Messages

we actually have a sign but i forgot to have someone grab it before heading over the the fairmont >.< sorry

as far as shoes go, for guys, we really want people wearing nice, dress shoes.  barring that, a nice pair of sketchers (or similar) might be acceptable.  keep in mind that the idea here is for your outfit to be formal, and that includes shoes.  with the turnout we continue to have for the ball, we may have to look at enforcing the dress code more strictly.  this will mean a closer look at shoes and other articles of clothing.  for 2008 and 2009, the people checking the dress code were given some leeway as to shoes.  if someone was wearing solid, dark colored tennis shoes (including soles), and the shoes went well with the outfit (didn't stand out) and were in good condition, they were likely to be allowed in.  we did this in order to enable more people to attend. 

we will have work on having the dress code posted both on the forums and the website for next year.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/trooper715/sets/72157618977195143/

this was sent to us by Daniel, one of the rovers covering the ball.  thanks Daniel!

The coat check is something we tried at the first ball back in 2007 but removed due to liability concerns in 2008 and 2009.  With the demand being there, and I feel it is, I think we can revisit the idea and look into the feasibility.

Saebel, thanks for the link.  We'll look into it for next year.  We had another company that had something similar this year but they were unfortunately more than our budget allowed.  Something to remember is that Fanime doesn't have the big corporate sponsorship that other conventions have.  This means that for everything we do, from guests to events at the con, the money comes directly from you, the attendees.  So while we might want to spend more money on events or guests, we have to balance that against what is a reasonable amount to ask you to pay to attend the con.

Hi Everybody!

First off, thanks to everyone who came!

I want to briefly address a few of the comments that have come up repeatedly.  I'll start with the flooring.

This year is the first time we've had to go with an outside vendor for the flooring.  We chose a vendor that was within our budget and were very disappointed with the flooring they provided.  It seems that they had to use 3 different floors to get the floor to the size we required.  With this came problems of alignment and connectivity.  While there was a minor issue during setup, it was very early on and they had plenty of time to correct the problem - which they did (or tried to anyway).  As the flooring got finished, we found that panels weren't lining up.  This wasn't actually due to a minor shift at the front, but rather a discrepancy in the size of the panels they were using.  We will be doing our best to make sure that we don't run into these particular issues again.

Music Choice: The idea behind the music for the ball is as follows; use as much Japanese music as possible from sources like anime, video games, and other Japanese artists.  Second to this comes using American and/or Latin music.  In addition, we try to find music that will be entertaining to the majority of the attendees.  I realize some of the music may have seemed out there somewhat (death metal macerena for example) but think about it this way: Did it make you laugh when you realized what it was?  Could you participate in the dance?  These are things we try to keep in mind as we work on the music.

Lessons: This year, we really tried to offer a wider variety with more experienced instructors.  I think we succeeded there.  A clock during the lessons is a great idea and we'll see what we can do about it for next year.  As to the styles we offered, we tried to choose a variety of styles that would appeal to the majority of people.  We will look at refining things for next year.

Etiquette: While we do go over basic etiquette at the lessons, not everyone can make them.  We will look into maybe having a large poster size version of both the dress code and the etiquette for next year.

Food/Drinks: This year, with the move to the Fairmont, we had the opportunity to offer both food and beverages for those in attendance.  We left the selection up to the hotel.  At first, things were rather pricey, but they soon realized that their price point was too high for those who were there.  They did eventually lower the prices and when I personally went out to get a soda, it only cost me $1.  I was amazed at how affordable it was.  If we stick with the Fairmont next year, we may be able to work with them more on the types of items offered and the prices they are offered at.  From what I understand, once they lowered the prices, they sold significantly more.

Size of the room: This year, we moved to the Regency ball room at the Fairmont.  The room was only slightly smaller than the full J at the convention center (only about 1-200 sq ft).  It also provided a more romantic feel to the event which wouldn't have been possible in the J.  The room was also in the range of 1/3 larger than last year's room.  I noticed how tight the floor was and we tried to implement some line control but due to the location of the ballroom, it was difficult to control the access to the room.  Next time, we may ask the hotel if the elevators can be programed to not stop on the second floor though I don't know how feasible that would be.  With the event growing as it is, we are again going to be looking at viable locations to hold it.  If we go back to the Fairmont, we will have to determine if we want to try for a larger room or, if we stay put, do we try to enforce line control and room capacity more fervently.  If we go elsewhere, where do we go and what challenges await us there are all things we will need to consider.

The Black and White Ball is an event that is constantly evolving and growing.  We are always looking at ways we can improve the ball to make it more fun for everyone.  Again, to reiterate what Jim posted earlier, we are always open to suggestions for music etc.  We do request though that if you want something put into consideration, please do try to send an mp3 along with the request, or at minimum, a link to the mp3 so we can download it ourselves.

Again, thank you all for all the feedback and keep it coming.  The ball, like Fanime, is by fans, for fans.  This means that while we ourselves are fans, we do it for you, the fans, as well.

jacket's aren't required but they do look nice.  i would encourage him to get one, but it's not necessary.

color is fine as long as the outfit is formal

that skirt/dress should be fine

yup.  you are quite correct as to the reason and the length looks fine.

Firstly, are there designated dance partners for the more "proper" dances at the B&W Ball? If so, am I allowed to bring my dance partner with me?

the ball is a social ball which means that there are no designated partners.  we encourage people to dance with as many people as possible.  this isn't to say you can't have a partner, but don't dance with only them all night.

Secondly, would a "formal version" of a specific character be acceptable? For example, I wanted to make a "formal Mokuba Kaiba" from YuGiOh, so I would probably have Mokuba's hairstyle and possibly the card pendant and a few other things that make him look like the character?

yes, formal versions of cosplay are fine and encouraged

Thirdly, more in regards to the "Bring your own partner" business... My partner wanted to wear this, but I'm not entirely sure if the girl's dress is formal enough:   http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h249/lilzanchan/rinlen_adolescence.jpg

i think her dress would be fine though i can't see the bottom

Forth...ly...? That sounded weird... >___< What kinds of dances will there be? I wanted to know in case I decide on a certain pair of shoes versus a different pair of shoes. One cosplay will have dress shoes but the other would have boots so... anything that can help would be appreciated.

you can expect pretty much any and every kind of ballroom dance style music

Ah, and since people asked what kinda boots someone else had, I'll describe the ones I have since well... My camera's busted right now.

They are black, calf-length boots with zip-up sides. The zippers are not visible when zipped and they have a gold buckle with two leather straps. They're not as detailed as boots from Hot Topic are, and to me they look rather plain, so I wanted to ask just to be sure. Thanks!

those boots sound fine

And thanks again for the help. I'm sorry for the onslaught of questions just two days before con. ^^;

- Cy

no problem

Changin' My Life would be awesome imo and the lead singer (Myco) could be a crossover guest.  she's done voice acting work also.

..How much would these food and beverage items cost? Would I be allowed to bring my own water bottle?

The food and beverages were reasonably priced last year and I would expect the same this year.  Figure around $5 for some nachos, maybe a little less for garlic fries (they ran out last year >.<) and drinks were fountain style for about $3 or so.  Obviously with the economy as it is, the prices may have changed, but the Civic understands that most of our attendees tend to be on a budget and don't have a lot of undedicated funds.

ok well i'll just bring a pair of heels just in case. :(

this is a good idea in general - having a back up plan.  come by one of the lessons if you have questions and we can give a yay or nay on an outfit

kanna, that should be fine.

hmm...  well, on a personal level, i love the boots, but because they're lace up, i wouldn't really consider them formal.  however, i think that maybe they can work, depending on the dress.  they are kinda a tough call because boots in general aren't exactly formal but it depends on the boot and the outfit. 

hmm...  hot topic has several kinds of boots.  could you get a pic of them or maybe find them on their website and post a link?

sounds just fine as long as the boots are nice

look ok to me

dv should be fine if you include the cape/cloak

you can wear whatever you want to the lessons.  my only suggestion is to wear something comfortable and easy to move in