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

Cole · Post by **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".

Red Wolf · Post by **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.

Castor Troy · Post by **Castor Troy** » Sun Jun 15, 2003 11:17 am

I kinda entered my first con blind.

SarahtheBoring · Post by **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)

Org Profile · Post by **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!!!

Org Profile · Post by **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

MAS PRODUCTIONS · Post by **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.

Bahamut God · Post by **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. -_-

FurryCurry · Post by **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.

Cole · Post by **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.