A Request Out To My People

When I was a kid a teacher had us write to foreign embassies to see what kind of stuff we could get sent to us. Countries like the USA and Australia and many of the more with-it European nations sent us great stuff. Posters, maps, patches, hats, flags....ect. Iran sent ONE very badly photocopied page. Fuck you IRAN was our thought of them at the time.

I continued this on my own and with my interest in military jet aircraft (as I was an air cadet at the time and was working towards first my glider then my power aircraft lessons) I thought it best to write to Grummond, Boeing, Lockeed Martin and JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory). They to send me plane models, posters, unit patches and full colour coffee table books. I was hooked.


When I taught in the far north we wrote to all the Provinces to send us their provincial flags for our school color party and only one did, PEI. Then we followed up and told each legislature that they were the ONLY one that didn't send us a flag and soon the color team has all the nation and provincial flags they needed.

But the TRUE 'coup de grace' came when we wrote the NHL's player's association that our gym supplies and most notably floor hockey equipment was pitiful. One of the player reps actually came to Igaluit and after seeing we were hurting, make it happened and soon the school was a wash is sticks, pucks, nets, goalie hockey equipment and enough jerseys to run a 6 team league with the school kids. This kept them out of trouble after school and really had a lot to do with bringing the community together.

Remembering those times and talking to good buddies like Mike D, go me thinking of those days again.


I asked about how to get cool swag from toy companies and comic book or geek culture conventions earlier in the week. My New York buddy, Mike D from Cultural Compulsive Disorder gave me some great advice and I am putting my time and energy to forming my emails so I can mass send them before the end of the month. Who knows what response I might get from the various organization.


Hey Cal,

Here is my experience that goes along with press passes... if you don't request them, you won't get them no matter how big you are. Blogs lke ours jump through the same hoops as huge magazines such as Wizard. It's a process. Go to the official web page of the particular comic con, then find the press page. Follow the procedure to register... usually it takes about 2 weeks to hear back from them. You will get approved about 99% of the time... shocking, right? After you do, that's when the fun starts. Your email address will be shared by the con management with all the local p.r. firms that will be handling appearances and activities during the con. Big companies like Marvel and DC usually handle their own P.R., but almost everyone else will hire a local p.r. firm. Once the p.r. companies have your info, you will begin to start receiving emails about all the cool shit to do during the weekend. For example, the company behind The Secret of The Kells (a great academy award nominated animated feature... watch it!) appeared at NYC comic con. They contacted me, and I requested an interview.... an GOT IT. I interviewed the director.... sick! I also walked up to Max Brooks and just flashed my press pass and he was real cool... gave me an interview. That's the way it goes....

I then emailed my posted stories to all the people involved from show management to individual talent. Then, after the show is long over, the p.r. company will have your info and still contact you about a ton of stuff going on in your area. After all, the show leaves, but the p.r. company is still there... and they love it when you follow up. That's that... ever since my comic con adventures I have gotten tons of free shit, met a bunch of cool people and been to mad events!!! All in all, lots of fun!


I would appreciate getting advice on my emails once I have them done. You may know from your experiences how to best turn a phrase or ask for a particular permission. My goals is to be able to become a member of the press, first in local conventions then in a few years at some of the larger ones like New York. San Diego's ComiCon still scares the shit out of me so far.

I also want to write to studios to see if I can do reviews of their films (I was sent a screener for Black Dynamite last year) and comic companies for first looks at their latest releases. The golden goose is of course toy manufacturers who want reviews from a true toy collector.


I know this goal will not be easy but I have the time and energy and interest to make a serious attempt.

1. If you have done this before I could use your life experience and how you may or may not have achieved success. Again thanks to Mike D for starting my education.

2. I know I have a few local followers and if they know of any conventions coming up in Calgary of Edmonton Alberta I would love to know dates and contact people if you have that information to share with me.

3. I will post my letters for your critique. You made see how best to shape my letters so that they get the intended result.

4. Anyone who helps me puts themselves in line to join me in my travels. Someone always need to work the video camera. If you are interested I am happy to make my success into OUR success.

Think it over, ignore it, or come join my crusade. We might have interests and needs that cross over. You scratch my back with a MEGO Batgirl Figure and I will scratch yours with that Lara Croft cosplay beauty.

Am I a fool, talking balloon juice from my reduced sugar diet ass? If I am tell me now. If reaching a dream like this a one hurdle too far, I should know.

My thanks and unlimited love to you all - Kal