Wed, 20 July 2016
This episode features the return of Tony Kim. Well known on the convention circuit for his Crazy4ComicCon blog, which covers all things San Diego Comic-Con, Tony has recently launched a new and completely different business endeavor. Hero Within is a nerdy fashion line for guys, offering classy, stylish, and beautifully tailored clothing. Hero Within’s first line of blazers, peacoats, and jackets are themed with characters from the Justice League, and are officially licensed by DC Comics. These initial high end men’s fashion items are available for pre-order on HeroWithinStore.com until July 31st.
Direct download: n4al71-tony-kim-hero-within.mp3
Category:Business and Marketing -- posted at: 1:08am CDT |
Tue, 28 June 2016
The wonderful Jamie Cordero and Christal VanEtten from Espionage Cosmetics return to the Nerd For A Living Podcast! Espionage Cosmetics is a nerd makeup company based out of Tacoma, Washington. They make a line of beautifully designed nail wraps and makeup products, and have been adding a number of really cool licensed properties to their offerings, including Borderlands 2, Clive Barker’s Cenobites, and The Wicked and the Divine. Jaimie is Espionage’s co-founder, CEO and Glitter Jedi. Christal is their PR and Social Media Oracle. When we last talked to them, they were in the middle of a giant Kickstarter campaign that eventually raised over $144,000. That crowdfunding success paved the way for a new bi-monthly subscription service, Boom!Box, and a brick-and-mortar retail location, the Geek Boutique. Now Espionage Cosmetics spreads their nerd domination with an additional subscription service, Nexus. And they’re appearing at pop culture conventions around the country, bringing the joy of glitter and the best squad of nerd ambassadors around. Adron talks with Jaimie and Christal about the expansion of the Espionage business model, the power of a great team, how they leverage social media, and the excitement of creating a product that makes their customers so happy.
Direct download: n4al68-espionage-cosmetics-returns_02.mp3
Category:Business and Marketing -- posted at: 12:36pm CDT |
Tue, 3 May 2016
Recorded live at Emerald City Comicon 2016 in Seattle, this episode features our Marketing (Isn't) Magic panel, a discussion of practical advice for promoting your small business or other creative endeavors. Our guest speakers included Jaimie Cordero, the CEO and Glitter Jedi of nerd makeup company Espionage Cosmetics; Danielle Davis, the founder of Lady Killer Marketing & PR; and Jen Vaughn, a marketing professional who has worked with a number of notable comic book publishers. She's also a comic book creator, and is currently a colorist on the new Archie comic series. Nerd For A Living's Adron Buske moderated the panel.
Direct download: n4al61-eccc-2016-marketing-isnt-magic.mp3
Category:Business and Marketing -- posted at: 1:17am CDT |
Thu, 13 August 2015
Nerd For A Living's Wendy and Adron talk with Danielle Davis, founder of Seattle-based transmedia marketing, public relations, and event company Ladykiller. Danielle and Ladykiller serve the pop culture and gaming industries with marketing strategy, talent management, publicity and event services.
Direct download: n4al46-danielle-davis-ladykiller.mp3
Category:Business and Marketing -- posted at: 1:48pm CDT |
Wed, 22 October 2014
This episode captures one of our N4AL panels from GeekGirlCon 2014, The Business of Self Promotion: Marketing Your Art or Small Business Online. Nerd for a Living’s marketing director Wendy Buske hosted this discussion of how an individual or small business can work to establish their brand and promote themselves online. She was joined by Amanda Nuckolls, owner of GnomeAcres, and Christal VanEtten, the press and social media coordinator for Espionage Cosmetics.
Direct download: n4al26-business-self-promotion-geekgirlcon-2014.mp3
Category:Business and Marketing -- posted at: 4:08pm CDT |
Tue, 7 October 2014
N4AL talks with Jason Anarchy, the creator of the tabletop RPG card game "Drinking Quest". We discuss how he created this very popular, social game experience, designed to merge D&D-esque questing with easy to learn rules and the extra (optional) complication of alcohol. Jason tells how how he used a background in sales and business management to help him bootstrap the initial marketing of the game, followed by successful crowdfunding campaigns to produce the sequel editions. Jason is currently in pre-orders for a new expanded Trilogy Edition of the game, and has released a comic book based on the Drinking Quest world.
Direct download: n4al24-jason-anarchy-drinking-quest.mp3
Category:Business and Marketing -- posted at: 12:13pm CDT |
Tue, 6 May 2014
Recorded at Chicago's C2E2 2014, this panel of professional artists, illustrators, writers, business owners and web consultants discusses marketing and selling your art and services online. Guests speakers Karen Hallion (illustrator and T-shirt designer), Andy Schmidt (founder of Comics Experience and former editor for Marvel and IDW), Janet Lee (Eisner award-winning artist of Return of the Dapper Men), and Kelly Stephenson (SEO consultant for SSM Healthcare, social media expert at SageLark) talk about starting an online business, their experiences with different vendors, licensing, intellectual property and engaging their audience via Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and more. Moderated by Nerd For A Living's Wendy Buske.
Direct download: N4AL10-C2E2-2014-ArtOnline.mp3
Category:Business and Marketing -- posted at: 4:47pm CDT |
Tue, 22 April 2014
We talk to writer and illustrator Drew Blank, a veteran of the convention and expo scene with a highly recognizable, humorous art style that attracts a crowd in every city. We discuss how the loss of his previous job kickstarted his career selling fan art, and how he juggles that with his true passion, writing. Drew is the author of the hit indie novel 'Memoirs of an Anti-Hero'. Find out more about him at DrewBlank.com |
Tue, 15 April 2014
This panel of professional writers, crafters, business owners and marketers provides helpful tips on promoting your art, and yourself, online. Topics such as starting your business, targeting your audience through advertising and social media, protecting your designs, time-management, and how to maintain an online shop are discussed. Moderated by N4AL's Wendy Buske, speakers include Ashley Schonberg (owner of Jayne Danger), Rhiannon Paille (author of "The Ferryman & the Flame"), Amanda Nuckolls (owner of GnomeAcres), and Adron Buske (owner of Armadian Creative; writer of "Loop & Hoodie" and "Good Intentions"). Recorded at Wizard World St. Louis Comic-Con 2014.
Direct download: N4AL07-WWSTL-ArtOnline.mp3
Category:Business and Marketing -- posted at: 2:28pm CDT |
Wed, 2 April 2014
At GeekGirlCon 2013, N4AL's Wendy Buske had the opportunity to interview television producer and screenwriter Jane Espenson - along with Husbands director Eli Gonda, as part of a group conversation. Jane is an award winning writer whose credits include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Battlestar Galactica, Game of Thrones, Once Upon a Time, Husbands and Warehouse 13. This group interview explores her entry into the male dominated world of writing for television, advice on pursuing a job in tv and film, how she juggles multiple projects, and more. |
Fri, 28 March 2014
N4AL's Wendy Buske talks with professional cosplayer and FUNimation brand manager Chaka Cumberbatch at GeekGirlCon 2013. They discuss self-promotion, costuming and gaining recognition in a niche industry.
Direct download: N4AL04_Chaka-Cumberbatch.mp3
Category:Business and Marketing -- posted at: 1:23pm CDT |
Fri, 20 September 2013
N4AL's Wendy and Adron Buske talk with Paul Horn, writer/artist of webcomic Cool Jerk, and Darlene Horn, food blogger for My Burning Kitchen and writer of Girl with the Donut Tattoo.
Direct download: N4AL03_Paul-and-Darlene-Horn_high.mp3
Category:Business and Marketing -- posted at: 2:23pm CDT |
Wed, 4 September 2013
This Wizard World Chicago 2013 panel discussion with professional marketers and independent artists & writers offers helpful tips on creating your own online brand. The panelists provide artists, creatives and DIYers an overview of and advice for promoting your art. We examine how to get your small business started online, how to grow your audience, legal consideration for your business, and how to market yourself in the digital space. Moderator Wendy Buske of Nerd For A Living leads the panel with social media strategist Kelly Stephenson, and comic writer and Armadian Creative owner Adron Buske.
Direct download: N4AL02_WizardChicagoPanel.mp3
Category:Business and Marketing -- posted at: 2:03pm CDT |
Sat, 27 July 2013
Welcome to the introductory Nerd For A Living (N4AL) podcast. Get acquainted with your hosts: Wendy Buske (N4AL's Marketing Director, and a Digital Producer for St. Louis advertising agency Rodgers Townsend) and Adron Buske (N4AL's Creative Director, owner of Armadian Creative, and writer of the Loop & Hoodie comic series). We explain the purpose of Nerd For A Living - both the website and the podcast - and why we created it. We also do a quick recap of San Diego Comic Con 2013 and share some of the awesome nerdy things we're currently geeking out about. Interviews start next episode! Nerd For A Living is dedicated to helping nerds like you discover fulfilling, profitable and sustainable career paths in the industries you love - like comics, gaming, anime, genre film and tv, publishing, and more. Whether you’re an artist or an accountant, a developer or DIYer, N4AL provides tools and information to help you pursue and achieve those goals. |