Word Under The Street Report!



It was with much trepidation when I knocked on the door of my esteemed colleague and neighbour Robin Bougie last Sunday morning. (September 30th). You see, we were on our way (while Robin’s wife Rebecca stayed warm and snuggely in bed) to the Word on the Street annual international book and magazine fair, like we’ve done for years in the basement of the main downtown library in the zine section known as Word UNDER The Street. You see, as a family event it was felt that we scruffy small press cartoonist, a devious collection of pornographers, homosexuals, atheists and poets were not considered “family friendly”. They put a sign by the door warning parents of the danger in that “now-you-can’t-sue-us-you’ve-been-warned” kinda thing but it’s never stopped the children swarming in with no trouble. Indeed, in years past Robin Thompson has taught cartooning classes to kids in the same room. I was heartened last year, after the Danish cartoon crisis, to see a little girl in the front row in a Muslim headscarf drawing away. But not this year. No class, no guests, no panel discussions… there’s a library workers strike on and we were banished from our home in the library to the surrounding streets and parking lots. Usually not a problem, however, our lucky thirteenth WOTS was shaping up to being a perfect shitstorm. Heavy rain, wind, gusty wind in the forecast. Bring plastic sheeting, bring paperweights we were told for those “light” publications. I do mini-comics - all my publications are light! Considering how much I have to carry and I carry a lot, too much really but one never knows what will sell - it changes from year to year - what with over a hundred publications in print, display units, drawing stuff and taking all of this on the bus there’s not much room for paperweights. Robin carried my roll of plastic sheeting. We took a bus downtown and arrived what I was already calling “The Word Under The Water”. We opened at 11PM…

On the whole, it went about as well as could be expected, our section was in the covered ramp/walkway in front of the main post office. The rain was not coming down so hard nor was the wind blowing so strongly that the wet could reach us. I was afraid I’d lose a lot of stuff through water damage but that didn’t happen. Although we had to be constantly on guard for retards coming into our area with dripping umbrellas raised over their heads, blissfully unaware there was overhead cover. I was impressed with our exhibitors, with a couple of exceptions they all showed up and the public that braved the elements to be there. The organisers did what they could to make life tolerable. I dressed warmly. I drew cartoons, I love those fingerless gloves! I was sitting beside Phil from Ireland who saved my life by buying me a tea and providing me with some of his table space for my overflowing mound of stuff! Across from me was Verne, beside him was Patrick Fillion, Josue Menjivar was down a few tables beside Gabe from Lucky’s, Don King, Robin. Down on the lower level was Ralph the Poet, Steve Ralston, Jason Turner and other fine folks. Don King threw wadded up balls of paper at Robin… Robin threw them at me… I threw them back… then Don was throwing things at me… you get the picture… I sold about $125-$135 worth of stuff, which isn’t bad considering. By five we were all feeling pretty cold and tired, the light was failing and the public had drifted away so we packed up early. I got on a couple busses and went home, relieved that the day went as well as it did… I never had to use the plastic sheeting.