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Boys and Bags...
2 years ago
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“Things don't go wrong and break your heart so you can become bitter and give up. They happen to break you down and build you up so you can be all that you were intended to be.”
- Samuel Johnson
- Samuel Johnson
♡ ✐ ♡ ✎ ♡ ✐ ♡ ✎ ♡ ✐ ♡ ✎♡ ✐ ♡ ✎ ♡ ✐ ♡ ✎ ♡ ✐ ♡ ✎ ♡ ✐ ♡ ✎ ♡ ✐ ♡ ✎ ♡ ✐ ♡ ✎ ♡ As I am making the final preparations for the convention, I was about to place an order for the bags that I need for the books, when I realized something that might be problematic with the bag design. Basically, I was going to use this image ---> Marian and Leilani for the design, but then I stopped and thought, "...would guys feel okay walking around with a tote bag with two little girls?" The thought didn't hit me until this exact moment. I've seen guys carry bags and wear things with designs featuring teen magical girls like Sailor Moon and the like, or badass girls like Nami from One Piece, or video game girls like Princess Peach from the Mario Bros. universe...but I can't recall seeing them with designs of younger girls, like Sakura from Cardcaptor Sakura or Chibi Moon from Sailor Moon. Marian and Leilani fall in the younger girls category. In fact, in this image, I believe Marian is 5 and Leilani is 4. So, when I stopped and thought about it, I thought it might not be appealing to guys and they wouldn't want to use them. So, once again, I'm checking with you guys for your opinion. Should I stick with this design or make a new one? And, if I go with a different design, what would you guys (and girls, of course) like to see? If you had to carry a bag around a convention, what image would you prefer to see...or rather, would you prefer other people seeing you sporting? If you want to link to an image in my gallery, that would be great. Even if it's an older image, I can probably update it to make it current. Or, if you just have an idea, anything at all would be helpful. Sorry for the trouble...again! But, I'm a little stuck here and since I'm not a boy, I really can't form an objective opinion here. >__<;
Do what you WANT to do, dont feel you need to satisfy the status quo here.
youre gonna offend someone no matter what you decide to do.
So the bottom line is, they can go fuck off if they dont like it. :D
In the end, whatever I end up doing/going with is still me and still something that I want to do., so there's no compromise there and there never will be. If I am working on something I don't believe in, the quality will always suffer and I am never okay with giving any less than my best. ^_^ I guess what I'm trying to say (longwindedly) is that having merchandise and making commissions are two different things. With merchandise, I actually need to get a general idea of what people would want to buy, otherwise I will have invested a lot of time and money with nothing to show for it. With commissions, however, I just need to know what it is that I am willing to do, what I am comfortable with doing, and what are things that I will enjoy working on. When all three of those things align, then I take the commission. With commissions, I have the unlimited liberty to do whatever I want, just not so much when making merchandise for sale. ^_^;
I, for one, see nothing wrong with your current choice, though. You please you.
Or put more bluntly: If there were to be anyone who demands XYZ-design or otherwise be offended, you can brush them off as someone entitled (which sadly is more common these days that i would like to admit)
I for one am happy with whatever you elect to share - and I wish you a great time at that convention. *hugs*
Oh! And thanks for the well-wishes! With this, I think my preparations for the convention are complete. I just need to get the proofs of the books I sent off, then once they arrive, I need to order a few copies and I am DONE!! ^____^
Also, I am glad you are taking care not to overextend yourself. That is indeed a relief. *hugs some more*
Anyway, thanks again for your help. The bags and the other things that I ordered (a custom sweater with the girls on it, and some updated business cards...because my GOODNESS the cards that I had were OUTDATED!!!) should be here by the middle of June, just in time for me to head of to the con at the end of the month. ^_^
I could also see just using two boy characters, similar in age, playing together. Maybe sparring or general rough-housing.
If you wanted to take an 'empowered girls' route then I suppose they could have been more explicitly not-marketed-to certain men by being dressed more masculine or doing something more sporty or something, but honestly, it's just two girls dressed quite feminine, having some bonding time. Someone would have to be reaching quite far to sexualise this image, and I think it would be too 'boring' for pervs.
The only other factor that strikes me here is that we have quite a shortage of men who would want a feminine-coded accessory like this, so some men might choose a different bag to this one, but you know what? Marian and Leil are adorable, the more men we get who challenge masculine stereotypes the better, and this bag would be perfect for that job.
I say keep the bag! It might be worth keeping a beady eye on who buys it just in case I'm wrong that it's not an image that pervs would actually enjoy, but I suspect I'm right on this one.
Very best of luck with the show, and with your sales!