Webcomic Symposium 2006

Summary
Free Culture Swarthmore is hosting a webcomics symposium this upcoming Friday September 22nd and Saturday the 23rd, focusing on artists who make a living by giving their art away for free. Our guests include Howard Tayler (of Schlock Mercenary), Shaenon Garrity (of Narbonic, Smithson, and Li’l Mell), Rich Burlew (of Order of the Stick), and both Eric Burns and Wednesday White (the authors behind Websnark).

The purpose behind this symposium is to explore the new business of creativity in the digital age. When costs of distribution are insignificant, what kind of new creations and business models are made possible? Webcomics have led this exploration for years, since advertisements first started making their way onto the websites of online comics. On Friday, we will hold a full discussion panel starting at 7 PM, which will explore these questions — and leave plenty of time for a question-and-answer session afterwards.

On Saturday, we’ll break out of this model; starting at 1 PM, our guest artists will have the opportunity to host their own workshops on topics of their interest, from writing to running a business, and from drawing a comic to world-building. Specific workshops will include Business for Artsy Types, Engineering a Punchline, and The Role of the Editor [in an Editor-free Medium].

Events will be held in the Swarthmore College Science Center, Room 199 (Cunniff Hall). We hope to see you there!

Panel Prompter Questions
We're trying to collect good questions to use as prompters in the discussion panel for Friday - please do add suggestions below! Try to keep in mind that these should be general questions, addressed to all our guests; there will be plenty of time for more specific questions during the Q&A section. Also, it would be best to try to focus on the intended panel topic - webcomics as a business of creativity, with new and interesting business options opened by the Internet.

Questions
What income source do you think is currently the most important for webcomics? Merchandising, commissions, advertising, and so forth.

What income source do you think will eventually become most important?

Do you consider micropayments to be a viable business model? Why or why not?

Which webcomic artist do you think has the best business model? Why?

How does the Long Tail positively affect webcomics? Negatively?

What got you interested in webcomics? What made you decide to start one?

Who do you consider your biggest influences?

What are your main sources of inspiration for your webcomic?

Do you read other webcomics? Which ones?

What is your daily routine for writing your comics?/How much time do you put into your webcomic?

What do you do if you get writer's/artist's block?

How do you think the net neutrality controversy is/will affect(ing) the web comic industry?