by anneke » Tue Nov 16, 2004 12:49 pm
Answers to Yaoi-con Auction questions...
Money...where does it go?
It goes back to the convention to fund the convention the next year. This is one convention that does ALOT of fund raising for the convention. Which makes sense as few people want to sponser the convention, or even host the convention, so having the money up front helps.
Bishies...where do they come from?
Some are gay or bi that came to the convention for their own interests, and got roped into being in the auction. Then there is a majority of Stright and semi-bi males that have come to the convention because 1. it's an anime convention, 2. it's local, 3. Alot of girls. So they get roped into being in the auction. Others are found by the head Bishy wrangler, and convienced to come to the convention specifically for being in the auction. Harley is one bishy that flys to the convention, is totally stright, not into Yaoi, but comes to be in the auction. Last year was his first year, and he sold for $1000. The guys come back because they have soooo much fun.
Yaoi con is by far the most friendly/touchy feely convention out there. Everyone at the convention is an adult. They are all talking openingly about sex, and gropping, fondling, and biting happens in the hallways, and is actually encouraged due to the theme of the convention.
What do you do with a bishy once you have won one?
Well I bought one last year. (*cough*Pity Bid*cough*) I walked around with him, took pictures, cuddled, had a dance partner, etc... That's what most people do. The guest of honor(s) tend to take their bishys up to their hotel, drink, and sketch the bishys in interesting poses. (I've seen the pictures). Alot of people take their bishys out for food, and just hang out. It's a friendly convention, so it's alot of socializing.
This year I didn't have the money to buy a bishy so my friends and I collected 'free-range' bishys. Males that were not in the auction. At the end of the night I had a total of 8. (well one was an actual bishy from the auction that was given to me for $5). I took a few for food (they bought their own, I just had the transportation), I hung out with them, and talked with them. Mainly I was having fun, trying to hook up the several gay bishys I had with the other gay bishys.
I discribe Yaoi-con as a giant bacherlorette party. The girls are wild and in control of the men. It's really alot of fun. I could tell you more about what goes on at the convention, but that happens behind closed doors and not for a public forum.
Yuri-con...what is it?
Yuri con was made to celebrate Yuri. It was originally going to be called Ani-lesbo con. Which is why I refuse to go to that convention. See instead of openning it up to all fans of Yuri, they wanted to try to keep it to Lesbians who were interested in Yuri. Which didn't work out, but turned alot of people off about the convention. So it failed. I wish they had totally embraced all aspects of Yuri, because then i would have gone. I did submit an AMV to their contest when they had it.
At Yaoi-con who can bid on the Bishys?
Well the Bishys decide. The men who buy bishys tend to be older GAY men. Yes GAY! But they know that alot of the guys going up for sale are not gay, so they are buying them to do the same thing the girls are buying them for. Pictures, conversations, cuddling, etc... I spent some time this last convention talking with several of the older gay men who attend the convention. They are really nice bunch, most have lovers already, so are just there for the party, like everyone else.
There once was a female last year who went up for sale in the auction. She was dressed as a guy. But people knew, and so she didn't sell for much.
To give you some stats...on the 8 bishys I had.
Bishy 1 - Gay
Bishy 2 - Bi
Bishy 3 - Bi
Bishy 4 - Stright (He was the auction bishy)
Bishy 5 - Stright (He came to haunt me, was in the auction the year before.)
Bishy 6 - Gay
Bishy 7 - Gay
Bishy 8 - Bi
So as you see...the 'stright' guys tend to be in the auction...as odd as that is. I could go threw the list of bishys in the auction this year, and tell you what their orientation is. Some may seem 'bi' but are more just doing what it takes to sell for alot, and don't mind making out with guys. Making out with guys is very different then sleeping with them. That's what they understand.
Anneke
(Note to self: Must find pictures of bishy 2 & 3 making out...sigh).