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FanimeCon: Participate, Join, Create => Ideas and Suggestions => Topic started by: mdarkpoet on May 30, 2011, 01:08:49 PM

Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: mdarkpoet on May 30, 2011, 01:08:49 PM
SCHEDULES - everyone was extremely agitated about the lack of scheduling. I know that things happen, I know that things don't all get done, but the schedules? T_T please have them next year

KARAOKE ROOM - bigger songs lists, Fanime 2010 had a huge list of possibilities for the Open Mic people, only on Sunday night did they have access to extra songs when I took part in the Gong Show (have Gong Show staff in charge of Karaoke room in full? they know what they're doing)

ARTIST'S ALLEY - better designated entrance and exit, I know the Dealer's Hall and Game Hall had them, why not Artist's Alley? It's as easy as separating one half of the door from the other so instead of everyone crowding in or out or both at the same time have it more understandable.

BADGES - please be sure to e-mail EVERYONE before pulling their badges out if they are participating in Swap Meet. A huge number of people had their badges pulled, waited in line for hours, only to find they didn't even really have to.

PANELS - please give the previous panels a 5-minute window of time to exit the panel room, that way the people in the previous panel aren't rudely booted out of the room for accidentally going 3 minutes over the time limit like at the Gaia Feedback Panel where the next panel kicked us out. Panels can sometimes go over the limit, it's an accident, please don't be rude when asking people to leave.



thanks for taking the time to read my suggestions, see you all at Fanime 2012 (unless the world ends, then see you guys, yanno, around XD lol)
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Jimbly on May 30, 2011, 03:41:54 PM
Schedules: Loved the digital schedule!  Make it interactive? Though I know the printed schedules were missed, and are a necessity for most people, I loved the digital schedule (the "Gridtacular" one).  Previous years I printed out the pocket schedule before the con, and highlighted things I wanted to see, which wasn't too bad, but slightly annoying especially now that I don't have a good printer.  This year I was able to just use the grid schedule, do some trivial HTML editing to highlight the boxes of things I was interested in, and access it from my phone at any time, and it was much more convenient (especially with the links to descriptions of things available at my fingertips).  Adding in functionality so people could toggle the color of individual blocks and hide rows they're not interested in would be a nice addition so the general masses could have a similar thing as what I enjoyed (my schedule ended up looking like this - worked great on a smart phone - http://thesilentb.com/fanime/ (http://thesilentb.com/fanime/) ).
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Niya on May 30, 2011, 06:26:34 PM
Obviously, schedules, as was said above.  This is a big convention, and many of the biggest events are going to have a nice set schedule.  It seems as though this should be really obvious, and I'm really curious why there wasn't a schedule in our bag, or in the program guide itself.

This is rather gripe-y, but seriously, the rules thing has to be addressed, along with the staff/rovers/rule enforcement people.

I don't know exactly how to put it other than there is a great discrepancy between Fanime con and PAX Prime/East in this regard.  I don't understand why, but there are many people who are volunteering to keep the con safe and run in an orderly fashion, but actually deciding that they now have authority and must exercise it.

It can make it very not fun to be there.

And yes, I'm going to bring up the free hugs shirts and military uniforms.  How exactly do either of these things put people in danger?  If someone is going to be invading the US, we've got bigger problems than breaking a con rule.  Likewise, if paramilitary terrorists want to try and take over the SJCC while Fanime is going on, that's a much bigger problem and no rule is going to prevent it.

The "free hugs" thing... seriously?  If the person wearing it doesn't want them, they can just not wear it.  Anime fandom is a "small" niche community and it's nice to have things to share with other members of that community.  A little physical affection isn't going to destroy the world.

But yes. More planning (schedules printed, time between panels, clear flow for entering/leaving large areas) and more focus on ensuring safety and smooth flow of events, less on "We're in charge now, NO ORANGE SNEAKERS!"
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Tsu on May 30, 2011, 06:48:45 PM
Quote from: mdarkpoet on May 30, 2011, 01:08:49 PM
SCHEDULES - everyone was extremely agitated about the lack of scheduling. I know that things happen, I know that things don't all get done, but the schedules? T_T please have them next year

KARAOKE ROOM - bigger songs lists, Fanime 2010 had a huge list of possibilities for the Open Mic people, only on Sunday night did they have access to extra songs when I took part in the Gong Show (have Gong Show staff in charge of Karaoke room in full? they know what they're doing)

ARTIST'S ALLEY - better designated entrance and exit, I know the Dealer's Hall and Game Hall had them, why not Artist's Alley? It's as easy as separating one half of the door from the other so instead of everyone crowding in or out or both at the same time have it more understandable.

BADGES - please be sure to e-mail EVERYONE before pulling their badges out if they are participating in Swap Meet. A huge number of people had their badges pulled, waited in line for hours, only to find they didn't even really have to.

PANELS - please give the previous panels a 5-minute window of time to exit the panel room, that way the people in the previous panel aren't rudely booted out of the room for accidentally going 3 minutes over the time limit like at the Gaia Feedback Panel where the next panel kicked us out. Panels can sometimes go over the limit, it's an accident, please don't be rude when asking people to leave.



thanks for taking the time to read my suggestions, see you all at Fanime 2012 (unless the world ends, then see you guys, yanno, around XD lol)

That sucks about the swap meet badges. The LEAST they could've done was alerted the rovers/line monitors to shout it at the line periodically like they were doing with telling us it was pre/early reg only.
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Rhornez on May 30, 2011, 07:42:49 PM
I have a huge suggestion, have specific sections for the masquerade like
ALL walk ons first
ALL dances first
ALL ACTUAL skits first
etc.

I was disappointed with the con this year about so many things but the masquerade had no originality in my opinion i saw too many dances and yaoi too much for my taste.
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Alexie828 on May 30, 2011, 08:01:11 PM
There needs to be recycle bins in the Artist Alley. I had to walk all the way outside just to look for a recycle can to dump paper scraps, paper bags, and plastic items. I think Artist Alley is a pretty good place to put recycling bins. I like how there are some in the main hall, but putting more in the other rooms would be good too, especially since some artists tend to trash a lot while cleaning up.
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: meradragon on May 30, 2011, 08:19:06 PM
I apologize if this is long...

first of all, I'm an artist, so this will be almost entirely devoted to Artist Alley, which I didn't leave except for possibly an hour, total.  I also deal at other cons and have friends who make their living using cons, and this is my overall experience:

Overall:
Pro: I had a good time.  Sales were about 2/3 smaller than what I'm used to at other cons, but I can base this on wares (I do mostly children's book style art, and didn't have time to prepare any specific fanart, or recognizable characters), but overall, sales were ok, and the artists I spoke to are planning on returning next year. people were friendly and other than one or two annoying people (who, if asked kindly to respect that we were working, did such), no complaints!  The people were lovely, and I found myself speaking more than usual.
Con: SO DISORGANIZED!
I understand it's a much bigger con, but compared to all of the other cons I've attended and sold art at, Fanime felt like it could have been run a little tighter.  This was my first anime con in ten years to be fair, but there were a number of things that went on that annoyed me and a number of my artist friends (some whom make their living via cons) that would be relatively easy to fix. I recognize that Fanime is HUGE, but I feel that the staff just needs to keep pushing themselves :)!

Pre-Reg:
I had the most issues with pre-reg.  I feel it should have been easy (Sign up for AA table, receive a confirmation of sign up letter,  receive confirmation in a fair amount of time, pay table, good, write to staff with any issues.)  and yet... it wasn't.  As I understand, there is a HUGE amount of people, so I understand SOME delay time, but I didn't receive any word of whether or not I was accepted/declined/on a waiting list for weeks after I signed up.  A friend of mine received an email that her table was declined for no reason we could fathom, and once asked about, the decision was reversed and the table given to her.  I should mention she's guest of Honor at a con next weekend, and has been working cons for years, so she's no rookie.

Email communication:  Again, understand the con is huge but PLEASE incorporate a system that sends automated emails that your stuff has been received.  I was writing very important emails for weeks that remained unanswered.  While it may not be a big deal for people who don't do art professionally to lose a table and just enjoy the con, I only attend cons to sell.  I don't have the money to spend on travel, hotel fares, gas, food, etc without an income in return as this literally IS my (and some other's) source of income.  It's rather terrifying to be told that if you don't OK issues with staff that you'll lose your table, and then staff not return emails in a prompt manner.

And, to put this into perspective, I had another potentially big issue with the con I'm dealing at next weekend, and I wrote an email to the man who runs that con as well as 12 others (or 16.  It was a high number), and not only did he respond within two hours with an answer, but I've received a phone call in the past when I had a major issue.  I understand I hit them up at a good time, I'm sure, but I've always received a response within a couple business days, while it was taking weeks to just OK the information of someone to watch over my table when it should have taken less than a week.

Tables NOT INCLUDING A BADGE:  This seems really silly to me.  Why don't tables include a badge?  I mean, if I have a table, I'm selling, right?  I would MUCH RATHER pay $100+ up front that includes my badge than wait for the table, wait for the badge, blah blah blah.  Again, see above that I do this professionally.  I literally CAN NOT go to cons that I do not sell at.  This is the same for many artists I know, and I heard many people complaining about this.  Again, every other con I go to includes the badge price with the table.  If this is not happening due to multiple people running tables, just have it written clearly that a table comes with ONE badge.  That's how all over cons I attend word it.  If you have additional members, you receive one assistant tag automatically, and then have to request more, and these do not count as badges, but instead work as the sticker did in allowing secondary members into the dealer room.  This also made registration far more efficient for artists, as you would receive your badge at the same time you registered the table/dropped off the temp. seller's permit.  

Artist Ally:
Overall, the ally itself was set up well.  It was easy getting around and the tables appeared set up well.  I was too busy to get to the dealer's hall, so I'll guess it was run in a similar fashion.
However, again, I had issues with sign in.
Signs: oh goodness me SIGNS SIGNS SIGNS!  Why were there no signs!?  I was at my university graduation on Friday so had to come in Saturday (arranged a friend to cover the table Friday).  Anyway, I get into the con, have to ask a janitor where registration is, seeing no signs (to be fair, I came in through a back door, but registration is important enough there should be signs pointing to it).  I finally found the registration line, but it was COMPLETELY UNMARKED!  It's not even like Fanime has to invest in signs.  Just print off 100 or so 8.5x11 photocopies of "REGISTRATION" "PRE-REGISTRATION" or arrows or something, and put them in strategic locations throughout the con.  I had no idea if I was in the right line, where the right line was, etc, and apparently lots of others had the same problem, because thirty minutes later when a staffer announced that pre-reg had to move elsewhere tons of people groaned as they ran out of the line, having waited for long periods of time in the wrong place.

There should have also been more printed signs and maps of the different locations the con offers.  I almost never had any idea where I was walking, or how to get to some location.

from here:
STAFF INFORMATION:  Most of my questions were about Artist's Ally.  How to get there, where it was, where to check in at the ally, and where the art panel show/silent auction was.  Thing was that NO ONE KNEW THE ANSWERS!  I would walk from staff member to staff member, asking them questions, and they'd spend some time trying to figure it out, get confused, express they don't know, ask a fellow staff member, express that person also didn't know, and send me somewhere else where no one knew.  One time I was told I should ask an artist by a staff member.
I do think they were very friendly, and I have no qualms with them trying to help me, but the fact that no one knew how to answer any of these questions was rather annoying.  There should have either been signage, or else the staffers needed to learn the layout of the con better.

stickers: The stickers are nice, but um... almost impossible to see?  I feel like this significantly hinders the ability of the bouncers (Ha, I don't know the proper term here) to prevent non stickered people from entering the con in set up and take down hours.  This IS an issue, as there are expensive products all about.  I didn't have a reason to distrust anyone, but upon realizing that my friend's boyfriend who helped her the whole con was let in early for all set up and allowed to remain for all closing hours never received a sticker or applied as an assistant is disconcerting.
Other cons I go to have a specific unique badge for all dealers (again, realize I'm at an Artist Ally here, so didn't see how dealers were treated), that is colored differently from the other tags, and each artist was given one clip on assistant tag they could give to a helper.  From here the ushers were VERY strict on "NO TAG, GET OUT" and it made me feel all kinds more safe with my stuff.
If Fanime wants to keep costs low, this is again a simple solution.... make the paper for artist ally badges red rather than yellow.  and then you can still do the tiny stickers for the assistants, but just check them more strictly.

also on stickers:  It was SUPER awkwardly set up.  I had to wait in line on Saturday with the artists to get in, and then once in, there were no signs telling me where to go to get my sticker.  This was veerrry annoying, considering I was maybe tenth in line, and then got into a line that's only purpose seemed to be looking up my table number which I had memorized (as I should), and then telling me to move into the line next to me which had by then accumulated another 10 people.  There should have been very specific signs just taped to the tables for this.

Also on that:
Late comer table:
why even make people wait outside the room in a nice line to let it go all over the place once it's let in.  I saw a number of people waiting hopefully for a table to open up, and then once they were let in, were not told where they had to go, and if they weren't fast enough, all the people behind them were able to willy-nilly walk in front of them.  There should have been a completely separate line for late comers that was very specifically marked.

I think that's about it.  Again, from here, things were rather smooth.

Overall staff:
Staff was friendly to me.  I didn't have any issues.
HOWEVER, I heard a lot stories from people at my table about how they were heckled for very small things that the staffers possibly shouldn't have been doing, or else again could have been solved with signs, or seem rather silly to even be in affect any way.

I like rules and respect rules, however some people were apparently getting far too strict.  One person at my table told me how he and his friend were at the Black and White ball waiting in line for a VERY long time.  THey were outside on public property and some of the women took off their high heels while waiting.  Again, this is public property outside of the convention and not yet inside of the ball.  Some of the staffers were walking around telling the women they were NOT ALLOWED TO REMOVE THEIR SHOES!  Yes this is an IN con rule, but the staffers NEED to be told that these rules do not take affect once the people are on public property.  It can be suggested, but not ordered.  Mostly, this annoys me because I'm a woman, and high hells hurt the hell out of me, and I find it perfectly reasonable that some women took their shoes off while in public property in a line.  Besides, there were tons of people running around without shoes IN con who weren't hassled.
On this same story, the person then went to tell me that a staff member hassled them for roughly 5 minutes that the heels needed to be less than 3".  When they informed him they had measured the shoes and they were less than that, the staff member continued to hassle the same question again and again.  To me, I feel the staff member should have just expressed simply "If we have concern that your shoes heel is too high, we can measure it before you enter" and walk away.  The hassling was not necessary.  I understand these helpers are not professionals, however, they should be told the limits of their enforcing. (In a fair story, I was sitting in the wrong area, and a staff member kindly informed me I couldn't sit there, and I moved right away.  He didn't wait for us to move, although he could have, and didn't give us a hard time.)

Mostly, though, I noted that staff was overall very friendly; however they were not always very informed on where things where, or who to direct me to (I once specifically asked someone if they could direct me to information when they couldn't answer my question, and they told me that was unnecessary and directed me to con ops who had NO IDEA how to answer my question, either.)

Overall:
Good con, great atmosphere, and fun.  Lots of points that felt highly disorganized or poorly managed.  I entirely believe in the positive intent of fanime, though, and expect I'll return in subsequent years, and look forward to it getting even better :)!

Thank you!
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: otakuya on May 30, 2011, 08:39:23 PM
I dunno if anyone noticed on the titantron, but the SJ convention center will be expanding in 2013 when the old King Library building will be turned into a convention center expansion. That should help ease flow of people.

Suggestions:
-Expand Fanime! Use meeting rooms at St. Claire, Crowne Plaza, Fairmont, Tech Museum, South Hall, etc... for panels and video rooms. It spreads Fanime events around and does not cause crazy lines and stuff. Utilize your space! (Example: South Hall for Dealers Room, GoH panels at Fairmont, Artist Alley at Parkside Hall, Exhibit Hall 1 for big panels, Exhibit Hall 2 for all gaming, Exhibit Hall 3 for swap meet) Fanime is big enough for expansion, right?

-More hours of stuff. Have swap meet every night at it's own room. Have karaoke have it's own room and open 24 hours.

-More tables and chairs at the CC so that people don't block the walkways.
(and)
-Draw out the "road" (the walkway at Stage Zero) through the entire CC floor.



I know about the gripes people had about schedules, costumes, and stuff. Yeah, obviously, it all needs to be improved. I'm not gonna rant, cuz I have nothing to rant or rat about. I, and along with almost 15,000 people (or more, really?) will say that they still had a great time and will be back next year and years to come.
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: kookiekween99 on May 30, 2011, 08:51:33 PM
Quote from: Otakuya on May 30, 2011, 08:39:23 PM
I dunno if anyone noticed on the titantron, but the SJ convention center will be expanding in 2013 when the old King Library building will be turned into a convention center expansion. That should help ease flow of people.

Suggestions:
-Expand Fanime! Use meeting rooms at St. Claire, Crowne Plaza, Fairmont, Tech Museum, South Hall, etc... for panels and video rooms. It spreads Fanime events around and does not cause crazy lines and stuff. Utilize your space! (Example: South Hall for Dealers Room, GoH panels at Fairmont, Artist Alley at Parkside Hall, Exhibit Hall 1 for big panels, Exhibit Hall 2 for all gaming, Exhibit Hall 3 for swap meet) Fanime is big enough for expansion, right?

-More hours of stuff. Have swap meet every night at it's own room. Have karaoke have it's own room and open 24 hours.

-More tables and chairs at the CC so that people don't block the walkways.
(and)
-Draw out the "road" (the walkway at Stage Zero) through the entire CC floor.



I know about the gripes people had about schedules, costumes, and stuff. Yeah, obviously, it all needs to be improved. I'm not gonna rant, cuz I have nothing to rant or rat about. I, and along with almost 15,000 people (or more, really?) will say that they still had a great time and will be back next year and years to come.

I dunno if expanding that huge is such a good idea. I personally love that if I stay in the Hilton or Marriott (I've stayed in the Hilton both years I've gone) I technically never have to go outside except for cosplay gatherings and a few big events like the Masquerade. This is especially helpful at night, because a small, tiny girl like me should not have to go outside alone at night. Plus, that sounds like a lot of walking between events. I don't want to have to walk all over San Jose just to make sure to visit everything.
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: .::midnight.maiden::. on May 30, 2011, 09:41:06 PM
Quote from: Niya on May 30, 2011, 06:26:34 PM
But yes. More planning (schedules printed, time between panels, clear flow for entering/leaving large areas) and more focus on ensuring safety and smooth flow of events, less on "We're in charge now, NO ORANGE SNEAKERS!"
I would like to promote whole schedule situation.
I'd like to cheer on the mini schedule book that was given out last year in the fanime reg bags. That book was AH-MAZING!! It made my planning so much easier because I am more of a scratch out and highlight things on schedules so I can focus on what events I want to go to and not get all dizzy and confused with the grid and all. Not only that, but it had so many good tips in it for those first-years and veterans alike.
I did not like the online schedule at all. Mainly because I don't want to have to go online to see the schedule and because the mobile website wasn't of much help to me either.

I'd like to suggest to Fanime to try making a guide for the Conventionist App, an amazing app which provides information and directions to the convention, as well as a list of vendors(dealers hall/artist alley) and their booth locations. There are also maps of the convention center and the locations of all vendor booths in a hall. Not to mention a very easy to read schedule in which you can "like" events and check off events you would like to attend and add them to your own customized schedule created on the app. There is also a to-do list for the app user, a button that lets users follow a convention's tweets (basically users can read @fanimecon's tweets on it for event updates!), and a key events list (this is where fanime would place event locations and timings for events such as the cosplay spectacular, musicfest, and the black and white ball).
I have this app and I downloaded a few convention guides. Looks like anime cons such as Sakura-Con, Anime LA, and SacAnime have taken advantage of this app :)

My other suggestion is to get a much bigger ballroom for the Black and White Ball! This was my first year going to the ball, so I don't have much experience with how the ball usually goes and all...but I definitely noticed the constant updates on the ballroom having come to full capacity and such. When I left, there was a HUGE line that even went far outside of the Fairmont. I was a bit disappointed with that because so many people had dressed up so nicely for the occasion but they had to stand outside and wait until some person inside the ballroom decided to leave, even only for a bathroom break.

Well, that's all I really wanted to say. Fanime is really special to me, and I find it important for me to give suggestions to Fanime :) Thanks for reading!

P.S: I love the Swap Meet so much that I would love to have it go on every day of the con. But, I am happy with what is given now (two days).
And perhaps have more Open Mic Karaoke time? It's always so late in the day when there are major events going on and/or so late that I have to go home by then.
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Niya on May 30, 2011, 10:44:05 PM
A few years ago I made a comment about the DJs and music selection.  Basically my comment was, hey, this is an anime convention, so maybe we could have more anime themed music?

The response at the time was that there isn't much anime themed music appropriate for a con.  At the time that might have been true.

Now there's Club MOGRA in Japan -- http://club-mogra.jp/  which has long sets of anime and anime culture club music.  Every week.

No offence to the DJs! They were great and the raves were piles of fun. It's just, wouldn't it be more fun if the songs (a much higher % of them) were significant to our subculture?
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: PLUMPKIN on May 30, 2011, 10:46:36 PM
Here's a copy/paste of what I suggested here:  http://forums.fanime.com/index.php/topic,16326.msg422886.html#msg422886

"Is it possible to just mail out badges?  Fanime grows in attendance each year, and at this rate 5 staffers handing out badges to thousands of people may not cut it.  Is there a reason that badges aren't mailed out?  I understand that IDs are checked when badges are picked up, but only if you're a group leader or group of one.  I think that charging $5-$10 to have badges mailed out would be a great way to make profit, since postage for a single badge isn't going to cost $5.  I would be more than happy to pay that much (or more) if it saves me from 3 hours of standing in line.

If this isn't possible, maybe have more than 5 booths open during pre-reg pickup.  If there's difficulty obtaining bodies, then provide incentives for volunteering, such as picking up your badge without having to wait in line.  Do they still provide double hours on Thursday?"

As someone wrote in response to my post, Fanime used to mail out badges.  I think they should do it again.  There's definitely the potential for profit, as people would definitely pay the extra $$$ to avoid waiting in line that long.  As I wrote in a later post, you can provide incentives for helping to stuff envelopes, such as getting started early on those volunteer hours, early badge pickup, cookies, etc.  Heck, I'll help out! :)
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Wabbit98 on May 30, 2011, 10:48:20 PM
Quote from: .::midnight.maiden::. on May 30, 2011, 09:41:06 PM


My other suggestion is to get a much bigger ballroom for the Black and White Ball! This was my first year going to the ball, so I don't have much experience with how the ball usually goes and all...but I definitely noticed the constant updates on the ballroom having come to full capacity and such. When I left, there was a HUGE line that even went far outside of the Fairmont. I was a bit disappointed with that because so many people had dressed up so nicely for the occasion but they had to stand outside and wait until some person inside the ballroom decided to leave, even only for a bathroom break.




Thank you for your suggestion.  Unfortuneately that was the biggest room we could get at the time.  It was smaller than the room we had last year, but were unable to get this year.  We tried to get as many people as we could into the ball room.  We take all comments, and suggestions, serisouly and under advisement to improve the Black and White Ball. 

Thank you,
Kevin
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: otakuya on May 30, 2011, 10:49:33 PM
A suggestion for the 'theme' for Fanime. I realize that the theme this year was steampunk, but apart from the logo colors and the video screens, there wasn't really anything that stands out as steampunk on the con floor.
Shameless suggestion: I'd like 2012's theme to be 'around the world'. I saw a LOT of flags for cosplay this year, maybe implement that into the theme? btw, what do the flag cosplays represent?
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Alyxiane on May 30, 2011, 11:14:08 PM
Quote from: Otakuya on May 30, 2011, 10:49:33 PM
A suggestion for the 'theme' for Fanime. I realize that the theme this year was steampunk, but apart from the logo colors and the video screens, there wasn't really anything that stands out as steampunk on the con floor.
Shameless suggestion: I'd like 2012's theme to be 'around the world'. I saw a LOT of flags for cosplay this year, maybe implement that into the theme? btw, what do the flag cosplays represent?
I sense a LARGE sea of Hetalia cosplayers flooding in next year should that happen. Even more so than this year. And it doesn't suit well for me despite being a Hetalia fan. o___e

What's been the themes for previous years? Somehow a spy/mystery thing came into my minddring the con.
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Rhornez on May 30, 2011, 11:16:03 PM
Quote from: Alyxiane on May 30, 2011, 11:14:08 PM
Quote from: Otakuya on May 30, 2011, 10:49:33 PM
A suggestion for the 'theme' for Fanime. I realize that the theme this year was steampunk, but apart from the logo colors and the video screens, there wasn't really anything that stands out as steampunk on the con floor.
Shameless suggestion: I'd like 2012's theme to be 'around the world'. I saw a LOT of flags for cosplay this year, maybe implement that into the theme? btw, what do the flag cosplays represent?
I sense a LARGE sea of Hetalia cosplayers flooding in next year should that happen. Even more so than this year. And it doesn't suit well for me despite being a Hetalia fan. o___e

What's been the themes for previous years? Somehow a spy/mystery thing came into my min
ddring the con.
same here about the hetalia thing D:
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: CatToy on May 30, 2011, 11:20:33 PM
Give the door monitors to the artist's alley and dealer's room hand clicker thingies to allow them to do rough headcounts. You guys have decisions to make. How are you going to make informed decisions in the absence of data?

Can there be a wireless repeater installed inside the artists alley? It's hard getting phone calls in there, my friends had no bars. At least with wifi they could use email...

Install a stop motion camera in spots around the con and put the output on youtube. A day of Fanime in 2 minutes...
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Somebody on May 31, 2011, 12:01:05 AM
Although I'm not sure of the situation of why the dance lessons were moved to the Fairmont, I will add that I had a difficult time getting over there for dance lessons. Between the waits and the walk I never seemed to be able to get there without being late.

However, this could easily be just me. The ball was lovely this year!

And of course, schedules. But everyone before me talked about that already.
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: luckyrainbow on May 31, 2011, 12:56:47 AM
Hotel Information: Please put each hotels specific Incidentals Charge on the website. The one that was posted was not the right one for the Fairmont. I understand that the site does say that amenities and fees are subject to change without notice, but it would be helpful if the right information was put up originally. My group was not the only one that ran into this either. The person we had at the front desk for check in said that she had already had quite a few people who ran into this issue, luckily she was nice enough to wait patiently for me to call all my friends to see if any of them had enough money on their cards for our room fee. Fortunately one of my friends did and our issue was solved. We also ran into a few other groups that had seemed to have the same problem, one of which actually had to go out and run to a bank to pull out enough money for the entire fee. It wasn't too much of an issue since it got solved quickly for us, but it was a kind of terrifying one to be put through when it's the first time going to fanime without parents running things.

Printed Schedule: So I really enjoyed that there was an online schedule put up before the con actually started. However, not having a printed out schedule in the book made it hard for me to find out/remember when shows were playing, when certain panels were happening, etc. when I was actually at the Convention. I do not have a phone that allows me to get online at the con and I don't have a printer that works so I had to walk to every place to look at the schedules. Being in cosplay during the main part of the day it was a bit hectic for me to have to walk back and forth between rooms/areas to see the scedules. Even out of cosplay because of the amount of people moving around it took a little while to get to places. So having a printed out version would make it much more convenient for those of us that don't want to have to wonder around to find the schedules.

Registration: I was happy with At Con Registration this year. It felt that the line was going quite a lot faster than it has in the past, not sure if it was the time (me and my friend were in line Saturday morning around 9:30), but it was nice.

Site Updates: It felt that this year things were updated quite later than they have been before. It ended up making registration for things (hotels especially) get sold out relatively quickly. I know that people have their own things to do and it can take a while to figure things out when dealing with large companies like hotels and such, especially since it's run basically by volunteers, but it still felt that things fell behind quite a bit.

Even with these very minor issues, it was an absolutely amazing year. I had an amazing amount of fun and everyone I delt with was really super nice. Keep the amazing work up!!!
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Luca Cantellano on May 31, 2011, 07:51:15 AM
For me, the greatest issue was (as previously mentioned) the schedules. This isn't just a matter of people being too lazy to go to a table to read it or go online. If we are running from one panel to the other side of the con, only to find out that our timing was off by 1 hour, since we didn't have a schedule in front of us... Not only me, but all of my roommates, friends I saw, and people i talked to on the elevator said that the lack of schedules greatly ruined their weekend, because they missed almost everything they wanted to see. When we asked the people at the tables, they said we could wait in line to read the schedules on the tables, or just go online. If you use a smartphone, that uses ALOT of batteries to be on the internet all the time. If you have a laptop, you have to either lug it around fanime, or pay $10 to the hotel to use the internet in your room.

To sum things up, could we have printed schedules next year? If not, can their be an announcement on the front page telling us to PRINT OUR OWN? I didn't bring a printer with me to print it out in my hotel room...

Thank you so much! ♥


EDIT: I don't mean to complain like this, but it really ruined our experience this year... the booklets last year were phenomenal!!! ♥
Title: Fanime 2012 Feedback Thread
Post by: Direnkei on May 31, 2011, 08:58:30 AM
I was annoyed with schedules . it was a publications error i heard though no fault but the printer people.
I wish the colorful programs that had info on the events also had the time  what the panels where. it always had been  to see be like oh that sound fun....what time is it??
I think fanime should make a Free official a simple Smart Phone App for it. I downloaded the 3rd Party Condroyd for 2011 Just to see what was going on since the schedule issue. It was a very cool app I could star what I wanted to go to and then if reminded me 15 mins or hour  before hand.  So id they made one for next year and announce it around the con i think it would be a hit!!So an official one would do great!!


Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Direnkei on May 31, 2011, 09:43:59 AM
I had a good GREAT Time. I think they needed to work on some things but nothing that really ruined the con for me.

show times where a little odd to much early anime showings so it was hard to wake up Sat to watch them.

also another problem(told to me) I heard was the late update of the No modern military I think less people would been mad if that was issued before the con since people already bought there cosplays at that point.

Of course  a lot of nice nice staffers as always never in 7 years had rover problems so another year clean here.
only had one problem where a staffer grabbed my boyfriend trying to go though a yellow tapper door since he had to catch his brother from leaving without his cell phone I don't know the rules but i am pretty sure they do not have the right to grab at you...BUT, on a good note when my boyfriend was done  misusing the door -_-;;. He said sorry and told he had catch him and the Person and i think they said sorry too and explained why it was not an enter/exit door.

Even with the more hiccups then 2010 i thought but you know the con people are only human and they'll do it better next year. It was my boyfriend and his brother 1st year and even with the hiccups they had a blast!!! didn't even notice and i even got them to preregister for next year so that was good.

Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: wonderfinch on May 31, 2011, 10:41:04 AM
Overall, I enjoyed Fanime 2011 and will be attending next year. All of the staff I spoke with was friendly, though they seemed a little overwhelmed, and I was satisfied with the events and panels that I attended or participated in.

With that said, I have three gripes about this year's con and I would love to see them fixed in 2012. The first is the lack of schedules. I do not own a smartphone and did not have internet access at my hotel, so I had to sit at the information table with a list of the panels and events that I wanted to attend and get the times from a staffer on Saturday- only to find out that I had missed two and a third was starting down the hall in five minutes. My second complaint concerns the timing of the Masquerade and Black and White Ball. Both were scheduled at the same time on Sunday night, along with other popular events such as Speed Dating and the Butler Cafe. I would have liked to attend both the Masquerade and the Ball, and next year I'd like it if they could be scheduled for different evenings. My third issue is with the ban on outside food at events held in the convention center. I understand that it is against hotel union rules to have outside food inside the convention center, but in the past we were able to bring food and hold picnics on the upstairs patio near the Mariott. This year, we were booted from the patio and relocated to an outdoors location with no tables or seating. Next year, if this is to be the case, I would love it if some tables or chairs could be provided.
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Somecoolname on May 31, 2011, 01:11:23 PM
CONS

Schedules-yes, I know everyone and their mother has already posted to complain about it, but it really drove me nuts, and the people I was with too. I was lucky, I printed out the site's schedule(I wish I'd thought to print out copies for everyone in my group though!) but I was really taken aback whenever we went to the Info booths, and they would say "no schedule, maybe tomorrow?" over and over, and there were numerous times when people would ask to see my schedule because I was the only one around with it. I don't really understand what happened? Why did you decide not to provide us with schedules/put schedules in the books? I would think a schedule at a con would be the first thing hammered down before anything else? I then find out the schedule is available to anyone with a wifi or a phone with internet. Really? That doesn't help those of us without a fancy phone or without wifi. I understand the schedule was made available to the site weeks ago, but what about those of the congoers who don't obsessively check the site everyday or don't have an account here? What about those of us congoers who only decide at the last minute to go with a friend to the con and then find out they were supposed to be part of some 'secret' club to get info?

Some staff were pretty unfriendly-Specifically the staff at the Fanime booth table in the Dealer's Room. My friends went to donate some money and the girl there pretty much threw the origami paper at them and demanded they make a crane. When my one friend, who has bad eyesight, said she couldn't read the instructions and was ok with not making a crane, gave the paper back, the girl threw it back at her and said 'make a crane'. What? And my other friend was trying to engage the two girls there, being friendly, but they ignored her and kept talking to each other and I THINK one might've even sneered at her. I understand people can have bad days and I am AMAZED by the staff's unflagging energy even on Monday but that one girl's blatant rudeness towards people trying to help her help a charity just disgusted me and I was tempted to tell my friends to ask for their money back.

Friday's Asian Films-I really wanted to see this movie, the first one being shown on Friday(I forget the exact title, something like J'aime Taipei?) and when we went to see it, the room was locked, and no film was showing, and we went to tell the Info Booth, and this nice man actually ran to see what was going on, but as it was, the movie was like, half an hour or more late starting and we had other things to do, but everything else ran smoothly, so that was just the one set back.

Semi Con/Semi Pro

Panels-I went to 4 panels and two were AWESOME and two were NOT awesome. The Awesome was: BookBinding and WigMaking, on Friday, at 10 and 11 pm were amazing. The people running those panels were smart, knew their topic, funny, sweet, I adored the man from BookBinding who actually had us get in a circle and made things more personal and was talking to us and made it feel less like a panel and more like a..conversation. The woman running the Wig panel was hilarious! She played around with the screaming from the room next to us and whenever they started screaming something, she'd go 'yes, yes I know, it's amazing, wigs!" and was just really personable and lovely. Can those two people come back?
The two I didn't like was 'Weird Manga' and 'How to Make a Webcomic". Maybe my expectations regarding the webcomic was way off base but I thought it was going to be about how to make a webcomic in terms of where to go to post it, resources for webartists, copyrights, making a name, whether or not we need to shell out money for our own site or if we can use a free one, how to get hosted on a site like keenspot or whatever. Instead, he talked about what he was currently doing on his computer("I'm going to click here and make it black, and then I'll make this white"..) and I was like, 'this is more of a how to use corel painter than how to make a webcomic' and I was disappointed. The Weird Manga one..UGH. The one blond who did the talking was a mumbler, and kept calling herself stupid and said, she actually admitted, that she only started looking for stuff for the panel 15 minutes before the presentation. They didn't really SHOW or EXPLAIN why the mangas were weird or anything, they just said like, 'he draws guro. Weird!" "She draws incest. WEIRD!" and didn't really go into details like: WHY is this considered weird? If this is weird, why is it published? What happened to make this manga so well known? Some of the examples they shared as 'proof' it was a weird manga was like..Standard fare. My friends and I left saying 'did they really just pick mangas that they think is weird and decided to tell us it's weird?" They didn't back up their statements, or bring proof to show what's so weird about the mangas. Also, they talked amongst themselves more than to the audience so I felt like we were intruding on their personal social time.

PROS

The Staff The majority of the staff were super nice, we even had one staffer run from the Info table to both video room hallways just to double check that the rooms were labeled correctly and staffers were willing to accommodate my deafness, I was worried they'd think I was lying or something (deafness IS the invisible handicap) but they were like, 'Sure, here'.

Water dispensers Were these new? Or have they always been there and I never saw them? I loved that there were water dispensers in the panel rooms and hallways, it was a real life saver for when I drank all my water in the water bottle and didn't want to shell out 4$ for another one.

Discounts at the restaurants Whoever's idea it was to have restaurants give discounts should get an award! Every congoer knows how great it is to be able to save even the smallest amount of money and the discounts really helped.

ONE PIECE I am a huge huge fan of One Piece and LOVED the cosplays, the merchandise, the movie and the marathon. It was a One Piece-ful Fanime this year!

Artist Alley All my money went to the AA, I loved it, I loved the variety, and the number of people willing to do commissions, I loved the atmosphere, I loved the friendly artists and I adored everything about it.
Also, I want to give a special shoutout to the artists who had the Loki 7-11 cup and told us EXACTLY where to go to get the cups, thank you!

Overall, Fanime was great, some setbacks  but overall, keep up the great work!
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Jelly Soup on May 31, 2011, 01:27:18 PM
You guys do realize this is last years thread, right?

EDIT: Or not, thanks to Ewu's mod magic.
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: eHash on May 31, 2011, 03:18:13 PM
I'd suggest a cosplay halloween dance to act as a fundraiser for the dance and maid cafe.
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Himeno on May 31, 2011, 07:01:00 PM
Quote from: PLUMPKIN on May 30, 2011, 10:46:36 PM
"Is it possible to just mail out badges?  Fanime grows in attendance each year, and at this rate 5 staffers handing out badges to thousands of people may not cut it.  Is there a reason that badges aren't mailed out?  I understand that IDs are checked when badges are picked up, but only if you're a group leader or group of one.  I think that charging $5-$10 to have badges mailed out would be a great way to make profit, since postage for a single badge isn't going to cost $5.  I would be more than happy to pay that much (or more) if it saves me from 3 hours of standing in line.

If this isn't possible, maybe have more than 5 booths open during pre-reg pickup.  If there's difficulty obtaining bodies, then provide incentives for volunteering, such as picking up your badge without having to wait in line.  Do they still provide double hours on Thursday?"
Mailing out badges is really not a good idea. It creates far too many problems (they will get lost/forgotten/stolen and provide a chance for people to create fakes - just to name a few)

Yes, they need more booths open on the Thursday. Make use of the entire reg area on the Thursday, not just half of it. Staffing pre reg pick up should not be an issue. By Thursday afternoon, the rest of the con has been getting set up since Thursday morning (possibly Wednesday). There should be staff available in other departments to go help reg.
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: raltga on May 31, 2011, 07:16:20 PM
WiFi

Not sure if there actually was free WiFi in the convention center, but if there was I didn't see it. I seem to remember fanime used to have free WiFi in the convention center in the past, and if the direction the con is going to to have more of it's facilities online (like schedules etc) it might be a good idea to provide access to these resources to those without 3G enabled devices.  My group had no problems since we all had smart phones, but I'm sure we're not the typical fanime attendee.


Anime Hell

I don't know why Anime Hell was not at fanime this year, but hopefully it will be back next year because this is one of my favorite events and it not being at fanime this year was a bummer.


Video Programming

I thought the video programing could have used a little more variety in the shows it was presenting.  One idea I had was to have just one more room where each day would be dedicated to a different genre and show 2 or 3 episodes of various shows within that genre so fans can discover new shows they never would thought to try.  You could even have themed blocks.  For example: Friday is Mecha day where all the shows are Mecha themed, and from 6pm to 9pm you have a special "If you like Gundam you probably will like..." block.


Live Programming

I'm not saying to get rid of them, but many of the panels seemed like high school book reports or drama class sketches.  Not that there is anything wrong with these per-se, and I'm sure many folks enjoy them so that's fine, but maybe there could be a room dedicated to industry panels or panels that feature pros and/or guests of honor or have them marked in the schedule so people know a little bit more about what they are going to.


Music Fest

This is one of those "you can't please everyone all the time" kind of things, and I understand that, but I would like to see more variety in the musical guests fanime brings.  Two years in a row with 2/3 of the same musical guests makes me hope for something new at fanime 2012.


Gaming

Only complaint was no Naruto Shippuden UNS2 tournament.  Every time the game was being played on one of the TVs it drew a big crowd of folks wanting to play.  I understand everyone wants tournaments for the mainstream fighting games (SF/MK/BB/GG/SSB/etc), but this is also is an anime convention and there should be tournaments for some anime themed games.  I would say even themed tournaments where cosplayers play as their character and fight it out for prizes would be excellent entertainment on stage0 or in the gaming hall.
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: lyricaldanichan on May 31, 2011, 07:45:39 PM
Quote from: raltga on May 31, 2011, 07:16:20 PM
Anime Hell

I don't know why Anime Hell was not at fanime this year, but hopefully it will be back next year because this is one of my favorite events and it not being at fanime this year was a bummer.

From what I understood (I could be wrong) that the cost of hotel/air fair for Ryan was too expensive. Unless there is a drop for air fair from Indianpolis to San Jose, don't think we will see Anime Hell for quite a while. Only thing possible is to have a west coast branch run a version created by the Anime Hell guys...but that wouldn't be the same. IDK. :(
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: raltga on May 31, 2011, 10:32:06 PM
Quote from: lyricaldanichan on May 31, 2011, 07:45:39 PM
From what I understood (I could be wrong) that the cost of hotel/air fair for Ryan was too expensive. Unless there is a drop for air fair from Indianpolis to San Jose, don't think we will see Anime Hell for quite a while. Only thing possible is to have a west coast branch run a version created by the Anime Hell guys...but that wouldn't be the same. IDK. :(

I hope you are wrong :(
My partner and I were pretty big fans, this had become like a must-see event every fanime the last few years.

Maybe the thing to do is invite a 4 member band from Japan instead of 5 so we can get him out here ;P
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: lyricaldanichan on May 31, 2011, 11:49:10 PM
Quote from: raltga on May 31, 2011, 10:32:06 PM
Quote from: lyricaldanichan on May 31, 2011, 07:45:39 PM
From what I understood (I could be wrong) that the cost of hotel/air fair for Ryan was too expensive. Unless there is a drop for air fair from Indianpolis to San Jose, don't think we will see Anime Hell for quite a while. Only thing possible is to have a west coast branch run a version created by the Anime Hell guys...but that wouldn't be the same. IDK. :(

I hope you are wrong :(
My partner and I were pretty big fans, this had become like a must-see event every fanime the last few years.

Maybe the thing to do is invite a 4 member band from Japan instead of 5 so we can get him out here ;P

LOL don't think that would work too well. I was disappointed as well since Ryan does a awesome job hosting Anime Hell at fanimecon. Only thing I can suggest is have people let the higher ups know to get him back for next year and beyond.
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Mantaray3000 on June 01, 2011, 12:24:33 AM
Schedules: I"m not really going to into much detail about this since I'm sure the staff at fanime is aware of this but.. please bring back the pocket guides! or if you really want to save time and effort, make a bulletin on the website saying there are no pocket guides available and that you must print out your own schedule.

Midnight Madness: This is was my biggest gripe of the whole con! I was planning and hoping that I would get to see True Naruto Style the movie but instead we had a two hour video screening of fake trailers and whats worst is there was no schedule on what was going to be playing! I also complained about this last year when nobody told us that the Berserk parody was three hours long and whats worst was that it was already available on youtube where as True Naruto Style is not played anywhere but at cons! I know the event lasts all night long but my point is that there are people who have no plans on actually staying up all night especially if they have plans early the next day! Please improve this by actually showing showtimes schedules for midnight madness in advance.

Video Screenings: Need to work more on screenings. My friend was actually hoping that to watch the break blade movies only to find out that it was going to be played really late at night which seriously dissappointed him. Might want to decide what could be worth showing during the day or late afternoon. "The best of series" such as AVGN was not the best of but a marathon from the earliest works to the lastest which essentially means that it was never a best of series to begin with. I was also surprised that there was no screening for the Gundam 00 movie considering how the director was there and all. My friend was also looking foward on seeing that as well.

Guests: I really don't have much to say because I was actually quite satisfied with this year's guest but there is always room for improvement isn't there? The only problem I had was that most of the guest were not requested from the forum so it really puzzles me at times on how fanime acquires guests and that if having a guest suggestion thread is really worth having on the forums since I sometimes feel that staff is just ignoring fans and just doing there own thing. But staff has already informed that they are listening so I'm not going to elaborate more on the matter.

Gaming room: My only pet peeve was What happened to the melty blood arcade machine!?

Those are my suggestions.
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: PLUMPKIN on June 01, 2011, 12:28:04 AM
Quote from: Himeno on May 31, 2011, 07:01:00 PM
Mailing out badges is really not a good idea. It creates far too many problems (they will get lost/forgotten/stolen and provide a chance for people to create fakes - just to name a few)

Yes, they need more booths open on the Thursday. Make use of the entire reg area on the Thursday, not just half of it. Staffing pre reg pick up should not be an issue. By Thursday afternoon, the rest of the con has been getting set up since Thursday morning (possibly Wednesday). There should be staff available in other departments to go help reg.

At the same token, I noticed that this year's at-con registration badges lacked the holographic "original" sticker and shaped hole punch (mine was a flower in 2009) used in previous years.  Without the sticker and the shaped holepunch, the at-con badges could have been easily counterfeited if one found matching paper.

If we were to mail out badges, counterfeiting can be prevented by using safeguards like those custom holographic stickers and shaped hole punches.  Yes, there is always going to be concern about counterfeiting, but I think the revenue lost from the handful of people who actually attempt to counterfeit a badge/hole punch/custom holographic sticker can be recouped the the amount charged to mail out the badges to the exponentially greater number of non-counterfeiting people.

Forgetting/stealing/losing a badge are already things that happen at Fanime.  People who lose/forget a badge can bring proof of payment and get a paper badge.  By mailing out badges, the at-con lines will be way less congested.  In my previous post, I wrote out ideas on how to incentivize the whole process, so I won't regurgitate that.  I'm pretty passionate about this; I'll seriously volunteer or staff next year to see if we can make this work! How do I sign up? :)

I completely agree with the 2nd half of your comment, if mailing badges is ruled out as an option for next year. :-)
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: kookiekween99 on June 01, 2011, 12:52:06 AM
I say that if a few of the people who complain about Day Zero lines actually volunteered/staffed reg, it would improve things a lot. Just my opinion. If just 5 more people staffed reg on Thursday, wait times would be cut in half.
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Yuu on June 01, 2011, 01:21:18 AM
Fire whomever was in charge of harassment security/peacebonding.

Is there anyway we can install some sort of electric field for those people who do not weigh anything and can totally fit themselvers and three friends onto an elevator already bursting at the seams?

Other than that. No complaints. Had a wonderful time.
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: PLUMPKIN on June 01, 2011, 02:00:02 AM
Quote from: kookiekween99 on June 01, 2011, 12:52:06 AM
I say that if a few of the people who complain about Day Zero lines actually volunteered/staffed reg, it would improve things a lot. Just my opinion. If just 5 more people staffed reg on Thursday, wait times would be cut in half.

Or, as himeno said, people from other departments can help staff reg since by Thursday afternoon, the rest of the con has been getting set up since morning.  Then again, they might have still been busy setting up; I can only speculate.  Like I said in a previous post, there are certainly ways to provide incentives for people to volunteer on Day Zero, and from my understanding volunteers already get double hours that day.  I wasn't able to volunteer this year, but have helped at reg in the past.

Too late to change how things turned out, but I think it's completely healthy and productive to provide constructive criticism on how things can be run more smoothly next year.  If only 5 people were able to help pre-reg, we need to examine that carefully and positively brainstorm ways to attract/entice people to help next year.  As they say, you catch more flies with honey :-D.  Personally, I'm a strong advocate for mailing badges, as it is profitable and an at-con time saver, and will join staff if there's anyway I can help facilitate that process.  That's just my two cents, though :)
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Sunara Ishi on June 01, 2011, 04:17:26 AM
My only suggestion(s) about the schedule thing is this:
            ~~~~~

Concerning the military uniform thing:

I understand the need to protect con-goers from "fakes" harassing and such. But the jerks are just going to find other ways to harass us. I was bullied by someone pretending to be a plain clothes cop back in '08. What's to stop that sort of thing from happening again? So please don't punish the actual cosplayers for the actions of a few. Or maybe allow it if they wear an armband/pin with the character/series name? 
~~~~~

But good work guys! You staff peeps are so overworked... I've been tempted to join on occasion but too afraid I won't have con time/cosplay time. O: I really respect you guys (and girls.)

As for those saying that other departments should help reg- I don't think you guys realize just how busy they all are. And how much they work to make things run smoothly. They aren't energizer bunnies. They spend most of the convention working staff; it isn't nice to force them to give up more hours of their free time so you can have more of your free time back.

As for mailing badges: My luck would be that it'd get lost in the mail and never get to me. Besides the convention has some really good (unspoken) reasons why they prefer to give the badges at con. I'm not really at liberty to elaborate.
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: PLUMPKIN on June 01, 2011, 09:43:04 AM
Quote from: Sunara Ishi on June 01, 2011, 04:17:26 AM

As for those saying that other departments should help reg- I don't think you guys realize just how busy they all are. And how much they work to make things run smoothly. They aren't energizer bunnies. They spend most of the convention working staff; it isn't nice to force them to give up more hours of their free time so you can have more of your free time back.

As for mailing badges: My luck would be that it'd get lost in the mail and never get to me. Besides the convention has some really good (unspoken) reasons why they prefer to give the badges at con. I'm not really at liberty to elaborate.


True, hence what I said about providing incentives for volunteering on Thursday to get more assistance.  If other departments are already overworked, then they're overworked.  However, the situation of only having 5 booths open should be looked at and hopefully improved for next year.

I'd actually like to hear these unspoken reasons as to why badges are given out at con.  Apparently, they used to be mailed out, but things changed.  I think that mailing badges would actually be at the benefit of everyone.  This would actually make the lines more congested, generate more profit, and lessen the load on the already overloaded staff members come Day Zero.  When it comes to planning huge events (I have experience in heading a logistics committee), I for one would prefer to divide up the work over time to reduce strain on everyone the day of.  Unfortunately, I couldn't help out this year and apologize, but how do I sign up so this can happen next year? :)
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Persona on June 01, 2011, 10:01:46 AM
Quote from: PLUMPKIN on June 01, 2011, 02:00:02 AM
Or, as himeno said, people from other departments can help staff reg since by Thursday afternoon, the rest of the con has been getting set up since morning.  Then again, they might have still been busy setting up; I can only speculate.  Like I said in a previous post, there are certainly ways to provide incentives for people to volunteer on Day Zero, and from my understanding volunteers already get double hours that day.  I wasn't able to volunteer this year, but have helped at reg in the past.

If you're thinking of departments that are already there on Day 0, chances are they're already overworked by the time reg starts. Tech gets there around 8am and work until around 6pm, and AFAIK Logistics and ConOps are still moving and shuffling things around on that day too. But of course, we would appreciate some lovely, fresh meat volunteers to help out.

/offtopic You wouldn't happen to be the same Plumpkin who went to Cal around 2005-2009, would you?
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: forestof_denial on June 01, 2011, 11:06:48 AM

The white boards located beside each of the Panel Rooms, which listed the daily Panel schedule for the Room that they were immediately adjacent to, were very useful. Maybe next year there could be a white board or something similar in the Game Room that lists when and where tournaments and special events take place. Also, while the Video Rooms did have posted schedules, they weren't as easy to read as the white board schedules. Instead of posting a table schedule that lists all of the events for all of the Video Rooms, it might be better to post individualized schedules outside each of the Video Rooms that only list the events for the Room that they are next to. Alternatively or additionally, the PA system could be better utilized to keep people informed of Con events by making more announcements.
Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Ali on June 01, 2011, 11:07:40 AM
Overall, I had a very good Fanime. I participated in the masquerade, and fortunately knew the schedule beforehand, so that ate up my con and I didn't run into problems not having a handy pocket schedule. (Those were great, though... I did actually attempt to see some anime and panels the last time I had one of those.)

Having the masquerade on Sunday was kind of a pro and con for me. While I liked that there was more time for judging, it did feel like the entire con got eaten up by masq, what with judging and rehearsing and prepping. The big problem I ran into was that with the rehearsal at 1 and no real time between the end of rehearsal and the 5 o' clock call, there was no time to eat. And when we finally got out of masq and out of costume, almost everywhere was closed. (We did not anticipate this problem... most places are open much later on Saturday nights, which is when the masq has been every other year I've participated.) It would be nice if there were some water offered backstage to participants and possibly some actual food or food-like snacks. And some warning to get dinner beforehand or immediately after the show would have been really useful.

And the other thing, that I will keep coming back to year after year, is the stupid real name/fan name issue on the badges. I understand having the real name on there, but why it needs to be so huge and more prominent than the fan name, I just do not get. It's a bit of a privacy thing, and I have taken to simply hiding the badge in my purse or something because I don't want it visible or showing up in any photos.

Title: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: the otaku god on June 01, 2011, 11:10:04 AM
Also, while the Video Rooms did have posted schedules, they weren't as easy to read as the white board schedules. Instead of posting a table schedule that lists all of the events for all of the Video Rooms, it might be better to post individualized schedules outside each of the Video Rooms that only list the events for the Room that they are next to

- we did the problem we kept running into was everyone kept stealing them. sorry we couldn't keep up. next year we try a better system.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: mdarkpoet on June 01, 2011, 03:19:09 PM
I just have to say "thank you" to everyone who contributed and posted on my thread, hopefully this will help make Fanime 2012 awesome! :)
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: cutiebunny on June 01, 2011, 04:53:23 PM
Other than the lack of schedules that everyone else has already mentioned, the only fixable complaint I have is that it would have been nice to have had guest of honor related panels on Friday.  I went to the Opening Ceremony, so, there were several guests that were here on Friday.  But it would have been nice to have been able to attend a panel, or perhaps even have an autograph session or two, on Friday.  I felt that this year, everything had been jam-packed into Saturday and Sunday.  I know I, and about 15 other regular faces, spent all weekend in lines.  And while I realize that it was our choice to stand in line for autographs and that it is impossible to do *everything* at a convention, I would have liked to have had the opportunity to show support for the guest by attending one of their panels had they not conflicted with the autograph sessions.  Yes, I realize that it is easier for the guest to have a panel and then an autograph session, but one of your guests of honor really wanted to see the FLOW concert, but due to his autograph session (and the fact that he took the time to sketch for those in his line), he was unable to do so.

I think that that's one of the things that I like most about Fanime 2010 - you had the chance to do several different things.  Last year, in addition to standing in line for autographs, I was not only to attend a few panels, but I also got to enjoy the FLOW concert.  And while that might have been due to the amount of guests Fanime 2010 had that I was interested in seeing, I think it was also due to having a schedule that was spread out over the course of the four days.  If I remember correctly, FLOW's 2010 concert was on Friday, Ishiwatari/Mori had autograph sessions on Friday & Sunday and Yokota had his autograph sessions on Sunday and Monday.

I'm not saying that Fanime should focus on limiting their guest list - I was absolutely floored by your guest of honor list this year.  But, I think if Fanime is a four day convention, then it should take advantage of the four days and schedule guest of honor related panels/autograph sessions on all four days.


As for your guests of honor this year, I think I'm not alone in saying that you got an incredible list of names.  Actually, it wasn't so much the names or the projects that they worked on that impressed me most, but their willingness to go all out for their fans.  I attended autograph sessions where the guest was hungry, sweating in the sauna-like conditions of the autograph room and/or in the room despite wanting to see the concert.  Yet, instead of cutting their line at 10 or 15 people, they worked hours after their slotted session to make sure everyone went home with something nice.  That's dedication and I really appreciated that.  So, really, if it was between a 'primadonna' type guest of honor that people wanted and one that was not as popular but was willing to give their all to make sure their fans were happy, I'd go with the latter.

Also, big kudos to the autograph session staffers.  I remember hearing that one of them had sprained her ankle and yet was still standing up, working at the autograph session.  I don't know many people who would be willing to do that and not get paid for it.  And another big kudos for the charity auction staffers as well - it was a very smooth process this year.

I know that there will be complaints for whatever reason, but, as I mentioned last year, for the entry fee price, I definitely got more than my money's worth out of the convention.  Keep up the good work and I'll be back for Fanime 2012!

..Provided that the world doesn't end in September 2011... ^_^
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Katsumiyo on June 01, 2011, 05:29:17 PM
Schedules
Echoing other complaints. Lack of schedules means I basically missed every guest of honor and half the events. Having a purely online schedule is a little insulting to those of us who don't have smartphones/iPhones/etc. Even the schedules posted for gatherings and video rooms were out of order, which made it difficult to understand when things were happening or find specific events I was looking for.

Registration Line
I agree with those voicing their opinion that there should be a separate line for one-day passes. It would make both lines move faster and be a little more bearable. It is kind of a shame that someone could waste two hours of their one-day pass time in line for the darn thing.

Staffing
Some of the behavior of the staff this year was unacceptable. Rules were enforced inconsistently, and some rovers and volunteers were incredibly rude. I didn't have a problem with anyone at the dealer's hall or artist's alley, like other people have mentioned, but my problems were experienced mostly during video viewing and line-forming. I understand that it can be frustrating to try and run a convention comprised largely of loud or unruly kids who ignore or defy authority, but staff members still need to speak with decency and respect to all convention attendees. Yelling when addressing one person is inappropriate, as is making physical contact to lead them somewhere while making the initial request. I was pushed by a staff member when asked to move against the wall despite being less than three feet from it--being asked is perfectly fine, being touched by a stranger who had not asked me to move before was not. Acquaintances of mine were also grabbed by the arm to be lead to the peacebonding station, which is definitely not okay. And I read on this forum that a staff member tried to confiscate the ID of a member of the U.S. military, which is--do I even need to say it?

Cosplay Restrictions
The ban on military costumes was both established far too late and completely preposterous. There is no real, concrete reason to ban military costumes. The police did not have a problem with them and the only reason I've heard is that a RCPD SWAT cosplayer was mistaken for real SWAT by the police. There was no violence or dangerous confrontation, and even if there had been, that would be far from a decent reason to ban all military/tactical cosplay. I've always considered the rule about no airsoft guns to be silly, but I obeyed it out of respect regardless. This, however, is just absurd, especially since the memo was published at 3:00 P.M. on Friday.

Improvements Over Past Years
I liked the little stall with lots of different kinds of food. The food was overpriced but it was nice to see a variety that was readily available, especially since they had water and fruit displayed rather than just a mass of greasy junk.
I don't know where the maid cafe was, but wherever it was, it was out of the way and I liked it. I've had problems getting to and from places if the maid cafe is in the middle; the line for it is always disorganized and it takes too long to seat people.
Rovers did a better job of keeping people moving through the hallways. It's good to encourage cosplayers and photographers to work along the sides rather than the middle of the hallway. Less of a hazard, more convenient, and fewer accidental shots of the sides of people's head that way.

Overall
Still a fun convention but definitely on the downhill. Events and guests weren't well-publicized and information was not readily available. Registration line was less efficient than it could be. Staff were far ruder and less competent than previous years and new cosplay rules are unfounded. People are saying Fanime is the next AX and that's not a good thing. By 2012, Fanime should focus on being the fun, fan-friendly con it used to be.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: lurker9000 on June 01, 2011, 05:50:09 PM
Staff members should not be touching you period. Should this happen, you should say excuse me this is inappropriate and note the time and date and head to con ops when you get a chance. Volunteers are probably less informed, but Rovers should know better.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: chifunii on June 01, 2011, 06:29:38 PM
Some autograph feedback for tifachan101 here: http://forums.fanime.com/index.php/topic,16398.0.html

I didn't have any problems with the autographs at all, and the information about the session was relatively consistent (as opposed to the camera policy at Musicfest, which gave quite a few people headaches)!

I suppose was dressed cool-y enough to not have been bothered by the lack of A/C.

Quotewhen it came to the actual autograph room itself.. how did you guys like it? setup was good? i tired to make sure to have it so we would only have a small group in at a time to make the environment more intimate.. but something like that sacrifices how many people we can push through... would you rather have a very large open space and just have everything done in there?
^As opposed to having the large open space, I LOVED THE SETUP. :-*

QuoteI don't have much doubts FLOW will be parting ways with Fanime anytime soon, so I'm sure there will be other opportunities in the future for folks who couldn't get their autograph this year.. to get it in the future.
I'm sensing something here...
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: lurker9000 on June 01, 2011, 06:33:30 PM
QuoteI don't have much doubts FLOW will be parting ways with Fanime anytime soon, so I'm sure there will be other opportunities in the future for folks who couldn't get their autograph this year.. to get it in the future.
Quote
I'm sensing something here...

No.

The guy you are quoting has nothing to do with anything related to Musicfest except doing a great job w/ Autographs and is making hopeful assumptions.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Sapphire on June 01, 2011, 06:36:24 PM
I was really looking forward to seeing Yuyu Matsushita this year, and I did get his autograph so I was very happy. I did get a picture of him, thanks to the staff member at the wait line inside the room. But it was a really rushed picture so it wasn't that great. At least it wasn't blurry but Yuyu's eyes don't look good in the picture which is a bit disappointing. I did like the set up of only allowing so many people into a room at a time. It was quiet so you could hear yourself think and I need all my brainpower when meeting with someone like Yuyu so I don't do something stupid in my haze of happiness while meeting him.

So, I was thinking, perhaps in order to let people have a picture with a guest such as Yuyu but still keep things moving, is get a professional photographer there to take people's pictures with him. I can understand if it's just a picture at the table of him signing, or maybe looking up with a smile, but no hugging since I can imagine why they'd be pretty strict about it. The photographer can just be there at one end of the table, say "smile", take a quick, good quality picture, you get the autograph and then it's next person. To me, it seems it could work.

Though I suppose the money for the photographer would be an issue. So perhaps to get some money for/from that is to have a small fee to get a printed out picture of yours.
And how about we also get that picture online? There might be issues with some people not wanting their picture up on the internet where everyone can see though.
So perhaps one thing the con-goer must do in the picture is hold their badge up so it is in the picture. That'll prove who they are, and then when they go to receive their picture, that's how the staff will know which picture to bring up (because some people might've been in cosplay while getting the autograph like I was). If they don't hold up the badge so it is readable, well, then too bad I guess.

Perhaps so then these pictures aren't freely floating on the internet, there could be a way to get it e-mailed to you. Maybe by request of e-mailing them? Or a place in the con where you can get the picture. Of course, you must provide proof of who you are and all that jazz.

So that's my idea. Any flaws you see? Problems? Is there anything that could actually make this work or has this already been done and it failed? I'd like to know please. :3

I've read here about some staffers that heckled some people, but whenever I asked a staff member about something, they were really nice. Especially when I became separated from my friends who didn't tell me where in the anime viewing room they'd be. And I don't have a cell phone so I couldn't contact them. They were so very helpful in trying to look for them (since I didn't bring my ID card with my to check to see if they were in the 18+ viewing room) and I was able to use on of their phones to text them. They waited with me for a reply to the text I sent my friend. I hope the staff is always like that for next year. ^_^
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: PyronIkari on June 01, 2011, 06:55:52 PM
Quote from: Katsumiyo on June 01, 2011, 05:29:17 PM
Improvements Over Past Years
I don't know where the maid cafe was, but wherever it was, it was out of the way and I liked it. I've had problems getting to and from places if the maid cafe is in the middle; the line for it is always disorganized and it takes too long to seat people.
The Maid Cafe was in the same place it has been for the past three years. It's located at the end of the concourse on the Hilton side. I don't know what you mean by disorganized line though, can you explain this? The line has always wrapped from the entrance of the cafe around and alongside the wall of the escalator/stairs.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: chifunii on June 01, 2011, 07:05:45 PM
^^^In that case, okay.

^^I totally missed my photo op with Yuya, by mere seconds really, but I didn't even try to take pictures in the autograph line. We're always being shuffled along, so it's difficult to 1) think 2) stop moving 3) wait for Yuya to stop moving and take a picture. And while the professional photographer seems like a fine and dandy idea, I'm not sure how well that'd sit with the guests and their management...It's always up to them to make the rules, if I recall correctly...
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: PickleBunny on June 01, 2011, 07:14:26 PM
Quote from: Sapphire on June 01, 2011, 06:36:24 PM
So, I was thinking, perhaps in order to let people have a picture with a guest such as Yuyu but still keep things moving, is get a professional photographer there to take people's pictures with him. I can understand if it's just a picture at the table of him signing, or maybe looking up with a smile, but no hugging since I can imagine why they'd be pretty strict about it. The photographer can just be there at one end of the table, say "smile", take a quick, good quality picture, you get the autograph and then it's next person. To me, it seems it could work.

The reason pictures were only allowed behind the yellow line is because of the time it would take if people were trying to take pictures right in front of him.  There were nearly 400 people in line during each one-hour autograph session and he was just able to get to everyone who was in line.  Even thought it doesn't seem like a lot of time to pose for a quick picture, it would really add up with so many people.  That would probably end up in a lot of people not being able to get his autograph at all.  Furthermore, a professional photographer would want to take his/her time in order to get decent pictures so I don't think that it's realistic to think that it would be quick.  The idea of having a professional photographer at the autograph session is just not practical.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: GoodAsianDriver on June 01, 2011, 07:17:25 PM
Quote from: Niya on May 30, 2011, 10:44:05 PM
A few years ago I made a comment about the DJs and music selection.  Basically my comment was, hey, this is an anime convention, so maybe we could have more anime themed music?

The response at the time was that there isn't much anime themed music appropriate for a con.  At the time that might have been true.

Now there's Club MOGRA in Japan -- http://club-mogra.jp/  which has long sets of anime and anime culture club music.  Every week.

No offence to the DJs! They were great and the raves were piles of fun. It's just, wouldn't it be more fun if the songs (a much higher % of them) were significant to our subculture?

Yeah... I played some anime soundtracks-- exit trance stuff, evangelion, panty stocking, over 9000 meme kinds of songs. It went over extremely well if you were there at 12:30 am Sunday/Monday. I would have played more at my other sets, but with only 5 people in the room for the other sets, I played whatever those 5 people wanted.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: PLUMPKIN on June 01, 2011, 07:24:19 PM
Quote from: Persona on June 01, 2011, 10:01:46 AM

/offtopic You wouldn't happen to be the same Plumpkin who went to Cal around 2005-2009, would you?

Maybe :-D.  Can you guys use a pumpkin on staff?
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: ewu on June 01, 2011, 07:26:17 PM
Quote from: PLUMPKIN on June 01, 2011, 07:24:19 PM
Maybe :-D.  Can you guys use a pumpkin on staff?


pls stay on topic...and we can always use more staff  ;D
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Mayhem on June 01, 2011, 07:41:06 PM
Quote from: SquallLHeart on June 01, 2011, 10:02:46 AM
the only con i know that's dying (*cough*.. died..) is AX..  ::)

I may get to find this out. I Missed 2008 and 2010, 2009 was lame. I have Been hitting AX since 2000 myself, I covered AX as Press in 09 and some staffers had it in for us (Press). I get to Cover AX as press this year and possibly AM^2 so I will get to compare all the big Cons this year.

What I found lacking this year was the every changing, retroactive, Nazi Gestapo, rules on Coplay costumes and Prop weapons for peace bonding. I covered that in my earlier rant and It will be both in my con review (toned down) but will also go into the official rant (no mercy). This behavior makes it very difficult for a cosplayer to feel comfortable or confident about cosplaying, I know I will never cosplay at Fanime again as you have no idea weather you will really get to wear your costume or you just wasted allot of time and money because some one got a wild hair up their derriere. I'm not even sure I will be returning to Fanime after this year.

I think the Fanime leadership needs to learn to stand up to the City of San Jose, I honestly think they need us far more then we need them so sometimes you gotta Just say No!

"On the Floor" Staff was uninformed, Communications as always ... sucks. You couldn't talk in con ops without getting shushed by someone and the personnel working the radios had a hard time hearing anything. They probably should have put the radios in the next room. Information trickles down from the top tier leadership to the folks on the ground like a bad economic plan. Some of the Volunteers were a little on the rude side.

What I find funny is Fanime staffers are some the most screwed over staff I have ever seen. The only thing they get for free is their badge. They really don't get their hotel room at a reduced rate as all Fanime does is find them roommates and they split the full price, If one of the roommates skimps out or don't show the others pick up their share ... Most payed more for their hotel then I did mine. Staffers get a T-Shirt but they have to pay 10 bucks for. Even AX gives their staffers more. Some staffers work up to 6 hours per day for 4 days, that's $192 bucks worth of work at Minimum Wage for a $65 badge I'm surprised some one hasn't gotten sued yet. Many cons offer at least a free hot and cot - usually housing and a single meal plus some other perks.

The new Coplay hang out seemed to be a huge success and I think it needs to be expanded on. However this is going to require the cooperation of cosplayers staff and Fanime leadership and I don't really see that happening especially when the leadership drops the ball like they did with costume and prop rules.

Fanime was running way behind schedule. They lost the big ball room to a wedding. The Con schedules got pooched, nothing seemed to open on time like registration and housing.

Saturday and Sunday seemed very crowded, Fanime may want to consider a new venue like Moscone center, expanding into the Huge south hall, or cap registration and or raise rates. as it stands now we have to start making choices as to which events we want to attend more so then ever before. It was no mistake the B&W ball took place the same time the Masquerade ball did.

Fanime Leadership really needs to get into better planning and planning far sooner; we have 12 months, use them. Allot of conventions start planning for next year's Con last year. Wolfgang from what I hear will be Chairing Fanime 2012, I wish him the best of luck.

These are the low points of the con, this is what led me to feel let down, the ever changing musical cosplay costume policy was what really chapped my Arse this year, and practically ruined it for me. However there were some High points and positive notes to this convention which I will not go into here. They say this can be a learning experience and one should learn from their mistakes Hopefully Fanime can do this before they become AX.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Jelly Soup on June 01, 2011, 08:27:20 PM
Quote from: Mantaray3000 on June 01, 2011, 12:24:33 AM
Midnight Madness: This is was my biggest gripe of the whole con! I was planning and hoping that I would get to see True Naruto Style the movie but instead we had a two hour video screening of fake trailers and whats worst is there was no schedule on what was going to be playing! I also complained about this last year when nobody told us that the Berserk parody was three hours long and whats worst was that it was already available on youtube where as True Naruto Style is not played anywhere but at cons! I know the event lasts all night long but my point is that there are people who have no plans on actually staying up all night especially if they have plans early the next day! Please improve this by actually showing showtimes schedules for midnight madness in advance.

I'm going to interject here as I have some slight insight on this. This was the last year for the guy that puts together Midnight Madness, who goes by the name Jerry C. He's a close friend who I visit and work with often. Honestly, he thought a great way to end it all would be with a compilation of the best of the previous years Midnight Madness showings. I'm not sure as to why TNS wasn't shown (might have been too long, might have been a favoring for the shorter trailers or he may just have never shown it at MM). However, TNS is on Youtube if you'd still like to see it.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Shi_Musouka on June 01, 2011, 08:42:52 PM
I didn't notice this thread until a link was posted. lol. Thank you.

Schedules: For me personally, it was frustrating not having a schedule to access, but I was fortunate enough to bring a laptop to see it online and look at the ones at the info desks.

Something that would help attendees be more prepared should a printing snafu happen is to make a note to attendees on the website(where schedules will be at) that schedules are not guaranteed to be printed out at con so that the people(especially someone's first FanimeCon) will be able to prepare in the worst case scenario by printing one from home, if necessary. If you guys wanted to go green and encourage other people to print them out, it really helps to make a note of that too on the website section where the schedules are/will be posted. Specifics are your friends. Congoers are not mindreaders.

Mobile apps were nice. Keep it up! Sadly, I don't own a smartphone or internet access on my phone so it did me no help, but it did help some of my friends who did have access to the app.


MusicFest: I have say, I'm really proud to see the staff's capability of bringing in huge-name guests to the con. I remember back when we struggled with this and I'm really proud to see MusicFest improve on their PR. On the other hand, I was very disappointed with this year's MusicFest, simply because of how the vibe has changed over the years. I remember back when Fanime brought in lower-profile musicians with great beats and had a much friendlier photo/video policy. I understand where the no photo/video policy is coming from and with the guests and managers that accompany them, it makes sense why it's there. I'm not saying our musician guests this year weren't talented. By all means, they are skilled at their craft. They just don't have the same personalized vibe that really defined what MusicFest was all about. I remember we would enjoy the musicians perform, then during breaks go to the tables where they are selling CDs, have autographs and photos with the bands, then go back and keep watching. there was blurb about how there was a stronger emphasis towards music than there was towards the anime part. I would like to see a mixture of both low-profile and high-profile guests instead of only high-profile guests from major record labels. It may not be what all the fans want, but I feel like it's the diversity of the artists that made MusicFest what it was.

I noticed the FLOW concert hit capacity. If, for some reason the capacity to accommodate fans is becoming a problem, I'd recommend maybe looking into bringing back the ticketing system, kind of like what we did with An Cafe.


Staff-wise, I made a semi-rant in an older thread about staff taking a de-stresser during their shifts because I can tell that with a con this big with staff numbers that are not even 1/15th of the con size, it's a lot easier to get overworked and it's really important to function with a clear, unimpaired mind because that's when you make the best choices on the job. Maybe it sounds silly and unnecessary, but it is a lot easier to be nicer to people when you're not worrying about a thousand other things and letting certain situations get to you. It also seems that a lot of the incidents I've been reading about are all either customer service snafus or case-by-case basis type of things. Realistically, I feel as though these are the hardest situations to train anybody in simply because what may be common sense to us will not be common sense to them and not everyone coming in to staff have the same people skills or work experience in customer service environments as others will. Please keep in mind that it's not always what you say that will offend someone, but how you say it. This may be why some people have much worse experiences with staff than others will.

Overall, I can't really say for sure whether this was an orderly Fanime or not, as I didn't really notice anything obvious out of the blue. It was pretty much just a typical Fanime with larger crowds. I feel as though the negatives can sometimes overshadow the positives of the convention. As a con, you guys should feel proud that we went from maxing out hotel space from the four neighboring hotels all the way to the Fairmont and beyond. Attendance has skyrocketed over the last couple of years and as of 2009(via animecons.com), we rank as one of the top 10 North American conventions with the highest attendance rates. You even have guests that keep coming back year after year after year simply because they love Fanime. Don't feel like you've failed as a con simply because of some negative feedback. You win some and you lose some.

Once again, these opinions are of my own and do not reflect those of FanimeCon or any of it's staff members.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: MikeTSA on June 01, 2011, 08:46:12 PM
1) It would be awesome if you guys could allow people to bring their own games/consoles to the eGaming setup for free play.
2) Please move the panels into the actual con center and out of the Marriott.
3) Find a solution to the schedule mishap both on-site and online. Maybe prominently and clearly posting the schedule on the home page in more than just the "news" column or buried deep within the navigation.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Seiyuu on June 01, 2011, 10:18:31 PM
Besides the obvious (schedules, etc.), I thought it was a little disturbing that there was a stall in the Dealers Hall selling Nazi insignia and replicas of Hitler's jacket as well as having a Cosplay Deviants booth in the wide open.
I feel like there should have been a tighter leash on what was available at the Dealers Hall.

The entrance/exit-only doors to the AA and Dealers Hall was kind of annoying, especially if you were coming from one end (e.g. Marriott) and had to walk all the way to the other end (Hilton end) just to get in, but I understand it's to speed up traffic flow. Maybe have one side of the door be entering and one side be leaving since there were two people at each door checking badges? I mean, it's a pretty wide door IMO.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: xxxplizit (pogi1kenobi) on June 01, 2011, 10:56:19 PM
All eGaming discussions should be posted here:

http://forums.fanime.com/index.php/topic,16406.0.html



Quote from: raltga on May 31, 2011, 07:16:20 PMGaming

Only complaint was no Naruto Shippuden UNS2 tournament.  Every time the game was being played on one of the TVs it drew a big crowd of folks wanting to play.  I understand everyone wants tournaments for the mainstream fighting games (SF/MK/BB/GG/SSB/etc), but this is also is an anime convention and there should be tournaments for some anime themed games.  I would say even themed tournaments where cosplayers play as their character and fight it out for prizes would be excellent entertainment on stage0 or in the gaming hall.

We will work on our staff who wants to run these kind of tournaments.  While we, we also pay attention of how a good tournament is being ran in the most fair way possible.  The other comes with..."What system did you want it for?"

Anything related to Stage0 is a separate entity from eGaming.  However, we can try working together for this to happen.  =)



Quote from: MikeTSA on June 01, 2011, 08:46:12 PM1) It would be awesome if you guys could allow people to bring their own games/consoles to the eGaming setup for free play.

As much as some people are requesting this, here are the major problems to keep in mind:


All of the above creates a lot of confusion and headaches to deal with, leading to infighting between attendees and staffers.  Let's not ruin the FanimeCon experience for the fans, shall we?  If you want to bring your own stations, there's always your own hotel room.

The ONLY thing we will allow others to bring is controllers, BUT that has to be approved by staffers.  We know people want to use their Fightsticks etc for some of the tournaments and that's fine; we still have to examine anything that plugs into the machine(s)

If you really REALLY want to bring your own equipment, we may consider it (though unlikely), but respond to [email protected] as early as possible (no later than a month before con).  At least with notifications ahead of time, it gives staffers ways to prepare in case it gets allowed.

...or better yet apply for a staff position at eGaming.  Saves all the trouble.  =P

...or request games you want as early as possible so we can possibly get the game before con?
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: CatToy on June 01, 2011, 11:31:47 PM
In the case that the weather is nice next year, could you put some fans in the pre-registration maze area on Thursday? When it's packed with humanity, it gets unbearably hot in there.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: nemuneko on June 01, 2011, 11:35:40 PM
I've been going to Fanime since the late 90's (way back when it was held at Foothill College and was a LOT smaller) and this is my first time posting on the forum. Though it wasn't my favorite Fanime so far, I still had an awesome time this year. I didn't run into many problems and I found it very enjoyable.

Schedule: My main complaint is the lack of printed schedules this year, but I know this has been mentioned 1000+ times already. The pocket guide last year was awesome and very convenient, and I think that should be implemented again. Thankfully, I studied the schedule before going and wrote down most of the events I wanted to go to with the times and locations, so I didn't have too much of a problem. The couple times we did use the Info desk, though, they weren't very helpful and didn't seem to know where things were, which was a little frustrating.

I did like the mobile schedule, but since I only have an iPod Touch and not a fancy smart phone, I had to rely on WiFi (which was only available in minimal places). My boyfriend does have a Droid, so we were able to access the schedule on the days I went with him. A PDF of the schedule would be really appreciated and easier to access because it can be saved (I don't believe there was one this year and if there was, I couldn't find it on the website). A downloadable Fanime app for iPhone/iTouch/iPad, Droid, etc., would be awesome (preferably one where you don't need an Internet connection to view the schedule), but should be coupled with a printed schedule/pocket guide for those who don't have smart phones or other mobile devices.

Dealers Room: Yes, the dealers room was expensive, but most imported items are and I only bought one item there, anyway. I did enjoy the more diverse selection this year, however, and the selection of cosplay items (especially high-quality wigs) was nice. The lack of video games was a disappointment, though, as was the lack of CDs (which mainly my friend was disappointed about... she really missed the booth with all the J-pop and J-rock CDs and merchandise, which we couldn't find). Other than that, I thought the selection was good. My boyfriend really loved all the Gundam and other anime models in the middle of the dealers room.

Panels: All in all, a good selection this year. The ones I went to were quite a bit of fun and not super-crowded. I really enjoyed MANime! and An Intro to Memes (though I wish it was an hour longer... there are a lot of memes to cover!). I'm guessing WOWOWTF?! Filipino Cinema was cancelled because my boyfriend and I went to the room Friday and Saturday at the scheduled time, but nobody ever showed up after waiting 15-20 minutes. It made me a bit sad because we really wanted to see it. : ( My boyfriend (who is Filipino) said they were probably running on "Filipino time," so that's why they were late or never showed up, haha. It was just a bummer that it was never mentioned online about being cancelled or whatnot since it would have saved us some time.

Videos: Good selection this year. We enjoyed the DBZ Abridged Series showing (although it would be nice if it was more specific on the schedule next year about the specific Abridged series that is showing, since there are several out there... it was just too vague). The music videos were fun, as always, and we found a new show we absolutely love (the Nostalgia Critic, which was so freaking hilarious!). I hope that is brought back next year. Hentai Nights was fun, too, although we didn't stay long for it. It was VERY crowded in there Sunday night (we barely found a seat), but that's to be expected. ID checking was very strict this year, as it should be.

Rovers: I didn't have any issues with the Rovers this year. Actually, they seemed a lot nicer, helpful, and laid back compared to previous years, in my experience, but perhaps that's because I didn't dress up this year and didn't go to any big events, so I had minimal contact with them. No problems there.

Dance Room: I didn't enjoy having the Dance 2 room (Market) down where the food is sold on the lower level of the Hilton across from Peet's Coffee. We usually buy food there at the restaurant once or twice each year during the con and I don't recall it ever being that noisy. It's been one of the few places there in previous years to have a bite to eat without a lot of disturbance and noise, so that was disappointing. The noise level was awful (very loud bass), along with the constant opening and closing of the door, so we had to take our food to the Marriot side to eat in relative silence. I don't think we'll be eating there again if it's going to be held there again. One of the employees there did give us a free soda because of the noise, though, so that was nice. We usually only buy food there because of the selection and better quality (otherwise, we bring small snacks to keep us energized throughout the day so we don't have to spend too much money on food), so the amount of noise there was very disruptive to us.

Parking/Security: Does anyone know if you can get someone from the con or hotel (like security) to escort you to your car late at night? I drive in from Benicia and usually go back to my car late at night to go home (past midnight when the events we are interested in are over) when a lot of weirdos are out. It seemed like there were more shady people than usual (ghetto, "gangsta"-looking guys in large groups taking up the whole sidewalk that made insulting comments at us, scuzzy-looking (homeless, I'm guessing) people (one of which was peeing all over a pillar in clear view), a few hookers (yes, hookers), etc., that were clearly not part of the con) hanging out a couple blocks from the convention center where we usually park and it was only my female friend and me on Saturday, so I felt a bit paranoid walking there with no other con-goers around. It honestly makes me want to carry pepper spray. Next year, I'll try parking in the parking garages that are closer to the convention center, but since we get there relatively late in the day on the busiest days because the main events we are interested in aren't until late afternoon to evening, it's hard to find close parking at times. For future reference, though, I'm curious if there are people who can escort you to your car at night. If not, then I think it would be a great idea to offer that as a service in future years for those who have to park further away and don't have a group of people to go back with to the parking lot late at night to go home. It would be a huge help.

Sorry for the length of my post. All in all, I had a great time, despite those few problems. Looking forward to next year! Keep up the awesome work!  :)
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Himeno on June 02, 2011, 12:19:14 AM
Quote from: Seiyuu on June 01, 2011, 10:18:31 PM
The entrance/exit-only doors to the AA and Dealers Hall was kind of annoying, especially if you were coming from one end (e.g. Marriott) and had to walk all the way to the other end (Hilton end) just to get in, but I understand it's to speed up traffic flow. Maybe have one side of the door be entering and one side be leaving since there were two people at each door checking badges? I mean, it's a pretty wide door IMO.
How about opening all the doors when the dealers room is closing and not have a thousand people cramming through the same single door.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Mantaray3000 on June 02, 2011, 12:35:37 AM
Quote from: Jelly Soup on June 01, 2011, 08:27:20 PM
Quote from: Mantaray3000 on June 01, 2011, 12:24:33 AM
Midnight Madness: This is was my biggest gripe of the whole con! I was planning and hoping that I would get to see True Naruto Style the movie but instead we had a two hour video screening of fake trailers and whats worst is there was no schedule on what was going to be playing! I also complained about this last year when nobody told us that the Berserk parody was three hours long and whats worst was that it was already available on youtube where as True Naruto Style is not played anywhere but at cons! I know the event lasts all night long but my point is that there are people who have no plans on actually staying up all night especially if they have plans early the next day! Please improve this by actually showing showtimes schedules for midnight madness in advance.

I'm going to interject here as I have some slight insight on this. This was the last year for the guy that puts together Midnight Madness, who goes by the name Jerry C. He's a close friend who I visit and work with often. Honestly, he thought a great way to end it all would be with a compilation of the best of the previous years Midnight Madness showings. I'm not sure as to why TNS wasn't shown (might have been too long, might have been a favoring for the shorter trailers or he may just have never shown it at MM). However, TNS is on Youtube if you'd still like to see it.
My gripe was not the compilation trailers but the fact that there was no knowledge of how long it would take and what was going to be played after the compilation trailers which is why I suggest having a showtime schedule to whoever will be in charge of midnight madness next year. And no TNS the movie is not on youtube unless you can show me a link.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Jelly Soup on June 02, 2011, 01:02:40 AM
Quote from: Mantaray3000 on June 02, 2011, 12:35:37 AM
Quote from: Jelly Soup on June 01, 2011, 08:27:20 PM
Quote from: Mantaray3000 on June 01, 2011, 12:24:33 AM
Midnight Madness: This is was my biggest gripe of the whole con! I was planning and hoping that I would get to see True Naruto Style the movie but instead we had a two hour video screening of fake trailers and whats worst is there was no schedule on what was going to be playing! I also complained about this last year when nobody told us that the Berserk parody was three hours long and whats worst was that it was already available on youtube where as True Naruto Style is not played anywhere but at cons! I know the event lasts all night long but my point is that there are people who have no plans on actually staying up all night especially if they have plans early the next day! Please improve this by actually showing showtimes schedules for midnight madness in advance.

I'm going to interject here as I have some slight insight on this. This was the last year for the guy that puts together Midnight Madness, who goes by the name Jerry C. He's a close friend who I visit and work with often. Honestly, he thought a great way to end it all would be with a compilation of the best of the previous years Midnight Madness showings. I'm not sure as to why TNS wasn't shown (might have been too long, might have been a favoring for the shorter trailers or he may just have never shown it at MM). However, TNS is on Youtube if you'd still like to see it.
My gripe was not the compilation trailers but the fact that there was no knowledge of how long it would take and what was going to be played after the compilation trailers which is why I suggest having a showtime schedule to whoever will be in charge of midnight madness next year.

That's kind of the point of MM, actually. It's six hours of new fansubs with a few classics mixed in, you're not supposed to know whats to be shown beyond that. Do you expect the hentai/yaoi rooms to have complete listings of what is being shown before hand? If yes, you're missing the point.

QuoteAnd no TNS the movie is not on youtube unless you can show me a link.

I typed 'True Naruto Style' into the search and found it, don't know why you're not.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: otakuya on June 02, 2011, 01:21:25 AM
-big printed arrow signs, rather than 8 1/2x11 Sharpie signs.
Saying things like:
[Dealers Room -->]
[<--Artists Alley]
[EXIT-->]
[Not an Exit]

-move Stage Zero to an Exhibit Room?

-(going with 2012's 'sports' theme) basketball hoops, tennis nets, volleyball nets, and/or soccer goals with taped off bounderies and lines in the gaming room
note: I could imagine basketball with a Pokeball and a real-life blitzball game breaking out

-meditation or quiet room (away from noise and traffic of main floor, but not the hotel room where it is a b**** to get up to with the elevators)

-"meet the mascots". When I was staff several years ago, we/I helped name the 5 Fanime mascots that you see on the street banners, promos, and program guide. Yet, I'm still not able to tell which one is Amber, Becky, Candy, Damian, or Elliott (ABCDE, get it?). Maybe something in the program guide to let us know the characters and their personality?

-a huge sign in front of the cc. such as:
(https://forums.fanime.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Frealityseo.com%2Fuploaded_images%2FConvention-Center.jpg-724335.jpg&hash=1ed4c928405dd2f90ff820c3eb2e8565e196fd29)
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Melly on June 02, 2011, 01:26:54 AM
nemuneko said something about the Dance room by peet's being really loud and bassy; well im going to add something to that.

i was trying to sleep in my room (14th floor in the Hilton) and i could hear the bass all the way from up on the 14th floor :/

this was at like 4AM too v__V;.......

maybe you could ask the DJs to keep the bass a bit lower :/ cause i mean.. hearing/feeling it all the way up on the 14th floor is pretty extreme if you ask me lol;;
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: SquallLHeart on June 02, 2011, 10:04:26 AM
Quote from: lurker9000 on June 01, 2011, 06:33:30 PM
The guy you are quoting has nothing to do with anything related to Musicfest except doing a great job w/ Autographs and is making hopeful assumptions.
indeed... it's just a hopeful assumption :P

still hoping. :D
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Nina Star 9 on June 02, 2011, 10:27:44 AM
I had a really great Fanime this year, but there are some improvements that can be made!


- Exiting panel rooms. After the Whose Line is it Fanime? panel, we were only allowed to leave the panel room in a single-file line out one door. This line wasn't moving at all at some points, and there was just a big mob of people pushing against the doors. It took us several minutes to exit the room. Maybe open up the other doors to the panel rooms when people are leaving so that there isn't so much chaos? I understand that chaos is probably what they were trying to prevent, but it slowed things down considerably and was very uncomfortable.

- Lolita picnic. We have had this gathering every year for a very long time (~5 years?). After the first year, it was located outside in a little terrace area towards the Hilton side of the CC. Last year, it was moved up to the Marriott-side patio attatched to the main concourse, and this year it was scheduled for the same place. We have been bringing sweets to share with each other to this gathering since the beginning, and it was very nice to have some tables and chairs last year. This year, we were kicked out of our gathering location because of the food, so we moved mid-gathering to the previous location. since this area is a large, flat, concrete area and we weren't prepared to be here, there was no where to sit and play games since no one is going to sit on the ground in an expensive dress. I understand the problem with the CC being unionized so that any food served has to be union food, but we are simply sharing sweets with our frilly friends and not in competetion with the food vendors at all, since outside people do not eat our sweets and the lolis who would have bought a burger anyway would still buy one. I just hope that next year, we get a suitable location to hold our picnic and daintily eat our sweets (or con burgers if the loli is so inclined!) while still being able to do our planned activities. <3

- Karaoke room hours. there can always be longer karaoke hours. I agree with starting it a bit earlier in the day, though I did like the 3PM opening on Sunday. I like the idea of having a 24-hour karaoke room, but that may be difficult to maintain.

All my other complaints and suggestions I've posted in the appropriate threads for that department.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: hikanteki on June 02, 2011, 03:47:59 PM
Gripes:
I know this is by fans for fans, but I don't think it would hurt to have a few more anime-related industry or professional panels.  My main gripe about Fanime, besides the lack of schedules -- although even this was somewhat mitigated by the schedule being clearly displayed outside each room (& don't get me wrong, I still had an awesome time this year) was that overall it felt unprofessional and with that many people, there wasn't really anything holding it together.  The Viz panel was good & so was the butler one (which I happened to walk into, but couldn't find on the schedule.)  I did see quite a few fan panels that were awesome, but others were just too painfully amateurish to sit through.  I'd also like to see more panel rooms, because only 3 dedicated rooms for a conference of 16000+ seems really low.

Annoying, but understandable:
Movies/anime that I want to see being shown at 5 AM (but if it's 24 hours, then there's bound to be some things being shown at odd hours), items in dealers room being expensive (because they're expensive anyway), having to go all the way around to enter the gaming room/dealer's hall (as opposed to one entrance being ridiculously crowded).

Good:
Seemed like a pretty big group of special guests this year.  Also love the big names that Fanime brings in for MusicFest...it's such a treat to see popular Japanese bands perform here, especially since some of them are only their first or second time performing in the states.  Also, loved all the 24-hour video rooms.  I could always hang out in one of those when I didn't feel like doing anything else.  All the staff I talked to was friendly & tried to be helpful (not all of them knew everything, but who does.  It's not like they're getting paid.)  I never got attitude that many people spoke of...but then again I never gave them attitude.  Imagine that.  The 10% discounts on food was a great idea too (it got me to try Philz Coffee & Good Karma) BUT if there are any caveats -- such as was the case with Hydration where you had to spend $15 in order to get the discount -- those should have been mentioned too.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Jelly Soup on June 02, 2011, 05:13:14 PM
This had slipped my mind till now, but I wanted to make a comment about the Swap Meet. You know what I really like about the Swap Meet staff? When they lead us to our spot. Why do I like this? So we don't have a repeat of Friday night, were our neighbor was insisting that he had two spots, including ours and a loud heated argument ended with me telling him to get his shit out of my spot or I'd shit can it (all the while, a non-swap meet staffer was doing his best to help but finally agreed with my approach).
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: zeroelement on June 02, 2011, 08:52:24 PM
My overall thought about this year fanime is it went well. It could of used a few days or more training. Also the Schedule should of been up sooner and printed, but otherwise the convention was great. The main negative feed back could be fixed with more time for like the DJ's to practice with that set up for it is not their own and people complain about that. Rovers... no one likes people who enforce the rules rare to be positive i personally had no problem with them besides day0 when my friend wanted to throw something away they wouldnt let him duck under the tap when we were in the first stretch of the line.

Artist ally  perfectly done.

Dealers Perfectly done. Only improvement would be 2 entrances 2 exits(there are 6 doors on each side i think but staff yea not possible).(our feet hurt already XD so maybe in and out after the main line gets in)(also you cant control the prices in there useless to complain)

Game room  Great job might make some money selling water in there cheaper than the vending machines.

Panels Well staffed and controlled (lines)

Video (something for everyone and not all mainstream)

Cosplay hang out   Perfect!

Gatherings Went well

Protesters Controlled ish (to bad they didn't get arrested ive read they cant use the speaker thing without a permit. i say make a few anti poster blocker (black bags between two poles) that are held up blocking them.




Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: ayame_nguyen on June 02, 2011, 10:34:53 PM
fanime this year was pretty good overall.

Schedules : please do bring back the pocket schedules. if there was a problem with printing them it would have been nice to tell us so we can print our own. it was a pain to find when things were happening esp. when some things were being moved to another time or were cancelled. i like the app idea! thats a wonderful way to keep people updated but the bad thing about this is that not everyone has an smart phone or an itouch.

musicfest : is there anyway to get the camera & video policy up before the con starts or a day or 2 before the concert starts? i dont have a hotel room or a car so i can't put my camera away somewhere really quick. this year it was really on and off. at first someone came and said "no cameras or video" . then about 30mins later it was" cameras allowed but no video". then at the end it was "no cameras or videos but you can bring cameras inside just not allowed to take it out". it was somewhat of a pain to deal with. please do release this info ahead of time.

thats about it ^_^ i look forward to 2012 !
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: zeroelement on June 02, 2011, 10:38:53 PM
Quote from: ayame_nguyen on June 02, 2011, 10:34:53 PM
fanime this year was pretty good overall.

Schedules : please do bring back the pocket schedules. if there was a problem with printing them it would have been nice to tell us so we can print our own. it was a pain to find when things were happening esp. when some things were being moved to another time or were cancelled. i like the app idea! thats a wonderful way to keep people updated but the bad thing about this is that not everyone has an smart phone or an itouch.

musicfest : is there anyway to get the camera & video policy up before the con starts or a day or 2 before the concert starts? i dont have a hotel room or a car so i can't put my camera away somewhere really quick. this year it was really on and off. at first someone came and said "no cameras or video" . then about 30mins later it was" cameras allowed but no video". then at the end it was "no cameras or videos but you can bring cameras inside just not allowed to take it out". it was somewhat of a pain to deal with. please do release this info ahead of time.

thats about it ^_^ i look forward to 2012 !

i think its a general rule for the music events no camera's every one ive gone to was no no no
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: InsaneChan on June 02, 2011, 11:03:09 PM
This was my 8th Fanime, and I really thought that for the most part, everything was very well organized. My first two days of the con were amazing, and I really was impressed by Music Fest this year as well. My only two major peeves were such:

Schedules: It wasn't so much that there were no schedules, but that they didn't say anything about it until the DAY OF. I checked the Fanime site every day, constantly, up until Thursday afternoon (when I left for the con). Only to find out when we arrived that there were no printed schedules. The only way we got by was because one person in our group had a smart phone. If he hadn't been there, however, we would have missed everything we had wanted to see. The digital schedule was neat, but only applied to a percentage of attendees. Again, if even 1-day notice had been given about the schedules, I could have easily printed some out for our group and avoided the constant stress of missing a panel, etc.

FLOW autographs: This was less Fanime's fault, but I was extremely disappointed that I didn't get an autograph. I waited in the line for two hours, only to walk away empty-handed. I understand that these things happen, but I was absolutely crushed. I've never cried at a Fanime before, I've only left with some of the best memories of my life. But I started crying in the middle of the hall, cried off-and-on the rest of the day, and was irreversibly, miserably upset for the rest of the con. For such a huge guest, more than one autograph session would have been nice.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: lurker9000 on June 02, 2011, 11:15:37 PM
Quote
i think its a general rule for the music events no camera's every one ive gone to was no no no

and ESPECIALLY no video. :]

People are removed from the event if caught doing that.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: PickleBunny on June 02, 2011, 11:45:22 PM
To ayame_nguyen:  The policy was consistently no taking pictures or videos so I wonder who told you, at one point, that taking photos would be okay...  
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: PunkDrunker on June 03, 2011, 12:44:28 AM
Quote from: PickleBunny on June 02, 2011, 11:45:22 PM
To ayame_nguyen:  The policy was consistently no taking pictures or videos so I wonder who told you, at one point, that taking photos would be okay...  
While we were waiting in line, two different staff members walked up and down the line and told us that pictures were okay, just no videos, and we should run and get our cameras if we wanted them. And about 15 minutes later, we were told no cameras again, like ayame_nguyen said.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Jelly Soup on June 03, 2011, 02:11:58 AM
Quote from: PunkDrunker on June 03, 2011, 12:44:28 AM
Quote from: PickleBunny on June 02, 2011, 11:45:22 PM
To ayame_nguyen:  The policy was consistently no taking pictures or videos so I wonder who told you, at one point, that taking photos would be okay...  
While we were waiting in line, two different staff members walked up and down the line and told us that pictures were okay, just no videos, and we should run and get our cameras if we wanted them. And about 15 minutes later, we were told no cameras again, like ayame_nguyen said.

This has been a problem in previous years as well, one staffer saying one thing, then a different staffer saying something else. There are decent photos/vids of various no-camera events from various years of Fanime floating around due to this.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: hookedonchibis on June 03, 2011, 08:42:33 AM
I have a serious, serious problem with the fact that I cannot find contact information to reach ConOps or even AA staff to share my concerns privately.

My studio will not be returning to Fanime and I really don't want to share my concerns publicly (not that I can't be nice in my wording, I can!, but I prefer to handle these conversations with staff before taking them to public areas), but there seems to be no way to do this. At-con, the people manning the ConOps office were very polite and helpful, and it's really distressing that they have made themselves completely unavailable during non-con hours in this way.

There should always be a method for sharing private/personal concerns, if only because not everyone cares to have their issues pasted all over the internet. After one con, a fellow artist was left to share her story of harrassment regarding her kidney dialysis appointment in a forum thread like this, because there was no discreet way for her to talk to con staff. (My story isn't this deeply personal, but the lesson remains)
Title: Minor Badge Pick Up and AA Registration
Post by: Emu on June 03, 2011, 09:25:22 AM
Under 18 Badge Pick up.  For the last 3 years my kids have had a rough time picking up their Pre-Registered badges at Fanime because they have their school I.D. and not a driver's licence. The staff always asks for Government Issued ID.  Well, Public School is a government institution so it in any event it should be considered a government issued I.D.  If my kid has the printed receipt and a school ID to confirm his or her identification that should be proof enough.  This year I did a group registration so I, the parent picked them up.  I do not want to do it again next year.  I only get through to these staffers after I ask for their supervisor and ask them how a 15 and 16 year olds is supposed to have a driver's license?

Another stickler is the AA staff.  Again the Government issued ID again.  I as a parent signed them in.  Paid for the table and had all the paper work together for a 16 and a 17 year old artists.  Again, I had the paid receipts, Sellers Permit, and a parent check in statement.  Mind you I was also there in person to check them in and the staff still insisted on seeing a government issued ID.  They had their student ID with them .  THESE IDS HAVE THEIR NAME AND PICTURE ON THEM SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DEAL WAS.  Only after some annoying discussion with 3 other people were we able to check in at AA.  It is easier to go through the Airport Security than to get in to the Fanime Convention and Fanime AA.

Title: Re: Minor Badge Pick Up and AA Registration
Post by: ewu on June 03, 2011, 09:40:03 AM
Unfortunately, we can only take ID such as passports, drivers licenses, or CA IDs. School IDs are not standardized and can be easily faked. Any person with a card printer can make those. However, state issued IDs have numerous security measures integrated into them. We need to ensure that the ID indeed belongs to the person furnishing it.

In the end, we do not want the rightful account holder to show up and find that their membership or table has been claimed by a person using a fake school ID.

Thanks for your understanding. Further questions can be directed to registrationATfanimeDOTcom, artistalleyATfanimeDOTcom, or me directly at ericATfanimeDOTcom.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: chifunii on June 03, 2011, 09:48:18 AM
Quote from: Jelly Soup on June 03, 2011, 02:11:58 AM
Quote from: PunkDrunker on June 03, 2011, 12:44:28 AM
Quote from: PickleBunny on June 02, 2011, 11:45:22 PM
To ayame_nguyen:  The policy was consistently no taking pictures or videos so I wonder who told you, at one point, that taking photos would be okay...  
While we were waiting in line, two different staff members walked up and down the line and told us that pictures were okay, just no videos, and we should run and get our cameras if we wanted them. And about 15 minutes later, we were told no cameras again, like ayame_nguyen said.

This has been a problem in previous years as well, one staffer saying one thing, then a different staffer saying something else. There are decent photos/vids of various no-camera events from various years of Fanime floating around due to this.

To me, the easiest is just to assume no photos or videos for the shows; I really don't want to bother with that stuff, so I always ditch my stuff somewhere and just enjoy myself.
The pictures I wouldve taken wouldn't have been of good quality, and there are photographers there taking pictures the entire time anyway. MY JOB, IMO, is to have a good time.

Best answer to the photo policy problem: not having a problem. Wowowowow

Of course there are people that would rather lose their right foot than not be able to take pictures...In that case I don't really know what to say...
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: PickleBunny on June 03, 2011, 10:49:03 AM
Quote from: chifunii on June 03, 2011, 09:48:18 AM
Quote from: Jelly Soup on June 03, 2011, 02:11:58 AM
Quote from: PunkDrunker on June 03, 2011, 12:44:28 AM
Quote from: PickleBunny on June 02, 2011, 11:45:22 PM
To ayame_nguyen:  The policy was consistently no taking pictures or videos so I wonder who told you, at one point, that taking photos would be okay... 
While we were waiting in line, two different staff members walked up and down the line and told us that pictures were okay, just no videos, and we should run and get our cameras if we wanted them. And about 15 minutes later, we were told no cameras again, like ayame_nguyen said.

This has been a problem in previous years as well, one staffer saying one thing, then a different staffer saying something else. There are decent photos/vids of various no-camera events from various years of Fanime floating around due to this.

To me, the easiest is just to assume no photos or videos for the shows; I really don't want to bother with that stuff, so I always ditch my stuff somewhere and just enjoy myself.
The pictures I wouldve taken wouldn't have been of good quality, and there are photographers there taking pictures the entire time anyway. MY JOB, IMO, is to have a good time.

Best answer to the photo policy problem: not having a problem. Wowowowow

Of course there are people that would rather lose their right foot than not be able to take pictures...In that case I don't really know what to say...

I'm sorry to hear there was so much confusion :\  We made sure that MusicFest staffers were very clear on the photo policy; however, it might not have gotten to staffers in other departments.  In the future, we will work harder to make sure that all Fanime staff present will have the same information about photo policies.  Though, hopefully, the photo policy confusion didn't keep you all from enjoying the show  :)
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: SquallLHeart on June 03, 2011, 10:51:52 AM
Quote from: InsaneChan on June 02, 2011, 11:03:09 PM
FLOW autographs: This was less Fanime's fault, but I was extremely disappointed that I didn't get an autograph. I waited in the line for two hours, only to walk away empty-handed. I understand that these things happen, but I was absolutely crushed. I've never cried at a Fanime before, I've only left with some of the best memories of my life. But I started crying in the middle of the hall, cried off-and-on the rest of the day, and was irreversibly, miserably upset for the rest of the con. For such a huge guest, more than one autograph session would have been nice.
I'm so sorry!! :'(

I had only a small part in the scheduling, but with all the other chaos with the many other guests, the crazy idea of just having one longer 2 hour session was made. Believe me I wish there was something else I could do.. and I myself didn't have the heart to be able to tell the people at the end of the line where it was cut off, and instead.. had someone else give the bad news... I was too crushed I wasn't able to plan it out any better. :-[

When the schedule was finalized.. I was wondering if it was a good decision to have the Friday off and power through Saturday and Sunday.. Many attendees don't get to Fanime until Saturday, which was the biggest reason why it was done that way.. but now I'm thinking having at least something towards Friday evening to alleviate the rushed schedule. With the sessions being back-to-back, I really wasn't able to take a break the entire day.. :-\ Though the transitional period between each guest (which some of the attendees saw.. I thought was a brilliant idea)

Even though my break-less schedule was fine for me.. the back-to-back sessions made the bigger guests more rushed to be able to accommodate as many people as we can within their session... because we had to make sure the next guest started on time..

I wish I could give you a hug to make it better.. but it doesn't really help the fact you weren't able to get anything signed. :'( When the next Fanime comes around.. come talk to me. I'll make it up to you as best I can. ok?? :)
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: PyronIkari on June 03, 2011, 10:52:27 AM
Quote from: hookedonchibis on June 03, 2011, 08:42:33 AM
I have a serious, serious problem with the fact that I cannot find contact information to reach ConOps or even AA staff to share my concerns privately.

My studio will not be returning to Fanime and I really don't want to share my concerns publicly (not that I can't be nice in my wording, I can!, but I prefer to handle these conversations with staff before taking them to public areas), but there seems to be no way to do this. At-con, the people manning the ConOps office were very polite and helpful, and it's really distressing that they have made themselves completely unavailable during non-con hours in this way.

There should always be a method for sharing private/personal concerns, if only because not everyone cares to have their issues pasted all over the internet. After one con, a fellow artist was left to share her story of harrassment regarding her kidney dialysis appointment in a forum thread like this, because there was no discreet way for her to talk to con staff. (My story isn't this deeply personal, but the lesson remains)

Don't know why eric didn't post this but you can reach AA at artistalley at fanime dot com. I believe conops can be reached in the like wise manner.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: jemz on June 03, 2011, 10:57:45 AM
Quote from: InsaneChan on June 02, 2011, 11:03:09 PM
FLOW autographs: This was less Fanime's fault, but I was extremely disappointed that I didn't get an autograph. I waited in the line for two hours, only to walk away empty-handed. I understand that these things happen, but I was absolutely crushed. I've never cried at a Fanime before, I've only left with some of the best memories of my life. But I started crying in the middle of the hall, cried off-and-on the rest of the day, and was irreversibly, miserably upset for the rest of the con. For such a huge guest, more than one autograph session would have been nice.


I apologize but the 2 hour long session was stipulated by FLOW's management. We would love to have had another session but it wasn't meant to be.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: chifunii on June 03, 2011, 11:11:18 AM
Quote from: InsaneChan on June 02, 2011, 11:03:09 PM
FLOW autographs: This was less Fanime's fault, but I was extremely disappointed that I didn't get an autograph. I waited in the line for two hours, only to walk away empty-handed. I understand that these things happen, but I was absolutely crushed. I've never cried at a Fanime before, I've only left with some of the best memories of my life. But I started crying in the middle of the hall, cried off-and-on the rest of the day, and was irreversibly, miserably upset for the rest of the con. For such a huge guest, more than one autograph session would have been nice.

Did you miss the chance to take a photo with them? ;-; the information about that wasn't distributed very well either (probably intentional), but i had an extra ticket for it that I just gave away...I'm sure many other people had extras too...I'm sorry to hear that you didnt get the chance to get an autograph. I had run into them outside of con on Sunday, so if you were to miss another (I certainly hope not!) don't give up hope! :) I wanted to take a picture with yuya but I missed it bc I didn't know the line was wrapped around the other side :// I was upset ~_~ since I was there at the right time...
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: SaiQ on June 03, 2011, 01:55:49 PM
IMO I was concerned combining two artists into one MusicFest would cause the Civic Auditorium to reach max capacity. I'm not sure if it did this year. I do know the line was super long and wrapped around both Civic Auditorium + Tech Museum and the parking garage next to it. It's good to see the turn out for FLOW much larger than last year.

Also, printed schedules would help a lot. There wasn't as big of a turn out in many of the panels because people were unaware of them.

It was great seeing FLOW a second time. However, I would like to see a new popular J-pop artist(s) next year.
Title: Re: Minor Badge Pick Up and AA Registration
Post by: Arkham on June 03, 2011, 05:36:23 PM
Quote from: Emu on June 03, 2011, 09:25:22 AM
Under 18 Badge Pick up.  For the last 3 years my kids have had a rough time picking up their Pre-Registered badges at Fanime because they have their school I.D. and not a driver's licence. The staff always asks for Government Issued ID.  Well, Public School is a government institution so it in any event it should be considered a government issued I.D.  If my kid has the printed receipt and a school ID to confirm his or her identification that should be proof enough.  This year I did a group registration so I, the parent picked them up.  I do not want to do it again next year.  I only get through to these staffers after I ask for their supervisor and ask them how a 15 and 16 year olds is supposed to have a driver's license?

Another stickler is the AA staff.  Again the Government issued ID again.  I as a parent signed them in.  Paid for the table and had all the paper work together for a 16 and a 17 year old artists.  Again, I had the paid receipts, Sellers Permit, and a parent check in statement.  Mind you I was also there in person to check them in and the staff still insisted on seeing a government issued ID.  They had their student ID with them .  THESE IDS HAVE THEIR NAME AND PICTURE ON THEM SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DEAL WAS.  Only after some annoying discussion with 3 other people were we able to check in at AA.  It is easier to go through the Airport Security than to get in to the Fanime Convention and Fanime AA.


You can get a state-issued ID card at any age.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Empathy on June 03, 2011, 06:15:58 PM
Quote from: nemuneko on June 01, 2011, 11:35:40 PMParking/Security: Does anyone know if you can get someone from the con or hotel (like security) to escort you to your car late at night? I drive in from Benicia and usually go back to my car late at night to go home (past midnight when the events we are interested in are over) when a lot of weirdos are out. It seemed like there were more shady people than usual (ghetto, "gangsta"-looking guys in large groups taking up the whole sidewalk that made insulting comments at us, scuzzy-looking (homeless, I'm guessing) people (one of which was peeing all over a pillar in clear view), a few hookers (yes, hookers), etc., that were clearly not part of the con) hanging out a couple blocks from the convention center where we usually park and it was only my female friend and me on Saturday, so I felt a bit paranoid walking there with no other con-goers around. It honestly makes me want to carry pepper spray. Next year, I'll try parking in the parking garages that are closer to the convention center, but since we get there relatively late in the day on the busiest days because the main events we are interested in aren't until late afternoon to evening, it's hard to find close parking at times. For future reference, though, I'm curious if there are people who can escort you to your car at night. If not, then I think it would be a great idea to offer that as a service in future years for those who have to park further away and don't have a group of people to go back with to the parking lot late at night to go home. It would be a huge help.

I completely agree. My friend and I were very disconcerted walking to our car in the 2nd & San Carlos garage on Saturday around 3AM. We could clearly hear shouting and violence further down the road (some gangbangers screaming "die m********** die!" and then when we tried to get in the elevator at the garage a homeless guy jumped out at us, so we bolted up the stairs. I don't know whats happened to San Jose since it used to be one of the safest cities in the country, but things are getting scary down there around con time and it's hard to feel safe. I'm definitely considering hotel next year even though i only live 15 minutes away from the con by car, just because of the poor experience with the parking experience downtown this year.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: apsykes on June 06, 2011, 09:12:04 AM
SECURITY -
The Bad: The security/rovers seems like they do so much (obbly does behind my back), could of been one walking by when my friend got humped in costume/cosplay. could of also kept the rude drunk people away (late night, drunk people, dancing, spilling booze on my friend's 1,500$ costume. (handmade)

The good: they did escort my friends in a arkinine quad and sawbuck quad away from people near the mariott to the spacier gaming room

In short: More rovers @ Night! oh and a Rover crash area for late night workings!
----------

AIR CONDITIONING - yeah heard me right, i was sweating up a storm wearing normal clothes! it was as packed as a Japanese train!

The bad: It was packed as a Japanese train.

The good: It was packed as a Japanese train. Oh, and idk... we saved about 300$ worth of energy?

In short: How bout turning it to a cool 70F?
----------

Frequent con-goer discount!
i propose a discount for people (depending on what)
idk like if you go to a con for like 5+ years, get at con reg same price as Early-reg?

(Got backstabbed when paypal blocked my acc on the last day of early reg >.>
----------

NO DRUNKS! (in convention center!)- They annoying and a menace!

The good: What good? except we were trolling ones that were knocking at our hotel room door around idk... 3AM.

The bad: Their annoying and a safety hazard (More than fire hazard!), humped any four legged Pokemon!

In short: idk, i not a drunk wrangler!
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Charis on June 06, 2011, 12:59:46 PM
I've got petty complaints and things, but here are the big hitters:

To beat a dead horse: schedules.  I'm fine with them not being included in the packets, provided that (a) it's posted far enough ahead of time and (b) the schedules are placed online in a format easy enough to print off what we want.  If I'd known they weren't going to be in the booklets, I'd have jotted down the room info for the panel I went to beforehand.

Black and White Ball: I know the smaller room was out of the hands of staff this year, and we wound up taking a look at the line and changing our minds about going (sadly, but ...).  However, one thing I really wish could be done is to NOT schedule it against the Masquerade, or if so to lengthen the hours so that people can theoretically do both.  It's hard to be torn between the two, particularly when trying to support friends who are competing.

Masquerade: Long opening acts were LONG -- and didn't help the Ball-Masquerade time conflict.  I wasn't timing last year, but I seem to remember this year's preshow (band + karaoke winner) running something between 45 minutes to an hour.  As bitchy as it sounds, I come to Masquerade for the cosplay; maybe consider shortening the opening acts and saving the bulk of it for intermission?
And speaking of: had there been a capacity cap reached such that they were turning people away at the doors for the Masq?  It was odd with seeing quite a few empty seats, but I don't know what the building capacity is.  Just curiosity.

Dead Horse #2: Prereg line on Day 0.  It's gotten more ridiculous, and surely there's something that can be done about it (and, as noted, about how damned hot it gets down there) -- longer hours, more open stations, something.  We wound up looking at the line and changing our mind (crawled downstairs early the next morning and managed to get through in under an hour).

Overall, I really do enjoy Fanime and I plan to come back, but there are definitely opportunities for improvement still.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: yakitatefreak on June 06, 2011, 02:45:32 PM
 :D A High School of the Dead 2012 Apocalypse special would make this interesting. After all, 2012 portrayed in media would become reality XD

even though I'm beating up a dead horse attacked my terrorists... please make the lines faster by opening up ALL available reg. booths asap. when I hot there at 8 in the morning, there was already a 95 minute wait before receiving the pass.

Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Wabbit98 on June 06, 2011, 06:07:04 PM
Quote from: Charis on June 06, 2011, 12:59:46 PM

Black and White Ball: I know the smaller room was out of the hands of staff this year, and we wound up taking a look at the line and changing our minds about going (sadly, but ...).  However, one thing I really wish could be done is to NOT schedule it against the Masquerade, or if so to lengthen the hours so that people can theoretically do both.  It's hard to be torn between the two, particularly when trying to support friends who are competing.



This year we did decide to extend the Ball for an additional hour until Midnight, instead of normally ending at 11pm.  This was in response of the Masquerade going on at the same time.  Next year it might only go from 6-11 or again go from 6-midnight.  That is something that the staff will have to decide.

-Kevin
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: jemz on June 07, 2011, 10:24:36 AM
Quote from: Charis on June 06, 2011, 12:59:46 PM
Masquerade: Long opening acts were LONG -- and didn't help the Ball-Masquerade time conflict.  I wasn't timing last year, but I seem to remember this year's preshow (band + karaoke winner) running something between 45 minutes to an hour.  As bitchy as it sounds, I come to Masquerade for the cosplay; maybe consider shortening the opening acts and saving the bulk of it for intermission?
And speaking of: had there been a capacity cap reached such that they were turning people away at the doors for the Masq?  It was odd with seeing quite a few empty seats, but I don't know what the building capacity is.  Just curiosity.

The Masquerade usually has opening acts every year. Each year, we allot 45 minutes for the opening acts. This year, we opted for one opening act (Hideo was only a half hour long) and the winner of the Karoake contest. Previous years, we had as many as 3 opening acts + Karaoke winner.

The other thing that could have made it feel longer is that we moved all the presentation/walk-ons to the beginning.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Charis on June 07, 2011, 11:28:28 AM
Quote from: jemz on June 07, 2011, 10:24:36 AMThe Masquerade usually has opening acts every year. Each year, we allot 45 minutes for the opening acts. This year, we opted for one opening act (Hideo was only a half hour long) and the winner of the Karoake contest. Previous years, we had as many as 3 opening acts + Karaoke winner.

The other thing that could have made it feel longer is that we moved all the presentation/walk-ons to the beginning.

It was more of an observation after two years than a particular complaint regarding this year -- sorry if it came across that way.  I think it didn't register quite as much last year as I was helping a friend out in Masq and was focussed on that rather than what was going on, whereas this year there was the "okay ... the skits we wanted to be here to cheer for are done, let's rush off to try to get to the Ball".  Without that conflict, it might not have felt as long.

I did notice people around me growing restless during the wait too -- which again last year I didn't because I was in with the contestants -- which might have made it feel longer as well.  It just felt like it was worth noting.

Wabbit -- I admit I wasn't aware of that (was it posted anywhere on site? I confess I didn't go looking too hard), but there was some extensive discussion pre-con among friends about when Masq was likely to let out and the Ball was likely to end and all of that.  Good to know you guys had pushed it a little later, though!  Hopefully that'll continue if the two events are up against each other again (fingers crossed they're not).
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: ewu on June 07, 2011, 11:54:48 AM
Charis - thanks for the feedback. Is it possible to take this to email? cosplayATfanimeDOTcom

I would like to keep this thread to feedback and not discussions as to the issues or resolutions.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Salty Pearl on June 13, 2011, 09:55:06 PM
Dance Staff ;

In regards to the Black&White Ball, the set up was lovely, but I have a few objections for the dance staff, or rovers. I was told by two of my friends that following their dress code check, they were approached by a few young men that were expressing concerns about their attire. These gentlemen apparently pursued and spoke to them claiming that they were "unsure if they were dressed properly". Mind you, this was after they cleanly passed door-inspection. What's even worse, these men offered to take my friends to a different location, not in the hall, not at the door, but a separate place to "officially check them".

After this, one of my friends found them later in the ball and demanded to see their badges, which they revealed. Now, I don't know if this kind of aggressive behavior is typical for Fanime rovers, however I see this as a transition into harassment.

So please, staff, I'm not trying to dismantle your dress code or security system, I'm simply suggesting (strongly) to find individuals who are serious and mature for these dance occasions and will not take advantage of their badge power. ~ Thank you very much.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: idontknow on June 14, 2011, 07:45:57 PM
Quote from: Empathy on June 03, 2011, 06:15:58 PM
Quote from: nemuneko on June 01, 2011, 11:35:40 PMParking/Security: Does anyone know if you can get someone from the con or hotel (like security) to escort you to your car late at night? I drive in from Benicia and usually go back to my car late at night to go home (past midnight when the events we are interested in are over) when a lot of weirdos are out. It seemed like there were more shady people than usual (ghetto, "gangsta"-looking guys in large groups taking up the whole sidewalk that made insulting comments at us, scuzzy-looking (homeless, I'm guessing) people (one of which was peeing all over a pillar in clear view), a few hookers (yes, hookers), etc., that were clearly not part of the con) hanging out a couple blocks from the convention center where we usually park and it was only my female friend and me on Saturday, so I felt a bit paranoid walking there with no other con-goers around. It honestly makes me want to carry pepper spray. Next year, I'll try parking in the parking garages that are closer to the convention center, but since we get there relatively late in the day on the busiest days because the main events we are interested in aren't until late afternoon to evening, it's hard to find close parking at times. For future reference, though, I'm curious if there are people who can escort you to your car at night. If not, then I think it would be a great idea to offer that as a service in future years for those who have to park further away and don't have a group of people to go back with to the parking lot late at night to go home. It would be a huge help.

I completely agree. My friend and I were very disconcerted walking to our car in the 2nd & San Carlos garage on Saturday around 3AM. We could clearly hear shouting and violence further down the road (some gangbangers screaming "die m********** die!" and then when we tried to get in the elevator at the garage a homeless guy jumped out at us, so we bolted up the stairs. I don't know whats happened to San Jose since it used to be one of the safest cities in the country, but things are getting scary down there around con time and it's hard to feel safe. I'm definitely considering hotel next year even though i only live 15 minutes away from the con by car, just because of the poor experience with the parking experience downtown this year.

A suggestion (if possible) is maybe Fanime should advertise some kind of escorting services? Like maybe talk to the SJ Police Department and see if they have some sort of service available to escort people to their cars. You can charge a fee if you have to, just anything along of the lines of being able to walk with someone at night would be something good that Fanime can offer if possible.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Jelly Soup on June 14, 2011, 09:07:35 PM
Quote from: idontknow on June 14, 2011, 07:45:57 PM
Quote from: Empathy on June 03, 2011, 06:15:58 PM
Quote from: nemuneko on June 01, 2011, 11:35:40 PMParking/Security: Does anyone know if you can get someone from the con or hotel (like security) to escort you to your car late at night? I drive in from Benicia and usually go back to my car late at night to go home (past midnight when the events we are interested in are over) when a lot of weirdos are out. It seemed like there were more shady people than usual (ghetto, "gangsta"-looking guys in large groups taking up the whole sidewalk that made insulting comments at us, scuzzy-looking (homeless, I'm guessing) people (one of which was peeing all over a pillar in clear view), a few hookers (yes, hookers), etc., that were clearly not part of the con) hanging out a couple blocks from the convention center where we usually park and it was only my female friend and me on Saturday, so I felt a bit paranoid walking there with no other con-goers around. It honestly makes me want to carry pepper spray. Next year, I'll try parking in the parking garages that are closer to the convention center, but since we get there relatively late in the day on the busiest days because the main events we are interested in aren't until late afternoon to evening, it's hard to find close parking at times. For future reference, though, I'm curious if there are people who can escort you to your car at night. If not, then I think it would be a great idea to offer that as a service in future years for those who have to park further away and don't have a group of people to go back with to the parking lot late at night to go home. It would be a huge help.

I completely agree. My friend and I were very disconcerted walking to our car in the 2nd & San Carlos garage on Saturday around 3AM. We could clearly hear shouting and violence further down the road (some gangbangers screaming "die m********** die!" and then when we tried to get in the elevator at the garage a homeless guy jumped out at us, so we bolted up the stairs. I don't know whats happened to San Jose since it used to be one of the safest cities in the country, but things are getting scary down there around con time and it's hard to feel safe. I'm definitely considering hotel next year even though i only live 15 minutes away from the con by car, just because of the poor experience with the parking experience downtown this year.

A suggestion (if possible) is maybe Fanime should advertise some kind of escorting services? Like maybe talk to the SJ Police Department and see if they have some sort of service available to escort people to their cars. You can charge a fee if you have to, just anything along of the lines of being able to walk with someone at night would be something good that Fanime can offer if possible.
As I understand it, convention center security will escort you anywhere on the property if you ask. Same with any SJPD member who is on duty.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: PLUMPKIN on June 14, 2011, 09:49:16 PM
Quote from: torikkusuta* on June 13, 2011, 09:55:06 PM
Dance Staff ;

In regards to the Black&White Ball, the set up was lovely, but I have a few objections for the dance staff, or rovers. I was told by two of my friends that following their dress code check, they were approached by a few young men that were expressing concerns about their attire. These gentlemen apparently pursued and spoke to them claiming that they were "unsure if they were dressed properly". Mind you, this was after they cleanly passed door-inspection. What's even worse, these men offered to take my friends to a different location, not in the hall, not at the door, but a separate place to "officially check them".

After this, one of my friends found them later in the ball and demanded to see their badges, which they revealed. Now, I don't know if this kind of aggressive behavior is typical for Fanime rovers, however I see this as a transition into harassment.

So please, staff, I'm not trying to dismantle your dress code or security system, I'm simply suggesting (strongly) to find individuals who are serious and mature for these dance occasions and will not take advantage of their badge power. ~ Thank you very much.

Reading this makes me feel extremely uneasy, especially the part about taking your friends to a separate place to "officially check them".  This sounds shady and borderlines sexual harassment.

Reflecting on the Black and White Ball, I remember being asked at least three times to lift up my floor length dress so they could check my shoes (which were not pointed and about three inches in height).  By the third time, I couldn't help but wonder why it was necessary for three different people to ask me to lift up my dress.  In some ways, I thought I was being targeted because I was wearing a long dress.  I think it may be better to have ONE person check attire at the door, instead of repeatedly having ones' clothing questioned by multiple people.  It's certainly understandable that some people see this as harassment/sexual harassment.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Salty Pearl on June 14, 2011, 10:31:54 PM
Quote from: PLUMPKIN on June 14, 2011, 09:49:16 PM
Quote from: torikkusuta* on June 13, 2011, 09:55:06 PM
Dance Staff ;

In regards to the Black&White Ball, the set up was lovely, but I have a few objections for the dance staff, or rovers. I was told by two of my friends that following their dress code check, they were approached by a few young men that were expressing concerns about their attire. These gentlemen apparently pursued and spoke to them claiming that they were "unsure if they were dressed properly". Mind you, this was after they cleanly passed door-inspection. What's even worse, these men offered to take my friends to a different location, not in the hall, not at the door, but a separate place to "officially check them".

After this, one of my friends found them later in the ball and demanded to see their badges, which they revealed. Now, I don't know if this kind of aggressive behavior is typical for Fanime rovers, however I see this as a transition into harassment.

So please, staff, I'm not trying to dismantle your dress code or security system, I'm simply suggesting (strongly) to find individuals who are serious and mature for these dance occasions and will not take advantage of their badge power. ~ Thank you very much.

Reading this makes me feel extremely uneasy, especially the part about taking your friends to a separate place to "officially check them".  This sounds shady and borderlines sexual harassment.

Reflecting on the Black and White Ball, I remember being asked at least three times to lift up my floor length dress so they could check my shoes (which were not pointed and about three inches in height).  By the third time, I couldn't help but wonder why it was necessary for three different people to ask me to lift up my dress.  In some ways, I thought I was being targeted because I was wearing a long dress.  I think it may be better to have ONE person check attire at the door, instead of repeatedly having ones' clothing questioned by multiple people.  It's certainly understandable that some people see this as harassment/sexual harassment.

Seriously I think a majority of the dance rovers were going on a power trip...

Especially during the wait in line, along the escalators, there was very little room to move
but they proceeded to demand that we place our lefts hands at our side and touch the wall.
It was slightly ridiculous. While they did do this when you entered the rave, I thought it was fairly informal and bold for them to do in such a classy setting...

Plus, I do agree, they should return to their dress check system from 2010
-- which was a simple up-down in the hotel lobby.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Salty Pearl on June 14, 2011, 10:53:30 PM
I don't want to regurgitate what everyone else has clearly said, but
I really only had two complaints.

I the schedule thing, or lack of, did bother me. Or maybe it was the presentation of the booklet in general that seemed underdone. If they were trying to save paper, I get it. But it seemed that just too many pages in the booklet were wasted on simple pictures or ads, you would think that at least, very least, it would include the traditional scheduling.

Honestly, if the booklet had included a paper schedule, I think my
weekend would have gone much smoother...

And also, just a note about the timing for the main events. Next year I strongly suggest that
the Masquerade is placed so that it won't have to compete with the Black&White Ball
.
I feel like maybe the concert was isolated to bring in more revenue, but according to what I heard, it was a little bit of a let down.

The concert, skits, and Ball are all key points in the convention, and I don't think that cosplayers attending only for one day shouldn't have that kind of disappointment
when they have to miss or choose one event to go to
.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Glitch on June 15, 2011, 01:00:35 AM
Quote from: Otakuya on June 02, 2011, 01:21:25 AM
-a huge sign in front of the cc. such as:
(https://forums.fanime.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Frealityseo.com%2Fuploaded_images%2FConvention-Center.jpg-724335.jpg&hash=1ed4c928405dd2f90ff820c3eb2e8565e196fd29)
Not gonna lie, that would be an awesome thing to have for fanime.
Although that would probably eat up so much of the budget.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: tkdteo on June 16, 2011, 09:54:46 AM
Quote from: torikkusuta* on June 14, 2011, 10:31:54 PM
Quote from: PLUMPKIN on June 14, 2011, 09:49:16 PM
Quote from: torikkusuta* on June 13, 2011, 09:55:06 PM
Dance Staff ;

In regards to the Black&White Ball, the set up was lovely, but I have a few objections for the dance staff, or rovers. I was told by two of my friends that following their dress code check, they were approached by a few young men that were expressing concerns about their attire. These gentlemen apparently pursued and spoke to them claiming that they were "unsure if they were dressed properly". Mind you, this was after they cleanly passed door-inspection. What's even worse, these men offered to take my friends to a different location, not in the hall, not at the door, but a separate place to "officially check them".

After this, one of my friends found them later in the ball and demanded to see their badges, which they revealed. Now, I don't know if this kind of aggressive behavior is typical for Fanime rovers, however I see this as a transition into harassment.

So please, staff, I'm not trying to dismantle your dress code or security system, I'm simply suggesting (strongly) to find individuals who are serious and mature for these dance occasions and will not take advantage of their badge power. ~ Thank you very much.

Reading this makes me feel extremely uneasy, especially the part about taking your friends to a separate place to "officially check them".  This sounds shady and borderlines sexual harassment.

Reflecting on the Black and White Ball, I remember being asked at least three times to lift up my floor length dress so they could check my shoes (which were not pointed and about three inches in height).  By the third time, I couldn't help but wonder why it was necessary for three different people to ask me to lift up my dress.  In some ways, I thought I was being targeted because I was wearing a long dress.  I think it may be better to have ONE person check attire at the door, instead of repeatedly having ones' clothing questioned by multiple people.  It's certainly understandable that some people see this as harassment/sexual harassment.

Seriously I think a majority of the dance rovers were going on a power trip...

Especially during the wait in line, along the escalators, there was very little room to move
but they proceeded to demand that we place our lefts hands at our side and touch the wall.
It was slightly ridiculous. While they did do this when you entered the rave, I thought it was fairly informal and bold for them to do in such a classy setting...

Plus, I do agree, they should return to their dress check system from 2010
-- which was a simple up-down in the hotel lobby.

The dress code for the BWBall is meant to keep with the elegant theme of the dance but more importantly it is there for the safety of the attendees.  There was some miscommunication this year that can be improved upon and we are working on resolving those issues for next year.  I do apologize if you feel that you were harassed but thank you for bringing this to out attention.  BWBall and Rovers will work on making things smoother for next year. 

As for the dress code, we were a bit stricter on shoes this years for a few reasons.  We rent the floor from a professional dance floor company and they are not happy when their floor gets marked up.  Last year, due to some people wearing sneakers, the floor was marked up in some place and due to people wearing high heels and stilletos, there were some dents that were made in the floor.  Some people also wore shoes that did not have a backing and that could lead to potential injury like twisting your ankle.  So this year we were a bit more firm with the shoe choices.  It is something that we are working on and will try to better enforce next year.

The time of BWBall and other events - Please keep in mind that we have many large events during the weekend such as BWBall, Musicfest, Masquerade, etc, and that we cannot accomodate everyone's wishes.  Last year BWBall was opposite Musicfest and this year it was opposite Masquerade.  We try to make it so that everyone can attend the events but in some cases it is just impossible to schedule things to accomodate everyone.  We did extend BWBall until midnight this year for anyone who as at Masquerade that wanted to come to BWBall.  We are still entertaining other possibilities for next year so keep your suggestions coming.  If you would like to message me further about any other issues with BWBall feel free to email me at [email protected].

- Jim
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: eHash on June 19, 2011, 02:38:16 PM
QuoteSeriously I think a majority of the dance rovers were going on a power trip...

Especially during the wait in line, along the escalators, there was very little room to move
but they proceeded to demand that we place our lefts hands at our side and touch the wall.
It was slightly ridiculous. While they did do this when you entered the rave, I thought it was fairly informal and bold for them to do in such a classy setting...

just to make sure i got this feed back right...you are talking about the dance in ballroom j and not the b&w ball in the fairmont...
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: M on June 21, 2011, 08:15:43 PM
Ignore this post. :)

(I'm just marking this so I know where I left off on my notes).
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Salty Pearl on June 21, 2011, 09:12:22 PM
Quote from: eHash on June 19, 2011, 02:38:16 PM
QuoteSeriously I think a majority of the dance rovers were going on a power trip...

Especially during the wait in line, along the escalators, there was very little room to move
but they proceeded to demand that we place our lefts hands at our side and touch the wall.
It was slightly ridiculous. While they did do this when you entered the rave, I thought it was fairly informal and bold for them to do in such a classy setting...

just to make sure i got this feed back right...you are talking about the dance in ballroom j and not the b&w ball in the fairmont...


No, sir, I'm referring to the Fairmont Black&White Ball that started at 6:oo pm.
It only happened once, twice at most, but it still seemed to bother both myself and the crowd in line.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: eHash on June 23, 2011, 04:05:20 AM
Quote from: torikkusuta* on June 21, 2011, 09:12:22 PM
Quote from: eHash on June 19, 2011, 02:38:16 PM
QuoteSeriously I think a majority of the dance rovers were going on a power trip...

Especially during the wait in line, along the escalators, there was very little room to move
but they proceeded to demand that we place our lefts hands at our side and touch the wall.
It was slightly ridiculous. While they did do this when you entered the rave, I thought it was fairly informal and bold for them to do in such a classy setting...

just to make sure i got this feed back right...you are talking about the dance in ballroom j and not the b&w ball in the fairmont...


No, sir, I'm referring to the Fairmont Black&White Ball that started at 6:oo pm.
It only happened once, twice at most, but it still seemed to both both myself and the crowd in line.

That's what I thought, thank you for the clarification.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Rank on July 11, 2011, 06:56:09 AM
It's been brought up already but I want to reiterate that scheduling EVERYTHING on Sunday at the same exact time (except for the J-rock whoevers concert) was ridiculous and stupid.

Quote from: Otakuya on June 02, 2011, 01:21:25 AM
-a huge sign in front of the cc. such as:
(https://forums.fanime.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Frealityseo.com%2Fuploaded_images%2FConvention-Center.jpg-724335.jpg&hash=1ed4c928405dd2f90ff820c3eb2e8565e196fd29)

This would make Fanime look quite professional, I like this.
Title: Signs for different registration lines at Fanime
Post by: GoodAsianDriver on August 03, 2011, 12:51:28 AM
Hello everyone. :3

I motion to have signs to indicate the differences for the different kinds of registration lines at Fanime. While the status quo may already be abundantly clear to most of you, please read the following story to illustrate my point:


This past year at Fanime Con, my girlfriend purchased a pre-registration ticket. Unable to attend the convention until Saturday, she arrived around noon to pick-up her badge. Having never been to fanime before, she saw a long line, at the front convention hallway, and asked other attendees if this line was for registration. They said it was, and upon hearing this, she then proceeded to wait in the line. For three hours. In an effort to be a good boy-friend, and because I already held my staff badge, I waited in line with her to keep her company during the long wait. I was shouted at by the registration management for taking up the unnecessary space of one-person in the line, and was forced to wait outside of the line for her. After the long wait in line, she went to the computers to pick-up her badge only to be informed that she waited in the wrong registration line. Upon request, the volunteers at the computer-purchase terminal did not provide any help in locating the pre-registration badge pickup. I had to ask other staff to find the answer.

What happened to her was rather tragic, and almost completely ruined the Fanimecon experience for her. She cried for another half hour after the line, so we couldn't enjoy Fanime until much later than anticipated. I understand that volunteers, are, volunteers-- so perhaps our experience with the volunteers can't be helped. But the entire debacle could have been avoided had official sign-age been posted.

I understand that the hotels and convention center have their own rules and policy for what Fanime Con can and cannot do. One of these policies may have been a zero-tolerance policy for signs in the long hall on the first floor of the convention center. If such a policy exists, I strongly urge those in charge of registration to find an alternative other than a sign to indicate which registration line is for which. It may very well be worth it to have a volunteer holding a sign or indicating at the end of each line what the line is precisely for.


I hope this post is received well, and I bring it up in the interest of improving future Fanime Con experiences.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Mantaray3000 on August 03, 2011, 03:22:00 PM
Is it possible for fanime to hold a casino night?
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: DayDreamerNessa on September 14, 2011, 09:51:14 AM
GUESTS I would truly appreciate any of these type of guests-->> artists, character designers, lead animators, magaka's etc.

I'd rather have quality over quantity and think that repeat names really shouldn't be in the line-up for many years in a row. I do appreciate Gainax's repeat guests as they contribute a lot, but not so much on other repeat guests.

I would love to go to fanime, and have guests I look forward to seeing that are anime and manga related.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Mantaray3000 on December 06, 2011, 03:38:01 PM
How about holding another charity auction in which the money would go into funding for more guests or different events in the future?
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: HotelGhost on February 03, 2012, 02:23:02 PM
Are we ever going to use the south hall for events? Someone in staff said there were problems about holding events in it, did they ever get resolved?
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Crackerjaxx on February 08, 2012, 09:30:14 AM
I think that the maidcafe should have their own room, I don't know if it has been suggested yet but I think that would add to the Maidcafe a lot to have its own designated room. Last year, it was at the end of the hall, separated by some (hospital?) curtains, which really turned me off to the whole thing. It would be a lot more of a magical experience to have a nice room, maybe decorated, for the maidcafe. I know that the con staff works hard to pull everything off, but I'm sure the cafe would get a lot more business if it were in its own room, and I know I would have been a lot more likely to go.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: M on February 08, 2012, 11:00:28 AM
Quote from: Rank on July 11, 2011, 06:56:09 AM
It's been brought up already but I want to reiterate that scheduling EVERYTHING on Sunday at the same exact time (except for the J-rock whoevers concert) was ridiculous and stupid.

Quote from: Otakuya on June 02, 2011, 01:21:25 AM
-a huge sign in front of the cc. such as:
(https://forums.fanime.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Frealityseo.com%2Fuploaded_images%2FConvention-Center.jpg-724335.jpg&hash=1ed4c928405dd2f90ff820c3eb2e8565e196fd29)

This would make Fanime look quite professional, I like this.
Most of our main programming lands on Saturday or Sunday and thus many things have to overlap. The goal is to have enough counter programming that people can enjoy something without downtime during the day and early-evenings and still get a good night's rest.

As for the sign in front of the convention center, we always have cool ideas that we try to implement, but are unable to do because of budgeting concerns. Besides, I'd rather save that money and spend it on other things that will benefit the convention.

Quote from: GoodAsianDriver on August 03, 2011, 12:51:28 AMHello everyone. :3

I motion to have signs to indicate the differences for the different kinds of registration lines at Fanime. While the status quo may already be abundantly clear to most of you, please read the following story to illustrate my point:


This past year at Fanime Con, my girlfriend purchased a pre-registration ticket. Unable to attend the convention until Saturday, she arrived around noon to pick-up her badge. Having never been to fanime before, she saw a long line, at the front convention hallway, and asked other attendees if this line was for registration. They said it was, and upon hearing this, she then proceeded to wait in the line. For three hours. In an effort to be a good boy-friend, and because I already held my staff badge, I waited in line with her to keep her company during the long wait. I was shouted at by the registration management for taking up the unnecessary space of one-person in the line, and was forced to wait outside of the line for her. After the long wait in line, she went to the computers to pick-up her badge only to be informed that she waited in the wrong registration line. Upon request, the volunteers at the computer-purchase terminal did not provide any help in locating the pre-registration badge pickup. I had to ask other staff to find the answer.

What happened to her was rather tragic, and almost completely ruined the Fanimecon experience for her. She cried for another half hour after the line, so we couldn't enjoy Fanime until much later than anticipated. I understand that volunteers, are, volunteers-- so perhaps our experience with the volunteers can't be helped. But the entire debacle could have been avoided had official sign-age been posted.

I understand that the hotels and convention center have their own rules and policy for what Fanime Con can and cannot do. One of these policies may have been a zero-tolerance policy for signs in the long hall on the first floor of the convention center. If such a policy exists, I strongly urge those in charge of registration to find an alternative other than a sign to indicate which registration line is for which. It may very well be worth it to have a volunteer holding a sign or indicating at the end of each line what the line is precisely for.

I hope this post is received well, and I bring it up in the interest of improving future Fanime Con experiences.
The at-con side of registration is something that the Registration and Fan Services (the division that Registration is under) keep an eye on. There are way too many people there for us to put many signs, which is why we have a staffer paroling that can also give directions and answer questions. I wasn't there the entire time, so there definitely could have been other issues preventing the staffer on duty from assisting your girlfriend (I can't rule that out).

Quote from: Mantaray3000 on August 03, 2011, 03:22:00 PMIs it possible for fanime to hold a casino night?
It is possible, but doesn't look likely for this year.

Quote from: DayDreamerNessa on September 14, 2011, 09:51:14 AMGUESTS I would truly appreciate any of these type of guests-->> artists, character designers, lead animators, magaka's etc.

I'd rather have quality over quantity and think that repeat names really shouldn't be in the line-up for many years in a row. I do appreciate Gainax's repeat guests as they contribute a lot, but not so much on other repeat guests.

I would love to go to fanime, and have guests I look forward to seeing that are anime and manga related.
Noted. Please note that although we have repeat names, this doesn't mean that our GR department is purposely giving up on other guests. There are also other related issues to this, but I can definitely see our GR department working hard to try to get the best guests that we can.

Quote from: HotelGhost on February 03, 2012, 02:23:02 PMAre we ever going to use the south hall for events? Someone in staff said there were problems about holding events in it, did they ever get resolved?
We have ideas for South Hall events this year, but they are still in the works (not confirmed). Some of the issues that we have is that we would have to shut down events at a certain hour and the walk way to get there isn't convenient.

Quote from: Crackerjaxx on February 08, 2012, 09:30:14 AMI think that the maidcafe should have their own room, I don't know if it has been suggested yet but I think that would add to the Maidcafe a lot to have its own designated room. Last year, it was at the end of the hall, separated by some (hospital?) curtains, which really turned me off to the whole thing. It would be a lot more of a magical experience to have a nice room, maybe decorated, for the maidcafe. I know that the con staff works hard to pull everything off, but I'm sure the cafe would get a lot more business if it were in its own room, and I know I would have been a lot more likely to go.
When the Fanimaid Cafe idea was brought to me, I didn't really like the location (but it's not up to me :P). I thought the location was going to completely ruin the cafe experience, but after experiencing it two (three maybe?) times now, the maids do a good job of helping you ignore anything that happens beyond the curtains.

Having them in their own room would be interesting, but I don't know how much this has been looked into (note: I don't know everything that goes on during the planning stages unless I'm doing research to answer your questions :P).
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: PyronIkari on February 08, 2012, 11:18:03 AM
Note: despite this is coming from me, who is the co-head of the cafe none of this is official reasoning as to why the cafe is not in a separate room. This is purely my opinion on what I think of the matter.

I've thought about this myself plenty of times and have never brought it up because in the end, I'm against it. Outside of getting a large panel room, the normal venue rooms are much to small. Just some fun numbers(not exact but a rough idea) at any point in time during the cafe, there are 50-60 patrons, with a full capability of seating over 100 if every party is completely full sized. There are about another 60-100 people in line at all times. A normal room cannot accommodate this nor handle the line. Also with the flow and pacing(as well as how much we need to run around the con to do errands, girls need an area to retouch their uniforms store items and other things) I very much enjoy the open space.

I've also thought about ease and capabilities of the convention centers catering service. With it on the concourse it is much more accessible to both attendees as well as convention center staff to get more food ready and be quick about it as to not delay operations.

If your issue is privacy and setting, trust me when I say that fades the instant you sit down. Although I do wish things could be done more environment like to add to it, I'm quite happy with the open venue and think it's for the better. I've ran ideas for hours about floor plans and decorations, space capabilities and think this is for the better. I'm not against moving to a room, but if we do we would need one that can properly accommodate the cafe correctly.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: azreale on February 08, 2012, 01:32:08 PM
PLEASE keep the masquerade and ball on DIFFERENT nights!
thats all i really want...
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: mdarkpoet on March 12, 2012, 02:13:41 AM
I just came back to say... THANKS FOR PINNING MY THREAD!  ;D

It made me all happy-like XD
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: HotelGhost on March 12, 2012, 05:39:04 PM
Quote from: HotelGhost on February 03, 2012, 02:23:02 PMAre we ever going to use the south hall for events? Someone in staff said there were problems about holding events in it, did they ever get resolved?
QuoteWe have ideas for South Hall events this year, but they are still in the works (not confirmed). Some of the issues that we have is that we would have to shut down events at a certain hour and the walk way to get there isn't convenient.

I don't want to sound like an dumbass, If it's not too much to ask can, can I please ask what those issues are?

Why would you have to shut down events?

What are the ideas staff has for it?

It's been a while, so has anything been confirmed?

And is it really THAT inconvenient? It's kind of just right there, people park there all the time.

Sorry for asking and sounding like a kid that goes MOMMY WHY DOES THIS WORK WHY DOES THAT WORK  :)
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: lonemeditater on March 23, 2012, 09:55:36 AM
I know this probably get's brought up a lot, but boffer would be really awesome.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Michi on March 29, 2012, 03:59:45 PM
This has been brought up, but I want to add my voice to it as I feel like it's very important.

Separate lines for one-day badges. My boyfriend showed up to the con in the early afternoon on Saturday, and wasted more than 2 hours in line when he only had that day to be at the con. If a person only has one day, they should be in line for their actual ticket/badge for as little time as possible! Long lines for full weekend passes are understandable, and there's tons more time to enjoy the con. But I was very upset that my boyfriend had to spend such a big chunk of the day in line instead of hanging out!

I also hope to see returns of printed schedules, or at least pocket schedules. I have a smart phone now, but I didn't last year, so I was stuck without a schedule all weekend. It really put a damper on my con, and I usually love Fanime!
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: otakuya on April 03, 2012, 08:58:03 PM
^ To add, I'd like there to be an "express" line for at-con reg (mainly because I don't know what day I'll be attending)
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: WuvMilo on April 04, 2012, 07:04:17 PM
I agree with a separate line for One Day Passes/Badges because some people could only go for one day due to gas expense, hotel's expenses, or some other reason where people might want to save as much money as possible to buy food, anime items, and such at Fanime.   
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Gigantor on April 06, 2012, 12:53:45 AM
I'm not sure, but aren't a majority of the people in the lines on Saturday and etc getting one day passes to begin with? The attendance on the weekend is higher than during Friday or Monday.

People who pre-reg have a separate line that they can go through already and on the Fanime side of things (in my opinion having attended for a long time) it makes more traffic flow sense to have all at-con registration just go through one line cause they are all trying to get through as fast as possible to begin with.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Sylversun on April 16, 2012, 12:01:09 PM
Perhaps it has been suggested or address.. I did look to see if it was here or not...

Last year I attended a con on the East coast and they had an awesome scheduling solution. Well for those of us with smart phones anyway. There is a Guidebook app that will allow you to down load schedules of various events and there are even updates or changes that can be done to the schedule that same day. This con did it all, video, pannels, balls, etc... It all got into the guide book. The neat thing about it is also that you can select something and put it on your schedule and it would send you reminders when that program started. I was also able to select things that I wanted to maybe look up at home if I was not able to see it at con.

I highly recommend this app. That saves from printing a lot of schedules for everyone. I know there are people without smart phones that would still need resources but this one would at least eliminate the need for most of the population.

And no I don't work for or am I affiliated with this app I just think its a great thing to have for a convention of such size.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: kookiekween99 on April 16, 2012, 12:08:47 PM
Quote from: Sylversun on April 16, 2012, 12:01:09 PM
Perhaps it has been suggested or address.. I did look to see if it was here or not...

Last year I attended a con on the East coast and they had an awesome scheduling solution. Well for those of us with smart phones anyway. There is a Guidebook app that will allow you to down load schedules of various events and there are even updates or changes that can be done to the schedule that same day. This con did it all, video, pannels, balls, etc... It all got into the guide book. The neat thing about it is also that you can select something and put it on your schedule and it would send you reminders when that program started. I was also able to select things that I wanted to maybe look up at home if I was not able to see it at con.

I highly recommend this app. That saves from printing a lot of schedules for everyone. I know there are people without smart phones that would still need resources but this one would at least eliminate the need for most of the population.

And no I don't work for or am I affiliated with this app I just think its a great thing to have for a convention of such size.

Last year, they didn't print out schedules, thinking everyone could look them up using smart phones. There was a huge backlash from attendees, and it was a huge fiasco.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Sylversun on April 16, 2012, 12:34:17 PM
Quote from: kookiekween99 on April 16, 2012, 12:08:47 PM
Last year, they didn't print out schedules, thinking everyone could look them up using smart phones. There was a huge backlash from attendees, and it was a huge fiasco.

THe difference is that was through the website as far as I was able to find. The app would be different AND I said printing it for EVERYONE. I do point out that there would still be a need for that resource but maybe not so much as if they didn't have the app.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Gigantor on April 16, 2012, 11:25:50 PM
Quote from: Sylversun on April 16, 2012, 12:34:17 PM
Quote from: kookiekween99 on April 16, 2012, 12:08:47 PM
Last year, they didn't print out schedules, thinking everyone could look them up using smart phones. There was a huge backlash from attendees, and it was a huge fiasco.

THe difference is that was through the website as far as I was able to find. The app would be different AND I said printing it for EVERYONE. I do point out that there would still be a need for that resource but maybe not so much as if they didn't have the app.

While a guidebook application is very convenient and I have been to a convention that uses a guidebook app as well, the main problem is that not everyone has the download capabilities and sometimes the resources spent aren't worth the reward especially since it would require additional staff to run and keep the apps updated.

The website they used last year was optimized for mobile viewing and all in all it worked very well for me since I was able to track everything. In my own opinion I don't think the guidebook app offers any advantages over having the information available from a database displayed via browser, its essentially the exact same as an app, just minus the download.

There will always be a few people who do not need a printed schedule, and in general I just download the .pdfs to my phone before the convention starts and then I have the whole schedule anyways. But the effort put into maintaining an app that only a fraction of the people would utilize may not be worth the time and effort.

Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Nina Star 9 on April 17, 2012, 12:03:42 AM
I also have a feeling that lot of people with smartphones would be grabbing printed schedules anyway, so if they printed fewer, that would leave those of us without smartphones without a schedule again. I can't speak to how well the schedules worked on smartphones last year or the need for an app, considering that I do not have a smartphone.

Wasn't the lack of schedules last year due to a printing issue and not to the assumption that everyone at the con has a smartphone, anyway? At least, that's what I heard.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: M on April 17, 2012, 06:13:56 AM
We tried not printing schedules and that wasn't received well at all (we ended up printing schedules on Thursday night - see point 2 below). :( Thankfully, we learn from our mistakes and specifically we learned two things: 1) What Nina Star 9 says is true - even people with smartphones will want a printed schedule and 2) Printers don't like printing anything (specifically schedules :P) nonstop Thursday night of the convention. =X
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Yuu on May 02, 2012, 11:02:44 PM
Please, PLEASE ease- up on harassing attendees about peacebonding.

I love Fanime more than any other con but the constant harassment ruined the entire weekend
Title: Re: Suggestions for Fanime 2012
Post by: Sylversun on May 04, 2012, 08:31:39 AM
Quote from: Gigantor on April 16, 2012, 11:25:50 PM

While a guidebook application is very convenient and I have been to a convention that uses a guidebook app as well, the main problem is that not everyone has the download capabilities and sometimes the resources spent aren't worth the reward especially since it would require additional staff to run and keep the apps updated.

The website they used last year was optimized for mobile viewing and all in all it worked very well for me since I was able to track everything. In my own opinion I don't think the guidebook app offers any advantages over having the information available from a database displayed via browser, its essentially the exact same as an app, just minus the download.

There will always be a few people who do not need a printed schedule, and in general I just download the .pdfs to my phone before the convention starts and then I have the whole schedule anyways. But the effort put into maintaining an app that only a fraction of the people would utilize may not be worth the time and effort.



Not sure which one you used it for but the one I used for Otakon let me actually create a calendar of my schedule which I found to be extremely helpful. It also had a description of what the anime was and what the pannel was about and so on so you got all that information in one place instead of getting the schedules and then having to google the anime to see what it was about.

Not to mention that when changes needed to be made then they appeared on any updates that were done to the schedule. Which alerted me to changes in programming so I didn't miss anything I really wanted to see.