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NEWS: Multiple Anime Expo Staffers Resign in Board Dispute

sykoeent wrote:

Worst or best? Look at what they did with WonderCon and APE up North. If anyone can do it, it's them. I've been to a bunch of cons and Comic-Con is, by far, still the best one out there AND they also have the most pull, so that means more Special Guests.

Most pull only means most financial backing. You'd be surprised how much they pay for all those guests. Plus, if you have too many guests, everyone's attention is split, unable to see everything/everyone. There can be too much of a good thing.

There's no soul to those cons, IMHO. The crew doesn't care about the con. It's all too corporate for my taste.

There's no soul to those cons, IMHO. The crew doesn't care about the con. It's all too corporate for my taste.

UnknownFactor wrote:

sykoeent wrote: Worst or best? Look at what they did with WonderCon and APE up North. If anyone can do it, it's them. I've been to a bunch of cons and Comic-Con is, by far, still the best one out there AND they also have the most pull, so that means more Special Guests. Most pull only means most financial backing. You'd be surprised how much they pay for all those guests. Plus, if you have too many guests, everyone's attention is split, unable to see everything/everyone. There can be too much of a good thing. There's no soul to those cons, IMHO. The crew doesn't care about the con. It's all too corporate for my taste.

Yes, they will have the most financial backing to bring in more guests and as far as attention split? I think Split is better than alienation. Sometimes, the choices aren't something that most people want, or it attracts only certain people. How about the others not into said anime or whatever? More money means more backing means more variety means more satisfied attendees. More problems? Of course. But who better than Comic-Con to straighten things out? No one. They had problems one year at WonderCon with overcrowded dealer hall... next year? FIXED. San Diego's Convention center is too small for the rising attendance numbers... what do they do, get the city to approve a large scale expansion, JUST FOR THEM. Can't get tix to Comic-Con this year? That's cos everyone wants to go to it. Same can happen to AX.

sykoeent wrote:

UnknownFactor wrote: sykoeent wrote: Worst or best? Look at what they did with WonderCon and APE up North. If anyone can do it, it's them. I've been to a bunch of cons and Comic-Con is, by far, still the best one out there AND they also have the most pull, so that means more Special Guests. Most pull only means most financial backing. You'd be surprised how much they pay for all those guests. Plus, if you have too many guests, everyone's attention is split, unable to see everything/everyone. There can be too much of a good thing. There's no soul to those cons, IMHO. The crew doesn't care about the con. It's all too corporate for my taste. Yes, they will have the most financial backing to bring in more guests and as far as attention split? I think Split is better than alienation. Sometimes, the choices aren't something that most people want, or it attracts only certain people. How about the others not into said anime or whatever? More money means more backing means more variety means more satisfied attendees. More problems? Of course. But who better than Comic-Con to straighten things out? No one. They had problems one year at WonderCon with overcrowded dealer hall... next year? FIXED. San Diego's Convention center is too small for the rising attendance numbers... what do they do, get the city to approve a large scale expansion, JUST FOR THEM. Can't get tix to Comic-Con this year? That's cos everyone wants to go to it. Same can happen to AX.

But why would you want to make a duplicate of something that already exists in the same geographic area, at almost the same time? It makes a lot more sense to me to have AX stay concentrated on anime and manga (with possibly *minor* wanderings into related areas like they have with Robot Chicken, etc>), and leave the take no prisoners media circus to the insanity that is Comic-Con. (BTW, I like the insanity. But not for every single con I go to...)

One other thing. Things get *INCREDIBLY* sticky when a for-profit con wants to take over the property of a non-profit.

I don't think it'd get insane under Comic-Con rule. I just think they'd make it grow better. They might even move the date to a better one, maybe. LACC has been trying to get Comic-Con for a while, and maybe this is the right answer for the moment.

sykoeent wrote:

I don't think it'd get insane under Comic-Con rule. I just think they'd make it grow better. They might even move the date to a better one, maybe. LACC has been trying to get Comic-Con for a while, and maybe this is the right answer for the moment.

What exactly do you want AX to be? What is "better" for you?

Is it a glitzier, more industry-heavy con? Most anime/manga companies have little money to spare for conventions these days--outside of Comic Con, maybe, where they can find a larger and more diverse audience, and way more industry exposure, than they could at a smaller convention like AX. And there's little reason for Comic Con to take over and run an industry convention with such a small focus when they already have a con that covers it all.

It seems to me that a 3% attendance increase for the past few years in an industry who's bubble had burst is not so bad.

It seems to me that a 3% attendance increase for the past few years in an industry who's bubble had burst is not so bad.

I wonder if AX Concom and BAM! should ditch SPJA all together, find another partner and create a competing event,

So where do I apply for all these open vacancies?

Quote:

One of the responses regarding this issue is that none of the previous SPJA CEOs have flown business class on AX's dime, to which Sabec responded, "That's probably true, but… you guys have may not have necessarily been in a professional enough organization to know the world from my perspective…. If you're asking a new executive to come on board that has a lot of experience in the entertainment industry… you know he's reasonably going to expect the same kind of treatment that other executives at his level receive."

Wow. Does this quote say a lot. It is fairly obvious to me that Lattanzio and his crew resemble the CEO types found in our banking institutions. Perks. Bonuses. Cronyism. All of this entitlement justified through their legal council (above).

It seems to me that a 3% attendance increase for the past few years in an industry who's bubble had burst is not so bad. Notice that all the people who resigned are in charge of events that THE FANS like. Lattanzio's plan is probably to replace these individuals with his entertainment industry cronies, who will then program events that will tell the fans what they should be liking. Expect to pay more and get less.

I hope I am wrong, but based on the artice that is how this looks to me...

I wonder if AX Concom and BAM! should ditch SPJA all together, find another partner and create a competing event, Though I suspect neither event in such a scenario would look the same or have the same atmosphere as AX of the past.

There's no soul to those cons, IMHO. The crew doesn't care about the con. It's all too corporate for my taste.

Better organization, better draws, smooth and clean.

I was thinking the exactly the same thing. (the only exception would be Warren Buffet). Funny thing is, even if it's a stereotype, you could see it coming a mile away, given his background as an exec at NBC-Universal. It's not right the mindset for this kind of organization but I bet it's what the board is attracted to.