Ohio needs a convention-planners support group
I don't understand this at all, but Ohio seems to have decided to plant their convention seeds all at the same time for the Spring harvest. Here are all of the known conventions already slated for 2006:
DatesConventionLocationAttendance
Jan 6-8
Ohayocon
Columbus, OH
4,000+
Mar 24-26
Pai-Con
Cleveland, OH
new con
Mar 31-Apr 2
Anime Punch
Columbus, OH
new con
Mar 31-Apr 2
Tekkoshocon
Pittsburgh, PA
1,500+
Apr 21-23
MatsuriCon
Columbus, OH
new con
June
ColossalCon
Cleveland, OH
800+
July
Ikasucon
Cincinnati, OH
1,500+
Oct/Nov
SugoiCon
Cincinnati, OH
1,500+
For this discussion, I want to focus on the month-long span of March 24 - April 24. 1 month, or 31 days. There are four area conventions slated for that month. Two on the same weekend. (I list Tekkoshocon as it is a long-established convention for that time of the year, and draws significantly on an Ohio fanbase.) Compare this to an area like Chicago, which has 2/3 conventions over the course of a year for the third-largest city in America! Clearly, no one has consulted with anyone else about possibly conflicting dates.
When an Anime Punch staffer was questioned on their forums about conflicting dates with the well-known Tekkoshocon, he/she responded that it was of zero concern and defiantly declared his/her event the better.
When you split up the possible customer base like that, it can hurt all the events. While common thought is that competition inspires innovation, I question the benefit of competing conventions. There are only so many conventions in one short stretch that attendees, artists, staffers, dealers, and guests can afford to attend. A few conventions have deduced the same and moved or altogether cancelled their venture. (No Brand Con moved a month later in response to Anime Detour 2005, and an unnamed con in Springfield IL cancelled upon the announcement of Kunicon St. Louis.) Here are a few possible outcomes from this orgy of events:
1) Best-case scenario: All of the same people, plus some extra locals go to each of these cons. All of the major travelling dealers attend each con with a full supply of goodies. Staffers perform exceptionally well and work several of the area cons, lending their quickly-earned experience. A new spread of guests come out to the area, pleasing the fans. More people see new anime and expand the influence of the genre.
2) Worst-case scenario: Most people save their money and only go to the bigger conventions (Ohayocon, Anime Central, Otakon). All but the smallest of dealers pass on the new conventions, instead favoring to focus on bringing a wider and deeper selection to the established events. Staffers and guests are stretched too thin with the rise in volume of conventions across the country and opt out of many newer conventions. New and smaller conventions close down due to financial issues.
3) Mid-range scenario: The crowds become divided amongst all the conventions. Money among the attendees becomes tight due to the rising volume of conventions. Due to this financial dilution, less is spent in the dealer room and artist alley. Starving artists and smaller dealers have a hard time breaking even, and larger dealers turn a smaller profit. Staffers are divided with their large workloads, and the best staffers are divided amongst conventions. Conventions compete directly for attendees, dealers, artists, guests, and even volunteers.
Of course, I feel that some form of the third option is likely. We may get several conventions that are "okay" at the expense of a single stellar show. I personally hate to see conventions go head-to-head for anything, especially when it comes to the attendees. Or at the expense of them. They are the lifeblood of a convention, and why the con is there in the first place. The rule of competition allows us to theorize that dealer tables will cost less and more benefits will be put towards the guests. This may even usher in a new era of dealers becoming courted in similar fashions to guests. Bidding wars and behind-the-scenes benefits, while an extreme case (and a Hollywood dramatization), could very well be on our horizon. How quickly would that lead newer conventions into fiscal disarray?
I have no major problem with competition in a general sense. That helps the better businesses rise to the top. However, we are dealing with non-profit organizations or individuals. When these fans begin to wield the power of a corporation in the haphazard way that many do without training, things are bound to go awry. The biggest problem I have here is the blatant disregard for the repercussions of anyone's actions. Much like crossing the street without looking both ways, the fate of these conventions is left to the whim of the passing traffic. I have heard several stories of conventions going into 5-figure debts, usually to be paid by a single person. I do not wish that upon anyone, though I understand it will happen again and again.
Before dismissing Ohio's stacked schedule as doomed, we must entertain the thought that this industry has grown to the point where it can support this. Several years ago, this situation would be laughable. In a recent turn of events, ConnitiCon went into $34,000+ debt. However, the community has risen to the occassion and their 2006 event has resumed planning. Have we come to the point where we can support 3 conventions within the span of 4 weeks in the same market? The state of the industry is another issue altogether, and should be discussed at a different time. But with the dramatic and radical changes seen across mainstream America in regards to Japanese culture, we've seen stranger things work out.
But can this actually be pulled off successfully? In the end, none of us really knows. It's possible, though I do not hold out a lot of hope. As a dealer, I hope these conventions don't expect that I will (or can) attend each and every one. Especially when you're going head-to-head with an established show that proves to be a large draw from your area, it will be hard to prove successful. I hope the new conventions have exit strategies just in case.
DatesConventionLocationAttendance
Jan 6-8
Ohayocon
Columbus, OH
4,000+
Mar 24-26
Pai-Con
Cleveland, OH
new con
Mar 31-Apr 2
Anime Punch
Columbus, OH
new con
Mar 31-Apr 2
Tekkoshocon
Pittsburgh, PA
1,500+
Apr 21-23
MatsuriCon
Columbus, OH
new con
June
ColossalCon
Cleveland, OH
800+
July
Ikasucon
Cincinnati, OH
1,500+
Oct/Nov
SugoiCon
Cincinnati, OH
1,500+
For this discussion, I want to focus on the month-long span of March 24 - April 24. 1 month, or 31 days. There are four area conventions slated for that month. Two on the same weekend. (I list Tekkoshocon as it is a long-established convention for that time of the year, and draws significantly on an Ohio fanbase.) Compare this to an area like Chicago, which has 2/3 conventions over the course of a year for the third-largest city in America! Clearly, no one has consulted with anyone else about possibly conflicting dates.
When an Anime Punch staffer was questioned on their forums about conflicting dates with the well-known Tekkoshocon, he/she responded that it was of zero concern and defiantly declared his/her event the better.
When you split up the possible customer base like that, it can hurt all the events. While common thought is that competition inspires innovation, I question the benefit of competing conventions. There are only so many conventions in one short stretch that attendees, artists, staffers, dealers, and guests can afford to attend. A few conventions have deduced the same and moved or altogether cancelled their venture. (No Brand Con moved a month later in response to Anime Detour 2005, and an unnamed con in Springfield IL cancelled upon the announcement of Kunicon St. Louis.) Here are a few possible outcomes from this orgy of events:
1) Best-case scenario: All of the same people, plus some extra locals go to each of these cons. All of the major travelling dealers attend each con with a full supply of goodies. Staffers perform exceptionally well and work several of the area cons, lending their quickly-earned experience. A new spread of guests come out to the area, pleasing the fans. More people see new anime and expand the influence of the genre.
2) Worst-case scenario: Most people save their money and only go to the bigger conventions (Ohayocon, Anime Central, Otakon). All but the smallest of dealers pass on the new conventions, instead favoring to focus on bringing a wider and deeper selection to the established events. Staffers and guests are stretched too thin with the rise in volume of conventions across the country and opt out of many newer conventions. New and smaller conventions close down due to financial issues.
3) Mid-range scenario: The crowds become divided amongst all the conventions. Money among the attendees becomes tight due to the rising volume of conventions. Due to this financial dilution, less is spent in the dealer room and artist alley. Starving artists and smaller dealers have a hard time breaking even, and larger dealers turn a smaller profit. Staffers are divided with their large workloads, and the best staffers are divided amongst conventions. Conventions compete directly for attendees, dealers, artists, guests, and even volunteers.
Of course, I feel that some form of the third option is likely. We may get several conventions that are "okay" at the expense of a single stellar show. I personally hate to see conventions go head-to-head for anything, especially when it comes to the attendees. Or at the expense of them. They are the lifeblood of a convention, and why the con is there in the first place. The rule of competition allows us to theorize that dealer tables will cost less and more benefits will be put towards the guests. This may even usher in a new era of dealers becoming courted in similar fashions to guests. Bidding wars and behind-the-scenes benefits, while an extreme case (and a Hollywood dramatization), could very well be on our horizon. How quickly would that lead newer conventions into fiscal disarray?
I have no major problem with competition in a general sense. That helps the better businesses rise to the top. However, we are dealing with non-profit organizations or individuals. When these fans begin to wield the power of a corporation in the haphazard way that many do without training, things are bound to go awry. The biggest problem I have here is the blatant disregard for the repercussions of anyone's actions. Much like crossing the street without looking both ways, the fate of these conventions is left to the whim of the passing traffic. I have heard several stories of conventions going into 5-figure debts, usually to be paid by a single person. I do not wish that upon anyone, though I understand it will happen again and again.
Before dismissing Ohio's stacked schedule as doomed, we must entertain the thought that this industry has grown to the point where it can support this. Several years ago, this situation would be laughable. In a recent turn of events, ConnitiCon went into $34,000+ debt. However, the community has risen to the occassion and their 2006 event has resumed planning. Have we come to the point where we can support 3 conventions within the span of 4 weeks in the same market? The state of the industry is another issue altogether, and should be discussed at a different time. But with the dramatic and radical changes seen across mainstream America in regards to Japanese culture, we've seen stranger things work out.
But can this actually be pulled off successfully? In the end, none of us really knows. It's possible, though I do not hold out a lot of hope. As a dealer, I hope these conventions don't expect that I will (or can) attend each and every one. Especially when you're going head-to-head with an established show that proves to be a large draw from your area, it will be hard to prove successful. I hope the new conventions have exit strategies just in case.