TheShadow99 wrote:Well so far I think I have the technical end covered...
My biggest concern right now is:
1. What do people expect as far as prizes? and
2. What categories are basically standards?
Since I've never been able to attend a convention before and those helping who have aren't big AMV fans (or so far no one else has said so), those are things I just can't answer... Formats, FTP vs mail, room details, A/V gear, and such I cna handle. Even rules (down the line since it's not for another month or so I'd need even a first draft of the rules) I think I can deal with (since I can look at other Cons rules for them and base my on similiar lines). I just don't find much detail on Prizes and categories... Or even details like how fan judging is run (though I've been assuming doing mostly non-fan judging except for a sort of 'fan favorite' category).... Those are my big issues right now...
You may want to consider checking out other con websites and seeing what they have, as well as email other contest coordinators.
Here's the general standard, though:
Categories - Action, Drama, Romance, Comedy are the Big Four for categories, as well as a Best In Show. Some cons will also have Upbeat or Trailer, but not too many.
In terms of judging, it usually happens either one of two ways:
1. Fan Balloting - The fans get ballots in their registration bag when they register for the con. The ballot has the AMVs listed by category with all complete info. Staffers with boxes collect the ballots at the end of the AMV Contest screenings (usually one on Friday night and one on Saturday morning), and there's a box at Con Ops that people can deliver to by some deadline on Saturday afternoon. From then, the Coordinator has to add up all the ballots.
2. Judged Awards - Some cons have judges choose the Best Category awards, some cons have seperate awards that are decided by judges. This can be stuff like Judge's Choice, awards for creativity or editing, Best Concept, stuff like that.
3. In rarer cases (for more established events like AX or AWA Pro), the editors actually have a voice in the process, nominating one of their own for an award.
Lots of cons also have a combination of #1 and #2. In both cases, the winners are usually announced during the Masquerade intermission while the judges are deciding their prizes for that.
As far as prizes, it depends - Some cons just do certificates. Some cons do really nice trophies. Some cons give gift bags of anime merch. A good Instant AMV Contest Prize is a gift certificate to the dealer's room. But in terms of what we <i>expect</i>... really we don't expect anything, since it's not like AMV Contests have ever been about the prizes (well, maybe OtakuCon Miami, but that con sucked so it doesn't matter).
In terms of planning, it all has to do with how many entries you get - there are some cons that have trouble filling up a 2-hour tape (MOST AMV Contests don't run past the 2-hour mark, and that's about 30 videos on average), and cons like Otakon that get 200 submissions and require several pre-screenings to get down to a final 30.
I *highly* suggest you not only consult with other AMV Contest Coordinators, but that you actually make the effort to go to one or two cons and see how the AMV Contest is run. You sound like you think you have all the technical stuff taken care of, but I get the general sense that you're going to overextend yourself. The KISS rule applies here, especially since it's your first time running a contest and you don't quite know what to expect.
Good luck!
-DOKool
