Otakon Vegas 2016

Went a year ago and this was literally the shittiest con I've ever been to

>>8808091
What didn't you like?
The panels were pretty shit. Specially the ones where people were acting as the characters.

Name an anime convention that *wasn't* shitty its second year.

protip: You can't

Hoping this con wont die like the majority of Vegas cons.

>>8809035
It'll probably prove again that Vegas cannot sustain a convention

>>8809035
They should have just started a convention in California. At least the convention would be big and crowded.

>>8809123
Not necessarily. California has an over saturation of anime cons. Feels like there's a con going on almost every weekend.

>>8809042
Anime is cancer. Literally every other convention in Las Vegas does well like CES, AVN, that Final Fantasy one, and Wizard World but the anime ones are just the cringiest shit possible

>>8809042
>>8809141
Do you think its more because of the community? I mean didn't they say Otakon vegas got help from the people who did anime vegas and shit? Also what is the longest running anime con in vegas?

>>8809618
It was Anime Vegas but right now its Sabakon. I'm low-tier staff for Sabakon and the Vegas anime community is full of shitty people. People take personal drama to cons and it turns into a shitfest.

>>8808091
The original Otakon in Baltimore is absolute shit too. Why they branched over to Las Vegas is beyond me.

>>8809658
because omg its vegas. which is cool and all if you rarely go there but if you live there or have gone before it's just a place.

>>8809618
definitely community because there are a lot of options for conventions across the US so good people don't come. why go to otakon vegas? people come from all over the globe for CES, SEMA, SHOT, etc because those are more unique or held less often. you have much better options when it comes to anime conventions.

>>8809658

Because their senior staff wanted a paid trip to Vegas. That con has lost money every year and they keep throwing it so they can have a good time, and Ota Prime suffers.

>>8809770
surely there are cheaper ways to work the money into a paid vacation to vegas than throwing a whole convention...

I actually enjoy the 1st and 2nd year. Reminded me of the pre-2000 anime convention scene. Less people and crowd and more intimate. But man, not going this year cuz:
1. no good guests (at least the previous years had Japanese guests)
2. the ticket cost is like 20 more than less time
3. need better panels and events.

Probably going to see the cosplay on the outside portion but this was the absolute worst con I've ever been too. I was so bored and everyone had cliques. I'm from cali and just happened to be in town so I went. I've gone to even smaller cons that were more entertaining.

I'm only going to meet up with friends. The panels are all shit and the rave is going to be full of furfags as usual.

>>8809776

To Vegas? Not much going on in Vegas to justify it. But yeah, they figure out ways, like when they send people who arent even Guest or Programming staff for weeks to Japan on con funding

I'm scared now, it's my first time going lmao

>>8809958
If you're local you're already there and not losing much. If you're from out of town I hope you're going to Vegas for vacation already. If you're not, skip the con and just enjoy Vegas.

>>8809035
>>8809042
>>8809141

It is to mention the total failure of the brony convention in 2013 other than the shady management.

>>8809658
>>8808090
Hasn't Otakon really gone downhill in the recent years? It's the only anime con in the Top 10 attended in North American whose attendance has DROPPED between 2014 and 2015. The other top 9 attended cons all saw attendance growth in the same period.

>>8809770

Otakon Staffer detected

They also misunderestimated the kind of attendees they would get and tried to apply the logic that works for a big east coast con to a tiny west coast one and, well, it didn't work.

>>8810302

Funny how BronyCon ended up in the Baltimore Convention Center.

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>>8810320

>It's the only anime con in the Top 10 attended in North American whose attendance has DROPPED between 2014 and 2015

Gee, I wondrer why that is...

How big was Anime Vegas in its prime? I think that would be the natural assumption for what size an anime con in South Nevada would be.

Why would they assume otherwise?

>>8808090
I'll be there with EDG promotin' ALA. Lookin' forward to comin' back and also Vegas Vacation!

>>8809140
There is. It sucks.

>>8810570
Most of my friends who go to Otakon every year, didn't go because it just isn't fun anymore. Even though the riot may have played a small part, it was not the main reason why. Most people I knew cited the rise in cost long before the riots even happened for not going. I am not paying 100 dollars and be bored to death. Make that 100 worth it. It will probably rise again this year because it's the last time in Baltimore (contract up.)

>>8810570

because the programming has been the exact same for years with no improvements, there's still hours long lines to get in, they keep raising prices..... ota has been coasting on its name for years from when it was the only big kid name in town, now there's better cons all over the country

>>8810563

this anon knows what's up

>>8810587
>>8810584

Also, the staff is pretty much phoning it in since its the last year in Baltimore.

Now 2017 will be fun because it will be Year 1 in Washington DC and it will be chaos

>>8810580
EDG?

>>8810598
Cant wait for Otakon in DC, will be my first east coast con. A vacation in DC and an anime con, yes please.

>>8810598

if my con's dead dog was in the convention center with shitty con center catering I'd be phoning it in too. Ota is the biggest shitshow for staffing.

>>8810571
I spoke to Rich, the man who ran AV originally, and he stated it never got more then 4000 attendies>>8810571

>>8811023
Interesting, so theoretically speaking, Otakon Vegas can probably double in size, but 4k seems to be the hard limit.

I think it would be possible to make money, but as a small business owner, I think it would be hard to make money in the strip. Rental for Convention Spacd in the strip are expensive.

>>8810570
Has to do with registration and moving to DC because Bronycon saw a growth in attendance.

>>8810606
We're all old fags. EDG's my brother and used to post here. He goes by Grunbeld Cosplay on FB.

So for the people who are going. Any interesting cosplays?

>>8808106
made 15 dollars as a vendor. I normally make ~2k

IM NOT KIDDING LMAO

>>8812222
what's your booth? :0

>>8810320
That's why they are moving to D.C. which... Isnt a lot better but hey they are at least trying to fix thr probelm. They cant afford to move too far from their origin city because you'll lose their local base attendees.

>>8810619
Maybe im just a Midwestern townie but to keep it 100, ota was the best con i attended all year and waited in that reg line twice with different friends. I honestly didnt see the massive staffing problems everyone talks about. I wish had programming like that in the Midwest (the easts 18+ game is weak tho). Again maybe im just a kid with big eyes but i honestly don't understand these comments.

>>8808090
got absolutely ZERO hope for this con. Their guest list this thin as hell, their panels look like utter shit, and it feels like this con just is not gonna have many people going. >>8809042
is right, seems Vegas just isn't right place to hold anime convention.

Lost all hope for the con when the name of the rave was announced as Kawaii Twerk with ugly ass go go girls.

>>8812666
and the rave is all ages

>>8812659
It's probably more like why the fuck would you be at a convention when you're in Vegas for the people coming in and for the people who live there there aren't enough to populate a con (plus the con sucks)

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>>8812666
Jesus Christ the ones on the right are the only decent looking girls.

>>8812222
I was there last year and in dealer's room for a good section. Vendors looked like they were pulled in a decent amount of money save for like...Two booths. One was a magazine one and the other was some leather gimmick one.

So who's at the convention right now?

>>8814684
I am. But I'm just chilling at the Alley cause this shit ain't worth 45-65$.

>>8814684
If you see a terrified looking Chara from Undertale it's me. I'm constantly being assaulted by the Homestucks and honestly I deserve it for being in this shit fandom.

>>8814905
Get rekt if you wanna chill with a bored af guy I'm at the alley. No cosplay sadly because of work but I will cosplay Sunday

>>8814921
As what?

>>8814921
Hot chick here. I'll hang out with you if you take me to the dealers hall and buy me stuff.

>>8815091
okay. where do you want to meet?

>>8815091
You tell me where? Maybe outside the dealers room? I'm in a panel now but meet me in 1 hour?

>>8815102
>>8815123
That was for you.

>>8815123
Sorry, I lied. I'm not even there.

I was in Vegas last week for a trade show and will be back next week for another trade show.

>>8815131
Damn

If you see a dark dindu with a husky Korean, that's me

>>8809626
Rumor mill has it that Kim D. bought the other half of Sabakon around Nrw Years. She already owned half of it by last year but now the rest of the staff are going to make their own con of some sort and start fresh. Kim is probably going to make Sabakon some shitty maid cafe convention or something else equally unrealistic like her Sabanetiks project.

Got too drunk arriving on Thursday and literally slept all day on Friday only to crawl out at midnight. Anything going on seagull wise on Saturday?

>>8815741

Me again. I'm still up and can't sleep so I'll go down to gamble or some shit.

>>8815741
Didn't see any seacats on friday, only bought a friday pass myself/

>>8816071

Well if anyone's around, let me know, I'll buy you a drink or something.

I'm a white dude with curly fluffy hair to my shoulders and an otherwise gray unremarkable outfit

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>>8816104
If someone gives me a text about an Umineko I'll let you know , otherwise I'll just be at home with my awful Rise cosplay relaxing the fuck out of a free weekend for a change.

Still Chara, still being assaulted by Homestucks.

How many people would you say is even there?

>>8816130
1st year was 2000 people
2nd year was 2100 people
Honestly without even being there I would guess it was 2000 people again, the panels and guests are just like really bad.

That's assuming they don't have an attendance loss. $65 at door is way to high for this size. Even the online price of $60 is steep for this. You can go to Anime Boston, AWA, etc. for that price.

>>8816143
Actually, you might be right. It wasn't as busy as I remember it being.

>>8816119

I found a Chara but apparently not the Chara

>>8816130

It feels like there's a ton of people still coming in. Either that or their registration line sucks at taking people's money. It's almost 3pm on a Saturday and usually you can just walk in and grab a badge. But here there's still a line of at least 10-20 people any time I've walked by.

Who the fuck is this wana be yaya han Mariah?

>>8816305
The biggest cunt in the Vegas anime community t.bh

>>8816325
Tbh, I only got a picture of her being a fat assed Samus and that was it.

>>8816143
The price is so bad I'm literally borrowing passes

They're desperate for income at this point. Why else raise a badge price $20 in two years? They have to be hurting after losing like 7,000 attendees at main show in Baltimore

>>8816305
Some chick who thinks she can be a famous cosplayer because she has big tits

>>8808090
shitty con with no hope of improving honestly

People on Twitter trying to say that's a con rave full on with a cropped pic to make it look like it's packed. Sure.

>>8808090
This con is not worth it. Period.

As a local, I've seen a lot of conventions come and go, with AnimeVegas being the only one I was really attached to. There's several issues with Otakon Vegas:

Promotion: They're literally promoting this convention in places like Ramencon, which is in Indiana... This is not a convention to promote across the US, but in the local area. How many people are really coming from California, Arizona, Utah, or even Nevada? These should be your prime markets, why are you advertising to people on the other side of the US?

Location: I get it, Alexis Park sucks & Cashman isn't in a prime spot, but Planet Hollywood is like the one location on the Strip without a true lobby. It's difficult to drop someone off unless you know the backstreets. Oh, and it takes 15/20 minutes to get through the mall to even get to the con. It's only convenient for people who are staying AT the hotel. It makes it feel like they don't even want locals there.

Focus: Otakon obviously is directed at anime fans, and it seems they do their best to get companies to give them announcements (such as Aniplex and Funimation). Why isn't this advertised more? The companies involved feel like an afterthought and not the core your convention.

Honestly, it feels like most vendors and companies support the show only because it's connected to the much bigger Otakon, but the show isn't fun. Artist Alley is out in the open for drunk people to grab their stuff, dealers are all losing money, etc. It's really sad.

There's a Vegas community, but no one seems to actually understand Vegas as a location and the possibilities. It feels like there's a huge disconnect as to what makes a good con in the area. You can't just use Vegas as the appeal because it's slowly losing that as a tourist destination (just look at MGM Resorts adding parking fees / Caesars' losing shit tons of cash). You still need to make the effort to make an interesting and engaging convention.

>>8817153
You are not incorrect with this assessment.

It's really not that bad of a con. I agree with >>8817153 . it's also a con that's only in its 3rd year and is trying to find its footing. But really it's not meant to be a big con. If they could fix some of the issues with panels, get the same quality of guests that they have been and switch to a better venue (the Rivera comes to mind) this could be a great con. Say anything you want as a con-goer but being a local I really don't want the anime con scene go die (especially with Anime Vegas, and Animega con dead and sabakon being on the rocks.) I really plan on voicing my concerns at the feedback panel after the closing ceremony to help improve this con.

>>8817270
Seriously, this is the only con really even to go to and it just feels sad. I feel like one of the things they have going for it is being able to book good guests. (Apparently that didn't go well this year.)

>>8817270
I suppose I'm looking at it as more of a business perspective, so I apologize if I seem overly negative. I'm just baffled by some of Otakon Vegas' choices.

I talked with a lot of vendors today and quite a few seemed unhappy all things considered. Some have yet to break even. One person told me they hadn't been to a Vegas show in ten years, and after this one they wouldn't be coming back.

In addition, their lack of growth is really startling. Going from 2000 to 2100 in a year... er, that's scary. Even as a small convention the aim should be 500 to a 1,000 in growth per year until they hit their stride.

As a local I'd hate for the con scene here to die. The only thing I think we have going so far is Lvl Up Expo (last year was surprisingly good, but I'm still somewhat cautious about them keeping up the pace for future years). I mean, most Asian musical acts skip us despite having one of the largest growth in terms of Asian population in the 90s and instead go to Cali twice and call it a day.

So yeah, I'd also like to see improvement, but I'm not sure this convention cares enough to do it. I wish them all the best.

>>8817275

Your 500-1000k growth estimate is pretty spot on if you look into the average growth of cons. Whoever you are anon, you have some great insights. Otakon would pitch this at shows on east coast and maybe like ACEN? But nothing in CA or bordering states. But it's not like their table at other shows seems interested in being outgoing either. I guess they feel the otakon name sells itself? Except not so much anymore. Also, that 2100 is a warm body count, not paid attendance count. Warm body means that includes staff, vendors, guests, etc, not just paying attendees. I'd say the paid attendee count is actually lower, but cons usually only report warm body. So they might have not actually even had 100 in growth.
I kinda wonder if this was an excuse on their staffs part to hang out in vegas for s weekend on the cons $$. Because it sounds like there's some phoning in on running the damn thing that's happening.

Offer to booze you up still stands.

>>8817620

I tend to go to a lot of conventions as does my business, I've been on every side (volunteer, press, guest, vendor) in the past ten years. So really it's just seeing a lot of the behind the scenes through the years.

It's fairly obvious Otakon Vegas is made to spend money. Otakon is a non-for-profit so if they can't justify paying for anything else (including work space, employees, etc) then they have to get rid of the money in some way. Non-for-profits are weird in that if you have too much money at the end of a tax year, you can be looking at some hefty fines or other various problems (this changes on a state by state basis, I believe so I don't wanna comment on this too much without the right info).

But I question the move to not still make Otakon Vegas a successful show for locals. It would enable Otakon to strengthen their brand and expand even more if they decided to. Even encourage this side of the US to go to Otakon.

They've never been in the black enough to need to spend $$ on an extra show. If anything, vegas was a sizable financial risk.

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>game room has no Sm4sh WiiU or Street Fighter
>PS4 has PlayStation All Stars running

>>8818181
I saw them playing SF earlier

>>8818181
Fucking this. I went to the weeb shop right outside the casino to play sm4sh.

>>8818036
I'd like to say I find that odd, but another side of me goes, "Oh... someone likes to throw around money haphazardly like most conventions."

>>8817620
I was in closing ceremonies and thy announced 2,400 attendance. So it is a bigger jump than previous years.

It could be better.

>>8817153
Parking in the mall parking lot and then taking the elevator to the first floor. and walking to the hotel lobby check-in is 10x faster than going through the mall itself to get to it. But you still have a reasonable point about the inconvenience to get to the event in general.

>>8818627
Fairly certain elevators were backed up in that parking garage most of the event.

>>8818667
My friend and I used the far end elevators instead of the middle ones that connected to the mall. Though then again we arrived and left the con when there was minimal people on both spectrum's.

>>8818770
Did you mean the Riviera? Cause that closed a long time ago. Animegacon was there for its 2nd year & it fuckin' sucked. But that was probably mostly animegacon's fault not the venue's. As sumone who tabled there, I felt their setup was weird. Otakon Vegas setup was weird too tho w/ AA BEING OUTSIDE.

>>8181270
>>8818818
Replied to the wrong one I'm dyslexic as fuck.

That's it I give up. Enough Internet for me, I can't distinguish numbers well enough for this.

>>8817957

It was also a practice run for moving to DC.

Anyone here doorknob 2016?

Lived in Vegas for a decade, which makes me prehistoric by my neighborhood's low standards.

I've never been to a con here. If I did, I'd probably do Wizard Word or some other comics related con. Anime cons especially seem not worth it because the guests are just whatever voice actors want to be drunk in Vegas and the panels are all shit. In addition, before Ota most of them were held at Cashman which is in a slum and hard to reach by public transit. I went to Cashman just once to see the most powerful man on Earth speak for an hour; I'm not braving that again just to see a bunch of weebs.

I'd probably have done Ota this year if it wasn't so expensive as to make it off limits to everyone who isn't a tourist.

>>8819024
OH man, the Cashman center.

I was a vendor at an anime con there. I was going to take a taxi to the airport, but ended up riding with some staff members because they warned me that taxi drivers don't like to go to the Cashman center since they prefer sticking to the strip and airport area. If I hadn't rode with them, I'd have missed my flight home.

>>8819024
Honestly like last year, they had Sushio who was character design for Gurren Lagann/Kill la Kill, which was pretty great.

anyone here actually go to the after party?

>>8817153
What irks me is that we have all these legitimately amazing venues for cons (Sands, LVCC) yet we can't have a single decent con. The last time we ever had a good con here in Vegas as far as I can remember was Animegacon back in 2013. The Riviera was an amazing venue. And yes I know the Riviera is gone.

>>8819045
It got canceled.

>>8819162

So fun fact, for LVCC to actually hold a con there (even if you had the cash), you need to prove to them you can bring in tourist. So a certain percentage of your guests need to be from out of town and you have to prove that. I was thoroughly surprised when I found this out.

>>8818393
>>8818181
>no Sm4sh at a con game room
Absolutely inexcusable.

>>8819010
KNOB!!!!

>>8817153

Did you reach out to the Otakon Vegas staff and offer to join the staff and be their local sherpa and guide to Las Vegas culture?

If the answer is "no" then shut the fuck up, you are just a whining ninny who doesn't give a shit.

>>8817153

>There's a Vegas community, but no one seems to actually understand Vegas as a location and the possibilities. It feels like there's a huge disconnect as to what makes a good con in the area.

So start your own convention since you already seem to know everything

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>The fujoshi panel got cancelled
Literally the only panel I wanted to see.
>tfw no disgusting unwashed fujoshi FWB

>>8819162
For all the complaining in here, the convention was well run. The panels generally stuck to the schedule, and the staffers have been helpful when I got lost.

>>8819539
>>8819540
It's easy being a backseat driver.

I would love to start my own con, in fact, I probably will if OV goes the way of Animwgacon and Anime Vegas.

>>8817620
Actually, they use Paid Badges. Which is stupid.

>>8819429
Sweet at least one bro understood the reference!
>That feeling when all my friends left on the second day and you had to solo the rest of the con.
A little sad, but I realized cons are the most fun with your friends.

>>8819178
That both makes sense and is absolutely stupid at the same time.

>>8819695

I heard rumors that we're getting a brand new con but it's an idea given out by one guy. If you're from Vegas I'm pretty sure you know him.

>>8819891
So what, it's Mastenn?

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>Get an anime con in Vegas run by locals
>they eventually die from lack of resources
>lather, rinse, repeat
>Outside group with the resources tries this time
>locals hate on it and don't offer support

Gratz you ungrateful fucks, you're well on your way to killing another anime convention in Las Vegas

>>8819891

Rich Uncle Rich needs another tax writeoff?

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>>8820238

>>8813732
>>8820238
>>8820240
You couldn't NOT know it's Vegas. Any female cosplayers who don't look like they're on their way to work?

>>8820254
Any other obvious male douche bags that can't spell? No? Right then.

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>>8820254

Sure

>>8820337
>>8820339
Thanks anon, much better!

>>8819162
There's a number of decent mid-range hotels to have a con. Ballys/Paris, NYNY (where the meeting rooms are immediately adjacent to an arcade), and Trop stand out in my mind.

Bally's has a really huge room in addition to smaller conference rooms, which is part of why EVO keeps going there.

>>8819906
Locals won't bother at $50 for a day pass.

Locals would prefer a smaller con downtown or at The Orleans or whatever than a touristy one at Strip prices.

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Are we posting our haul now?

>>8820380
evo has only been at bally's once so far

>>8819906
I fully fucking agree.
Either Support your local cons and the ones that come in. AND DONT SHIT ON THEM. Or shut the fuck up about not being able to afford to go out of state.
You can't piss in your own drinking water, then be mad when there are no more cons in this town.

>>8819891
Who the fuck doesn't know him?

Honestly, this con could be pretty awesome. Maybe a change in venue, so they can have a dealer hall twice the size. (Although they did kick out the Russians with their shitty solar chargers this year) With the extra money they can save being off-strip somewhere they could make a good amount of money.

But really, it's the community here that blows. You have really cliquey groups that kiss each others asses, and if you aren't part of those small groups, or god forbid you do something to piss off one person, then you are completely invisible. Which is probably better in the long run, but doesn't do anything to build an actual viable community.

>>8820705
Wait, there are communities? I just went with a couple of friends. Isn't that the idea?

>>8820705
and then no one from out of state wants to go to vegas for a sub-par anime convention when they could be doing, you know, vegas shit (which in itself wears off after you've been there a while)

>>8820612
Twice.

>>8820722
The majority of the anime groups here in Vegas have this big hugbox mentality much worse than any other hugboxes I've seen. The moment you talk shit, as in criticize, everyone jumps in on you or straight up removes you from the group. Not to mention all the witch-hunting and forced drama I've heard from the cosplay community. (Mind you, these are baseless accusations I'm making since I dare forbid to get near these groups based on what I've heard from friends.)

>>8820775
I guess I shouldn't be surprised that a hobby has an organized group. I take it it's full of the small Asians all over the con for the most part.

>>8820775
All of what you said is true. Plus a few extra layers of ostracizing such as shit talking you for no reason besides you continue to exist. Or force others who still converse with the outsider to choose sides.

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>>8820788
How old are these people and do you have any stories? I'm curious.

>>8820790
Old enough to know fucking better. And I dare not share too many stories. I don't want the backlash landing on someone who really doesn't deserve it.

>>8820804
Oh there won't be any backlash, I'm not in any circle. My friends just do a last minute cosplay for these things. Even if it's by email? It's rare to know that something other than car crashes happen here.

>>8820810
Backlash from posting it publicly. There are a few that are on CGL. And at one point I got in 'trouble' for something someone else posted because a specific word was used. One that everyone thought I made up, that's just a CGL standard comment.
That's the level of pettiness and bullshit here.

>>8820834
I see, that makes sense. Well if you decide you'd like to share I'll just leave my email here. No public, no fuss, no?
[spoiler][email protected][/spoiler]

>>8820842
I'll keep that in mind.
Ill check archives to see what's already been posted.

>>8820842
archive.rebeccablacktech.com/cgl/thread/S7667903#p7668029
Try that thread. Enjoy.

>>8820862
>>8820853
Thanks, I appreciate it.

>>8820790
I only have one. There was a Vegas FB group called the Vegas Gundam Club. I was a member because occasionally some guy does try to sell his kits or anything extra and that is the main reason why I joined the group. Suddenly some autistic fuck got mod status somehow and was all "if u don't circlejerk in this hugbox im going to kick u out of the group so like post something weekly ok" and not failing to realize this hobby is niche as all shit and most people do have lives other than plamo. I left that shit in a heartbeat.

>>8820935
But yeah that's barely even /cgl/ and that's because I stay the fuck away from the other groups as much as possible after hearing the shit they pull all the time.

>>8819540

I've thought of it, but realistically my current career goals don't jive with that type of project and would harm my personal life more than help enrich it.

>>8819906

Didn't a shit ton of conventions die because they kept competing with each other and holding bullshit picnics at the same time and stealing one another dates?

This thread reinforces my belief that Otakon should have just been in California.

Otakon Silicon Valley or Otakon San Diego would have made more money and have less local hostility.

>>8820962
Yea, hit the nail on the head. Lots of competition. Back when animeland had a con here, I got to talking with the staff. Apparently, Tokyo discount was going to have a booth one year and they were advertising the con in store, but staff from Anime Vegas told them they could come back if they stopped promoting other cons.
Las Vegas Comic Con was the same weekend as the last Animegacon and most people left once they found out. Honestly, I loved Animecon's 1st year, but 2nd year was meh. I think they promised too much by advertising as the" universe's best con."

>>8821857
only if they figured out the right timing for it. right now everyone is probably going to ALA. April is Sakuracon. Maybe February or March although AOD is February. Summer is Fanime/AX. Too late in the year and you run into people going back to school or Dragoncon. J-pop Summit is usually in the August time period

So the only upcoming con in vegas is Level up expo now?

>>8822023
But I think Otakon Vegas could be better if the venue changes and if the price doesn't keep jumping. Also if they advertised more in west coast states, I've seen fliers for lvl up in SF Japantown but not Otakon Vegas. (Unless I missed them.)

>>8822030
There's wizarding world and a few comic cons also coming up

>>8822050
See I never know where is it until like a week prior to it. Is there anywhere I can go to get a list of upcoming cons in vegas?

>>8822023
Yeah, no. Are you really going to believe any shit Animeland staff said? They cancelled how many cons just days before they were set to start, and you believe that?

>>8822023

Yeah, I remember AnimeVegas had a picnic same time as the first Animeland. Then a staffer from Animeland bragged at the event when they stole AnimeVegas' dates.

Not only that Vegas fans have been screwed over by both Anime For Cancer (with MTV crews and everything) and that pony con (Los Pegasus?).

It's just too much bullshit.

>>8822055
Meant to write Wizard World. Not wizarding. But can't help with that. I just know from word of mouth and Facebook groups

So what anime conventions are alive and what conventions are not in Las Vegas?

>>8822065
Honestly, I do believe it cause Tokyo Discount did indeed come back to Anime Vegas that year. But I wasn't trying to make it seem like animeland was a better con. Just adding to the competition discussion. Even if it's not true, I don't think having Tokyo Discount there would have made much a difference for animeland anyways. It was bound to die. I think anime Vegas and animeland were the only cons to be known to actually be on bad terms with each other. (Though I don't doubt if there's some private stuff I don't know. If anyone knows deets pls.)

>>8822390
Otakon Vegas
Level Up Expo
Las Vegas Comic Con
Sabakon

>>8822413
A few other things that I know of

Final Fantasy Fan Fest (so far only happened one other time 2 years ago. But it's spaced out because it costs so much)
Wizard World
Super Toy Con

>>8822413
Is Sabakon happening this year as well?

>>8822044
I saw Otakon Vegas promotional material in Anime Los Angeles, Anime Expo, Anime California, and Pacific Media Expo.

There are no shortage of stuff to find when you go to anime conventions in California. I think this convention is just too close to Anime Los Angeles for most Californians to care.

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>>8820597

Sure

>>8812628
what? The DC convention center is like 4 years old and is one of the top 10 convention centers in terms of size in the US. They have the room to potentially approach AX numbers if they plan right (since walter reed is bigger than AX, and DC because it has a good public transit system means you can viably commuter con it from a vast array of places, fuck you can take that super heavy train thing, so DC is a very logical place).

>>8818181
No fight sticks either. Not a great thought for an Otakon funded event :/

Also does anyone here know why they don't grant artist alley attendees access to the con without purchasing a day badge? Apparently this is the second year now they did this and it's CRAZY in my mind.

>>8822420
Fan Fest is confirmed for this year in October at the Paris.

>>8822592
Yeah. I was just mentioning that it won't be a yearly convention like most cons.

>>8820337
Ah! This is me and my friends! Thanks for posting! If anyone else got our pic, please post!

We had artist alley tables, and sadly this was one of the worst conventions we've done - sales wise and organization wise. We love Vegas and were hoping for so much more, I think we will go back to doing ALA next year instead. BUT, thank you to everyone who stopped at our tables and took our photos! We worked really hard on our costumes. <3

>>8822636
Did you guys do any panels? I'm sorry to hear about that.

Are the 30 dollar tickets for level up expo good for two days?

>>8822636
I heard this from a lot of artists. I kept hearing"it's slow" when people would ask how it was going.

>>8822562
Their reasoning must be because it's in a public area so none of the artists need one. But that seems kinda unfair because what if They wanted to attend the con? That's $160 if an artists wants to go inside. Also AA being in a public space is a bit weird. Some people decided to take their stuff with them every day because they felt it wasn't safe. Some did just cover it up, & I didn't hear about anything getting stolen. Being outside of the main con also feels like a disconnect and may b part of the reason why a lot of artists kept feeling like it was slow.

>>8822462
Ah, ok. I'm not in Southern California so I didn't know. That makes sense though, I would've picked ALA over a con in Vegas. Only reason I went was because I was in Vegas for winter break.

>>8822420
They said at fanfest that the reason it's spaced out is because of content. They released and previewed so much stuff that year

>>8822420
Thank you for mentioning Super Toy Con, I wouldn't have known about it otherwise.

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>>8822636

Got one of the panel

>>8822562
They always had it that AA badge =/= Con Access, they just made it more obvious this year. Also what >>8822676 said the reasoning is probably because it is a public space. As much as I like to have the AA inside the actual event area, but I honesty don't know where it would go with how tiny it is inside. Just look at the dealer's room for example.

>>8823975
This is a different cyber group. They weren't the same group as the artist alley cyber group. They both had nice cosplays tho!

>>8824034
Planet Hollywood mezzanine and convention center is 88,000 square feet. Paris next door is 140,000 square feet.

Why can't they move to Paris and just combine artists alley and exhibit hall like all convention centers? They can also expand the exhibit hall in Paris and fit bigger booths.

>>8824044
I like this idea. I think somebody else mentioned Paris as well.
If they're not on contract and if it's within the same price range, then that could totally be an option for them.

>>8824044
I kinda prefer less exhibitors and more artist alley for small cons, but do agree that together is better. If anyone here has been to kraken con spring 2015, I think that set up was one of the best. It was one whole floor with a bigger artist alley than exhibitors. They also had like 4 other things going on around it, but it was so spacious that it worked. There was rock band in the corner near artist alley and it kept us all entertained, especially when a deadpool decided to sing. It was the best small con I've been to.
This only works if done well though. My sister went to level up and she said it was like this, but she didn't enjoy it so much. Said their Pokemon center was really sad. But I heard a lot of people enjoyed it too, maybe she just has high expectations?

Artist Alley felt quiet at Otakon Vegas and less energized... So having fun stuff to do around booths might make people gravitate towards the area.

>>8822535

There's not enough amenities or hotels near the con center. Most people don't want to take a thirty minute subway ride in cosplay to get to the con.

>>8824044

Rumors are they were going to move to the Linq but the function space was awful for an anime convention.

>>8824353
Pretty much this. It would've been nice for there to be something going on by the tables other than the registration. It's like everyone got their badges and went into the main area without even glancing over at AA.

>>8816415
Hey at least they're real

>>8808090
Yes

>>8821857
>Otakon Silicon Valley or Otakon San Diego would have made more money and have less local hostility.
Agreed, especially with Anime Conji on "hiatus" Otakon San Diego would work out well, Hanadoki is a new con and not too good

>>8827920
That's the only real thing about her. It's hilarious watching her burning bridges left and right for being such a two-faced bitch.

>>8828476
Is that the fatass zero suit samus cosplayer I saw who thinks she's all that?

>>8815712
Can't go into details, but I can say a number of things have happened, mostly for the best.

>>8819891
>>8820702

1/3

So.. I heard from a couple of people I may have been mentioned on here, so before I start off with my bit, I'd like to say I AM in the middle of putting together a convention - we're planning right now to host either the 1st or 2nd weekend of November. I have yet to make any large announcements due to the website still being under development. As I'm going to get into, there are a LOT of details as to running a successful convention - which, a number of them have been brought up here. We plan for the convention this year, but if I don't feel we can provide a satisfying convention as time gets closer, I'll push the dates no later than February of 2017 - however, that's not looking to be necessary so far.

Now, I've noticed the mention of a number of conventions in Vegas. Because I don't want to start any trouble with anyone, I won't specify any names, and only point out issues with Las Vegas conventions overall (at least, from my perspective). These are my conclusions after multiple experiences at/working with each of these conventions.

First - There is usually a bad balance between a business mindset and understanding of the audience. That's not to say that the directors themselves need to all balance between the two. There are tactics that work in a standard business model, but you still need to take into account whether or not it will work with your target audience - I've seen cases where this was ignored entirely. Thankfully, we haven't had too many cases where that balance is flipped, and they sympathize too much with their target audience and flop in managing the business and budgets themselves - BUT, that's still an issue.

2/3

Second - Venue/Usage of space for the convention. Choosing a location for the venue IS one of the most difficult parts of the convention, that's without question. You have to take into consideration your Dealer's Hall, Main Events room/concert halls, panel rooms, green rooms for staff/guests, game room if you'll be having one, and general lounge area for the guests to sit and relax. This is without even getting into whether or not you'll be hosting at a hotel venue or a regular convention center, as well. Then there's convenience of access, safety of the area, cost, food options in regards to either catering or being allowed to arrange for outside food... needless to say, there is a lot. And unfortunately, proper utilization of a given space, or even just choosing a poor venue - have both been consistent problems in the past.

I lied, 3/4

Third - Volunteer staff. Yeah, that's without a doubt on this list. In some cases, this isn't entirely the convention's fault - there ARE circumstances or events that can occur which aren't too easy to predict. What CAN be attributed to convention organization, is being understaffed, untrained, and misbehaved. There aren't many conventions that I've seen that take much time in their volunteer recruitment/training processes to get a good understanding of their staff. That's not to say there AREN'T many, but when I know I've staffed for Anime Expo a few years ago and have seen the effort they put in to get to know their teams, it's a clear cut difference.

Fourth - Entertainment/Incentive. What I mean by this is what sets a convention apart from another in it's itinerary - what it has to offer. Every anime convention has a dealer's hall, panel rooms, typically a game room, and in most cases a masquerade.Slacking on these will make your convention usually suffer as a whole. HOWEVER - There is the possibility of managing all of these perfectly, and still failing to draw a crowd. A convention is an experience - so when you're inviting someone out to your con, you want to be able to provide an experience that someone can't get as simply somewhere else. There was even a case where two conventions were held on the same dates, one had a particularly big headline guest, and the attendance to the other convention was fairly low the day he signed autographs. Though, this also applies in cases of entertainment like concerts, DJ's for raves, etc.
tl;dr on this one - If one convention has cool events and the other doesn't, which is more interesting?

4/4

Fifth - Public Relations/Internal Relations. This one has been a particular problem recently I've noticed. This is both the treatment of outside parties and attendees of the convention, AND the internal staff members themselves. There has been quite a lot of improper treatment of convention staff - be it disrespect, sexual harassment, abuse of power... I mean, there ARE obviously cases where staffers are at fault, or there are clear cases of insubordination, but those at the higher ends of the totem pole set a very poor image for their own conventions, ESPECIALLY when doing so in public, or publicly on social media.

There is still a lot more, but I figure this list is at least decent unless anyone ever feels like hearing more. I want to also once more point out that these are NOT directed towards one convention, but are summaries of general issues.

I feel like I know a lot of people on this board today... At least I know a lot of people from the images/comments. Weird times.

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>>8820597
She looks terrified. Did you blindside her or something?

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Man, this con was a let down two years in a row. Guess it's just one more con off the list.

>>8828638
Not him but she would make that face when someone took a photo of her. I think she was trying to make this face but forgot she isn't 2d.

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So who else hated the selection in the game room? I was so bored first day I brought project m the next day and ran it for a while. Nobody wanted to join though

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>>8828657
Thanks for not putting in my image even when it said it did.

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>>8828638
I know this chick, she is usually judging the Filthy Normies Probably why she made that face

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>>8828670
Tis' true

>>8828659
>project m
God, you people are literally the worst. Just move on already. Don't call yourself a fucking fan of Nintendo if you don't support their releases.

>>8829076
Yeaaaaah... Kinda done with how ridiculous some of that community has gotten. I rather not bash any smash community, but with how toxic the melee/pm community can be... Kinda done with it. Not to say that's for everyone.

Anyone have any more photos from the con?

>>8829081
Go on about the smash community. Do tell
I recently started getting involved with it. Maybe I should reconsider it

>>8829076
I had no choice. Brawl is garbage and I had my heart set on beating people who took the game too seriously.

>>8829114
Smash community -
Smash 64: Casual BROS usually, even when competetively.

Melee/Project M (exclusively): Try-hards who shit often on other of the smash scene. Alternatively, people who didn't like Brawl, tried Smash 4 and hated it, so reverted back here.

Brawl: More often enough are now Smash 4 players. Friendly scene, there are very few exclusive Brawl players remaining.

Smash 4: Surprisingly friendly and welcoming scene. Accepting of all games for the most part, a few toxic players and unfortunately stress inducers for high level players, but the general community is really good.

>>8829164
I'm a former Brawl player now Smash 4 -
Brawl was good, but I can't deny that with Smash 4 there's not much reason to play it outside of characters I miss. Smash 4 is just a generally healthy mix of the games. In my opinion, at least.

>>8829250
I just never noticed how floaty brawl was until I went back from Sm4sh. I would forgive it but I main Mario for FLUDD like a faggot, and it's 100% useless in brawl. Not that PM has it either, which is a shame.

>>8829250
They should've got BearUNLV to run a sm4sh tournament at this Con. WTFox at Anime Blues Con helps with numbers and theres a good amount of overlap between communities. I agree with your statements I thought the relationship between sm4sh and melee communities improved over the last year but Genesis proved that almost nothing has changed

>>8829257
I know the feeling, it's a REALLY strange reverse transition. I'm a Lucario main, from brawl to S4, and when I went back... Well, my combos were AMAZING going back, but recovering was awful, and it was like the reverse of what my normal problems are.

>>8829282
I love Bear! He's definitely been putting a lot of effort in, but with Otakon and Genesis being the same weekend, couldn't have happened.

And Genesis... yeah, I was there. It's kind of a mutual agreement that watching melee top 8 IS hype, but the general community... well, at the very least, the disagreements seem to be a little less vocal, though the problems are still there.

>>8829076
I have sm4sh and project m requires a brawl disc to play you dumb faggot. I brought it because I recently got it and it's fun

>>8829348
>>8829250
Game room stucked balls this year I went to anime revolution to play smash. Just sayin.