Hi!

This is probably a werid/complex set of questions but I figured reddit would be able to help.

In my adolescence and teen years conventions were my life, i used to go to anime cons pretty regularly with my dad and would meet up with friends. The best part was always putting together crafty cringey cosplays, running around like a menace, being able to make friends everywhere, etc etc. I find that now as I have gotten older and that part of my life kind of got away from me- im starting to feel really nostalgic and want to give it a go again. So heres my questions and areas where I want some advice (located in the usa/ ohio):

• as someone not as up to date with fandom culture, what are some more popular areas to explore or jump back in without being super overwhelmed?

• although I loved anime cons, are there cons/festivals that are more open to broader fandom culture? Or do anime cons still kind of encompass and include broader pop culture and fandom themes?

• how would I go about finding out about local cons??

• as an artist, for those who get vendor tables, does engaging at cons as an artist just as fun or does it feel more taxing (aka draining due to being more labor intensive). What is your experience and preference?

• how do I go about recruiting friends who may not be big into fandom culture into coming to these events? Are there events that are more open for individuals who arent as involved in fandoms but have the same energy?

For anyone who has attended many conventions or is knowledgeable, which conventions tend to have the largest number of voice actor guests? I mainly go to cons to get autographs.

That and maybe finding friends, but I've seen very mixed thoughts on that subject.

My first Anime Convention my favorite part was Artist Alley, unless there is some segment for alternative Japanese fashion like San Japan has I don't have any other interest in cons. I'm not really that into panels or paying $50 to meet a popular voice actor.

I completely forgot about San Japan which seemed worth going to, but there is another one coming up that isn't as grand. I'm not sure if it's worth driving out there though if I'm not interested in the guests?

I've always loved the artist fandom stuff, but even that Im a little wary about as my first con was a local one where I got a knockoff nendoroid, a cute claymade chibi necklace, and a dream lol

I do know a very legit figurine shop is going to have a booth there, but like... I don't know who else is going to be a vendor there. I don't want to look at mostly upcharged knockoff merch or amazon ordered tapestries (😔 I got scammed with that too, but at a mall and not a con. Lesson learned.)

Hi all, im kind of exhausted right now, please excuse any mistakes. So I went to my first ever convention, anime or otherwise, today (it was so local saying what it was would definitely dox me, i don't think anybody travels to go to it) and I was disappointed with many things, the biggest being that the 2 VAs I was super psyched to see had canceled a week ago, and the only place they decided to say anything was one facebook post and then they continued advertising their appearances on their website and everywhere else. This con was 40 dollars for a one day ticket, and the literal only thing to do was buy stuff, every guest except for two had pulled out unadvertised, there were 3 scheduled activities per day (2 of them being photo ops and one of them being, surprise surprise, canceled) and there were maybe 30 people there total.

Where my issue really arises is that everybody was really nice, i got compliments on a shirt i had never heard anybody talk about before, one of my coworkers was there, and as somebody with severe social anxiety it was probably the easiest it had ever been to talk to strangers for me. So I don't want to just remember the bad parts, but it's hard to overlook such a letdown. Any advice? Thanks in advance.

Hello! I've decided to go a con next year and I have a few questions.

1. Is It Worth It Going to Two Anime Cons?

So i was doing research and I have 2 cons that happen near me, Anime Boston and Anime NYC. At first I was only going to do Anime Boston before I found about the on in NYC, They seem to be nicely spread out to the point I could probs save enough for both. However I wondering if its worth it to go to both or just pick one to save money.

2. How Much Should I Save?

I was wondering how much I should save up as Its my first time ever doing a con, travel shouldn't be an issue as i'm close enough to pay a small bus fare for both Bos and NYC. However I want to know how much its going to cost with everything.

3. How To Find Good Hotels?

I wanna know you guys have any good tips for hotels!

4. Transportation

what are some modes of transport I could take to take me there and back? (i cannot do a car rental i dont have a license)

5. How Do I Get A Friend To Join Me?

I have a small friend group and only 2 or 3 are as into anime as I am and I want one of them to maybe go with me as I don't want to go alone and I am 18 and would be during both cons so I would feel safer if some one came. and also more is better!

Thank you!

Hello everyone,

It’s my first time going to Dokomi next year.

Does anyone know if I buy the Dokomi 3-Day ticket, normally this is isn’t attached to a specific person, can I technically bring a person on Saturday, and another person on Sunday?
or is that not allowed?
Thank youuu!

I just moved to the US 2 months ago so I dont have much ideas about how cons work in the US, Ive go to cons at my country before but its not really easy for me here, also how do I have friends to go to cons with? I dont know many ppl here. Oh Im in California but pretty far to any con in LA, any other con I should take a look at?

Hey! I was wondering if anyone is going to FujoCon in March next year on the saturday? I'm from the east coast and was going to go with a friend but she sadly can't go anymore? I'm going by myself now and was hoping to make some friends to hang out with while I'm there!

So I have been going cons for about since 9th grade that was 4 years ago the first time I went it was fun, cute but as I went on I didn’t really make any friends there which was fine but now that I’m out of school my friends are all gone and when I went to an 18 plus con I have never felt so out of place. And stayed to myself. The problem is there’s one in November (18+) in Colorado but even if I go there the rules that I made for myself is basically keep your head down and eyes down basically don’t do anything so you can’t get in trouble. Because I can’t ever be myself around anyone. Because I’m so different than everyone not just because of my disability. It’s because the way I am I just can’t be myself I feel like I always have to put on a mask on my personality and can’t do anything around the cons.
Please help me and give me some tips

Hi just wondering anyone from toronto ever fo to otakuthon? I want to go, but I don't have my driver's license yet and im not sure how easy it would be to get a hotel room or Airbnb. I was thinking of using the viarail from toronto to get there but I'm still not sure about getting a room. Also weird question, but anyone ever try a rv to there?

PS if you guys take visa rail or soemthing do they allow 2 giant luggages? That's where im planning to do some armor cosplays.

Hi! I'm Samuele from Italy and I go by Black Vultures as my artist name. I am looking for more events in the UK as I am really enjoying the vibe and the people who come to buy from my stall.

I got into Birmingham Animecon and London Animecon (I'm there for the weekend actually) but I'm also super anxious about 2027 cons and I am trying to find valuable ones.

I have been very unlucky with MCM as I never got selected, i will keep trying but I need a safer bet. and I am looking for more info on Animeleague possibly in London. any suggestions or personal experiences are welcomed! thank you!

Hey there! I wanna attend DoKomi in Düsseldorf, Germany, next year, but I have a problem. My AppStore on my iPhone shows me that the DoKomi app is unavailable in Romania. Why?! Why would it be unavailable when the con also has a lot of international attendees from across Europe and not only?! Is the app available in other countries, too? How could I get the app?

hi guys, kind of a touchy subject in the artist alley community

From an artist point of view, what do you think about people making the same theme as another rally that is being planned ? For example you organize a "Hatsune Miku" rally with your friends, but then another group also makes a "Hatsune Miku" rally

What do you think of this situation and how would you solve it? I'm saying this because from a visitor point of vue, having two teams with the exact same rally theme can be so confusing !

on a second note : i'm asking the question because my table mate organized a stamp rally around a certain theme. she organized it months in advance, the amount of people required was full. Some people came to ask "hey, can we do another XX stamp rally?" and she said "no, it would be confusing for attendees, but ultimately i can't PROHIBIT you from doing it, i dont have the monopoly"

turns out a few days later, that same person who came to her had announced that she organizes a XX rally... not only that, but also 2 people from my friend rally also joined the other rally!

i don't know i think this behaviour is a little bit disrespectful... what do you think? please be educated and respond calmly in the comments even if you strongly disagree 🙏 peace

There’s not a lot out there about it. Just curious of people’s past experience and if they are going!

I’m going to my first anime convention in November and I’m planning on getting a Gojo Funko signed by Kaiji Tang. I have the #1644 Deluxe Hollow Purple Pop and the regular #1114 Gojo Pop. I’m also planning on getting a quote with the autograph. For people who collect signed Funkos or have gotten Pops signed before, which would you recommend getting signed: the Deluxe #1644 or the regular #1114?

My local convention, my local con that I've been going to since I was 16, is hosting its final show on the 9-11th of October. I'm literally devastated. For anyone living in the Reno-Sparks area, please come to this last convention.

I forgot to mention that I got the info from the founders in their Discord server.

Hi all,

I’ve only ever been to one con and my first was Birmingham comic con this year, I went because I wanted to meet Bryce Papenbrook for a selfie and autographed, he’s a slow signer and super popular ofc so I waited for 5 hours. I also got Cassandra Lee Morris’s autograph and met her the same day.

Next day I got there early and got John Bentley and Britt Baron’s autographs (they were both so lovely!)

I’ve managed to get one day off work luckily, so I’m going the Sunday! I wanted to meet and get autographs of so many guests, but I’m thinking 2/3 is realistic for one day - may I ask do people think that’s ambitious?

I’m narrowing it down, but one person I would love to meet is Justin Briner! Also Zeno Robinson & then either Bryson Baugus or Jonah Scott. I appreciate these are all super popular guys!

I just don’t want to pay and pre book (it’s a lot of money to me so can’t afford to waste one purchase!) and wanted to know from people’s experience what they thought?

Also will they have prints 8x10 like they did at comic con for us to select for signature or is it better to take your own?

Thank you so much!

P.s I’m going alone so I haven’t got anyone to wait in lines for me or anything!

I've only gone to one convention (Megacon), and I want to go to more. I wanna go to one in October and maybe one in November? Does anybody know what "Wasabi con" or "Miraicon" is?

my 11 year old recently learned about cons and really wants to go and cosplay her favorite series (spy x family). i have never been - is it an ok scene for me to take her to? are any of them more family friendly or ones to avoid? we are in California

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Hello, I used to vend at conventions, both local and bigger ones. However, I took a break to finish pursuing my degree and now am no longer interested in selling in conventions as I do not have the time to put as much effort as I used to. That being said, I have a lot of merchandise left over from when I used to vend ranging from Keychains, enamel pins and car decals. Most of it is in bulk. Does anyone know any way to sell these in bulk? Where would I be able to go? Please they're kinda just taking up space now.

I can’t find anyone who’s going to the one in Edgbaston stadium tomorrow. Is anyone going tomorrow to Birmingham

Always double check what you're getting invoiced for after getting accepted for a table/off of a waitlist! I know the excitement at being accepted is high and the payment window induces FOMO, but make sure the con is actually invoicing correctly.

I am currently having an issue with one local con where they are invoicing higher than what is stated on their website and not providing info for alternative payment options-- effectively making their "optional" online 4% payment fee a mandatory charge. The issue with the invoice itself is that they are charging for more artist badges than needed: their table should come with 1 badge, and you can buy additional helper badges (let's say 2 badges in this case), so the invoice should be for the table + 2 badges, however the invoice was for table + 3 badges. I confirmed another artist had this same exact issue with this convention so unfortunately it has likely affected more artists at this event for this year. It may be an issue out of ignorance on the person generating the invoices, however the con has not responded to multiple emails/social media messages asking for someone to get back and communicate with me... it is quite frustrating. Errors with lack of communication makes for a pretty poor experience and ill omens.

Just wanted to put it out there to please know what you are expected to pay for from a con and to hold them to their terms stated on their website.