Sigh. Sometimes it isn't so fun.

[kproche]

We had to disqualify an entry in the Anime Los Angeles 2007 Masquerade because one of the presenters lied to the green-room staff about having a membership.

Sigh. I just don't understand this sort of behavior.

Comments

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

As I essential said to bovil, Good on You.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

You did the right thing. I only hope they get the message.

[kproche.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, there is every sign that this is going to get much uglier before it gets better.

[johno.livejournal.com]

Sorry you had to do the bad part of the job.

[rmjwell.livejournal.com]

As others have said, good on you for doing the right thing. If the parties who broke the rules try to cry "facist eggsucker!" at you, they only make themselves look stupid and petty.

[danjite.livejournal.com]

I do love the fact show was bragging about it in a public forum.

Great way to build credibility.

Good on you lads, as always.

Though we couldn't be there, y'all are always a pleasure to work with.

[galtine1.livejournal.com]

Different than SD's issues...but still the same. Here's hoping the community can learn.

[karisu-sama.livejournal.com]

One of the other girls posted in my LJ, could you please make sure your hot-tempered spouse doesn't perhaps accuse HER? There is no evidence she or her sister knew Maryssa was going to do this.

[kproche.livejournal.com]

In fact, he is coolly composing a reply to her comment making it clear that the only person we are calling out is M. Unfortunately, *her* fraud and subsequent public boasting about it disqualify the entire entry.

[lilacwire.livejournal.com]

Bleh. This is what gives cosplayers a bad name. I can see showing up to a convention, not attending any events, and just getting your pic taken without a badge or seeing friends. But competing in an official event NEEDS a badge. Even if I don't think the convention has worth, I will buy a badge to compete. It's just the right thing to do. :/

[karisu-sama.livejournal.com]

It's not fair to her partners in the entry either. Now they, who HAD badges and apparently weren't informed of her little plan, are out an award too. Why would someone do this to her friends?? *REALLY* not thinking, looks like she was.....

[lilacwire.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I feel bad for the girls who were following the rules.

[bovil.livejournal.com]

I can't say it's not fair. The rules are the rules, and sometimes "fair" doesn't equal "pleasant."

I will say it wasn't nice of her to put her friends in such a position.

[marquesate.livejournal.com]

*sigh* How ugly. Whatever happened to integrity, honour and respect. :-(

[jeff-morris.livejournal.com]

Ahem. (Clearing throat)

OMGYOUARESOMEEEEEEEEN!

(I am of course quite sure you two have heard that several times already)

On other news, you guys coming up for CC25? I know where all the good coffee shops are in that vicinity. :)

JSM

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

I'm simultaneously appalled and amused by the person's attempt at spin control - saying that she "meant" to buy a badge for the con, but then making a comment that seems to strongly indicate that she felt like she was getting away with something by not having one. *shakes head*

This is why advance reg exists... (or was Anime LA unable to offer that?)

[esprix.livejournal.com]

Seems pretty much settled, isn't it? She admitted her mistake, you followed the rules, and that's that.

Then again, maybe I've been away from fandom too long. Ugh.

[jeff-morris.livejournal.com]

This is something we've noticed here in St. Louis with CC25 and Archon--we've gotten a lot of interest from the cosplayers, but they won't pay in advance. I suspect it might be a mix of age range and available funds, but the overwhelming majority wait literally until the last second to buy their memberships.

Plays hell with the convention budget, to be sure.

JSM

[bovil.livejournal.com]

The head of marketing at Fanime here in San Jose made a few observations about this, and we've modified our registration system for CC26 to account for it.

Fanime has stopped (for the most part) attempting to actually sell memberships at their fan tables at other conventions.

1. They want people to use the online reg system to save them data entry.
2. The average anime con attendee is on a limited budget, and would rather spend their money in the dealers room than on buying a badge for another convention.

Instead of pushing forms at their fan tables, they push fliers that have an event discount code that's good for a month. "Say you saw us at Anime Expo! Use this coupon code to get $10 off!"

This moves the registration cost to next week's budget (or just generally outside con budget) but still gives them incentive to register early. It also gives the marketing team information about which conventions are good sources of registrations.

We're doing the same thing, but we still do have paper forms available at the fan tables if someone really wants to give us money right away.

[bovil.livejournal.com]

Anime Los Angeles offers advance reg. The at-con prereg rate for ALA2008 was $25.

*woof*

[celedraug.livejournal.com]

Ugh, what a horrid mess to have to deal with, my condolences to you, and congratulations for holding fast to the consequences! I feel badly for the other members of that entry who had abided by the rules if they truly did not know of the issue. Hopefully they remember this if thinking about doing another group entry with that person.

I know I've shown up at a con and not been able to play-so only hanging in the lobby or open areas, but cannot fathom why or how someone would think it is okay to try doing the Masquerade without a badge.

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

I'm shaking my head over the fact that this gal's assumption that she "couldn't" take care of her reg at the last minute. Sheesh, if I, Miss Scatterbrained, can think of at least two ways to take care of getting a badge at the last minute in a similar situation, there's no excuse for anyone else.

And yeah, the cries of "meaniehead!" for enforcing clearly-stated rules is just annoying beyond words. Y'all have my sympathy...

[kproche.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, we'll be there. Only thing left to buy is the plane tickets. The car rental is already taken care of, as is the hotel room.

[buddykat.livejournal.com]

Instead of pushing forms at their fan tables, they push fliers that have an event discount code that's good for a month. "Say you saw us at Anime Expo! Use this coupon code to get $10 off!"

That's an excellent idea... I will definitely have to gank it for future use.

[dustyjack.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry that you guys had to deal with so much frustrating stuff at ALA. >< Super super props on everything though... ugh, I can't believe this whole thing... Support the con that went through the trouble to let you participate in the masq? What a concept...

This is Kim from GomuGomu no Cosplay from ALA, btw... I hope you don't mind me friending you. n_n;; I'll just scuttle away shyly now.