Anime Expo 2010 from an outsiders perspective
Anime Expo 2010 sounds like a massive mess this year. I have already talked about the Anime Expo new CEO. http://redneckotaku.livejournal.com/147549.html are the thoughts on this. Last weekend was Anime Expo and it sounds like a mess.
Here are a couple links to many negative thoughts about this year's Anime Expo: http://www.anime-expo.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=13351&st=0 (based on a four hour wait for people), http://www.anime-expo.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=13650 (disability issues) and http://www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?t=199491&page=143 (A long Anime Expo problems thread from this year).
Anime Expo seems to be going towards something like a Creation convention where you have to pay several hundred dollars to get the most out of. Masquerade was something you paid for (I got my masquerade ticket because I bought a room in the block). In contrast, they were giving away tons of concert tickets and AKB48 (big japanese girl group) played to 3K (when the place holds 7K).
Registration took three hours from the doors open. Otakon at it's worst was about an hour and a half and they are making changes this year to it. At Anime USA, three hours for Registration would get you fired as Director of it because the chair and board wouldn't stand for it. A staffer gave the finger on camera to an attendee. No good con runner would stand for it.
I won't go on about this because there has been so much said, but I think the new CEO has a major issue to deal with. Anime Expo's brand has been hurt because of this. Anime Expo is run by a trade association (SPJA) instead of Otakorp and Anime USA's non-profit organization. You don't tick off fans and have them come back. A good number of opinion leading fans are saying they are going to the big northern cali anime convention on Memorial Day weekend (Fanime).
After the weekend many fans had, I would feel the same way. I was thinking about going to Anime Expo next year a few weeks back. I am leaning towards Renovation (Worldcon) or Comic Con myself after reading about this weekend.
There is only one organization that could save SPJA's event now and that is Reed Exhibitions. The ones who run New York Comic Con and several other conventions/trade shows in Comics and Video gaming. They did make a mistake this week about their VIP pacakges, which are worth the money (I won't spend because I can get a free ticket from work). http://www.mediumatlarge.net/2010/07/nycc-and-nyaf-vip-ticket-details.html for the thread about the ruckus they caused.
They clarified the issues quickly and professionally. They are a professionally run organization (much like Otakon even though they are a non-profit). AX can take some lesson's from NYCC. They also mail their membership badges (issues and all). I would never suggest that Otakon does this. There are weaknesses from going with an Reed Exhibitions that I may not fully realize.
Here are a couple links to many negative thoughts about this year's Anime Expo: http://www.anime-expo.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=13351&st=0 (based on a four hour wait for people), http://www.anime-expo.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=13650 (disability issues) and http://www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?t=199491&page=143 (A long Anime Expo problems thread from this year).
Anime Expo seems to be going towards something like a Creation convention where you have to pay several hundred dollars to get the most out of. Masquerade was something you paid for (I got my masquerade ticket because I bought a room in the block). In contrast, they were giving away tons of concert tickets and AKB48 (big japanese girl group) played to 3K (when the place holds 7K).
Registration took three hours from the doors open. Otakon at it's worst was about an hour and a half and they are making changes this year to it. At Anime USA, three hours for Registration would get you fired as Director of it because the chair and board wouldn't stand for it. A staffer gave the finger on camera to an attendee. No good con runner would stand for it.
I won't go on about this because there has been so much said, but I think the new CEO has a major issue to deal with. Anime Expo's brand has been hurt because of this. Anime Expo is run by a trade association (SPJA) instead of Otakorp and Anime USA's non-profit organization. You don't tick off fans and have them come back. A good number of opinion leading fans are saying they are going to the big northern cali anime convention on Memorial Day weekend (Fanime).
After the weekend many fans had, I would feel the same way. I was thinking about going to Anime Expo next year a few weeks back. I am leaning towards Renovation (Worldcon) or Comic Con myself after reading about this weekend.
There is only one organization that could save SPJA's event now and that is Reed Exhibitions. The ones who run New York Comic Con and several other conventions/trade shows in Comics and Video gaming. They did make a mistake this week about their VIP pacakges, which are worth the money (I won't spend because I can get a free ticket from work). http://www.mediumatlarge.net/2010/07/nycc-and-nyaf-vip-ticket-details.html for the thread about the ruckus they caused.
They clarified the issues quickly and professionally. They are a professionally run organization (much like Otakon even though they are a non-profit). AX can take some lesson's from NYCC. They also mail their membership badges (issues and all). I would never suggest that Otakon does this. There are weaknesses from going with an Reed Exhibitions that I may not fully realize.