From someone who's never been to a con . . . .

This forum is for the announcement and discussion of anime conventions, and for the exchanging of rides to, and rooms at, conventions.

From someone who's never been to a con . . . .

Postby Cole » Sun Jun 15, 2003 2:41 am

I'm twenty-six years old, never been to a convention of any kind. As a kid, I was heavy into comics, but in Hawaii we never had anything like comic-book conventions, and if we did, they'd probably have had a stigma attached to them (me and my friends loved comics, but we also surfed and played tons of sports, so we were "above" the geek persona in our minds). In college me and my new friends started getting into anime (a few years before it started becoming popular in the states, so that DID have a big stigma on it), me mainly because I remembered Robotech and had nostalgia for those old shows. Then my Japanese buddy introduced me to the likes of EVA and Gundam W in his Newtype magazine (back when they were first airing in Japan), and we all started drawing our own manga (original and fan-stuff). Even then, I had never had the interest to visit a comic-con, or even an anime con if they'd had one to go to. The image of Trekkies dressed up like Klingons and speaking Vulcan was always what I thought of when I heard "convention". Even in my line of work (or ESPECIALLY . . . . just hearing "engineering convention" makes me laugh).

To be honest, that's still the image I have of any kind of sci-fi con. I see the cosplay pictures on the net and in magazines. Geez, even the video-game events like E3 don't seem very enticing to me, even though I love video games and am impatiently awaiting Halo 2 and Half-life 2. I don't really have a problem with people enjoying cosplay or arguing about the deep meanings of EVA versus the "rip-off" Rahxephon. Things like that just seem to lessen my interest in such events. But my curiosity has been peaked in recent months because I see just how many anime fans are out there, and no matter if they're dressed like Alucard or Belldandy, I know it would be interesting to talk with people of like-interests, and to check out all the things that cons offer.

Anyway, I just wanted to hear experiences from people who frequent these things, or even just attend them every now and again. When was your first con? Was it what you expected? What did you think about it all? Did you go to your first con wary of "geeks" and "nerds" only to discover you were among the grand-class of "geeks" and "nerds"? One of these days I might be in the mainland and hear of an Otaku convention, and I'll be intrigued enough to check it out instead of thinking "holy crap, that dude is dressed up like Chi".
User avatar
Cole
 
Joined: 01 Jun 2003
Location: West Pacific

Postby Red Wolf » Sun Jun 15, 2003 8:23 am

I did similar research before I got into the con scene myself.

Do a Google search for "anime con report" and you'll find what you're looking for.
User avatar
Red Wolf
 
Joined: 01 May 2002
Location: Atlanta, GA

Postby Castor Troy » Sun Jun 15, 2003 11:17 am

I kinda entered my first con blind.
Image
"Vlad, you will not get my new blockbuster video. Sorry bro." - Chemix800, Hollywood Editor
User avatar
Castor Troy
Ryan Molina, A.C.E
 
Joined: 16 Jan 2001
Location: California
Status: Retired from AMVs

Postby SarahtheBoring » Sun Jun 15, 2003 8:25 pm

Um... you're twenty-six and you still care desperately about which high-school cliche you're going to fit into? Wow, I'm sorry, man.

Anyway, if you're so ultimately paranoid about your image, maybe you shouldn't go. They're mostly for people who just want to relax and enjoy things they like. 8)
User avatar
SarahtheBoring
 
Joined: 07 Apr 2002
Location: PA, USA

Postby VicBond007 » Sun Jun 15, 2003 8:55 pm

First Con: Otakon 2000
Was it what I expected: I expected a few people here and there dressed up in costume, lots of people sitting around watching anime, and a small room to play some of those "Anime Music Video things" (of which I had submitted and made the finals for). What I got was a party atmosphere where HORDES of people not only dressed up in some of the most wonderful costumes, but had the balls to traverse busy streets and sit down in fine dining establishments (Burger King ^.~) while still wearing them. Few people spent the time watch anime and maky others would rather talk to you about it, which is awesome since I wasn't looking forward to sitting in that 3 hour line for the "costume-play thingy". And then of course I was proven wrong again when the AMVs played to a monsterous crowd, many with a disturbingly explicit amount of knowledge about the creators and their videos.
What did you think about it all: The con's a blast, however the day AFTER the con sucks. Imagine spending three days at a party where everyone knows what the heck you're talking about, and then having to drive all the way home and wake up the next morning to go to work. Reality sucks ~.~
wary of geeks?: I used to go to Star Trek cons. Geeks use me as an avatar on message boards ^.~
Dude dressed like Chii: You'd be surprised how well some of them can pull it off!!!
"With free bagels we can live like Kings!...Kings who have to pay for their own castle in order to get the free bagels!" - Omar Jenkins
User avatar
VicBond007
 
Joined: 27 Feb 2001
Location: New Jersey

Postby Vlad G Pohnert » Sun Jun 15, 2003 9:03 pm

First Anime Con I went to was Anime Expo 1994.... But I knew what to expect since I've been organziing Sicence Fiction Cons since 1987...

My first con ever was back around 1976 or so... Back then just being able to watch things on a small TV in a crowded room was something special...

Vlad
User avatar
Vlad G Pohnert
 
Joined: 02 Jan 2001
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Postby MAS PRODUCTIONS » Sun Jun 15, 2003 9:52 pm

I went into my first con basically blind (not literally). Which is basically what Im doing again for Anime Fest this year, of course all I really plan on doing is hanging out with MJ and the others.
"What about us lesbians? . . . Your gonna burn in hell of course!" - MXC
"Hey dont knock masturbation, its sex with someone I love!" -- Woody Allen
"Evil will always triumph 'cuz good is dumb!" - Dark Helmet
User avatar
MAS PRODUCTIONS
 
Joined: 01 Oct 2001
Location: Ft Smith, AR

Postby Bahamut God » Sun Jun 15, 2003 9:54 pm

Ax 2001

I had not clue what would be there.

I did not have a problem with being called a geek. Hell, for me geek is a complement anyway. -_-
[Visit my Profile, it hates Bush!]
[Feel bad for someone who killed a kid]
"I'm telling you, I want to be a loser."-Khushrenada
I have a titley thing, and you might not. ^_^/
User avatar
Bahamut God
Wrong Kind of Special
 
Joined: 08 Jan 2002
Location: Los Angles Area Status: Charmed

Postby FurryCurry » Sun Jun 15, 2003 10:12 pm

Bahamut God wrote:Ax 2001

I had not clue what would be there.

I did not have a problem with being called a geek. Hell, for me geek is a complement anyway. -_-


Heh, that was my first con too.

Also the first AMV contest I'd ever seen, as I'd only run into a few amv's almost accidentally on the net.

Then there was an AMV making panel at SakuraCon 2k2, and the biggest thing I got pounded into me was "join the .org" so I did.

That's mostly what's responsible for my being here on the org & making vids today, so blame them. 8)

Cons can be a lot of fun, and sure there are some odd people, but that's all part of the experience.

I've found most people to be relatively polite and well behaved.
My Eyes Are The Victim's Eyes.
My Hands Are The Assailant's Hands.
User avatar
FurryCurry
 
Joined: 14 Jul 2002

Postby Cole » Sun Jun 15, 2003 10:39 pm

SarahtheBoring wrote:Um... you're twenty-six and you still care desperately about which high-school cliche you're going to fit into? Wow, I'm sorry, man.

Anyway, if you're so ultimately paranoid about your image, maybe you shouldn't go. They're mostly for people who just want to relax and enjoy things they like. 8)


Um, no. I'm twenty six and I'm wondering if an anime con is worth the time and money of attending. I'm curious as to the atmosphere of such events. Are they like car shows or a McDonald's playground? I'm not the type who cares what people think of me (unless I do something to upset them). But I'm also the type who is curious about something that seems interesting yet also has people dressed in funny costumes and speaking in Japanese cliche's. Hence my questions.

I appreciate people's response on the matter. I doubt I'll be attending an anime con anytime soon, but if I get the chance, I might check one out.
User avatar
Cole
 
Joined: 01 Jun 2003
Location: West Pacific

Postby Dannywilson » Mon Jun 16, 2003 11:34 am

VicBond007 wrote:What did you think about it all: The con's a blast, however the day AFTER the con sucks. Imagine spending three days at a party where everyone knows what the heck you're talking about, and then having to drive all the way home and wake up the next morning to go to work. Reality sucks ~.~


The perfect answer to your question dude. It's like a 3-4 day long party, and it's best to try to convince a friend along for the wild ride that it is.
"in the morning when i have wood..i like to walk around my house and bump random shit with it.... " -Random comment on grouphug.us
User avatar
Dannywilson
 
Joined: 31 Jul 2002
Location: In love with Dr. Girlfriend

Postby trythil » Mon Jun 16, 2003 11:59 am

Cole wrote:
SarahtheBoring wrote:Um... you're twenty-six and you still care desperately about which high-school cliche you're going to fit into? Wow, I'm sorry, man.

Anyway, if you're so ultimately paranoid about your image, maybe you shouldn't go. They're mostly for people who just want to relax and enjoy things they like. 8)


Um, no. I'm twenty six and I'm wondering if an anime con is worth the time and money of attending. I'm curious as to the atmosphere of such events. Are they like car shows or a McDonald's playground? I'm not the type who cares what people think of me (unless I do something to upset them). But I'm also the type who is curious about something that seems interesting yet also has people dressed in funny costumes and speaking in Japanese cliche's. Hence my questions.

I appreciate people's response on the matter. I doubt I'll be attending an anime con anytime soon, but if I get the chance, I might check one out.


You get all kinds of people at a con. You get those who are amazing cosplayers that you could easily mistake for the real thing, and then you get those who are "eh". You get people who are fluent in Japanese and could render Lambert Wilson's beautiful Matrix Reloaded one-liner into equally rapid-fire 日本語, and then you get people who like to tack "-sama" onto everyone's names without really knowing what it means.

In general, though, the people that you'll meet at a con are some of the coolest people you'll ever meet. Maybe it was just a weird year, but at ACen 2003 (my first con) everyone just seemed so nice. There was this one girl -- I never caught her name, not that it really mattered -- who was an amazing musician; it was just great fun to just sit by and listen to her re-enact songs from various anime and video games (she, in particular, did a really nice rendition of the prelude to Final Fantasy).

Hmm...

Oh yeah. Neatest thing for me -- meeting people on this board. I've been wired for quite a while, but it's always a shock to me to converse with someone online and then talk to them in real life. It's actually very neat...it's like meeting someone new and then suddenly finding out that you share a hell of a lot in common with each other. It's also pretty neat how it can change your perception of people, for better or for worse (my guess is that people's perception of me changed in the latter case, but eh ;) )

Summary: If you do get the chance (and finances ;) ) to go to a con, don't pass up the chance. Chances are you'll love it. (Unless the congoers suck.)
This is a block of text that can be added to posts you make. There is a 512 character limit.
trythil
is
 
Joined: 23 Jul 2002
Location: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

Postby dokidoki » Mon Jun 16, 2003 12:27 pm

trythil wrote:and then you get people who like to tack "-sama" onto everyone's names without really knowing what it means.

and then you get people who like to tack "-sama" onto their own name... <smack forehead>
Image Image Image
"Comedy is a dying breed." -- kisanzi // "Comedy. Serious business." -- dokidoki
Free games! (some left) // "Anybody want a pizza roll?"
User avatar
dokidoki
c0d3 m0nk3y
 
Joined: 19 Dec 2000
Location: doki doki space
Status: BLEEP BLOOP!

Re: From someone who's never been to a con . . . .

Postby Declan_Vee » Mon Jun 16, 2003 1:10 pm

Cole wrote:Did you go to your first con wary of "geeks" and "nerds" only to discover you were among the grand-class of "geeks" and "nerds"? One of these days I might be in the mainland and hear of an Otaku convention, and I'll be intrigued enough to check it out instead of thinking "holy crap, that dude is dressed up like Chi".

Hmm, cross/cosplayers shouldn't worry you. You're 26 right? Just let it slide and find out that they actually have a good reason for doing whatever crazy things they might be doing?
There'll always be Geeks, Nerds and even Gerds. Chances are, you fit into one of these categories. You're just in denial.
Closing: meh. I agree with SarahtheBoring
AMV Search | AMV Guides
AMV Live. "It's like Iron Chef, only too many cooks will spoil the broth"
User avatar
Declan_Vee
Mr. Poopy Pants
 
Joined: 18 Feb 2002
Location: SA, Australia

Postby Cole » Mon Jun 16, 2003 1:27 pm

Actually, I am a geek. But there's a difference between the geek who enjoys sci-fi and the geek who completely immerses themselves in it. That's what I was getting at. I can see why you guys took it to mean I thought I was some high-maka-maka allaroundcoolguy, but I don't. I just know alot people who need to spend less time in front of the TV, reading only anime/sci-fi material, and/or constantly thinking and living Cowboy Bebop/Trigun/insert-your-fave-anime-here. If a con was mostly for people like that, then my question is answered. But it seems people who are responding here are telling me I wouldn't be weirded out at a con any more than I would at Wal-Mart.
User avatar
Cole
 
Joined: 01 Jun 2003
Location: West Pacific

Next

Return to Anime Conventions

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests