"Be Yourself"

Look at how pretty my artwork is!*

So this is something I hear a lot at cons and panels or read/hear in general. Be yourself. I know everyone means "don't be weird", but have you ever met a young artist/writer/aspiring creative person? We're weird. We're the biggest slobbering fanboy awkward turtles you ever did meet because our life revolves around studying your stuff and wanting to grow up to be at least half as talented as you. You don't want us to be ourselves. You want us to be some semblance of normalcy/professionalism that doesn't freak you out.

*this is sarcasm