The Convention Creatives: An Art And Fandom Podcast

PB & Jay are back with your favourite court of convention chaos, Artist Alley AITA returns! This episode features brand-new listener-submitted and Reddit-sourced stories that dive deep into the messy, the petty, and the downright villainous side of con culture.

We break down:

🎨 When your family forces their 8-year-old’s anime art onto your professional table, cute or catastrophic?

🪓 A cosplay couple’s fight takes a very toxic turn when one “accidentally” destroys a Chainsaw Man helmet

📏 A VTuber commission clash over curvy characters and artists who can't handle hips

🖌️ Teen artists turn mean girls in a school art group gone sour one listener’s fight to keep art spaces safe

Plus:

💬 Honest discussion on setting boundaries in creative careers—especially when family doesn’t respect your work

🔧 Tips for navigating commission contracts and when to walk away from clients (or artists!)

🧢 A surprise hat unboxing from PB’s new merch line samples, stitching, and strong opinions on pastel wool

Whether you’re drawing at a desk, tabling at a con, or dodging artist drama in your group chat—this one’s packed with sass, support, and the signature be embarrassed energy.

💙 Find Us and Support the Podcast!

🔵 Visit theconcreatives.com for all our socials and more

⭐ Love what you’re hearing? Leave us a 5-star review to help keep the podcast growing!

🎁 Want even more behind-the-scenes content, merch, and artist exclusives?

Support us on Patreon at patreon.com/theconcreatives

This week, the mic flips as PB interviews Jay for a deep dive into his lifelong love of Sonic the Hedgehog and how that fandom has shaped his creative journey. From early fan obsessions to hosting panels and podcasts, Jay shares the story of how a blue blur inspired an entire career of content creation, community building, and chaotic good energy.We cover:

🦔 Jay’s origin story as a Sonic fan and how it all spiralled from there

📺 The Sonic Show, launching the YouTube channel, animations, and skits that got serious traction

🎙️ The Opinion Zone podcast, talking hot takes, fan debates, and making space for community voices

📸 Sonic Cage Dome, blending lore, jokes, and deeply unserious drama into fan tournaments

🎟️ Summer of Sonic, streaming and making visuals for one of the UK’s biggest Sonic fan events.

🎮 How the Sonic fandom blends passion, chaos, and creativity like no other

Plus:

📦 Behind-the-scenes moments, including Jay’s video show origin story.

💡 Why fandoms like Sonic's are launchpads for artistic growth, event organisation, and community careers

🌟 How nostalgia and storytelling keep fans coming back and keep creators inspiredWhether you’re a casual Sonic enjoyer or a Chaos Emerald hoarder, this episode celebrates the magic of fan-driven creativity and how shared passions can turn into life-changing projects.

We’re live again at AnimeCon UK, and this time it’s all about the power of anime, how it’s influenced art styles, careers, and the very culture of Artist Alley itself. In this deeply personal and insightful episode, PB and Jay sit down in front of a live audience to talk about the role anime has played in shaping their creativity and connection to the convention world.

We discuss:

🎨 PB’s anime origin story - From watching The Rose of Versailles and Saint Seiya to secretly drawing anime in fine art class in Malta

📺 Generational gaps in anime culture - How the art and audience have evolved from the 70s to today

🖼️ Why anime wasn’t “real art” to some teachers and how PB proved them wrong

👁️ The beauty of older animation - Layered eyes, hand-drawn cells, and detail we don’t always see today

📦 How anime aesthetics influence Artist Alley setups - pastel grids, ramen-booth vibes, and starting points for artists

🧠 Jay’s baby steps into anime fandom - guided by PB’s personal recs and con experiences

🔥 Top anime recommendations - including Fullmetal Alchemist, Madoka Magica, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Monster, and more

Plus:

🌸 Why anime focused conventions like AnimeCon foster a stronger sense of artist community

🎤 Live audience Q&A momentsIt’s a celebration of anime’s artistic legacy—and a heartfelt reflection on what it means to make art that’s true to your roots.

💙 Find Us and Support the Podcast!

🔵 Visit theconcreatives.com for all our socials and more

⭐ Love what you’re hearing? Leave us a 5-star review to help keep the podcast growing!

🎁 Support us on Patreon for exclusive content, behind-the-scenes, merch, and more

Recorded live at  @AnimeConUK  2025, this special milestone episode celebrates how far we’ve come from chaotic beginnings to our biggest stage yet. PB & Jay take you behind the scenes of how The Convention Creatives Podcast started, what it’s become, and where it’s headed next.We cover:🎙️ How it all began – spontaneous episodes, web asset madness, and the encouragement that kicked it all off at MegaCon London🚀 Building our brand – working with awesome partners like Decal Empire UK, ShirtDisplaysUK, and even dipping our toes into influencer collabs🎨 A podcast for artists, by artists – why our audience of fellow creatives means everything to us🎁 The future is now – the official launch of our Patreon, featuring:• Exclusive content, behind-the-scenes blogs, merch, and goodie boxes• New mascots: Little Red, Opus, and Huskii• A redesigned PB to match the bear behind the micAnd finally…🌟 Our collective dream – to use this platform to support and uplift indie artists, creating space for collaboration, visibility, and community across the UK and beyond.Whether you were in the live audience with us or listening from home, thank you for helping us make it to Episode 25. Here’s to what comes next.💙 Find Us and Support the Podcast!🔵 Visit theconcreatives.com for all our socials and more⭐ Love what you’re hearing? Leave us a 5-star review to help keep the podcast growing🎁 Join our new Patreon and become part of the creative chaos pattern.com/theconcreatives

We’re heading to AnimeCon UK and this time, we’re going big! In this high-energy prep episode, PB & Jay go full tilt into planning for one of their biggest events yet. With six creators, a mega booth of guest artists, and plans to film podcast content live from the show floor, this is more than just a con… it’s a convention creatives cinematic universe crossover event.We break down:🎪 Our booth layout (T-shirt rails and badge button boxes!)📸 Our recording plans and hopes for making magic across the weekend🎨 Having Printing Like Rabbits, Pick A Plushie, Glazghouls and Rakku Events all under one con roof!🛍️ How we’re tailoring stock for a younger anime crowd📦 Logistics, lodging, van rentals, hotel rooms, insurance, and more🎤 Our recent guest appearance on AnimeCon HQ’s podcast (go listen!)Also in this episode:🎭 Our dream cosplay picks (and who we'd force each other to cosplay as)🎮 A new Choose It or Lose It where Jay has to pick between the future of ‪@SonictheHedgehog‬ or a perfect night at ‪@DeathBecomesHerBway‬ (It gets emotional for Jay)Mentioned in todays episode: ‪@rakuevents‬ @glazghouls @pickaplushie @printinglikerabbits ‪@AnimeConUK‬ 💙 Find Us and Support the Podcast!🔵 Visit theconcreatives.com for all our socials, Patreon and more!⭐ Love what you’re hearing? Leave us a 5-star review to help keep the podcast growing!

More wild stories of convention traders and goers!

PB & Jay are gearing up for their very first UK Games Expo, and it's a whole new world of tabletop gaming, D&D dice, and... absolutely no clue what they’re walking into. Recorded during a chaotic prep week, this episode dives into the back-to-back convention burnout, fresh product strategies, and the terrifying logistics of building an entire booth from scratch.We talk about:🎲 Adapting to a different crowd – how tabletop gamers differ from anime con-goers🧵 Designing new D&D-inspired merch – from owlbears to mind flayers📦 Restocking nightmares – PB’s frantic t-shirt reprint saga between MCM & UKGE🧱 Building a booth from floor space only – no walls, no tables, no mercy🏠 Renting a house with Printing Like Rabbits – and the promise of a post-con D&D one-shot🐔 PB’s D&D character reveal – The 8-foot bear and his resurrecting chicken, Henny🧙‍♂️ Jay’s first-ever D&D game – could this be the start of a new hyperfixation?Plus: the duo reflect on what makes UK Games Expo unique, why display strategy has to change, and how Cubby’s new wizard-themed business card might just steal the show.💙 Find Us and Support the Podcast!🔵 Visit theconcreatives.com for all our socials and more!⭐ Love what you’re hearing? Leave us a 5-star review to help keep the podcast growing!

It’s MCM London prep week and PB & Jay Bear are stressed, exhausted, and completely covered in spray paint but also super hyped for the biggest con of the year. In this milestone 20th episode, we take you behind the scenes of everything we’ve been planning, building, fixing, and (let’s be honest) panicking over.We unpack:🎨 30+ t-shirt designs (including brand new Sonic, D&D & FNAF drops)📦 Pins are here! Including the (maybe) iconic “Mouthless Silver”🧱 Upgraded displays with 3D printed badge holders, custom shelving, and the return of Shirt Hero🤝 New sponsorships with Decal Empire🛍️ Convention-exclusive mystery items, sweatshirts & print deals🔁 Our first Sonic Stamp Rally featuring Team Rose (with a very cute Big the Cat)💬 Listener mailbag with our top survival tips for MCM📺 Hyperfixation corner featuring Chainsaw Man, & the joys of multitask bingingPlus, PB confesses the time and money invested on this con, Jay shares plans for behind-the-scenes stories and coverage, and we prepare for our first-ever full podcast presence at MCM London. This one’s personal, chaotic, and full of con love... we promise!💙 Find Us and Support the Podcast!🔵 Visit theconcreatives.com for all our socials and more!⭐ Love what you’re hearing? Leave us a 5-star review to help keep the podcast growing!

Jay is flying solo this week, but he's not alone... he’s joined by the fantastic Hannah from Hillman’s Handmade for an episode filled with creativity, real talk, and a touch of unhinged dilemmas. From theatre training to polymer clay, Hannah shares the journey of how her unique handmade business came to life and what it's like to grow that business alongside a full-time job and chronic illness.We talk about:🎭 The power of performance: how an acting degree helped Hannah find her voice as a business owner🎨 Handmade vs mass-produced: why every piece is personal, and why 100 items might only yield 80 good ones🛍️ Trends vs timelessness: why chasing hype just may not work for handmade artists😮‍💨 Burnout, business pivots & being transparent online: the realities of running a small business in 2025🦔 Sonic, Shadow & stress: the resin drama behind those tiny blue hedgehogsPlus: balancing life, work and creativity, why Priger became her breakout design, and how her social media transparency is reshaping what professionalism can look like in the artist community.💙 Find Hillman’s Handmade!🔵 https://hillmanshandmade.com💙 Find Us and Support the Podcast!🔵 Visit theconcreatives.com for all our socials and more!⭐ Love what you’re hearing? Leave us a 5-star review to help keep the podcast growing!

This week, Jay takes the mic solo for a special on-the-ground episode recorded live at MegaConLive Birmingham! 🎙️Join us for a whirlwind tour of the Artist Alley as Jay chats with five incredible creators about their art, con experiences, and what it’s like to hustle behind the table. Expect laughs, insights, and a few surprises from the heart of the UK’s convention scene.🎨 Featured Artists: •  @ChaoIllustrations  : Monster girl expert and Twitch partner bringing vibrant, kawaii chaos to every canvas.   •  @sophiralou  : Digital artist with a flair for 2D/3D animation and D&D-inspired creations.   •  @SaiyanHajime  : Convention artist known for iconic Sonic music pins and dynamic designs.   • @ChocolateRasinFury : Blending Art Nouveau and galaxy themes into stunning pieces.   • @HilmansHandmade : Crafting unique handmade items that add a personal touch to the con experience. Whether you’re a seasoned con-goer or curious about the artist alley hustle, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the passion and creativity that fuel the convention circuit.