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What's in store for next year?  Who knows.  All I know is if there is a genre you would want to hear at next year's Dance, now would be a good time to make a push for it.  If there's a big enough push, I'll make it happen, but it's not likely going to happen if there is only 2 or 3 people asking for it like with hip hop this year.

DJ Reign's your hookup!  Holla if ya hear me!

Which one of you guys is chris?  Izzy's friend? 

Next year we'll plan ahead.  I can probably get one of the lighting vendors I meet at NAMM to loan us some lights.  You guys got a small idea of the kind of visuals I like to run on projectors, I can do alot better.

I'd also like to do cam shots of the crowds, camera fades to visuals (and anime), all the same stuff I do at the 7 Bamboo except instead of being tasked with 7 billion karaoke items, I can just focus on one thing.

Live streaming video.

Projected chat display, so folks can IM or txt messages to a big ass screen (also so folks watching the live video feed can comment)

I'm toqer, of the 7 Bamboo karaoke lounge in San Jose Japantown.  This is what I have to offer.

I've been doing live streaming video for a long time.  I have good contacts at AOL, and i'm sure they would be more than happy to provide us with a shoutcast server (They provide the one for the 7 Bamboo)

The trick i've learned with AOL admins is, less is better.  If all they gotta do is tell me "Here's your IP and password" they're happy.

I've been doing live, openGL accellerated video mixing using mxwendler.  Fades between cameras, logo overlays, midi control over IP.

Basically what i'm offering is a place to broadcast to, and the expertise to shine it up so it looks professional when it goes out. 

As far as other broadcast mediums (stickam, justin.tv) we can do those too, but the audio is better on NSV (because the ACC+ codec) and live transcodable to those other formats (provided we have enough outgoing bandwidth or remote transcoders)
--toq

Hmm come to think of it...

If you wanted some non-threatening cosplay "safety" staff get some cute girls in meter maid outfits. 

Cute, attractive, and probably not likely to grab anyone or get in someones face. 

It's no big deal steve.  Kid prolly just had more testosterone in him than I do  :-\   

I'd like to help out again next year if i can.  It was all so last minute this year, but at least now I know where to reach you guys. I got plenty of talents and XP, i'm sure you can fit me in somewhere.

--toqer

Hi, I'm toqer from the 7 Bamboo Karaoke Lounge in San Jose jtown.  As a favor to my friend Izzy at Farout Toys, I was sound engineer (I make crappy singing and bgm sound OK)

In regards to security, this is just my opinion from working 10 years at a liquor filled chaotic semi famous watering hole and reading the responses above.  I don't think you guys should do it.  A guy wearing cat ears is not going to be taken seriously.

I'm a chain smoker.  Despite any opinions on smoking, as a 35 year old man, it's my god given American right to do so. Friday, Saturday, Sunday night I would go from my sound station, out on the balcony, and smoke. Sunday night I had some kid with cat ears and a tail run (like full sprint) up to me screaming in my face "GET OUT OF HERE, GO INSIDE!"

My friend who was with me isn't as confrontational as I am sort of tucked tail and walked away, I just followed.  We went on the loading docks to smoke, and when we finished I went straight back to kitten ears and gave him an earful.  A few of the DJ's watching me came up to the door too and we all set him straight.

I don't think Fanimecon has any expertise security wise.  I didn't have a badge.  I just walked around in plain clothes, going wherever I wanted.  In fact, the convention center itself has almost zilch security at 4am.  Izzy and I were kind of shocked when we realized our 1000's of dollars worth of sound equipment could have been wheeled out, without anyone giving it so much as a second glance.

So here's some advice from a guy who's had to deal with security issues the last 10 years at a club with drunks every night.

You don't detain people for non-violent crimes.
Make sure the appearance of your security people get them taken seriously (no cosplay security)
Hire dedicated security that knows how to handle situations delicately.
If you want cheap, maybe talk to the SJSU Judo team. (Our bouncer is one)
If someone is out of line, has dangerous items, or drugs, it's not your job to bust them, it's just your job to report it to the cops.

For people that got stuff ripped off, detained, whatever, here's my advice to you.
Be LOUD.  Be selective in what you're being loud about.  Say things like "STOP TOUCHING ME! GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!" Also threaten to call the cops, or yell for someone else to.  Try not to use colorful metaphors(cursing). 

Also if anyone tries to confiscate your property, just scream out "IM BEING ROBBED! THEY'RE TAKING MY <insert item here>"

I'm not advocating making a scene unless you have to.  Use good judgement.

Other than the scary lack of security (or the misuse of it) I had a pretty good time.  I'm sort of a closet anime fan, and I felt like I had discovered long lost relatives there.

--toqer