Messages

Also, our Head of Photography is working on getting the photos up. So be patient! He's going through thousands of pictures right now. :D

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

Please keep on the topic of feedback for the Black & White Ball. Discussions of dance studios and dance lessons not affiliated with the Black & White Ball should be discussed in a different thread.

Thanks.

Vaeidos pulled out of MusicFest due to scheduling conflicts right before FanimeCon.

Is it safe to say that the majority of fans on the forums are j-rock/visual kei fans?

I think that there's a large percentage that enjoy those genres that are more vocal on the boards. Myself, I tend to like jpop and hip hop more than jrock/vkei but I don't really speak out that much on the forums. I just read.  :D

But we'll definitely keep everyone's requests in mind as we work on getting our next musical guest. :D So keep those suggestions coming!

M-Flo and Teriyaki Boyz!

If you don't know who the Teriyaki Boyz are, than look up the video for "ZOCK ON!" for one of their songs and for a couple surprise guests that everyone here should be familar with. :)

I think m-flo is currently on hiatus as Verbal and Taku are working on side projects, Verbal with Teriyaki Boyz and Taku with Ravex.  But we'll see! :D

I think some of the most amazing sights I saw at FanimeCon was seeing everyone having fun. It didn't matter what time of day it was nor the event, people were smiling and enjoying themselves. It's especially satisfying to see happy faces at the events my staff worked on for nearly a year. All their hard work and dedication paid off and it was simply amazing.

Thanks to everyone who attended any of the Extravaganzas events: Opening & Closing Ceremonies, Cosplay Spectacular, Black and White Ball, FaniMaid Cafe, and MusicFest.  I hope you all had a wonderful time. I know I did.  :D

[Facilities]

Hello everyone! I'm glad that so many people had a wonderful time at this year's Black and White Ball. It's been an overwhelmingly positive response to everyone who's worked so hard on this event.

I'd like to address a few of the topics that were brought up.


Facilities
I read a suggestion about having the Ball at Ballroom J1-J3. We did this last year and there were major issues concerning line control as well as dress code. Because the Dance started right after the Ball last year, the dress code mix up was inevitable. This year, we wanted to separate the Black and White Ball from the Dance by giving the Ball its own location and a longer time frame. We are more than pleased with the Ball being at the Fairmont. It lent a very romantic and elegant air to the event.

I can't release the numbers for the event just yet but needless to say, more people came to the event than last year. That's amazing and we will definitely keep the suggestion for a bigger space in mind.


Food
As we had no control on what the Fairmont served, we will keep your feedback in mind and offer them suggestions for next year.


Flooring
The floor was a major concern and we will take steps to make sure it doesn't happen again. We want our attendees to be having fun and not worry about safety hazards other than bumping into each other on the dance floor.


Admission/Age Limit/Dance Test
I'm actually against this. This event is for all attendees, not a select few who meet the requirements (i.e. paid admission, dance test, age limit). This event was created with the purpose of it being something unique and fun to offer to the attendees. We offered ballroom lessons so that they can try out newly learned moves at a formal dance and gain a new interest.

I understand the frustrations of having too many people on the dance floor that are just lingering or not following the proper line of dance as well as not knowing how to dance and parodying certain moves. But many people are new to ballroom dancing and want to go to something that allows them to dress up elegantly and practice newly learned moves. I don't want to punish them for not knowing that they are being hazardous to other people dancing but we can consider other options in addressing this particular issue.


Lessons on Day Zero
Starting things off on Day Zero was a new experiment for FanimeCon. We wanted to give a small taste of the fun that was to come and it looked like it was highly successful.

The only thing about doing Dance lessons in the evening in Ballroom J is whether or not the room is set up in time and if there will be another event that night. Attendees don't really think about how much time it takes to set up a single room. They get to the convention, they get their badge, they go do things in rooms that are already opened for them to have fun. Behind the scenes, however, it takes a lot longer to set up and make sure everything is in place before allowing attendees to enter.


Thank you to everyone who's been giving us feedback and praise. We want to constantly improve and we can't do it without hearing it from our attendees and instructors. Many of the executive staff stopped by and had a wonderful time.

The callbooks were done by the Momoi's Fan Club members.

XD Thank you very very much jemz and ewu.

Of course, in my panic to figure things out, I also forgot one other question...

4. What items aren't allowed in the Civic Auditorium?
I'm sorry if this was covered in the policies or anything, but I can't seem to find it... T_T

I'm thinking of bringing a large rolling backpack to Fanime, but if it's not allowed into the concert, I'm fine with just carrying my stuff. I usually assume open drinks won't be allowed, and of course, no prop weapons, or any huge props that would get in the way, and no usage of cameras of any sort, but I'm unsure about the size of bags and cameras allowed into the auditorium.

Thanks again, guys!!

I don't recommend bringing in your rolling backpack into the civic simply because of the space issue. If there are 3,000 other fans at the concert with you, having your backpack may limit how much space you have in your seat.

Momoi-san does allow photo/video capture but no flash photography, so we are currently not checking for cameras.

I usually assume open drinks won't be allowed

With a 2.5 hour concert, I would implore the powers that be to allow bottled water/Gatorade if at all possible (at the very least). Her concerts are very energetic; a 30 minute performance can be a good workout and 60 minutes can be tiring. 150 minutes with the band could be faint-inducing for some.  ;D 8)

The Civic will also be selling food and drinks during her concert. If you get thirsty, you can always buy a bottle of water or maybe a quick bite to eat.

The 2.5 hour concert includes an opening band.

[no tickets]

I'm busy freaking out over my first time at Fanime, so I have a few n00b questions I'd like to get out of the way ^_^;;

1. How do we get into the concerts in the Extravanganzas Civic Auditorium? I'm specifically interested in a really good seat for the Halko Momoi concert on Sunday, and I'm not sure whether I should be waiting in line somewhere else, and earlier (Kind of like Anime Expo's 2008 system) for a ticket, or if I should just get in line at the Auditorium itself.

2. Where is the Civic Auditorium? I assume once I get there it will be blatantly obvious and I will hang my head in extreme shame for having asked such a question, but as far as I can tell, on the map included with the Pocket Schedule, it's not listed.

3. (I know this should go in the Registration forum, but it's a really silly sounding question that will probably take 3 or 4 words to answer.) Where is Badge Pick Up for One-Day (Sunday) attendees who haven't pre-registered or done early registration? I've heard you definitely need to line up at the con for one-day passes, but skimming over the forums, I haven't been able to find any specifics.

Thank you to anyone who answers... It would make my planning for Fanime a lot less stressful XD

:D No need to freak out! Asking questions is always a good thing.

1. There are no tickets required for any of the events put on by the Extravaganzas Division this year. This includes Black & White Ball, Cosplay Spectacular, and MusicFest.  Depending on what you want to go, it's advised for you to just get in line at the venue (Civic Auditorium for Cosplay Spectacular and MusicFest, the Regency Ballroom at the Fairmont Hotel for Black & White Ball) a little earlier than when doors open if you want a good seat.

2. The Civic Auditorium is across the San Jose Convention Center. Find the big fountain in front and look across the street. It's right there.

3.  Eric's answered this for you. :D


Hope you have a great time with us next week! All of the senior staff are uber excited for next weekend.

The closer FanimeCon gets, the more sleep I lose. :(

I totally agree with this comment.

Even staff is required to show ID when we pick up our staff badges!

But if you're unsure of other options, email [email protected] to see what you can do.

[IS]

Not to bash fanime into the ground I think it's great that such a anime convention is so close by every year, but it's a more of a by fans for fans while Anime Expo and it's counterparts on the east coast are more professional/industry driven.

Fanime IS "By Fans, For Fans". It's one of the things that makes our particular convention unique. We're not all about the super big name guests that you can't really sit down to talk to or that you need to stand in line for hours and hours to catch a glimpse. We are definitely not all about the commercialization that is growing in the anime industry.

We are all about having a good time. If you don't think the guests we invite are worth the time, it's a personal opinion. But many of the guests we do invite genuinely want to meet their fans, shake hands and talk to attendees, wander around and enjoy themselves, and maybe take a picture or two or five with random cosplayers.

If you are all about going to the biggest convention with thousands and thousands of people all having a good time and seeing what's the latest thing anime companies are offering, then perhaps Fanime's vibe isn't right for you. But if you want a more intimate feel, more of a grassroots sort of thing, than maybe you want to come to Fanime for a day or two.

At any anime convention, you either go into the experience to have a great time or you don't. It's all up to you.

I understand that too. It is important that you don't have thousands of con goers bored out of their mind. I just hope the bands don't suffer because of it. I'm not as dramatic as some of the other fans; but there are some that are worried that big-ass bands won't come back because they feel under appreciated. Mostly of course I'm talking about AnCafe fans who were concerned that the only US destination on their world tour seemed to be kind of bum (attendance wise.) Nowit's obvious that they're being dramatic, but they do have a valid concern. So if we are getting any major bands I really hope that the same thing doesn't happen to them.

On another note... I will never understand why the attendance was so poor (overall, not totally.. there was a line out the door and down the street!) seeing as advertisments for AnCafe seemed to be EVERYWHERE. It also does not help that I personally do not think very highy of the Black and White ball cause there really isn't very much actual ballroom dancing and WAY too many people to be comfortable. But to each their own. =)

As we are giving them exposure to all our attendees, I don't think any of our future bands will suffer since they are able to use the opportunity to reach out to their American fans and gain new ones.  We offer the opportunity for our attendees to see the band. If people don't want to see them, then it's a personal choice.  We can't force everyone to come and fill up the venue in the way they are familiar with in Japan. (That would violate fire code and shut us down in a heartbeat.)

As for your statement on Black & White Ball, I'm not sure how that relates to your opinion on An Cafe's concert & MusicFest as they are completely different events with different purposes. The percentage of attendees going to Black and White Ball doesn't really affect the percentage of attendance for MusicFest.  In total, the number of attendees at both events together is only one fourth of attendees at the convention. There are still another 3/4's out there that aren't at MusicFest or the Black & White Ball.

[is]

How is it that fanime could have AnCafe attend one year and pretty much no one the next? Am I just mistaken? Is the list not complete? Because in all honesty what am I, or anyone for that matter, really paying for? I'm honestly just curious. I appreciate that I was able to see an awesome japanese rock band last year, but it leaves me with expectations, which I believe most people would be left with. So to go in the MusicFest page and see that sorry list, I must say I'm personally disappointed with the lineup. I know if the list stays that way I won't attend MusicFest, which is an easy solution to the problem, but I just want a little clarification as to why the list is so...blah. Thanks to anyone who can feed my curiosity ^.^

I understand your concerns about MusicFest since I had feared that some of our attendees would take this viewpoint. Since MusicFest's staff and I have worked really hard on bringing fun and different bands to Fanime each year, your comment is offensive to our musical guests who are coming this year as well as to myself and my staff. I know that many of the attendees are eagerly looking forward to the next cool band in the genres that we've been bringing lately but we want to bring in other types of genres that other attendees like as well. We try to invite musical guests we think our attendees would enjoy. Not just J-rock, visual kei, or j-pop but all sorts of music. Just like our theme for this year.

Because in all honesty what am I, or anyone for that matter, really paying for?

What you are paying for is the membership to FanimeCon. MusicFest is one wonderful event that happens at Fanime. There are many other experiences to be had at Fanime that is included in that membership such as Masquerade, video programming, Dealer's Hall, Panels, Dance, Artist Alley, and many others.

I understand that having a wonderful experience last year with An Cafe will leave certain expectations but Fanime doesn't cater to only one specific genre. We cater to many different types of people and we would be sorely lacking respect to our attendees if we only stuck to one thing.

Momoi-san is a wonderful guest for us. There are many people who are unfamiliar to her work but this shouldn't deter you from exploring a new singer. She is a very talented entertainer who is very interactive with her fans. She brings a certain energy to Fanime that we have not experienced before and we are excited to have.


It's great that you have chosen to voice your opinion on this forum. I think it's perfectly fine to look at the MusicFest guest list and not be interested in who we are bringing. Not everyone has the same musical taste.

Unfortunately, the tone of your message came across more insulting than curious. When I first read it, I will admit to feeling hurt since I personally know how hard MusicFest & Guest Relations staff have worked. It's a bit of a slap in the face to be told that the musical guests that you've personally chosen to come is a "sorry list". 

Yes, there are people who will dissect your opinion or the words you used to present it. But please understand that many staff members read the Fanime forums to constantly improve or attain feedback. We use the feedback from attendees like you to help us improve and evolve Fanime, making it into a convention that many attendees as well as ourselves continue to enjoy. FanimeCon is very much a "By the Fans, For the Fans" convention. So many people would not have taken offense to your initial comments if it wasn't. 

I know you're not intentionally attacking the staff, our musical guests, or the attendees but you are doing so indirectly. If you are unhappy with the guests we have personally invited, feel free to offer your input and join staff. Sometimes, the best way to see who we choose to invite is by working behind the scenes in making the convention a successful one.


This thread is now locked. If you or anyone else would like to discuss this topic in further depth, feel free to PM/email me.

**Sets up a glow stick stand in front of the civic aud.**

Glow sticks being a requisite to enjoying a "performance" huh?  Maybe it's just taste but I'm reminded of when I saw Elliot Smith play with nothing more than a chair and an acoustic guitar, and it was one of the best shows I've ever attended.  Oh well, at least it's a free (with cost of fanime badge) "music" fest.

It's not a requisite to have glow sticks but it can be used to enhance the experience. I've been to a lot of JE concerts where the audience participates by doing hand motions with or without glowsticks/uchiwas. And I've been to concerts where it's just a singer and her piano.

The bands we bring to MusicFest may not appeal to every single person attending but we (the MF staff and I) hope that you do find something new to enjoy with the concerts.

Whoever is driving needs to sleep. Even if you're only driving a short distance away, sleep deprivation is not good when you need to be alert on the road. What if the driver falls asleep and crashes?

If you and friends were staying at a hotel, I wouldn't really comment on how much sleep I think you would need because you're not endangering people in a moving vehicle and you are responsible for your actions (but I would probably suggest a minimum of 6 hours every day).  And you wouldn't have to worry about parking your car or driving if you had a hotel room to sleep in at any time of the day.

Note to self: Buy glow sticks.

Note to you: clarify if you can even bring those. o:

SJCC doesn't want glowsticks, I think Rovers would take them away from you. Not sure about the space where Momoi is going to perform at, though...
So you might want to e-mail whoever would be in charge of knowing that info.

Actually, the concert is held in the Civic Auditorium and not inside the SJ Convention Center. So having glowsticks at the concert won't be an issue but Facilities is double-checking that for me.

And yes, no glowsticks at Momoi's concert would be a sad thing!

My favorite moments has always been with the fantastic staff I work with. Lots of laughter and fun and insane moments happen when we're all striving to make the convention the best it can be. And who in ConOps can ever forget that year when the Totoros went wild with a gundam.

[make sure we don't schedule MusicFest and the Black and White ball on the same night.]

The only comment I have is to make sure we don't schedule MusicFest and the Black and White ball on the same night. The audatorium for An Cafe would have been full if not for that. You (staff) already know that though and everyone could tell they (AnCafe) were sad it wasn't full. So although I'm pretty sure you all know this, just reminding you for the sake of the bands.

An Cafe was amazing by the way. Thanks a million for getting them. I hope we get someone good this year too.  :D

Sorry to disappoint you but MusicFest and the Black & White Ball will be on the same evening of May 24th.

Counter-programming is important to us so that we give everyone at the convention a chance to do something that they are interested in. Not all 15,000 people can be inside the Civic nor at the Ball or Dance.