Messages

~PADDLES WEREN'T ALLOWED AT THE CON. Now I know this is a weapons policy issue. But it wasn't anywhere in the Weapon's Policy. I think that Fanime for the future should consider either being more detailed about what is not and what is allowed, or just ban weapons altogether. Yes it would suck, but if it meant that Fanime would have one less thing to have to lose their permits over, then we can forgive them for it.

THese weren't banned because they're "weapons".

They were banned, when I went to get my paddles Peace Bonded, the dude who was doing it told me that it was not allowed at all. And he was a douchebag about it as well.

Yeah I worked with him, he was the unofficial "Weapon's Master" for Masquerade so the power got to his head. Unless I read the weapon policy wrong, I dont see an issue with paddle at the Con, just standard common sense rules of not trying to hurt those around you. But I'll check with the rest of SoS/Rover and maybe next year we'll have better trained (and better guest service people working for us). I think we need an HR guy for SoS/Rovers next year. We're ACTUALLY working on a quiz/process of selecting our staff next year.

Charity is always a good mark of a person with solid values. Kharma has weird ways of working things out. I'm sure he had his reasons, and I think for once I'd give him a pat on the back, so long as no one grabs my man chest or cups at my 'pouch'. Thats all that needs to be said.

It's not an hour, I just got back from there. When i left, there were plenty of people left there.

I was there for a good 3 hours.

Still though, it's not exactly an easy trip there via public trans or to get a ride there from Alameda/Oakland ^^;

You're probably doing it (and reading his gathering threads) Wrong. Jerry's gatherings are NEVER short. Most of his Gatherings have always been EPIC, fun and enjoyable. Just Ask anyone who's been to his gatherings.

- No offense to you but a good friend of the boards- OtakuApprentice - lives out in Oakland and he can get to Jerry's place via taking bart to Fremont, Taking the bus from Fremont Bart to Milpitas Great Mall, and from there to Eastridge or Oakridge Mall for the last 2 years.

You're just not trying hard enough. if you see a problem with having gatherings in the San Jose/Bay area. Then have your own Gatherings in the Oakland/Alameda/East bay area.

Short & Simple, if you have a (good) gathering then they will come. Jerry's been having (Successful) gatherings since 2006, and he too goes out of his way to carpool people for those transportation challenged. If people choose to travel for Fanime (which USED to be a less than 1 day Con btw)... There are plenty of people WILLING to travel for good friends or a good time.

My friend and I wanted to hug the staff members, but we only got to hug one. ;_; So we're sending virtual hugs to you all staff members!

Thanks for the e-hug. Personally it would be nice to have a Miniskirt army to help control the lines, but I suppose that would need additional recruitment... or lots of wishful thinking!  ;)

You're best bet is probably the Mariott, but of course there are some good and bad. The biggest complaint is the elevators. But I was lucky enough to end up on the 3rd floor and thus it wasnt an issue for me. I suppose it may depend on which side of the convetion you'd like the be on... but even with the Dealers room and Dance closer to the Hilton this year, it still seems that the Mariott was MUCH more busier. To each is own.

Either She's a really good ninja, or He's horrible of not being able to tell that he has people hiding in his home. Either way, I wouldnt know how to feel if someone had been secretly living in my home for OVER a year... Weird.

Believe it or not, those protestors are theyre EVERY year. and Every year we get them to leave via SJPD.

I think the best thing to do is have Fanime Jesus stand with them again and hold up a sign that says "I'm with Stupid people ->"

5 bazillion points to the person (besides us Staff) who knew where they were.  :P

I'll throw in my signed autographed (pink) ticket once I find it in my mess of crap I took home from the Con.

After speaking with our Maid Managers: Kegan and Courtney - yes improvments and new suggests are always good.

Line Control was not an issue compared to Reg lines or An Cafe.

We DO have to improve the orders/food placement. Kegan made up a good idea with service numbers (like a fast food restaurant) with receipt to make sure everyone got their items correctly and promptly. Kudo's to Kegan.

Yes. we were drastically understaffed this year. With the larger space it seemed like we didnt have enough maids and pockets of guest didnt get the attention they were looking for, but at least had a nice quiet place to enjoy their expensive meals.

Male servants/Maids have been joked or mentioned before, but again we didnt get any request from volunteers and we did have 1 butler but he didnt have an "servant training" to what would go along with the 'maid cafe' feel. Maybe Jun could look into it and if possible we'll add it to the event next year. Kudos to ZoupZoup.

Other than that overall a vast improvement, but due to the location and lack of staff it felt smaller and pleasantly "cozy" but we'll throw out more ideas in the efforts of making this a worthwhile event/cafe.

As for me, I'm also sorry for leaving early, but battling a line of 1500+ was quite a feat. I'll try to actually work LESS next year.

It would have been nice if the con had a lost and found or if you did have one, to inform the info desk staff about it. I found a green shirt and went to a Fanime info desk and they said they don't have a lost and found so I just left it at the info desk.

Actually we did, Most of the staff should have been told that Lost and Found was at Con Ops (which it had been for years) which troubles me because I've heard that info desk was giving out incorrect or inconsistent information all Con... but it happens.

We'll see if there could be an improvement to that. It cant be much of an info desk if they never have the right info.

Im not sure if im the only one who is feeling this, but i left Fanime this year feeling dissapointed....Im not completely sure why either, it just did....like it was lacking somthing that last years con had O_o

More cowbell.

If only we had Christopher Walken be a Guest of Honor next year.

That and I'll be tempted to use the Cowbell next year when I try again to control a line of 1500+ all by myself.

I'll say it again: this has been my BEST FanimeCon in over 10 years ... period.

After taking a Sick day from work, and catching up on Paperwork, and I still am losing my voice... Here I go:

*** DISCLAIMER: these views & comments are only from me and NO ONE ELSE from Fanime (Executive) staff. if you wish to flame me please do it via PM only. Thanks ***

Complaints about the Guy in Glasses Rover-
Please PM deonchan in regards to this ASAP. This Rover (who I first thought was me at first, til I realized how many complaints we had this year about his poor reasons for pulling badges...) we will address him and his issues and it is likely we will declined him to be on Rover Staff next year. I work in HR and sometimes people who claim to be a fit just arent, and this is what we call trial and error. --- My sincere apologies go out to anyone and everyone that had a bad experienced because of him. He will be counseled and advise because of HIS actions his Fanime privaleges may be revoked. If he thinks he had the right to pull peoples badges (and abused his power he did) he should expect us to have the right to pull his badge as well.

Complaints about An Cafe lines/Autograph/Q&A panel-
This is a classic misdirection tactic known as the "Nut and Shell" game. For safety and security reasons for the An Cafe Band, sometimes management may need an option to allow for last minute changes of the safety or location was at risk. Even being on line control staff I was out of the loop until I was asked to control the line. The staff before me did the best they could to control the line, but broke it off in akward places causing my An Cafe fans to be put farther back in line or confused where the front was. It's unavoidable confusion and I'm again sorry for any mistakes on MY PART but I can't always fix the mistakes if they were made before I got there to begin with.

Complaints about general prices-
Unfortunately Fanime does not have control over ANY prices - minus Registration prices. I know the Economy is tough, but as much as we'd like to lower prices its just not within ARG's ability to do so. It's best that the individual to figure out their budget with as many factors as possible: Hotel, Travel, friends bumming money (you know this happens), Dealers, Arcade, and basically anything else that uses $$$. Simply, we dont control prices. Sorry.

Conflicting Events/Dates/Times-
Keep in mind that different Departments work on these events and as a Fan/Con Goer you will have to make the difficult decision of one or the other or try your best to attend both. You have to believe us when we say we're not trying to make things difficult for you... But think about it this way- Yes its a 4 day event, but theres ONLY 2 nights where super special events can take place: (SAT/SUN Only) Thursday is only an pre-reg badge pick up night. Friday/Monday would be TOO early/late and thus grossly understaffed. Hence if Fanime say had 6 uber Fantastic events to plan on 2 nights only. Yes, your going to have some tough choices to make. You just have to deal with it and plan accordingly.

"Ghost" Staff Members & proper info & training-
I cant speak for all departments, but I'd like to give the benefit of the doubt that since we constantly say "By Fans for Fans" that the golden rule applies. Staff is asked to work X amount of hours in order to get staff badge. I will admit that some staff works more/harder than others and some of those not so nice people there pick up a staff badge and never lift a finger to help. That is a shame, but I do believe in Kharma... Moving Forward I'm glad to see that more Fans are interested in helping Volunteer/Staff for 2009. As our convention Grows so will our staff. Fanime HR I hope will continue proper training and informative meetings to keep everyone on the same page.

I am Rover Roy- I know some of you have seen, heard or possibly now hate me. So I'll have to deal with it... but keep this im mind because I do care more about YOUR Con experience more than my own. I take pride in the fact that I do this as a service to my anime/J-pop community. I am open to constructive critisims, just please do it via PM and NOT by out on the forums. Thanks.

I Lost where the beginning and the end of the Lines.

No Line, No Line control is needed... I guess its back to my desk job or at least until random groups of people start lining up for Fanime 2009.  :P

Got Plenty of 'war stories' from my side of the line. Even made a diary one of my many websites, but unfortunately I have no pics... Just stories. We'll have to get together after your bday and we'll have a few drinks and hours of crazy stories from Fanime 2008.