So how bout that Maid Cafe eh?

Started by Mister_E, December 11, 2007, 05:30:58 PM

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Mister_E

I hear it's quite something. Wouldn't you agree?

And how much does stuff cost there? The Laughing Man is on a set budget!
A.K.A. "Mr. Zeon Flag" Laughing Man MK. VI: with Power Ranger Gloves, Mustache and Zeon Flag in hand is 100%

KamijoIsLove

Last I recall there was a bunch of dispute about how 'authentic' it was. But really, I don't think authenticity is such an issue...it was a fun, innovative idea, and I hope it does return. ^^ ;

Perhaps since it was such a success, they will be able to tweak it and manage it better. And perhaps expand its space, too~? That might've been a reason for the insane lines...

Persephone

The authenticity is part of the appeal of a maid cafe in my opinion. 

At a real maid cafe, the waitresses would entertain you by talking to you, getting to know you, and being quite cozy with you.  That didn't happen at this year's Maid Cafe, all they really did was just serve you overpriced food.  >shrugs<  I think it was successful though, but the appeal of a maid cafe is the interaction between your hostess and you.

Mister_E

Define overpriced? Like the soda machines charged $4.00 now that's overpriced? Is the Maid Cafe like that like a cup of tea cost an Arm and a Leg?
A.K.A. "Mr. Zeon Flag" Laughing Man MK. VI: with Power Ranger Gloves, Mustache and Zeon Flag in hand is 100%

zoupzuop2

If I may answer that question, though I may not do it justice:

The food was priced the way the convention center wanted it to be priced. As for authenticity... true, Maids (and sometimes, butlers) at Maid Cafes are there to be very friendly with you during your stay; however, such a level of... err, "coziness" is difficult to explain to the legal people here in the States. Thus, it was run as more of a "restaurant with costumes and photos". Needless to say it went rather well.

I imagine some changes will be made at this year's Maid Cafe. Look forward to it, I know I am. (I might or might not assist this time, but I will most definitely be there!)
Haven't been here much since '09. I said some stupid, stupid things before (and after) that.

Mister_E

Okay then, I'll just set some of my funding for that day.
A.K.A. "Mr. Zeon Flag" Laughing Man MK. VI: with Power Ranger Gloves, Mustache and Zeon Flag in hand is 100%

otakuapprentice

Quote from: zoupzuop2 on December 12, 2007, 03:13:47 PM
If I may answer that question, though I may not do it justice:

The food was priced the way the convention center wanted it to be priced. As for authenticity... true, Maids (and sometimes, butlers) at Maid Cafes are there to be very friendly with you during your stay; however, such a level of... err, "coziness" is difficult to explain to the legal people here in the States. Thus, it was run as more of a "restaurant with costumes and photos". Needless to say it went rather well.

I imagine some changes will be made at this year's Maid Cafe. Look forward to it, I know I am. (I might or might not assist this time, but I will most definitely be there!)
zoup pretty much said it right there.

I'm sure there will be some minor/major tweaks to how it will run for next year, so we'll have to wait and see(i might also be helping out with this, but time constraints/other pending events might prevent this)
Time And Relative Dimension In Space.

KamijoIsLove

Quotehowever, such a level of... err, "coziness" is difficult to explain

Can you try to explain for an idiot's sake? xD ; I mean, if you go to any good restaurant, and if you're social with the servers, they usually stop to hang out and chat with you (though not on the level of a maid cafe, I'm sure).

Just wondering. >.< I know nothing of maid cafes. Do they literally just hang around? Talk? Snuggle? O_o ;

*confused*

PyronIkari

Seeing that I was the main focus of that discussion I'll answer it.

Maid cafes and the such vary greatly in how they operate and their main theme etc. Some cater towards a certain genre(olden style maids) or new-age maids, for mecha-otaku, compared to general standards. They have themes and all kinds of other things according to which one you go to, and in which area.

The main point is that... they are maids. Not just in costume, but in action. They are there, unbiased, willing to serve and care for their masters. To make them feel comfortable, at home, and know that their maid is doing what they can to make their masters feel comfortable and loved. In terms of limits, not all of them have the maids touching the customers, but just a lot of non-judgmental interaction. Playing a game with them, electronic, board, paper, verbal, or otherwise. Or maybe just conversationing about what happened to them, asking them about work, or school and trying to make them feel better. If they say their job sucks, the maid can just motivate and encourage them. Talk about whatever "unaccepted horrible hobby/fetish/gross habit" the patron wants without judging or anything like that.

The way it worked at Fanime were that 2 maids did more than just serve food and act like they were hot because they were in maid outfits(won't bother saying who those two maids were). For the most part, everyone I know that went to the maid cafe, whose opinion actually has a little bit of merit, said the same thing about that to me.

The prices weren't that expensive, seeing that everything in the convention center is about that price.

Basically, last time, I threw out a bunch of things about what they stated was their plans were wrong, and what they could/should do. Then they said "We can't because of regulations from the convention center". Then I said "well give me a list of these regulations, and I'll tell you hat you kind do to get around them, and the things that wouldn't be restricted". They told me they can't do things because of regulations and didn't send me anything. So they kept talking, and I kept talking about how they're doing it wrong, and things that are vital. They bitched at me, I shot back.

The end result was what I said it would be. People will go, not knowing what to expect, get something that has nothing to do with a Maid Cafe, and be satisfied anyways because of ignorance. The ones that do know anything will be extremely disappointed.

The "butler cafes" were just as bad at every other con that had them. What it comes down to, people don't care about the content or the quality, as the name is associated with something Japanese, and that's good enough to make them super happy.

Jun-Watarase

The maid cafe was a huge success, but probably only because it was its debut year and people were curious. As an attraction, all it really is was a cafe with prepackaged food served by girls in matching maid uniforms, rather than an authentic maid cafe.

An authentic maid cafe was nearly impossible, though-- A lot of what maids would've done in an authentic maid cafe would either invade personal space (By American standards) or violate strict health laws. (Mixing coffee for the customer at his/her table violated a health law.) If neither of those were a problem, a lot of the ideas what we COULD'VE done were also rejected, because they were considered awkward by an American audience, such as greeting the customer with "Welcome home, Master", or referring to the customer as "master" at all.

But the staff tried their best. There were just way too many limits. The main thing basically was you were being served food and drinks by a maid, and asked about every 10 minutes to see how you were doing, just like in a regular cafe. If you wanted, you could take a photo in the photo corner in the cafe. Though, as a maid, I was at least able to sit down and have conversations with the people who came by themselves... and make paper stars for them. 0_-v

Email me at [email protected] if you want to be a maid! Sign ups close in March! Hurry!
FanimaidCafe.com

Mister_E

Screw personal space, if girls in maid outfits came near me, I'd be beside myself! Why do we Americans have to be so picky! Thank Ishbala that I'm over 1/4th British. They can call me Master/Overlord/Grand Puba (sp?) Or All around Great Guy! LET LOOSE LADIES! The Laughing Man will open up with arms so wide! Oh and we can chat as well!
A.K.A. "Mr. Zeon Flag" Laughing Man MK. VI: with Power Ranger Gloves, Mustache and Zeon Flag in hand is 100%

KamijoIsLove

Ah, I see. Thank you for the enlightenment. : )

I understand your disappointment, then, but at the same time I see how all those little technicalities could amount into one grand mess. In terms of 'success,' if it attracts customers, then it is strategical to have the cafe, yes?

In terms of keeping with an authentic maid cafe, though, perhaps it would be best not to have it since it seems it would just be impossible to recreate it in its pure form. Or maybe the cafe could just be that; a cafe with people dressed as maids, since maids are commonplace in anime anyway, right? (Probably being totally naive in saying that, since I'm not well versed in anime). If people see it simply as a cafe with girls / boys in cosplay rather than expecting an authentic cafe, there will be no dispute?

As long as the customers are happy... >.> ;;; ?

Totally stumbling around in the dark. But I agree. I'd love a maid girl to snuggle. xD;

'Kay I'm done being an idiot now. .__.

PyronIkari

Quote from: KamijoIsLove on December 13, 2007, 01:45:12 AM
Ah, I see. Thank you for the enlightenment. : )

I understand your disappointment, then, but at the same time I see how all those little technicalities could amount into one grand mess. In terms of 'success,' if it attracts customers, then it is strategical to have the cafe, yes?

In terms of keeping with an authentic maid cafe, though, perhaps it would be best not to have it since it seems it would just be impossible to recreate it in its pure form. Or maybe the cafe could just be that; a cafe with people dressed as maids, since maids are commonplace in anime anyway, right? (Probably being totally naive in saying that, since I'm not well versed in anime). If people see it simply as a cafe with girls / boys in cosplay rather than expecting an authentic cafe, there will be no dispute?

As long as the customers are happy... >.> ;;; ?

Totally stumbling around in the dark. But I agree. I'd love a maid girl to snuggle. xD;

'Kay I'm done being an idiot now. .__.

That's one of my issues though. The entire concept was brought up because "Maid Cafes" have been a popular subject overall. They've been appearing in different cartoons, have been focal points of different shows(Maid in Akihabara, Akihabara@deep, Densha Otoko and the such). So the only reason it's appearing at conventions is for those said reasons. "It's big in Japan right now, we should do it to!" But then what happens is nothing close to what it's supposed to be. Then ignorant people go to the conventions and go "WOW MAID CAFE!" and think that's what it's supposed to be like, and enjoying it regardless because "It's Japanese! These are popular in Japan! I LIKE JAPANESE STUFFS!"

Why have a "maid cafe" instead of just a cosplay cafe then? It'd be 50x easier and accomplish the exact same thing realistically right? Most of the people though, won't care to go to a cosplay cafe, there's cosplayers everywhere, what's special about it? It doesn't have the appeal of "ZOMG THESE ARE POPULAR IN JAPAN!" So basically, it's popular, because it's banking off the ignorance of the patrons. Basically you're taking money from people that are stupid and don't know any better by shoveling them a super inferior product, and giving off the illusion that it's authentic Japanese thing.

"Come to our super awesome Maid Cafe!"(which has been all the buzz lately in comics/cartoons/dramas and in them that's where all the cool otaku go, despite ours being nothing like it outside of the name of being a maid cafe where you will get seated and pay convention center prices for food and our waitresses do nothing special outside of what they're wearing sometimes acting rather irritating and rarely do anything maid like but you don't know any better so you will give us your money anyways).

Frankly, I think it's bad of fanime to do that, when it's supposed to be a con of fans for fans. Banking on the ignorance of its con-goers is not something that I think should be done.

FinalShadows

I just thought the cramp space of the cafe caused a huge line that took about an hour to get through. Anyhow, I thought it went well, and hope new and improved ideas will come for 08!
Who should I call next? The Shrimp?

AngelKawaii

I was a maid last year/this year, whatever year you want to call it. Yep, the space was tiny and the skirts too poofy and they kept hitting stuff. Anyway, we were stuck with a tiny place because it was a first year thing and noone knew how it would turn out, so they stuck us in a tiny courner and watched how things went.

As prices for the food. They were reasonable enough...my cafeteria food costs more then that and you get less of it.

I wasn't there the whole day, so I don't know how other maids acted or responded or did. So, i can't say if the actions were authentic or not. But due to the "no touchy rule" maids couldn't be "cozy", if you know what I mean, wioth people. there were a lot of underage people who were maids and there are laws against older people and underage people.

I think that each year that Fanime does the Cafe it will keep getting better and better. I think we did quite well for the first year, got lots of input and are working on it.

I think, don't quote me on it, we might be getting a bigger place this year.

PyronIkari

QuoteI wasn't there the whole day, so I don't know how other maids acted or responded or did. So, i can't say if the actions were authentic or not. But due to the "no touchy rule" maids couldn't be "cozy", if you know what I mean, wioth people. there were a lot of underage people who were maids and there are laws against older people and underage people.

You don't have to touch someone to achieve this. All it takes is a soft voice, a compliment, some word choice, and carrying yourself with a certain calm demeanor. That' something none of the maids did at all.

lyricaldanichan

I was wondering why they didn't use the Snack bar area in the dealer's room to do the Maid Cafe. Not only it would get a lot of people in the dealers room but it would give more room/space to have it. I am gonna take a wild guess that the union people prevented that from happening? lame if that is true :(

KamijoIsLove

Ah, well, if it was a first time thing, it's still in experimental stage, hai? Improvements will come as they should. ^^

I shall look forward to this event, then. The training to be an authentic maid sounds like an extensive project, though, so I doubt it should have been expected of the staff last year, unless they trained rigorously for the position.

Will it be expanded, then, since it was quite crowded last year?

Jerry

#18
*steps on Soap box... Ahem*

Everyone is entitled to their opinions, views, and 2 cents...

Being part of the project myself, I admit that improvements/conscructive critics are sometimes necessary to make this "authentic" experience... but of course we also have some social and logistic boundaries....

Unlike our 'cool' japanese counterparts, our staff is purely voluntary most of whom never been to a maid cafe or had any extensive training and thus we can't give what some everyone what they want as an "enlightening" experience.

Yes, we had a small cramped space, because it was out first try. We were assuming small turn out, (considering we wanted to keep things small and experiemental) and that was the best space we could manage at the time.

Yes, we had limitions with food service because of public/legal and union policies...
You try messing with Lawyers and Punal Codes....

Yes, are maid are encouraged to interact with our patrons but we did not force them to interact/contact/flirt/embrace was their choice. You really want to force a girl to call someone "master"? thats a whole other debate I'd rather not get into now...

Yes, I understand the "fanboy stereotypical maid" in question is subsurvent to the letter, but we really dont want these 'actions' to be misinterpreted. 

Yes, Overall we have fun... 'successful' is a realtive term, we did it; we didnt have any major disasters, and for the most part patrons and staff had a good time.

However - Lots of Negative/Slanted press was also present. Some comments were borderline comparing us to an "escort" services which is definately NOT the image Fanime nor our staff wanted to present... but nontheless it happened.

Believe it or not as with MANY of the events with Fanime there will always be LEGAL issues with a project/fan service like this.

You think Fanime happens overnight? I Beg to differ.

Please be reasonable/respectible with your comments...

We're not that were trying to "mislead" our dedicated Fanime-goers with a 'Lame interpretation' or a 'Maid Cafe'... We know that the fans deserve better than that... but also remember the whole 'For Fans by fans' also potentially means an ameteurish result from time to time... so please bear with us.

Yes, just like anything new, we're a fluid and adaptable concept/event.

We honestly can't please everyone, and if you don't like it, please take your negative vibes somewhere else please.

I respect and deeply appreciate everyone's effort to helping this project last year so anyone still interested, we will be recruiting for Fanime 2008 sooner or later.

We will be getting a larger area with Extended hours. Among taking as many new 'improvements' for next year.

If you wish to discuss this further please free to do so...

Just again please keep this in mind this is UNOFFICIAL not to be confused with what actually can/will happen next year.

Play nice. Thats a good rule of thumb.

Thanks.
*step off soap box*
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jerry.pang


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Kazuko

The maid cafe was alright from what I saw but it could use some improvements x: like all begining projects criticism is important as much as a compliment.

A tether pole thing (like the ones they have for lines at the movies) would be nice to regulate the line so it wouldnt be so confusing

>: the security was kind of mean to our group because some friends and I decided to get a reservation (hell no I was not going to wait in the line) but as soon as we walked up the security guy was like GET BACK IN LINE WAIT YOUR TURN kind of thing, we had to explain ourselfs that we wanted to make a reservation =\

I hope the outfits get a makeover, they didnt look as what the designs made them to be.

Hopefully this year I get to work in the cafe :3 I had to back out last time because of financial restraints.

Being cozy with a customer shouldnt be all that bad, it doesnt need to involve touch like pyron said