Con Job

What happens when you're working the booth at Fan Expo Chicago and the boss unexpectedly shows up? This week on Con Job, Ryan is joined by one of The Art of Megan Withey's legendary booth babes, Mrs. Karina Helit, to break down everything that went down at Fan Expo Chicago and this weekend came with a little surprise. World-renowned artist Megan Withey herself decided to make an appearance...

This week on Con Job, Ryan is joined once again by Eric Melendez of E’s Apparel to break down Fan Expo Boston from the perspective that matters to us most: the vendor floor. We’re diving into the full experience...Did Boston show up ready to spend? Grab your headphones, pour yourself a Dunkin’, and join us for the best part of your week...Enjoy!!

In this episode of Con Job, Ryan is joined by Airy Wylde to break down their experiences at Galaxycon Raleigh, one of the convention circuit's most talked-about events. From the moment the doors opened until the final load-out, we're diving into everything that made this show stand out.

There are comic conventions... and then there's San Diego Comic Con. This week on Con Job, Ryan is joined by Eric Melendez of E's Apparel to take you behind the scenes of the undisputed heavyweight champion of pop culture conventions. If you've ever wondered what it's really like to work one of the largest, busiest, and most demanding shows on the planet, this episode is your all-a...

In this episode of Con Job, Ryan is joined by Brittnee Braun to pull back the curtain on one of the year's most controversial and newest show, Fan Expo Anaheim which took place June 26-28. Brit was there in person so she dives deep into what went right and what ultimately went wrong. Was it a gangbanger? Tune in and find out...

This week on Con Job, Ryan is joined by Sadie Bettcher, one of the team members for Megan Withey, who was on the front lines at Washington Summer Con, held June 19–21 in Puyallup, Washington. We get to see the show through Sadie's eyes as she shares her experience travelling to the booth, thoughts on each of the days, interacting with attendees, and navigating one of the Pacific Northwest'...

Fresh off the convention floor, Ryan is joined by Jeff Balke of Jaff Balke Animation Studios, who was in attendance, to break down Fan X Indiana, which took place June 5–7 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Tune in to hear everything from the vendor experiences and crowd reactions to sales trends and everything else about the show. We give the deets on what really happened during one of the Midwest's b...

In this special edition loan pod of con job, Ryan breaks down his experience at (Fan Expo) Philadelphia. He shared stories from the show floor among other interesting tidbits from the show so you get a firsthand perspective of how things looked. Strap in and ENJOY!!!

The countdown to Fan Expo Denver is officially on, and in this episode of Con Job, Ryan and Jeremy are joined by Fan Expo Sales Manager Alex Wer for an inside look at one of the biggest upcoming shows on the calendar. We dive into what vendors, artists, and attendees can expect from this year’s event. From crowd expectations and vendor opportunities to behind-the-scenes insights you usually don’t...

The first quarter is in the books and we’ve got opinions. In this episode of Con Job, Ryan and Jeremy break down the best and worst shows of Q1, based on their real experiences behind the vendor table. No sugarcoating, just honest takes on which shows delivered, which ones missed, and why. But it’s not just a highlight reel. We zoom out and talk about the bigger trends shaping the convention scene...

In this special 250th episode of Con Job, Ryan goes solo and does a Lone Pod to break down Imagicon (April 24–26), in Minot, ND. This is an unfiltered, behind-the-table look at his first trip to North Dakota and what how the show went. It's different in that he did it in 3 segments, 1 after each day was complete which means you get an unfiltered view of the show. Tune in and see if Ryan can handle...

In this episode of Con Job, the holy triumvirate are all back together to break down SC Comic Con, and this one’s as clean as the show itself. A nice little two-day event that runs like a well-oiled machine… and yes, Ryan’s favorite part: no unnecessary third day. We dive into the vendor-side experience from all angles. Sometimes bigger isn’t better, and SC Comic Con might be the perfect example o...

In this episode of Con Job, Ryan and Jeremy are joined once again by Eric Melendez from E’s Apparel to break down C2E2, one of the biggest shows on the circuit,and Eric’s bringing the full in-person report. We dish the real 411 on everything that mattered: crowd energy, buying habits, booth performance, and how the show stacked up compared to expectations. Was it a win for vendors? Did the traffic...

In this episode of Con Job, Ryan, Jeremy, and Dylan break down Planet Comic Con, fresh off last weekend but with a twist. Schedules didn’t line up, so we had to split this one into two parts, which means you’ll get the full recap… and plenty of Ryan dragging things out in both segments. You’ve been warned. We cover everything from what worked, what didn’t and where does Planet Comic Con stack up c...

In this episode of Con Job, Ryan, Jeremy, and Dylan are joined by Rich Capobianco from Fan Expo, once again, to get the promoter’s perspective on MegaCon. We discuss what went right, what challenges popped up, and what it really takes to run a show of this scale. Then we flip the script and get a vendors point of view. We’re joined by world-renowned artist Megan Withey to dive into the vendor-side...

In this episode of Con Job, Jeremy and Ryan are joined by Eric Melendez from E’s Apparel to break down Emerald City Comic Con, which all three of us attended last weekend. From booth traffic to crowd energy and how the show stacked up overall. But the con itself wasn’t the only adventure. We also dive into the other interesting chaotic moments, from flight nightmares to the very questionable part...

The dust has barely settled, and we’re already breaking it all down. In this episode of Con Job, Jeremy gives a full boots on the ground recap of Pensacon, which wrapped up last weekend. We talk vendor traffic, buyer behavior, show flow, and the small details that made a big difference. From there, we shift gears with a few early tidbits on the MegaCon map. What’s catching our attention, what migh...

In this episode of Con Job, Ryan and Jeremy break down how fan expectations have shifted, why quality and presentation matter more than ever, and what artists and vendors need to change if they want to stay profitable at conventions in 2026 and beyond. If you sell in Artist Alley, Vendor Hall, or rely on convention income, this episode isn’t about hype it’s about adapting...Adapt of Die....Enjoy!!

MegaCon isn’t just another show it’s one of the biggest weekends of the year for vendors, artists, and fans alike, and in this episode of Con Job, we’re going straight to the top. Jeremy and Ryan sit down with Rich from Fan Expo for an inside look at all things MegaCon. We talk scale, planning, growth, and what makes this event such a critical stop on the convention calendar. From what vendors sho...

In this episode of Con Job, Ryan breaks down his experience at Fan Expo Portland from crowd energy and sales flow to logistics, booth dynamics, and whether the show lived up to expectations. Meanwhile, Jeremy checks in with a quick but telling report from Savannah Anamazing, sharing key takeaways from the floor and how that show stacked up from a vendor’s point of view. We talk candidly about what...

Same weekend. Two different shows. Two very different experiences. In this episode of Con Job, we’re fresh off the floor and diving deep into Fan Expo New Orleans where Ryan was holding it down and Central Carolina Comic Con, which Jeremy tackled in person. Was the crowd buying or just browsing? Did the shows deliver on their hype? Which con felt worth the time, travel, and table fee and which rai...

A new year means new shows, new goals, and new ways to survive (and thrive) on the convention circuit. In this episode of Con Job, we’re breaking down the first-quarter 2025 shows that we’ve got circled on the calendar. We’re also getting real about our New Year’s resolutions for 2026. From booth strategy and travel logistics to personal sanity and long-term growth, we get down and dirty here. Whe...

The calendar’s turning, the crowds are shifting, and the convention world is evolving faster than ever. In this episode of Con Job , we’re breaking out the tarot cards and diving into the trends that defined 2025. From rising vendor costs and new show formats to fandoms on the rise, shifting spending habits, and the unexpected, we’re pulling back the curtain and calling our shots. Are we heading f...

This week on Con Job, we’re joined by the always-awesome Brittnee Braun as we dive into the glitz, crowds, and quirks of LA Comic Con. From the energy of the show floor to the challenges (and perks) of vending in the City of Angels, we break it all down. Was it smooth sailing under the Hollywood lights, or a production full of plot twists? Tune in for vendor insights, behind-the-scenes laughs, and...

In this week's episode of Con Job , The Holy Triumvirate dives into the whirlwind that is Dragon Con , five days of fandom madness in the heart of Atlanta. We break down the crowds, sales, layout, and the overall vibe of one of the biggest and most unique shows on the circuit. From the challenges of navigating multiple hotels to the unforgettable energy of Dragon Con’s late-night scene, we sha...