And Now...Small Press Idol 2005!!!
By Ian Shires
Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! TODAY is the first day of this year's IDOL competition, and we just couldn't be more excited. Contestants have from today until February 28th to turn in their first-round entries, which will consist of character sketches and basic series premise for their projects. If you are interested in shooting for the prizes, there's still time! Get your work together and get it in by the deadline! Judges will be voting on if the entries have what it takes to make it to the next round or not (Later rounds will be voted on by the general audience). So there's only one place on the net where you can get the latest, most up-to the minute Small Press Idol information, and I'm sure you're itching to click on the link. Before you do, make sure to check out the new Judges page, for some background information on the people whose comments and votes will bring either joy and encouragement, or the news that you might be better off keeping the day job. You'll also rind the deadlines and regulations. Remember, the Idol contest is here for us to find the BEST new comic concept out there right now and give that concept every chance we can to turn into a career for the creators. There are many levels of creative involvement in comics, and the SPA encourages them all...but when it comes to this contest...we ARE looking for the BEST.
We'd like to take a second to thank the sponsors out there that are helping make this contest possible and the prizes everything they can be. I believe I've mentioned the Grand Prize in the past: A 4 issue commitment to get the winning comic concept into a series situation, with an option to keep it going past that based on sales and agreement. But, did I mention the other prizes? On our judges panel, Rusty -who publishes under the name Main - has offered to sweeten the pot, here is what he's brought to the table:
*The winning person/team will be asked to work on a story for a future issue of MAIN's new series "Retro Theatre" and since this series is a retro-genre anthology, their story may be chosen for the cover as well.
*One wildcard 'MVP' from the entire competition will be chosen to work on a future issue of a MAIN comic.
*Both the winner and the wildcard will receive a feature article on the MAIN website.
But that's not all! Philip Clark, of Dreamchilde Press, and publisher of Quantum: Rock of Ages, has offered to have EVERYONE that makes it to the final round be invited to participate in a special pin-up section of a future publication of his. It would publicize the Idol connection on the cover. These are solid chances to get your names out in front of other people's audiences eyes, so we thank our co-sponsors and invite anyone else that wants to sweeten the pot in an official way to discuss it with me...I'd say we still have room for more bonus exposure, etc, in this competition.
Well! It is time, and I know you've been patient! Here it is, the URL to watch for the IDOL CONTEST daily updates...
http://www.dimestoreproductions.com/SPA/Idol05/default.asp
