Summer is just around the corner, the solstice is fast approaching, and as much as the Italian weather seems rather uncertain at the moment (the current difference between the northern and southern climates is astonishingly large), we are confident of a future balance of temperatures on the nation's territory. This inevitably means considerable heat during the brightest hours of the day, in whichever region you find yourself: between the Bergamo Comicon next week, the Rimini Comix in mid-July and the Festa dell'Unicorno in Vinci just before the beginning of August, we believe it is therefore essential to prepare for the scorching heat that awaits us in the coming months!
Facing the heat is never easy, neither from the point of view of cosplayers nor from the point of view of the artists working in Artist Alley - this discomfort should not be underestimated. There are countless events held during the summer months, from the most famous to the lesser known, and they tend to make the most of the period by taking advantage of large outdoor spaces - parks, car parks and beaches thus become the most popular locations during the warmer months. Working in an open-air conventions can be a double-edged sword, however: on the most intense days, you runs the risk of not finding relief even in the shade of the surrounding trees or buildings, and in windy weather, the comfort provided quickly turns into discomfort as prints, stickers and exhibitors fall into the hands of fate.
The attendance at these events also tends to be quite intense, and not everyone is comfortable with crowds of a certain size. Although the thematic areas of these events are well defined, it is not uncommon to notice visitors seemingly confused in front of the event they are inspecting: using public places as locations for events is inevitable to 'occupy' areas that, during any other time of the year, tend to be frequented by local residents - now justifiably interested in the novelty taking place.
In order to be able to cope with the upcoming events on the Italian artists' calendar in the best possible way, we offer some tips that we have matured in our recent years of activity. Let us make a brief premise: remember that your health and well-being come before any other intention of the moment. Wanting to achieve a certain amount of sales and revenue, or wanting to be there for customers all the time, does you credit and shows a great spirit of enterprise that characterises young people who are passionate and determined to create a future for themselves - however, overloading yourself with work and ignoring any ailments that may afflict you during these events is never a wise choice. It is never worth reaching a point of no return, ruining the experience, the memory and the free time dedicated to enjoying the event itself. Without you, your art cannot exist.
Thank you for reading this short article, we hope we have been helpful. We look forward to meeting you all in the Artist Alley at upcoming events - we trust that they will prove to be more than positive experiences and that you will have memorable memories of the summer ahead.
Have a great day,
Yako.