hazelchaz | What have I got to do to make you love me. What have I got to do to make you care... (Reply)

Photos now online:
AniZona 4: Late Thursday night (10-Apr-2009)
AniZona 4: Friday (10-Apr-2009)
AniZona 4 part 8: Saturday Morning (11-Apr-2009)
AniZona 4: Sunday (12-Apr-2009)
A stop at the PODS Warehouse (13-Apr-2009)
The picture of aesthier as "Morrigan" with the animelosangeles tattoo is from Saturday.

Part 1 of my AniZona report. The Friday night dance at AniZona was cut short at midnight, apparently because the DJ got tired or bored or something. Reportedly the fans weren't dancing that much anyway. Which reminds me of a card I need to write out and mail:

lynxcat, I owe you a major apology for not asking you back as DJ at Animé Los Angeles 4. Your dances in the early years were always well-attended, and you kept the energy going all night. I still remember that night you told me "They won't die! I'm trying to kill them, and they just keep dancing!" I made a big mistake in removing you (in order to to try to solve a different problem). It was incredibly disrespectful and rash, and I shouldn't have done that.

I realize that you've moved away, and are now married with a wonderful son, and have a new life almost completely independent of everything you left behind here in So. Cal. But I would be honored if you would come down next year, our convention's fifth anniversary, and take a shift during our Saturday night dance at the LAX Marriott (2010-01-09). Show these upstart otaku DJs how it's done, put some of your manic "Adrenochrome" energy back into this convention, and leave the fans wanting more.

Yours in fandom, etc.

I'll look up his address and get that sent off real soon now.

I've been writing a lot of notecards lately, in fact -- I've written over 200 in the past month or two, thank-you notes for everyone who worked at our convention this year. When I have time, I write until my hand gets tired, then stuff the envelopes and stamp them; repeat. So some of them have Arizona postmarks if I worked on them last weekend.

We had a fan table at AniZona, which was nice. ladymaxstarr rode out with me (left), and we took turns driving. A lifesaver, truly; if I had to choose between having a helper for the drive, and having one at the table, I'd take the drive to make sure I get where I'm going safely.

And the attendees at the convention seemed to have a good time. Which is not surprising: when people go to a convention expecting to have fun, they usually do.

If I remember the numbers treasurer Stephanie Bannon (right) told me, 70% of the members pre-registered in the last month before the convention. (They maxed out their cap the week before, so there were no at-door membership sales.)

What did I think of the convention? I saw lots of people having a fun time. There were some details that were lacking. The foyer in the ballroom area, where we sat (opposite Information) gave me a view of a number of things.

For example, their signage was remarkably uneven. Some signs were clearly cranked out on a moment's notice with a word processor, such as this curved-lettering sign in the Con Suite. (left)

Others, like the one at the door to the Con Suite, were a bit fancier. (right)

And a handful of signs were designed by the artists in Artists' Alley. (left)

What really caught my attention, though, was the sign for "Info + Volunteers." It was on the opposite side of the room from where I was sitting most of the weekend. (right)

(Note her badge. On the right it simply says "Staff" where you would expect to see a name.)

Melissa's favorite example is the "Masquerade contestants only" that they had outside the Masquerade hall when it was being used as their green room. (left)

Not shown here: while there was a schedule grid posted online, it wasn't printed up to hand out at the convention or posted on the wall.

There were a lot of good feelings among the attendees. But there are some major issues with the staffing, so this is the last AniZona weekend convention for the forseeable future.

At the end of the convention, there was an announcement at the closing ceremonies from the chair (right):

A number of people have asked me to confirm and clarify my announcement at closing ceremonies. Here are answers to their questions in no particular order. If you PM'd me and don't see an answer to your question here you should have a PM from me tonight.
1) Yes we are taking a break from having three day conventions for a bit.
2) We intend to have several one-day events per year.
3) We are hoping to be able to re-instill the sense of joy associated with running an anime convention.
4) We need to remember that we do this for fun and this is a hobby, some time off will help this.
5) We are not folding, we will be back.
6) Our attendees are the greatest! And we will never forget that.
7) "L" will be directing our one day events, and yes he can use all the volunteer help all of us can give.
8 ) I was so pleased with the attendees at this AniZona that I can't find the words to express my feelings.
Thank you all and we will see you in the future
Bob

It was an odd convention experience for me. AniZona's as old as Animé Los Angeles, so for it to end on such a conflicted note -- the regular attendees having a great time, but clear signs of early burnout on the part of the staff -- is hard for me to internalize.

I'll have more thoughts on the convention in my next post, along with some ponderings on the Arizona convention scene.

Tonight we hit the road for Xanadu Las Vegas. ala_mokita is on the road already, to set up a movie illustrators exhibit. (As I write this, he's about 60 miles from Vegas, while I haven't left Orange County yet.) Lynn, Melissa and I plan to wait until the traffic dies down a bit after rush hour and then we'll hit the road ourselves.