Everything you need to know about the 77th annual Reuben Awards in Jersey City, NJ on 6-8 Sep, 2023.
TAKE A LOOK AT OUR SPECIAL GUESTS FOR 2023!
The events will take place at the Hyatt Regency Jersey City. The itinerary is subject to change depending on apocalyptic drought, pestilence, plague, or donkeypox.
If you have any questions that are not addressed below, please feel free to reach out to ncs@nationalcartoonists.com, or call/text (646)-575-9804
6:00 pm-10:00 pm: Welcome party in the Manhattan Ballroom, hosted by King Features
8:00 am-9:00 am, Manhattan Ballroom (9th Flr): NCS Business Meeting
9:30 am-10:30 am, Manhattan Ballroom (9th Flr): Andrews McMeel Publishing/Simon & Schuster/Lincoln Peirce
10:45 am-12:00 pm, Manhattan Ballroom (9th Flr): Alex Garcia (King Features)/Emma Allen (New Yorker)
12:15 pm-1:15 pm, Manhattan Ballroom (9th Flr): Isabella Bannerman (iPad Demo), Hannah Imperial Cannon (Xencelabs Tablet Demo)
1:15 pm-2:30 pm, Palisades + Liberty Rooms (3rd Flr): Lunch Break (Catered!)
2:30 pm-3:15 pm, Manhattan Ballroom (9th Flr): Brian Walker on Mort Walker’s 100th
5:30 pm-7:00 pm, Hudson Ballroom Pre-Event Space (3rd Flr): Cocktails/Red Carpet & Silent Auction
7:00 pm-11:00 pm, Hudson Ballroom (3rd Flr): 77th Annual Reuben Awards Dinner + Afterparty
11:00 pm onwards, Presidential Suite: President’s Afterparty (Floor/Room# TBC)
8:00 am-12:00 pm, Liberty & Palisades Rooma (3rd Flr): Farewell Brunch & Live Podcast
Registration will be open from 12pm on the 3rd Floor (Turn left from the main hotel check-in desk), 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!
6:00pm – 10:00pm
Manhattan Ballroom
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. The proceedings will include a celebration of Beetle Bailey and Hagar The Horrible, and the families that have brought these iconic comic strips to the world over the past century.
8:00am – 9:00am
Manhattan Ballroom
This year, the NCS will bid farewell to the current 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.
(Registration is open from 8am if you haven’t checked in yet.)
9:30am – 10:30am
Manhattan Ballroom
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:
FEATURED GUESTS:
(Click images for full bios.)
10:45am – 12:00pm
Manhattan Ballroom
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 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.
FEATURED GUESTS:
(Click images for full bios.)
12:15pm – 1:15pm
Manhattan Ballroom
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.
FEATURED GUESTS:
(Click images for full bios.)
1:15pm – 2:30pm
Liberty & Palisades rooms, 3rd Floor
Take some time to enjoy a leisurely buffet lunch down in the Liberty and Palisades rooms (3rd floor), network with your peers, and explore the beautiful surroundings of the Hyatt Regency Jersey City.
Lunch options include: Boxed Lunch To-Go, Potato Salad, Coleslaw, Pasta Salad, Individual Bag of Potato Chips, Seasonal Hand Picked Whole Fruit, Freshly Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies, Bottled Water. Sandwiches: Roasted Turkey and Swiss on Multigrain Bread, Lettuce, Tomato & Honey Mustard – also Italian Combo on a Seeded Semolina Hero – or Hot Ham, Prosciuttini, Genoa Salami, Provolone, Sundried Tomato Puree Caprese Wrap (V)
Tomato, Arugula, Mozzarella, Basil, Balsamic Syrup.
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm
Manhattan Ballroom
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.
FEATURED GUESTS:
(Click images for full bios.)
From 10:30am: (Outside Manhattan Ballroom (9th Floor)
Coffee, Tea, Water and snacks will be outside the seminar room on 9th Floor: Assorted Granola, Fruit and Nut Bars, Assorted NY Style Bagels with Plain and Flavored Cream Cheeses Fruit and Brie Skewers.
From 1:15pm: (3rd Floor)
Lunch will be in the PALISADES and LIBERTY rooms on 3rd floor. Boxed Lunch To Go, Potato Salad, Coleslaw, Pasta Salad, Individual Bag of Potato Chips, Seasonal Hand Picked Whole Fruit, Freshly Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies, Bottled Water. Sandwiches: Roasted Turkey and Swiss on Multigrain Bread, Lettuce, Tomato & Honey Mustard – also Italian Combo on a Seeded Semolina Hero – or Hot Ham, Prosciuttini, Genoa Salami, Provolone, Sundried Tomato Puree Caprese Wrap (V)
Tomato, Arugula, Mozzarella, Basil, Balsamic Syrup.
From 2:30pm (Outside Manhattan Ballroom (9th Floor)
Freshly Brewed Regular and Decaffeinated Coffee, Hot Cocoa and a Selection of Specialty Tazo Teas, Pepsis Collection of Soft Drinks, Bubly Sparkling Water and Bottled Still Water
Assorted Bags of Potato Chip, Pretzels, Corn Chips Seasonal Sliced Fruits and Berries Assorted Home Baked Cookies.
5:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Hudson Ballroom
It’s time to slip out of your sweats and get dressed up for a night like no other! Stroll down the red carpet and join us for cocktails and mingling with your fellow cartoonists, capturing the memories of this incredible 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!
Be sure to bring a credit card (and cash, if you’d like to tip your bartenders) as the bar will convert from Hosted Bar to a “Cash Bar” once the dinner service commences at 7pm. The bar will remain open until 11pm.
+ Click for Reuben Award Nominees
DRESS CODE FOR BANQUET DINNER
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.)
8:00 am – 12:00 pm
LIBERTY & PALISADES ROOMS (3rd Floor)
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! A perfect way to end an unforgettable event!
FEATURED GUESTS:
(Click images for full bios.)
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 which was founded in 2005 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 two 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 lineup. 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.
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.
Check-in for the hotel is 4:00 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.
If you have any issues with your booking whatsoever, please email president@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.
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