And than about lines in general at the con. Trying to get people to come into our lolita sewing panel while the masqurade, bakazoku reunion and voice acting panels were going on was the worst and the lines were horrible. People were blocking the signs that we had made and we couldnt find any one officail to help move the lines along. Later we were sitting on the very right hand of the staircase near where the Slants were signing autographs, etc, after dancing oin stage we were SOO whiped out and a staff member kindly asked us to move. We werent blocking anyone and I thought it funny that people just seem to sit down WHEVER THEY WANT (aka in elvators, infront of elevators, infront of doors, infront of stairs, in the middle of the hallways, ETC) and are never asked to move while we four girls were asked to move after five or so minutes from a so called "fire hazard". It was like "where the heck were you a few hours ago?" and he just said that he was busy. So line controll and that sort of management went on and off but was generall not in our favor.
while i can understand your view bedlam, I must point one thing out.
Yes we DO volunteer and thus we don't get to see many events, but we DO get to be treated like trash by quite a few people who think that since we are staff, that they can just disregard what we say or yell at us on a regular basis for doing our jobs.
I know you were not one of those who did BUT that is what happens.
so next time you see someone just doing their job at a convention to help clear a hall, or guard a door or seat people at an event, a simple thank you can make a world of difference. we are after all humans too.
I've got to put in a rave for the anime piped into our hotel room! There were two channels showing anime throughout the con... very nice!
So, on a lighter note, do the right thing: Hug a yojimbo next con and tell them thank you. It would make their day!
This first part is actually a response, mostly to address Bedlam's points regarding yojimbo:
EXTRA IMPORTANT PRE-EMPTIVE EDIT: I'm not angry at Bedlam, or really anyone, at all! I want to clarify this ahead of time. I'm not even agitated. Please keep this in mind when figuring the tone of the post while reading it.
As a yojimbo, you get to know the inner workings of things, to a degree, and the safety and liability concerns that go along with a con. Most people don't think about these things, but if we were to ignore them entirely the con could not continue to exist. What most people also don't realize is that we're simply trying to keep you all safe and the con alive for years to come because we, too, enjoy having a con where everyone can geek out (and I use this term affectionately, because it also applies to me) over anime and have fun with other people who share their interests.
If you think it's annoying to be moved in the hallways, to have to move closer to the wall when in line, or to be relocated when sitting somewhere, try thinking about the other side of the coin: How annoying would it be to you if you couldn't get through the hallway because people were inconsiderately standing in the middle of it, completely oblivious to the fact that they were obstructing you from your destination, or forcing you to uncomfortably squeeze or muscle your way through? What if you were running late for the panel you wanted to see, all the way across the hotel, and all the hallways were haphazardly filled with people? Most importantly, what if there was an emergency, or better yet, what if you were the person having the emergency, and help was delayed because the hallways had to be cleared every single step of the way?
We're honestly not just bossing you around to be jerks, I can certainly vouch for the fact that the folks I worked closely with weren't. We care about your safety and convenience as a whole and the work we do is all for you.
I'd also like to add that inconsistency in enforcement of rules stems from a couple of causes. First off - we simply do not have enough people to enforce the rules at all times. The number one thing that would help this is if more people would volunteer for staffing, especially for yojimbo positions. One yojimbo simply can not possibly keep track of what everyone in a crowd around them is doing. Not even one really, really good yojimbo. One sleep-deprived-got-three-hours-of-sleep-been-walking-for-hours-on-end-and-had-one-break-for-food-all-day yojimbo, which is what we often get when we're short-staffed, is lucky to remember their room number by the end of the day, let alone attempt to keep track of what the hundred or so people around them are all doing. The final contributing factor, though, is the fact that many, many things are simply judgment calls on the part of the individual. A yojimbo walking by at one time may consider your current location or activity to be safe, another may not. The yojimbo in question may even be mistaken on their call in any given instance, but the fact is that people often see things very differently.
Another thing I'd like to add, and this is specifically regarding a parallel you've drawn, Bedlam, is that you can't really liken this to a job. None of us are paid. In fact, though many people are not aware of this, we actually still pay to be staff, it's not a free ticket. Additionally, we sink a lot of money into this between the hotel room itself (which is pretty much required if you want to have any hope of getting where you need to be on time, let alone stumbling back to your hotel bed/floor when the long day is done), feeding ourselves, and transportation - those on staff who travel from out of state or the further out cities spend a good chunk of money on gas alone.
Finally, it is not a fact that you should not expect to thank a person for helping you or other people, let alone for volunteering their time and energy in such copious amounts. If you would thank a person simply for holding a door or saying "bless you" when you sneeze (and I hope you would), why wouldn't you thank them for helping to staff an event that you look forward to for months, or even the entirety of the year?
To wrap this bit up, while it does sound like a rant, and actually largely is one, the real reason I've wrote it is I thought it would be fair to let everyone (this is not targeted solely at Bedlam, I really am sorry if it feels that way) know why things are the way they are and to better inform you so you may know what things are like on the other side of the fence. We often feel under-appreciated for the work we do, but anyone can help to fix that by at least understanding why it is we do what we do and helping us to help your fellow con-goers.
So, on a lighter note, do the right thing: Hug a yojimbo next con and tell them thank you. It would make their day!
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Panels, etc: There weren't a lot of panels I was interested in...I'm not sure if it was just wasn't interesting for me or what but I wish there were more panels scheduled throughout the day. My friends and I literally spent hours wandering aimlessly cos we had nothing else better to do D: Well at least we got to talk to a lot of people lol
Exhibitor's Hall: I don't get why people complain so much about how hot the vendors area was...the fans that were running kept the hot air out of there and since it was underground it was a lot cooler. In fact, when my friend and I weren't doing stuff, we'd just hang out at the Pocky booth to cool off and rest [since it wasn't crowded like the hotel].
Out of all my past con experiences, this was the best. ;D
Raves...
- I absolutely LOVED the spiffy new cards/badge and the fact that they were mailed out beforehand. Fabulous. Pre-reg ran by smoothly, it looked.
- Maids with signs? Awesome idea too!! [thumbs up] They were really nice too. One of them wore a really awesome black poofy skirt. XD
...and much more. It was just great.
Rants...?
- I was sitting near the middle at the cosplay competition, and since I'm vertically challenged, I could hardly see anything. That might be my fault though. >___<
its like DO you want volunteers for next year? or not cuz the or not seems to be the case. i do have better things to do then spend my saterday coming to meetings and going to envelope stuffings, like watching anime or actualy finishing my cosplay before the convention
-Free coffee/tea/cake at the Host Club Tea Party was so so nice, and it was a great place to socialize and relax. Although the Host Club members needed to be doing more seducing. :O
Ok now lets not try to vilify anybody. There can be examples everywhere of con goes, volunteers and staff members who may not been at there best. Last years con I was just an attendee and felt there were things that could be improved so I helped out this year as a yojimbo and believe me my eyes were opened to all the work that went on in the background. That includes both staff and all the wonderful people who volunteered before, during and after the con was over. All of you are the reason the con functions. Also would like to thank all those who went to the con sense without you there would be no reason for a con in the first place. I would hope that we can keep this civil as a rant and rave. No need to point fingers. If you have suggestions on how they can be improved next year please tell us it really really helps us out a lot. Also raves help to. Its nice to know that all the late nights and early mornings brought about a smooth and wonderful time to others.
Now just as a suggestion from a staff member is that maybe next year we could have at the info booth a rant/rave card and box to collect them. That way during the con if a con goer either sees something they really really like or something that could be improved or hurt their experience they can write it down and place it in the box for us staffers and volunteers to read and hopefully continue doing or improve upon next year.
I do hope all in all that everybody had a great time and hopefully we shall be seeing you all next year.
-Karaoke room. Okay, so I didn't go to the contests, but the karaoke lounge was tiny! Did it actually accomadate a reasonably-sized audience for the contests? I was honestly shocked that it was about the size of a panel room, and didn't really have a stage. I can understand if maybe the room's popularity has dropped and thus doesn't need larger accomadations. I'm just curious as to why it was in such a small room.
Improvements to make:
- - Very Large Signs, posted well above head height, both labeling rooms and others showing you which rooms are down which direction of a hallway. (The same for info desk/etc, since crowds blocked the signs)
- - Signs in the registration area might also help.
I really am honestly surprised at all the negativity that people received from staff/volunteers.
I really am honestly surprised at all the negativity that people received from staff/volunteers.
Actually, I was suprised too. Iv always had a problem with SC staff, and praised how much more awesome the KC staff are. Infact when one of the staff got on my case I said " But I was asured this would not become Sakura con"
I really am honestly surprised at all the negativity that people received from staff/volunteers.
Actually, I was suprised too. Iv always had a problem with SC staff, and praised how much more awesome the KC staff are. Infact when one of the staff got on my case I said " But I was asured this would not become Sakura con"
Well, I've heard they were severely understaffed and had very little sleep. Not saying it's an excuse, but cause and effect. (I read your post and .. it seemed pretty awful. I really hate seeing people being treated badly, sometimes even when they deserve it!)
And dont take it out on me, the insulting was compeltley unnessecery and really only further convicnes me that your perfectly capable of being the rude 'I got no sleep and am going to punish the attendies for it"-type volantter.i didn't say anything about attendees, I took many complaints from them regarding yojimbo, and went to great lengths to see that a situation was resolved happily.
Well now you know your nto cut otu for volenteering. And wotn do it again. Seriosuly your being incredibly whiny about this. I may have some sympathy if you could rant without playing poor little Cinderalla who is being taken for granted by all the cruel attendees.
Improvements to make:
- - Very Large Signs, posted well above head height, both labeling rooms and others showing you which rooms are down which direction of a hallway. (The same for info desk/etc, since crowds blocked the signs)
- - Signs in the registration area might also help.
As the Signage Coordinator, I was only told to make the signs that I had forms for pre-con. But, since I know what signs are going to be needed and the different types of them. I can make them rather easy now since I know what signs I had to make for them. So, it's partially...or more to the point, mostly my fault for that second thing on the list. But to answer the first thing; I think that 3' by 4' signs are big enough for someone to notice...
I think that anyone who has NOT been staff or volunteer can NOT say a staff or volunteer should not be one. jazz you did so much work that I myself feel extremely lazy in comparison. I hope you are there every year
Trumby, thanks. im glad I didnt come off as a demanding b***ch to everyone. I know I was being kind of nasty but dammit I wanted into the dance. Were you one of the people sitting at the pre-reg desk?You're welcome ^-^ And no, I was a yojimbo roaming with waffles at the time and was with him when you and Venton (I believe it was him?
Everyoen there was really friendly and obviously wanted to help. I really appreciated that.
Yaoi debate - As far as I can tell, to a large extent, yaoi is a teenage phenomena. It might have been better to have placed the actual debate during all-ages time, so those teens who participated in the prep panels had a chance to see how it turned out.
actually sumo was canceled due to staff testing the equipment and discovering that he can get a concussion in under 10 seconds. we replaced the sumo panel with a boffer combat panel
I'm sure all of us here experienced the Shinra Tower in Final Fantasy 7, right? 60 floors of stair, stair, stair, stair, stair, GODDAMMIT I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!
After about 4 hours on the first day, I was fed up with the elevators, so I used the stairs almost exclusively. And when my party (whoever happened to be with me at the time) went up the stairs, I was humming the Shinra theme the whole way.
This is epic win. It is also rant.
Yaoi debate - As far as I can tell, to a large extent, yaoi is a teenage phenomena. It might have been better to have placed the actual debate during all-ages time, so those teens who participated in the prep panels had a chance to see how it turned out.
*Eyetwitch* No. Never. Absolutely not. It would be an incredible insult to the adult fans.
It is NOT a 'teenage phenomina'. It just so happens to be mainly the little teenage girls who are the most squeally and obnoxious about it.
Us adults can keep it to ourselves and be mature about it without having to shove it everyone elses faces to prove how 'crazy we are'.
Im personally REALLY irirtated by the image those little fangirls give the rest of us yaoi fans.
Making it 'all ages' will only perpetuates this idea.
That is THE last thing the 'yaoi fandom' (or whatever you want to call it) needs.
If anything, we need to make it MORE adult to send a message that it is NOT for irriattaing little children who are jsut going for shock value orto 'rebel' and keep them OUT.
*End rant*
One more plan (maybe) for Peace Bonding next year: Pre-bonding while in line. It might even be possible for any line patrol yojimbo to also do this task.
Rant:
*the cosplay contest. One of the major reasons we went. one of three event we were looking forward too. couldnt get in. too many people. i understand they couldt let everyone in, but maybe next year they should set up an overflow room and have a live feed and project the action an a big screen. Then at least you could see what was going on.
Yaoi debate - As far as I can tell, to a large extent, yaoi is a teenage phenomena. It might have been better to have placed the actual debate during all-ages time, so those teens who participated in the prep panels had a chance to see how it turned out.
*Eyetwitch* No. Never. Absolutely not. It would be an incredible insult to the adult fans.
It is NOT a 'teenage phenomina'. It just so happens to be mainly the little teenage girls who are the most squeally and obnoxious about it.
Us adults can keep it to ourselves and be mature about it without having to shove it everyone elses faces to prove how 'crazy we are'.
Im personally REALLY irirtated by the image those little fangirls give the rest of us yaoi fans.
Making it 'all ages' will only perpetuates this idea.
That is THE last thing the 'yaoi fandom' (or whatever you want to call it) needs.
If anything, we need to make it MORE adult to send a message that it is NOT for irriattaing little children who are jsut going for shock value orto 'rebel' and keep them OUT.
*End rant*
I agree with you 100%. I have a *very* large yaoi manga collection and most of it is 18+ and cannot be legally sold to kids. (And let's not even discuss my doujinshi.) Just because teenagers tend to be more visible does not mean they are the majority.
There is a Yaoi Con and it is strictly 18+. That alone should show that this is not a 'tweeny' genre.
If I could figure out a way to hang them up from doorways without being in the way, I would. ^^; I'm tall, but I'm not that tall. But, I think I know a way to do it. And it'd probably work for next year's con. If I have advance knowledge of what rooms will be where, I can probably do something like what would be at the Zoo and stuff.Improvements to make:
- - Very Large Signs, posted well above head height, both labeling rooms and others showing you which rooms are down which direction of a hallway. (The same for info desk/etc, since crowds blocked the signs)
- - Signs in the registration area might also help.
As the Signage Coordinator, I was only told to make the signs that I had forms for pre-con. But, since I know what signs are going to be needed and the different types of them. I can make them rather easy now since I know what signs I had to make for them. So, it's partially...or more to the point, mostly my fault for that second thing on the list. But to answer the first thing; I think that 3' by 4' signs are big enough for someone to notice...
3' x 4' signs Should be large enough. However I didn't really notice the signs past all of the crowds. The kind of signs I'm thinking of are more specific. I actually covered them, but in a prominent location at the start of any hall from an entry way, and posted at every intersection, you note what is in which direction. Then above each room you post another sign. These work best if they're hanging above crowd level, but could also work with very noticeable signs posted on the walls in key locations. They pretty much have to be as high as anyone could possibly notice them, and then you have to hope they see them above the crowds... Which is why hanging signs work better.
If I could figure out a way to hang them up from doorways without being in the way, I would. ^^; I'm tall, but I'm not that tall. But, I think I know a way to do it. And it'd probably work for next year's con. If I have advance knowledge of what rooms will be where, I can probably do something like what would be at the Zoo and stuff.Improvements to make:
- - Very Large Signs, posted well above head height, both labeling rooms and others showing you which rooms are down which direction of a hallway. (The same for info desk/etc, since crowds blocked the signs)
- - Signs in the registration area might also help.
As the Signage Coordinator, I was only told to make the signs that I had forms for pre-con. But, since I know what signs are going to be needed and the different types of them. I can make them rather easy now since I know what signs I had to make for them. So, it's partially...or more to the point, mostly my fault for that second thing on the list. But to answer the first thing; I think that 3' by 4' signs are big enough for someone to notice...
3' x 4' signs Should be large enough. However I didn't really notice the signs past all of the crowds. The kind of signs I'm thinking of are more specific. I actually covered them, but in a prominent location at the start of any hall from an entry way, and posted at every intersection, you note what is in which direction. Then above each room you post another sign. These work best if they're hanging above crowd level, but could also work with very noticeable signs posted on the walls in key locations. They pretty much have to be as high as anyone could possibly notice them, and then you have to hope they see them above the crowds... Which is why hanging signs work better.
Such and such -> This way
<- Such and such that way
Things like that.
In the worse case scenario that I can't find places to hang signs from; I'll just stick them up on the wall as high as I can reach them. And that's plenty ways above the heads of the crowd as I'm 6'4" with a pretty decent arm reach...I think. O.o Or I can get my friend who's a bit taller than me to do it.
*nods* I'm sure that someone will be able to bring a step ladder for the day before the con so we can hang these signs up well above the crowd head level. But, I don't think that the hotel will let us hang signs from things. Unless we become really creative with how we use tape.In the worse case scenario that I can't find places to hang signs from; I'll just stick them up on the wall as high as I can reach them. And that's plenty ways above the heads of the crowd as I'm 6'4" with a pretty decent arm reach...I think. O.o Or I can get my friend who's a bit taller than me to do it.
Good initial idea. If possible though, I'd like to see them actually out over the hallways. For setup it would probably be best to bring a small step-ladder. It's amazing what a difference a few feet can make for visual aids.
Good initial idea. If possible though, I'd like to see them actually out over the hallways. For setup it would probably be best to bring a small step-ladder. It's amazing what a difference a few feet can make for visual aids.
My pet peeve every year is to come onto these forums and find people telling us that we were not professional enough, that since we chose to become staff we have no one to blame for our exhaustion but ourselves and we have no right to be tired, snarky, or confused sometimes. There are lots of people in the world who CHOOSE to do tiring and nasty work: police, soldiers, firefighters, emergency room doctors...fortunately as staffers we never have anyone's life in our hands and we (rarely) face real physical danger, but would you walk up to a firefighter and tell him or her to buck up and be polite, since they after all CHOSE to be a firefighter and it's their own fault that they are dirty, burned, and tired? I think not. Just because you volunteer for a job doesn't mean that you lose any right to be tired and stressed in the line of duty. Overt rudeness is never excusable, but if our people get a little frayed around the edges a day or two in, that's the price we all pay for a volunteer force. We could have a professional security team, and charge well over a hundred bucks a ticket. I don't think any of us want that, so please cut us some slack. Tired people make mistakes, we don't do it to be spiteful.
I agree with the earlier rants about the lines-something as simple as a sign taped to the wall with an arrow pointing the direction the line forms saying: "Line Starts Here" would have been very useful.yeah i noticed this the first day when i saw a ot of people milling around in random spots waiting for openng cermonies because there was no spot for the line to start, so i grabed a sign that said "please form a line" gave it to my younger brother knighted him cat maid and we went through the lobbys saying "opening ceromines please form a line for opening ceromines this way follow the guy with the sign this way single file line"
Height of the stage in main events. We did not find out that the stage was so short until very late in the game, too late for the budget to rent one from an outside source. We are aware of this issue and will try and bring it back up to the usual 4 ft tall stage next year. For those of you who helped Friday morning, you'll know how much worse it could have been.
4' tall stage usual? I don't think we've ever had one that tall. I think 30" is the highest we've ever had.