Never Satisfied
Finally … a PalmCon Wrap-Up!
Greetings,
As many of you know, I’ve been running my own convention since 2011 - PalmCon. This past November 8th & 9th, I had the pleasure of hosting the second annual PalmCon: Treasure Coast at the Mid Florida Event Center in Port St. Lucie, Florida. By all metrics, the show was a success. But, to paraphrase Hamilton: I’ll “never be satisfied.”
I feel as a show promoter - it’s my responsibility to create an event that keeps attendees entertained all day (and weekend) long - because when attendees are engaged, they shop, and when they shop, they support the vendors and artists who trusted me with their weekend. While I think we achieved this goal … there is still much room for improvement.
Instead of dwelling on MY missteps, I want to acknowledge the victories.
We had a fantastic and diverse group of vendors & artists offering a little something for everyone. Our guest lineup was outstanding and included Alex Saviuk, Leva Bates, Paul Rashid, Javier Lugo (who provided a stunning variant cover for Arthur), William Russell, Steph Cannon, Andrea Lorenzo Molinari (with whom I hope to collaborate soon), Amanda Rachels, Kevin LaPorte (we are currently working on a project together … more on that below), Bohdan Neswiacheny, and many more.
All but one guest (grumble, grumble) when asked enthusiastically stepped up - hosting panels, participating in events, and helping to elevate the overall experience. THAT is the key to building a strong guest list - especially when relying heavily on local talent. Guests need to become PART of the show, not just sit behind a table… and yes, promoting the show on social media is part of the deal, but that’s a drum I will beat elsewhere.
I won’t go on too long about the behind the scenes details, but I absolutely must acknowledge the people who helped bring this show to life: Bethany Pierro, Stacey Hill, Alyx Heart, Adam Feldser, Jordyn D’Clute, Erick Marquez & family, and my kids Alex Dunlop & Maddie Pierro, who made the trip down from Tallahassee to surprised their old man!
Looking ahead, the next PalmCon events are already on the calendar:
PalmCon: South – Delray Beach, Florida – April 11th, 2026
PalmCon: Treasure Coast – Port St. Lucie, Florida – November 14th & 15th, 2026
Each location has its own unique vibe, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Now, there’s one name missing from my thank-you list - David Heringer. I saved him for last not just because he’s my con-running hetero-life-mate, but because his event, InfinityCon: Gainesville, will be the main topic of the next Cosmic Update. InfinityCon took place the weekend after PalmCon: Treasure Coast, and by the end of those two back-to-back shows … let’s just say I started to suspect I might be getting too old for this $#*^ … … … Nah!
Other News from across the Cosmic Universe …
Arthur: The Legend Continues –
(Still) at the Printer
The books for our last Kickstarter—Arthur: The Legend Continues, Volume II, Issue Three—are still at the printer. We are well behind schedule, and I take full responsibility.
There was an issue with the greyscale files on the earlier issues, and I completely missed an important email from the printer. That alone delayed things by two weeks, and then I dragged my feet approving the proofs, pushing us back even further.
As I type this, I have my phone next to me as I am checking my inbox waiting for the “your books are ready for pickup” email. Hopefully I’ll have good news to share with everyone very soon.
A New Project with Kevin LaPorte
As mentioned earlier, Kevin LaPorte and I have been developing a new project behind the scenes—one we hope to announce very soon (possibly in the next Cosmic Update).
I had hoped to launch the Kickstarter pre-launch page this week, but we hit a major false start with an artist we ultimately had to replace. Maybe the next #TipTuesday video should be:
“Don’t pay an artist in advance… no matter how much they say they need the money.”
Lesson learned, onward …
Thanks for sticking with me through my ramblings. If you want more behind the scenes stories from PalmCon - let me know. Until next time …
Stay Cosmic,
Martin