(Or, as I like to call it, Inko de Mayo.)

This year, I’m celebrating by making a donation to the Comic Book Project: http://www.comicbookproject.org

Comic book day is more ingenius than a NCD because the retailer benefits and the end customer is energized. NCD still hasn’t tapped the ability to sell more newspapers or give their “base” a way to show if they are energized. If NCD could figure out a way to do that (and I’m guessing it’s possible) then it’s a win-win-win-win (cartoonists-syndicate-paper-consumer). As a stand-alone “yeah us” I can understand the lack of enthusiasm.

Perhaps if we brainstorm a bit we can come up with some ways that would make a NCD something a bit more energized.

Some ideas??? To start if off here are some (remember brainstorming is to generate ideas with positive statements, we can toss out the dumb ideas later … cause sometimes they lead to the good ideas) —

Free autographed cartoons, media push for TV/magazine spots for famous cartoonist talking up the day … make it “buy a paper day” … maybe get newspapers to add an extra page or two of cartoons (free to them) for the day or even week.

Other thoughts on getting a demand-pull going through the newspapers … get them to sell more because of / attributed to cartoons???

Have you ever heard of any other profession that has tried to promote a special day for themselves? I can’t think of one off hand. So perhaps that’s the problem. Instead of calling National Cartoonists Day, the push should be for something like Comic Art Day. That might have a stand a better chance.

I’d say it was worth every second.

I’ve explained the point many times before in this discussion…then again, it does bear repeating. :)

This is a celebration for all cartoonists in general. Not a single person, but the industry as a whole. Cartooning is perhaps one of the coolest industries on the planet. Shouldn’t we take time to celebrate it?

That’s what National Cartoonist Day is all about, a celebration to show others just how cool, vital, and fun cartooning is, and how proud we are to be a part of it.

Millions celebrate Thanksgiving, the Fourth of July, and other national holidays without EVER thinking “What’s the tangible goal here?” or “What’s the point?” for one simple reason that you just aren’t seeing;

It’s a fun thing to do.

Sometimes that’s all the reason you need.

What I wrote after that quote from a syndicate Daryl passed along is that it pretty much sums things up.

What I would like to know from the Cartoonists Day supporters is what, exactly, is the point of it? Again, this is where the analogy with WalMart handing out fliers doesn’t fit. It’s perfectly understandable what WalMart is trying to accomplish with that, to increase sales at their stores. That’s the whole purpose of advertising. But what I truly don’t understand is what Cartoonists Day is supposed to accomplish.

I think if anyone is going to try to convince cartoonists, syndicates and the NCS that it’s a good idea, the first step should be to explain just what the tangible goal is.

So it’s really a simple question… what’s the point?

If you were reiterating, then allow me to also;

“I firmly believe National Cartoonists Day to still be a viable idea, and one we should support. It’s far from dead, and could even flourish with the proper amount of attention.”

Thank you. :)

I am investigating the possibility of coming up with a viable pitch in support of the Day, and appreciate your input on this matter.