*Bailee started writing this on November 9th and I just now saw it.  I’m gonna publish it while she’s not looking. Shhhh.  Don’t tell.  -Lauren

Anytime we tell someone what PMS ADVENTURES is about, they always say “Holy shit, that’s genius.”  Or “Oh my balls, that’s hilarious.”  Never EVER has anyone (to our faces) said “GROSS!  You’re idiots!  Go die a slow, painful idiot death!”

These responses come from women and men alike.  Why, why would anybody give an S about our goofy little comic?  My theory is this: everybody can appreciate something that is well done, no matter the medium or content.

I’ve had my fair share of gigs that were meant to cater to the 18-34 male demographic.  I feel like producers assume that group wants boobs and potty humor (who doesn’t? NSFW HIGH FIVES).  But give credit where it’s due.  People are smart. The number of men, young and old, who came up to our table this weekend and made purchases for themselves, their wives and friends, was nutty!  Here are some select moments:

* An older gentleman walks up, sees our PMS candy bars and says “Aw, I wish these were around when my girlfriend… uh… had that.”  I replied,”Well, there’s a hot-flash hot chocolate mix in the works.” Excited, he looked up “Really?!” Nah, we actually don’t.  But if we wanted to crack the 50+ demo, that’d be the first thing we’d make.

* A little kid and his dad come up and collect the color by number, a candy bar and some buttons for the mom/wife of the fam.  Everyone laughs, no one is grossed out.

* We get invited to a gay-centric comic book convention (by the gentlemen running it), which sounds like the best of everything in the world all in one place.

* Juan, our fan of fans, flew into town for the con.  At the ripe old age of 22, he loves himself some PMS Comics.

* After our panel we have several guys come up and go on about how funny we are.  Not about how pretty we are, or how thick my hair is.  They proceed to collect business cards and swag, and then follow us on the twitters.

* The sweetie-pie young men who intern and volunteer at NerdMelt events love to drop by and say hello, and tell us how well our candy bars are selling.  IN A COMIC BOOK STORE. FULL OF NERDS.

And then you think,”Well, maybe women would be offended – too sensitive to support comics and candy that lampoon their ‘times’.”

Wrong!  Here’s some more:

* Emily Gordon, supreme ruler and comedy booker for NerdMelt, offered up selling our promotional candies at Meltdown Theatre concessions.  IN A COMIC BOOK STORE. FULL OF NERDS.

* A girl runs up “IS this chocolate?!” “Yep!” “God, I need it… it’s so that time.”  That’s part of why we had them to sell… it’s a convention for cryin’ out loud.  It’s a stereotype for a reason – the calming sustenance of Hershey’s probably made the fluorescent din of the convention all the more bearable.  Several times I’ve given out the candy, and the response is “I’m going to eat this now.”  Which is the point.

* Cricket Lee, who I will love forever and ever, bought up the last of our candy stock and buttons, and gave them to the women on her panel as gifts.  The lovely vendors next to us bought 10 over the weekend as presents.  Ladies fucking know!  It’s not offensive.  It’s relatable as hell.

* A boy walks up, asks if I draw the comic.  When I tell him yes he goes “Awesome.”  His mom comes up as he is about to take the color-by-number.  Cautious (as I do not like getting in trouble with anybody’s parents) I let her know that it’s uh… adult in theme.  She laughs and says “Well, kid’s gotta learn about it sometime.”  To him, I say,”You’re going to do a lot of growing up this weekend.” Clearly, a PMS puberty pamphlet needs to happen… because anytime a kid came up and grabbed the coloring page, the response was the same.  Parents, am I right?

Now, to be fair, everyone loves candy.  But on the other hand, everyone loves a good joke.  People like things that are good (like candy and jokes!).  PMS readership has increased since the weekend.  Thank you letters, twitter follows have been pouring in since the convention ended.  So money makers, movers and shakers, take heed: have fun.  make something good.