Messages

No time has been finalized yet.

I'm concerned about the new AA location..will there be proper signage to inform everyone where we are? When Anime Los Angeles made a similar change, NO ONE even knew how to find us.

We are planning to have it listed everywhere there's a map as well as in all of our Info Desks. We might not be able to have signs outside, but we'll definitely have them listed everywhere we can.

I appreciate the not delaying the entry process, however there's a lot of vagueness I'd love to see clarified.
The current rules as posted do not match up with the email system you're using regarding entry information.

1) Will there be another follow up email that doesn't just acknowledge our email was received, but confirming we have a slot for the competition, or that we ended up on the waiting list?

2) How will we, or don't we need to submit more detailed information about the group members, characters, stage props, and other info that was traditionally asked of us?

3) How will we request craftsmanship judging?

Thank you for any procedural clarifications!

I had the same questions.  It was honestly a real surprise loading the site yesterday and seeing an e-mail address to send my Masquerade entry to, as opposed to a webform.  I'd also like to know the answers to these questions.

I have sent the messenger pigeon to get the attention of our Cosplay department heads. :)

Awesome job Fanime for bringing such a great anime active musical guest!!

Are they going to be our main band?

Maybe ;)

So if we need to edit our entry we have to do it through email?

That is correct. Trust me, our staff doesn't like doing things manually, but there just wasn't enough time and we had to decide between delaying it more or releasing it in some form. :)

looks like I snagged my spot, hopefully no one misses out because of that typo.

out of curiosity, will there be a profile system like there was last year where we can view our applications and make edits?

Not for this year. We ran out of time in order to implement something like this (and test it), so we just went with old fashion e-mail. :) It's on the todo list for FanimeCon 2014 though!

Read subject. Mind blown, right? :)

Don't forget about this either (quoted below for convenience).

Hey look, the AA agreement is available on the Fanime website: http://www.fanime.com/essentials/event-registration/#artist-alley

Registration will all be done online and should be coming up soon. In the next few days/hours we will announce when we will open AA reg. Until then, take a look at the agreement and DO NOT attempt to mail in the completed agreement, that will NOT secure you a table.

Updated to reflect 7PM opening time.

Do people who pre-register get the fanime schedule ahead of time?  This is my first time pre-registering, but I've attended and registered at con the past few years and always have disliked not seeing the programming schedule until I arrive.

We try to get the schedule posted as soon as possible, but most of the video programming schedule (and some others) aren't available until the week before FanimeCon. Keep an eye out on our website.

[NO MATTER WHAT]

Things that would actually make people happier? Are usually going to be things that aren't so easy to do.

A firm and absolute promise that not only will the registration be available, but that accounts will be properly approved or denied before the hotel cancellation deadline, even if that means having to skimp on the portfolio approvals. Because as it stands there are fears that even if registration eventually opens people will have to drop out because they didn't know in time. If there is an absolute commitment that tables will be approved before deadline NO MATTER WHAT even if it means doing registration by hand on paper forms, then the fretting will calm down.

Another options would be some sort of carrot being offered to make up for the disruption, like allowing artists to register for the convention at a discount, or a special artists-only line at pre-registration at the convention so that checking in would be speeded up. For that people would forgive a lot!

Explaining what went wrong is probably not the best answer because, while I don't know what really happened, there's a chance that it involves drama and things that would embarrass people and are not good to make public, and there's a chance that the public would massively nitpick the explanation, point out a million solutions that could have been tried instead, and generally rage.

With all the kerfuffle about the location and one trip into the hall with one's merchandise, having a separate badge pick up for AA would be ideal and very appreciated.

Replying to both as they kind of overlap. Our registration department is looking to see if there's anyway that we can have a special line. Don't take this as confirmed as I don't have the most up-to-date information, but this is one of the ways that they're looking to ease the congestion of picking up your badge.

I can't promise anything that might or might not change for FanimeCon 2014, but we will do what we always do every year after the convention - figure out what went right and what went wrong and see what we can do to improve on that for future years.

Hi. I'm a derp and forgot to Pre-Reg. Is the early Registration badges still laminated? o-o;
WEIRD QUESTION I KNOW.

We are trying something new that we hope will improve time this year, so badges aren't laminated but will be a shiny plastic. :D

Hello,
I would like ask, where do we register for masquerade?
Is there or will there be a link for us to click on to sigh up?
Thank you very much!

http://www.fanime.com/events-and-exhibits/events/cosplay-spectacular/

Website will be updated with registration information at 11:59 AM (the current website says 11:59PM which is a typo).

I wasn't able to go last year because I forgot my ID, but I was wondering if there is a schedule to what kind of yaoi anime or live shows they screen, so I can know if I want to actually go and watch it, or is just supposed to be a pleasant surprise?

The schedule of events should appear in our schedule. As of now, it's too early to tell what programming will be on it.

If you are a professional member (that is, you have a press or industry badge), you can purchase a one-day pass in order to participate. However, keep in mind that you will not be able to go in between the press area and the prep area during the masquerade.

Well you do have to remember that Fanime is doing two cons at the same time. So as much work as a single con goes fanime staff have twice as much work to do. Which is kind of odd to me, why hold two cons at the same time? As much as I love Steam Punk, I chose Fanime. Its really not fair, I feel like I'm letting the Clockwork Alc. staff down by not attending.

Keep in mind that anyone can run X events at the same time with Y staffers. Keep in mind that it is possible to attend both events - we had numerous staffers and attendees attend both. I, personally, think that it's better to have more than enough programming than too little. :P

But rumors are all we have since there is zero info posted up on the main site and facebook/twitter. Personally I would rather have a lot of "We are working on bringing great guests this year so please wait for further info" instead of a blank site. Hopefully Fanime will bring out a schedule out earlier this year. We all know how that ended up last year.

Keep in mind that we have ways for you guys and gals to interact with the staff such as posting questions our FB, Twitter, these forums, and in some cases, e-mail. We have been giving steady updates, but there's only so many times you can say "we're working on it" before people come to their own conclusion.

Just curious whether there will be open slots this year again for Stage Zero! If so, how long, how many mics, and what times?

Thanks!

You have to go to the fanime website to get the email address to sign up
. You need to request a time slot which lasts 15 minutes . Up to four mics. Times and days are on the website. Deadline is 3/30/13.

http://www.fanime.com/events-and-exhibits/exhibits/stage-zero/requesting-time-on-stage-zero/

Sign up requests are here. We'll put it up in a more visible place.

Wow, so soon? You'd think they'd be announcing this far and wide or something...

Posts are going up later today. :)

Sounds more like they're holding out on us. Despite having so many registrations from both the recent pre-reg and the after con registration we still have yet to be updated about upcoming events and guests that could/would be making an appearance. You'd think they would have more than enough funds to cover for more guests this year. We're already nearing the day of the con and it feels like these late updates are cheating the con-goers that attend to actually see the guests of honor. Compared to last year's Fanime, this year seems to be running much slower. If all doesn't go as well as many of us would expect and we end up with "last-minute" guests, this year would feel like a complete rip-off.

There are a lot of different things that go into running a convention. I don't expect everyone on the outside to understand everything and these variables change from convention to convention. I will say, that going around and posting speculation doesn't help anyone and only aids in spreading rumors.

Yes during open hours. Who would notice people handing you things throughout the day? Even if they did, I dont think it would matter as I out it breaks anything withing the contract.

Friendly reminder that not only do FanimeCon staff monitor the forums, but San Jose Convention Center and union reps too. By attempting to skirt around the rules, *we* get in trouble. Remember that this rule is being enforced due to others breaking rules. We try to make FanimeCon fun for everyone, but breaking the rules is why we can't have nice things.

[Edit: Also, I'm locking this thread as it's gotten a bit out of hand.]

Alright, I'm going to put this up saying that I have since resolved my confusion and that my initial anger has faded.  While I still find the entire situation quite irritating, I at least have an understanding of why the rule was added and can admit that I overreacted some.  However, I would like to suggest that in the future, when making such rules or policy changes, please at least give us a little blurb about why it is being put in place. Especially when the change effects the artists alley/ artists so drastically.  For example, I didn't know about the union so to me the change seemed entirely unfair.  My confusion was not helped by the wording of the new rule because there was no mention that suitcases would not be include in the "other mechanical equipment" category.  I would seriously recommend making sure this is made know or stated in the rules.  Even a quick few sentences saying, "Here's this new rule, we have had to put it in place. This is why, here are the exceptions (aka suitcases), please try and abide by this new change. Thank you, and sorry for any inconvenience." would have been great and my problem would have been resolved and I would never have started this thread.

Thank you, and I will do my best to adjust how I move my inventory.

Keep in mind that we can't explain all of the new changes in a quick, short blurb and our goal is to try to keep all of this documentation down in pages (who wants to read through a 100 page document?). For example, you weren't aware of the unions while some people have no idea what a union is (not sure how long that explanation would be).

It's why we have so many ways of contacting us, so we can answer your questions (no matter how big or small). Otherwise, we would have locked this thread early and just said "because it's the new rule!" :P

Its all about red tape.  I dont think Fanime can do anything about this because it is probably a Convention center rule or city rule.

We can continue to work to the best of our abilities for everyone involved. :)