The Convention Creatives: An Art And Fandom Podcast

Gilles Bone and Jay Eggman

Hosted by PB and Jay, we dive into the vibrant world of comic con conventions, fan art, and fandom culture. From the perspective of a full-time illustrator and a seasoned convention-going social-media personality, we explore the UK convention scene, share behind-the-scenes insights, and celebrate the creative community. With episodes featuring artists, cosplayers, photographers, and event organisers, our podcast brings a fresh and engaging look at the people and stories that make conventions magical. Think of it as your all-access pass Let’s dive in! 🚀 #comiccon #megaconlive #animecon

  1. Oct 16

    Performing Music For Cons Feat. Bentley Jones Live at RakuCon

    Recorded live at Raku Con 2026, Jay holds down the podcast solo while PB covers a table for a friend with a toothache. In this episode, Jay sits down with the ever-talented musician Bentley Jones. From surviving the adrenaline of massive US conventions like Sonic Boost to enjoying the relaxed, late-start vibe of Raku Con, we cover Bentley's incredibly busy year. We dive into the emotional milestone of singing a duet live with Pete Capella, how releasing "Sonic Verse 3" via an album pass helps avoid burnout, and the intense process of 3D animating music videos in Blender. Plus, we discuss the enduring legacy of "Dreams of an Absolution" and what's next for Bentley's original character, Oscar! YOUR HOSTSPB (aka Gilles) off camera: / gillesboneJ (aka Jay Bear): / ohheyitsjaybearOUR GUESTBentley Jones: bentleyjones.com / Bentley Jones Official on YouTube EVENTRaku Con 2026 IN THIS EPISODE Recording live at Raku Con 2026, dealing with main stage music bleeding into the room Why PB is absent today (shoutout to Rob's dentist trip!) Bentley’s recent US convention run at Sonic Boost and comparing the wild energy of Sonic fans to the UK scene The emotional, full-circle moment of performing "Say Something" live with Pete Capella Diversifying the Raku Con live setlist with Tekken and Japanese tracks Why Bentley is using an "album pass" model for Sonic Verse 3 to release tracks as they are finished and prevent deadline burnout The 20-year legacy of "Dreams of an Absolution" and taking time to appreciate fan stories Bentley's intense dedication to learning 3D modeling in Blender for music videos featuring his OC, Oscar Teasing a new synth-wave track for Silver's birthday, featuring another collaboration with Pete Capella SPONSORED BYDecal EmpirePremium custom stickers, prints and more. https://decalempire.co.uk/(Their support helps make this show possible.)SUPPORT THE SHOWExplore all our socials and more at https://theconcreatives.com Leave a five star review to help support the showGet behind the scenes content and extras at / theconcreatives

  2. Jul 3

    Putting Anime Habits on Trial at AnimeCon Birmingham Live

    Recorded live on the podcast stage for day one at AnimeCon UK Birmingham, PB and Jay take the mic for a special interactive episode! With an entourage of listeners acting as their live jury, the boys put the most common habits, shortcuts, and debates of the anime community on trial. From the ultimate sin of skipping opening themes to tactical blind box purchases and handling annoying internet fandoms, it’s time to find out who is officially guilty or not guilty. YOUR HOSTS PB (aka Gilles): https://www.instagram.com/gillesbone/ J (aka Jay Bear): https://www.instagram.com/ohheyitsjaybear/ EVENT PARTNER AnimeCon UK: https://www.instagram.com/animeconuk/ IN THIS EPISODE Live from the stage at AnimeCon UK Birmingham for the first of three special convention episodes! Case 1: The Skipped Opening — Is it ever acceptable to skip an anime's opening theme on the very first episode? Case 2: The Emotional Ending Skip — Skipping the credits even after a heartbreaking or pivotal character death. Case 3: The Unfinished Watch List — Starting a brand-new show while you currently have twelve other series sitting half-watched. Case 4: The Ancient Spoiler — Jay shares a legendary, decade-long Facebook grudge born from a totally accidental Star Wars spoiler. Case 5: Sub vs. Dub Judgment — The shifting cultural history of dub styling, and using voice tracks to watch anime while you work. Case 6: The Aesthetic Purchase — Buying independent merchandise or figures of a character you know absolutely nothing about just because they look cool. Case 7: The Gacha Curse — Jay's traumatic experience of pulling four identical Shippo capsules in a row at the Bandai Namco store. Case 8: Masterpiece Openings — Loving the melodic genius of themes like Attack on Titan more than the actual series. SPONSORED BY Decal Empire Premium custom stickers, prints and more. https://decalempire.co.uk/ (Their support helps make this show possible.) SUPPORT THE SHOW Explore all our socials and more at https://theconcreatives.com Leave a five star review to help support the show Get behind the scenes content and extras at https://patreon.com/theconcreatives

    Putting Anime Habits on Trial at AnimeCon Birmingham Live
  3. Jun 19

    The Amazing Digital Circus : The Last Act Spoiler Review!

    Fresh out of the cinema, PB and Jay are joined by our roaming reporters (dressed as Pomni and Jax!) for an emergency review of The Amazing Digital Circus Episode 9. From completely opposite theatre experiences to deep-dive lore theories, we are unpacking everything about the highly anticipated finale.**Your Hosts**PB (aka Gilles) – [https://www.instagram.com/gillesbone/](https://www.instagram.com/gillesbone/)J (aka Jay Bear) – [https://www.instagram.com/ohheyitsjaybear/](https://www.instagram.com/ohheyitsjaybear/)**Our Guests & Contributors**Stroberry Cosplay – [https://www.instagram.com/stroberrycosplay/](https://www.instagram.com/stroberrycosplay/)Frootbat Cosplay – [https://www.instagram.com/frootbatcosplay/](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/frootbatcosplay/)**In This Episode*** An emergency cinema review of *The Amazing Digital Circus* Episode 9 right after the credits rolled* Opposite theatre vibes: Dead silence and live-blogging laptops versus screaming kids, sing-alongs, and being recognized in cosplay* Deep diving into abstraction and trans/queer-coding theories* Where was Gummigoo?! Demanding justice for our favourite NPC* Ribbit, and the emotional weight of abstraction* Analysing whether this finale worked better as a cinema experience or if it should have stayed a YouTube video* As always, the return of the chant: "We listen… And we don’t judge!"SPONSORED BYDecal EmpirePremium custom stickers, prints and more.https://decalempire.co.uk/(Their support helps make this show possible.)SUPPORT THE SHOWExplore all our socials and more at https://theconcreatives.comLeave a five star review to help support the showGet behind the scenes content and extras at https://patreon.com/theconcreatives

    The Amazing Digital Circus : The Last Act Spoiler Review!
  4. Jun 5

    LIVE at UKGE 2026

    Recorded live from the UK's biggest tabletop convention, PB and Jay take over the Printing Like Rabbits booth for a special UK Games Expo episode! We're ditching our full setup for a streamlined t-shirt wall and diving deep into what makes trading at this massive event so uniquely different from the rest of the convention circuit. Plus, we're sharing our ultimate convention hauls, reviewing some card games, and sitting down with fellow traders Hillman's Handmade and Fizzy Fuzzies to hear about their UKGE experiences!Your HostsPB (aka Gilles) – https://www.instagram.com/gillesbone/J (aka Jay Bear) – https://www.instagram.com/ohheyitsjaybear/Our Guests & ContributorsPrinting Like Rabbits – https://www.instagram.com/printinglikerabbits/Hillman's Handmade – https://www.instagram.com/hillmanshandmade/Fizzy Fuzzies – https://www.instagram.com/fizzyfuzzies/Event UK Games Expo – https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/In This EpisodeGoing minimalist: Why we opted for just a t-shirt wall instead of our full convention setup.Insider tips and tricks for trading at UK Games Expo and what sets it apart from typical comic cons.The convention haul: Unpacking the coolest things we bought on the show floor.Special interviews with Hillman's Handmade and Fizzy Fuzzies on what it takes to trade at the UK's biggest tabletop event.Sponsored ByDecal Empire - Premium custom stickers, prints and more.https://decalempire.co.uk/(Their support helps make this show possible.)Support the ShowExplore all our socials and more at https://theconcreatives.comLeave a five star review to help support the showGet behind the scenes content and extras at https://patreon.com/theconcreatives

    LIVE at UKGE 2026
  5. May 29

    Inside MCM London 2026 Live

    Recorded live amidst the absolute wilderness of MCM London Sunday, PB is joined by StroberryCosplay (while Jay is stuck serving customers) for a massive event recap. From the overwhelming scale of the ExCeL center to the wild reality of finding a rogue craft scalpel on the convention floor, we cover all the highs and lows of the UK's biggest con. PB breaks down the business side of things, including a massive design merch drop, the incredible success of the convention Stamp Rallies, and why The Amazing Digital Circus is currently dominating the fandom scene. Plus, dodging a sprinting toddler and how the convention community has brought us all together!YOUR HOSTSPB (aka Gilles): https://www.instagram.com/gillesbone/J (aka Jay Bear) off camera: https://www.instagram.com/ohheyitsjaybear/OUR GUEST COHOSTStroberry Cosplay: https://www.instagram.com/stroberrycosplay/EVENTMCM London: https://www.instagram.com/mcmcomiccon/IN THIS EPISODERecording live from the show floor at MCM London Sunday (and saying "Bonjour!")Stroberry’s first impressions of the massive ExCeL center and discovering a dangerous craft scalpel on the floorThe undeniable success of the MCM Stamp Rallies (Pokemon, Sonic, and Disability & Me)Wild con encounters: A sprinting toddler and the "exhibitor" vs "exhibitionist" badge jokeFandom Trends: The absolute dominance of The Amazing Digital Circus, the slow fade of Hazbin Hotel, and Arcane cosplaysWholesome moments: How PB met his partner Jamie and other close friends just by working a convention boothSPONSORED BYDecal EmpirePremium custom stickers, prints and more.https://decalempire.co.uk/(Their support helps make this show possible.)SUPPORT THE SHOWExplore all our socials and more at https://theconcreatives.comLeave a five star review to help support the showGet behind the scenes content and extras at https://patreon.com/theconcreatives

    Inside MCM London 2026 Live

About

Hosted by PB and Jay, we dive into the vibrant world of comic con conventions, fan art, and fandom culture. From the perspective of a full-time illustrator and a seasoned convention-going social-media personality, we explore the UK convention scene, share behind-the-scenes insights, and celebrate the creative community. With episodes featuring artists, cosplayers, photographers, and event organisers, our podcast brings a fresh and engaging look at the people and stories that make conventions magical. Think of it as your all-access pass Let’s dive in! 🚀 #comiccon #megaconlive #animecon