Anthrocon report or why Pittsburgh ≠ San Jose
I know I said I was going to do this last night, but I never got around to it.
This Anthrocon was amazing! I know I had plenty of complaints about AC after I went in 2006 the year it had moved to Pittsburgh, but while I skipped the last two years all of those things I had to nitpick about have taken care of themselves.
I'm going to talk more in this con report about the location and atmosphere of the con than I will recall actual events. As I said, I went to AC last in 2006, the first year it was at the DLCC. In four years time, the atmosphere has been transformed. In 2006, the convention center just seemed too big for us. Some of the local business had only just caught on by the last day of the con that it might be desirable to invite us in.
This year, we filled the convention space well, we were in the larger hall this year and the dealers' space felt to be just the right size for the number of dealers and attendees. I think the David L Lawrence Convention Cener is a wonderful venue. it's modern, it's scenic... the view of the skyline of Pittsburgh from the front of the exhibit halls is amazing, the windows of the main hall open out over the Allegheny river and it's just awesome. Being the 4th of july there were boaters out over the water and the city of Pittsburgh was having their annual Regatta. It was just the perfect atmosphere to be in for a convention.
Not to mention the DLCC is a green LEED certified building that uses 70% natural daylight. That's got to be so awesome for all those artists slaving away in the dealers room to be working in actual daylight. Perfect for coloring and not having to worry about your light source affecting what you see.
The other amazing thing is what the immediate area surrounding the convention center has become... All the local food joints are clamoring for our business. They've even gone out of their way to make Anthrocon-related merchandise. That is nothing short of amazing. The restaurants also offer discounts for AC-goers. One food joint even paints pawprints on the sidewalk leading into the building. Fernando's Cafe not only printed up Anthrocon shirts, but they even changed their name in the logo to Furnando's. At Steel City Cafe, all of the waiters and waitresses were wearing their Anthrocon themed shirts.
I was just so amazed that the city of Pittsburgh (at least all the area nearest the convention) has in four years become such a welcoming place.
I discussed this with Higgins in the Zoo one night. He speculated that FC will likely see the same thing happen after a few years in downtown San Jose. But as I thought about it more, I think I'm going to have to disagree. I don't think San Jose will become as welcoming. I certainly don't think that the food joints will be offering up FC-related merchandise. There is one big reason why I have to disagree, and the same reason why I think AC has gone over so well in Pittsburgh:
Mom and Pop shops.
One thing unique to the Pittsburgh downtown area that San Jose does not share is that nearly all of the restaurants are independent. They're not corporate or franchised chains. Downtown San Jose is completely different. In San Jose you've got Fresh Choice, Johnny Rockets, Baja Fresh, McDonalds and McCormick & Schmicks. These restaurants are all chains. I don't think they have the discrepancy or budget to do the kind of things that all of the Mom and Pops in Pittsburgh are doing to entice the furries to eat at their establishments. The only place I can really see trying to get in on the merchandising end would be Original Joe's which is one of the only independent eateries in the area.
This is why I think the Pittsburgh experience is unique. I'll admit I see the same thing going on in Pittsburgh also happen in San Diego every year for Comic Con, but again, the chains really don't get involved. It's the Mom and Pops that go all out and try to get a piece of the action. But my argument for the chains getting involved for comic con is it's 130,000 people vs. 3000 for a furry convention.
I'm definitely planning on going back to AC next year. It was an unbelievably good time. Tho next year I'm going to do something I said I'd never do. I'm going to either get a dealer's table or shoot for an artists alley table. I realized something at this AC... there is a lot of money to be made. and I might as well make some while I'm having a good time.
For those of you that read through all of this expecting an actual con report, I apologize. For all of you that actually read through all of this, I love you all for that!
This Anthrocon was amazing! I know I had plenty of complaints about AC after I went in 2006 the year it had moved to Pittsburgh, but while I skipped the last two years all of those things I had to nitpick about have taken care of themselves.
I'm going to talk more in this con report about the location and atmosphere of the con than I will recall actual events. As I said, I went to AC last in 2006, the first year it was at the DLCC. In four years time, the atmosphere has been transformed. In 2006, the convention center just seemed too big for us. Some of the local business had only just caught on by the last day of the con that it might be desirable to invite us in.
This year, we filled the convention space well, we were in the larger hall this year and the dealers' space felt to be just the right size for the number of dealers and attendees. I think the David L Lawrence Convention Cener is a wonderful venue. it's modern, it's scenic... the view of the skyline of Pittsburgh from the front of the exhibit halls is amazing, the windows of the main hall open out over the Allegheny river and it's just awesome. Being the 4th of july there were boaters out over the water and the city of Pittsburgh was having their annual Regatta. It was just the perfect atmosphere to be in for a convention.
Not to mention the DLCC is a green LEED certified building that uses 70% natural daylight. That's got to be so awesome for all those artists slaving away in the dealers room to be working in actual daylight. Perfect for coloring and not having to worry about your light source affecting what you see.
The other amazing thing is what the immediate area surrounding the convention center has become... All the local food joints are clamoring for our business. They've even gone out of their way to make Anthrocon-related merchandise. That is nothing short of amazing. The restaurants also offer discounts for AC-goers. One food joint even paints pawprints on the sidewalk leading into the building. Fernando's Cafe not only printed up Anthrocon shirts, but they even changed their name in the logo to Furnando's. At Steel City Cafe, all of the waiters and waitresses were wearing their Anthrocon themed shirts.
I was just so amazed that the city of Pittsburgh (at least all the area nearest the convention) has in four years become such a welcoming place.
I discussed this with Higgins in the Zoo one night. He speculated that FC will likely see the same thing happen after a few years in downtown San Jose. But as I thought about it more, I think I'm going to have to disagree. I don't think San Jose will become as welcoming. I certainly don't think that the food joints will be offering up FC-related merchandise. There is one big reason why I have to disagree, and the same reason why I think AC has gone over so well in Pittsburgh:
Mom and Pop shops.
One thing unique to the Pittsburgh downtown area that San Jose does not share is that nearly all of the restaurants are independent. They're not corporate or franchised chains. Downtown San Jose is completely different. In San Jose you've got Fresh Choice, Johnny Rockets, Baja Fresh, McDonalds and McCormick & Schmicks. These restaurants are all chains. I don't think they have the discrepancy or budget to do the kind of things that all of the Mom and Pops in Pittsburgh are doing to entice the furries to eat at their establishments. The only place I can really see trying to get in on the merchandising end would be Original Joe's which is one of the only independent eateries in the area.
This is why I think the Pittsburgh experience is unique. I'll admit I see the same thing going on in Pittsburgh also happen in San Diego every year for Comic Con, but again, the chains really don't get involved. It's the Mom and Pops that go all out and try to get a piece of the action. But my argument for the chains getting involved for comic con is it's 130,000 people vs. 3000 for a furry convention.
I'm definitely planning on going back to AC next year. It was an unbelievably good time. Tho next year I'm going to do something I said I'd never do. I'm going to either get a dealer's table or shoot for an artists alley table. I realized something at this AC... there is a lot of money to be made. and I might as well make some while I'm having a good time.
For those of you that read through all of this expecting an actual con report, I apologize. For all of you that actually read through all of this, I love you all for that!