A Guide to Anime Conventions!

Here I am waiting in a line filled with hundreds of eager anime enthusiasts, waiting for my chance to get an autograph from one of my all-time favorite voice actors, Matthew Mercer. I’m holding my K poster, listening to others talk animatedly about the recent panel they went to, and what they plan on having the voice actors sign. I fiddle with my Free! Iwatobi Swim Club Makoto shirt, and smile at the girl behind me who looks just as nervous as I do. Suddenly, the voice actors for the autograph session begin to emerge from behind the booth. The crowd roars with excitement, as my heart begins to race with nerves. After about 20 minutes of small torturous steps, I finally am the next one in line to step up to their table. I glance at Matthew Mercer who is cordially smiling at his fans while he signs a girl’s item with his black sharpie. He passes down her item, and the girl continues down the line with a huge grin plastered across her face. The laugh he extends to his co-worker at his side makes my heart skip a beat, as I am finally ushered to their table.

I hand my item to the first voice actor, Sam Riegel, and he asks for my name. I choke up, but somehow manage to vocalize it. With a wink he begins to sign my board and says, “It’s nice to meet you.” My item heads down the line of voice actors. Right before I get to the end of the table, I reach Matthew Mercer. He signs my poster and hands it to another all-time favorite voice actor of mine, Keith Silverstein. Before I move down the table one last time, he smiles at me and says, “I saw your audition earlier. You did great!” I stand still, shocked for a moment before I shyly smile back and thank him for the complement. I take the little step needed to get to Keith Silverstein, who I was lucky enough to strike a conversation with earlier that day. He looks up at me in recognition. “I remember you. Did you do that audition?” I tell him yes, just a little over an hour ago. He asks me how it went and I reply that although it was scary, it was exciting. “Well, that’s how it always is. The fact is, you did it. That’s more than what many others do. Keep up the good work!” I’m handed back my poster, now full of autographs, and begin to make my way back to my friends. I look down to see my newest prized possession and am taken aback for a moment when I see the biggest note of all: “Thank you for your support!” This is when I stop and look at everything around me. From one end to another all I can see are cosplayers, dealer booths, stages, and special guests. This is what an anime convention is like- worthwhile experiences and surprises abound. So, if you want to make your experience even better and more memorable than the one I just described, then you have to know just what to do in order to make your next anime convention the best yet!

Before we begin to list out what it actually takes to make an anime convention a success and how to handle it, it’s important to get down the basics. An anime convention is where individuals of mutual love and respect for the genre assemble together to show off their homemade cosplay outfits, artwork, and love for the craft itself. Anime cons can range in size depending on their popularity. From a few hundred individuals, to a few thousand, the number of attendees depends on not just the location of the event, but also on who the special guests are, the venues that are available, and other equally similar contributing factors. This type of convention is a place where anime fans can get together and otaku out to their heart’s content!

Badge Types and Cost

Once your decision has been made and you have selected the convention you want to attend, it is best to purchase a badge as soon as possible! If you register early enough, you can purchase your badge at the “early-bird special” price. Typically, the difference between the early-bird and the day-of-the-event pricing ranges from $10-20. It may not seem much at the time, but that extra cash can get you either a lunch, or that very last copy of your favorite manga artist’s recent book that you just saw at that one booth earlier. This type of pricing is primarily for the full-weekend badge holders, and is usually $45-75, depending on which convention you go to. If you just want to buy a single day pass, which ranges from $25-35 depending on the day you decide to attend, some anime conventions now offer them online about a month before the convention begins. If they are not available online, they will be available for purchase on the day of. Make sure to go early if you do decide to go this route, so you have more time to see the convention.

In the event you fall head-over-heels in love with the anime convention you go to and want to attend it again next year, make sure to check when open registration occurs on the website. If you do, you might be able to get an even cheaper price around Black Friday, so check regularly! Sometimes a convention sells tickets for the next year at the current year’s convention. In this case, be sure you’re going next year if you buy one. The prices are the lowest of the low and can sometimes come with a perk you can’t get elsewise. Aside from being able to score a great deal, the convention might offer a special badge type known as the “VIP Badge”, or the “Premier Fan Badge”. These particular badges are considered to be the rarest of the rare. Although prices for this type of badge range depending on which convention you’re attending, from $100-350 or more, the perks are worth every penny. From being able to skip hours of line wait time to the front of the line with just a flash of your badge, to getting exclusive fan meets and pre-paid tickets to events, this badge is worth the price you pay for it. If your convention so happens to offer this special badge, be ready to treat it like others do for events such as Comic-Con. Servers crash and hearts are broken, but if you can score one of the limited badges available, your experience will be one of the best yet!

When you finally are ready for your convention, know that the badge pick-up process can be either short or tedious. As a green rule of thumb, arrive as early as possible. The sooner you arrive before the badge pick-up process opens, the better. If you do have to wait for a little longer than expected, just know that with a bit of patience and some incentive (the grab bag you get after you pick up your badge, appeases all of the grouchy fans who have spent the last few hours waiting in line), the wait time can seem like a far-off memory. For those who purchased a badge prior to the opening of the convention, the badge can be picked up a day before it starts on a day known as “Day 0.” This is an added perk for those who are ready ahead of time. While there may still be a line, it will still be much shorter than those on any of the other given days of the actual convention.

After you get to the area where the computers are located, the rest of the process is a breeze. Just log in through one of the computers by scanning your pre-printed barcode found on your receipt, and bam, you make your way to the goodie-bag area where your badge is now waiting. You then receive blessings from the staffers before stepping foot into the entryway where cosplayers are already strutting their stuff and camera shots are heard all around.

Tip!:

Use the pre-registration badge pick-up day to scope your surroundings out. Figure out where the bathrooms soon to be filled with cosplayers adjusting their wigs are, where the food areas with the inflated prices are, where the panels will be, and where the Artist Alley and Dealer Hall are located, for these are the places where you will more likely than not spend most of your time in. Also, be sure to check out the schedule inside of the goodie bag. Use the night before to plan out which panels you want to go to, when to have a lunch break, and which panels you will go to as a back-up in case your first options are over-packed.

Most importantly, make sure to keep your badge secure and safe at all times. If you lose your badge, you will be required to pay a replacement fee for a new one. Always keep yours around your neck. If you don’t like the advertisement printed on your lanyard, be at ease. The Dealer’s Hall will provide you with a minimum of 10 other options to choose from.

After you know which convention you are going to, and have purchased your badge, it is time to figure out how you plan on getting there. If it is a convention that is a few hours away from where you live, like the infamous Anime Expo, which is located at the Los Angeles Convention Center, is for me, make sure you don’t hitch it alone. Be sure to go with a friend or a group of friends. One of the best parts about an anime convention is being able to share the experience of it with others, so do so if you can!

Booking

Once the number of your attendees is decided, it is now time to make the next decision—which hotel to stay at. Knowing you need a place to sleep between convention days, it is best to book the hotel in advance. If you decide to use one of the hotels that is being hosted by the event, make sure you go through the convention’s website to get the discount—it can save you hundreds. If you want to save even more money and don’t mind a little commuting, browse through websites such as hotels.com, and secure a spot in another hotel around the area. The earlier you book, the better. You can get some of the cheapest rates if you book almost a year in advance, but if you wait until the convention is just a month away, the prices will have increased by then.

Parking generally varies from $10-20 depending on how far you wish to walk. If you do decide to go through the convention’s website, shuttles are provided from the hotel to the convention center and back. Just remember that the buses can only hold so many, and the wait time between each bus ride tends to be about 15 minutes, not including travel time. I normally choose to pick a hotel within a 15-minute estimated drive to the convention center. Parking is almost always $20 a day, and my lot choice is normally only two blocks away from whatever convention I attend, so options are available.

Cosplayers

As mentioned before, cosplaying occurs at these conventions, and it is considered to be one of the biggest attractions for any anime convention. Cosplayers are individuals who dress up as a character from any given book series, anime, or video game. From wig styling, to specialized make-up, to handmade costumes, these individuals can spend an entire year prepping for this one moment where they can show off their creations. At conventions like Anime Expo, people from around the world come just to show off their newest pieces. Like other conventions, a masquerade is held, which is where each cosplayer competes with a skit or a dance routine to win the hearts of the fans, and a final cash prize. Many booths for major businesses in the anime industry, such as VIZ Media or Crunchyroll, hire their own personal cosplayers for their booth areas.

All booths are located in the Dealer’s Hall, a place where merchandise is sold, and where autograph sessions are sometimes held. This means, that shopping is inevitable, and this area of the convention center can easily suck away the few hours you have during your time at the convention, so be careful. The crowds can be huge, and it is fair to say the area is jam packed with individuals ready to throw their money at the nearest seller who has the body pillow they’ve been looking for. If there is an item you want, but the price seems too high, wait until the last day of the convention if you can. Primarily, the prices go down quite a bit and the deals are much sweeter. However, the item may be bought beforehand by another, so unless you’re willing to take this risk, it is best to purchase the item as soon as possible.

The same goes for the Artist Alley. This is the place where fans show off and sell their own artwork and creations such as doujinshis, (fan-made comics based off of a manga series). If there are prints or keychains you would like to purchase, but want to wait for, be sure you’re okay with it possibly selling out. If the booth is crowded from the moment you spot the artist’s amazing art, it is probably best to get the print or item then and there. From t-shirts, lolita cosplay, props, mock weaponry, books, Japanese culture goods, VHTF video games, to exclusive items otherwise not available anywhere else, there are more than enough items to keep your attention for the full run of the convention.

One of the other biggest attractions that people come to conventions for, is to meet the special guests of honor, and to get their autographs. From all corners of the anime industry, these special guests make live appearances just for the fans. From American and Japanese voice actors, to manga and anime artists, to the producers and writers for some of the most famous series of the season, to world- renowned cosplayers, there are many individuals who come to share their love for the anime world with the fans. Be ready to wait in long lines to get their autographs, to attend Q+A’s, or to attend one of their other unique panels. Normally, these guests have more than one session in which to provide autographs and Q+A’s, but always have a back-up in case the line is too long.

Tip!:

If art is what you’re after, be sure to keep an eye out for art cases. There is almost always one booth that sells a long strap tubed carrying case. They sell for $10 and go quickly! Also, the VA guests regularly provide tips on how to become a voice actor and what it’s like to be one, so be sure to attend one of their panels if this is a future career goal of yours. The same goes for cosplaying professionals. If you wish to do cosplaying professionally, and get paid for it, attend their panels for informative pieces of advice.

Held by Actors, Directors, Cosplayers, or Guests

Panels are the best way to interact with your favorite actor, director, cosplayer, or guest. Anime conventions often have paneled discussions where either an individual or group of individuals, talk about a specific theme or subject to the audience. Many times, advice is given, and the panel is extremely enlightening and entertaining. During a memorable anime convention experience, Shoko Takaku, a well-known manga artist, talked about how she made her manga and how tedious the work can be since sleep is considered a luxury in the world of a mangaka. For those who want to become manga artists, the advice given was informative and very helpful. I was even able to talk to Takaku-Sensei in Japanese for a brief few minutes before she had to go to her next panel, so you never know what experiences you can have if you attend one of these!

Aside from individuals of importance, there are also the big companies, such as Viz Media or Funimation, who hold their own panels in order to discuss new and upcoming releases. They also provide exclusive screenings for new movies or shows that have yet to be released. If you are interested in working in the anime industry, they also sometimes discuss the ins and outs of the business in detail.

Tip!:

If you want to get them to remember your name as a possible future employee of their company, bring along a set of business cards and start up a conversation with some of the important people that are stationed at the booths. The convention is not only considered a place to have fun, but also a place to build future connections at!

Types and Places

When it finally comes time to regain energy and put in sustenance into your body, be prepared to pay above and beyond what you normally would elsewhere. The convention center has a limited selection, and a simple salad can be as much as $12. If you want a variety, head outside of the convention center where there are either restaurants nearby, or food trucks, such as the ones they have at Anime Expo. The food trucks normally range from Japanese-, Korean-, Mexican-, and American-styled food. The prices are a little lower than the convention center’s, and eating from a food truck gives you the chance to experience the taste of the local area. If you want to find the cheapest one available, be sure to spend about 5-10 minutes looking around. In order to compete, some trucks are willing to lower their prices for that day, while there are some that are even willing to give out free food in order to attract customers. On one occasion, I was given a free box of chocolate pocky simply because I decided to look at my options. Take in the experience and enjoy the food! Once you manage to get your meal, head back to the convention center and lounge around. Anime conventions typically have a food court area that gets packed quickly, so you can sit against one of the walls nearby, and simply people watch.

Tip!:

People watching is a must at an anime convention and the moment you spot a cosplayer that you fancy, it is best to take the opportunity while you can! If you miss out on someone, such as the famous Deadpool cosplayer, you may never get a chance to take a picture with them again. So jump up from your spot on the floor, hand your friend or a random individual your camera or phone, and say cheese!

Bigger conventions tend to have more events in addition to panels and one particular main event, but there is still plenty to do aside from what’s listed in the guidebook. Company’s such as Funimation, Crunchyroll, and Bang Zoom! Entertainment have their own small events that are only listed on their websites or Twitters. Special events that are listed and are ticketed include events such as Anisong World Matsuri, live concerts, butler cafes, maid cafes, masquerades, world premiers, and much more!

For those who are more inclined toward MMORPG games such as Overwatch, rest assured that there are panels set up for these interests as well. There is usually a video- game area in one of the many rooms provided throughout the convention center, where gamers can enjoy classics such as Dance Dance Revolution (DDR), or can play from a range of fighting games provided. There can be a line sometimes, but the options given can keep anyone distracted till an available spot presents itself. Human-sized Jenga pieces or live-action roleplaying games are some of the best distractions when waiting for another game, so be ready to be versatile in this area.

In order to ensure the next anime convention you attend is what you want it to be, here are the top five basic rules to follow!

While some booths provide a bag for your buys, some do not. The deals in the Dealer Hall are sometimes too great to pass up, and a big bag is just what you need to hold all of your finds in. From mangas that are on sale for $1 to hand-made t-shirts for $15, the steals can be endless.

If it’s something you really want, make sure to get it as soon as possible. Don’t wait until it’s gone.

Arrive early to a panel if you can. The earlier you go, the more likely you are to get in. Just in case you aren’t able to though, remember to always have a back-up plan. Conventions get packed and panels get swamped. If you have a specialized interest in the anime industry, make sure to prepare your schedule accordingly. For example, if you have an interest in voice acting, or just voice actors in general, make sure to schedule your day around the particular signings or panels you want to attend. Most likely the lines will be long, so be sure to have your items or questions ready. Always be prepared!

Whether it’s to take a picture with a cosplayer or with a special guest, or to get an autograph, don’t be afraid to ask if it is okay to do so. This is a fun event where memories are made, so go out and make them!

More times than not, people are more worried about recording the panels or picture taking than just being able to simply relax and enjoy the convention. At every anime convention you are bound to find some sort of fun activity to invest yourself in. Whether that be in the convention itself, or during the get- together socializing in your hotel room later on that evening, fun and enjoyment can be found just about anywhere at any anime convention.

Now that you know what to do to make your next anime convention a success, it’s time to go out there, relax, and enjoy yourself with your fellow anime fans!