To T-Shirt or Not to T-Shirt

Back then I had this shirt available. Not anymore.

At RathaCon this year there was a guy who worked as a T-shirt printer who came up to my table. I took a second to get some feedback from him about potential T-shirt designs.

The thing is, the most popular request I get for a T-shirt is, “Do you have the T-Rex Sissy Fight as a shirt?”

I did, once upon a time, when I still had a RedBubble account. I deleted my account for a few reasons, but mostly because I wasn’t making money on that site, and I like being in charge of my own printing and taking the products with me to conventions.

However, T-shirts are something I don’t want to print from home because the equipment is 1) huge, and 2) expensive. But if I DID get T-Shirts made, I wanted them on hand, again, to sell at conventions. So I’ve been on the lookout for T-shirt printers, but only in passing.

Anyway, I asked this guy if he could print T-Rex Sissy Fight T-shirts with the colors in the image.

Because here’s the thing – mass-produced T-shirts typically use screen-printing or a method of printing that only uses one or two colors. It’s easier to replicate onto fabric that way. BUT the image I have of the T-Rex Sissy Fight is not that at all. It would require a more sophisticated version of heat transferring, to transfer the image onto the fabric, which tends to get pricey.

What this dude said surprised me.

He said, “The T-Rex Sissy Fight may get more interest, because it IS nerdy, but it won’t sell. But THIS,” to which he pointed at my Dia de la Gata card, “this would be more worthwhile to pursue. You would sell the hell out of that design.”

(This card is available to purchase on Storenvy if you’re interested)

I can see where he’s coming from. When he pointed out my la Gata card as being the better T-shirt design, he was thinking of what would be easier to sell at places like Rue 21 or Wal-Mart, or other places where T-shirt designs are ubiquitous.

And yeah, la Gata would probably sell well in those kinds of markets.

But making art for t-shirts…is that what I want to do?

It’s kind of the same dilemma that hit my buddy Thom Hotka, creator of Nextuus, in this video:

There was also a piece of advice I got from my Intro to Entrepreneurship instructor when I was still in college. We were given the assignment of thinking of a business, and one of his rules was “Do NOT pitch a T-shirt company. Everyone wants to start one and the market is oversaturated with people making T-shirts in their dorm rooms. Think of something else.”

There is truth to that statement. At every convention I go to there is, at minimum, three T-shirt vendors, or people who have a main line of products who also have T-shirts. Even at small shows like Intervention Con.

Do I really want to include T-shirts in my line, given how ubiquitous they are, and how expensive they are to make and store?

I don’t know. I’m still thinking this through. Let me know what you think down in the comments.

Thanks for reading.

You. Are. Awesome.

Big News for Johnson & Sir

johnson and sir header image

Strap into your seats, because there’s all kinds of awesome things on the horizon for Johnson & Sir.

First, there’s a new print coming! Here’s a look at what to expect…

t-rex versus shark print johnson and sir
IT’S T-REX VS. SHARK!!

I know I want THAT on my wall!

Second, I’m closer to getting an awesome T-shirt ready. Can you guess what design will be on it?

Oh, I’ll spoil it for you:

T-Rex Sissy Fight
It’s the T-Rex Sissy Fight!

I’m shopping around for T-shirt printers at the moment. Until then, I’ll be getting prints ready soon. Keep an eye on Storenvy.

Third, and this is the most exciting thing for me. I have been working on this goal for over six months now.

Johnson & Sir‘s first book will be going to print!

johnson and sir book cover
Here’s what the book cover will look like.

Pre-orders are going right now for $10.

If you’re interested in pre-ordering a copy, just click the PayPal button below. The price covers the book plus shipping. Be sure to give your shipping address, too!


Books will be available by January 31st, 2015.

Thank you to everybody who reads Johnson & Sir every Tuesday!

Thank you for reading, and I’ll see you tomorrow with a new post.

Phoenix Comicon is Here!

Today was the first day of Phoenix Comicon and I had a blast seeing everyone there! (I need to take more pictures).

Thanks to everyone who pre-ordered Validation already!

box of copies of Validation Comicon Special

Also, by popular demand, the T-Rex Sissy Fight is being printed tonight and will be sold the rest of the weekend!

T-Rex Sissy Fight

You’re all awesome. Seriously. Thank you for your support!