It means alot you like my reviews
Anyway to reply to you:
Private Event: EACON should be fairly private even though some of the campus is opened up to the public. I believe we are the only event actually "booked in" and there's rarely public around on campus. They will, however, probably stick out like a sore thumb in amongst the cosplayers so if there are some there they will be noticeable.
It's not that they shouldn't be welcome or shut out but it should be more of a "hey you interested in this? Come on in and mingle with the crowd for a little while ask a few questions on what were doing (no events for you though con goers only
)" Spreading the good word of anime/manga and our friendly peoples is exactly what a con should do to non-conners and conners alike.
But the only people that should be there are people that are honestly curious and want to know about what were doing, the average person who is somewhat confused and doesnt really have much respect for us hanging around isn't a good thing
e.g at kita the main reception/bar was shared, others should defiantly be allowed in that sort of main mingling area but not actual con related area's e..g event rooms.
And obviously we want to dodge those openly hostile types who insult/harass cosplayers and the like at all costs, even if they aren't really that many of them.
But I can see you get what I'm saying.
--> Pub Quiz = Big Room. Will try and work this in.
Doesn't need to be over-kill but there usually popular and naturally trying to gauge demand and attaching an appropriate space is key, kita just under-estimated it.
--> Delays!! What's with all the delays at events? It's not hard to keep things on time.
I know why, particularly as early delays have knock on throughout the day, but seriously 45 min delay for a main event ? Yea its something to try for I suggest maybe trying to plan a room schedule with minor gaps for set up time for any events that do require some sort of set up and trying to keep similar events in the same room with all set-ups pre-done e.g for pannels slide shows are required so keep them in the same sort of rooms, they can be used for other things e.g the computers could quickly be switched to pay music or something of the like.
Making sure there are enough gohpers in advance might help, I do know someone at kita who was recruited as a gohper saturday morning soooo yea
--> Charity Auction Brochure - I love this idea. I think it's brilliant. And I'm also going to suggest it to TonyB, with regards to the Cosplayer Auction too.
Good idea, the more into the better, the cosplayer brochure may also make a nice memento from the con
--> Dealers' Room = Talk to the dealers. Subtle comments about prices. Got it.
Yea, nothing forceful but lower prices will mean more sales and multiple sales, if its the same prices as regularly ordering online or in store from the same retailers (e.g dvd's being hmv prices) there's not a lot of reason to buy at the con, negating the expense they paid with setting up/getting there etc.
--> RECENT screenings. Tick.
Not everything needs to be recent, having old classics (stuff from the 70's is always funny to re-watch) and popular shows from the last decade or so is cool, as are even the example I gave EVA was fine, but not the best that could be done and not for your big hook its been seen by too many people (not a bad thing in its-self but when put up against another main event as it was in kita it just doesn't stand even for those not too hot on the alternative) and just not recent enough part of why it was already so well seen, for your big hook it should be a series or movie hot of the presses, released hyper-recently or even an exclusive first agreed with a licensor/distributor for promotion
Basically a good mix (Ill cover the screenings in detail in my up-coming con-book comparison), I think in kita's case it fell just foul for me of good balance BUT with the best intentions.
I'm going to elaborate a bit more in my bit more carefully planned minami thread.
--> VG Room = Not only different consoles but lots of games to go with them.
Yep varied genre's and a selection for people to choose from as/when they want, I Know they had games back there that weren't in the consoles but I didn't know WHAT they were, to ask for etc ,plus going up and asking to change kinda affects the people after me, if there all out for people to pick up/put in , people after me can switch back or to a new game after i've played for example, oh yea attendants that make sure people don't hog, it always happens someone does it, and they might honestly just not relaise but someone with authority to give a friendly word works.
--> Parties = I love the idea of a request thread before the event. Totally got to do that - I think it's brilliant and really helpful.
--> Opening / Closing ceremonies = Aren't these kind of formulaic by definition? What would you like to see at these Jupitris?
I Know, I know, but hour long events with the same routine.... it needs to be mixed up somehow of course nothing massive the formula works and all but that doesn't mean we should all blindly follow it to the tee, maybe mix in something else, like have say a guest do a little skit routine or a quick hosting bit or something ,or have a guest band (who will probably have their own larger set at other time) play a song. I don't have any ground breaking idea's here but I Just think that frankly as most cons stretch it out to an hour just to try get set-up for other events done, it doesn't take an hour for what they'll have usually and they can be fairly dull in actuality, many resort to say having a charity auction at the ending ceremony for example e.g minami/kita/ (I think alcon) this could be done at another time, along with another event e.g masquerade/cosplay auction/talent conest.
Also I should clarify here , despite all the stuff I'm saying KIta was great and a ton of fun, I'm maybe being a bit hyper-critical but only for the purposes of review and comparison and to derive idea's, don't think ima hatin'!
That's largely all I Have too say, a bit rambling I Know but well you know, I want to be thorough in my explanations and its kinda hard to convey what I mean in some cases e.g showings not having the best range
