Forum - View topic

Chase Wang on Anime Expo 2007

The thing is, the "problems" at AX 2007 were not that bad.

It is not the SPJA's fault that S.K.I.N. decided last minute that they needed more time to rehearse. It is not the SPJA's fault that the people waiting in line outside chose not to apply sunblock and got sunburned (I'm guilty of this too).

It is not the SPJA's fault that people expected to bring food and drinks into the arena when there were huge and very clear signs posted in front of all the entrances saying that you could not bring food and drinks in.

It's not the SPJA's fault that people were geniuses and expected to be able to bring huge cosplay props into an arena where everyone had assigned seats and space was limited.

It's not the SPJA's fault that the LBCC staff that they were contractually obligated to use turned out to be a bunch of incompetent a-holes in 2007 when they were perfectly fine the last time AX was held at LBCC. If anything, why aren't people writing to the LBCC to gripe about their staff?

The food situation was a million times better than Anaheim.

The convention center was a bit spread out, but again, if you really think it was that far and that much of a hassle to walk from the arena to the vendor hall, you're lazy and/or out of shape which is also not the SPJA's fault.

I understand that there were delays with a lot of events, but that is standard with any con or major event like this. There were issues at the SOS Brigade concert, but that was put on by Bandai Entertainment. AX staff did not handle the stage and equipment set up for that event, so again, not something they did wrong or were at fault for.

And again, I can't stress this enough: you guys have no idea what kind of problems can come up with concerts if you didn't go to Jrock Revolution. The microphone cut out on the vocalists of a couple of the bands, to the point that I couldn't recognize the chorus of one major single from my favorite band. The drummer of Merry was trying to talk to the crowd and the mic cut out more than it actually worked. The line situation was horrible (waiting in line outside on the streets of LA overnight with no security or police is definitely not ideal). Their will call situation was absurd. If you waited overnight in line to get pit access and had to pick up will call tickets, you were moved to a different line about an hour before doors opened and weren't let in until the pit was full and you were stuck in some crappy area in the back or really far to the side.

I have been attending AX for six years now, and honestly the only thing that was worse this year than in the past few years was the obnoxious fans complaining about everything.

Honestly, every year I attend I just get more and more disgusted with the anime fandom and how completely selfish and unreasonable they are.

These "problems" that were so horrible and threaten to end AX altogether if there's one more year like this one (I can't even begin to comprehend how delusional someone would have to be to come to that conclusion)

*The next paragraph is not directed at any one person, but simply a rant towards all the whining brats I've come across here and on the AX forums.*

So again, to put it quite bluntly, get over it. The problems at AX weren't the end of the world. They didn't ruin the con.

They didn't cause irreparable harm to anyone. AX isn't out to get you and your friends.

AX doesn't owe you any sort of refund or financial compensation because the event didn't revolve around you and what you wanted to happen. AX doesn't need to bow down and kiss your feet to apologize for the horrible things they didn't do to you.

If they have another year like this one, they'll just have another year after that, and another year after that, and so on. AX isn't going to fall apart and disappear because of a handful of brats whine about their horrible experience on a couple forums. That just isn't realistic and it's not going to happen.

First off, it is SPJA's fault when they can't ensure that the event goes off even remotely close to on time. Given it didn't seem like SKIN had that much to rehearse _anyway_ (what was it, three songs, then repeating one, then screaming their names into their mikes to see who would get the biggest reaction?), one has to wonder if they had some of the same problems Momoi did and damn near cancelled their show.

As far as the people in the line, of course you should always wear sunblock, but that does not freaking absolve the incompetents at SPJA from putting their foot down and trying to get the show off in time. This show was a debacle from beginning to end -- remember the ticket situation as well? 2 1/2 hours which the attendees had not planned for in the line is just plain unacceptable -- at some point, if SKIN isn't ready to go, call the damn thing off (or at least threaten to). Any competent organization should always reserve that right on ANY guest. It's the only way to ensure efficiency in the event.

Signs that can be seen as far away as Anaheim, right?

I brought some food Thursday (day 0) to eat at the con (there was no freaking way, unless forced -- and I was) to eat at con center prices. Once I saw the signs, I knew what was up: They were going to fleece us for every f*cking dollar they could get off of us.

There was a good reason for this: Since the con center and the arena security had probably adjudged weeks before SPJA incompetent to run their own con (by comments made that the staff had to be "pushed around" by LBCC or ProStaff -- the only alternative being the entire show's cancellation), they were fully prepared to cancel the show. The only reason they didn't was they realized how much money they could directly make/fleece off of the attendees for food and drink, and indirectly make from other AX avenues.

I can understand your argument _maybe_ the second or the third time they come to the con center, but not the first time. Sorry, Hayate, I'm not buying it.

Someone forgot to tell you that this is an anime convention in which cosplay is a key part.

Again, this kind of stuff needed to be cleared between the relevant parties (AX/SPJA and ProStaff/LBCC) long before the convention was to take place. That it wasn't (one of many reasons there was an apparent functional takeover of the convention by the LBCC) IS their fault -- one of many omissions which make us question whether SPJA could even run an Anime Los Angeles-size con, much less an AX.

Basically, either one has to account for props that size or ban them - but, whatever decision is made, it has to be discussed by the parties beforehand, and it clearly was NOT.

Apparent functional takeover of the con, Hayate.

And I'll give you another reason I believe this to be true. They had already found and contracted a new venue for 2008. There was no denotation as to a site or a date for next year in the program book. That leads me to believe two things:

1) LBCC was not bringing them back at any price for 2008. So AX/SPJA has been functionally run out of Long Beach.
2) And (restated from above) the ONLY reason 2007's AX was allowed to take place was because of the revenue it could bring to the con center.

And, understand, they aren't going back to Anaheim either -- they've been functionally run out of there too. Why else would the AX/ACC relationship be severed by a con *half its size* (the Shriners advertised an estimated 20000 for their attendance this year)?

Huh?? If you believe that, I want to know what recreational drugs you are on and could you please send me some, because they have to be good for me to believe that.

Better than Anaheim, where a 15-minute walk could give you any of a smorgasboard of different options (and they could handle the capacity required -- heck, they're right near Disneyland, after all!!) -- at all hours of the day or night?

And on top of that, even though the distance might not be an issue, the thing was configured like a freaking maze!!

OK, since it's so damn easy for you, how do you get from the registration hall/film room theatre to the con center *cleanly*, without having to run all over half of God's creation to get there?

Now, repeat the question with the dealer's hall exit to just about anywhere other than the Matsuri festival and the arena.

Repeat the question with Video Room 1 to Video Rooms 2 and 3.

Getting warm yet? Or are they paying you enough that you actually believe what you're saying??

Gee, the more you deflect, the more you sound like you DO work for AX.

As far as the delays, they were unacceptable, seriously altered/destroyed people's plans for the con (what, you expect them to take a seating-concert combination of 2 hours and budget 12, between the lines and the delays?), and showed absolute disorganization on the part of the people running the con. At some point, if the delays are that far excessive, then either events have to be scrapped or someone has to be held accountable.

As for the SOS Brigade: At some point, if it's being held at AX, AX is responsible. If they're truly in charge of their own con, then, at some point, if the show is _THAT BAD_, then something to the effect of "get the show right or we're pulling the plug on it!" has to be invoked by AX/SPJA -- for the good of their con and their reputation.

All stuff that damn well should've been attended to by AX, especially when the *CONSCIOUS DECISION BY ANIME EXPO/THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROMOTION OF JAPANESE ANIMATION* was to make this a concert-intensive convention this year!!! If those problems are that freaking common with J-rockers, then there should've been a massive effort for this entire year beforehand (like there should be one this entire year now to ensure safety of the sorry people that are going to subject themselves to AX 2008) to recognize the problems and DEAL WITH THEM -- else, focus their energies elsewhere.

So, yep. They're at fault for those too -- absolute lack of foresight and planning.

Yep. You just want us to go away. More room in the sandbox for you.

Well, I will. I'm being banned from future AX's for raising Hell about things they don't want to hear about or do anything about. (Not to mention what I would be prepared to do to ensure my safety in the area around the LACC.)

That *DOES NOT* excuse rank incompetence to the level that the people who run ALA could probably have done a better job with AX than the people who ran AX -- and ALA had its serious foibles too.

It comes down to competence, planning, execution. Without those, you can't have a con of this size. Period.

They've already suffered significant reputational damage from the likes of Ms. Momoi and probably discontent from most of the concert performers (for various and sundry reasons, some discussed). Do you think they'll go back to Japan and encourage other people to join them and work with SPJA, much less go back for another go themselves??

HELL NO!!!

They've been run out of Anaheim (basically, to go back to Anaheim, they'd not only have to change their date but reg-cap at 40K (why they didn't do the latter this year is beyond any comprehension of mine!!)), and they've now been run out of Long Beach (see above). What happens next year if LACC craters like LBCC did this year? No more AX, because they'll have no further venues to hold it (they're not going to San Diego).

One more like this, and you'll probably see lawsuits for gross negligence (especially if our concerns about the "element" in the area are proven out and if it can be proven that they were as slipshod with security at and around the LACC as they were with basically everything this year). And before you produce the implied waivers, the California Supreme Court recently (as in after AX 2007) ruled that parties who sign waivers to participate in sports and recreation programs have the right to sue if they can prove extreme negligence by the parties whom they are suing. Even a couple such lawsuits would surely torpedo AX.

Answer that for me.

You're an idiot if you think they didn't ruin the con for a lot of people. In fact, once it ruined the con for enough people, the cloud over the convention spread like a "ripple effect" to other attendees of the con.

No, they're out to get our money and nothing more.

How about a meaningful apology and an actual belief that they will do anything about it?

Oh, yeah... Completely crap all over the guests and the attendees and the venue and the security.

It is not the SPJA's fault that S.K.I.N. decided last minute that they needed more time to rehearse.

It is not the SPJA's fault that the people waiting in line outside chose not to apply sunblock and got sunburned (I'm guilty of this too).

It's not the SPJA's fault that people were geniuses and expected to be able to bring huge cosplay props into an arena where everyone had assigned seats and space was limited.

The convention center was a bit spread out, but again, if you really think it was that far and that much of a hassle to walk from the arena to the vendor hall, you're lazy and/or out of shape which is also not the SPJA's fault.

And again, I can't stress this enough: you guys have no idea what kind of problems can come up with concerts if you didn't go to Jrock Revolution. The microphone cut out on the vocalists of a couple of the bands, to the point that I couldn't recognize the chorus of one major single from my favorite band. The drummer of Merry was trying to talk to the crowd and the mic cut out more than it actually worked. The line situation was horrible (waiting in line outside on the streets of LA overnight with no security or police is definitely not ideal). Their will call situation was absurd. If you waited overnight in line to get pit access and had to pick up will call tickets, you were moved to a different line about an hour before doors opened and weren't let in until the pit was full and you were stuck in some crappy area in the back or really far to the side.

I have been attending AX for six years now, and honestly the only thing that was worse this year than in the past few years was the obnoxious fans complaining about everything.

*The next paragraph is not directed at any one person, but simply a rant towards all the whining brats I've come across here and on the AX forums.*

A perfect example of a con that messed up big and admitted it was ALA. They had horrible rude staff members this past year. Never in my con going experience had I been treated so rudely by staff. But as soon as the event was over the Con chair went over the issues apologized and took full responsibility for what happened (even tho it really wasn't his fault) and has already put new measures in place to make sure it doesn't happen again. I'm definitely going back to ALA.

Why can't AX and the SPJA do that? Is it really that hard to admit there were issues that were actually their fault?

I seem to recall the ticket situation being largely caused by a bunch of morons refreshing the AX page incessantly for a week to be sure they got the front row tickets. When the tickets finally went up the servers crashed (despite being moved to a better server for that very reason). Don't even get me started on the ticketing situation, because there's an 80+ page forum thread on AX's forums that is clear evidence of the sheer stupidity of the people that caused that problem.

They hadn't been "functionally run out" of Anaheim. My wife worked for AX in 2006. They moved to a new venue because Anaheim was too small to house the con because it was growing so quickly.

I don't recall exactly where each thing was located. However, they give you a handy little thing in the program called a map. It tells you where stuff is. Either way, I walked all the way around from the exit of the vendor hall to the food across the street from the vendor hall and it wasn't really that bad. That was about the furthest possible walk you could have at AX 2007 and it took maybe 10 minutes and didn't leave me out of breath or anywhere close to it.

I don't want all the fans to go away. I want them to quit whining about every little thing and quit being such spoiled brats. There were problems, but people are blowing them wildly out of proportion. Also, it's been said countless times but no one seems to want to listen: LACC is NOT THAT BAD. You aren't going to get robbed, mugged, or killed walking to your hotel. I've done it for E3 for six years and it's never happened.

You are being banned from future AX conventions because you are obviously an entirely unreasonable person that seems to enjoy causing problems. If I were running it, I wouldn't want you there either.

As I have pointed out numerous times (and this is probably the best example of the fact that you are just looking for reasons to gripe and can't be bothered to pay attention to the responses people give), they played four songs, one of which was split into two parts by solos and introductions.

Moving along, the SPJA is not at fault that the band demanded more time to rehearse and do sound checks. Understand the situation. This is a brand new band, comprised of major talents from hugely popular bands. They didn't want to disappoint their fans. They wanted the show to be perfect because this was their WORLDWIDE DEBUT.

And why exactly must one wonder if they had problems and almost canceled their concert? Because as far as I can tell, that's you just making random crap up with no basis in fact or reasonable assumption to give yourself more of a reason to complain.

(Re: The need for sunblock vs. the schedule)
They can try to get the show going on time as much as they want, but if the band wanted more time to rehearse, then they were going to get it.

Do you really think it would've been better of AX to cancel the show rather than let it start a few hours late? Can you imagine how pissed everyone would be then? You're not even making sense if you think that would've been a reasonable way to handle the situation.

I seem to recall the ticket situation being largely caused by a bunch of morons refreshing the AX page incessantly for a week to be sure they got the front row tickets.

When the tickets finally went up the servers crashed (despite being moved to a better server for that very reason). Don't even get me started on the ticketing situation, because there's an 80+ page forum thread on AX's forums that is clear evidence of the sheer stupidity of the people that caused that problem.

starcade wrote:

Signs that can be seen as far away as Anaheim, right?

What the hell does that even mean?

starcade wrote:

Once I saw the signs, I knew what was up: They were going to fleece us for every f*cking dollar they could get off of us.

The other possibility is that it's an arena that holds sporting events and concerts, and that's simply what they do at such places.

It's not a big deal. It's a concert, you'll be in there for a few hours at most.

There are drinking fountains there so you aren't forced to buy drinks there. I'm pretty sure you'd survive waiting till after the concert to get food, too. Again, it's an arena. If you aren't bright enough to know that you can't bring food and drinks into concerts or sports events, that is not the fault of the SPJA.

Otherwise, I had no problems bringing outside food and drink into the convention center, the panel rooms in the hotels, or the vendor hall. Also, there were a bunch of restaurants right across the street from the vendor hall that you could've gone to. So yeah, you didn't have to eat at con center prices.

starcade wrote:

There was a good reason for this: Since the con center and the arena security had probably adjudged weeks before SPJA incompetent to run their own con (by comments made that the staff had to be "pushed around" by LBCC or ProStaff -- the only alternative being the entire show's cancellation), they were fully prepared to cancel the show. The only reason they didn't was they realized how much money they could directly make/fleece off of the attendees for food and drink, and indirectly make from other AX avenues.

What exactly are you basing this on? Who said AX staff HAD to be pushed around because they were incompetent?

Have you considered the possibility that, seeing as how the LBCC staff were so freaking rude to attendees, maybe they took the same attitude with AX staff unprovoked?

I'd really like to see an actual source for this claim, because I didn't see anything like this going on at all.

starcade wrote:

Someone forgot to tell you that this is an anime convention in which cosplay is a key part.

Is this even an issue?

Honestly, think for two seconds. You are going into an arena with seats that are very close together and have minimal leg room. You are lucky if you have room to put a small bag or purse in front of you comfortably. If you expect to be able to bring some huge weapon or other prop into these events and just have them with you, you're insane or really, REALLY stupid.

If I was at the S.K.I.N. concert and had some moron next to me with Wolfwood's cross or some similarly large item, I think I would break it into a bunch of pieces or throw it somewhere out of the way. I would be extraordinarily angry if I went to such an anticipated event and had some retard next to me blocking my view with some huge cosplay prop or umbrella (god, I hate the stupid lolita girls that feel the need to carry umbrellas with them as part of their costume, but that's another story entirely).

Again, it's assigned seating with relatively small seats. There is NO reason whatsoever to expect to be able to bring in some huge cosplay prop to be in the way of those around or behind you.

Also, there was NOT a "functional takeover" of the event by LBCC staff. AX staff was still very much in charge of things with the exception of the arena.

That wasn't something that happened during the show as a result of AX sucking, or something that was deemed necessary because the SPJA is incompetent, or any other similar nonsense. It was a contractual obligation that was part of the convention center being rented and used in the first place. So again, please cite a reliable source showing that the LBCC staff took everything over. If you can't provide proof or anything resembling it, quit stating it like it's fact.

starcade wrote:

Apparent functional takeover of the con, Hayate. And I'll give you another reason I believe this to be true. They had already found and contracted a new venue for 2008. There was no denotation as to a site or a date for next year in the program book. That leads me to believe two things: 1) LBCC was not bringing them back at any price for 2008. So AX/SPJA has been functionally run out of Long Beach. 2) And (restated from above) the ONLY reason 2007's AX was allowed to take place was because of the revenue it could bring to the con center.

You really amaze me. The fact that they hadn't settled on a venue by the time the program went to press means that they had somehow been run out of LBCC? Before AX even took place? What? Because AX decided to go to a different venue for 2008, it automatically means that the LBCC ran them out ("functionally", at that)?

And I'm not sure that you're aware of the point of a convention center. Believe it or not, much like every other business, they exist to make money. To say that the only reason AX 2007 was allowed to take place at LBCC was because they would make money and act like that somehow shows some sort of problem with AX or the SPJA is beyond ridiculous.

starcade wrote:

And, understand, they aren't going back to Anaheim either -- they've been functionally run out of there too. Why else would the AX/ACC relationship be severed by a con *half its size* (the Shriners advertised an estimated 20000 for their attendance this year)?

They hadn't been "functionally run out" of Anaheim. My wife worked for AX in 2006. They moved to a new venue because Anaheim was too small to house the con because it was growing so quickly.

They wanted a bigger place with better accomodations, and they found that in Long Beach, and then decided that LACC would be better (which I still think it will be). The ACC didn't sever their relationship with AX because of any perceived problems. It was a simple business decision on the part of the SPJA to move their fast-growing con to a larger convention center that better suited their needs.

Anaheim: crappy Chinese place, decent Mexican food place and good pizza place a block away on the opposite corner of a busy road. IHOP that charges $10 for a plate of three pancakes. Taco Bell and one other fast food place about 1/4-1/2 mile away. Several sit-down restaurants about a mile away. Everything was overpriced because of Disneyland.

Long Beach: Great Steak and Potato Company, really good pizza place, really good Mexican food place, Coldstone, Islands, and a couple others that escape me at the moment, all across a small road from the convention center and all serving food at the NORMAL price. Less than 1/2 mile away: PF Chang's, Chili's, Outback, Bubba Gump Shrimp and Seafood (or something close to that name), a nice Japanese restaurant, one very fancy seafood place, one mid-level sit-down seafood place, a Mexican food sit-down place, another pizza place with very good prices, and a few other restaurants. Down the road in the other direction (still only about 1/2 mile) was Rock Bottom Brewery and several other restaurants.

starcade wrote:

And on top of that, even though the distance might not be an issue, the thing (LBCC) was configured like a freaking maze!!

I don't recall exactly where each thing was located. However, they give you a handy little thing in the program called a map. It tells you where stuff is. Either way, I walked all the way around from the exit of the vendor hall to the food across the street from the vendor hall and it wasn't really that bad. That was about the furthest possible walk you could have at AX 2007 and it took maybe 10 minutes and didn't leave me out of breath or anywhere close to it.

starcade wrote:

Gee, the more you deflect, the more you sound like you DO work for AX.

Deflecting would be more like passing blame off on someone else when they aren't to blame. This is simply pointing out the facts.

Again, it's a con. Cons rarely have their major events starting on time. I think 12 hours is grossly exaggerating the wait times as well.

starcade wrote:

ay, though, there has to be a limit as to the delay? You consider 2 1/2 hours acceptable? starcade wrote: As for the SOS Brigade: At some point, if it's being held at AX, AX is responsible. If they're truly in charge of their own con, then, at some point, if the show is _THAT BAD_, then something to the effect of "get the show right or we're pulling the plug on it!" has to be invoked by AX/SPJA -- for the good of their con and their reputation. Again, you're going to cancel the whole show because it's going poorly? You really think that will make the fans happy?

The show's going bad enough that the customers/attendees are already pretty upset. Basically a call onto the carpet is needed to get something done right -- and a professional outfit would not let this happen, because it speaks not only to Bandai, but to AX/SPJA as well. SOMETHING needed to be done there, Hayate.

(The mention was made that a lot of the delays and the like were common in J-Rock events...)

HayateTokidoki wrote:

Do you actually pay attention to what people say on here or do you just pick two or three key phrases and run with it? This wasn't a common problem with Jrockers. I was simply pointing out that another American-run concert event had far more problems and the only thing they had to worry about was two events, each being held on a different day. The problems at JRR were NOT the fault of the bands or their management. The problems at JRR were entirely the fault of the JRR staff and management.

You said YOURSELF that you couldn't have any idea of the kinds of problems that could happen if you didn't attend events like JRR -- and the only implication which can, then, be drawn is that the problems happen there with some frequency.

My point was that SPJA made a choice to make the con J-Rock intensive and didn't take a lot of this into account. Period. You want to defend them, be my freaking guest -- but I'll call you on it. If you make it an international cosplay event, then you get the problems endemic to that. If you're neither willing nor prepared to deal with it, time to find something else to focus on as a convention.

starcade wrote:

Yep. You just want us to go away. More room in the sandbox for you.

I don't want all the fans to go away. I want them to quit whining about every little thing and quit being such spoiled brats.

You are being banned from future AX conventions because you are obviously an entirely unreasonable person that seems to enjoy causing problems. If I were running it, I wouldn't want you there either.

starcade wrote:

That *DOES NOT* excuse rank incompetence to the level that the people who run ALA could probably have done a better job with AX than the people who ran AX -- and ALA had its serious foibles too. It comes down to competence, planning, execution. Without those, you can't have a con of this size. Period.

Again, you're grossly exaggerating the seriousness of the problems.

starcade wrote:

They've already suffered significant reputational damage from the likes of Ms. Momoi and probably discontent from most of the concert performers (for various and sundry reasons, some discussed). Do you think they'll go back to Japan and encourage other people to join them and work with SPJA, much less go back for another go themselves?? HELL NO!!!

I really don't think they have suffered nearly as much damage as you're estimating. Yeah, there were problems, but honestly a majority of the "reputational damage" they've endured is due largely to idiotic people like you screaming about nothing than to actual real problems.

They weren't run out of Anaheim. The con outgrew the convention center. They weren't fun out of LBCC either. They simply chose a bigger and better venue for the event. Just think, everything can now be held in ONE BUILDING. This should be music to your ears because it means you won't have to walk so far to get place to place.

starcade wrote:

One more like this, and you'll probably see lawsuits for gross negligence (especially if our concerns about the "element" in the area are proven out and if it can be proven that they were as slipshod with security at and around the LACC as they were with basically everything this year). And before you produce the implied waivers, the California Supreme Court recently (as in after AX 2007) ruled that parties who sign waivers to participate in sports and recreation programs have the right to sue if they can prove extreme negligence by the parties whom they are suing. Even a couple such lawsuits would surely torpedo AX. Answer that for me.

Nothing AX has done at any point in their entire history could be considered extreme negligence. Some stupid kids getting sunburned, some idiot losing a huge cosplay prop at a concert, an event starting a few hours late, these are not things that would constitute extreme negligence. AX isn't getting sued. If you brought a lawsuit forward regarding the things you've talked about here, you'd be laughed out of court and probably have to pay the SPJA's legal fees.

starcade wrote:

You're an idiot if you think they didn't ruin the con for a lot of people. In fact, once it ruined the con for enough people, the cloud over the convention spread like a "ripple effect" to other attendees of the con.

There's a difference between ACTUALLY ruining the con and "ruining the con for a lot of people." As I've pointed out, those who are complaining are not exactly the brightest people in the world. The problems have been grossly exaggerated. This is on the lines of a teenager complaining that their parents don't care about them and thinking their lives are miserable and horrible because their parents wouldn't let them hang out with their friends at a mall one night. It's just a bunch of bratty kids whining about minor things and making a huge deal out of them.

starcade wrote:

How about a meaningful apology and an actual belief that they will do anything about it?

You mean like when countless staff members have said they recognized the problems that occurred, apologized for them, admitted responsibility, and have said they're already discussing ways to prevent these problems from happening again next year? Like that kind of a meaningful apology? Or some other kind of meaningful apology that is completely different and can't actually be described as a meaningful apology?

starcade wrote:

Oh, yeah... Completely crap all over the guests and the attendees and the venue and the security.

Yeah, if they had done that, I'd agree. But, as it turns out, they didn't. They upset one guest because of issues with scheduling that were largely resolved when the issues were brought to their attention. The attendees did not get crapped on. Some made problems for themselves and let themselves be completely dragged down by minor setbacks, but AX didn't "crap all over the attendees", nor did they do anything similar to the venue and security.

Actually, AX *is* run by a professional staff, in a way - the on-the-ground staffers are all volunteers, but the board of directors receives compensation for their time. Given that except for the convention weekend itself, working AX is *not* really a full-time job for the overwhelming majority of the people who are on staff, I basically don't think how any other arrangement would work. And in fact, this is how Comic-Con and the upcoming NY Anime Festival are handled: a few full-time staff who are paid, and then a much larger number of volunteers who participate at the event itself. In any case, basically, what happened this year was not a failure of AX's staffing concept, it was just a lot of failures on the part of individual staff members. And maybe, after the complacency of several years at the ACC, these failures were inevitable.

I don't know why I'm doing this, since it's the equivalent of talking at a very screamy brick wall. (Impulse control, I guess?)

Starcade, you continue to throw out long-winded and almost abusive conjecture and present it as fact. Most of the issues you've continued to bring up have been addressed in many different threads in the AX forums. A number of staffers, both "high" and "low," have stepped forward to acknowledge and apologize for them. I didn't know you'd been banned until I came here, but I imagine the reasons why you received a 30-day ban are that you ignored the responses of the staff (and other attendees) and continued to repeat yourself, often with increasingly antagonistic language. You were effectively trolling a number of the threads on the forums.

Before you ask or accuse: no. I don't "work for" AX, at least not in the sense you've implied to another person further up the thread. I do not receive money for the hours I spend staffing for and at AX. I'm not a higher-up; I don't make the decisions. I won't get a pat on the back for this post--if anything, most of the staff have decided it's best to step back and let you run out of wind.

At this point, I think most of the people on the AX forums (and hopefully here) already know you're not exactly well-informed on the "points" you're presenting. Your complaints, and everyone else's complaints, are absolutely valid and the staff appreciate hearing them. But you continue to go beyond complaining--stating that things MUST have happened a certain way, or that they happened because of a certain person/group, or (worst of all) that things WILL happen because of etc. etc.--based on nothing but conjecture.

A number of the Industry and GoH problems, from what I've heard, can't be publicly addressed in detail--i.e. why exactly their events ran late, what was going on backstage, the nature of the contracts--because AX wants to maintain their connections as best they can, for the good of future conventions. Was AX entirely free of blame? I don't think so. But there were problems out of the staff's (stress the STAFF) control. These problems were recognized, and there are already plans in motion to prevent them from happening again.

There is a split between the SPJA Board of Directors and the AX Staff, and from what I understand this has been the source of many of the problems that have occurred in the past couple of years. Even before AX07 ended, the staff began the process of communication and action to fix this. Everyone is working towards a resolution because they WANT AX to be a better convention. They want to fix the problems we've been having, and they want to move forward.

The LACC was contracted by the SPJA long before the end of AX07. So, no--AX was not forced out of the LBCC. LBCC was a one-year deal for 2007, and after this year I highly doubt AX will ever return again. Your comments on the acquisition and supposed loss of the LBCC and ACC are, once again, complete conjecture.

And, again, ALL of this has been stated in the AX forums. Repeatedly. In threads that you started, even. Chase acknowledged many of the same problems in his interview here--though in much prettier and PR-appropriate language.

I don't really have anything to contribute here aside from pointing out the fact that these essays are way too long.

How funny I was searching for memories and found this.

This was my first year staffing for Anime Expo. I've heard tons of things from staffers about years before, how things were run, etc. Technically speaking-this was one of the best years.

Cancelled shows and things like that aren't AX's problem. It's not their fault if some jerk wants to commit then at the last second, decide they don't want to go do something because they're too selfish and/or lazy to go greet hundreds of people waiting for them.

And the SKIN concert? It wasn't even AX's fault for it being late. Gakt or however you spell the jerk's name wouldn't let the band come out until the arena was full. Tell me- how conceited is that? And after Transformers aired- he made a comment that he wished he would've gone after it because that's the line he wanted for his concert! I'm sorry- it was too loud, he didn't know what the heck he was saying, they played the same 3 songs over and over, tried to use american rock terms- and repeated them about 20 times, basically- they sucked. There wasn't even a sound check.

And an FYI to people- I personally know of many, MANY staffers who were up at 5am and didn't get to go to bed until midnight or later- most getting only a few hours of sleep- including me. Sure, like with any convention, there will be slackers trying to get a free ride- that is typical and cannot be controlled. There is no time to get enough interviews in or hire people- because as everyone should know- it is a non-profit organization. Every staffer I worked with worked their butt off to the limit. You should've seen staff room trashcans full of energy drink cans.

And the thing about AX not being at Anaheim- it wasn't the timing of it. Another group paid more for the spot, so we got kicked to the curb and had to schedule it at Long Beach or else there would have been NO anime expo at all. Another reason it was good to be at Long Beach is all the concerts and the Premier of Transformers that took place in the Arena. It is a bigger space than Anaheim- more people were satisfied because they got in.

For anyone who criticizes the staff and the way things were run, GET IN TO STAFFING. You have a complaint? That's fine. Do something about it. You want to talk crap? Get behind the scenes and see what's going on. Until you have your hands full with everything and you're running back and forth trying to do five things at once, answer attendees questions while going to and from places, all the while manage what other people are doing- don't say anything.

You want to change things? Want to make them better? Want to help? Think you can actually do it? Get into staffing. Oh, but just a note- it's not a paid job. Maybe that will answer even more questions about 'professionalism'.