
Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking shop! This week, they’re talking about avoiding boredom, and they take a deep dive on grappling with self-doubt. THEN they talk about how they adapt their writing processes to address those issues. NEXT, they talk about the dangers of sharing your self-doubt on social media. AND finally, a crucial question for today’s independent creators: What level of Patreon support denotes success? Show notes 00:00 — The “hi-five retweet” 06:10 — Since you...
Nov 08, 2018•52 min•Ep. 45
Webcomics weirdos Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking comics with Ngozi Ukazu , creator of “ Check, Please .” She talks sports comics, art school, self-publishing, and a wide range of creative challenges. BUT FIRST, Raina Telgemeier’s new book, “Guts,” receives a million-book print order, and we’re stoked! Show notes 00:00 — Raina Telgemeier’s new book, “Guts,” receives a million-book print order 02:34 — Introducing Ngozi Ukazu , creator of “ Check, Please .” 03:12 — The comics scene in Aus...
Nov 01, 2018•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 44
Webcomics weirdos Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking comics! When a Patreon backer hits the viral jackpot, they wonder if it wasn’t fool’s gold. This turns into a discussion of smart online marketing, how publishing religious content is like posting NSFW comics, and one overarching theme — social media isn’t about generating Buzz so much as it’s about building Community. Then, the boys talk about getting a publisher excited about comics, and finally, those sentimental things we hold onto t...
Oct 25, 2018•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 43
Webcomics watchmen Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking Inktober with Jake Parker , the founder of Inktober. They discuss Inktober, how it started, and where it’s going. BUT FIRST, Dave’s niece sums up his fashion sense with brutal accuracy. Show notes 00:00 — Dave’s fashion sense is “Costco New Balance shoes and a single-color polo.” 03:06 — Introducing Jake Parker, founder of Inktober 03:38 — A look inside the Inktober inbox 07:26 — What is Inktober? 10:22 — Inktober is one of many, many e...
Oct 18, 2018•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 42
Webcomics wranglers Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking shop with Lex Fajardo. He's an Eisner Award winner, Senior Editor of Charles Schulz Studios, and the creator of his own comic series Kid Beowulf . When he asks if Patreon is right for him, he gets an earful... and a top-down restructuring of his entire approach (whether he wanted it or not)! BUT FIRST, Brad refuses to give that lady at SmartCuts his phone number. Show notes 00:00 — Brad refuses to give SmartCuts his phone number 04:40 ...
Oct 11, 2018•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 41
Webcomics workhorses Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking shop with Kazu Kibuishi on the eve of the release of the eighth book in his graphic-novel series, _ "Amulet." _The New York Times Best-Selling graphic novelist talks about the early crisis that redefined his career. BUT FIRST, Kazu Kibuishi enjoys a tasty, tasty croissant. Show notes 00:00 — "What am I — the Queen??" xx:18 — Introducing Kazu Kibuishi 03:24 — Leading a team of artists on a single project 08:15 — Is ...
Oct 04, 2018•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 40
Webcomics warriors Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking shop! They discuss why you should be encouraging people to follow your Kickstarter campaign — and how it translates into big money in the last 72 hours of your marketing push. THEN, a thoughtful Patreon backer asks how they can support the web cartoonist in their life. NEXT, a backer asks for strategies for building buzz on Twitter (short of a flame war). ALSO, the guys give advice on knowing which parts of your webcomics business you s...
Sep 27, 2018•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 39
Webcomics wannabes Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking shop! The guys discuss the monthly Patreon dip — what it means and why you shouldn't freak out. THEN Dave talks about why he lays out his longform sci-fi comic the way he does. NEXT, Brad argues that reboots are good — and sometimes necessary, and he and Dave examine the best ways to go about it. FINALLY, Dave shares some helpful guidance for anyone who wants to branch into enamel pins. BUT FIRST, Brad has one more story from his trip t...
Sep 20, 2018•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 38
Webcomics whackos Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking shop! Brad took a four-week vacation from his comic this summer, and he says it’s the smartest thing he has ever done. THEN we take another swing at the topic of “Good content vs. Viral content.” Have we over simplified the discussion? NEXT, Dave and Brad note that they’ve been using Bonjoro app all summer long. Are they still as excited about it as they were when they started? And FINALLY, why do we hate thought balloons so much? Is it ...
Sep 13, 2018•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 37
While Brad's son was at Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, Dave called him in his hotel room to talk comics. Pantsless, Brad obliged. They discussed Dave's new Kickstarter at DriveKickstarter.com and the agony of Kickstarter panic. THEN Dave gets some intriguing advice on using one's own photo as a social-media avatar. NEXT, a patron asks about brainstorming from scratch. THEN another patron asks about the main sources of webcomics revenue and how it has changed over time — and which revenue sou...
Sep 06, 2018•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 36
Webcomics wardens Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are joined this week by “The Long Con” writer, Dylan Meconis . They discuss ways in which an artist can improve their critical eye. NEXT, a listener asks whether a creator should have one, central Patreon campaign — or should they split them among different projects? THEN, the trio brainstorms strategies to integrate new readers into an ongoing longford comic. FINALLY, Dave and Brad announce their plans to attend the Patreon convention, PatreCon , i...
Aug 30, 2018•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 35
Webcomics wild things Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are joined this week by lawyer-to-the-comics-stars, Katie Lane . She has some advice on attempting the elusive “working vacation.” THEN she discusses the legal questions that perennially haunt creative professionals, like how does one find a good lawyer? NEXT, she tackles work-for-hire contracts and right of first refusal. FINALLY, she shares some priceless advice… avoid one-size-fits-all legal advice. There’s no, one “right way” to do this. BUT...
Aug 23, 2018•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 34
Webcomics warlocks Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar talkin’ shop! Dave Kellett has returned from his 20th appearance at Comic Con International in San Diego — and it was a huge success! He shares the strategies he used to beat the odds and make a profit at an incredibly demanding show. Plus... booth barnacles, Hollywood scouts and the religious pugs. Show notes 00:00 — Religious pugs and other oxymorons 02:34 — The new pedestrianized Comic-Con frontage 05:45 — Hard times in Hall H? — Marvel and Disn...
Aug 16, 2018•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 33
Webcomics wizards Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talkin’ shop! Some fan mail revives the topic of the “punch word” in writing humor. THEN, Brad has some bad news for you. You’re not talented. And, actually, that’s good news. NEXT, a listener asks what we listen to while we work. AND FINALLY, Dave and Brad talk about the people who most inspire their work today (as opposed to childhood heroes). BUT FIRST… Dave gets called for jury duty on the same week as Comic Con International, and he had to ...
Aug 09, 2018•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 32
Webcomics weirdos Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar talkin’ shop! When a listener asks how to recover after a failed con, Brad launches into a discussion of the gambler’s mentality of comic conventions. And Dave launches his newest character, Susanne Mactaggart, inspirational speaker. THEN, if a key to success is making good comics, what should you be focused on learning and doing to make that happen? NEXT, looking back over his decision to launch a NSFW comic series, is there anything that Brad woul...
Aug 02, 2018•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 31
Webcomics warriors Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking about making comics. Several webcartoonists hosted on LINE Webtoons were nominated for ‘Ringo Awards. Is it the new hotbed of webcomics talent? THEN is there any value to being “syndicated” on GoComics? NEXT. what should you look for in a contract? And FINALLY, the guys talk about how to improve the writing of a journal/autobio comic. BUT FIRST… Brad has been watching “House M.D.” and if that show can be “What if Sherlock Holmes was a d...
Jul 26, 2018•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 30
