Hello everyone! It's time for a feedback thread!!!
First off, I'd like to thank everyone for our great success this year! Thank you to all my hard-working, enthusiastic, devoted, wonderful wonderful maids, my AWESOME fellow maid cafe staff, and everyone who put so many days (and restless nights) of hard work to make it possible, staff, the awesome rovers who helped us, everyone from Extravaganzas, and fans for all their hard work and support. Thank you so much!
I assure you all that these maids have put in A LOT of hard work, and we hope to see you all again next year! All of our fans, have been wonderful and supportive, and make me feel truly honored to have run the cafe this year. It truly brings me to tears.
And to quote one of our maids, Mei-chan, "I've never been so malnutritioned, busy, yet had so much fun all at the same time. ww Jokes aside, 乙!"
There was never a moment that the cafe was NOT at full capacity. Fanimaid☆LIVE @ Stage Zero had the biggest crowd for a Stage Zero event in Fanime history! We've received so much positive feedback. We have had special guests, overseas fans, many returning customers and supporters, flooded with press, and board members who have claimed Fanimaid Cafe to be THE BEST maid cafe in any American convention. I've had so many people approach me just to thank us for such the huge success.
Also, thank you for all the support, gifts, and water donated from the Rovers! Never have I ever experienced such an amazing part of fandom.
Thank you guys so much. Just, so much.
I hope to hear from all of you soon!
Great improvement from when it was first started back in 07. Make it grow stronger Jun + maids! Gambatte ne!
:3
Though I ended up not going to the cafe itself, I have to say your performance was made of win for:
1) Old school anime (Ranma and Urusei Yatsura)
2) Touhou
3) Nico Nico Douga
4) Momoi + fans doing calls
I honestly do not know where to start.
This year's FaniMaid cafe was a completely different experience from the first two years. From the outfits, to the usage of the terms goshujin-sama/ojou-sama, to the careful attention the maids gave to serving the food, to the decor....I just am extremely pleased on how the entire thing was presented. Jun, I know you told me not to expect a full-blown maid cafe experience but what I have seen this past weekend went above and beyond. My girlfriend, my friends, and I wish to express our deepest gratitude to you and the FaniMaid Cafe staff for working so hard and putting a lot of effort into making the FaniMaid Cafe into a not-miss experience at Fanime 2009 and an event to look forward to in future years of Fanime. I will always be a supporter of the FaniMaid cafe. I wish all of you the best of luck in the future!
EDIT: I almost forgot to add that the FaniMaid Live! performance was a wonderful treat. The performances were awesome (and I also loved the dude on the harmonica, was a great addition to the setlist) and seeing Halko Momoi and the Momoists doing callouts and just having fun was great and was one of the things that made my FanimeCon trip awesome!
The cafe actually did more than the cafe I went to with Malcolm in Japan in terms of performances and interaction (The Honey Honey experience, though it might have just been my language barrier at the time); many performances, which were very authentic looking. I was really impressed, and it was too bad during my time no one else joined in with the clapping and fist pounding bits.
I really can't think of anything that pointed outward or struck me as odd; the maids I was given were also very friendly and receptive.
In other words,
(https://forums.fanime.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg223.imageshack.us%2Fimg223%2F820%2Fwafflegj.jpg&hash=571f777a6138a379f8ce1a69609e9e9fa1ef8281)
~Chun
the food was good! though I think there should be better labels. UM!!! The maids were adorable! Especially the one I had, she has brown hair with braces. she was so cute!
I'm definately going to try out next year!!!!
i can't really say much about fanimaid itself cause my boyfriend and i weren't able to attend. why? we were in line waiting for awhile hoping to get a fruit tart. but as soon as we got to the register we found out that they ran out of fruit tart. i know it would destroy the sign if you simply just crossed off "fruit tart" off the menu but it would've been nice to have a post-its covering it up or saying "sold out" right next to it. it would've saved us a lot of time doing something else besides waiting in line for nothing
other than that, from what i saw, the maids looked really cute :D usually places like hotels and convention centers doesn't permit outside food but if it's possible you guys should add more to the menu.
I didn't go, but I saw the maids around, and they looked cute.
The head maid was a total jerk!
All she did was wait on me, the chair team, and our guests; recommend delicious food; bring out our meal; politely prepare the table, even opening our water bottles for us; check in on us at well-timed intervals; and have Kazuko politely entertain us by drawing super-cute pictures. And the whole time she was hiding the stress of managing the cafe and performances at Stage Zero. It was completely unlike anything I would expect at an anime convention, and I will have words with her.
This is my first experience with a maid cafe, and I really enjoyed it. The games were really fun to play, everyone looked great in their maid outfits, and the food was awesome. I will definetely be coming back next year.
Quote from: Tony on May 26, 2009, 10:38:07 AM
The head maid was a total jerk!
All she did was wait on me, the chair team, and our guests; recommend delicious food; bring out our meal; politely prepare the table, even opening our water bottles for us; check in on us at well-timed intervals; and have Kazuko politely entertain us by drawing super-cute pictures. And the whole time she was hiding the stress of managing the cafe and performances at Stage Zero. It was completely unlike anything I would expect at an anime convention, and I will have words with her.
I agree, she was a total jerk. So was her 2nd, that guy with the huge thighs that did all the work arranging schedules, music, arranging times, calling all the maids and helping things run, that guy was a super jerk with super thighs.
Both of them also did horrible things like train and talk to the maids on an almost daily basis to make sure they had a strong confident hold on their duties.
Maid Cafe was soooooooooo FUN. It was hard for me personally to be served because when the maids are so nice all i want to do is serve THEM! Usagi was my maid and I could tell from standing way back in line that she really had a magic in her. ^_^ I felt very happy after a looooooooooooong stressful weekend!
Already MUCH better than last year! I almost didn't get in though because we came 10 min before it was closing and they were supposed to close off the line, but we got in before they did.. I almost cried! Thankfully the nice guy let us in because I had my daughters and I especially wanted to have my friend be my maid. And she was! And she was the best! Of course I am probably being biased here, being that she's my friend and all, but considering she lived in Japan and experienced these things, I think she was right on the money :D Thanks for making us and my girls very happy. A nice ending to a great weekend before going home *sob*
Quote from: PyronIkari on May 26, 2009, 10:44:41 AM
Quote from: Tony on May 26, 2009, 10:38:07 AM
The head maid was a total jerk!
All she did was wait on me, the chair team, and our guests; recommend delicious food; bring out our meal; politely prepare the table, even opening our water bottles for us; check in on us at well-timed intervals; and have Kazuko politely entertain us by drawing super-cute pictures. And the whole time she was hiding the stress of managing the cafe and performances at Stage Zero. It was completely unlike anything I would expect at an anime convention, and I will have words with her.
I agree, she was a total jerk. So was her 2nd, that guy with the huge thighs that did all the work arranging schedules, music, arranging times, calling all the maids and helping things run, that guy was a super jerk with super thighs.
Both of them also did horrible things like train and talk to the maids on an almost daily basis to make sure they had a strong confident hold on their duties.
Not to mention the horrible Rover staff who were rudely standing inside Maid Cafe not allowing people to be mean, come in through the back, or even to take unauthorized pictures. Plus, their awful staff gave their own water to incredibly cute maids. I mean, talk about your power trips.
The maid cafe was a great experience; I had a lot of fun there. I had a ton of fun at the maids' performance on Stage Zero. Thanks to all the maids that were there to help make the experience great. Thanks to Jun for helping us unwrap glowsticks on Sunday morning.
Total jerks! They made the maids break down and cry during the Fanimaid☆LIVE @ Stage Zero !
All those maids did was go up on our Stage, and perform wonderful performances, all in front of Momoi Halko, and when they were done, went to the side, and bawled tears!
Tears! Tears, I say! Tears, knowing that they performed so well, and they were happy and relieved that they did so well in front of everyone at Stage Zero!
Other than that, that Stu guy is cool.
waah I was one of those maids that cried after the performance (///A///) performing in front of momoi is a dream and shes so sweet
@Tony: aww I am very glad you liked the drawings I drew c:
I would like to say as one of the Maids who worked at the Maid Cafe this year, a big THANK YOU have to go to all of you goshujinsama and Ojousama who came to our cafe and kept coming back even bringing friends!!
Also Thank you to all who came to Fanimaid☆LIVE at stage Zero It was awesome to perform in front of so many people (yet I was so nervous and scared)
Thank you all so much for your support and see you all again!!
<3 Kazuko
The maid cafe was a great success and I look forward to next year.
Jun and my lack of sleep since that Wednesday really paid off, it seemed as if Momoi's being at the con seemed to fuel our sleepless bodies to make the cafe and the performance such great events, but there was also the maids who helped run this thing, and without them it wouldn't have been as great as it would have been without these set of maids. There was also Mikey who helped things run when Jun was unavailable, and there was Robin, even though he was never physically there at the cafe, he did everything web based for the cafe, helping our maids to be the best they could be.
Now it's time to make up for the lack of sleep for the past week.
Quote from: Liquid on May 26, 2009, 03:43:26 PM
Quote from: PyronIkari on May 26, 2009, 10:44:41 AM
Quote from: Tony on May 26, 2009, 10:38:07 AM
The head maid was a total jerk!
All she did was wait on me, the chair team, and our guests; recommend delicious food; bring out our meal; politely prepare the table, even opening our water bottles for us; check in on us at well-timed intervals; and have Kazuko politely entertain us by drawing super-cute pictures. And the whole time she was hiding the stress of managing the cafe and performances at Stage Zero. It was completely unlike anything I would expect at an anime convention, and I will have words with her.
I agree, she was a total jerk. So was her 2nd, that guy with the huge thighs that did all the work arranging schedules, music, arranging times, calling all the maids and helping things run, that guy was a super jerk with super thighs.
Both of them also did horrible things like train and talk to the maids on an almost daily basis to make sure they had a strong confident hold on their duties.
Not to mention the horrible Rover staff who were rudely standing inside Maid Cafe not allowing people to be mean, come in through the back, or even to take unauthorized pictures. Plus, their awful staff gave their own water to incredibly cute maids. I mean, talk about your power trips.
Lets fire them all.....but that Fanservice guy....i like what he does
Quote from: ewu on May 27, 2009, 03:47:51 PM
Lets fire them all.....but that Fanservice guy....i like what he does
Does anybody even really know
what that guy does? I kinda only just saw him wandering around aimlessly trying to act like he was busy.
But seriously, Fan Services? Don't we ban that kind of propositioning for "
services" at Fanime? ::)
:)goshujin-sama/ojou-sama thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for letting me serve you. and I appreciate your kindness at sharing with me your smile. it makes me happy ^_^.
maido-san friends, thank you for helping me get ready for my shift ^_^ and for being kind and moe to me.
jun-sama: thank you for teaching me how to be a moe maid in the u.s. ^_^ and for your hard work.
jun-sama second: thank you for being so moe at all funny photo requests.
どもありがとうございます。
うさぎ。
Quote from: Liquid on May 27, 2009, 04:27:46 PM
Quote from: ewu on May 27, 2009, 03:47:51 PM
Lets fire them all.....but that Fanservice guy....i like what he does
Does anybody even really know what that guy does? I kinda only just saw him wandering around aimlessly trying to act like he was busy.
But seriously, Fan Services? Don't we ban that kind of propositioning for "services" at Fanime? ::)
*ahem* Where's the chocolate the Rovers owe me and reg staff for your badges?
I was a bit sad that I had to change my order 3 times, but it's ok since the Maids don't really have anything to do with the food quantity. At least there was food when I went! Harhar.
My group didn't really get to talk to the maids too much but they were understaffed at the time I believe. And oh yea, my friends really enjoyed the lineup farewell. ;D
Thanks Jun, Maidcafe Staff, and Mikey (especially for all the chairs).
Quote from: Sen on May 28, 2009, 12:07:22 AM
*ahem* Where's the chocolate the Rovers owe me and reg staff for your badges?
I was a bit sad that I had to change my order 3 times, but it's ok since the Maids don't really have anything to do with the food quantity. At least there was food when I went! Harhar.
My group didn't really get to talk to the maids too much but they were understaffed at the time I believe. And oh yea, my friends really enjoyed the lineup farewell. ;D
Thanks Jun, Maidcafe Staff, and Mikey (especially for all the chairs).
Yeah, sorry about that. You came in literally when 2 maids had just left. One had a small emergency or something that came up(I forget) and the other had been working since opening, and I had sent 1 to eat(she had been there since opening and didn't take a single break). I actually called her in from her break to take your guys' order and stuff before letting her go back and finish her food. Jun had gone back to her room about 30 min before that because she was losing her voice, and the next maids weren't scheduled for another 30 min or so (I forget the actual number). I hope when the maids did spend time with your table that it was enjoyable.
Initially when me and my friend saw the cost and how big the portions were we were kinda bummed but decided to press on anyway just to experience the maid cafe.
It was totally worth it! The food turned out to be pretty yummy, and our maid was awesome and fun to talk with and everything. Definitly a great experience and looking forward to it next year! ;D
I really appreciated how great it was :D
Okay. I know it probably wasn't a big hit with some of the customers, but since I came late on Saturday I got to order what was left on the menu and I ordered a shrimp croissant and I am so happy I did! That thing was delicious!! Seriously! I actually came back early Sunday morning and ordered two of those for my lunch. Hehe~ I hope that those are served next year as well. <3 And the maids were so adorable. I was actually thinking about applying to be one, but I would rather have someone wait on me, than me wait on people. It's cuter. Congrats on the extreme win at FanimeCon 2009 Maid Cafe! Hope to see you in 2010 for an even bigger win!
I was kind of sad because I didn't actually get to experience the Maid Cafe first hand. (I skipped a ton of meals and I was having too much fun with Rovers.) But just spendig a couple of hours on the inside standing guard one of the days was a fun experience. The maids were all very friendly and it was fun to see the smiles on everyone's faces. :)
Quote from: Sen on May 28, 2009, 12:07:22 AM
*ahem* Where's the chocolate the Rovers owe me and reg staff for your badges?
Eric ate it all. :-\
Quote from: Liquid on May 28, 2009, 10:44:42 AM
I was kind of sad because I didn't actually get to experience the Maid Cafe first hand. (I skipped a ton of meals and I was having too much fun with Rovers.) But just spendig a couple of hours on the inside standing guard one of the days was a fun experience. The maids were all very friendly and it was fun to see the smiles on everyone's faces. :)
Next year, we're going to have to arrange for some time off to actually sit down at eat at this fancy maid cafe thing.
It'd certainly be a nice change of pace to my usual lunch of two
chocolate granola bars and a red bull.
ARIGATOU! THANK YOU! GRACIAS! (Though I don't think that I can say that enough times.) MERCI! To every one involved with Fanimaid Cafe. Especially, Jun. :) You all did a wonderful job. All the maids looked so cute. Especially Ami-chan with her little cat ears. :D She was my maid after all. :P
Your performance at Stage Zero was amazing. Especially when (sorry, I can't remember her name :( ) sang, Watashi Kare Wa Pilot. I'm a huge Macross fan. :)
Looking forward to Fanimaid Cafe in 2010. :) Unless I implode or something. :D
Quote from: Mr Anime on May 28, 2009, 02:00:00 PM
ARIGATOU! THANK YOU! GRACIAS! (Though I don't think that I can say that enough times.) MERCI! To every one involved with Fanimaid Cafe. Especially, Jun. :) You all did a wonderful job. All the maids looked so cute. Especially Ami-chan with her little cat ears. :D She was my maid after all. :P
Your performance at Stage Zero was amazing. Especially when (sorry, I can't remember her name :( ) sang, Watashi Kare Wa Pilot. I'm a huge Macross fan. :)
Looking forward to Fanimaid Cafe in 2010. :) Unless I implode or something. :D
Ahh I sang that song!! (///A///) I was so nervous but thank you so much!!! It means alot
It seems that people did have a good time at the cafe! I'm glad for it, though my experience was not too great.
I came in about 1pm-1:30pm on Sunday, and had a group of four. I disliked choosing the food and paying upfront, but I know that it really can't be helped sometimes. (Sigh.. politics and the union) Prices were expensive for size portions, but the garlic wrap was yummy.
There were lots of cute maids! That was a serious plus from last year, and they all seemed very polite. The Host maid was demure and polite and very cute. (however, someone ran up to say that 2 maids would not be able to come to work, which is a BIG no-no in my book, but it was a hush-hush deal).
Our host maid (I couldn't read the tags very well because they were adorable and in pen and I'm blind) seated us at a small table. I couldn't quite understand this. There were bigger tables open, and we got seated at a table that had us bumping knees, save for the fact that two of my companions were petite.
The server maid came by with the tray of food, which was just about as big as the table. She was very softspoken and for the space that we were in, and the fact that I was NEXT to her, I couldn't hear her very clearly. I know that there isn't much we can do about food serving, but the big cafeteria tray was terrible. I would rather have her do several trips with a cuter tray or at least a smaller one. Her words were also hurried with her goshujin-sama and ojou-samas. It may have been for her moe-type though. After she dropped off the food, she went off, and we enjoyed our meal. But she didn't come back...
During this time we were able to observe the cafe. In the actual cafe itself, there were plenty of maids. By the tables, there were 3 maids. Generally, we are paying not for the food, but for the maid atmosphere. Most of the maid atmosphere was centralized around maids at the photo area and hanging around the host desk. It is understandable to have one server maid to a table, but having idle maids wander the tables area would be nice... Rather than only being able to see them doing the "maid harem photoshoot." After observing all this, we were wondering where our server maid was. She showed up again, apologized for the wait, then cleared our plates. Having trained for a maid style cafe before, I was wondering where all the bowing and curtsying was. There wasn't even really a quick bob of a curtsy from either of our maids.
Determined to create a better experience for ourselves, we stuck around the cafe, noting differences from the years before and idle chatter. Lucky us, the maids did a little dance performance for the cafe (though it was more entertaining to watch the music cue guy doing a mock of the dance from the floor.) Our maid was in the performance, and did not return for quite a while after and asked if we wanted to take a picture with the maids. One of our group accepted and off he went. I'm also used to taking only a picture with your personal maid, or requesting a maid for a picture. Sending all the maids for a photo takes the maids away from the cafe itself as well, thus the loss of the atmosphere.
Finally, he comes back and our maid asks if we would like to play any games. Having sat enough at the cafe, we declined (plus there was no room to play!) Our maid escorted us out of the cafe, and murmured something along of thanks and come again? She was very quiet about her speech, though I was fairly sure she was not a shy person. I think a different maid persona would have suited her better.
It seemed that the most attentive areas of the cafe were the photo area, and the large tables, where you could comfortably play a game or draw with your maid. But it just seemed like you would come to the cafe to take a picture with your own maid harem.
I apologize if I do seem harsh, but I look at the cafe from restaurant serving experience, maid experience, and experiences at other maid style cafes (mostly con run).
My companions agreed that if the maid had taken our order, returned with the order, came back to check on us (games/photo-op), and finally escort us out, we would have been satisfied. Taking our order at the table requires her to come back to check up on us, which would ideally give us more "maid time." There were enough maids to cover one or even two to each table, so guests should not feel neglected. My company definitely felt neglected, and there were no maids wandering by the tables to satisfy our eyes.
I am perhaps a little harsh on the maid service as well, since I suppose I was trained in a more extreme form of maid service (ie. kneeling, tea service, cooling service.) More fantasy style I suppose... like "Maid in Akihabara" rather than most maid cafes in Japan where they are simply your server in costume. But seeing how it's Fanime, I would kinda expect a more personal time with the maids, and more of the fan service ideal.. I'm NOT suggesting anything lewd though! ^.^
I know this was a long post, but I wanted my thoughts to be heard, especially since it was Jun's first year. A lot of my complaints could simply be because of my server maid, but I don't wish to place blame on her because she seemed a very sweet girl. We just felt really neglected especially since all the maids were about 20 ft away from us and not really in the cafe area. Most tables' eyes were directed towards the photo area because THAT'S WHERE THE MAIDS WERE.
Pros: Lots of cute maids. Good food. Cute performance.
Cons: No maids nearby. Seated at a small table. Lack of service.
That's all and I hope to see an even BETTER cafe next year!
-- SelenDragon
due to health restrictions we couldnt do alot of the things such as ketchup letters, cooling service, ect. I do not know who your maid was but we were pretty busy on Sunday. We tried to fit seating based on the number of people also for the maids who couldnt come in, things happen, emergencies that cannot be controlled you cant be upset at something like that.
Maid in Akihabara is a good show but it doesnt really depict what a maid cafe really is, Sure its a good example of how to tell a difference between a bar girl and a maid but not an actual maid cafe.
m(_ _)m I do apologize if this seems very harsh but I hope you do come back to our maid cafe
Quote from: Kazuko on May 30, 2009, 02:55:01 AM
due to health restrictions we couldnt do alot of the things such as ketchup letters, cooling service, ect. I do not know who your maid was but we were pretty busy on Sunday. We tried to fit seating based on the number of people also for the maids who couldnt come in, things happen, emergencies that cannot be controlled you cant be upset at something like that.
Maid in Akihabara is a good show but it doesnt really depict what a maid cafe really is, Sure its a good example of how to tell a difference between a bar girl and a maid but not an actual maid cafe.
m(_ _)m I do apologize if this seems very harsh but I hope you do come back to our maid cafe
My friend and I shown up on Sunday and we thought you were very lovely. We will definetely be coming back next year.
I apologize for the lack of service during your stay. Since you mentioned our performance within the cafe, I can somewhat estimate the time you visited during. Unfortunately, that was during a time where other people coming in and out of the cafe frequently, including press, and special requests to take photos, so it was very busy. In a less occupied time, our maids normally do spend a good deal of time with our customers and fulfill the experience with interaction through conversation and playing games-- however, there were always moments where all of us were very busy and needed to cater to other customers' demands.
Our maids have been trained to interact with our patrons in-character, and appropriately, with distinguished traits and knowing what to say and when, which includes phrases in greeting and escorting our patrons to the exit. I apologize if one of our maids was too quiet and I will push to have more clarity in our speech in the following years. However, we are unable to do things such as kneeling and the cooling service due to health regulations and the comfort of our audience. (Though, most maid cafes in Japan too, don't seem to do much of kneeling anymore?)
We appreciate all constructive criticism, and as this is our first year running the cafe, we will be sure to make improvements for future years of service. I hope you come visit us again next year and enjoy your experience. Thank you!
I wasn't too concerned with the extreme forms of maid service.. I was mostly sad that there wasn't much personal maid time and that more maids were in the photo area than the actual cafe area... I like watching skirts bounce as cute maids walk by. XDDDDDD
You know, there was one maid who had twin tails that struck me as particular cute. But it was within a sea of adorableness.
Though I do have a question. How many games did the cafe have for visitors total? When we spent time there it seemed like there were very few.
Quote from: SelenDragon on May 30, 2009, 03:38:31 AM
I wasn't too concerned with the extreme forms of maid service.. I was mostly sad that there wasn't much personal maid time and that more maids were in the photo area than the actual cafe area... I like watching skirts bounce as cute maids walk by. XDDDDDD
I'm sorry that there weren't enough maids within the cafe during your stay. Truthfully, we didn't expect to have so many customers and press this year, judging from how empty the cafe was in the previous years. But this year, there was not a moment where we weren't full, and the timeframe that you visited within was unfortunately very busy.
I will make sure that we'll hire more maids the next year, so that there are plenty of cute maids to interact with and walk down the isles for our goshujinsama to enjoy. ^^ Thank you!
Quote from: PoisonFish on May 30, 2009, 12:10:27 PM
You know, there was one maid who had twin tails that struck me as particular cute. But it was within a sea of adorableness.
Though I do have a question. How many games did the cafe have for visitors total? When we spent time there it seemed like there were very few.
What we had available was about 4 toys (Crocodile Dentist, Pop-up Pirate, Let's Go Fishing!, and Guess Who? Pok'emon Edition), Jan-Ken-Pon Achi Muite Hoi!, and activities such as drawing and doing origami.
Though again, the popularity of the cafe was actually a very pleasant and unexpected surprise. To cater to the following years, I'll be sure to purchase more new games, and several of the popular old ones. We're open to suggestions! Thank you!
As someone who really has nothing to do with the Maid Cafe officially... but has been there giving his input and helping out whenever needed, I'll try to answer some of the questions. First I'd like to say though, thanks for the comments and criticism. It helps us make it better in the future.
Quote from: SelenDragon on May 30, 2009, 02:30:15 AM
It seems that people did have a good time at the cafe! I'm glad for it, though my experience was not too great.
I came in about 1pm-1:30pm on Sunday, and had a group of four. I disliked choosing the food and paying upfront, but I know that it really can't be helped sometimes. (Sigh.. politics and the union) Prices were expensive for size portions, but the garlic wrap was yummy.
There were lots of cute maids! That was a serious plus from last year, and they all seemed very polite. The Host maid was demure and polite and very cute. (however, someone ran up to say that 2 maids would not be able to come to work, which is a BIG no-no in my book, but it was a hush-hush deal).
With this, we aren't professionals, nor is this being run like a real business. Maids not being able to show up, being late, etc. isn't a real secret, and to me, letting the other maids know is more important than keeping it a secret. 99% sure, that person was me or mizuki letting me know. As Jun said, we didn't expect this many people based on prior numbers/years, so we were already under staffed, and having two maids unable to show up due to personal reasons was a big hit to us. I know this isn't the most professional nor proper way, but it did serve as a small excuse as to why things may have been slow.
QuoteOur host maid (I couldn't read the tags very well because they were adorable and in pen and I'm blind) seated us at a small table. I couldn't quite understand this. There were bigger tables open, and we got seated at a table that had us bumping knees, save for the fact that two of my companions were petite.
IIRC you said you had a party of 4. The larger tables were supposed to be for parties that were greater than 4, unless all other tables were full, in which case a smaller party would have been brought to a larger table, but in this case the party would be asked if other small parties in line would be able to also be seated with them. Some people really enjoyed this, and although no one denied, I'm sure many would prefer to only be seated with their party. Unfortunately, those are the only two table sizes we are able to work with, a slightly larger table than the small ones would be nice, but that isn't our call(or in our capability to make).
QuoteThe server maid came by with the tray of food, which was just about as big as the table. She was very softspoken and for the space that we were in, and the fact that I was NEXT to her, I couldn't hear her very clearly. I know that there isn't much we can do about food serving, but the big cafeteria tray was terrible. I would rather have her do several trips with a cuter tray or at least a smaller one. Her words were also hurried with her goshujin-sama and ojou-samas. It may have been for her moe-type though. After she dropped off the food, she went off, and we enjoyed our meal. But she didn't come back...
Ah, personalities. The trays, again we hold little control over, maybe next year now that we may have a bigger budget maybe something can be done, but i personally doubt it. The maids were taught to let the guests have time to eat before they interact with them. Most people feel vulnerable/embarrassed when they eat, so having a maid around at this time is usually the opposite affect of what is desired.
QuoteDuring this time we were able to observe the cafe. In the actual cafe itself, there were plenty of maids. By the tables, there were 3 maids. Generally, we are paying not for the food, but for the maid atmosphere. Most of the maid atmosphere was centralized around maids at the photo area and hanging around the host desk. It is understandable to have one server maid to a table, but having idle maids wander the tables area would be nice... Rather than only being able to see them doing the "maid harem photoshoot." After observing all this, we were wondering where our server maid was. She showed up again, apologized for the wait, then cleared our plates. Having trained for a maid style cafe before, I was wondering where all the bowing and curtsying was. There wasn't even really a quick bob of a curtsy from either of our maids.
This is where I question things. Having multiple maids wander and "take over tables" is questionable. We generally don't want this because it causes conflicts in where a maid should be and what they should do. I'm curious... where did you train for? As far as I know, no maid cafe has come even close in terms of interaction with their customers compared to this one, but if you could give some insight, it would help. Bowing and curtsying is dependent on the type. Curtsying is actually really against how a maid should act, because curtsying is a sign of respect in terms of equal. You curtsy in respect to an equal and they respond in the similar fashion(curtsying if they are female, bowing if they are male), so I wonder who taught you this. A maid curtsying is actually quite insulting to a master, it belittles their position as a master, and a maid only bows when they are beginning or ending their presence with their master, unless their master is expecting it, or if a maid makes a mistake causing them to be in an apologetic form (if you want to question my knowledge in this, please feel free to do so, but this is based on my experience and research on maids through out history and current service).
I'm starting to figure out the time you were there, because I only mimiced the maid performance for 2 of the mini performances and I'm starting to figure out which person you are. If my deduction is right, I'd give a longer reply for a more specific reasoning.
QuoteDetermined to create a better experience for ourselves, we stuck around the cafe, noting differences from the years before and idle chatter. Lucky us, the maids did a little dance performance for the cafe (though it was more entertaining to watch the music cue guy doing a mock of the dance from the floor.) Our maid was in the performance, and did not return for quite a while after and asked if we wanted to take a picture with the maids. One of our group accepted and off he went. I'm also used to taking only a picture with your personal maid, or requesting a maid for a picture. Sending all the maids for a photo takes the maids away from the cafe itself as well, thus the loss of the atmosphere.
Being the cue person, and the director of the maids, I only pulled maids to take a photo *IF* they were currently not attending to someone. I trust my maids, and their judgment, so if you are questioning whether I pulled maids away from the cafe itself, I certain did not, and I honestly find it insulting that you are accusing me of that. IIRC the time you were at the cafe, there were more maids than we expected, BUT they all showed up at the same time, so the current tables were set as to who was attending, but there was an actual excess of maids on site itself. *IF* this is the case (and I'm fairly certain it is based on what was said) then I do not fault my maids at all. Each one did exactly as they were shown in that they shouldn't intrude on a party that already exists unless I or the serving maid asked to do so, and that free maids are to help out how they see fit. Seeing that I trust my maids, I think they maid the right decisions.
QuoteFinally, he comes back and our maid asks if we would like to play any games. Having sat enough at the cafe, we declined (plus there was no room to play!) Our maid escorted us out of the cafe, and murmured something along of thanks and come again? She was very quiet about her speech, though I was fairly sure she was not a shy person. I think a different maid persona would have suited her better.
And this I actually find insulting to our maids. You seem to believe you have a grasp as to their personalities. Personas were not asked of our maids, and in reality the maids were told to act a certain, but be themselves. To insult someone as to say their personality was not their own... is very irritating, not only to me, but very much so to the maid. It may not have been that they were shy(at this point, I'm fairly certain I know which group you belonged to as well as which maid you are talking about). Luckily the maid in question isn't easily insulted, but a few of our maids are semi-sensitive and may have been hurt by your words that her "persona" was fake because she has a soft voice.
QuoteIt seemed that the most attentive areas of the cafe were the photo area, and the large tables, where you could comfortably play a game or draw with your maid. But it just seemed like you would come to the cafe to take a picture with your own maid harem.
I apologize if I do seem harsh, but I look at the cafe from restaurant serving experience, maid experience, and experiences at other maid style cafes (mostly con run).
I'm curious as to your other experiences at maid style cafe, seeing that I've been to many, as well as actual pay ones in established areas. In terms of restaurant serving experience, what is allowed and how things work in terms of food service is limited, and as legitimate as many complaints are in this field, really, there isn't anything allowed due to circumstances and established rules made by the convention center itself.
QuoteMy companions agreed that if the maid had taken our order, returned with the order, came back to check on us (games/photo-op), and finally escort us out, we would have been satisfied. Taking our order at the table requires her to come back to check up on us, which would ideally give us more "maid time." There were enough maids to cover one or even two to each table, so guests should not feel neglected. My company definitely felt neglected, and there were no maids wandering by the tables to satisfy our eyes.
Based on what you said, I find this statement complete and utter bull shit. You state rather clearly that a maid not only served you, but checked up on you, asked you to play games, attempted to talk to you, cleaned up your table... but you state you were neglected? Either your not truthful in what you said earlier, or you stated something incorrectly.
QuoteI am perhaps a little harsh on the maid service as well, since I suppose I was trained in a more extreme form of maid service (ie. kneeling, tea service, cooling service.) More fantasy style I suppose... like "Maid in Akihabara" rather than most maid cafes in Japan where they are simply your server in costume. But seeing how it's Fanime, I would kinda expect a more personal time with the maids, and more of the fan service ideal.. I'm NOT suggesting anything lewd though! ^.^
And here I question your "training" once again. I've attended maid cafes before in Japan. I have friends that regular them, as well I know the rules and regulations of the convention. Maid in Akihabara is actually a TERRIBLE TERRIBLE example of what a maid cafe realistically is. But I'm deathly curious at this point as to what you were trained, by whom, and for what.
I've come to realize that there are extremes in what a "maid cafe" is to most American attendees. There are those that have no clue what one is like, and expect nothing more than someone in a costume, and those that believe in extreme of what a "maid cafe is" and put unrealistic standards on what they THINK a cafe depicts. I know I'm not alone in this, as the cafe had multiple JP guests inform us that their expectations of a maid cafe were far surpassed, as they frequent JP maid cafes in Akiba, and the amount of time and effort per maid were far more than they ever experienced in Japan.
Just for reference, Maid in Akihabara depicted 3 maids with about... 5 customers total in a shop that was known for having regulars. At any given time, there were more than 30 people in the maid cafe, with about 10 maids actually working tables, not including the hostess and the head maid (if you couldn't tell, I love numerical analyzation and efficiency analyzation).
While I agree that maids weren't completely proficient with how they spent their time, there wasn't enough of a down time to where I would say any maid NEGLECTED any table, and your words in this post sway more on my side than yours. While I love criticism, to me it just sounds like you didn't like that a maid didn't completely wait on you, and spend all her time with you, which is actually *NOT* what a maid cafe is about. It's about comfort. As far as I can tell, our maid did everything she was supposed to, and you really weren't happy with that based on a false presumption you have on what a "maid cafe should be". I don't hold it against you, but I think you're basing your thoughts on something only on presumptions.
Fanime Con 2009 had so much going on that I was constantly rushing from one event to another. I'm glad that I managed to find a small gap of time to eat at the Fanimaid Café, where I managed to catch the performance and I got a very nice maid who was very patient with my poor origami skills and the 3 items I ordered. ^_^;
Oh yeah, I haven't had time to keep up on message boards so I'm not sure where to post links to uploaded pictures and videos here, but I figured this is appropriate enough. I just finished uploading all the performances from the Fanimaid Café Stage Zero performance on Saturday! http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=763E837B9E7C379C
I also recorded the Sunday café performance, but I still have to finish uploading the rest of Saturday, including the masquerade.
Quote from: Autolooper on May 31, 2009, 09:38:19 PM
Fanime Con 2009 had so much going on that I was constantly rushing from one event to another. I'm glad that I managed to find a small gap of time to eat at the Fanimaid Café, where I managed to catch the performance and I got a very nice maid who was very patient with my poor origami skills and the 3 items I ordered. ^_^;
Oh yeah, I haven't had time to keep up on message boards so I'm not sure where to post links to uploaded pictures and videos here, but I figured this is appropriate enough. I just finished uploading all the performances from the Fanimaid Café Stage Zero performance on Saturday! http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=763E837B9E7C379C
I also recorded the Sunday café performance, but I still have to finish uploading the rest of Saturday, including the masquerade.
Hahahaha, we actually just saw that earlier today. I was surfing youtube and came across your vids and linked them to all the maids earlier. Thank you for uploading these, as I'm sure a lot of the maids would love to watch(keep these for memories).
Quote from: Autolooper on May 31, 2009, 09:38:19 PM
Fanime Con 2009 had so much going on that I was constantly rushing from one event to another. I'm glad that I managed to find a small gap of time to eat at the Fanimaid Café, where I managed to catch the performance and I got a very nice maid who was very patient with my poor origami skills and the 3 items I ordered. ^_^;
Oh yeah, I haven't had time to keep up on message boards so I'm not sure where to post links to uploaded pictures and videos here, but I figured this is appropriate enough. I just finished uploading all the performances from the Fanimaid Café Stage Zero performance on Saturday! http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=763E837B9E7C379C
I also recorded the Sunday café performance, but I still have to finish uploading the rest of Saturday, including the masquerade.
Thank you very much for uploading all the videos! On stage, we couldn't pay much attention to what was happening around us because we were so nervous(>_<) It's nice to hear all the cheers and supports from the audience and seeing Momo-i enjoying our performance(≧∀≦)
The maids were all so beautiful that my friends and I shed tears on the ride home later that day because we weren't as cute and talented. > ^ < I really wish I got to see the performance as well, but I came over right when they were all exiting. ;_____;
Quote from: UsakoMinako on May 26, 2009, 10:52:09 AM
Maid Cafe was soooooooooo FUN. It was hard for me personally to be served because when the maids are so nice all i want to do is serve THEM! Usagi was my maid and I could tell from standing way back in line that she really had a magic in her. ^_^ I felt very happy after a looooooooooooong stressful weekend!
Jun-san,
Great job coordinating Fanimaid cafe... I too had Usagi as my maid and her service was exemplary. I've had very little experience with maid cafes, and Usagi made me feel comfortable. When she made a little heart shape with her hands and smiled... well, it was moe to the max. Please ask her to return for 2010...
Onigaishimasu! < Forehead resting on the floor >Side Note:
Sailor Moon 1,
Thanks for abducting me from the Dealer's Hall for 7-hours...(^_^)
I would like a clarification.
Were there reservations this year or were there no reservations this year?
LOL it was the best, but you should of atleast let the customers give the maids the tip. We tried doing it and she said we can't. But she served us and had a really good time with her. It's only proper in cafe's to tip the maid/waitress right? My friend turned red when he tried to tip the maid and got rejected, he was so embarressed hahaha. Yeah, we had a great time.
Quote from: DentyneIce408 on June 02, 2009, 11:27:10 AM
LOL it was the best, but you should of atleast let the customers give the maids the tip. We tried doing it and she said we can't. But she served us and had a really good time with her. It's only proper in cafe's to tip the maid/waitress right? My friend turned red when he tried to tip the maid and got rejected, he was so embarressed hahaha. Yeah, we had a great time.
We cannot accept any money because it is against our contract with Centerplate and the convention center.
I am glad that you had a wonderful time. :D
As Jemz said, cannot except tips, breaks contract if we do.
Reservations were being taken prior to opening(you had to give a decent heads up) and at meetings for the con prior to the start of the con. Next year, I blelieve it'll be the same. At meetings you can make reservations. Staff and press were allowed to make reservations anytime(atleast I allowed them to) but they had to give atleast 4 hours prior warning unless I could somehow find an open spot.
Even as press, they still denied reservation. I attempted to make a reservation on Saturday morning just as everything was about to be set up (half an hour to opening). I would appreciate clearer communication regarding reservations and other procedures.
Unfortunately, I live in the Los Angeles area, therefore, I cannot make the meetings (as much as I'd like to attend and give me insight. I love Fanime.)
Quote from: White Rose Assassin on June 02, 2009, 11:49:08 AM
Even as press, they still denied reservation. I attempted to make a reservation on Saturday morning just as everything was about to be set up (half an hour to opening). I would appreciate clearer communication regarding reservations and other procedures.
Unfortunately, I live in the Los Angeles area, therefore, I cannot make the meetings (as much as I'd like to attend and give me insight. I love Fanime.)
About a week or so before fanime, E-mail the maidcafe at
[email protected] Saturday morning was kind of hecticand we weren't sure when we were opening, so that was why we couldn't take reservations. Sunday we took a few. Sorry about that, but yor best way is to e-mail about a week before the con.
Quote from: Jidai Geki on June 01, 2009, 09:42:26 PM
Quote from: UsakoMinako on May 26, 2009, 10:52:09 AM
Maid Cafe was soooooooooo FUN. It was hard for me personally to be served because when the maids are so nice all i want to do is serve THEM! Usagi was my maid and I could tell from standing way back in line that she really had a magic in her. ^_^ I felt very happy after a looooooooooooong stressful weekend!
Jun-san,
Great job coordinating Fanimaid cafe... I too had Usagi as my maid and her service was exemplary. I've had very little experience with maid cafes, and Usagi made me feel comfortable. When she made a little heart shape with her hands and smiled... well, it was moe to the max. Please ask her to return for 2010...
Onigaishimasu! < Forehead resting on the floor >
Side Note:
Sailor Moon 1,
Thanks for abducting me from the Dealer's Hall for 7-hours...(^_^)
:'( (happy cry) I can only say that I was and I am still honored to have served you both I hope that your day at fanime was as wonderful as mine was I spending time and serving ojosama and shujin sama ^_^. If jun-san allows me again I will definetely come back next year .
心から本当にありがとうございます。 :) ( from inside my heart thank you)
usagi
Well, next year everything will be sorted out, as it won't be our first time. Usually within a week of the cafe, we will allow regular attendees to reserve a time slot for the maid cafe. I apologize for the semi-unorganized beginning on Saturday, as we had to finish a lot of last minute things that very morning. Since I will most likely be in charge of pre-con reservations (again) I will give the heads up when it is allowed to reserve.
Quote from: Mizuki on June 03, 2009, 06:19:25 PM
Since I will most likely be in charge of pre-con reservations (again) I will give the heads up when it is allowed to reserve.
Hey, you're the one who was whining about how you felt useless because I didn't give anything for you to do. :P
But yes. Reservations were actually initially for staff only. As it is only a 2-day event, taking too many reservations becomes difficult to manage the trafficking in and out of the cafe. We may have an option up for the week before Fanime ONLINE to make reservations, but taking reservations at the convention itself would be too messy.
If it were a commercial cafe that ran on a daily basis, it'd be different, but since it's a 2-day event at a popular convention, and now that we know that there will be seldom a moment where the cafe IS NOT full, reservations will be relatively limited on put up as a first-come-first-serve basis.
Thank you everyone for the feedback so far.
Quote from: Jun-Watarase on June 03, 2009, 08:03:31 PM
Hey, you're the one who was whining about how you felt useless because I didn't give anything for you to do. :P
I didn't feel useless when we were there at Wed... I did feel tired however!
(https://forums.fanime.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg13.imageshack.us%2Fimg13%2F6519%2F0524091529a.jpg&hash=5ccba8a25406c10eb5cc5b342c7816870e14edf3)
=) Thank you everyone who came and supported maid cafe this year!
D'awwww your welcome.
I wanted to go but the line was too long...
Quote from: Anna on June 08, 2009, 12:27:21 AM
_insert massive maid group picture here_
=) Thank you everyone who came and supported maid cafe this year!
and to think we had so many maids this year. it almost looks like a high school panoramic picture just for maids. :D
Looking forward to Maid Cafe 2010 and beyond.
I ddint get a chance to be there. *cry*. All those maids looks so cute. Well I was by myself anyway and the line was long. Actually I was hoping to post the time of the fanimaid up, so we know when its open. thx.
Quote from: ruby19_4 on June 21, 2009, 08:25:41 AM
I ddint get a chance to be there. *cry*. All those maids looks so cute. Well I was by myself anyway and the line was long. Actually I was hoping to post the time of the fanimaid up, so we know when its open. thx.
There was a sign actually, it was open from 11am-6pm, but on both days there were difficulties causing the cafe to open around 12pm.
I know. The sign is outside the fanimaid, which I notice when I got there. I hope I could make it next year.
Just wondering. If there also going to be a host cafe? Just wanna know.
:::sigh:::
There's like 4 other threads concerning this already.
But I'll reiterate.
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
Host clubs in the sense are impossible to do because they'd break huge numbers of laws. Most people that find an appeal of a host club, really have no clue what a host club is. A host club is not a counter part to a maid cafe. A host club is a counter part to a hostess bar. A hostess bar is where you sit down, and a girl acts like your date. She flirts with you, she drinks with you(though you're paying for the drinks) and basically acts really slutty so you can enjoy your time. A host club... is the exact same thing, only the roles reversed.
It's basically an escort service without the (almost guaranteed) sex pay off at the end.
Then you'll ask, well what's a counterpart.
A butler cafe would be the closest thing.
Will you have a butler cafe?
No. A butler cafe appeals to an extremely small fujyoshi audience. While sitting with cute maids who are cheery and fun and conversational... is something anyone can enjoy, butler cafes aren't the same. Butlers are supposed to be very well mannered, protective and stern of their master. They aren't extremely conversational, and aren't "fun". They're proper. The appeal of butlers is that they're proper and sophisticated looking men that don't do anything out of line but are there to serve you. It's a sexual appeal of being so proper that you want to break that mold of them. Like... (though it's not the BEST comparison) how some guys fantasies about nuns.
In addition to all this, a male counterpart DETRACTS from the maid cafe itself. So unless you want to find an entirely different group of people to run this... that will run it accurately (because I know maid cafe staff will rage if it's done poorly) then by all means go ahead.
Im really sorry. if I upset. I get this message before and I am really sorry. Thank you for letting me know. They did this in yaoi-con, but I didnt get a chance to go. but im really sorry to upset. but I understand now and I wont ask again. I keep this in mind.
Sry. I mean I didnt get this message before. sry for mistype.
how do we apply to be in the maid cafe for 2010? :)
Quote from: nono on November 26, 2009, 09:48:17 PM
how do we apply to be in the maid cafe for 2010? :)
send an e-mail to maidcafe at fanime dot com
Tryouts for the cafe will take place sometime in January-February. There should me multiple, at least one in SF and one in SJ. Further details will be provided later.
I really do think we should make a sticky or a post saying that Maid Cafe tryouts aren't happening until a later date, and the email address to ask since were getting a ton of inquiries.