I’ve been listening to some people complaining about the Japanese guests, thinking that it’s all their fault.
Some have been saying that the rules such as no photos, no video recordings, and no sound recordings, sucked.
Others have been saying that the AX staff screwed it all up.
SO the 1 million dollar question, or the $60 (at door price) question is, whose fault is it?
I think you lose if you want to say whose fault is it, because I don’t think we can figure out. Things went wrong usually for a variety of reasons.
But we know one thing; AX is responsible for it, even if it’s not their fault.
Whoever thinks that the Japanese guests are at fault can burn in OVER 9000 different variations of hell.
It’s AX’s fault, followed closely by the idiocy of their staff.
AX is always disorganized as hell… what can be expected from a con that isn’t corporate sponsored, and instead entirely volunteer staffed?
“Idiocy of their staff”? Be thankful that there are people willing to volunteer and do this kind of thing for no pay other than room and board, otherwise you’d have no AX at all.
Admittedly, this year was worse than most… but hey, that’s just AX.
The rules (no photographs, etc.) were put in place probably because the guests/their management/their record companies requested it. Those rules are pretty standard, so people really shouldn’t be complaining about that.
I very much doubt that the Japanese guests had requested anything more than what they were accustomed to in Japan. And if their requirements _were_ unreasonable, well I’m sure that AX staff dealt with it one way or the other. Maybe the results of this were seen in public, maybe not.
I think that your question of “Whose fault is it?” is pretty unfair. Events can be extremely complicated things. How can you pin blame on one entity when there are probably a lot of complex issues at work here?
I agree with the first commenter: There were probably a lot of things that were out of control of AX staff, so finding someone to lay the blame with is not only unproductive, but impossible… However, Anime Expo staff are ultimately responsible for the results of their organisational management practices, communication practices, training practices, and staff morale. It seems like AX has reached some kind of crisis point and it is showing externally, to the public. They need to take a step back and seriously work on their organisational problems. If nothing is done, it will just be worse when they go to the larger venue next year.
Rift – actually, AX does have corporate sponsorship – ADV and Bandai USA. Just thought I’d point that out.
Generally, organizational skills go a long way of smoothing things out. Excellent focus to details and strategies to circumstances not perceived in advance always helps. But according to people who did go, their basic management skills were in question as many things, from the big parts to small details went wrong, and these problems were not caused by the guests or the attendees who paid their hard earned money.
I think they have a policy in Japan that unless it’s “open to photography” session, which I certainly have never seen for myself, usually no photography is allowed. However, for small concerts and events, it seems to me that some video taping is OK (see the Youtube video we link to on our site that’s done by Japanese otaku).
Guest policies are often done at the request of the guests, but Bandai USA instituted a really strict policy for SOS Brigade events, That has been one source of the complain. I’m not saying it’s right or wrong, I mean I think that’s expected in Japan that no photography or video taping is allowed expect by appointed professionals. I did heard complains from some press people from podcasts that they didn’t get the chance to take any pictures even though they wore the “press badge”.
More on organization, I was told that Comicon was so well run last time that the lines were very short, and a lot more people attend Comicon. No bouncers or at least people with nasty attitudes were needed. But at AX, a lot of attendees were not treated well (my friend had a good experience with the staff members he met, however). But the idea of Otaku bouncers or nasty staff isn’t my cup of tea.
Allowing no photography or filming/recording during the event is one thing. That’s standard policy everywhere.
Not allowing us even to have water bottles and umbrellas while they start 2 hours late, while we bake in the hot sun…that’s another issue.
Mike – at least you got a tan and lost a few pounds from your spare tire XD
Too much of a tan. I got sunburned! My nose and my forehead are still recovering. 🙂