What would you create if you stopped waiting for permission and just built the thing you wished existed?
Today, I’m sitting down with Nathan O’Brien, founder of Lilac City Comic Con, a pop culture event that started from a simple idea: Why doesn’t Spokane have its own Comic Con?
From humble beginnings with just 18 vendors and 300 attendees to now thousands filling the Spokane Convention Center, Nathan’s story shows what happens when passion meets perseverance—and how building community can be just as epic as any superhero story.
Get ready to be motivated by Nathan O’Brien’s story of building a dream from scratch—right here on Navigating No!
Want to learn more about Lilac City Comic Con? Visit Lilac City ComicCon’s official website. https://www.lilaccitycon.com/
Show Flow:
00:00 Introduction
00:45 Meet Nathan O’Brien: Founder of Lilac City ComicCon
02:00 The Beginnings: From Seattle to Spokane
03:11 Starting the ComicCon: The First Steps
04:28 The First Event: Challenges and Successes
06:38 Growing the Event: From Small to Big
08:30 Building a Community: Networking and Support
10:40 Scaling Up: From Local to Larger Scale
15:58 Creating a Unique Experience: Mascots and More
17:45 Providing a Platform: For Fans and Creators
21:59 Challenges of Booking Guests: Early Days to Now
26:08 Navigating Post-Pandemic Challenges
27:08 Dream Guests and Big Shows
28:06 Financial Realities and Sustainable Growth
30:11 Creating a Memorable Experience
35:46 Overcoming Challenges and Mentoring Others
42:08 Cosplay and Event Highlights
44:25 Transitioning to Full-Time and Future Plans
47:05 Final Thoughts