We’re so happy to be back together once more for our traditional Reubens event, reuniting the NCS community and welcoming newcomers who will be experiencing the magic of the Reubens for the first time. We hope you’ll join us for first-class seminars from the industry’s biggest names, opportunities to celebrate achievements in cartoon arts, and of course, the best parties with your peers!
All events will take place at the Hyatt Regency Jersey City, taking advantage of the breathtaking location on the Hudson River, overlooking lower Manhattan. This page serves to give you all the information you need about the Reuben conference, awards, and events that will be happening. We can’t wait to see you!
Registration will be open from 2 pm, when you’ll receive your fabulous Reuben Weekend goody bag, T-shirt order code, badges, digital or printed event schedule, and a veritable potpourri of art supplies and cartooning paraphernalia!
6:00 pm
Our first event, the official Reubens Welcome Party, hosted by our friends at King Features, will be taking place in the Manhattan Ballroom, set against the backdrop of the Hudson River and lower Manhattan.
Registration is open from 8 am if you haven’t checked in yet.
8:00 am
This year, the NCS will say farewell to the previous board and welcome in the new team, who will outline their vision for the NCS for the coming years. As always for the General Meeting, NCS members only please –no spouses or family guests.
Our Seminar program features a star-studded line-up of cartoonists and industry leaders covering a wide variety of topics:
9:30 am-10:30 am:
We kick off our seminars with a presentation from COLIN SHIELDS, Vice President, Executive Director of Global Digital & International Sales at Simon & Schuster, alongside BRENT BARTRAM, Chief Strategy Officer & General Manager of Andrews McMeel Syndication, sharing the most up-to-date, effective ways to get your titles to stand out in the Amazon bookstore. Colin and Brent will be joined by award-winning cartoonist, best-selling author, and now animated series creator, LINCOLN PEIRCE who will share his lessons in evolving a comic strip into a worldwide success story across several media.
Amazon is responsible for half of the print book sales in the US and significantly more ebook sales. They are the biggest customer for every trade book publisher and thousands of authors self-publish books through Amazon every year, many of which are quite successful.
Getting a book to stand out in this sea of over 20 million books is a challenge, to say the least. Most trade publishers have a team of people whose full-time job is to ensure their books get noticed and bought on Amazon.
Many of the tools used by trade publishers to boost the discoverability of their books on Amazon are also available to self-publishers and there are several practices that are effective, low cost, and take a minimal amount of time.
Our guest experts in the field from Simon & Schuster and Andrews McMeel will show you the most effective ways to get your titles to stand out in the Amazon bookstore:
10:45 am – 12 pm
Next up, learn how to expand your reach, engage your audience, and grow your fan base across a variety of platforms with expert advice. from ALEX GARCIA, Head of Social Media Marketing for King Features & ComicsKingdom.com, and EMMA ALLEN, Cartoon & Humor Editor of the New Yorker. Moderated by cartoonist and NCS President JASON CHATFIELD, this session will feature expert insights, this practical session will equip you with essential strategies, tactics, and tips to maximize your success online: from crafting compelling content to leveraging trends and analytics. Incorporating insights and lessons from other creators, this session will empower cartoonists of all experience levels to more effectively navigate the world of online media. In addition, Chatfield will explore how AI-Generated art will affect these strategies, and how we further conduct our business as cartoonists online.
12:15 pm – 1:15 pm
Cartoonist ISABELLA BANNERMAN will be demonstrating the latest technology from Apple using the iPad Pro for cartooning. Joining Isabella will be HANNAH IMPERIAL CANNON, Director of Business Development, Sales & Marketing at Xencelabs who, along with special guest artist CARLOS MENDOZA III, will share the newest products in their drawing tablet line-up. Digital workflows vary from artist to artist, and this session will share all the information you need to help you integrate affordable digital technologies into your process. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and get a hands-on trial of the drawing tablets on site.
1:15 pm – 2:30 pm
We will break for lunch and give you an opportunity to catch up with friends, make new ones, and rest your brains before the final seminar of the day sends us out on a high note!
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm
MORT WALKER sold his first cartoon when he was eleven years old and worked right up until his passing in 2018 at the age of ninety-four. He was involved in the creation of nine syndicated comic strips, including Beetle Bailey and Hi and Lois. He was the founder of the Museum of Cartoon Art and authored many influential books, including Backstage at the Strips and The Lexicon of Comicana.
Using historic photographs, special artwork, and amusing anecdotes, BRIAN WALKER will emphasize Mort’s dedication to the National Cartoonists Society, in which he served as president in 1959. Brian’s seminar promises to be an entertaining trip down memory lane for both fans and friends of this legendary cartoonist.
In conjunction with this event, THE SOCIETY OF ILLUSTRATORS in New York City will be featuring the Mort Walker – A Centennial Celebration exhibit from August 2nd to September 30th. It will feature many treasures from the Walker family collection, including hand-colored Sunday pages and rare strips.
The Manhattan NCS will be hosting a special Happy Hour opening for the exhibit at the Society of Illustrators at 6 pm on Wednesday, August 2nd. All NCS members attending the Reuben Awards from September 6-8 will be given free admission to view the Mort Walker exhibit.
We are excited this year to be partnering with Ken Carson and 4C Comics to raise money for the NCS Foundation. The foundation is the charitable wing of the NCS to continue the charitable and educational works that have been a hallmark of the NCS since its inception. 4C Comics has been offering live-stream sketch claim auctions for almost 2 years and donating the proceeds of these events to the NCSF and we are very happy that Ken has agreed to make his live-stream part of this year’s event.
In addition, we will be hosting a silent auction with original art and some one-of-a-kind items. The silent auction will begin as an online live event for folks who cannot make it to New Jersey followed by final bidding opportunities for Reuben attendees. Stay tuned for more info on how to bid!
5:30 pm
7:30pm – 10:30pm
It’s time to slip out of sweatpants and get dressed up for a night like no other! Stroll down the red carpet from 5:30pm and enjoy the 2-hour pre-dinner cocktail event before joining the NCS in honoring our nominees in the 77th Annual Reuben Awards! A parade of playful presenters will keep us in stitches and suspense as we honor cartooning’s best and brightest, including the coveted Cartoonist of the Year!
Note: As usual, the Reuben Awards Banquet is open to Registered Reuben Banquet attendees only.
Among this year’s honorees in attendance are Silver T-Square recipient and cartoonist for Hi & Lois and Beetle Bailey, BRIAN WALKER. Brian will be presented his award by Doonesbury cartoonist, GARRY TRUDEAU. The Silver T-Square recognizes Brian’s long-standing commitment and generous contribution of his time, energy, expertise, and support to the National Cartoonists Society, its members, and the cartooning community at large.
Stay tuned for more announcements for honorees for 2023.
After the congratulatory back slaps and photo-ops, stick around for dancing, drinking, and general merriment into the wee hours at the Reubens after-party with your winners, nominees, and friends
8am – 1pm
Stick around on Friday morning and spend some quality time over brunch with your cartooning pals at a lively, leisurely brunch, courtesy of our friends at Creators. Join four-time Eisner-nominated cartoonists DAVE KELLETT and BRAD GUIGAR for a star-studded, laugh-filled live presentation of their wildly-popular podcast, ComicLab, featuring special guest SARAH ANDERSEN! For five years, this dynamic duo has shared their tips and tricks for making a living as a cartoonist. It’ll be half shop talk / half how-to / and half friendship. That’s right: They squeeze in three halves!
Please check your email inbox, social media channels, and nationalcartoonists.com for periodic updates.
THE HYATT REGENCY JERSEY CITY
2 Exchange Place, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302
Phone : (201) 469-1234
Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson River offers New York City skyline views from its tranquil waterfront location for the perfect blend of convenience and wellness. Walk to restaurants or hop on the PATH train or ferry to NYC. Our Jersey City riverfront location gives you serenity and space for a relaxing stay.
NCS REUBEN WEEKEND ROOM RATE
We’ve secured an exclusive NCS-member room rate of $329.00 per night plus tax. That price is good for 3 days before and after our convention dates based on hotel availability of the same room type. If you have any issues with your hotel booking, please contact Latisha here.
AS WE HAVE A LIMITED BLOCK OF ROOMS ALLOCATED, BOOK EARLY SO YOU DON’T MISS OUT ON YOURS.
Click this link: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/NEWJP/G-9U1R
or
Phone (201) 469-1234 / Tell them you’re with the National Cartoonists Society or quote Group Code: G-9U1R in order to receive the special group rate.
Check-in for the hotel is 3:00 PM and check-out is at 12:00 PM.
There are over 400 flights to Newark Airport, New Jersey daily with non-stop service to 52 destinations. The Hyatt Regency Jersey City is a $40 Uber ride* from Newark Airport, which is about 11 miles/35 minutes away. (*Current rate at the time of publication)
Self-parking Public Lot 1
One Parking 10 Exchange Place (Approximately a 3-minute walk to the hotel)
$27.00 /per 24 hours
Self-parking Public Lot 2
LM Plaza 4A Parking 135 Greene Street garage and open lot available (Approximately 4-minute walk to the hotel)
$26.00 /per 24 hours
Valet Parking
Little Man Valet Parking: Parking Type & Duration Daily Parking | $38 (up to 10 hours) Overnight Parking | $56 – 7 days a week (up to 30 hours) Vu Restaurant & Lounge Parking | $25 (up to 3 Hours)
Taxi/Uber/Lyft
Ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft are also available.
PATH Train
The PATH train Exchange Place station is adjacent to the hotel. PATH trains run within New Jersey Monday-Sunday. On weekdays, New York City is only one stop away on the PATH train.
Adults – $2.75 (One-way fare)
Ferry
The Harborside Ferry Terminal is just north of the hotel, and ferries run daily on 2 routes: to Brookfield Place/World Trade Center as well as to Midtown West/West 39th Street. Weekdays 6am – 8pm; weekends 7am – 1130pm.
The Paulus Hook Ferry Terminal is a 5-minute walk south of the hotel, and ferries run daily on 4 routes: to Brookfield Place/World Trade Center, Pier 11/Wall Street, Midtown West/West 39th Street and Belford, NJ. Weekdays 6am – 11pm; weekends 10am – 9pm.
2023 REUBEN ADVANCE REGISTRATION FEES
$370 for members and their relatives, $490 for business associates or non-family guests, $90 for children between the ages of 6 and 11, and there is no charge for children five and under. (Children under 12 will be admitted to all events except the Reuben Banquet.)
REGISTRATION covers all events, seminars, and food functions unless otherwise stated.
The dress code for the Reuben Awards Banquet is formal. Black tie is not mandatory, however, it is encouraged. (Please, no sneakers, tuxedo printed T-shirts, casual pants, cabana-wear, etc.)
Vegan and vegetarian options are available on request for any food functions in conjunction with the meeting within the hotel. Please indicate any such food requirements in the “special needs” area of the registration form.
REGISTRATION FORM & BROCHURE
Members will also receive a print brochure containing a Reubens Registration Form. However, we encourage you to register online. This enables us to electronically process both your registration fee as well as your Reuben Banquet Seating requests. It also makes the process more accurate and faster for you than filling out the hard-copy form. For any questions about the online registration process, please email our Executive Director, Latisha Moore at latisha@nationalcartoonists.com.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, please contact the NCS Management office at (407) 994-6703 or by e-mail at latisha@nationalcartoonists.com
Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, we reserve the right to amend programming details if necessary.
Cancellations must be submitted in writing to latisha@nationalcartoonists.com by August 30th and will incur a $100 cancellation fee. No refunds can be provided after this date since we must submit final hotel guarantees. Refunds will be provided for pandemic restrictions according to federal guidelines if this leads to event cancellation.
If you have any issues with your booking whatsoever, please call/text Latisha on (407) 421-3454 or email latisha@nationalcartoonists.com
Got any other questions at all? Feel free to email president@nationalcartoonists.com
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