Now I am not a total idiot. I have worked a long time in corporate America, done sales and marketing, have an MBA, and even some experience in the international import business. But starting a board game publishing company was going to be a lot of learning, time, and hard work. So, let’s get going!
Starting a company isn’t too tough when you are willing to pay for professional help and not try to guess your way through it like a YouTube bathroom DIY project. If you are wanting to start a company and don’t have experience in the legal world, ask around for a good lawyer, ask them a lot of questions, and use their expertise. It will save you time and heartache. Walking Carpet Games started. Check.
Next up, was to find a graphic designer. Now I knew my design work was passing for prototypes and playtesting but if Life Out West was going to be as successful as Catan (yes, I just compared our game to one of the top selling board games of all time), we needed a great designer that could elevate our game to an “on the shelves at Target” professional level. I also knew we would need our own artwork, so maybe I could find someone that does both? And let’s not forget, this is a startup company, so money is tight. What I really need is someone with a side hustle.
I have worked with many talented graphic designers over the years, but this project was going to take a lot of time, and I needed to find someone with availability. I also really wanted to work with someone who could get passionately excited about our game because this had been our baby for 17 years and good enough, wouldn’t be good enough. So, after months of asking around and searching, we found someone in the most unlikely of places. The pew beside me.
Her name was Karen and my wife told me she worked in marketing, taught art classes, and has a side design business. We talked, Karen brought her family over to play the game (tragically a Tornado struck on her son’s first Life Out West Card, but he took it like a champ), and I lined out all the parts and pieces we would need. “There is a lot of work here, and you are going to need a dedicated illustrator,” Karen said, “do you have one?” “Uhhhh, I was hoping you would know someone?” I sheepishly replied. “Let me see if I can find someone,” she shot back, and we were off.
Now about this time, I was attending the Emerald City ComiCon (ECCC). A wonderful place of nerdy joy and happiness that had become an annual tradition with my oldest daughter and niece or nephew but this year, I had a side quest. I needed to ask around about illustrators, meet other board game designers/publishers, and learn what I didn’t know about this new industry.
I have long been attracted to anywhere there is art. Whether traveling, going to farmer’s markets, visiting museums, or admiring sculptures and murals around town. I have always loved, and bought, all the art I can (even if there is no more wall space 😉). So obviously, the Artist’s Alley was one of my favorite places to explore at ComiCon. This year at ECCC though, I was looking at art through a whole new lens. “What do I want the art on MY game to look like?”
*cough* “OUR game”
“Sorry, Chip. Our game to look like”
It was so exciting to consider that, not only would I be choosing art for our game, but with each game, we would get to have new art created just for us! As I looked at the amazing illustrations, designs, and creations of talented artists from all over the world, I talked with many of them about their journey, art styles, and our project. They were all so kind and welcoming as I asked about how to have art commissioned, what good rates would be, learned about their process, and asked for their input. I knew getting any of them to work for a startup like ours would be a longshot, but I asked anyway and was encouraged by our conversations.
Afterward I circled back with Chip and Karen, seeing if any of them had luck and shared what I had learned. Karen had a lead and Chip was coming up empty so I followed-up with my contacts, hoping for the best. In the end, none of our contacts ended up being a good fit, and we were out of leads. “I never knew how hard it would be to find a good illustrator,” I lamented. “I should have I collected more cards over the years and really wish there was a way to find someone local.” Were we really going to have to roll the dice on hiring online talent and hope for the best?
Purchased ComiCon Art Over the Years That Still Needs Framed
And so, it was by chance really that we found him.
I was working with a local printshop, having Semi-Pro versions of our game printed for expanded exposure and testing, when I randomly asked, “you wouldn’t happen to know any illustrators, would you?” They said they might and would let me know. And you wouldn’t believe it but later that same afternoon, they wrote me back with a name and number. “His name is Steven,” the message read, “and he does incredible work. Your game seems like the type of thing he might be interested in.”
So, I gave him a call. Not knowing anything about his experience or art style, whether he played board games, or even liked Westerns. But for some reason, I was really excited!
To Be Continued…