The Power of Passion: From Comicon to Vidcon in 14 days

In the past two weeks I had the opportunity to attend both #comicon and #vidcon: at Comicon, you can see the passion of geeks and nerds going crazy over Star Wars, Conman (Indiegogo-funded web series; first time a web series had a panel in the massive, legendary hall H) and other comic book characters. 

What unites all of them is sheer enthusiasm and a great sense of community - it's their annual chance to connect with other geeks who fancy a certain obscure TV show from the 90ies (or distant superheroes)! Comicon attendees come from all walks of life and ages and love to dress the part - it's a visual feast. 

Fast forward to this week's #vidcon2015 - the largest show on the planet for Youtube fans, Youtube marketers and Youtube stars. The crowd here is different - industry folks discussing video advertising on the third floor, lots of aspiring Youtube channel owners and... thousands of screaming, fainting teenage girls dying to catch a glimpse of their favorite Youtubers - Smosh (which I acquired for Defy Media in 2011), PewdiePie, etc - wherever a major or minor Youtube celebrity is sighted, you'll hear hundreds or thousands of excited girls screaming with unbridled passion!  

I got a chance to speak on a panel about asking your audience for support through crowdfunding with Jack Conte from Patreon and we had a fun discussion about how authenticity and the right voice are the best ways to ask your fans to support you financially. 

Looking at the crowds at Comicon and Vidcon it's obvious that the fans want to support their stars - they're passionate and willing to travel to see their idols or mingle with likeminded folks. If you're a content creator, all you have to do is be humble, authentic and offer your fans something they care about - it's not about asking for money, it's about letting them engage with you in new ways and making them feel that you care for them as much as they care for you! 

Have a passionate week!