Why do you go to Conventions

[KiraraKim]

I noticed an interesting discussion on another message board. Apparently many fans attend anime conventions solely for the purpose of cosplaying and seeing other cosplayers. I have only been to Otakon 2005 (and planning on going again next year) but I didn't cosplay nor do I plan to this year. Sure seeing the cosplayers was fun but overall my main objective for going to Otakon was to meet the guests, go to the dealer room, and attend some industry panels (this year I hope to see the AMV contests as well) so I am just wondering am I not the norm? Do people mainly go to anime conventions to cosplay?

Also clearly when I ask this I know people probably go to conventions for many reasons but if you could pick your top two or three reasons for attending conventions what would they be?

[Tamanegi Sensei]

Mostly conventions are there for other companies to network, mingle, and make business opportunities; And it could be a place to meet other people who relate to you...hobby or lifestyle wise. Or else it oculd be a celebration for everyone to enjoy and share. It could also be a time where new things come out and others are there to show and share. If there are cosplayers there flauntin their creative costumes, yeah that could be another reason.

[Saya-biki]

I would only go to a convention to buy stuff.

I always appreciate the feeling of it being in your hands right away as opposed to ordering it offline or something.

Well, I guess to meet people from other forums would be cool or to see GOOD cosplayers...eitherway the top reason is buying stuff. GOOD cosplay or meeting people I actually want to talk to would just be bonuses, not reasons to go.

[oompa loompa]

i go to conventions just cuz their fun, nothing really specific about it

[sohryu]

I'm with Saya on this one. Stuff = Win.

I've gone to three cons so far, the first one I went to was mainly just so I could see wtf it was like. I was also hoping to meet some geeky friends. Didn't happen since everyone was FAT, but meh. >.>;

After that first con, my main reason for going was to buy junk. I freaking love anime figures and posters. The atmosphere was nice as well, I guess.

Top 3 reasons for going to cons:

1. Buying stuff.
2. Meeting people.
3. Scoping out the geeky asians ;O

[Two-twenty]

1. Panels- Because I get to do stuff like getting a chance to talk directly to Madman Entertainment, or learning about some part of the industry I had no prior knowledge to (I saw this great panel about the history of mecha anime at Manifest).
2. Stuff = win
3. Laugh at the worst geekdom has to offer as a self-reassurance that I am a better person.

[Tyrdium]

I mostly go for the panels and dealer's room. The industry panels at AB '06 were excellent, as was the Chibi Project. Cons are, of course, more fun when you go with friends.

I was also hoping to meet some geeky friends. Didn't happen since everyone was FAT, but meh. >.>;I would've been your geeky friend. :(

[Jeannie]

I like to be around people I know I'm better than.

Just kidding... Conventions are fun. I just go to have a good time. I rarely buy anything since I never have enough money but I love to mingle and have a good laugh.


Yah, conventions are great :)

[Yodatsubato]

Reasons to go:
1. Stuff you don't find in your average Macy's
2. Watching the cosplayers (except for the ugly ones... No offense to the ugly people)
3. Industry guests ]CLAMPCLAMPCLAMPCLAMPCLAMP
4. Have fun with friends

Reasons not to go:
1. $$$ (traveling expenses, entry fee, stuff [see "Reasons to Go," Section 1])
2. Can't go on a Friday night / Saturday unless I'm staying within walking distance. That can also cost a lot of $$$.
3. Need to take time off from stuff, such as classes or work.

In short, it's all a money isue. I'd love to go to cons, but the little men in the green paper tell me I can't attend. I feel like I've been grounded by George Washington himself.

[Mana]

I do enjoy cosplay, but I don't go to a Con just to do so, and I have gone to cons wthout cosplaying before.

Really I love a little bit of everything, except lines. There are times when there have been things at a con I would have done, excet that the line was a mile long and I backed down rather quickly.

Dealer's room is a must, though I was very disappointed at ACen's this year (you'd think people would be selling other things besides the standard FMA/Inuyasha/Bleach/Naruto stuff...). Panels can be really interesting, and sometimes guests that I really want to see will be there. I love watching the cosplayers, and of course meeting people, whether new or those I met online.

[ShinoMatrix]

Hehe... lines... become part of the committee running the convention and you won't have to suffer lines (but I think the suffering in the lines is nowhere near as bad as it could get for the actual organisers :p)

* ShinoMatrix sounds like a disgruntled worker

Anyway, I do cosplay and I like cosplaying, but again, it's not my main motivation for attending a convention. Being a convention organiser aside, I like to attend conventions to have fun with a lot because of my friends (I've met a lot of friends through conventions), and traders...

I really don't do much anime merchandise shopping throughout the year. I really usually just save money for that once a year spending spree I do during con season, so traders are a very big reason for me.

But of course, the biggest reason for me are the AMVs ;)

I'm planning on attending a convention in America perhaps next year and at this point I'm tempted to go to either AWA or ACen... any recommendations? :)

[Mana]

ACen! ACen! Come see Mana and Roark in all of their glory. We'll be doing a Hard Gay and Dominatrix cosplay :3

I don't even know what AWA is >>;

[Yodatsubato]

ACen! ACen! Come see Mana and Roark in all of their glory. We'll be doing a Hard Gay and Dominatrix cosplay :3
Wow, that takes a lot of guts... You should record Roark running around and performing some more Hard Gay skits. *has no idea if Mana is joking or not*

It reminds me of the dominatrix job posting I came across yesterday while looking for a summer job. Apparently they pay $70/hour... and they told me engineers make a lot of money.

[Roark]

She's not joking.

[Major Tom]

1. Panels- Because I get to do stuff like getting a chance to talk directly to Madman Entertainment, or learning about some part of the industry I had no prior knowledge to (I saw this great panel about the history of mecha anime at Manifest).
2. Stuff = win
3. Laugh at the worst geekdom has to offer as a self-reassurance that I am a better person.

Quoted for truth. Except I go for stuff first, then panels. Usually there are some mad specials on that I just can't pass up (though my wallet dearly hopes that I would). I actually don't mind dressing up, but I have a thing about looking like a fool in public. Some people just don't realise that that Yuna costume is just not for them.

The atmosphere is also a draw card. It's fun, go and watch some anime on the big screen, and spending time with like minded friends.

[Mr. Otaku]

Otakon this August would be my first convention. So, I don't know what to expect.

[Mana]

Otakon this August would be my first convention. So, I don't know what to expect.
First time conventions are always the best :D Just be sure to do as much as you can, and bring a lot of money >>;

[WinterLaurel]

Otakon this August would be my first convention. So, I don't know what to expect.

Expect 1/2 of 20,000 people to be holding "Glomp Me" signs. O_o (Anyone know how the story beind these signs?)

Otakon was my first con, and it was a hell of a lot of fun. I met up with 15friends from another board and it was neat to get to meet these people IRL. I enjoyed the AMV contest, screening of parodies, artist's alley, the dealer's room was quite the adventure, the Hentai panel was scarier than the hordes of people wearing "Glomp Me" signs, and we saw L'Arc-en-Ciel in concert.

[Zero]

Expect 1/2 of 20,000 people to be holding "Glomp Me" signs. O_o (Anyone know how the story beind these signs?)


Simplest explanation: Very, very desperate Otaku.

[Mr. Otaku]

I'll keep that in mind.

[Mana]

Expect 1/2 of 20,000 people to be holding "Glomp Me" signs. O_o (Anyone know how the story beind these signs?)

To expand a bit on Zero's explanation....

A lot of self-proclaimed "Otaku" that attend conventions don't get out much elsewhere. They may not say a word to anyone besides their best friends during school and seem very shy and introverted, but when thrust within groups of people who have the same interest they do (namely Anime), they feel a bond form between themself and all of the people around them and convert to a temporary extroversion out of joy and camaraderie.

In the Anime Club at my high school, I got to see this on a rather large scale. I remember sitting down with Karmen and Jesse and wondering if we'd have enough people to even form the club, but on the first day we got people showing up who never seemed to speak a word, but were willing to be all crazy and loud during the club meetings. In fact, my first year at ACen, I saw one of these same girls wearing some sort of half-assed done cosplay with a "Glomp" sign running around.

[Gigadi]

3. Laugh at the worst geekdom has to offer as a self-reassurance that I am a better person.

True on so many levels, I would never dare to dress up as and pose as anime characters. It's just too lame for me to enjoy. The main reason though is to meet OTHETR attractive anime fans and the fact that I'm always bored as shit.

[KiraraKim]

they feel a bond form between themself and all of the people around them and convert to a temporary extroversion out of joy and camaraderie.

I guess I don't totally understand that (not that I don't agree that it happens) because even in a situation where the people enjoy the same things that I do I would still be on my guard until I got to know those people better

[Sage Brushfire]

to me there is nothing quite like the feeling i get from attending cons, the feeling of glee when you first walk into the dealer's room and the thoughts running through your mind on what you mmay be able to buy within; getting to meet people who work in the industry voice actors, artists, and various other people who you may or may not have admired for the work they have done in bringing anime into your homes, and seeing the cosplayer's do there thing is also highly enjoyable

can't wait till august since it willl be my first time going to Otakon, sad that i didn't have time to make my costume and relegated to having it comissioned but i still expect to have an awsome time there

[Jeannie]

I almost feel bad for the Introverted Otaku. I'm not sure why... they just seem so.. lost?

But anyway, yah, cons are fun if you need something to do but throwing beer bottles at cars is much more fun XD


So yah, chose wisely.