"Doing Their Own Thing"

We're on page 6 in the Art of Licensing supplement to License Global! They even used a picture of Giggles on the Table of Contents page :)

We're thrilled because we couldn't make it to Licensing Expo this year, but this magazine circulates through the show and will supplement two issues. We hope to make some new connections and find new deals. People are buzzing about Squaredy Cats!

Link to article.

Squaredy Cats have style

After several versions, revisions, additions, and redesigns we've finally settled on the Squaredy Cats first edition Style Guide. The full version still has to be printed, and we're working with Karen of Karen's Monsters who made some of our Licensing Expo plush samples. She's making cute plushy covers for our first guides, and the teaser guides.

We got our first teaser guide sample back (without Karen's extra touch), and we are so pleased with how it looks! I like to think we are making the job easy for our agents at Redasign Studio ;)

Pitches begin soon. Wish us luck!

PS A reminder for Facebook users: Why not send a Squaredy Cats Gift today? It's free!

I feel like Steve Martin

Remember in The Jerk when Steve Martin found his name in the phone book, and cried out that he was famous? I feel a little like that when I post this, but as much as a mention of our studio in passing should really be no big deal, we feel it's a compliment to have been mentioned at all in a marketing guru's blog along with two other known brands.

After all, you may know who Cookie Jar is, but everyone knows Ugly Dolls. Well, Monkey Doodle Dandy was mentioned in the same sentence in this post in Jason Manwaring's blog talking about Licensing Expo.

It should seem like no big deal, especially considering the sentence was not all that positive (really not negative regarding our studio either). But, hey. We got noticed.
We're famous! ;)

Monday is fun day

The monkeys are back in the new studio trying to catch up on emails. Then we have to sort everything out that we learned at Licensing Expo. The show was a success for us. We came home with a stack of business cards as big as an Uno deck. Now comes the follow-through.

We are very excited about it all. We'll likely sign with our licensing agent for the US and UK this week or next, then they'll take some of our leads and make things happen.

*fingers crossed*

First Day at first Expo

Elaine and Kurt in the Monkey Doodle Dandy booth at our first Licensing Expo.

Kurt and the Squarey Monsters banner.

Elaine and the Wudjadoo banner.

The Jitterbutter banner and Betty Bones' skateboard concept.

The Squarey Monsters display.

Our first day of Licensing Expo went very well… even better than either of us had expected it could. We met manufacturers and producers from all over the world. Sometimes inventors had a product they thought would work well with our images. Sometimes an agency wanted to know what was available. There seems to be pretty even interest among all four of our properties, Jitterbutter GirlMonsters, Wudjadoo, Squarey Monsters and Squaredy Cats.

Today is the second day, and we don't know what to expect. We hope it can go half as well as it has already. I can't wait to see what the end result will be, and how these new connections will affect Monkey Doodle Dandy. 

We haven't figured out if our ad in Art of Licensing has sent anyone in our direction. It's possible, when everyone browses their papers from the show they can find us then. Not like we had many free moments yesterday. It seemed like someone was always stopping at our booth, and we're thankful for that! Even the heads of Tara Toy stopped by to say hello.

This booth is made for stompin'

Elaine and Kurt stand in the empty booth 1873 at their first Licensing Expo.

First order of business… hang the Monkey Doodle Dandy Banner!

Elaine and Stephanie assembling our shelves. Not sure where everything goes yet.

Elaine and Stephanie. All the banners are up.

Now we know where the Squarey Monsters are going, cut stickers for packets.

Last minute concept mock-ups to assemble.

Squarey Monsters await fame while Elaine goes through last minute portfolio changes.

We're pretty much finished setting up the booth for Licensing Expo. Booth 1873. We'll post more pictures showing the entire booth tomorrow when the union gets all the skids out of the way and the carpet is down. 

Also, great to note:

A google alert made me aware that our Exhibitor profile has been published at TMCnet.com.

Here's how it reads:

Company: Monkey Doodle Dandy Booth: 1873 Media Contact: Elaine de la Mata Phone: 718-398-2338/917-450-2483 E-mail: studio@monkeydoodledandy.com Web: monkeydoodledandy.com   Since 1998, Monkey Doodle Dandy, Inc. has developed properties for major companies including Scholastic, Nickelodeon, Fisher Price and Mattel. The Brooklyn-based art and design company is now expanding as a licensor, introducing its own brands Squarey Monsters, Squaredy Cats, Wudjadoo and GirlMonsters. Whether they're furry, fanged, or four-sided, these endearing creatures allow young consumers to express themselves with an individuality that resonates with their age group but still meets the approval of parents. For more information, visit www.monkeydoodledandy.com.

Donk, Bitzy and Clup are GO!

Kurt wearing Donk's Eyes.

Clup, Bitzy and Donk as plushies!

Terry cloth Squarey Monster, Bitzy… she's a bath buddy!

Terry cloth Squarey Monster, Donk… he's a bath buddy!

Plush Squarey Monster, Donk trying to use Kurt's mouse.

We are so excited to fly to Las Vegas for the Licensing Expo Sunday morning. We worked in the studio today for some last minute finishes. A few product mock-ups, labels and details for… YES! THREE MORE plush Squarey Monsters!
My brother-in-law has a tuxedo shop, and we hired his seamstress to work up Bitzy and Clup as pocket mouthed bath buddies and Donk as a plush pillow. I made simple patterns for reference, and Maria did a great job interpreting my mess :)
We printed some eyes on board to simulate plastic, and set up some labels for a mini-shampoo, soap bar, etc. to go in the mouths of the bath buddies.

Flitz is my bag

Squarey Monster, Flitz as a plush bag (sitting on Squaredy Cats postcards).

Karen Goetsch in our new studio with the commissioned Squarey Monsters plush bag, Flitz.

Karen of Karen's Monsters came through again with this last minute sample for Licensing Expo.
We are less than a week away from the show, and we couldn't be happier with all the concepts we have. This plush Flitz bag came out perfect!
We shipped everything else a week ago, but we still had some last minute postcards, giveaway pins and mock-ups to finish.

Clup and Dodger are for real

Karen Goetsch in our new studio with the commissioned Squarey Monsters, Clup and Dodger.

Plush Squarey Monster, Dodger.

Plush Squarey Monster, Clup.

We hired Karen of Karen's Monsters to make plush versions of three of our Squarey Monsters. She's finished Clup and Dodger already (shipping to the Licensing Expo today), and Flitz is still to come. We love how they turned out, and can't wait for the show.

Check out Karen's Monsters.
See more pictures of Karen's Monsters.
Heck, even Betty Bones is loving her work.

Expo pins

We just ordered our pins for the Licensing Expo. They should be here just in time before we take off to Las Vegas.
This is the first place the third character is appearing from the Wudjadoo brand. Elaine designed the pig and bunny, and now the new puppy.

The Art of Licensing

Our ad is in the digital Art of Licensing on page 10! w00t!
Can’t wait to see if we get any interest before the Licensing Expo in June.

Licensing Expo banners are ordered

We uploaded our banners artwork for the Licensing Expo today. Check out UPrinting.com for a great experience, and a reliable printer who turns out brilliant colors at affordable prices.

We have a 10' x 10' booth #1873 June 2,3,4 in Las Vegas. Be sure to stop in, and say hi. Pick up some postcards. We are hoping to get pins done in time too. This will be our first expo (outside of MoCCA Fest), and we are excited and nervous.

Dreams, and what's running through my head

I’m not sure how often I’ll actually post a dream to this blog, but since it was so perfectly symbolic, I fell I must share it.
I woke to a dream this morning where Elaine and I were in Canada. In the dream Canadians had a love for American Lawyers for some reason. We saw a self-standing small building that was supposed to be a law office/lawyer exhibition gallery which looked very much like a fast food restaurant from the outside. We went inside expecting to see desks and lawyers, but instead found kiosks and racks of very fancy, expensive sneakers and fitness clothing. All the shoppers were in terrific shape, and could not stop talking about how good these running shoes were. The expense was well worth the cost.

Here’s our current situation:
We are on the verge of signing with a licensing agent, and have been shopping lawyers. Since we are creative people we are only doing this on recommendation more than a feeling we need a good attorney for this sort of thing. Mind you, we are smart enough to know, but, man it’s expensive.

So here’s what I got out of the dream:
I’m not sure where Canada comes in (maybe because we are talking international licenses for our properties), but it makes so much symbolic sense. Use the lawyer despite the expense, and we will be able to move forward quickly, and with great comfort; and we’ll be in good shape.

It was a very hopeful dream. I hope good thoughts like this will help us move forward to achieve our goals!