Designing the Con Artists Actually Want with Jeff Haidaczuk
Jeff Haidaczuk returns to Adventures In Design ahead of the fourth annual Mass Mini Con, happening September 12th and 13th.
The conversation starts with a brutally funny breakdown of modern convention culture, from D23 and San Diego Comic-Con to virtual queues, exclusive merchandise, lotteries, and the strange psychology that convinces people to spend enormous amounts of money just for the thrill of getting something first.
That makes Mass Mini Con an interesting counterpoint.
Jeff explains how the event has grown from 12 artists in the basement of a Masonic temple into a two-day gathering featuring more than 45 artists, panels, screenings, special guests, physical media, limited-edition releases, and a growing community of artists and collectors. His goal is simple: build the kind of event he would personally want to attend.
This year's lineup includes Jason Edmiston, Daniel Danger, Dan McCarthy, 100% Soft, Akiko Stehrenberger, Johnny Cupcakes, Lionsgate Limited and many more, along with an anniversary screening of Session 9 featuring its writer and director, plus additional screenings throughout the weekend.
Jeff also gets candid about what it actually takes to produce an independent convention, the upfront costs, ticket pressure, venue fees, chasing down guests, and the reality that even after four years, putting on the event is still a financial gamble. He also reveals a new silent auction featuring donated artwork from an incredible group of artists, with proceeds benefiting someone within the community.
More than anything, the episode is about why real-world creative communities still matter. Jeff created Mass Mini Con because he kept seeing artists who knew each other's work but had never actually met. Bringing younger talent, established artists, printers, collectors, and fans into the same room creates opportunities that simply don't happen online.
A conversation about convention culture, limited-edition collecting, independent events, and what happens when you stop complaining about the event you wish existed... and build it yourself.