| SunkistGirl wrote: |
Yes, there were many different breeches of contracts, but nothing that SPJA- who IS anime expo could've charged them on.
|
It's comments like this which leave me utterly beyond stunned.
The whole point of a contract between any two parties is to codify an agreement between them and leave remedies to either side when the agreement is breached.
If there were breaches of contract, then the SPJA should not have hesitated in calling the relevant parties on them and securing legal counsel for legal action.
Of course, that's right: The SPJA are such a fan-driven lot that they might not have considered it. Unprofessional cons lead to unprofessional results.
If this kind of situation were true, then why wouldn't the LBCC and the arena security basically not seize control of their venues, basically with the understanding that the SPJA could not abide by their agreements because of their inability to enforce their agreements with others!
Take the SKIN concert, for an example. The show was scheduled to start (according to the program book) at 3:30 -- if the thing was 2 1/2 hours late (as reported), that's 6 PM. Now you've basically horked all over the AMV crowd (and that doesn't even mention what happened at the AMVs...), and screwed up the entire schedule for Friday, at least vis-a-vis the arena.
Now, if, as (I believe it was) you reported, Gackt was being such an unprofessional (no profanity now, Mike...) idiot -- his representatives should've had lawyers on them before the con even ended! The fact that AX is a fan-driven con probably left most everyone in SPJA in such awe that the almighty Gackt would bless them with his presence that he could've held the area hostage until next January and nothing would've been done!
(OK, a small exaggeration... Labor Day.)
Again, a professional operation, and that doesn't happen. And if the plug has to be pulled, explain why.
| SunkistGirl wrote: |
There are a number of venues who will not be allowed to come back or will not be asked back simply due to their lack of professionalism. AX can't force people to go on stage and perform if they don't want to. With the way SKIN performed, I bet- and have heard rumors from other staffers that they were getting high before the show.
|
THEN PULL THE DARNATED PLUG!! A professional operation would not have put up with that for one second. The Japanese value "face", right?? If SKIN comes across as such unprofessional idiots that the con is rendered unable to proceed, don't just sit there like a bunch of fanboys and fangirls and let them not only breach their contract with you, but basically compel a breach on your part with others!
Go out there, basically make it clear to the public that they refuse to perform to the terms agreed to, and then get on their lawyers for remedy -- and a few words back to Japan as to how they embarrassed your convention and organization might not hurt either, since they'd lose a lot of face on their all-important debut.
(And, of course, this is just your side of the story. They might have some problems of their own to discuss.)
But, _again_, you can't let that happen just because you're a bunch of fans. A professional operation pulls the plug on all that. If that means no show, fine. Then the lawsuits follow.
| SunkistGirl wrote: |
Security was organized for the entire event- it's called ConOps and Access Control.
|
And I can tell you that I saw people cutting in line for the better part of the con. You can't have that few people for a line that literally goes across the concourse, down the ramp, and around a city block (and that's the Dealer's Hall!).
| SunkistGirl wrote: |
They manage crowd control, lines, and crazy people who decide to assault exhibition stations. They did their job- they were the ones in the red vests. The people in the yellow (?) shirts were LBCC security. LBCC hired them- pretty much like rent-a-cops, only for a large event, pretty much the same people who do big concerts and other events. AX had no choice in this matter although they took the bill for it.
|
No, especially when that was done when it was clear that the former was clearly inadequate. Perhaps a few more yellow shirts outside in the Dealers' line might've helped matters as well.
| SunkistGirl wrote: |
As for the late starts and such- yes, a more 'professional group' could have dealt with this more. You must remember though, staffers are all purely volunteers.
|
No excuse for that. Fairly well delineated as to what can happen in this post already. You can't be a fan-driven con and expect not to get run over by people who you just stand there and fawn over!
| SunkistGirl wrote: |
Everybody is over eighteen, a survey is given to evaluate skills, group BBQ's and events are held to determine whether or not a person will be accepted to staff, depending on how they interact with others, how they answer questions, and if/how they contribute to the experience. Again, these people are not paid. Sure, we get access (free badge for all of the days), a place to crash, and food- but with the amount of work given and things to do, there was never enough time and surely it never felt like there was enough people to do everything.
|
The thing is: If you augment all that with a professional framework, a lot of that doesn't happen -- you don't get "mis-assigned" people, you have a mechanism to handle problems, and you have more people to handle the "grunt work" that you yourself know there weren't enough people for.
| SunkistGirl wrote: |
No, having to drink multiple energy drinks to stay awake and get the 'go' to go and do what needs to be done is not entirely healthy. Staffers didn't get a lot of time to themselves as we were trying our best to make sure everything went as right as possible. Our main goals were safety above all else, making sure things were where they were supposed to be at the right time, and making sure as best as we could that things started on time.
|
And, again, a professional framework would give more of an opportunity that that does not happen. Heck, it might even get the volunteers more compensation (which, then, might get more volunteers -- see the thread about aO's shutdown for more on the motivations which might come from that!).
| SunkistGirl wrote: |
As a note- if anything started late in the convention halls, you need to know that they are their own entity renting a spot during AX and are not controlled by AX except that they conform with safety rules and the like.
|
But the same essential concept applies: After a certain amount of time, the ol' "What gives?" has to be said. Otherwise, you get situations where the schedule is rendered meaningless.
| SunkistGirl wrote: |
About the ACC- it is very unlikely that AX will be going back there due to the size of the convention. Yes, of course, we all like it better due to the fact that it was beautifully built to satisfy conventions- with all amenities close at hand... But AX is just too large to be at ACC. It cannot accommodate everyone and many limits would have to be set on the number of people that would be allowed in the exhibit halls and such due to fire hazards, crowding, and room capacity laws.
|
And yet the SPJA refuses to consider capping registration *for those very reasons*. Otakon did it three cons ago and they haven't died off.
In fact, my understanding (from what I've read on the forums) is that the ACC won't allow AX back unless they do reg-cap (40,000 was given as a number) -- again, for those very reasons.
I understand the idea of "grow or die", but, at some point, the dinosaur has to cannibalize itself!
| SunkistGirl wrote: |
No, LACC will not be as 'safe' as ACC or even as LBCC.
|
Then what confidence can you give anyone that they should come to AX 08 at all? I can't see any unless you want to allow them to bring a bottle to knock over somebody's head if they're about to get jumped.
| SunkistGirl wrote: |
If anyone had a problem with LBCC they're frankly paranoid.
|
Hard not to be paranoid with a lot of cash and swag on you.
| SunkistGirl wrote: |
AX can't control homeless people or crooks,
|
The local authorities can (and they can sweep as you suggest AX can't), and refusing to admit that and work with the LAPD to secure the area is PRECISELY the concerns that have been innumerably expressed since the LACC was named the venue for AX08 3 1/2 weeks ago.
| SunkistGirl wrote: |
"A new coach is needed". Yes, indeed, new coaches are needed. The Division Heads have officially asked the Board of Directors to step down and resign their titles. A new system will be inputed. No other details can be released other than that.
|
Let's see if it happens. I will state openly: That is the MANDATORY FIRST STEP before anything else can occur to save your convention.
And, yes, I said save AX. I stand by my contention that one more like this and they won't get another chance.
| SunkistGirl wrote: |
There is no word as to who the new directors or even who the new CEO will be. AX will be revamped and Division Heads as well as staffers will make sure that the new board and CEO will believe in and enforce the traditions as well as the ideals, goals, and spirit of why AX was originally created.
|
The problem is that the "traditions" don't work.
Chase said, first and foremost, that AX is a fan-driven con. That might've worked 15 years ago. Once it has become the premier convention in the country and the must-go-to destination for the industry, it has become a very different convention and needs to be seen as such if the changes you assert are being made are, in fact, made.
If the traditions of a fan-driven con were to be maintained, then some control should've been made on the growth of the con years ago -- it went far beyond that when it became the most-attended con in the country by a significant factor!
| SunkistGirl wrote: |
To address the last comment: Thank you for recognizing that I am right. I appreciate your honesty and level-headedness on that matter. Many people wish to complain, spew off insults and such without having the background story. Yes, a lot of things went wrong. We apologize. There is nothing else beyond apologizing that we are able to do at this time.
|
Then please understand that there are many who cannot have sufficient faith that 2008 will be a good year for AX. |
Anime Castle
Robert's Anime Corner Store
AAA Anime Distribution
Big Bad Toy Store
