KKC and AM

Knowing what I know about hotel contracts, #3 may actually be the most difficult.

Regarding the "Change" to Shio: I am not really sure that that counts. Although it had many of the same people running it, that can be said for several of the cons throughout the state. Since Shio, the number of cons in Texas has ballooned... so there are more positions available, which means that the likely hood of cons having the same degree of cross-staff saturation is reduced, but I can easily point to 3 unrelated conventions in Texas where 50% or more of the staff is comprised of the exact same people - some of whom are now on Oni-Con staff, and at least one which is on Kami's. During the first Kami and for Shio, experienced staff members were harder to find; so the cross-convention staffing makes since. Especially if you consider that both conventions were at the same time of year.

I honestly believe the reason Anime Matsuri is exempted from this trend has to do with certain actions their first year. I still have the email from Denise where OpalRainDragon and myself were informed that we were not wanted even as volunteers because they were trying something different, and didn't want to have their vision compete with preconceived notions of volunteers/ staff (her version was less wordy). However, if you look at Matsuri's year 2, it is starting to conform to the staffing trend, with staff from other conventions taking a greater role in their event. I believe that 2009 will show this to an even greater degree, largely due to the post on their forums by "Emotiongear" advertising staff positions available for next year's event. http://mashharder.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3251&highlight=staff

I am interested to see how both sides handle the situation this year. I honestly believe it will reflect in attendance for both, and the possibility of the same situation re-occurring in 2010.

ok look. I know we discussed Shio and Kami before. It was more then just alot of the same people running shio. the person who headed shio in my Oppinion was pretty close to being the head of KKC. I was on staff for KKC1 to help out with the gaming. Chris from AM was also on staff doing the tournaments. Shio, same date as KKC2, same hotel, most the same people, same contract. you can check the archives http://web.archive.org/web/20060128002722/http://www.kamikazecon.com/ they even list Shiokaze on the KKC2 site under press releases. but now I am getting off subject :p

really though I do not see why they would have 2 conventions on the same date. Not only does it affect attendance (which may even be lower if gas hits $5 a gallon by that time of year) but you are also asking vendors, guest and industry to choose. I know they may not have planned it this way, I am also not willing to say one convention deserve the date over they other. Both could be successfull with that date depending on what there attendance goals are set at. But unless they work it out this type of thing could get out of hand.

I don't think it's quite fair to label matsuri as just a game-oriented con.
Sure they do more events with games and cars, but they have just as many
anime events as any other anime con. Plus kamikaze announced they will have
games and tournements too... so... um... I think they're square now.

I agree with what's been said about the situation by Big Bruno.
I've never been to kamikaze so I'm not going to start comparing them,
but the two cons happening at the same time spells disaster for both
cons... there's already sakura con in Washington and
considering last year where there was another con in the north like that
and matsuri lost of lot of dealers/attendees, the same situation
split into 2 cons in Houston definitely will not help. I know Washington is
far away and Texas con goers probably will go to either kamikaze or matsuri...
but it's very true there were less people in last year matsuri
(I guess the bad reputation of 1st year matsuri didn't help either.)
And there's sure to be less dealers. Of course it'll be freakin awesome if
they make a kamikaze/matsuri con... but no chance of that happening... T.T

So while the plan of two cons at the same time in the same town seems disasterous,
it seems neither con will back down. Kamikaze has a better reputation
than matsuri (the evident lack of order in the first matsuri and some minor
problems at the second year did not help) and kamikaze has loyal fans.
Matsuri did come up with new things like the car show and super badges
(which I'm sure no one really noticed but true), AM TV thing.. etc.. but like
I mentioned, people didn't really notice it... and generally doesn't contribute
much to the con experience. I agree that which con gets more attendees will
depend heavily on the guest list... and probably the most crucial will be the
main act for the concert. The cons working together to plan out the events so
fans can attend both would be nice... but don't know about the chances. Plus I'm
not sure if people want to spend an extra 30-40 bucks to get the badge + gas
prices.

Btw, how far is the hotel of kamikaze from matsuri?

Oh yeah, and Kamikaze has recently officially announced the dates and location.

Ok, take this in order

1. New Ideas
Matsuri may have been the first to have a pass called the "Super Pass", but they were not the first con (or even the first Anime con) to have a VIP badge. The car show during the con was a new one.

2. Distance: 30 to 40 miles. The Kami hotel is across from the Galleria and the Matsuri hotel is by the Woodlands Mall.

As I said before, I am interested to see how both sides handle the situation this year. I honestly believe it will reflect in attendance for both, and the possibility of the same situation re-occurring in 2010.

anyway if you compare kamikaze 1 with AM 2 you can see somewhat a difference and why I consider AM more of a gaming convention then ANime

http://www.animecons.com/events/info.shtml/241

http://www.animecons.com/events/info.shtml/1464

AM2 musicians (Bands more dance techno oriented then anime)
Bespa Kumamero (Musicians)
Aural Vampire (Musicians)

AM2 voice actors
8 total

AM2 anime industry guests
0 shown

Am gaming
Shodown tournaments held in main event

KKC musician (more anime oriented/ j pop music)
Kumiko Kato (Singer / Dancer)
Koda Kumi (Musical Performer)

KKC voice actors
17 total

KKC anime industry guests
3 total

KKC gaming
casual tournaments

so I guess if you were to compare AM2 to like a smaller anime convention you could say that it is more inline with them. but i think AM's attendence is a least = to what KKC was 3,200. so by comparing the 2 I would label AM more of a gaming convention with anime and kamikaze and anime convention with gaming. But that is all a manner of oppinion I suppose.

I guess it all boils down to guest and events list for this year.

It seems KKC finally updated its site.The other links besides forum actually work.There's at least something in every category and,they have hotel info as well.$99 plus tax a night,it's about the same rate as Oni-con,and they have two dances.Cheap hotel rooms are definitely a draw to me,that's exactly why I vounteered for AM,couldn't foot that $130 a night bill.I believe Big Bruno is right abut KKC being more an anime con,I'm already starting to see it once again.From what I've observed from both AM's is that the gaming aspect and other and Shio was more focused upon the anime side.So I agree with BB,if I remembered what all happened at Shio,then I'd have more info to put,sorry.And,I also agree it will boil down to guests and events.I think that the concert will play a BIG factor in attendance numbers as well.The more well-known the performer,the bigger the numbers of course.You also have to consider the location,I would like to think the greater half of the population density in the surrounding area would be more towards the coast,and everybody knows where the Galleria is,so I believe KKC definitely has the home-field advantage here.Bruno,back to you at the studio.

*went to Shiokazecon,first con btw,ROCKED!!*

It's nice to get other people's input too.. Although I think it's safe to say our opinions are more or less the same now..

I thought the concert band would play a huge role too... but then I thought...
what if people go to the other con and go only for the concert of the "better known" musician? So not sure if concert guest would play that huge of a role... people might just buy a day pass to go to the concert or something.
(Of course, people might not like that idea and just go with the con with the "better" musician.)

What do ya'll think?

Either way,said con will have more attendees that particular day and possible overall.Alot of con-goers just go for concerts and raves anyway.

Hi there, I was going to reply to this thread a couple of weeks ago, because I thought the first two posts were very constructive. But further in my read, there seems to be some oppositions.

But I would like to respond to the last few posts.

Big Bruno:
Although we highlight Showdown arcade gaming in our Main Events, it does not mean AM is a gaming convention.

In regards to Industry guests: AM 2007 had both ADV & FUNimation; and for AM 2008, industries we were sponsored by were: Viz Media, Bandai, FUNimation, TokyoPop, and Score Entertainment

You left out our main musical act for AM 2008: Nirgilis, who sings Eureka Seven 4th opening & D.Grayman 1st ending

As for VA Guests at AM 2008: We had a total of 9 very high profile voice talents.

But all this will be in our Archives section of our new website, which you can check out shortly when our new site launches.

AM staff is aware that our first year left a lot of fans wondering if we'll ever be back, but please understand several panels (15 out of 50+) were cancelled due to last minute cancellations by volunteers and lack of man power (we had a total of 55 staff & volunteers throughout the weekend). The large number of attendees (over 5000) for a first year convention was not what we anticipated.

As for AM 2008, our second run was a huge improvement. Industries were very pleased about how we were able to promote them without them able to come. Guests were amazed of how their panels ran and how well welcomed and treated they were. We had about 70 panels and workshops, most of which were cultural, anime or cosplay related. There was 1 PC game meetup.

Meauho: If you can PM me the email you received from me, I would like to review it, as I was never a decision maker of who we should use to have volunteers in our first year.

We are very disappointed that Kamikazecon has chosen the same date as ours to come back to. Many of the convention heads I have talked to are not happy about it either. We all want to bring what's fun, what's new, and what's interesting about anime to the community, because we are all fans at heart ourselves. When a fan must choose between two cool parties to attend, it's bound to get criticism.
The AM Staff will continue to make improvements, and to create a fun and memorable experience for new and old fans of any genre: anime, cosplay, music, or Japanese culture. We encourage you to visit our website and go on our forums for information, news, and to give input. We'd love to have it!

Thank you,

Deneice
Anime Matsuri Chairman

Sorry I meant no disrespect in the comparison. I was going with the Animecons.com post. I have not attended another con (any con) in years mainly because my job takes up most my time and I have to give up vacation to go to them. I should probably also mention I lean towards gaming more although people think I am a Otaku with both anime and gaming, I do give up vacation for gaming events. It is a personal view AM is more of a gaming convention mainly because of the Emphasis put on the Shodown event, gaming (multiple gaming rooms) and planet zero. The guest list posting on both conventions I am sure are missing people, As well as industry. But even In comparing AM2 with KKC1 I would say KKC1 had a larger anime emphasis from an anime fans prespective their first year. which is what I was speaking from. Knowing this year that fans unfortunitly will have to Choose between two events Anime matsuri and Kamikaze con. As others it will more or less boil down to guest, reputation and events. there would be no way I would expect KKC to Get Koda Kumi again for next year. Also do not interpet this as saying KKC will be a better anime emphasized convention next year. All anyone has to go by is the past preformances and whatever current information is posted from an outsiders view. I am sure both convention will have exicting surprises for next year.

If I was a gamer then I would choose AM over KKC, just because there is more of a gaming emphasis there. If I was into cars again AM over KKC obvious because it is the only convention to feature cars. If I was into J-pop/rock/etc it would boil down to who the guest was at each convention and what kind of music I was into. And of course If I was into anime, it would be more of what shows are being premiered, industry guest, dealer room and voice actors.

I do hope both convention are successful next year and view it as unfortunite as well people will have to choose.

well I guess it did loss the orginal intent of this thread which was what is the solution when 2 cons run on the same weekend in the same town and how to work it out. but here is a hypothical and please do not take it the wrong way.

lets say AM did become more of an gaming and car convention. I am not much into the import car scene but I have not heard of a big import car shows in texas or US wide although I am sure there are some in CA. And then Kamikaze became mainly anime. AM Losses some anime fan attendees sure, but could possible make it up with more Car and Gaming attendee's. You could build the panals around the gaming and Cars as well and invite more guest in around that. Then there would also be less of a split between Anime industry, voice actors and the like. it also may be more of an untapped market. So instead of splitting the existing fan base you are working with a different fan base that may not be into anime convention, as well as the anime fan base that likes all 3 (gaming, cars, and anime)

The danger of all this is if it gets to be a one up battle. Where everyone tries to One up everyone else (And that is probalby happening everywhere anyway) Spending tons of money on guest, bands and the like without the attendance to support it.