Big Business

[BlazeOGlory]

Okay so its actually not big....but Im an artist, and I wanted to start up a small indie comic company/partnership deal....I don't know jack about writing, or actually starting a business...like all the copyrights, production stuff all that jive....so I guess im just posting this up to see if any one is interested! If not interested in the partnership, any advice for me???????????

[Kyousouka]

Learn about "all that jive" and then come back and ask again. Why would someone be interested in working with someone who hasn't put forth enough effort to learn about what they're getting into?

It's not an easy business to make a profit in, but it's not a difficult one to get into. However, keep in mind that if you want to also make comics, then running a business is a bad idea. It's possible to be a creator and a business owner at once if the business is sufficiently small (and probably not profitable), but as it grows, your business duties will not leave enough time to make comics. If you want to create comics, then it's best that you find an existing company/publisher/whatever to work with and let them handle the business end of things.

There are a lot of articles out there on starting your own business (both the physical and psychological aspects of it), and most of that stuff applies to starting an indie comic company/press/whatever too.

Things like copyright can be researched online as well, but I highly recommend hiring a lawyer to handle the legal aspects of running your company. There are many lawyers who specialise in publishing, and they can do much more than just defend you in court. You can start your company without a lawyer, but you'd be doing yourself and the people you work with a disservice by not hiring one once you can afford to.

Accounting. Learn about it. Learn to love it, or learn to love paying an accountant. Money is the oil that makes companies run, and it's what keeps those comic creators writing and drawing. If you can't handle the tasks associated with paying people, don't bother starting a business.

Learn about printing and design. Even if you're not going to serve as the printer for your company, it's good to understand exactly what goes into producing a book, so that you can communicate more effectively with printing companies. Learn about printing even if your business model is entirely digital, because a lot of the basic principles that determine whether a book is pleasant to read apply to ebooks as well.

Figure out what exactly you want to do. This is more than just the kind of comics you want to deal with. You also need to figure out what services you will provide to the creators, how you intend to make money, etc. This is the stuff you'll need to pitch to people to make them want to work with you.

Most importantly, what can you personally bring to the table? What is it that makes you worth partnering with? What can you do that makes you indispensable? If there's nothing, then we'd all be better off working with someone else.

[CB_Young]

So, what would you be bringing to the table in this partnership or company?

[NegaShoes]

Kyousouka

It's not an easy business to make a profit in, but it's not a difficult one to get into.

Not difficult to get into? I wouldn't even say that much is true. Actually getting an indie comic published by a legitimate company is nearly impossible. You have to work for them for a long time before they'll consider your pitch without a laugh behind it. I agree with everything Kyousouka has said though. It's easy to want to get into the comic industry. But you have to acquire a certain amount of know-how before just jumping in. Search around on the internet- see which aspect of comics you like- maybe scripting, coloring, inking, penciling, printing- and become an expert in it. And I don't mean an "I read this pamphlet so I think I know what I'm doing" type of expert- MASTER that area of your craft. Become irreplaceable and you'll never cease to find work.

[Kyousouka]

NegaShoes

Kyousouka

It's not an easy business to make a profit in, but it's not a difficult one to get into.

Not difficult to get into? I wouldn't even say that much is true. Actually getting an indie comic published by a legitimate company is nearly impossible. You have to work for them for a long time before they'll consider your pitch without a laugh behind it. I agree with everything Kyousouka has said though. It's easy to want to get into the comic industry. But you have to acquire a certain amount of know-how before just jumping in. Search around on the internet- see which aspect of comics you like- maybe scripting, coloring, inking, penciling, printing- and become an expert in it. And I don't mean an "I read this pamphlet so I think I know what I'm doing" type of expert- MASTER that area of your craft. Become irreplaceable and you'll never cease to find work.

Ah, sorry for the confusion. I didn't mean to imply that getting your work published is easy. I meant that starting up your own company is easy, but making a profit / getting anything accomplished is hard.
You're technically in the industry as soon as you take steps to be in it. But to have any success at all... that's another story xP

[BlazeOGlory]

Well I posted here because I don't know what to type in to google in the first place, I posted for help...I want to be an artist, Ive got ideas for stories that I want to turn into comic series and I don't know the first thing to look into when running a business..I have all sorts of promotional ideas in my head but my problem is the business aspect of it. And I am the only person working on this...

[BlazeOGlory]

booooommmm

[Kyousouka]

Did you really need to bump this thread? It was still in the front page of the forum.

BlazeOGlory

Well I posted here because I don't know what to type in to google in the first place, I posted for help...I want to be an artist, Ive got ideas for stories that I want to turn into comic series and I don't know the first thing to look into when running a business..I have all sorts of promotional ideas in my head but my problem is the business aspect of it. And I am the only person working on this...

If that's what you want to do, do not start a business. As I said in my post, running a business will make it difficult to participate in the creative side of things.

Instead of wasting your time, go practice drawing, get good at it, make your comics, and then either pitch them to publishers or self-publish them (come back here once you've got a comic all done if you still need help with publishing by then). I recommend starting with a short one, and not your favourite story. It's going to take a few comics for you to get the hang of things, the first few will likely be duds.

Then, once you get good at the creative aspects and learn how much time they take up (you'll get faster as you improve), decide whether you still think you can tackle running an entire business on the side, and come back if you still want to do it.

[BlazeOGlory]

http://browse.deviantart.com/?q=about69monkeyfistz
theres my older art I might as well ask for critique while Im here lol

[Kyousouka]

BlazeOGlory

http://browse.deviantart.com/?q=about69monkeyfistz
theres my older art I might as well ask for critique while Im here lol

Except that's breaking the rules.
Gaia has a forum devoted to giving and getting critique on artwork. Use it.