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[eHash]

I think a panel on day 0 and 1 that includes a tour of the op rooms in the marriot and takes people around the locations/sites of all the events perhaps with an introductory video going over what it takes to put on the con would be great.  I think there are many criticisms from attendees who don't understand or selfishly have a sense of entitlement that could change by understanding the effort it takes to put on the con.  Speaking from a previous staffer, I think it would also be a great opportunity to recruit volunteers and give them a better knowledge of the con before they step into a role and give out incorrect information.

[Melly]

i second this. i think it's a great idea ~

[Foxberry]

This is a really good idea. I agree. It's not necessarily for the fact that people are rude; it's more for the fact a lot of people can easily get turned around/lost in a convention so big.

[psycoreaper]

i think this is a good idea
it's gonna be my third fanime but i'm bringing some friends and ill be their first time so yeah i think it's a good idea

[PyronIkari]

While the idea and gesture is nice, I don't see how it's plausible. Taking a group of 60 people into a lot of these rooms is a clear fire hazard violation. As to which, I don't see how you would portray "the work" that goes into making the con work. It's hard to portray or show us sitting in front of our computers writing emails for hours at a time, writing budgets, getting contracts written/signed. Let alone the countless meetings and discussions about the smallest stuff that no one cares to see/hear about (but must be done).

I can't speak for others on this part, but, reviewing videos, editing music, editing videos, creating choreography, math. TONS AND TONS AND TONS AND TONS OF MATH. I do so much damned math preparing for Fanime that it's insane. Timing videos to fit alotted slots, judgments on times it takes things to happen, averaging how many people, how long they take, how much they spend, how long they stay based on how much they spend, how much money based on venue sizes.

While I'd love to be able to display to congoers just what goes on behind the scenes, I don't see how you'd be able to do that. I can screenshot my Fanime inbox, and show time lapsing of how many mailes I get/send but I don't think people would really find that educating. Nor the 10 or so Excel sheets I have open, my calculator, and my 20 or so notepad files with different lists of random information I try to keep track of a few weeks before the convention.

The best I can say it. Staffing for Fanime is like another job when you have a higher up position. You spend hours upon hours a week doing paper work, and things people get paid to do. Only we don't see a paycheck. Our pay is watching the SJCC get filled with tens of thousands of people in costumes, talking and meeting new people, smiling when they meet a guest, sit down at the maid cafe, laughing as they watch some anime they haven't seen before, buying that figure they've always wanted, purchasing an awesome piece of art from some artist, putting on their skit, taking photos of a cosplayer iof their favorite character, and dancing with their newly met friends.

If people want to know what happens behind the doors, then that's all it is. Hours of work, to see the attendees happy.

[eHash]

2 Trolls don't make a right?
Against my better judgement (and the fact that I can't fall asleep), I'm going to respond.

While the idea and gesture is nice, I don't see how it's plausible.

I completely disagree that it's not possible.  If I were to run the panel I'd do something similiar to tours that start out with a video (ie: college campus tours, corporate customer briefing center tours, etc).  A video would capture and efficiently show selected operations of interest that can't be physically visited or experienced due to any number of factors.  In just a few paragraphs you beautifully summarized a lot of the work that goes into producing an event. Acknowledging the different efforts and contributions of all the staff members through a "making of" style video can help internal morale as well s boost customer awareness.

Taking a group of 60 people into a lot of these rooms is a clear fire hazard violation.

Of course, why would you do something as irrational as that; walking down the hall and pointing out different rooms as you walk by, but not entering them can serve the same purpose.  Haven't you ever been on a bus tour? or even the jungle boat ride at disneyland?

As to which, I don't see how you would portray "the work" that goes into making the con work. It's hard to portray or show us sitting in front of our computers writing emails for hours at a time, writing budgets, getting contracts written/signed. Let alone the countless meetings and discussions about the smallest stuff that no one cares to see/hear about (but must be done).

The cliche is that "A picture is worth a 1000 words", but you concisely narrated and painted a realistic picture in a few words.  Even the bitterness is reflected in your last 15 words...

I can't speak for others on this part, but, reviewing videos, editing music, editing videos, creating choreography, math. TONS AND TONS AND TONS AND TONS OF MATH. I do so much damned math preparing for Fanime that it's insane. Timing videos to fit alotted slots, judgments on times it takes things to happen, averaging how many people, how long they take, how much they spend, how long they stay based on how much they spend, how much money based on venue sizes.

2 points:
(1) "Out of sight, out of mind";"ignorance is bliss"...any number of cliches could be used to negatively troll how people perceive operations, but at the end of the day, a brief, presentation to a few customers can help raise consumer awareness, interest, participation, or even enlightenment (LOL).  What is there to hide?
(2) On-site volunteers often miss the bulk of planning and work that goes into successful execution of events.  Regardless of their level of interest, understanding, or experience, their contribution is necessary, highly appreciated, and very valuable (at least to me, since I can't speak for other people )  Acknowledging their interest and contributions can also positively recruit for the future.
 

While I'd love to be able to display to congoers just what goes on behind the scenes, I don't see how you'd be able to do that. I can screenshot my Fanime inbox, and show time lapsing of how many mailes I get/send but I don't think people would really find that educating. Nor the 10 or so Excel sheets I have open, my calculator, and my 20 or so notepad files with different lists of random information I try to keep track of a few weeks before the convention.

The best I can say it. Staffing for Fanime is like another job when you have a higher up position. You spend hours upon hours a week doing paper work, and things people get paid to do. Only we don't see a paycheck. Our pay is watching the SJCC get filled with tens of thousands of people in costumes, talking and meeting new people, smiling when they meet a guest, sit down at the maid cafe, laughing as they watch some anime they haven't seen before, buying that figure they've always wanted, purchasing an awesome piece of art from some artist, putting on their skit, taking photos of a cosplayer iof their favorite character, and dancing with their newly met friends.

i'll add more later ...

[PyronIkari]

Things like tours and stuff at Disneyland/Universal studios are interesting because you get to see actual... interesting work being done. Animators, displays, and visual cues. That's different. It would be like getting a tour of my actual job. It's not interesting, fun, and there's really nothing to see. While informative, it doesn't matter if there's no entertainment factor. There's really nothing to gain other than "... oh... so this is what it's like to do it". Think about the places you visit on these tours. They skip over the boring stuff. You don't see the HR office, you don't see the scheduling director. You never see the people who discuss budgets. What do you see? Designers, set makers, artists. The ones who build and create the visual aspects.

There's nothing to hide, and if people want to know what it's like to be staff, they should attend staff meetings. Staff meetings are at least more amusing, because you get to see things happen. You get to see people discussing the actual, and see how conversations and ideas are pitched to see how things bloom. Meetings happen about once a month starting October, and become more frequent as Fanime gets close. Attend a meeting, see what staff does, and how things are udpated and the kind of things that we have to work with. If you are curious about how staff works, or thinking about becoming staff, this is the best way to see what we do. You won't see the overly detailed, and all the behind the scenes stuff, but you will more understand what we do. The general staff meetings are about an hour long, but can drag on longer in smaller groups according to how much needs to be discussed. I think the latest I've stayed was about 7pm. I've had meetings with my department that lasted like 6 hours, then ended with me going home and doing math for another 3 hours to see if evrything we talked about was realistic or not.

Staffing is a lot of work, and a lot of fun, but it's not something that can be shown in a short video, nor a tour. That's going to be, at best, an overglorified cut up mocking of what we actually do. If people want to really see what we do, go to a meeting... and see us actually doing it.

[Admiral Donuts]

If people want to know what happens behind the doors, then that's all it is. Hours of work, to see the attendees happy.

You're just saying that so we won't sneak in and see all the games and antics and the chainsaw juggling and the hippopotamuses that we all REALLY know is going on, aren't you!?

[Kava]

Hey E-Hash,

I kind of like this idea, but I don't think it's something that panel staff could take on. Many of my staff don't even arrive at con until day 1.

However, it could be a collaboration between Stage Zero staff and Info Desk staff. I'm not sure if I've seen this early enough for them to put anything together for this year, but I can throw the idea their way and it may see fruit in 2013.

-Rena

[eHash]

kava:
a video/documentary could be filmed at fanime 2012 and during the planning stages of 2013 to be debut'd at the 2013 con.
perhaps get marketing and volunteers involved.
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