Artists giving Amanda free stuff like they are making sacrifices to the god of conventions so they have good fortune at their booths is something very precious.
I had an artist alley booth at anime impulse last year when it was raining REALLY hard. There were holes in the roof and the area my booth was in had one right above it and my section got flooded too. Tons of my prints were completely destroyed. By the end of the day I was completely soaked and freezing. I reached out to them to see if I could at least get a refund on my booth (not even talking about my merch damages) and they never got back to me. I decided I was never going back after that. It's just a completely unacceptable way to run a convention.
@@musicinmymind623 thanks. Actually I bought a booth for the other anime impulse earlier that year as well and it was during a heat wave and there was no AC. Like a third of the artists in the artist alley didn’t show up for the second day because it was so unbearable in there. That should have been the last straw but now I know better.
@@CS-zb7hx I hope so. Between the damaged prints, my booth, and my hotel and travel expenses I probably lost about 3.5 thousand dollars on that convention. It’s the only time I haven’t made a profit or at least broken even.
hi i'm the artist at 19:00 with the Jerma photocards! i was in the normal anime artist alley not the kpop section and i thought it would just be funny to make little jerma photocards given that i'm a kpop and jerma fan. a lot of people really loved it, we sold out on the first day and my helper and i stayed up late making more 😭😭 i think i'll bring it back for anime impulse la 2024 so i gotta prepare way more than this time.. thanks for enjoying it! 💗
@@K.Arashi He has no rules. No boundaries. He doesn't flinch at torture, human trafficking, or genocide. He's not loyal to a flag or country or any set of ideals. He trades blood for money. He's your new best friend.
Swell I would pay SO much money to see you attend DragonCon. That convention is so wild and has a whole culture attached to it at this point. People literally started a cult around a carpet pattern that was rEMOVED FROM THE HOTEL 10 YEARS AGO and that’s honestly not the weirdest thing that happens.
@@Madeleinewith3Es the funniest bit is that they FOUND THE REAL JON and offered him a guest pass. He didn’t take it (and I don’t blame him). But like imagine being some dude who did a modeling gig once and then years later you discover that there’s a new cult around it. With custom-made fedex robes and everything
i went to dragoncon for the first time this year and the WHOLE TIME i was thinking about how bad amanda needs to come there and completely tear apart that event because Good Lord. I didn’t encounter a single security check in any part of the event. The line to get into the vendors hall was an hour+ on SUNDAY so i can’t imagine what it was like earlier in the event, with no security, no traffic direction, nothing, outside in the hot Atlanta summer sun. The fact that there hasn’t been a shooting is a bible level miracle. I would never everrr go to dragoncon again after that experience
@@kittystache yeah their line management sucks, and it’s REALLY confusing trying to get literally anywhere. I’ve been going for 11 years and it used to be a LOT worse pre-COVID. They actually cap attendance now. 2019 was a straight up fire hazard, they had like 10,000 more people that year. The security thing isn’t true through, I think you just missed them. They have great security- dragoncon hires outside event staff (they all wear bright yellow shirts) and works with the APD. It’s hands down the best at any event I’ve ever been to. They actually shut down some of the streets near the dealers hall for safety reasons. During the parade they actually have literal barricades up. They have event staff at literally every door. I got stopped constantly when my badge was flipped around or not easily visible. They also have armed cops in all of the buildings. My complaint tends to be that they have too MUCH security in some areas. It’s a little scary when you’re out drinking in one of the hotels at night and run into 5+ armed cops.
I wish they had a "not-crowded con". Charge more for tickets, and have some breathing room. First and last time I went to a con was 2012 and I had a panic attack from being so close to so many people. But when I go to professional convenients through work, there's like 10% the people in the same amount of space, which is nice and chill.
@@PsRohrbaugh you want an independent small con then, the ones happening in community centers and ball rooms, where youll get maybe 200 people in total attending, with maybe only 50 people at the con at a time, its great
@@Badusername2000 On one hand that atmosphere sounds perfect. On the other hand, they probably don't get as many good panels, and there are certain people I'd like to see. That's why I don't mind the idea of a more expensive con.
Off topic of this video but there was a very messy anime convention in my town this weekend and the whole time I was getting info from artists who worked the event I kept thinking "wow Swell wouldve had a field day with this!"
Oh Amanda, you don't have to apologize for not liking kpop (I'm sure you'll continue to apologize in future videos). But I used to be a performer in a group similar to those dance groups and it was some of the most fun I ever had! Dancing is one of the few forms of exercise I can tolerate lol
Yes I agree like I LOOOVE kpop and have for over 8 years now, but everyone has their own tastes! So it's totally ok! I don't get the people who get mad at others who don't like kpop... it's not always due to racism or stereotypes about us! Some just genuinely don't like the genre and it's ok
Exactly! Huge on KPop, but I get that not everyone likes it. Also I'm a kinesiology major who strangely hates sports and exercise but KPop dances are so fun
i was there in cosplay and i think the funniest thing that happened to me was these two boys walking past me (who both looked to be about 10 years old) muttered “i would NOT talk to that person” 😭 it was so weird because i got a lot of odd looks from people who i assume were there for sneaker expo but how could they not know that this was also mainly an anime convention??
The best thing in a the world a 10 year old boy could say to me is that he doesn't want to talk to me lol. You were blessed on that day. I'm sure your cosplay was great too.
i am an unapologetic kpop stannie and i don't believe in being embarrassed about fun silly interests but: i always think it's funny when people go the other way and get offended when other people aren't into it. who cares lmaooo. i hope you get invited back this was fascinating!!
If you invite Amanda to a convention, under the guise of "for fun", _knowing full well_ what her channel's about...you really can't be upset when the video comes out shortly afterwards. To me it all seems to be a backdoor, ultra passive manner of asking her TO make the video. So you make that content, Amanda. Don't let these passive twats hold you back.
It might be because she's talked about her management telling her to take a break and didn't want to pressure her to make a full video if she didn't want to. They almost definitely expected that they would get some kind of promotion from giving her free tickets even if it was just a couple of tweets or something like that.
Watched the whole video, theres not a single mention of getting banned, thinking the titles just clickbait. Not invited back thoughts is funny but nothing definitive shown ot stated.
I was one of the artists there (blue booth at 13:30) that said hi to you at the beginning of Sat! I've gone to AILA 20 and 22 as an attendee, a helper at AIOC 22, then a vendor at AILA 23 and AIOC 23. The attitude towards the con has changed A LOT since they started collaborating to with company vtubers like Nijisanji and now Hololive, which allows them to host multiple conventions a year. It was quite quaint before but truthfully, and I wouldn't buy a regular attendee ticket unless someone I really liked had a M&G and I wasn't already vending.
23:42 Yeah, my only time ever going to an Anime convention (In New York), there was this women that was advertising photos where she would sit or step on you, you could walk her like a dog, she could suck your toes, or SPIT IN YOUR MOUTH! This was back in 2022. Maybe that was the same person you're talking about lol
as person that goes to convention through the year. i doubt it but there could be chance, I see these signs alot and I may have an album on my phone of just me being stepped on lol
I went to KPLAY in San Diego back in March, and to explain the Jerma thing, no, Jerma is not associated with KPOP. The shop may like Jerma, but he's not associated. KPLAY sold a lot of Pedro Pascal photocards, even in the KPLAY Artist alley, because the shop wants to be funny and quirky and wants to sell something besides some KPOP merch but still sells KPOP merch, they also just so happen to sell that little niche of popular actors or streamers.
Off topic but I was just at Galaxycon in Austin Texas vending, and I had a “vendor booth” ( I do traditional charcoal artwork of anime characters in a realistic style and video games and all other stuff, and have framed worked so it’s kinda big) and I was put across from a replica weapon vendor who took the whole side of the isle and sandwiched between two giant toy vendors. 85-90% of potential customers or just people looking at my work were looking at the weapons then turned and saw the toys as I was the 3rd booth. I didn’t even make booth back. I got $475 for a 3 day event and my booth was $875 before tax. It’s demoralizing, especially as an artist who STRUGGLES on social media and can’t really travel to every con i’d like to go to. And I sell my framed originals but also just prints of my work, so it wasn’t just a pricing thing on my end :(
Sorry for the rant, but the artist alley setup and isle spacing just sparked that in my head. Feels like they just slap people wherever without putting thought into it which kills smaller artists like me.
Its not just Austin. The Galaxycon organization as a whole doesn't have a great reputation when it comes to organizing their events. The event in Richmond, VA oversold and lead to both very cluttered space in the convention center, massively long wait times just to enter the building as well as major traffic problems with nobody part of the company seeming to know what they're doing. I also do recall thinking that the places the booths were not having a lot of consistency to them. In a well run con, there is artist alley, makers market, a section just for comics, a section for novelists, and a section for collectibles, but Galaxycon doesn't seem as committed to be that organized.
@@moviesquad73I went to galaxy con in VA. And it wasn’t as cramped. But it was like a fucking maze. Like I ordered a poster from someone at the front near one door and they had to leave to get more paper And I giant pastel booth. Ignore my previous comment: I was thinking of a different con I go to.
@@moviesquad73 exactly! A 10ftx10ft booth at Comicpalooza in houston was EXCELLENT and only $325! I don’t know if I’ll be going next year to Austin honestly. The crowds where slow and basically non existent on Friday. My guess, maybe 15k people the entire weekend, which isn’t awful, but for the price, not worth it at all.
I’m so sorry that happened !! I don’t understand why there isn’t an artist section and a dealers section. I hate that I inevitably miss artists like you because of how turned away I am by the giant vendor booths. It’s not fair to you guys or the consumer 🤧
Midwest FurFest is happening November 30th to December 3rd in Chicago, it would be cool to see you there if you're looking for another furry convention!
To explain the jerma thing- in kpop there’s a big market of photocards/trading cards, which usually come with kpop albums and other merchandise. I know a lot of photocard traders/sellers like to make their own unofficial photocards of their faves (both kpop and non-kpop). Usually the non-kpop ones are more jokey and self-aware in the sense of “hey isn’t it funny that we’re literally spending money on paper with ppls faces on it hahaha”. I’ve seen fanmade photocards of jerma, pedro pascal, bad bunny, ryan reynolds, literally anyone lmao
Why is it such a common experience to be traumatized from being screamed at for taking pictures in the artist alley as a kid 😭 lesson learned tho cause I’ll never do it again
Cosplayer stepping on you for money is really common but most events categorize it as soliciting, and therefore not allowed. A lot of cons just…look the other way tho
Hmm i never considered them not allowing it, i see it so much and as a cosplayer it’s HILARIOUS to me, especially when it’s a common franchise so their related characters can pose with them too LOL
Kpop stan here! The event where they play random clips from kpop songs and people dance to it is called a “Random Play Dance”! It is a very common thing to see at kpop events both in Korea and internationally. I think it would be very interesting to see you go to KCON one day 😂 Great video as always!
it was sooooo fun catching you while i was tabling for fanclubs at kplay!!!! def wanna bring up a lot of confusion about fanclub tabling, where we had an official slot for 11:30 on sunday and were not allowed to admit through the vendor entrance, making us late to our tabling despite lining up an hour early
Hey Amanda I am not sure if this would be up your alley but there is a maid cafe in LA county (Arcadia) called Asayoru Maid Cafe. It's very cute and fun, especially when they host events. Like they recently held a "Swole" themed one with a bunch of buff guys in maid uniforms and some of the regular staff to help out in general (It was a real bi-panic moment). Unfortunately they already sold out for the Swole event ( and they sell out kinda quickly) but they announce different events fairly frequently while also having the normal days they are open. People can pay for dance/song performances to be done by one of the maids on duty, to play games with them or if you want to take polaroid photo with them (which they decorate!!!). The food isn't exactly high cuisine so it's truly more an experience, especially when only some of the things are served with "Maid Magic", so keep that in mind if you will. (Not to excuse this since it /is/ a cafe/restaurant. They're also running an indiegogo to help fund the new standalone location they're moving to by the start of 2024. They already met the base goal (yay!) but it wouldn't hurt to get some more eyes on it since they have some stretch goals which would be a blast to also get. Sorry for this long comment but I thought it wouldn't hurt to try to reach out here because it's become my recent obsession 🥺
I have staffed a convention in the Midwest and we gave artists a whole day to setup and whole room under lock and key and a dealer/ vendor concierge staff in place to meet all vendor needs during the whole weekend, this few hours of loading and setup of vendor booths is unacceptable and convention staff complaining to vendors why they are not ready is unacceptable, for a late start.
honestly I really appreciate the fact that while you may not be into kpop, you don't discredit it/the fans..I see way too many people wave off kpop events and fans bc its not their thing, so it's nice to see you acknowledge the community in a positive way!
When she first said "K-pop" I full on thought she said cakepop, and I was completely committed to the idea that it is common to have convention cakepop stages where they make cakepops or something, and that Swell isn't that into cake.
A lot of the staff didn't come back after lockdown - at least that's what happened in the furry sphere. Cons are about 1/3rd down on staff and that seems to be sticking around. The people who have the experience don't want to do it any more, the ones who were doing it for "horse fame" are sticking around.
How this convention has been going on for 8 YEARS! And still haven't figured out simple issues is mind blowing. The issues are like 1st year con issues. I'm just confused.
@@marxllna I mean it’s interesting hearing more about Swell personally and always cool to know you have more in common with a creator you like to watch
Repost: hi Swell! I was the crazy person with the notepads! I hope you enjoyed them! It was kind of a lackluster con for me so meeting you made my weekend! (I think I accidentally deleted my first comment while trying to edit it lol)
4:24 -- That was THE thing to do when I was a kid back in the mid 80s. You'd collect all your plastic wrist bands from going to water parks and theme parks. The more you collected over summer, the cooler you were when you got back to school. :D
No, but seriously, the "Are you drawing while watching this?" comment sent me into space because when I told my friends who ALSO draw, they had also had the same jumpscare moment
can we please get a swell podcast or main channel video on how to attend events solo safely? i feel like you have a lot of experience that would be beneficial.
I know she's mentioned how she gets approached by dudes who've noticed she's alone at every single convention so I'd say a really important thing is having your creepy arsehole radar on constantly. Shame, isn't it?
You're telling me I almost had a chance to be on Amanda's channel?!!! I performed at KPlay and I couldn't agree more about the audio and stage positions. BUT UGH I wish I saw you! 😭😭😭😭💕 ALSO: I've been attending these events for a few years already (prob since it started) and they have always been jumping around to different venues/locations. So everytime it's been a different experience when it came to how the tickets worked/ parking/ etc.
The way I screamed when you mentioned Professor Lando. Sometimes I really hate how I act even in private. Anyway, fantastic video as always. I've been LIVING for these convention/event videos.
I've seen a lot of convention coverage these past few months, but I haven't in recent memory seen a full review of a venue itself. This makes me very happy.
As both a kpop fan and anime fan, that sounds like a great time! Having a random play dance as well as allowing kpop in public groups to perform is so cool. Probably a lot more accessible to people than kcon LA
Amanda you need to come to Otakon in DC next year. It’s the biggest fan run anime con in the USA. It’s always run really well. I’ve been going for years! Badge pick up is Thursday evening, con starts Friday morning and goes until Sunday afternoon. There are dozens of panels at any given time. The artist alley is huge and the dealers room is even bigger. There is a maid cafe and a masquerade and usually a concert of some sort. There are also constant watch rooms with anime playing and I always have so much fun!
I am BTS ARMY 🎉 38 years old. Huge fan of yours also. My husband thought that I would love your content since I'm wholly unable to travel to be able to go to any conventions, etc. He was correct and I've been watching you since. Thank you for all of your hard work and willingness to explore, while being a kind human.
It’s so cool to see your experience at Anime Impulse OC!! It was fun to see the differences between that one and the one I went to! I actually went to Anime Impulse Bay Area and that one was the venue that was both inside and outside and I can confirm that I got sunburnt 😭 the food was outside so I was stuck waiting in the sun for my food
20:58 to be fair to the drive-by note pads person, I'd do the same exact thing lmao. "Hi, SUPER excited to see you, but I'm terminally anxious and I can't stop to talk, TAKE GIFT."
I don't know if I sound rude, but I am a fashion designer, since I found your channel, almost every time when I start sewing, I listen to your video, not because I am interested in your topic but because I find the way talk you about something is interesting, just like how I always chit chatting with my friend .love from Malaysia!!
Me and you are the same age and yet the way you just go out into the world is so well done and just so different- in the best way !!! it inspires me to try and not be afraid to be an adult going places all by myself lol
Anime conventions have been getting crazy. I went to Sac Anime a few weeks ago on a sunday (which have been the slowest days in the past) and it was CRAZY. I almost had a panic attack. Their aisles are super close tpgether and they moved the meet and greets and autographs next to the artist alley so it was just super crowded and difficult to walk around, especially in full cosplay.
For only discovering this channel after the Smosh video, 2 things are true about me. I love conventions, and 2 shenanigans is my favorite word of all time. So that's already 2 points for the good. Other favorite words include, Fickle, Malarkey, and Skedaddle. Honorable mention to Finaggle.
For events like anime cons that happen all over in varying sizes, it would be fun to see someone go to and compare cons of different sizes and region (Come to anime Iowa, I promise we aren't a barren corn and soybean wasteland)
Thank you for coming out and enjoying the event! We appreciate the feedback!! It's actually our first time at the ACC (we're usually at the Fairplex and went on a California tour) so there's bound to be some growing pains and learning curves for each new venue! We'll take every critique and concern to better our events for the future!! Thank you again!! 🙌
My heart is warmed by the KPLay attendees. I wish I loved a something that much and I just adore that there are Gen Z'ers out there dancing to music *in public* like putting themselves out there. Warms my old. introverted Millennial heart.
I feel like part of the reason swell can't help but work is that it would get pretty lonely and quiet without someone or "something" to talk to going to an event alone that's full of people. Plus people are less likely to come up to you and bother you, aside from a wave in the background if you're recording.
ONE OF MY FAV TH-camRS WAS IN THE SAME PLACE AT THE SAME TIME AS ME AND I DIDNT SEE HER 💔💔 also my friends were part of the Avatar dance group!!! Thank you for featuring them in the video!! Our dance team is just our high school’s ❤️ it’s awesome u recognized them
Used to work on conventions, for some of the talks in large halls we used wireless headsets with a infrared system. Worked great because you can use the space but not have to worry about people not being able to hear or across other panels!
OMG wish I had ran into you, I would have said hi! I really enjoyed my time at Anime Impulse this year, I just went for one day but had a blast. Loved the artist alley and the free McDonalds iced coffee samples lol
I performed w/ my team at k-play fest in the bay area this past July and it was a v cool experience! It was a bit chaotic getting in bc we didn't know where to go, but I think as they keep doing these events, it'll hopefully get smoother
Swell gonna become an event consultant, run seminars called "How to make your event not suck" 😂 EDIT Seriously though, there are so many influencers out there with no idea how to run meet and greets or cons, you could make a mint if you wrote a book about this stuff.
Weird. I did an LA event for pins a while ago, and it was a similar set up. Like there was a sneaker area, a street music thing, and then the pin thing. But they were completely seperate. Just bizarre.
Swell going to anime cons is always a blast lol. I doubt you'll ever come to one I'm vending at (I'm waaaay across the country but would love to do AX one day) but I'd be just as excited to see you. Your videos are just perfect "listen while drawing" material! The "step on me" sign thing has always rubbed me the wrong way the same way "free hugs" signs and yaoi paddles used to back in the day and I think in a few years they'll be seen as just as cringey. It's especially worrying when I see them being carried around by girls who are like... obviously 15. 😬
volunteered at anime impulse before and the management was really poor. directions weren't that clear and it didn't seem like the ppl in charge were taking it seriously until they realized just how many people were going to come. which was such a shame because it really was a cool convention and there was some banger food but that soured my experience.
Unfortunately it's extremely common for conventions to just assume that the vendors will figure out a workaround to loading/unloading issues and congestion. So far I've not seen anyone figure out some kind of magical solution. And for whatever reason a lot of event spaces like to keep loading docks closed so that everyone needs to file into one or two entrances with all of their stuff.
Jerma may not be directly connected to kpop but you bet he is integrated into convention in general Next time you visit a conventions like this, I challenge you to find the secret jerma references found in merch from the artist's alley
Love that convention center! Went to the NAMM show years ago, and man it can be really a pain to get all of your items depending where you were set up in the building (upstairs, basement etc). I just remember stairs, stairs, stairs man.
as someone who’s allergic to ink- I HATE when venues only stamp- like I have a risk of it scarring after bubbling up and then I’ll have “over 21” or a smiley flower scarred on my hand forever
I think a lot of Jerma fans are also K-Pop fans and like to make photo cards of him too because it's funny 😭 I've seen a lot of crazy good Jerma Kpop fancam edits too. I'm more of a Jerma fan than a Kpop fan so I could be wrong lol
Tip for the socially anxious: working an event is very different than going as a guest. Whether u do paid work or volunteer, you get less fun activity time but it's so much more comfortable to have a defined role! I love it, and I really hate most events as a guest lol. Sign me up for a 3 hour shift & I'm happy as a clam! Omg totally agree about just judging events hard. I do nonprofit marketing, lots of events, but I wud much rather work an event than just go.
Wasn't expecting the professor lando and Swell crossover there for a second lol I had alot of friends attend this event bc of the vtubers they had as guest and they told me entering the first day was pretty stressful bc the m&gs they had were scheduled for around 12/1 and door still weren't open at like 11:30pm Luckily I think the AI team pulled people that had m&g tickets out of the line and got them in first so they wouldn't miss that
The having a paid event, a stamp, but having to wait an hour in line to get back into the venue and only getting just under 30 minutes of the paid event my friends and I went to was fun. I heard that others had a similar experience, but I’m glad to hear that the rest of the event was still good outside the meet and greets and concerts for AI. 😅
Okay so I attended Hopcon Concert 2 on Sunday and many not great things happened during the line wait. I got there 30 minutes earlier and there was already a pretty long line sitting on the floor. Time passed and a second line was made so it wouldn't block transit. During the wait two guys walk in angrily arguing in to the arcade area. Like you said there was no distinguishing staff members form normal attendees, so when some guy with a Demon Slayer fits was trying to stop the two man from fighting... We prepared for the worst. Security and staff left the line to deal with the situation, during this I do remember seeing a group of like 3 persons sneaking into the first line. When the situation with the two man calmed down one of the staff members very aggressively started asking who got into the line (Hell they even accused me). Regardless, It was time for the attendees to enter behind the curtains. The second line was given access first, there was no indication of why the second line was the first instead of the line of people that for over and hour had been sitting on-and-off the floor (btw yeah this event started like 25 mins after it was supposed too). The most dramatic part of the afternoon was when half of the curtains legit just fell down. They told us it was because the second line entered too chaotically, but i do remember they fell a couple of minutes after the second line had finished entering But hell whateva. They did cut off the arcade section from the other attendees during the concert since they ended up leaving half of the curtains down for a while and opened back up after it ended. Yeah it was a bit chaotic for a couple of minutes but we all got to enjoy the concert. I do appreciate the staff tho, cuz dealing with all that shit in such a short time frame must have sucked.
When I was at Anime Riverside (yes in California lol) there were cosplayers doing the step on me signs. These girls were also charging for hugs. And making coin!
Artists giving Amanda free stuff like they are making sacrifices to the god of conventions so they have good fortune at their booths is something very precious.
I was picturing more of a Tom Hanks’ character in The Terminal, getting free stuff from all the airport shops when he finally goes to leave.
If I saw Amanda I would compulsively give her free stuff
Knowing someone I adore owns something I made/destined brings me such dopamine! 🥰
I’m fully behind sacrifices too the god of conventions🙌💜🙌
@@YellaBellaRenoThat's a great choice.
@@bookshelfhoneyIkr? 😂 what’s up with that?
If Amanda doesn’t start a side hustle of Convention planning and consulting I’ll say she missed out on a huge bag
She could do a Patreon thing telling people about cool events, giving tips etc I'd seriously think about it lmao
SwellCon when, tho
Would be nice if she can do a video on "best practices" when it comes to cons. And "worst practices" too XD
True, I don't want to go to a convention that hasn't been ran past Amanda at this point
That’s like saying everyone who is an ace tv and movie reviewer is automatically an equally great screenwriter, director and producer.
I had an artist alley booth at anime impulse last year when it was raining REALLY hard. There were holes in the roof and the area my booth was in had one right above it and my section got flooded too. Tons of my prints were completely destroyed. By the end of the day I was completely soaked and freezing. I reached out to them to see if I could at least get a refund on my booth (not even talking about my merch damages) and they never got back to me. I decided I was never going back after that. It's just a completely unacceptable way to run a convention.
That’s horrific, I am so sorry. I sincerely hope you’ve had much better luck with other conventions.
@@musicinmymind623 thanks. Actually I bought a booth for the other anime impulse earlier that year as well and it was during a heat wave and there was no AC. Like a third of the artists in the artist alley didn’t show up for the second day because it was so unbearable in there. That should have been the last straw but now I know better.
I hope this comment gets traction because that's disgusting behavior on their part on multiple levels.
@@CS-zb7hx I hope so. Between the damaged prints, my booth, and my hotel and travel expenses I probably lost about 3.5 thousand dollars on that convention. It’s the only time I haven’t made a profit or at least broken even.
Wow that's a huge deficit. At the VERY least you should've gotten the booth payment back given it was their venue that failed. @@lilac841
hi i'm the artist at 19:00 with the Jerma photocards! i was in the normal anime artist alley not the kpop section and i thought it would just be funny to make little jerma photocards given that i'm a kpop and jerma fan.
a lot of people really loved it, we sold out on the first day and my helper and i stayed up late making more 😭😭 i think i'll bring it back for anime impulse la 2024 so i gotta prepare way more than this time.. thanks for enjoying it! 💗
you're an absolute legend lol
OMG as a KPop stan I love hearing the other things KPop stans do lmao
How does this work like legally? Can you just sell his likeness?? No way. This is so funny
That was sooo cool to see Jerma there ❤
Totally off topic but seeing you go to all these fun events/places by yourself gave me the courage to go to a show on Saturday by myself!
That's amazing! congrats!
The first time might be a little awkward but it soon passes
Your name says it all. Who tf cares
CONGRATULATIONS!!!🎉
Woohoo CONGRATS!
“Is Jerma the Twitch streamer related to K-Pop”
Oh Swell, Jerma breaks boundaries of fandom unlike anyone I’ve ever seen.
no genuinely I don’t think jerma exists. no one does I don’t think. he is someone’s favorite character in anything ever I guarantee it
I think also it's specifically bc there was a video that went viral a while back of someone decorating a jerma photocard lol
i don't know who jerma is, and at this point i've heard so much random shit that i'm afraid to ask
@@K.Arashi He has no rules. No boundaries. He doesn't flinch at torture, human trafficking, or genocide. He's not loyal to a flag or country or any set of ideals. He trades blood for money. He's your new best friend.
@@K.Arashi Jerma is a streamer/content creator who happens to be turning 38 this month.
Swell I would pay SO much money to see you attend DragonCon. That convention is so wild and has a whole culture attached to it at this point. People literally started a cult around a carpet pattern that was rEMOVED FROM THE HOTEL 10 YEARS AGO and that’s honestly not the weirdest thing that happens.
There was also the Cult of Jon, around a cardboard standed FedEx ad of a guy with Jon on his nametag!
I mean, carpet cults just sounds like PDX. But this only bolsters my desire to one day attend DragonCon.
@@Madeleinewith3Es the funniest bit is that they FOUND THE REAL JON and offered him a guest pass. He didn’t take it (and I don’t blame him).
But like imagine being some dude who did a modeling gig once and then years later you discover that there’s a new cult around it. With custom-made fedex robes and everything
i went to dragoncon for the first time this year and the WHOLE TIME i was thinking about how bad amanda needs to come there and completely tear apart that event because Good Lord. I didn’t encounter a single security check in any part of the event. The line to get into the vendors hall was an hour+ on SUNDAY so i can’t imagine what it was like earlier in the event, with no security, no traffic direction, nothing, outside in the hot Atlanta summer sun. The fact that there hasn’t been a shooting is a bible level miracle. I would never everrr go to dragoncon again after that experience
@@kittystache yeah their line management sucks, and it’s REALLY confusing trying to get literally anywhere. I’ve been going for 11 years and it used to be a LOT worse pre-COVID. They actually cap attendance now. 2019 was a straight up fire hazard, they had like 10,000 more people that year.
The security thing isn’t true through, I think you just missed them. They have great security- dragoncon hires outside event staff (they all wear bright yellow shirts) and works with the APD. It’s hands down the best at any event I’ve ever been to. They actually shut down some of the streets near the dealers hall for safety reasons. During the parade they actually have literal barricades up. They have event staff at literally every door. I got stopped constantly when my badge was flipped around or not easily visible. They also have armed cops in all of the buildings. My complaint tends to be that they have too MUCH security in some areas. It’s a little scary when you’re out drinking in one of the hotels at night and run into 5+ armed cops.
She really said "Fun? You know what's really fun? Work."
Swell is my comfort creator because her anxiety makes my anxiety feel better
XD
Samee
same
So true bestie
Same here
swell got to experience a k-pop random dance play challenge! the one instance where the fandoms come together in unity
Yessss! Unfortunately that's true though... I wish we could unite more often for good reasons
It's so iconic. I can never get bored of a good random play dance. There are no fandom borders there 😂
@ville__ ??
OMG I'm excited for when I get to that part of the video now
@@peachxtaehyungspam bot. report him
As someone who NEVER wants to go to a con in person, I absolutely love you covering them all! Thanks from a little hermit person
I wish they had a "not-crowded con". Charge more for tickets, and have some breathing room. First and last time I went to a con was 2012 and I had a panic attack from being so close to so many people.
But when I go to professional convenients through work, there's like 10% the people in the same amount of space, which is nice and chill.
same! i've been to two and both times just made me remember how much i hate crowds
yeah i would have a meltdown and like die inside if i went anywhere that crowded
@@PsRohrbaugh you want an independent small con then, the ones happening in community centers and ball rooms, where youll get maybe 200 people in total attending, with maybe only 50 people at the con at a time, its great
@@Badusername2000 On one hand that atmosphere sounds perfect. On the other hand, they probably don't get as many good panels, and there are certain people I'd like to see. That's why I don't mind the idea of a more expensive con.
Off topic of this video but there was a very messy anime convention in my town this weekend and the whole time I was getting info from artists who worked the event I kept thinking "wow Swell wouldve had a field day with this!"
Well now I must know more! 🍿
what's the tea? 👀
oh worm?
Oh Amanda, you don't have to apologize for not liking kpop (I'm sure you'll continue to apologize in future videos). But I used to be a performer in a group similar to those dance groups and it was some of the most fun I ever had! Dancing is one of the few forms of exercise I can tolerate lol
Yes I agree like I LOOOVE kpop and have for over 8 years now, but everyone has their own tastes! So it's totally ok! I don't get the people who get mad at others who don't like kpop... it's not always due to racism or stereotypes about us! Some just genuinely don't like the genre and it's ok
Exactly! Huge on KPop, but I get that not everyone likes it. Also I'm a kinesiology major who strangely hates sports and exercise but KPop dances are so fun
I think we need to fundraise to get Amanda a conspiracy whiteboard
With little magnets she can move around that say things like wallwallwall, booth, and stage
Maybe Wendigoon's willing to donate one lolol
I am not far enough into this video to know why you would say that, but I don’t even care. I am 100% on board.
i was there in cosplay and i think the funniest thing that happened to me was these two boys walking past me (who both looked to be about 10 years old) muttered “i would NOT talk to that person” 😭
it was so weird because i got a lot of odd looks from people who i assume were there for sneaker expo but how could they not know that this was also mainly an anime convention??
The best thing in a the world a 10 year old boy could say to me is that he doesn't want to talk to me lol. You were blessed on that day. I'm sure your cosplay was great too.
@@pinkdarkmanLMAO thank you
i am an unapologetic kpop stannie and i don't believe in being embarrassed about fun silly interests but: i always think it's funny when people go the other way and get offended when other people aren't into it. who cares lmaooo. i hope you get invited back this was fascinating!!
If you invite Amanda to a convention, under the guise of "for fun", _knowing full well_ what her channel's about...you really can't be upset when the video comes out shortly afterwards. To me it all seems to be a backdoor, ultra passive manner of asking her TO make the video.
So you make that content, Amanda. Don't let these passive twats hold you back.
Fr basicallyjust feels like they wanted free promotion
Okay Imma need "Passive Twats" merch now. Can somebody get on that?
they secretly want her ideas on con management to get to their boss, calling it!
It might be because she's talked about her management telling her to take a break and didn't want to pressure her to make a full video if she didn't want to. They almost definitely expected that they would get some kind of promotion from giving her free tickets even if it was just a couple of tweets or something like that.
Watched the whole video, theres not a single mention of getting banned, thinking the titles just clickbait. Not invited back thoughts is funny but nothing definitive shown ot stated.
I was one of the artists there (blue booth at 13:30) that said hi to you at the beginning of Sat! I've gone to AILA 20 and 22 as an attendee, a helper at AIOC 22, then a vendor at AILA 23 and AIOC 23. The attitude towards the con has changed A LOT since they started collaborating to with company vtubers like Nijisanji and now Hololive, which allows them to host multiple conventions a year. It was quite quaint before but truthfully, and I wouldn't buy a regular attendee ticket unless someone I really liked had a M&G and I wasn't already vending.
23:42 Yeah, my only time ever going to an Anime convention (In New York), there was this women that was advertising photos where she would sit or step on you, you could walk her like a dog, she could suck your toes, or SPIT IN YOUR MOUTH! This was back in 2022. Maybe that was the same person you're talking about lol
as person that goes to convention through the year. i doubt it but there could be chance, I see these signs alot and I may have an album on my phone of just me being stepped on lol
She was spitting in people's mouthes POST COVID DISCOVERY? 😭
Wtf
I went to KPLAY in San Diego back in March, and to explain the Jerma thing, no, Jerma is not associated with KPOP. The shop may like Jerma, but he's not associated. KPLAY sold a lot of Pedro Pascal photocards, even in the KPLAY Artist alley, because the shop wants to be funny and quirky and wants to sell something besides some KPOP merch but still sells KPOP merch, they also just so happen to sell that little niche of popular actors or streamers.
The swell anime con and smosh arc was the serotonins I needed in my life as I job hunt. Thank you.
You're speaking the truth of my sprint over here Fam.
manifesting a good job find for u! i just got finished with a month-long hunt so i see u 🤜
Swell learning about Random Dance Play makes me happy. They’re one of my favorite things to do at a con.
Off topic but I was just at Galaxycon in Austin Texas vending, and I had a “vendor booth” ( I do traditional charcoal artwork of anime characters in a realistic style and video games and all other stuff, and have framed worked so it’s kinda big) and I was put across from a replica weapon vendor who took the whole side of the isle and sandwiched between two giant toy vendors. 85-90% of potential customers or just people looking at my work were looking at the weapons then turned and saw the toys as I was the 3rd booth. I didn’t even make booth back. I got $475 for a 3 day event and my booth was $875 before tax. It’s demoralizing, especially as an artist who STRUGGLES on social media and can’t really travel to every con i’d like to go to. And I sell my framed originals but also just prints of my work, so it wasn’t just a pricing thing on my end :(
Sorry for the rant, but the artist alley setup and isle spacing just sparked that in my head. Feels like they just slap people wherever without putting thought into it which kills smaller artists like me.
Its not just Austin. The Galaxycon organization as a whole doesn't have a great reputation when it comes to organizing their events. The event in Richmond, VA oversold and lead to both very cluttered space in the convention center, massively long wait times just to enter the building as well as major traffic problems with nobody part of the company seeming to know what they're doing.
I also do recall thinking that the places the booths were not having a lot of consistency to them.
In a well run con, there is artist alley, makers market, a section just for comics, a section for novelists, and a section for collectibles, but Galaxycon doesn't seem as committed to be that organized.
@@moviesquad73I went to galaxy con in VA. And it wasn’t as cramped. But it was like a fucking maze.
Like I ordered a poster from someone at the front near one door and they had to leave to get more paper
And I giant pastel booth.
Ignore my previous comment: I was thinking of a different con I go to.
@@moviesquad73 exactly! A 10ftx10ft booth at Comicpalooza in houston was EXCELLENT and only $325! I don’t know if I’ll be going next year to Austin honestly. The crowds where slow and basically non existent on Friday. My guess, maybe 15k people the entire weekend, which isn’t awful, but for the price, not worth it at all.
I’m so sorry that happened !! I don’t understand why there isn’t an artist section and a dealers section. I hate that I inevitably miss artists like you because of how turned away I am by the giant vendor booths. It’s not fair to you guys or the consumer 🤧
16:47 petition for event spaces to provide swell w blueprints so she can better illustrate what she’s talking about
I think it’s too funny how Swell left the venue because of a spider but also went to some haunted house tour 😂
Because ghosts may or may not be actually there. Spiders definitely are. I'd take my chances with the ghosts too lmao
Midwest FurFest is happening November 30th to December 3rd in Chicago, it would be cool to see you there if you're looking for another furry convention!
who else thought she actually got banned?
Well i mean most would based on the title… but clickbait is clickbait i guess.
yep so are dislikes ...@@yoshiiscool2002
@@MortanuxI mean... They're not though, are they. Downvotes don't really exist. The "getting banned from" meta though, very popular right now.
@@Mortanux what does this even mean??
@@Taurusus i mean she really didnt have to do some clickbaity title to draw in people… her videos are already good
To explain the jerma thing- in kpop there’s a big market of photocards/trading cards, which usually come with kpop albums and other merchandise. I know a lot of photocard traders/sellers like to make their own unofficial photocards of their faves (both kpop and non-kpop). Usually the non-kpop ones are more jokey and self-aware in the sense of “hey isn’t it funny that we’re literally spending money on paper with ppls faces on it hahaha”. I’ve seen fanmade photocards of jerma, pedro pascal, bad bunny, ryan reynolds, literally anyone lmao
Amanda is going to set a world record for most conventions attended by one person i stg
Why is it such a common experience to be traumatized from being screamed at for taking pictures in the artist alley as a kid 😭 lesson learned tho cause I’ll never do it again
Why would they be mad about taking pictures?
@@lemoniieeeePeople who sell art prints could think you're taking a picture so you don't have to pay for the print.
@@pinkdarkman ah ok that makes sense
Cosplayer stepping on you for money is really common but most events categorize it as soliciting, and therefore not allowed. A lot of cons just…look the other way tho
Hmm i never considered them not allowing it, i see it so much and as a cosplayer it’s HILARIOUS to me, especially when it’s a common franchise so their related characters can pose with them too LOL
Came here to comment this so boosting
@@neverxnice3577tbf, it can very much be seen as something sexual so i completely understand it
okay, but why do I want a SwellxHolo Taco collab now?😅😂
Kpop stan here! The event where they play random clips from kpop songs and people dance to it is called a “Random Play Dance”! It is a very common thing to see at kpop events both in Korea and internationally. I think it would be very interesting to see you go to KCON one day 😂 Great video as always!
it was sooooo fun catching you while i was tabling for fanclubs at kplay!!!! def wanna bring up a lot of confusion about fanclub tabling, where we had an official slot for 11:30 on sunday and were not allowed to admit through the vendor entrance, making us late to our tabling despite lining up an hour early
Jerma is integrated with EVERYTHING
Hey Amanda I am not sure if this would be up your alley but there is a maid cafe in LA county (Arcadia) called Asayoru Maid Cafe.
It's very cute and fun, especially when they host events. Like they recently held a "Swole" themed one with a bunch of buff guys in maid uniforms and some of the regular staff to help out in general (It was a real bi-panic moment). Unfortunately they already sold out for the Swole event ( and they sell out kinda quickly) but they announce different events fairly frequently while also having the normal days they are open.
People can pay for dance/song performances to be done by one of the maids on duty, to play games with them or if you want to take polaroid photo with them (which they decorate!!!).
The food isn't exactly high cuisine so it's truly more an experience, especially when only some of the things are served with "Maid Magic", so keep that in mind if you will. (Not to excuse this since it /is/ a cafe/restaurant.
They're also running an indiegogo to help fund the new standalone location they're moving to by the start of 2024. They already met the base goal (yay!) but it wouldn't hurt to get some more eyes on it since they have some stretch goals which would be a blast to also get.
Sorry for this long comment but I thought it wouldn't hurt to try to reach out here because it's become my recent obsession 🥺
I hope that title is a joke cuz omg why would swell get banned from an anime con that’s hard to do honestly 😭
I have staffed a convention in the Midwest and we gave artists a whole day to setup and whole room under lock and key and a dealer/ vendor concierge staff in place to meet all vendor needs during the whole weekend, this few hours of loading and setup of vendor booths is unacceptable and convention staff complaining to vendors why they are not ready is unacceptable, for a late start.
honestly I really appreciate the fact that while you may not be into kpop, you don't discredit it/the fans..I see way too many people wave off kpop events and fans bc its not their thing, so it's nice to see you acknowledge the community in a positive way!
18:23 not amanda witnessing her first random dance battle 😂
amanda is going to become omnipresent one day, she's everywhere 💀
When she first said "K-pop" I full on thought she said cakepop, and I was completely committed to the idea that it is common to have convention cakepop stages where they make cakepops or something, and that Swell isn't that into cake.
Con management at all kinds of cons have just been so out of pocket since COVID 💀
A lot of the staff didn't come back after lockdown - at least that's what happened in the furry sphere. Cons are about 1/3rd down on staff and that seems to be sticking around. The people who have the experience don't want to do it any more, the ones who were doing it for "horse fame" are sticking around.
How this convention has been going on for 8 YEARS! And still haven't figured out simple issues is mind blowing. The issues are like 1st year con issues. I'm just confused.
Love the little bits of trauma, we love a relatable Swell!
weird phrasing
Funny phrasing
I love knowing I'm not the only one who trauma worms people.
It's a love language I swear.
@@marxllna I mean it’s interesting hearing more about Swell personally and always cool to know you have more in common with a creator you like to watch
@@haileyharkeymma I commented "weird phrasing" not that I didn't understand what you meant.
Repost: hi Swell! I was the crazy person with the notepads! I hope you enjoyed them! It was kind of a lackluster con for me so meeting you made my weekend! (I think I accidentally deleted my first comment while trying to edit it lol)
4:24 -- That was THE thing to do when I was a kid back in the mid 80s. You'd collect all your plastic wrist bands from going to water parks and theme parks. The more you collected over summer, the cooler you were when you got back to school. :D
No, but seriously, the "Are you drawing while watching this?" comment sent me into space because when I told my friends who ALSO draw, they had also had the same jumpscare moment
can we please get a swell podcast or main channel video on how to attend events solo safely? i feel like you have a lot of experience that would be beneficial.
I know she's mentioned how she gets approached by dudes who've noticed she's alone at every single convention so I'd say a really important thing is having your creepy arsehole radar on constantly. Shame, isn't it?
You're telling me I almost had a chance to be on Amanda's channel?!!! I performed at KPlay and I couldn't agree more about the audio and stage positions.
BUT UGH I wish I saw you! 😭😭😭😭💕
ALSO: I've been attending these events for a few years already (prob since it started) and they have always been jumping around to different venues/locations. So everytime it's been a different experience when it came to how the tickets worked/ parking/ etc.
The way I screamed when you mentioned Professor Lando. Sometimes I really hate how I act even in private.
Anyway, fantastic video as always. I've been LIVING for these convention/event videos.
At this point, I think event people are inviting Amanda to be like a secret shopper so they can learn how to improve their events after her reviews.
swell it makes me so so so happy that you ALWAYS, WITHOUT FAIL, include captions. that means unbelievably much to me as a hard of hearing person!!!😊
I've seen a lot of convention coverage these past few months, but I haven't in recent memory seen a full review of a venue itself. This makes me very happy.
As both a kpop fan and anime fan, that sounds like a great time! Having a random play dance as well as allowing kpop in public groups to perform is so cool. Probably a lot more accessible to people than kcon LA
I hope Amanda shows up at a psychic convention someday, and they ALL tell her the same thing: "you have a lot of psychic blocks in place."
Amanda you need to come to Otakon in DC next year. It’s the biggest fan run anime con in the USA. It’s always run really well. I’ve been going for years! Badge pick up is Thursday evening, con starts Friday morning and goes until Sunday afternoon. There are dozens of panels at any given time. The artist alley is huge and the dealers room is even bigger. There is a maid cafe and a masquerade and usually a concert of some sort. There are also constant watch rooms with anime playing and I always have so much fun!
I am BTS ARMY 🎉 38 years old. Huge fan of yours also.
My husband thought that I would love your content since I'm wholly unable to travel to be able to go to any conventions, etc. He was correct and I've been watching you since.
Thank you for all of your hard work and willingness to explore, while being a kind human.
Hi Army! 💜 I'm an army in my 30s too!
@@oxar1122 Hello fellow ARMY 😘💜
Amanda the clickbait is unreal 😂 I was so excited to watch bc my dumbass really thought you got kicked out lmao
THANK YOU for adding actual footage of the events into your videos now!
I think your break should have been a LOT longer with all the content you give us
It’s so cool to see your experience at Anime Impulse OC!! It was fun to see the differences between that one and the one I went to! I actually went to Anime Impulse Bay Area and that one was the venue that was both inside and outside and I can confirm that I got sunburnt 😭 the food was outside so I was stuck waiting in the sun for my food
Have you ever done the Curiosities and Oddities Expo? thats one of my favorites for weird art and stuff
"she's NOT simplynailogical" is such a riot
20:58 to be fair to the drive-by note pads person, I'd do the same exact thing lmao. "Hi, SUPER excited to see you, but I'm terminally anxious and I can't stop to talk, TAKE GIFT."
I don't know if I sound rude, but I am a fashion designer, since I found your channel, almost every time when I start sewing, I listen to your video, not because I am interested in your topic but because I find the way talk you about something is interesting, just like how I always chit chatting with my friend .love from Malaysia!!
Me and you are the same age and yet the way you just go out into the world is so well done and just so different- in the best way !!! it inspires me to try and not be afraid to be an adult going places all by myself lol
Anime conventions have been getting crazy. I went to Sac Anime a few weeks ago on a sunday (which have been the slowest days in the past) and it was CRAZY. I almost had a panic attack. Their aisles are super close tpgether and they moved the meet and greets and autographs next to the artist alley so it was just super crowded and difficult to walk around, especially in full cosplay.
That's such an awful place to have the M&G. It's just asking for trouble.
For only discovering this channel after the Smosh video, 2 things are true about me. I love conventions, and 2 shenanigans is my favorite word of all time. So that's already 2 points for the good. Other favorite words include, Fickle, Malarkey, and Skedaddle. Honorable mention to Finaggle.
For events like anime cons that happen all over in varying sizes, it would be fun to see someone go to and compare cons of different sizes and region (Come to anime Iowa, I promise we aren't a barren corn and soybean wasteland)
Thank you for coming out and enjoying the event! We appreciate the feedback!!
It's actually our first time at the ACC (we're usually at the Fairplex and went on a California tour) so there's bound to be some growing pains and learning curves for each new venue! We'll take every critique and concern to better our events for the future!!
Thank you again!! 🙌
Did you see the comment higher up of the vendor who lost 3.5k due to your venue and has been ignored by y'all after reaching out?
Fix it.
My heart is warmed by the KPLay attendees. I wish I loved a something that much and I just adore that there are Gen Z'ers out there dancing to music *in public* like putting themselves out there. Warms my old. introverted Millennial heart.
I feel like part of the reason swell can't help but work is that it would get pretty lonely and quiet without someone or "something" to talk to going to an event alone that's full of people. Plus people are less likely to come up to you and bother you, aside from a wave in the background if you're recording.
24:52 I got jumpscared by the dog bark. 🤭
Yesssss!! I thought about how cool it would be if you framed your badges and you will! Like the graduation caps the Cullens do lol
ONE OF MY FAV TH-camRS WAS IN THE SAME PLACE AT THE SAME TIME AS ME AND I DIDNT SEE HER 💔💔 also my friends were part of the Avatar dance group!!! Thank you for featuring them in the video!! Our dance team is just our high school’s ❤️ it’s awesome u recognized them
Used to work on conventions, for some of the talks in large halls we used wireless headsets with a infrared system. Worked great because you can use the space but not have to worry about people not being able to hear or across other panels!
Hey swell! Just an idea, Would you go to octoberfest events? Or alternatively some Halloween events?
That's a great idea and I second that! Maybe visiting Salem, Mass one day too?
OMG wish I had ran into you, I would have said hi! I really enjoyed my time at Anime Impulse this year, I just went for one day but had a blast. Loved the artist alley and the free McDonalds iced coffee samples lol
I support reacting to everything a psychic says with "duh". Say nothing else.
I performed w/ my team at k-play fest in the bay area this past July and it was a v cool experience! It was a bit chaotic getting in bc we didn't know where to go, but I think as they keep doing these events, it'll hopefully get smoother
I've been both a weeb and Kpop fan since around 2010 and yet you've been to more amime and Kpop cons than me (and I love that for you)
Swell gonna become an event consultant, run seminars called "How to make your event not suck" 😂
EDIT Seriously though, there are so many influencers out there with no idea how to run meet and greets or cons, you could make a mint if you wrote a book about this stuff.
Weird. I did an LA event for pins a while ago, and it was a similar set up. Like there was a sneaker area, a street music thing, and then the pin thing. But they were completely seperate. Just bizarre.
Swell going to anime cons is always a blast lol. I doubt you'll ever come to one I'm vending at (I'm waaaay across the country but would love to do AX one day) but I'd be just as excited to see you. Your videos are just perfect "listen while drawing" material!
The "step on me" sign thing has always rubbed me the wrong way the same way "free hugs" signs and yaoi paddles used to back in the day and I think in a few years they'll be seen as just as cringey. It's especially worrying when I see them being carried around by girls who are like... obviously 15. 😬
Amanda you should go to Dragon Con next year (labor day weekend) I would love to hear your thoughts! It’s quite a chaoticly beautiful time
volunteered at anime impulse before and the management was really poor. directions weren't that clear and it didn't seem like the ppl in charge were taking it seriously until they realized just how many people were going to come. which was such a shame because it really was a cool convention and there was some banger food but that soured my experience.
You can call almost NSFW work as suggestive ! Sometimes i label as spicy but that's just me lol
Unfortunately it's extremely common for conventions to just assume that the vendors will figure out a workaround to loading/unloading issues and congestion. So far I've not seen anyone figure out some kind of magical solution. And for whatever reason a lot of event spaces like to keep loading docks closed so that everyone needs to file into one or two entrances with all of their stuff.
Jerma may not be directly connected to kpop but you bet he is integrated into convention in general
Next time you visit a conventions like this, I challenge you to find the secret jerma references found in merch from the artist's alley
I am also a member of the "Swell as background noise for art" club. Currently making 1:6 scale dollhouse lamps.
Love that convention center! Went to the NAMM show years ago, and man it can be really a pain to get all of your items depending where you were set up in the building (upstairs, basement etc). I just remember stairs, stairs, stairs man.
as someone who’s allergic to ink- I HATE when venues only stamp- like I have a risk of it scarring after bubbling up and then I’ll have “over 21” or a smiley flower scarred on my hand forever
Just in time for dinner! Swell always delivers
I think a lot of Jerma fans are also K-Pop fans and like to make photo cards of him too because it's funny 😭 I've seen a lot of crazy good Jerma Kpop fancam edits too. I'm more of a Jerma fan than a Kpop fan so I could be wrong lol
Tip for the socially anxious: working an event is very different than going as a guest. Whether u do paid work or volunteer, you get less fun activity time but it's so much more comfortable to have a defined role! I love it, and I really hate most events as a guest lol. Sign me up for a 3 hour shift & I'm happy as a clam!
Omg totally agree about just judging events hard. I do nonprofit marketing, lots of events, but I wud much rather work an event than just go.
Wasn't expecting the professor lando and Swell crossover there for a second lol
I had alot of friends attend this event bc of the vtubers they had as guest and they told me entering the first day was pretty stressful bc the m&gs they had were scheduled for around 12/1 and door still weren't open at like 11:30pm
Luckily I think the AI team pulled people that had m&g tickets out of the line and got them in first so they wouldn't miss that
The having a paid event, a stamp, but having to wait an hour in line to get back into the venue and only getting just under 30 minutes of the paid event my friends and I went to was fun. I heard that others had a similar experience, but I’m glad to hear that the rest of the event was still good outside the meet and greets and concerts for AI. 😅
Okay so I attended Hopcon Concert 2 on Sunday and many not great things happened during the line wait.
I got there 30 minutes earlier and there was already a pretty long line sitting on the floor. Time passed and a second line was made so it wouldn't block transit. During the wait two guys walk in angrily arguing in to the arcade area. Like you said there was no distinguishing staff members form normal attendees, so when some guy with a Demon Slayer fits was trying to stop the two man from fighting... We prepared for the worst. Security and staff left the line to deal with the situation, during this I do remember seeing a group of like 3 persons sneaking into the first line. When the situation with the two man calmed down one of the staff members very aggressively started asking who got into the line (Hell they even accused me).
Regardless, It was time for the attendees to enter behind the curtains. The second line was given access first, there was no indication of why the second line was the first instead of the line of people that for over and hour had been sitting on-and-off the floor (btw yeah this event started like 25 mins after it was supposed too). The most dramatic part of the afternoon was when half of the curtains legit just fell down. They told us it was because the second line entered too chaotically, but i do remember they fell a couple of minutes after the second line had finished entering But hell whateva.
They did cut off the arcade section from the other attendees during the concert since they ended up leaving half of the curtains down for a while and opened back up after it ended. Yeah it was a bit chaotic for a couple of minutes but we all got to enjoy the concert. I do appreciate the staff tho, cuz dealing with all that shit in such a short time frame must have sucked.
When I was at Anime Riverside (yes in California lol) there were cosplayers doing the step on me signs. These girls were also charging for hugs. And making coin!