/cgl/ - Cosplay & EGL

Seeing friends primarily, but my priorities in order would be:
>Cosplay - seeing and doing my own, I appreciate the effort people put in and I'm an attention whore for people liking my cosplays
>Photography - taking pics of people, hall shots and sometimes professional shoots, easy way to make friends and expand the portfolio
>Guests - sometimes if a con has a guest I really want to see, I'll travel for it and get something signed
>Location - if it's a place I've not visited before, I can bundle the convention into a sightseeing holiday at the same time
>Merch - I can buy merch cheaper online but sometimes cons have exclusive things, I wouldn't go out of the way for it though, just get a friend who is going to pick it up for me
Anything outside of that is just a bonus. I'm not a massive party person but being invited to them is a good way to make new friends too, so always fun when invited

Seeing People like me and The culture i admire. I go back to cons because i want a break from doing errands, work and driving for the rest of the year.

>>10833620
>>Location
Oh, neat. I thought of this one but left it out since I thought it was too specific. Also curious on your stance with parties. It's always a hard yes or no from people in my experience, never "Yeah, not really my thing but I'll go anyway"

>>10833596
The potential to meet new people and make friends, plus it always feels great having people recognize and compliment my cosplay work

>>10833596

Conventions used to mean busting my ass off to make friends, and updating my cosplay resume to reflect how much i've grown as a craftsman since the last con. Nowadays, I just use them as a makeshift high school reunion among the con friends and internet friends I have met, while just cosplaying what's a mixture between skill and comfort. I don't generally get along with newer anime enjoyers, or gamers but I like anime and video game merch, and I like showing off my work.

After going to a dozen diff cons, having a falling out with my friends and avoiding getting cancelled I just go to get fucked up and wear costumes. I dont care about merch when I barely have money, I drink and go to the parties and call off work the Monday after

Gotta be the goofy shit for me. I get the impression a lot of people (here or in general) don't really know about some of the stuff that happens under the surface. You don't have to look hard either, it's often right out in the open. Just ridiculous, almost cartoonish stuff. That alone usually makes up for the bad side of things.

>>10833596
Im here only to have people take pictures of me, have cute boys hit and do stuff w me and maybe hang out w discord friends and very rarely nice randoms.

I legitimately dont care about anything about the con its just an ego boost and a bit of hedonism.

>>10833684
I travel a lot to overseas conventions so location is especially important, but also how easy it is to get to locally. Can I get a train there, or do I need to drive?
As for parties, I do enjoy them but I'm not the most social person. It really depends on how the entire day at the convention has been and the location (Colossalcon? you obviously party. Otakon? Not so much)

>>10834253
Not quite at your level, though we're in similar shoes so that would explain why we both care about location.
>Otakon? Not so much
Huh. I've mentioned that it didn't give me party vibes, and was told at least a couple times they're great. Still never been, so can't confirm.

It's the hopeless dream of meeting someone who ~gets it~ ("it" being all the stupid 2000s anime I love, among other things), made even more hopeless by the fact that my city has had a total of one, single-day anime con. So the chance of making a local friend is basically impossible.

But really, I just love seeing people dressed up silly, and I love being a part of it.. Dozens of the same FotM anime character. Girls in horrible lace-monster Milanoo-level dresses. A cosplay from some obscure series that's never been popular. You never know what you're going to see, or what weird stuff you'll overhear. I'm still lonely, but at least I'm lonely somewhere that's a lot more amusing.

>>10834265
Some cons have a general open party vibe because they have a central location people can hang out at (usually smaller locations or hotel cons), some are more focused on room parties because there's no reasonable place to party at the location. The best conventions have a mix of both.

>>10833596
>Cosplaying
Last second prep for comp.
Running cosplay panels

>Event
Sometimes I'll hit up event specific things. Usually I'll go to panels

>Social
I'm friends with a lot of the con pros that travel cons. So we usually hang out, catch up, and play games after con is over

Fuck meetups, I'm tired of the official photogs losing the pictures.

There's a bit of merch that I'll buy, usually small crafts.

A lot of this will change as we have our first child due this year. But my parents love babysitting so we'll likely be able to do it almost as much.

>>10834064
Examples?

>>10834428
I've given several here >>10831813, as a (vain) attempt to keep this one thread alive. Hoping somebody else will give their own.

>>10833596
i've been to a few, but none with friends. being in a con alone makes me sad and depressed and i usually leave after making a couple of rounds around the venue's.

I love people watching, and cons are excellent for that. I'm usually the first one awake and I'm happy to hang out in the lobby, drink coffee, and just look at other congoers while waiting for my friends to get up and ready.

Never cosplay. I might some day but I'm just too lazy. Cons are vacations for me, so I just want to relax, go at my own pace, and drink/party a bit. Usually try to have once nice (re: $50+) dinner over the weekend at some time and spend a bit in the dealer hall/artist alley. It's a psudo-shopping spree for nerd shit that I normally wouldn't look at outside of discussing some show or movie online.
I like going to a lot of panels, even if I don't end up staying in most of them. Finding the kind of people who both have energy and an autistic passion for what their presenting is like finding a needle in a haystack, but when you do it's a lot of fun to just hear them go off, even if I'm not entirely invested in whatever the topic is. Love hearing cringe stories and find myself always going to those "Your con experience" panels because there's always one broken individual that uses it to tell their life story and it's funny to watch the panelists try to pull their mic (or fail to do so and watch them talk about their whole tragic life).

>>10834409
I feel ya, even if I've never seen a "good" rave in the waves at Colossal. Missed East's entirely. Apparently was piss easy to sneak in, just like it was in Ohio? Either way, should look into this Otakon thing more, since I'm *pretty* sure I was told it's a party con during Colossal itself.
>>10834825
>there's always one broken individual that uses it to tell their life story and it's funny to watch the panelists try to pull their mic (or fail to do so and watch them talk about their whole tragic life).
JEJ. Something no one ever mentions when they talk about stuff that has no business in cons. "My tragic life story" panels are everywhere now. If they were around before, never like this. No clue what the appeal is. Sounds like there is none, at least in this context. (Why would there be?)

>>10835197
I like my cringe, both in a good way being someone who's really fucking passionate about the topic they're presenting on that it seems like it's the only thing they like, and in the bad way like a trainwreck.
An example of the good kind of cringe is I went to a late night panel on writing fanfic smut at a recent con and while it wasn't informative (don't really care about writing fanfiction), the panelists were having a great time, the energy in the room was high because their enthusiasm was infectious, and audience interaction was good.
As to your comment on rave in the waves, it was a lot of fun just goofing around in the pool with a bunch of other goobers. Call me simple, but joining in a huge conga line to create a huge whirlpool in the center was pretty fun and the fact that they turned on the wave machine (which seemed way stronger/bigger waves than they had in the past) blew me away.

>>10835200
>I like my cringe, both in a good way being someone who's really fucking passionate about the topic they're presenting on that it seems like it's the only thing they like
Wasn't gonna toot my own horn buuuuuut there's another thread here now where somebody uses almost these exact words to describe the panel I hosted. It's a nice feeling, desu.

It seems you went to a really big one, cause every time I tried it was pretty dead. Like, three dozen absolute max. Even at the teddyloid one. I'll give it another shot next time, cause the huge, unofficial outdoor parties can be great too. For the same reason. Oh and checked

>>10835201
The crowd difference is probably because the one I went to was Colossalcon North, which is in Wisconsin in mid November. It's cold as fuck outside and the indoor pool is probably smaller than some of the outdoor ones at the other Kalahari's. That, and it was the first year that the old Diashocon-goers were able to try out the late night water park since Daisho didn't offer that.

>>10835203
Colossalcon Prime was pretty good, even though it was cold outside the outdoor hot tubs were having a full-on party with their own DJ (before security arrived)

>>10835203
Well dang. So it was pretty big for a first-year con. I was really curious about that, when compared to Colossal Texas which started tiny. On the other hand it's no surprise because it's much closer to the other three, and Texas folks probably have no clue of this con's reputation when compared.
>>10835205
AAAAHH missed that too even though I actually went to the late night swim

>>10835206
The real reason it started so large is because it just took the exact same weekend that Daisho (the previous con in the WI Kalahari) had, which was around 7-8k attendance. A ton of people who went to Daisho every year moved on to Colossal North as soon as it popped up,

>>10835207
Oh, I know, even if I never went to Daisho. It's something I'll never forget: them announcing they were done for good on Thanksgiving 2021. Also Thanksgiving 2021: colossalconnorth domain name is registered. Simply ebin

>>10834428
Here's another one I forgot to tell up till now
>Lame corporate con, went by myself cause everyone bailed
>Wander hotel hallways looking for parties, while loaded up with my bag of cases of bottles
>See one promising area, as some younger guys walked out of a room and looked the type
>Find them again a few levels under and they invite me over
>Introduce myself and give my big stash out to any takers
>Chat with the host and say a magic phrase "Elon Musk"
>Big guy on his laptop up to that point, looks up and interjects
>Boy do I have something to TELL YOU about Elon Musk
>Starts saying the most cartoonish shit I've ever heard
>You Democrat? You Republican? BITCH I AM A LEFTIST
>Do you see this in front of you? I see the Death Star, and I am Luke Skywalker looking for that port. Ready to blow it ALL AWAY
>WE NEED TO BOMB THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION I AM NOT EVEN JOKING
>This here? This is Pachelbel, he wrote a piece, Canon in D. VERY popular at weddings.
>Do you know "Fridrick Nichee?" Well ya see, he wrote about what he called the will to power..."
>Pass out in the room
>Wake up the next morning
>He strolls out
>...SO AS I WAS SAYING ABOUT ELON MUSK
The tone in his voice really made it, so typing this out doesn't have the same effect. Normally I'd be groaning but this was honestly nonstop comedy.

I love cons for their sense of community and the fun, carefree atmosphere. It's honestly one of the only times a year I get to just have fun and feel accepted. Lame but true. Plus I love all the merch and art, duh.

One thing I see a lot on these types of threads is ppl meeting other con-goers and hanging out w them/ becoming friends. Not to sound like a fucking loser (failing hard rn) but how do ppl do this? I always go w my one friend but I would love to meet other ppl there to hang out w for a bit or even after the con.

>10836226
>how do ppl do this?
Wearing a costume always helps, even better when you own it. Having someone with you actually might make it less likely that randos will approach. The best hope there is to be in one place talking for a while. Somebody might hear and interject. People tend to suggest when you're in line which sense, though I find that's the same level as being paired off in elementary school for "forced friendships". Oh and get a feel for the crowd, see what they're like. Some are just naturally friendlier (anime fan) than others (comic fan)

>>10836226
>how do ppl do this?
Wearing a costume always helps, even better when you own it. Having someone with you actually might make it less likely that randos will approach. The best hope there is to be in one place talking for a while. Somebody might hear and interject. People tend to suggest when you're in line which sense, though I find that's the same level as being paired off in elementary school for "forced friendships". Oh and get a feel for the crowd, see what they're like. Some are just naturally friendlier (anime fan) than others (comic fan)

>>10836229
I always go in cosplay, thinking about it now maybe I should compliment/chat w ppl who are in cosplay instead of kid of just waiting for ppl to talk to me lol. Rly great advice anon, thanks so much. Also no way in hell am I ever talking to a comic book fan.

>>10836306
Adding to that, yes being with your friend most of the time can be a limiter. Start going off and doing your own thing for a while. I typically go in a group of 4-8 and always dip at some point in the middle of the day and that's when I tend to be able to strike up convo with random people a lot more. It's easier for a single person to talk to a single person for a while than it is for someone to push their way into a group of friends because of all the rapport they already have with each other makes it much easier for them to talk to one another.
Asking questions is a really easy way to get people to open up, as long as they don't seem completely closed off from everyone when you ask. It's an old trick, but it really works wonders and I've walked out of the dealer hall chatting with people to go get a drink together umpteen times because I would ask some innocuous question about something they were picking up/looking intently at (I'm not a cosplayer so this is the easiest way to strike up conversation).

>>10836306
Glad to help, fren. Thing is-- a lot of the anime fans do strike up conversation just randomly.
>no way in hell am I ever talking to a comic book fan.
These types never will either. ...And if you're into the sort of thing, mixing a bunch of vodka into a Sprite bottle and walking around never hurts your odds either.

>>10836306
>>10836226
Take photos, it's a good conversation starter

I like to stare at cute female cosplayers

>>10836311
Oh that's smart, thank you as well. You guys make it sound so easy! I'm going to comicon this March with my friend and meeting up w some of their friends later, I think going off by myself just to chat is a good idea.
>>10836330
So true lol
>>10836349
THIS IS SO MF COOL

I go to try to be cosfamous/find my anime waifu. It used to be about making some friends but I've found that most of the attendees SUCK ASS.

Now I go to see how my cosplays perform. Also try to find cosplays of characters that I like/or are amazing.PM0050

>>10833596
I don't cosplay, due to poor body image but I am working on losing all the weight. I go more for the social experience, my main thing is hosting parties and meeting new people. I always get a new experience everytime I go to cons. The social experience is unlike anywhere in the world, I've traveled to dozens upon dozens now and can say West Coast > East Coast > midwest
In terms of cons

>>10838950
>I've traveled to dozens upon dozens now and can say West Coast > East Coast > midwest
The impression I've gotten, even as someone who's only done a single West Coast so far. I am curious, too-- East Coast generally or a specific region? And everybody seems to say the same for Midwest too, myself included. Could definitely go for another's perspective to see how / where we might agree / differ.

>>10838965
East coast generally. DC cons like Katsucon and Anime New York.

I do agree on the West Coast being the best.

East coast is very elitist/cliquey and more fake. They'll say after the con "it was so much fun meeting all of you/everyone was so friendly" but it's a lie.

They're actually not that friendly, only friendly if you offer value(have a lot of friends/good cosplayer as a guy or same for girl but not as harsh)

>>10838993
Never done either, but that's closer to the Midwest than the areas I go to. Good thing about East is you can have a fun time with your group(s) or solo. Midwest, it's neither. Groups are catty and mentally ill on a level I've never seen. The crowds are cold, boring and 3x fatter than average. That's an interesting trend, the less someone weighs the more likely they are to compliment or chat. Wonder why...

>>10839124

Oh I do agree Midwest is kinda weird. I've been to ACen it was very average, plus the rave scene is ugly.

>>10839264
>plus the rave scene is ugly
Let's be real, that's most cons. Never have i understood why people are so obsessed with the damn rave. They're ALWAYS going on about it, then it's total ass and you get like 20 people in a huge room. 10 standing, 9 in a circle and 1 dancing for a few seconds. That's not just me talking, the ones who hype it up never have fun either. Even worse, raves are the easiest way to get robbed cause of their retard policies. If there's any con with a "cool rave scene" I haven't found it
t. went to ACEN 22 rave and nobody liked it

>>10833596
To be honest
Main reason for me was to get laid
Maybe get a girlfriend too
Or at least to meet new people

I was able to do the last thing to a certain degree

Also, the stuff I'm able to buy there

>>10833596
I used to go when I was younger because my friends went, I enjoyed anime and nerd culture, and because I loved the creative and freeing atmosphere. Panels were also great, I've been to one hosted by Studio Trigger among other artists.

Now, I go because...yeah, literally all of those reasons. Plus now I have more money and crafting skills so I can buy cool shit and attempt to make sick cosplays.

>>10833620
This anon pretty much said all I would have. Especially the first point; I'm a nobody, and people asking for pictures of my cosplay is probably the only time I'll ever feel like a celebrity.

Going to Kawacon in San Antonio today, first con for me.
If anyone goes and sees a Natsu walking around, come say hi to a fellow basket weaver.

>>10838950
>West Coast > East Coast > midwest
East coast has my favorite con (Magfest) but this is the truth.

I don't like east cons because there's more pressure to put a lot of effort in a cosplay or else! I like small cons because I can just buy a cosplay from micostumes/etsy/amazon and no one is being judgy. WHAT CONS MEAN TO ME?!

simply being around people that like Anime and getting pictures taken is enough. I like being around famous people. I saw David Hayter once, but didn't meet him because I wouldn't know what to say to a famous person despite me liking content they are in.

>>10839124
>catty and mentally ill
You mean it’s not like this in other places?!!
I’m from the Midwest and I s2g it is so hard to make new cosplay friends who want to be actual friends and not just surface level “let’s take a selfie at the con” acquaintances.

I always just thought it was the way things were with the new generation of cosplayers. Even in the Midwest, when I started going to cons 2012-2015 I could talk to new people and make friends. I noticed a shift in the scene around 2016/2017 and just chalked it up to cosplay becoming more popular and cons being more accessible, which attracts a younger crowd that’s more closed off to strangers.

Reflecting back now knowing it’s not like this other places, there are some other things I think might have contributed. Around the time I mentioned earlier, there was almost constant drama in the Chicago cosplay scene. Drama between cosplayers over stupid petty shit, a number of con pedos getting flushed out, then a decent number of well known Midwest photographers were called out with the me too movement. I think maybe all of that happening in such a short period of time is what caused this

I am hopeful though. Last year at Acen, I had a lot of great conversations with people because of one of my cosplays. Nobody I clicked with on a deeper level, but it was still nice. I think we might be getting back to a point of people opening up again around here

>>10842713
>You mean it’s not like this in other places?!!
Generally speaking, no. Every scene I've been to has varying levels of interconnectedness. Sometimes, a single state can barely keep one alive. In others, it's region of a state if they have loads of cons or a collection of states when there aren't enough.
>there was almost constant drama in the Chicago cosplay scene
Yep. I assume you mean Kopf, to some extent since they're still railing against him nonstop. The only truly deserved one that I know of (prefer to keep it like that!)
>Last year at Acen, I had a lot of great conversations with people
It was both lower key and lower drama than I expected. Do any of these folks ever ask for contact details? That's REALLY the biggest divide between Midwest and my area. Cause a lot of the time, they will follow up for other unrelated meetups.

I like flirting with pretty girls while im wearing my shitty cosplay

>>10842727
Thread winner

>>10842717
>I assume you mean Kopf
Not specifically about kopf, but yeah he was and still is definitely part of the problem

>Do any of these folks ever ask for contact details?
Now that you mention it, no that doesn’t happen super often. I usually don’t ask because I have adhd and tend to forget to ask in the moment.

I wonder if others just don’t think about it in the moment or maybe it’s a weird Midwest social thing where people don’t want to impose by asking. Or maybe it’s something else I’m just not seeing?

>>10842733
It's kind of sad I never see any guys just be normal at cons like me. I mean I see guys hit on girls or try to make sexual advances or ask them out but I think it's more fun to just compliment and flirt with girls without actually caring about sex.
Why do guys at cons all have to act beta or like sex pests? Is it just the new generation of guys are weird?

I'm going to be copy pasting a bit of other people's responses while interjecting my own since they've already been said by other people.

>I don't cosplay, due to poor body image but I am working on losing all the weight.

Not much to elaborate on here, i'm 39, it most likely won't happen.

>The social element
>Parties (unofficial), hookups, meet new folks, mutual friends flying in from different areas
>Hanging out
>People watch, the weird experiences only cons can provide, that one time in the year "the gang gets back together"

This is a big part of what cons mean to me. When i'm at cons, I know i'm among people who "get me". But at the same time I despise these people. You might even think i'm some bitter virgin but no when I was at big cons in my 20s I almost always had a con hookup (Seriously, don't ask me how, women just found me attractive back then)

>Nowadays, I just use them as a makeshift high school reunion among the con friends and internet friends I have met

This used to be part of it up until my 30s, I mostly ever attended bigger cons and I have this weird autism or gift for remembering every face I see at a con. I've actually spotted some non cosplayers that were at big cons in their civilian lives. I'd ask them "Hey, you look familiar weren't you at "x anime con" a few months ago. They appreciate me recognizing them and we talk for a bit.

>It's the hopeless dream of meeting someone who ~gets it~ ("it" being all the stupid 1980s anime I love, among other things)

Yeah as big as 1980s anime aesthetics are on youtube, nobody at real cons can appreciate it, I try and limit my talking to older looking people.

>being in a con alone makes me sad and depressed and i usually leave after making a couple of rounds around the venue's.

This happened to me at the latest colossalcon east. I drove 4 hours to get there, paid for the badge, only stayed for 5 hours on Friday. There was just, nobody to talk to and nothing to do.

>>10842766
>Is it just the new generation of guys are weird?
To paint with a very broad brush: gamergate+electionfag influence in predominantly male spaces tricked a whole gen of dudes into thinking girls are ontologically malicious and simply cannot sincerely be into anime/vidya for their own enjoyment. Every yaoi fanfic and fanart sprung into existence from nothing and to be consumed by no one, all shoujo media simply a cast of girls for male coomers, its singular audience since time immemorial.

Because if this when they see a girl in the one physical space they can correctly assume she's a fucking dork like them, they only see a hole on the prowl for betabux and a taste of weeaboo Chad's unsheathed katana. If they approach her at all it's with some PUA cringe.

>>10842774
>older looking people.
Other than Magfest are there any cons where the average age skews closer to 30 than 20?

>>10842736
To be fair, I never ask them for that stuff either. Mostly since I just don't use it much.
>Or maybe it’s something else I’m just not seeing?
Lemme put it like this: Sakuracon last year? Some of the most serious cosplayers you've ever seen. Hundreds and thousands of them. Custom elaborate costumes. High-effort meme costumes. Groups cosplays for series nobody thinks about anymore. I went with a super cheap and low effort outfit, still did great. Next week: A smallish Midwest con where there's fat Jotaro, fat Joseph and fat Jolyne. Same outfit, nobody said a word.
>>10842766
Ah, it's been a while since I've seen you around. As odd as ever.
>>10842780
>Other than Magfest are there any cons where the average age skews closer to 30 than 20?
ColossalCon. It might even be over 30.

>>10842780
Oh and also, you've touched on something I say a lot but nobody seems to take seriously: the inherent anti-pretty bias or outright fear of girls. Nobody wants to try because unsolicited eye contact is cause for arrest or whatever they're saying today. When I tell them to get their heads back in reality, just settle down a bit, they near always rebut with Twitter platitudes that prove they're talking out their ass. Gets frustrating desu

>>10842820
Eye contact is a bit tricky though. Like, when I'm talking to someone or listening to them I'll tend to just stare directly into their eyes without blinking. But I have to remember to break eye contact every so often or girls think that I'm like into them or something and would want to date them or fuck them or whatever. Like it's just difficult to get the amount of eye contact right.

>>10842822
Believe me, I know where you're coming from on trying to stay engaged. But on the other hand, I was more joking than anything. It's about always having an excuse ready than specific point. Works just as well to say "I can't date this girl who's 19 cause I'm 20 and they'll cancel me for grooming children." More relevant, I got a (You) RIGHT NOW that proves my point about people telling what's up when they have no clue. This: >>10842823

>>10842825
But that post was me shitposting to demoralize men and make them stop approaching girls. Girls may not realize it but they're better off with their vibrator and didlo rather than going up to a hotel room with you for a disappointing 10 minutes of sex and then crying for a while at how awful their life is and how they're coping poorly.

>>10842830
Ok, thanks for confirming my point either way and it wasn't gonna work even if you hadn't said anything. Better luck next time, lardass.

>>10842830
Kind of true. Girls don't get to "doesn't matter, had sex" if the sex was shit.

>>10842819
Yeah, there's a reason why Midwest cons are 'party' cons. People come to dick around, get drunk, and hang out and I've always got the impression that no one really brings their 'A game' to these cons. It makes sense because there's generally less industry connections both on the fan and professional sides of things.

>>10842875
>Yeah, there's a reason why Midwest cons are 'party' cons.
Hm. Colossal is the biggest party con I go to and they're the easiest to get on with in the entire Midwest (that I know of). Much older, clearly not as in-tune with anime and many aren't from the same region of the country. Some aren't from the country at all. But either way, the "A-gamer's" are actually more polite than the lazy fatties.

Shamelessly copying an idea somebody brought up in another thread: What does your ideal convention look like? This could be as simple as you want or tism for someone who obsessively played business management PC games (totally not me!) Here's some obvious criteria
>Venue size / type / location
>Dates
>Guests
>Panels
>Vendors
>Target audience
>Type (anime, games, comics)
>Style (focused more on guests, parties, serious cosplaying, etc.)
I'll come back again later to give me own answers, when I'm less sleepy

>>10844216

I'm the anon who made that post in the other thread, thanks for doing this. I don't like to start my own threads.

>Venue size / type / location
I like the really big cons, Otakon in Baltimore was the biggest I was ever at. I goto cons to meet people so the more the better.

>Dates
During the summer

>Guests
I'm never too keen on this but I suppose anybody in the Japanese industry as it is supposed to be an ANIME con. I would accept some minor american anime guests and even an E-celeb or two.

>Vendors
Again, the more the better, the bigger the dealers room and artists alleys the more choices

>Target audience
I like a con that is for all people kids and adults during the day, but as soon as the sun goes down it becomes a 21+ party con and the kids are put to bed.

>type
Anime and gaming, comics are gay and pozzed.

>Style
I'm mostly for parties. Cosplay is supposed to be fun, not serious. I will always stick to my dated 90s version of cosplay, try and look as much like the character as you can, both physically and costume wise. You're putting on a COSTUME of the character because you like something about them. Don't try to be Sasuke when you're a 300lb black woman.

>>10844216

>Venue Size/location
Prefer cons that are in the 10-30k range. Anything bigger seems to either end up going full corporate like Anime Expo. When the numbers get that big, panels start being packed requiring you to actually wait in 30+ minute lines to get into anything.
>Dates
Whatever is fine. I got to 3-4 a year spread throughout the year.
>Guests
Never gave a fuck about guests except if those medium sized cons can pick up actual Japanese guests. VA's don't do shit for me.
>Panels
This one is a crapshoot. I go to a ton of panels and I also leave a ton before they're over. I have a 5 minute rule. If you can't keep me engaged or entertain in 5 minutes of me sitting there, I'm out. I'm not even looking for a specific topic a oot of the time and am just hoping for a passionate presenter who's at least somewhat aware of the crowd/engaging. Do that, and I'll listen to you talk about paint drying for an hour.
>Vendors
Dealer hall is always just me scouring fir Nendoroids, so I always hope there'll be a company with older out of print ones for shows that I've recently gotten into and liked. The bigger the artist alley, the better. I like options and I usualy buy 1-2 prints a con plus some other random garbage. My favorite thing to do is get at con commissions, but those seem to have died down a bit.
>Target Audiennce
Doesn't really matter, but I do want some 18+ panels every night and would love for the cons to stop doing all age raves if they do them.
>Type
Anime focused for the most part.
>Style
Party cons are all I really care about. I try to break off from my group and make random new friends at least once a con.

>>10833596
>Cosplaying
I almost exclusively make my cosplays and will enter the contests/masquerades if available and the judges aren't shit. I used to take photos of cosplayers in the halls but it becomes a bit of a hassle these days to juggle the cosplay I'm wearing plus grabbing my phone, so I just like to compliment people if I like the character or they look really good.

>What the event itself offers
Don't tend to give a shit about guests, especially cosplay influencer guests. I'll make a run of the AA/dealer's hall and usually either don't buy anything, or will splurge on adding to my figure collection if I find something I really like. Again, cosplay contest, maybe the concert if the band is good, and maybe a panel or two if the topic is interesting.

>The social element
I stick with my main friend group but the scene here is so small and I've been going to cons for 15+ years that I know or am acquainted with 80% of congoers in my area, so I stop and talk to people or take selfies and run to whatever is going on next.

>Hanging out
Vibing in the halls and eating whatever garbage convention center cafeteria food is there is a lot of fun for me. I like people watching and being in cosplay in a space where it's normal. My friends and I will take photos for each other and explore what the con has going on, hit up panels, etc. I try to make it a combination of getting my cosplay fix and a mini vacation.

>>10834331
>I'm still lonely, but at least I'm lonely somewhere that's a lot more amusing.

>Venue size
A decent sized hotel with a convention center attached is always the winning option when I go. Massive spaces are too impersonal and make it easy to lose anyone I came with, especially with shoddy connection. Totally with you on wanting to meet more, but casting a wide net like that doesn't appeal to me since the large events attract people that either don't wanna talk or are dull if they do
>Dates
Honestly fine with anything, as long as it's cool to moderately cold outside
>Guests
Also not my thing, gotta be done anyway. I'll keep it quick, say Hiroyuki Imaishi and a bunch of the MGS cast (David Hayter, Quinton Flynn, Cam Clarke, Robin Atkin Downes, Chris Randolph, Debbie Mae West, Jennifer Hale)
>Vendors
The more unique the better (odd stuff like animals in a jar or homemade sweets), the fewer f*Nko pops and related crap even better still.
>Target audience
~21-40. Honestly couldn't care less about family appeal or grandpas, since I want a lively mood at all times
>Type
Anime anime anime ONLY
>Style
Loose, silly, high energy, party

>>10845011
Hey, glad you appreciate it. Thought maybe it would be taken the wrong way. Seems we agree 100% in some ways, a bit less in others

>>10844216
>>Venue size / type / location
I like large conventions, more cosplayers
>>Dates
Spring/Autumn, not too hot, not too cold, i can cosplay short sleeves and long sleeves without being uncomfortable
>>Guests
Japanese voice actors would be super cool
>>Panels
Don't usually go to these, i guess the ideal panel would be one where people in the anime industry talk about bts work
>>Vendors
The more stores selling different items the better, price must be reasonable
>>Target audience
18+
>>Type (anime, games, comics)
Anime and games, i'm not big on comics and the crowds are usually the funko pop buying type
>>Style (focused more on guests, parties, serious cosplaying, etc.)
Serious cosplaying is always super cool but going to cons to walk around with my friends, drinking whilst dressed up is what makes the day for me.

>33
>feel like every year that passes im gonna start being more out of place at cons
>dont wanna be that balding middle aged guy that everyone thinks is weird

>>10846002
As above so below, heh. Make cosplays that hide the face. Either that or cosplay older characters.

>>10846002
SKINCARE ROUTINE NOW

>>10844216
>Venue size / type / location
Big. Bigger the better. The more industry the better.

>Dates
Summer

>Guests
Japanese guests

>Panels
Topics related to anime and Japanese culture that actually teach interesting and new facts instead of trying to do some weird western spin.

>Vendors
No bootlegs

>Target audience
People like me into slightly more niche anime/Japan-related topics. No stupidly excitable teens and western nerdom stuff.

>Type (anime, games, comics)
Anime, Japanese games, manga, some idolshit that have anime connections.

>Style (focused more on guests, parties, serious cosplaying, etc.)
Focus on high-quality content and good food

I love getting drunk as fuck in a fun festive environment. I love catching up with my con friends. I like just hanging out with friends all weekend goofing off. Walking around window shopping, people watching, etc.. Random conversations with people while waiting or loitering.

I'm getting older, but at 31 this shit still slaps and I still look forward to all the cons I can make in a year.

>>10846206
>I'm getting older, but at 31 this shit still slaps and I still look forward to all the cons I can make in a year.
You're a rare one, both for this board and in general. The constant posts / remarks I see about "Having to stop after a certain age" definitely implies a lot of them feel ashamed of what they're doing. And yet...pic related. There have been some cons where the actual grandparents are the stars of the show, while the little zoomiezooms here whine "I'm 22, getting I'm too old for this shit."

As you were LG x

https://discord.gg/EdjVYK3hUP
j

>>10846002
Maybe at an anime convention. But an older man doesn’t look out of place at a comic convention

>>10833596
Nothing. I've been cosplaying Tatushiro Satou from Welcome to NHK for the past five years. I've never been to a con and i have no desire to change that.

>>10846065
Does it make a big difference? I heard that was all genetics.

>>10846318
Huge difference. As a man, giving a single fuck about your skin puts you ahead of like 99% of them.

>>10846318
>>10846065
Skincare doesn't even work. It's a gigantic meme. Been on an entire routine with some La Rochey Posay and some PA++++ sunscreen for 2 years and my skin is worse than when I binge drank and didn't even use sunscreen.

>>10834138
>have cute boys hit and do stuff w me
True story?

>>10833596
My main reason is to get laid or a gf
Or at least flirt with girls there
Never achieved that so far

>>10842766
I mean, isn't the whole goal of flirting to get laid in the end, or get a gf?

>>10846389
your desperation is really showing, no wonder you're not attracting anyone :[

I used it as a major hangout event to meet girls/fellow tailors/fans of series I like, to party with other nerds, and because making costumes for events is fun. My core friend group doesn't really rage or party and I'm the only extrovert so I like blowing off steam.

I got a gf lately though, and now I don't enjoy going to anime cons as much. Part of it is that I don't really like any new anime (switched to gaming a lot more, so Mag is still GOATed), and because I can just party with my GF and her friends now instead. Plus, there's a bunch of themed parties (that include anime themes) so I can just wear my cosplays there, or make themed costumes for these events. I can focus my crafting on making clothing I can wear IRL now since cosplays are something I wear several times vs. a jacket I can make that I can wear daily (for example)

>>10846380
Ignore this guy, wash your damn face/exfoliate/moisturize at least.
>>10846248
>>10846206
I'm 35 and cons definitely get better with age. I get my grandpa nap and stretches in after leaving the con in the afternoon, then in the evening get to drink and hang with friends. I love how they serve as a gathering point for online communities. It makes me feel like a bird migrating.

>go to anime con
>get horny seeing all the schoolgirl and lewd cosplays

>>10846416
Yeah
I know
But otherwise it means, I'm not even trying

>>10846634
Seeing your kind around here, and I couldn't be more grateful. The constant doomposting about "too old" got out of hand overnight. The lash back against it is instant, thank God. I will party with actual grandpas at cons if they're cool enough to know the age excuse is just that: an excuse.
>>10847181
That first post you responded to (and possibly the second) is from the biggest sperg on this board. He doesn't even namefag, yet you can spot him immediately cause every post is about how awesome (and cowardly) he is because women love him (he does nothing in response) and men suck. Just keep that in mind.

>>10844216
>Venue
Anywhere that isn't sardine can stuffed past 70% of its total capacity. Max 20-50k attendees. No awful, mismanaged, corporate dogshit, industry cons like Anime Expo.
>Dates
Winter or late Fall (Spring in cooler places) so it's not a miserable shitfest for anyone in costume. There are enough summer conventions for normalfags as is.
>Guests
No e-celebs, NA voice actors unionfags, or GBT/drag spokespeople hosting panels on why anime is problematic. Preferably some Japanese writers/directors/voice actors even if it means translators for the EOL weebs. No autograph signing garbage unless you catch them at the end of a panel.
>Panels
Cosplay construction talents, cosplay & sfx workshops, small contests, temp activity & photoshoot meetup rooms (fashion or fandom specific), 18+ humor, watch rooms for relaxing and chilling, gameshows, etc. All with the caveat that the hosted panels are vetted for quality and held by someone who's interesting and has charisma because most con panels are miserable.
>Vendors
Don't really care about this, no funko pops or overpriced alibaba bootleg shit preferably. Good artists, seamstresses, crafters >>>> licensed merch.
>Audience
20+ primarily. Well-behaved teens I guess could be welcome, but no rules should be centered around or catered to them (with the exception of no nudity or coomershit anywhere in the convention including panels because that's fucking gross, boring, and attracts the worst kind of costhots and pornsick moids.)
>Type
Anime focused, gaming is fine, even 40k is tolerable, but marvel/dc comicshit and capeshitters can stay out.
>Style
Focused on engaging events, parties, cosplay meets, raves, maybe even concerts. Cosplay and distinct fashion (victorian, lolita, goth, vkei, whatever) highly encouraged whether it be through ribbons, badges, contests, special panels/rooms, etc. Celebrity signings and autobiography panels are so boring.

+anyone who smells bad gets kicked out until they shower and use deodorant.

>>10844216
>Venue size / type / location
Medium-sized con, absolutely nothing approaching AX/Comic-Con numbers and definitely in a location that's surrounded with lots of easily accessed food options. The dream is also an area that's relatively remote and generally doesn't have a massive amount of normie cross-traffic.
>Dates
Schedule it on a non-holiday weekend and we're good.
>Guests
Industry people, but preferably less producers and marketing teams and more developers, animation directors, and people who actually participate in the creative process.
>Panels
If they're going to be industry panels, make them have something unique to show at the con. Else just erase any shill/marketer panels and replace them with fan panels, interactive game panels, and ideally just lean more into the community rather than showcasing products for an hour.
>Vendors
I've never been to a con with vendors I've outright thought should or shouldn't be there, so they're all fine.
>Target audience
Losers. Do not aim for normies or partygoers, because those types will make their own space regardless of what the con aims for.
>Type (anime, games, comics)
Anime/Games are generally the best way to get a good blend of people. Adding comics and cartoons to the mix floods the place with more undesirables than you'd think.
>Style (focused more on guests, parties, serious cosplaying, etc.)
Focus heavily on social engagement and interaction between congoers. Industry guests are ephemeral and once their panels and autograph sessions are done, they are gone, and cannot hold a con together. Immaculate cosplay is great, but after a few photography sessions, it also can't hold a con together. Parties are a given at almost every con, but official parties tend to suck the life out of the social aspects because security will be breathing down your neck no matter what you do. Congoer interactions are the best way to keep the con going from the moment they open to the last few seconds before they close.

>>10847393
>Medium-sized con
>Adding comics and cartoons to the mix floods the place with more undesirables than you'd think
>Focus heavily on social engagement and interaction between congoers
>official parties tend to suck the life out of the social aspects
Seems we share a lot of the views on these sorts of things. Do you regularly attend conventions / more than average? I've found a lot of opinions from congoers are not as refined as this, since they're more shortsighted desu. That, and the community oriented convention is even more rare (no matter how they choose to advertise themselves). They can't just plaster that on a website and make it true. I can tell automatically how sincere they are by the enthusiasm of attendees.

Over the last weekend, I had some discussions at a con about the distribution of "weirdos" and "normal people", how skewing it either way messes with the program. So on that note, are you for or against parties in general? Since it sounds like you at least go to unofficial hotel parties, and that's a pretty tiny fragment of most conventions, especially when that's not their focus

>>10849365
> Do you regularly attend conventions / more than average?
I used to attend at minimum 10 SoCal conventions every year. Now I'm down to a handy 3-5 annual rotation, so I have a lot of experience here, both as a con attendee and as a volunteer staff member.

>They can't just plaster that on a website and make it true. I can tell automatically how sincere they are by the enthusiasm of attendees.
It's awkward because this is 100% correct. It's unfortunately not something an organizer can openly establish outside of having a "lounge" area or something to that effect.

>So on that note, are you for or against parties in general? Since it sounds like you at least go to unofficial hotel parties, and that's a pretty tiny fragment of most conventions, especially when that's not their focus
I'm always pro-options, but if it came to my preference I'd encourage (in general) more focus on inter-congoer options. Things like Ribbon Hunting and Scavenger Hunts and interactive panels are always an extreme plus. Official con "parties" are usually just a rave where socializing is either extremely hard (trying to talk to randoms while music is blaring is really difficult) or outright impossible (those same randoms are usually in a group of their own and are here for the music). While that's never a bad thing, it's just a matter of viability of the common congoer to actually engage beyond just dancing to the tracklist. Hotel parties and other unofficial social parties are perfect at cons because the environment is primarily other congoers, which generally filters out a lot of the more...suspect outsiders you might find if you simply stumbled upon a party, especially with room parties where it's 90%+ invite-only, but that's also something you can't, as a con organizer, actually emphasize or market.

I'd say if I was talking to an actual con organizer, I'd just lean more heavily into fun panels and events that fans of XYZ can interact with where possible.

>>10849370
>I used to attend at minimum 10 SoCal conventions every year
There it is then...
>as a con attendee and as a volunteer staff member.
...not only was that right, we're in similar positions too. Still, never been to California con at all, though that's changing at the end of this month (TouhouFest). Seems your scene is even bigger than I already thought. What are some good kinds there? Can say for sure...even planning for AX looks like the biggest logistical nightmare imaginable.
>>10849370
>It's awkward because this is 100% correct.
And yet, you've hit on the most "official" way to ensure you actually foster a "community environment" later in your post. Usually what I take to mean is "We want lots of young families who treat this like mini Disney i.e. in their own bubbles and 100% unconcerned with anyone else." So a self-defeating principle.
>Things like Ribbon Hunting and Scavenger Hunts and interactive panels are always an extreme plus.
and here's what I meant. This is such a breath of fresh air, because so few I attend do it.
>that's also something you can't, as a con organizer, actually emphasize or market.
Hard? Yes. Possible? Also yes. Since I've seen it done, it works surprisingly well. Granted...only one con, but that's all it takes.

Fuck it, every other thread is being saved from oblivion. Shameless self-bump time

>>10833596
Cosplaying for myself and to see others cosplay, as well as hanging out with my current friends and meeting new ones

idk what they mean for me i just go cause i have nothing to do on my days off work

I hate cons too many ugly fat losers

>>10858745
Thanks for reviving my thread, friend