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.

PB & Jay are back in session as judge, jury, and moral compass in this chaotic episode of Artist Alley AITA! We’re diving into the internet’s messiest convention stories from awkward customers to friendship-ending booth drama, and giving our very honest takes.

This week’s gallery of drama includes:
🧍 A dad who gaslighted his daughter out of buying a t-shirt she loved (cue rage)
🪙 A table partner who might be ditching their friend for solo glory
🤝 A “helper” demanding 20% profit after the event’s already over
🧸 A plush thief (and their parent) who didn't expect to be asked to pay for it

And don’t miss PB & Jay’s own convention horror stories, including parental sabotage, Kinkachu controversy, and the curse of the designated fun-stopper friend. It’s spicy, hilarious, and occasionally cathartic. Just how we like it!

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We’re getting serious this week—because sometimes, global politics really do mess with your art hustle. In this episode, PB & Jay dive into the real-life impacts of Brexit, EU trading laws, and international tariffs on small creative businesses.

We unpack:
📦 The IOSS (Import One Stop Shop) – what it means, who needs it, and how Etsy might already be handling it for you
⚠️ The GPSR (General Product Safety Regulation) – what it requires, why it’s extra painful for indie artists, and the nightmare of needing an EU-based “responsible person”
📉 Why so many artists have stopped shipping to the EU entirely
💸 US tariffs on imports from China and the UK, how they’re killing small businesses, and how Squishy Kitty was directly affected
🧾 What the “de minimis” value means for shipping to the US (and whether it’s going away)
💬 The difference between being informed and being overwhelmed—and how to survive without panicking

Plus: PB shares why they’ve stepped back from online sales altogether, Jay nerds out about VAT law, and Coop the Courier Pigeon is ready for your questions—just not your customs forms.

🔵 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!

💙 Find Us and Support the Podcast!