Laura Seabrook's Ramblings

I got back from the computer markets. Just under $100 bought me: a 40 Gb IDE drive; an 80 Gb IDE drive; a 4 Gb Media player (hopefully one that won't be nbusted with in a month this time); and some cables. All in all the trip was economical. I left at 10am, and was back home by 1:30pm, and in that time also had lunch at McDonolds (don't normally eat there but it was right next to the bus stop and air conditioned) and shopping at ALDI.

But what a day - here's the forecast:







Gasp! Maybe I should have bought am extra fan at ALDI for $15.

I decided to go to "Men Write from Mars, Women Write from Venus" after all. Only got there for the last 30 minutes. It was basically one person on the panel saying "There is a difference between a 'male' and 'female' voice in writing" and others disputing that. Wasn't terribly interesting, but the air-conditioning was welcome.

Arts Market / Zine Fair

</>And then, I made a big mistake.

I'd worked out a system whereby I didn't need to sit behind a table. I had a long sheet of plywood to which I'd attached the comics by means of bulldog clips, and a big sports bag full of bundled zines. But when I got there I got a bit confused. I walked by "registrations" and they immediately spotted the comics and asked if I wanted a table and apparently it was free for zines and comics (instead of $15) so before I knew it, I was sitting behind a table with my (and Carol's and Susan's) comics on display.

Big mistake. I can't say exactly why, but within ten minutes I was having a panic attack!

It was odd. I simultaneously felt isolated and also crowded - this year's venue was the street in front of the Watt St Gallery, which was closed at both ends to traffic. At the Hunter St end was a stage for bands, and working back to King St were the stalls of the markets. There seemed little order in how they were laid out. Some people seemed to setting "in front" of their stalls instead of in the "back area". It wasn't as regular as when it'd been inside a building.

I decided to set up next to a van, away from the crowd. The loudness of the music was just freaking me out anyway, and that was as far back as I could get. Then someone from the Indigenous stall laid out a flag on the ground that cut the pathway to my left (and it was latter shifted to be right behind me). Several people turned u[p to say hello, including Helen, Carolyn's daughter (who fixed my PC on Friday).

But I was just freaking out, from the start. This wasn't my plan, and from where I was I couldn't see any other comic / zine sellers at all. I tried to get a handle on it by writing some [poetry, but that didn't work. Then, miss_judith, Thom and Jill turned up.

I was so glad they did. After almost losing it, Judith suggested that I pack up and I did and we went down the road where we had drinks and food. I felt a lot better after a "works" burger in me, and away from the crowd. When we returned I was reorganised and had my comics back on the board, and felt a lot more comfortable in being there.

Only did a nominal amount of selling / trading my comics, though I sold out of Pox #6 (which I expected to). Manners haven't improved. When I asked one guy if I could trade with him, he gave a long and involved explanation that said more or less that he wouldn't because he'd probably never read mine! What was wrong with saying a simple "no, thank you"?

Once I felt I'd had enough, I went over to Civic Park, and bumped into Judith and Jill again (oh, and of course, cute little Quentin, Judith's son). Had a "pluto pup" and a "slush puppy". Then took all the gear back to the car after dropping into the Octapod.

After the Fair

It was a good thing that I did drop into the Octapod. I sold another couple of comics, and got invited to be a "token local" on a radio show. After ditching the stuff at the car, I returned and hung about the remnants of the street fair until I was ready for the radio show. Chatted with a friend from university, and sold some more comics.

That was on Tin Radio, or 100.5 FM. That as a good experience. I was asked about Queer Stuff and Hypergraphia #6, and was even able to plug Tarot Tuesday. It meant that I could go home on a good note, which I did.

Shan't be going to the events listed for tomorrow. There doesn't seem to be any proper "closing ceremony" but as I never got to the official "opening ceremony" what does that matter. I think instead, I'll probably visit Jenny and watch some videos.

The Next Hypergraphia

I think I know what the next Hypergraphia will be on. I think I need to do all the conventions, conferences and events that I just couldn't handle, from Swancons to NOWSAs and Zine fairs, and why. Might be something to do for next year. In the meantime I need to figure out how to distribute the comics I've already done. The Zine fair is just not enough.