I didn’t think I would need to write a follow up to the 1st EliteCon article (as seen here) but clearly since a couple of people can’t read (either between the lines or in general) it seems like I just have to address a few things that, for whatever reason, either were not understood in, or were accidentally left out of the original article: that, or they are just things people are not understanding.
UPDATE – READ THE POST CON FOLLOW UP HERE!
Let me be point blank about this: Is this a convention you were going to go to? Yes or No? The answer is probably no, and don’t be cute and say “well they don’t allow cosplay so no I won’t go” You wouldn’t have gone if it was a typical convention, more than likely. It’s not, and that’s the entire point of the no-cosplay rule.
Their focus is sale and trade of collectable goods. That’s it. If that isn’t a convention to you, then it isn’t your scene, clearly. There are plenty of cons that don’t have cosplay as a focus: DefCon, for example, a convention about the hacking community, doesn’t have much in the way of cosplay, but guess what? It’s a convention, in the classic terms, and as far as most anyone would consider it.
Random image to break up text.
Some assholes would want to ask me, “Who are you to say what a con is?” My answer is I’m not saying what it is as some edict from me, I’m saying what a convention is, at the core, based on history. Conventions have been about people, about socialization and focused discussion on a subject, with cosplay as a side effect of this. This wild notion, that cosplay isn’t the primary element of a convention, seems lost, but guess what: Cosplay is not the primary element of what makes a convention, in any capacity, a convention. Get over it.
That’s not to say Cosplay is bad: That’s never what I was trying to say, and I think I explained that as well as I could in the original article. What I somewhat failed to directly explain, but should have been obvious, were the problems that a focus on cosplay can bring.
Yes, most average conventions, such as Anime Blues Con, have a high attendance of people who just cosplay. Sure, that brings in money for the convention itself, but that doesn’t mean attendance at panels, or sales made at the dealers booths, or other special interactions that are also part of whatever convention it may be.
I actually discussed this with a long-time convention vendor today, one who sells the exact kind of merchandise that would be sold at this convention: He expressed that all a particular local con really is is cosplayers, and they never seem to buy anything.
The same. No relation to the article.
That’s fine, buy or don’t buy, it’s your right, but an event built for that type of market would make sense to want to deter the “come to cosplay / come for the cosplay” crowd. You have people who, sure, they pay to come in, but all they care about is the cosplay. Then the place is crowded, and it’s hard to navigate to any degree, and what happens? People don’t enjoy their time, and they leave. People don’t buy stuff, or can’t buy and trade things they want, and no one makes any money or gets anything good from the very core point of the event.
Am I saying all cosplayers won’t buy something? Of course not. Am I saying people who want to go to this event all don’t cosplay? No, I’m sure many do. However, the convention staff feels this is the best option. What’s more, and this is important now, no one who has pre-registered for this event is objecting to this rule. That was the whole point of the Facebook link provided – to show such (at least according to the convention itself).
Hmn, let’s see: The con staff don’t want cosplay, the people who have paid to go to the event are fine with it. Please, tell me where your opinion matters in the fold? If I can’t say what a con is or isn’t, according to some of you (even though that isn’t at all what I was saying to begin with) then how does your consideration of it not having cosplay “makes it not a con” matter?
It doesn’t. You were never going to the con, and the only reason you’re upset is because it isn’t the kind of event you would want to go to. Seriously, the absolute childish reactions being done over this amaze me. “It doesn’t have cosplay so I wouldn’t go.” Good. You aren’t who the con is for. End of story.
But no, no one wants to hear that. Every convention has to have their favorite hobby. Shit, if I threw a hissy fit every time a convention didn’t have a panel devoted to Sorcerer Hunters or have a DDRMAX2 in the game room my entire blog would be devoted to complaining about every other con just like everyone else is this one.
You were never going to it to begin with. The event isn’t for you. Move on with your life and stop complaining about it. Hell, the only reason I’m writing this follow up is to ensure there is no miss-communication on any point I can think of and the only reason it’s so long is to assist in that requirement.
It really is amazing that so many people care so much about this event that doesn’t affect them at all. I only wrote about it for the same reason I cover anything – to give my opinion to those who want to know it. That being said, I seem to be one of the few people who has actually thought about this and realized the logic behind it, which makes total sense to me.
I just put in images to break up the text in this article.
The only thing to end on is everyone thinking “This convention will fail without cosplay.” Please, for the love of fuck, explain that logic. A convention has a set goal, not just money wise but in how it should run, and what it should be. This is a one day event focused on the sale and trade of collectables. If people come and enjoy themselves, and everyone is happy, isn’t that a success then? Or are you one of those people who thinks success is only measured in how much money you bring in? Yeah, profit is nice, more that can be spent on an event is always a plus, but if things go just as the company predicted, then where is the problem? How could you at all call the event a failure?
You can’t.
I only expect to cover this convention one more time: once it’s complete. I will either admit I was wrong, or will (more than likely) point out where reality matched my statements.
If you will excuse me, I have more important things to do right now.