Narutards, Cheezeburger Hats, and Furries OH MY!
// April 28th, 2009 // No Comments » // Conventions
Without a doubt, Conventions, particularly Anime conventions are a special phenomenon. Some of the craziest things you’ll ever see, hear or experience in your life can and do occur. For some people, Conventions are a way of life. For others, its a once-a-year event that they look forward to for 11 months and 3 weeks. As for everyone else, its just something you hear about in the media or read about, but don’t really think about. Well, I lived the convention life for about 10 years, first from an attendee’s level, and then as a staff member. The difference is night & day. Convention-wise I’ve been in Operations, Security, Hospitality. The majority of my time, however, was spent as the head of Guest Relations at Anime Mid-Atlantic, an east-coast Anime convention usually located in Virginia.
The Crazies
Webmaster Steve Yun attacks Artist Doug Smith
Crazy Stuff happens all the time, sometimes you don’t even realize its happening right next to you. There are people who will randomly run up to you, literally jump on you and then hug/squeeze tight, squeal sometimes and then take off and disappear down some hallway or into a crowd of people. in fact, believe it or not, there’s even a name for this.. referred to as “Glomps” or “Glomping”. Yeaaaah. And.. it certainly doesn’t stop there.
The Hotel Hobos
At night, thats when the crazies come out, lots of young kids who have never been on their own, suddenly find themselves literally abandoned by their legal guardians OVER NIGHT.. yes, somehow these parents’ train of logic just goes into epic fail mode. As protective as they might’ve been in the past, now they find themselves dropping off their 12-year-old daughter and her 13-year-old friend at a hotel in the middle of downtown . Then you’ve got these kids running around like chickens with their heads cutoff and getting into all sorts of shenanigans. All age groups apply though, be prepared to see 20-somethings and 30-somethings just roaming around (sometimes in packs) or even sleeping / taking naps in dark panel rooms where movies play, or even just in random hallways. (I remember back in the day I myself would just find a table covered with cloth. I’d grab a bunch of linens, hide underneath the table, and sleep there for the night.)
- Steve Yun takes a Beauty Nap
YOUR Hotel Room
Don’t think you can get away strange sleeping arrangement even if you ARE prepared. I remember once at an Otakon, my friend was staffing and he had a room up on the 30th-something floor of one of the hotels near the convention. As I stumbled into the room after a long night, I realized “his room” was actually a convention supplied room for staff. And it was full. There were multiple people on the beds, one person in every corner, and yes, even one person wrapped around the toilet. I ended up going into the closet and making myself a nest with all of the coats everyone had left in there. of course its all in good fun, and I’ve really enjoyed sharing rooms/floors/beds with my friends over the years.
The Parties!
2008 Guest Relations Staff and Friends Party
Friday and Saturday nights roll around and a whole sub-culture has centered itself around the night-life on these two weekend nights at conventions. Word on most parties spreads quickly as you make your way around the convention halls, the dealers rooms, and boisterous gossip in the crowded bathroom. Some take to simply wandering the floors and halls of the hotel[s] and “everyone knows” if the door is lodged open in some way (usually by the deadbolt lock) or if there’s a sign saying “PARTY!“, thats an open invitation to COME ON IN! Sometimes you end up striking out and finding a room full of dudes and body odor watching Urotsukidoji or some other Tentacle-monster hentai rape-rape movie playing on a small CRT television. Sometimes you get lucky and find a lit room that actually has some booze and a few people to converse with.. unfortunately, the conversation is a little on the “ZOMG! ZOMG! So I’m like the ULTIMATE FAN of <insert name of random anime or video game here> AND…“. At which point you basically start freaking out and working on your exit strategy. Sometimes you come across a Furry party.. sorry, only furries allowed.. The best parties though, the absolute best of the best.. those are usually invite only. You’ve got to know someone who knows something. Some of these invite parties become legendary, like the Big Fire parties that were run at various cons over many years. The VIP guests would show up, booze flowed like wine, and hijinks and hilarity were standard fare. It was a given that you were going to have a good time (if you’re into that sort of thing).
GR Staffer Jamie Hernandez with a Wad of Cash
Show me the Moneys!
There’s a saying I’m going to paraphrase for my nefariously selfish purposes here, but basically: If you want to leave a Convention with some Money, then bring a DIRTY SWEATY STINKIN LOT OF IT. ‘Cause even if you don’t have a burning hole in your pocket… your wallet will act as well as a water-bucket with two holes in it. (Two holes in a bucket…). People throw down so much, and its never enough. Whether its the carton of cigarettes you diddn’t plan on burning through so fast, or Denny’s breakfasts you diddn’t plan into your budget or that really wicked cool Damascus Folded-Steel Katana you got swindled into on a whim, your funds will deplete. Not only that, don’t be surprised if you find yourself bumming money or pulling cash from the ATM by the time Sunday or Monday pulls around.
How far is Safe?
Even just leaving the convention center or hotel is no safe bet that you will be able to get away from the madness. For some people, who have never been to the state before, much less the city where the convention resides, its a chance to check out the surrounding sights. But do they go back
Izzy Smith - Champion Grocery Cart Driver
to their rooms, sober up, and dress properly as the outing dictates? HELL NO! They throw caution to the wind and go traipsing about in their Naruto and Sailor Moon outfits like it was the most natural thing in the world.. entering business’, gas stations, restaurants, museums, and bringing the madness that is Anime with them. To be frank, I find it hilarious and heartily throw myself into the festivities. Its like getting a pass to act like a fool in public with no social repercussions whatsoever.
Good Morning?
Not every morning can be good, and being an attendee and not wanting to miss any of the action, or being a Staff member and having to be part of the action usually means you get the short end of the stick on sleep, health, sobriety, and dignity. You can end up next to some nasty surprises, but thank goodness you’ve only got 40 minutes to be 16 floors down and on the other side of the convention center or you’d really feel ill at ease.
The Drunken Burrito
Some people can’t handle this though, and in an environment where you really depend on everyone putting forth a 100% effort, this can make things very difficult.
Conclusion
My absolute favorite years being involved with conventions was definitely my ~8 year run at AMA as the head of the Guest Relations department. I now have lifelong friends, acquaintances, memories and debts that I will treasure forever. This year 2009 is my first con-less year since I’ve started con-ing 12 years ago… and my life feels a little empty because of it.
