Let’s just get this over with:
If you’re just now getting here… you might want to read part one, and part deux.
This is the final installment of our Vegas saga. For now.
As it stands… we have not signed a single licensing deal for The Samurnauts, yet. So, if you were actually thinking we were being that coy? Nah. Keep in mind that it’s absolutely beyond rare that a little side hustle no-name business waltzes on to an expo floor for the very first time, and instantly becomes the belle of the ball. We weren’t counting on that, and it didn’t happen. No harm, no foul.
What I can say though… Unshaven Comics has a few things we are actively pursuing and have had positive movement in the last few weeks. Forgive me if I don’t say more. One, because I’m probably a little stupid and superstitious — and I genuinely believe even an ounce of unearned excitement will make the universe pull the rug out from under us. And two, we genuinely don’t know what will happen, good or bad.
So, let’s head backwards in time to where we actually left things off.
The Licensing Expo was now over. Unshaven Sales-o-matic Kyle Gnepper returned to the Cheesiest State™ to be husband and father. Unshaven Matt and myself hopped into the ole’ minivan and took off to Traverse City, Michigan, for the Cherry Capital Comic Con. So, any follow-up to be done was going to wait until the Monday after the show. That was also a smart move as we figure most folks attending stayed in Vegas through Friday at least, to get in some more entertainment. No need to have our email awaiting them several dozen down in their inbox, right?
Once officially home-home — wife smooched, kids hugged-and-high-fived, and suitcase unpacked — I powered on my PC to fulfill my duties as the Unshaven Business Beard. I pulled out the heavy pile of business cards taken in from Las Vegas, and opened up my Google Sheet of notes. Here I reorganized every contact into piles: unlikely to work with us, likely want our money, mild interest, and heavy interest (#StartHereDummy). Once organized, I created a copy/pastable scripted email. In short, I reintroduced myself and Unshaven Comics. I left specific room to leave some detailed notes so this wasn’t some wholly robotic schpiel. And most importantly, I included a call to action. I should note: I am a marketer by day. So, doing this kind of stuff is very much how I personally pay the bills. In total, I sent out 53 emails, and hoped I’d get a dozen back.
In the weeks that followed, things went as we assumed they would. Several agents who we met at the show who showed interest got back to the office, looked through their own CRM for anyone in the comic game, saw a bagel, and wrote us back with a polite “stay in touch, and have a kick ass summer!” I took several meetings from folks who had licensing service adjacent services looking to score their own deal. In several of those cases, these folks are on another spreadsheet for vendors we’ll absolutely work with when the time is right. This left us down to a trio of follow ups that were the most promising. In total: a studio (of sorts), an agent, and an agency representing a pair of actors looking (potentially) to get into the comic space.
First to fall? The agency. The actors heard our pitch by-way-of-their-agents, and it was met with a polite no thank you. And hey, it was a long shot to begin with. To be honest? It was just a pleasure to even be considered! And the icing on that cupcake? The agency was clear for us to follow up with them a few times a year anyways. Pretty cool, right!
Next up? The agent. He was wickedly polite after checking with his singular contact about their interest in Samurnauts. Once again, a polite pass, but the ask to continue to follow up remained. A positive outcome in so much that the door was closed in our face, but not slammed. Unshaven Comics considered that a win too. Especially given several years prior at the virtual Licensing Expo the lone agent willing to speak to us legitimately laughed when I asked how we might proceed. “Kid, go get 10,000 fans, and I might take your call.” was what was said to me before the Zoom was ended.
Which leaves the studio, of sorts. I was told to patiently wait while things were sorted behind the scenes, but the promise was still there. I waited the appropriate time asked, followed up, and have since had a productive meeting with the right folks. A lot of questions were answered, with a lot more that still need to be both asked and answered. And that folks, is that. There’s no “yes”. There’s no “no”. There’s just a lot more runway to traverse as we ideally gain speed. It’s the best metaphor I can offer, without any promise of things taking off yet. Frustrating? Not even a little. Allow me to wrap this whole trip up.
In January, Kyle said unceremoniously “we’re not getting any younger, so why not”. We set our expectations about as low as they could be set — to not be laughed out of the building with hope for knowledge and fingers crossed for literally anything else above that. We worked our burly butts off pitching in a different way on the Expo floor. We took diligent notes, and captured all our observations and engagements. We returned home determined not to drop the ball, business-wise, and followed up appropriately. And for all of that work, we’ve amassed some amazing anecdotes, some potential partners for the future, and at least one opportunity (if not two…) to pursue further. In addition to the white collar moves of Unshaven Comics, we also left Las Vegas having dined on some of the best Mexican food we’ve ever had, saw a fire-breathing mecha-mantis, had Zoltar tell Matt to leave the company, and we learned that white cars don’t get stupid-hot when being left in the sun all day. That’s right kids. We learned science!
So what happens now? Well, we’re back at the drafting table, making new issues of “The Samurnauts”. We’re prepping for September’s Baltimore Comic Con (you’re coming out to see us, RIGHT?). We’re following up about one more convention late in the year in Wisconsin. Aaaaaaaaand, we’re wheeling and dealing with proverbial big-wigs who have yet to drop kick us to the curb. In those cases, we’re staying clear-eyed, and pragmatic. I’d be lying if I didn’t say behind closed doors (and in errant articles, ahem) we’re excitedly vibrating at the possibility that The Samurnauts might actually become something beyond the pulp and paper that we propel at prospects amidst the alleys of artists in comic conventions. We’re also still really good at writing overly long alliterative sentences.
As there is more to say? I’ll say it. In the meantime, I’ve now written 3 articles in 3 weeks. Next week, I might as well keep the fun going, just in an entirely different way. Same Fish time… same Fish channel.
