Random Thoughts of an Otaku - February 27th, 2008

09:26 pm - How do Anime Cons better handle their attendees

http://forums.katsucon.org/viewtopic.php?t=2224 had an interesting situation over the convention weekend. The hotel went and looked in the rooms without people's knowledge. I am not talking about the daily house cleaning, but just went in at times during the weekend. The hotel's fear (and rightly so) was that the convention guests were going to cause messes in their rooms and not request service. After the convention, a significant portion of the rooms would have to be cleaned up significantly. They had everything happen from people dying their hair to alcohol in the rooms. As someone who wants conventions to happen, this concerns me.

Do people know that they should take car of things? I heard from convention runners like Sue Monroe (one of the long time Otakon staffers) say that people don't look forward to anime fans. I know why after hearing about this situation. It makes me wonder whether we need to better integrate our own fandom as to the rules of having a convention. (A. People give something to the convention besides money. B. People take care of hotel property.) We have alot of people who go to Anime conventions who are not into anime. Anime conventions has become the nerd convention of the moment. How do we integrate these fans into fandom?

I think it is in a multi-disciplinary approach. First, we have to hold our own attendees to a higher standard. Anime Boston had this problem in 2006. They have instituted a set of rules for those staying in the hotel block. http://www.animeboston.com/location/sheraton-coc.php is the link to this code of conduct. I think more conventions should be willing to consider this.

Secondly, we need to make our rules more clear on everything. This includes making them a clearer link on our website and putting them in front of Registration. A lot of cons now say that this badge is the property of their convention or organzation and that it can be taken for proper reason including hotel violations.

Lastly, we need to change our members expectations. An example of this is calling a dance a rave. Anime Weekend Atlanta does not have Rave on their message boards at all. Informal Dances, yes. Raves, No. If we have to, we may need to narrow our focus to just Japanese animation. It may drop numbers, but may bring better members.

What I am afraid of is that all fanish conventions will not be allowed to go to hotels they would like. Besides Katsucon having hotel problems, Farpoint (700 person media Science Fiction convention in suburban Baltimore) had their hotel give their members limited dining options and their members had to sign a damage waiver when they checked into the hotel. It nearly made Farpoint move and it may still make them move for 2009. What do people think? Am I totally off base with these thoughts?

Current Mood: contemplative