FanimeCon 2024 Forums

Anime Video Game Cosplay Geek Clearing House => Meetings, Gatherings, and Get Togethers => Topic started by: airwickkim on March 07, 2015, 11:00:45 PM

Title: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: airwickkim on March 07, 2015, 11:00:45 PM
Hello there!

This year's FanimeCon will be my first convention and I'm kinda anxious haha. I've never attending a convention so I don't know what it's like. To ease into Fanime, I recently attending a NorCal cosplay gathering to see what the cosplay/convention culture is like and I really enjoyed it! I think it was a good prep for Fanime because I was already overwhelmed just from a gathering. I only know two other friends attending Fanime and they will most likely be doing their own thing so I'm not sure what to do at Fanime, especially alone and clueless. Thus, I wanted to ask how do you go about spending your day at Fanime?

In case anyone is interested, I'm most likely going as Yu Narukami from Persona 4. :)
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: commisar_maticus on March 08, 2015, 05:57:22 PM
1. staying awake for the entire con might sound like a good idea but in the hours between 2-8am not much worth wile is going on
2. shower (nuff said)
3. you may see something you really want in the dealers hall on the first day but unless it is something really rare it is usually better to wait till Sunday or Monday
4. Unless you are looking for something specific the swap meet can be a really fun experience
5. if your going to musicfest or Cosplay Spectacular the line can form between 4-2 hours before
6. again if your not looking for something specific in the dealers hall or artist ally the pre lines before scheduled openings are a waste of time
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: echoshadow on March 09, 2015, 06:35:25 PM
That's sums most of it up. 

So my guess is your going the full 4 days?
A few more tips I can add in:
Get there early as possible. There have been badge pick up problems in the past 4 years so you don't have to lose half a day waiting in line. This goes for parking. Chances are you'll have to park a few blocks away due to the amount of people attending.

Personal conduct & respecting girls:
This should be common knowledge but there's always some dudes that fall through the cracks.
Don't be douche and running around bumping or knocking people over. Same goes for being drunk/high. Both applys to general day con going and the late night dances.
There will be some sexy or scantly clad cosplays out there. So don't be a creeper/stalker. They are not strippers so don't treat them like one. That goes same when taking creeper pictures.

Protestors/loudmouths  :
Every now and then there will be a few people picking or doing something nutty(religous or WWII related) While it may be tempting to troll them or mess with them, don't do it. Let them be, they go way after a few hours.  They stay longer when idiots replay to them. That's their goal. Remember it's right to be there, so let them do their thing and they'll leave if nobody gives them attention.

Any other questions feel free to ask. No matter how silly or little.
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: TsukiYuu on March 09, 2015, 11:27:15 PM
Ahhh I feel you! My first time going to Fanime was 2013 and I had lots of fun~
(I also attended the Norcal gathering for my first time~)
But yeah, Fanime is definitely a lot bigger than the gathering, and definitely a lot more to see since there are actually things to look at and not just cosplayers.

It kind of depends on what you like. I love art, so I spend a lot of time in the artist alley just looking at the art there. There's also the dealer's hall which is cool if you like buying merch and stuff~

I spent the most time probably in the game hall! Lots of games to play or to watch others and I had lots of fun dancing with random people at Just Dance, playing mahjong and board games with people. Don't be shy and just ask if you can join them to play~ Most people are nice and would love to make new friends ^^

I was also up going to the raves/black and white ball, and watching anime and stuff with friends till really late (like till 5am), so I missed a lot of the panels during the day. But once the schedule comes out, definitely plan and see what panels you want to see LOL. (I was so tired from dancing I couldn't get up ; u; )

Ah yeah, and from my other friends who are 21+, a lot of them just like to party in their hotel rooms and get drunk LOL.

I also plan to check out San Jose in general this year, since I'm not from SJ soo. Sightseeing.

And also just checking out random gatherings that happen and whatever is going on in the halls~
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: airwickkim on March 10, 2015, 01:00:30 AM
Thanks for the replies, everyone!

@commisar_maticus - How come it's better to wait until Sunday/Monday to buy merchandise?

@echoshadow - Yes, I am going the full weekend! Thankfully I'm not a creep haha :D. Anyways, I'm probably going to pick up my badge on Thursday so hopefully that'll ease up on the line waiting. You seem like an experienced Fanime attendee so I have a question for you! I'm going by myself so how do you exactly do you meet people at these things? I'm quite social and outgoing, but being in a huge place like Fanime with no one I know is a bit daunting haha. I also feel like the social dynamics of meeting people at a convention are different than outside of one.

@TsukiYuu - The Norcal gathering was lots of fun! Did you cosplay? Your time at Fanime sounds like a TON of fun. Hopefully I can get a similar experience this year! I really want to make new friends with likeminded interests so Fanime sounds like a great opportunity! Plus I like dancing too hue hue~
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: Mythal on March 10, 2015, 06:49:19 AM
The biggest tip I can give is make sure to stay hydrated throughout the day, since it can get pretty warm to hot outside, especially if you attend any gatherings out in the sun.

Definitely would suggest going to some of the panels or events at the con, too. Even waiting in line can be fun, since you can just talk to the people around you and get to know them. And if Steampunk interests you at all, hop on the shuttle Fanime provides to Clockwork Alchemy (which is like the partner convention of Fanime) to check it out, since the badge to Fanime is also a badge to Clockwork Alchemy. Plus, you can talk to the people you're sitting next to on the shuttle, great way to pass the time.
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: commisar_maticus on March 10, 2015, 09:04:23 AM
sometimes Sunday evening more so on Monday some dealers drop their prices so they don't have to take as much home
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: echoshadow on March 10, 2015, 03:03:30 PM
Depends what you mean by "meeting people".
If you just want to hang out and have fun, just be social. Talk to people in line, at the panels, or complement people on cosplays or theirs. For the most part everyone is cool, but theres the bit of shyness that always seems strong. You'll be amazed just how friendly people are once you tell them it's your first time at Fanime.

Now if you mean meeting people as in a possible future date, it's the same as out side the con. Heck, everyone has an upper hand already, both of you like anime so there's a good common interest.
Take advantage of the social activities Fanime has to offer or the places near by. There even a speed dating event, (good luck trying to get in. It's always full. Been trying to get in for the last 4 years.) There are the dances, and nearby clubs you can find fellow attendees
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: TsukiYuu on March 10, 2015, 09:52:25 PM
I did~ I just did a simple one with a group of people~ Hanayo from Love Live, spring uniform :> Did you cosplay?

Haha if you like dancing, you'll definitely have fun ^^!

And yeah, like what Mythal said, stay hydrated! It gets really hot especially if you dance or walk around a lot @__@
( so if you're cosplaying, I suggest not wearing warm layers or stay inside in the shade ; u; )

Also I suggest bringing snacks or drinks yourself. They get expensive at the con. My friends just bring them big packs of snacks and water bottles~
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: airwickkim on March 10, 2015, 10:12:21 PM
@Mythal - Thanks for the great tip! Maybe I'll bring a camelbak. I haven't researched much on Clockwork Alchemy so I'll definitely check it out!

@commisar_maticus - That makes sense! I do want some merch so hopefully I can get some decent deals :D

@echoshadow - Just trying to meet people and have fun! I don't meet too many people with similar interests so I'm just trying to make some good friends! It's nice to be around so many people that like a lot of the same things I do!

@TsukiYuu - I didn't cosplay! I felt too noob to cosplay and didn't have time anyways as I found out about the event the night before and went on a whim. So I just went around taking selfies with my GoPro. I did meet a group of Love Live cosplayers that I took a group picture with that had a Hanayo cosplayer! I think it was Hanayo, Eli, Kotori, Nico, and a Maki? Maybe it was you haha! Are you able to bring in outside food and drinks?
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: Mythal on March 10, 2015, 10:33:45 PM
I think bringing your own food and drink is allowed? Since the convention center is connected to one of the hotels. At least, I didn't encounter any problems carrying a few water bottles out in the open when I was walking around with friends.
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: echoshadow on March 11, 2015, 06:12:48 PM
Yes you are able to bring food and drinks. There are food stands inside the convention center and tables. But as mentioned they are a bit pricey, but not too bad.

One highlight of Fanime that I highly recommend is the Black & White Ball. It's not often you get a formal dance so check it out.
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: TsukiYuu on March 15, 2015, 09:59:43 PM
Awww haha never too noob~~ But you will cosplay for Fanime yeah? :D

Oooo maybe?? We did a Spring uniform ver cause it was also kind of last minute for us and it's the easily to do  ;;

Yeah I'm pretty sure. Although, most people are too busy with the con to be eating/drinking lol.
(I'm veeery sure actually. Cause a lot of the artists in the artist alley like to ask friendly people to bring them food cause they have to sit there all day LOL).
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: Gengrawr on March 16, 2015, 10:04:21 AM
Aside from telling you to have fun and enjoy your time at Fanime? I'd say look into any gatherings that would interest you and try to make it to them. A lot of the artists in the Artist's Alley are really nice, especially if they aren't busy so it never hurts to strike up a conversation with them.

Also, eating food and drinking water are really important during the convention. Like, seriously please take care of yourself because it sucks going a whole con day without eating or drinking anything in that heat. Luckily, there are a good number of places around the convention center and the surrounding hotels that have pretty good food, maybe use Yelp or something to find places to eat. Some cosplay gatherings also go out to eat afterwards (but I'm not sure which ones specifically).
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: airwickkim on March 19, 2015, 11:21:41 AM
Ah! Everyone is so nice here :3 Thank you for the great tips!

@echoshadow - I heard some neat things about the Black and White ball! Are they pretty serious with the dress code?

@TsukiYu - Yes! I'm kinda anxious about cosplaying and what not, but still excited!

@Gengrawr - So I guess another big part of Fanime is going to other group gatherings and taking pictures of them?

It seems that people seem to not eat and drink water because they are enjoying their time too much at Fanime haha!
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: echoshadow on March 19, 2015, 02:41:42 PM
Yeah the dress code is enforced. The major issue is shoes, most of the time people get turned away because of the wrong shoe. For girls is the pointy high heals. Just make sure the heal is bigger than a nickel and your golden. For dudes, wear dress shoes not sneakers.

It's not that hard of a dress code, but people often forget to read the dress code. Well it was 50/50 on the attendee and Fanime's part. Besides the on-line info, there was little to no info on the dress code in the programing booklet. So a lot of first timers got turned away.
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: kotaru on April 16, 2015, 07:17:55 PM
Oh last years con was my first time attending!  I missed out on a whole lot of events due to poor planning of my schedule T_T.  So this year things will be different! I wonder what late night animu will be showing! Overall though, I think you will have a good time! I missed out on a lot and still had a blast!
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: ghoulpixel on April 16, 2015, 07:21:37 PM
I've only been to Fanime once and the grounds are huge aha. It took my friends and I awhile to get used to it.
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: FanFicGuru on April 23, 2015, 09:24:02 AM
Some great tips in here already!

- Pick up your badge on Thursday. Last year they announced they would open at 3 PM, but they actually opened at Noon and by the time I got there (around 1 PM?) there was no line and I just breezed right through and got my badge. That being said, past performance is no guarantee of future results so do plan on being there early to get your badge.

-The schedule is your friend. As others have mentioned it's easy to lose track of time wandering around Artist Alley and the Dealers Hall, but there is always great stuff being shown in the video rooms, fun panels and of course guest panels too! When you pick up your badge there will most likely be a pocket schedule/guide in the bag. Review it! The first real "event" of Fanime is the swap meet on Thursday night, and being staff for that event I would highly encourage you to come! However, between picking up your badge and swap meet you can familiarize yourself with the goings-on of the weekend and plan accordingly.

- Food. It can easily chew away (haha) at your budget if you're not careful. Do you have a hotel room? If so, bring flats of water, buy sodas or whatever you want to drink in bulk and snacks to keep you sustained throughout the day. There are some great options for food near the con that aren't too expensive, so familiarize yourself with the area via google maps, or take advantage of that "downtime" on Thursday between picking up your badge and the swap meet. If you don't have a hotel room, a cooler in the back of your car can house your snacks/lunch throughout the day and you can come back to that as a rally point when you need to recharge.

- Now this depends on what kind of shopper you are but I generally stay away from the dealers hall for the first hour or two that it's open. The main reason being that there's usually a very large line and in my experience the "first in the door" don't really have an advantage over anyone else since the layout is different every year and there aren't too many "exclusive" items. Of course, if you want to be first in line you are welcome to do so, but be prepared to be sitting in that line for 3-5 hours in the early morning on Friday. I've found that it's better to just saunter in a bit later in the afternoon on Friday and peruse at a more leisurely pace.

- Save money for Monday. On the topic of the dealers hall, by late morning/early afternoon Monday, a lot of vendors will be having "closeout" deals. It's not guaranteed, but maybe you get a better price on some manga, or can negotiate a slightly lower price on some wall scrolls. Not only that, it's a total bummer when you're broke by Sunday afternoon and have to drag through the rest of the con with no money!

There's so much to see and do! The convention is pretty big, but once you've been wandering the first couple days you get into the swing of things by Saturday and have a good idea where everything is.

This year will be my 11th year and I still have a blast! Have a  great con!
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: airwickkim on May 02, 2015, 08:29:46 AM
Thank so much for the tips everyone! You guys are so nice :3

I'm so, so excited to go!
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: domofudge on May 08, 2015, 02:30:31 AM
1) Create a daily budget for yourself. That way you don't spend too much all at once. Also, artists alley tends to lower their prices on the last two days.

2) You'll probably meet a lot of great people. However, sometimes you'll get invites to drink and hang out in someones' hotel room. Never go alone. Those hangouts tend to have a lot of alcohol and even if you don't drink, things can escalate  into uncomfortable levels pretty fast.

3) Don't eat the food at Fanime. It's expensive as all hell.

4) Look at the event (gaming halls, cosplay gatherings, karaoke, panels, dances, etc) forums and make a schedule for yourself. Write down what you want to attend and organize it. Make sure you don't end up doing too much in one day.

5) Bring comfy shoes to change into if you're cosplaying or wearing fancy shoes. You will walk a LOT.

6) In your bag, carry some emergency supplies! (Cosplay fix it kits, deodorant, water, first aid, makeup, etc)
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: OtakuAngel87 on May 08, 2015, 12:16:03 PM
 everyone pretty much said what I'd suggest, most of all if you aren't sure check the schedule or ask the rovers that's what they are there for. I've been going since 2007 and its always been fun also you get to meet a lot of new people with similar interests
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: beastboytitans on May 12, 2015, 08:14:28 AM
Sup brotato
this will be my 2nd time at fanime but liike 6th or 7th con

Bring food, or make sure you eat,
that's I think the most important thing.
It's pretty easy to forget cause
you'll plan on walking to get food then all of a sudden
omfg datcosplay.jpg
yakkity yak yak
hey we're about to do this and that
wanna come?
then oh sht its 4 hours later

There's this uhhh oriental place (not sure what cuisine)
down the street from the con
If I remember right I got a bowl of rice and pork
that was too big for me to finish and it was like 7$
so there's affordable places pretty close by
dont ever buy food at the con unless youre dying
cause a tiny ass sandwhich is like 8-9$ and stuff lol

I don't think you'll have to worry about wandering alone
or anything like that.
just as long as youre not mega shy but
I was waiting for my homie outside the bathroom by myself
and this mob of like 10 ppl were like yoo why are you by yourself lol
On the other hand I tried to talk to ppl that were sitting alone or looked lost
cause homies MAKE con at least for me haha.

Honestly the panels and stuff were kind of meh last year
but the gatherings were epic
if theres a fandom youre hardcore into keep on top of when/where its going to be
seriously,
last year I walked where one gathering was and nobody was there
and I asked a staff memeber and he was like OH YEAH WE CHANGED THE TIME
LAST MINUTE LOL

if you have anything remotley resembling a prop
go get it checked inside the con right away.
some ppl have a 9 foot staff and don't get looked at the entire con
others have a dinky ass wand and get OMFG WTF WHY ISNT THAT CHECK ARE YOU TRYING TO GET KICKED OUT OF CON BLAH BLAH BLAHG BLAHSRTDJTR

I would reinforce the waiting till sun/mon for the dealers hall.
last con (not fanime) some of the tight ass no-bartering dealers
were pretty leniant. 30? hmmm I got 20$ is dat coo? yeah sure

the swap meet is really good for finding some stuff.
youll want to come a little later probably cause the first hour or two can be swamped

if you see beast boy, 2D, or invader zim das me!
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: SpiritOfKairi on May 12, 2015, 08:54:46 AM
I think just about everything's been covered at this point, but seriously, eating, keeping hydrated, getting sleep, and bathing are basic, but KEY.  As other have mentioned, try to stay away from food in the convention if you can.  It's really expensive, and you'll be able to find much better stuff within 3 blocks of the center.  Seriously, there are a TON of great, inexpensive restaurants around.  Lol a lot of people hit up the McDonald's since it's really inexpensive and familiar, but there are some more local favorites like La Victoria's (awesome burritos for about $6), Tandoori Oven (Indian place behind the Fairmont), Hoagie's (sandwhich shop), and Pizza My Heart (kind of self explanatory there lol).  There are tons of others, but those are the ones that come immediately to mind.

Also, water cannot be stressed enough.  It's really easy to get dehydrated when you're out in the hot summer sun and walking constantly.  I think others have suggested bringing water bottles, and this is definitely a good idea.  I myself being a case of water to the room, and by the end of the con, my roommate and I have gone through almost all.  Also I'm a bit paranoid about dehydration since a few years back I got a minor case of it at Fanime.

When it comes to buying stuff, try to not impulse buy.  If you see something you like, hold off for a day or so and see if it's still as awesome as you thought it was before.  If you're not careful with your money it can go quick, and you need to show some restraint.  Lol you'll probably want to buy all the things when you get into the Artist Alley and Dealer's Hall, but resist!

I think someone else mentioned comfortable shoes, and this is also a MUST.  When you're walking for 14+ hours a day, unless you're careful with footwear, your feet could easily be screaming in agony with every step you take Monday.  Just take the comfiest pair you have and you should be okay.
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: svatoid on May 13, 2015, 07:27:57 PM
At certain times of the day the bathrooms at the convention center are in terrible shape. Most important is a lack of toilet paper. I always put a roll in my backpack, just in case
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: Sunara Ishi on May 14, 2015, 12:17:54 AM
If you're staying in a hotel room, go shopping at someplace, like Costco, beforehand to buy snacks & drinks. You can also buy things that last like Ramen noodle cups. Fans have a tendency to overspend and leave very little money for food so buying food beforehand is a good idea.

Set aside as much money as you can/can afford. There is a lot to buy and you'll find that you run through cash quickly. Also, space your spending; only bring so much cash with you at one time. For safety reasons and also to keep from splurging it all on one day. Having to go get money, from an atm/bank makes you consider if you really want to buy "x" item.

Bring a bottle of water with you & save the bottle to refill at water fountains. It will get hot & sweaty inside with all the people (even if it is 60 degrees outside.) It'll become very easy to get dehydrated; especially if you're stuck in a line or wearing a hot cosplay (even something light weight with long sleeves.) Also, bring a change of clothes for when you want to get out of your cosplay. Also, cosplay gatherings happen on time and usually don't go past 30 minutes; so, if you want to see "x" cosplay or participate, be there on time.

Line up early as lines get long fast for certain events. Make sure you get food before lining up for late night events (masquerade, musicfest, etc.) as most restaurants will be closed after those events get out. Also common sense but... don't go anywhere online with someone you aren't comfortable with & report any suspicious people (people that look like they shouldn't be on con premised, people following you, etc.) to rovers. And don't go exploring downtown alone, especially late at night.

Otherwise, have fun.
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: ZeroBudgetGamer on May 14, 2015, 10:13:28 AM
I know a lot of people are repeating the "Wait till Monday" rule for the Gathering Hall, but that's a double-edged sword.  My first Fanime was back in 2013, which was also when I got hardcore into Monster Hunter.  They had a meetup that year and a few of the con-goers managed to snag some sweet MonHun Plushies from the Hall, so I became driven to find the stall that had them.  I checked everywhere in that Hall Sunday, no luck. Asked around and got the specific spot, went back on Monday, and sure enough, they had sold out of them all on Saturday, probably before the meetup.  I also like getting shirts from the SharkRobot stall at every con I go to, but a couple times when I've waited too long, they've ended up out of my size for the shirt(s) I wanted.

Long story short, even if you don't BUY anything, go into the Dealer's Hall and examine EVERY stall at least once on Friday.  Some stalls will have impressive amounts of stock handy, but others are limited to what you see on their tables.  Getting a deal is great, but waiting for that deal to come and losing out on something you really wanted in the process can put a damper on the good times.
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: Torai on May 14, 2015, 03:02:34 PM
Quote from: ZeroBudgetGamer on May 14, 2015, 10:13:28 AM
I know a lot of people are repeating the "Wait till Monday" rule for the Gathering Hall, but that's a double-edged sword.  My first Fanime was back in 2013, which was also when I got hardcore into Monster Hunter.  They had a meetup that year and a few of the con-goers managed to snag some sweet MonHun Plushies from the Hall, so I became driven to find the stall that had them.  I checked everywhere in that Hall Sunday, no luck. Asked around and got the specific spot, went back on Monday, and sure enough, they had sold out of them all on Saturday, probably before the meetup.  I also like getting shirts from the SharkRobot stall at every con I go to, but a couple times when I've waited too long, they've ended up out of my size for the shirt(s) I wanted.

Long story short, even if you don't BUY anything, go into the Dealer's Hall and examine EVERY stall at least once on Friday.  Some stalls will have impressive amounts of stock handy, but others are limited to what you see on their tables.  Getting a deal is great, but waiting for that deal to come and losing out on something you really wanted in the process can put a damper on the good times.

I kinda just wanna reaffirm this! The best time to buy would be Friday or Monday, because many many times I've noticed that something I bought on Friday went up by like five or even ten bucks the very next day. (Also once a dealer gave me a small discount on some small things because it was near closing time on Friday and the crowd was super light.) I tend to do shopping on Friday myself because I know things will be at least a little cheaper and it's kinda like early dibs on things in stock that would totally be gone by Monday otherwise. I've heard things about manga sellers giving bigger discounts on Monday, though, so that's something to try to hold out on if there aren't any Must Haves.
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: airwickkim on May 17, 2015, 07:48:06 PM
Thanks for the tips for buying merchandise! Definitely will pick up some stuff though :)

As for carrying water and snacks, do you guys just bring a backpack or something to put them in while you're perusing the con? For those in cosplay, does carrying one bother you? I have a backpack, but I feel like it could get kind of uncomfortable while in cosplay and walking around in the heat.
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: Kumoshi on May 18, 2015, 12:33:52 AM
I personally do bring a backpack because I need to carry my camera, snacks, water bottle, wallet, and various other miscellaneous items around. I do find it to be a bit of hassle of carry around especially when I'm cosplaying since I already sweat easilyand I have to take off the backpack for pictures, so a bag that would be light and comfortable to carry around a long time would probably be good, whether that is a backpack or something else c:
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: Sunara Ishi on May 18, 2015, 03:39:09 AM
Quote from: Torai on May 14, 2015, 03:02:34 PM
Quote from: ZeroBudgetGamer on May 14, 2015, 10:13:28 AM
I know a lot of people are repeating the "Wait till Monday" rule for the Gathering Hall, but that's a double-edged sword.  My first Fanime was back in 2013, which was also when I got hardcore into Monster Hunter.  They had a meetup that year and a few of the con-goers managed to snag some sweet MonHun Plushies from the Hall, so I became driven to find the stall that had them.  I checked everywhere in that Hall Sunday, no luck. Asked around and got the specific spot, went back on Monday, and sure enough, they had sold out of them all on Saturday, probably before the meetup.  I also like getting shirts from the SharkRobot stall at every con I go to, but a couple times when I've waited too long, they've ended up out of my size for the shirt(s) I wanted.

Long story short, even if you don't BUY anything, go into the Dealer's Hall and examine EVERY stall at least once on Friday.  Some stalls will have impressive amounts of stock handy, but others are limited to what you see on their tables.  Getting a deal is great, but waiting for that deal to come and losing out on something you really wanted in the process can put a damper on the good times.

I kinda just wanna reaffirm this! The best time to buy would be Friday or Monday, because many many times I've noticed that something I bought on Friday went up by like five or even ten bucks the very next day. (Also once a dealer gave me a small discount on some small things because it was near closing time on Friday and the crowd was super light.) I tend to do shopping on Friday myself because I know things will be at least a little cheaper and it's kinda like early dibs on things in stock that would totally be gone by Monday otherwise. I've heard things about manga sellers giving bigger discounts on Monday, though, so that's something to try to hold out on if there aren't any Must Haves.
I want to add a couple things to this:

1) Buy the things you really want early and wait for the "I kinda like this" items & impulse buys for later during the con. Chances are that, the item you really want, will be sell out fast. More so if it is rare.

2) I've noticed that the Dealers don't quite give as deep discounts as they used to. And many places, you'll be lucky to get $5 off... It used to be that they wanted to get rid of their stock before the con's end but now more and more Dealers hold onto their stock to sell at future cons/events. I could see waiting til the end of con if the discount was still great things like 50% but $5 off just isn't worth waiting.
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: OtakuAngel87 on May 18, 2015, 09:01:27 AM
Quote from: Sunara Ishi on May 18, 2015, 03:39:09 AM
Quote from: Torai on May 14, 2015, 03:02:34 PM
Quote from: ZeroBudgetGamer on May 14, 2015, 10:13:28 AM
I know a lot of people are repeating the "Wait till Monday" rule for the Gathering Hall, but that's a double-edged sword.  My first Fanime was back in 2013, which was also when I got hardcore into Monster Hunter.  They had a meetup that year and a few of the con-goers managed to snag some sweet MonHun Plushies from the Hall, so I became driven to find the stall that had them.  I checked everywhere in that Hall Sunday, no luck. Asked around and got the specific spot, went back on Monday, and sure enough, they had sold out of them all on Saturday, probably before the meetup.  I also like getting shirts from the SharkRobot stall at every con I go to, but a couple times when I've waited too long, they've ended up out of my size for the shirt(s) I wanted.

Long story short, even if you don't BUY anything, go into the Dealer's Hall and examine EVERY stall at least once on Friday.  Some stalls will have impressive amounts of stock handy, but others are limited to what you see on their tables.  Getting a deal is great, but waiting for that deal to come and losing out on something you really wanted in the process can put a damper on the good times.

I kinda just wanna reaffirm this! The best time to buy would be Friday or Monday, because many many times I've noticed that something I bought on Friday went up by like five or even ten bucks the very next day. (Also once a dealer gave me a small discount on some small things because it was near closing time on Friday and the crowd was super light.) I tend to do shopping on Friday myself because I know things will be at least a little cheaper and it's kinda like early dibs on things in stock that would totally be gone by Monday otherwise. I've heard things about manga sellers giving bigger discounts on Monday, though, so that's something to try to hold out on if there aren't any Must Haves.
I want to add a couple things to this:

1) Buy the things you really want early and wait for the "I kinda like this" items & impulse buys for later during the con. Chances are that, the item you really want, will be sell out fast. More so if it is rare.

2) I've noticed that the Dealers don't quite give as deep discounts as they used to. And many places, you'll be lucky to get $5 off... It used to be that they wanted to get rid of their stock before the con's end but now more and more Dealers hold onto their stock to sell at future cons/events. I could see waiting til the end of con if the discount was still great things like 50% but $5 off just isn't worth waiting.

To add on to all these points which I've also come across as well. Although it might seem like a drag or not worth your time, do a little research on what it is you're looking for. Check the prices online for rough idea of what an item costs so you can see if it is something you're willing to pay a little more for if it's something that's rare and it's extremely high online or if it's cheaper online you could possibly hold back until closer to the end of the con. This way while browsing through the dealers room on friday you can get idea of whether each seller prices items reasonably or not. Also this is a good tactic for the swap meet at night as well. But like ZeroBudgetGamer said, it could become a double edge sword if you're not careful. and Sunara Ishi made a good point, even if you see an item rare, if it's not something that you truly want, any kind of unsure thought, I wouldn't spend money on it that early in case you find a better item that you do want.
Title: Re: 1st time attending Fanime. Any tips?
Post by: airwickkim on May 21, 2015, 07:08:14 AM
Thank you so much, everyone! I wish I could meet all of you and thank you in person! All your input has been greatly appreciated for a con noob like me.

I feel at least a bit more prepared for Fanime, though I think it'll still be a bit overwhelming haha. Hopefully I'll be able to meet some of you, but if not, have a wonderful time!