[Phantasmagoria]

There's clearly more harm this would be doing than good.

[Kanku]

DaphHime, on Jun 18 2009, 09:39 PM, said:

One idea though for the group leader thing, maybe instead of one group leader, I think a leader and a co-leader would be a good idea. Incase something happens to the first (sickness, last minute conflicts etc.). Also cross check photoshoot leaders with whose running panels (if possible), to prevent the above conflict. I hope that was clear enough. ^^'

I agree with the two leader idea. Hell for the Hetalia shoots, we have two leaders, Myself and OharikO, and co-leaders of our own, I have DemonSlayer and Perditus_cor and OharikO has masterofveggies.

[Phantasmagoria]

I've known some group leaders to bow out though... won't say who

[-JUNK-]

i know what ya mean

[Phantasmagoria]

Her name's been said on this thread too...
Anywho, if this plan makes it in the works then I hope we won't deal with this stuff.
Remember our plan? X3

[-JUNK-]

i will ;D

[Phantasmagoria]

Yup

[Neonraver247]

After reading all of this, I can't say I'm a huge fan of the idea. It seems to controlling to me. Not to mention, even if there's hours of planning & such, if a group doesn't like when and where they're supposed to meet, they're going to say screw it and do what they want anyway. I don't think we need to have this kind of regulating going on for something that is done by the attendees. Lol, if we were getting payed to cosplay that'd be one thing, but seeing as we're not, I don't see where anyone but the participants have the right to dictate when and where. Just my 2 cents mind you.

[retro]

I appreciate that staff are trying to help. And yes as stated by others there will be people having to choose between a shoot or a concert or panel or even another shoot. But this ensure that the shoots and panels aren’t conflicting. Last year didn’t the avatar shoot get scheduled at the same time as avatar fan panel. Now I’m not sure this is the best decision but at least they are trying to listen to our feedback. After the last con I saw a lot of posts about not being able to find the shoots or brining the staff in on their organization of said events. I do like the Idea of having two leaders if this goes thru or having the possibility to email a dept. or staff member if the leaders aren’t responding to the needs of the shoot and need to be replaced

[KnitChick]

Tossing my two cents in the ring here...

I don't see much difference in the way we're talking about doing things this year versus other years. In previous years it was first come first serve dibs on spots. That's why for '09 I kinda pushed the Doctor Who thread into deciding early because I wanted to call dibs on the Garden, I thought it would be an awesome spot. Really, mainly what we're talking about doing here is trying to get the schedule solidified a bit earlier to get the word out to non-forumers. I know in both 08 and 09 I ran into Doctor Who cosplayers that had no idea we were doing gatherings until I told them.

Now correct me if I'm wrong but I believe cactusmomma was going to take requests into consideration. So if my group talks and says "we really want noon in the garden" and submits our request early, we'd likely get it. This isn't the con trying to control things, this is the con trying to make sure people know about the shoots (one of the coolest parts of the con!), the big groups are dealt with in such a way the Fire Marshal doesn't get mad (we like keeping him happy!) and everyone gets a fair shot at getting the times and locations they want.

Anyway I'm stepping off my soap box here and crawling back into bed like the sick little cosplayer I am. *sniffle*

ETA:

Quote

The person submitting should be the person who would be the organizer of the meetup and of course, scheduling requests would be taken into strong consideration. This would make things easier for groups of different sizes not have to compete for space, it would get a schedule in much earlier (for your viewing and the programming books) so you guys can begin to plan your con way earlier than 3 days beforehand.

Bolding mine, words cactusmomma's. Sleepy time nao.

[jenchan]

KnitChick, on Aug 14 2009, 01:29 AM, said:

Really, mainly what we're talking about doing here is trying to get the schedule solidified a bit earlier to get the word out to non-forumers. I know in both 08 and 09 I ran into Doctor Who cosplayers that had no idea we were doing gatherings until I told them.

Yeah, I can relate to that - So many times I have found people cosplaying from a group that I knew was having a gathering, but yet they had no idea there was even one, or that there was a schedule for such.

If ACen were to start scheduling the gatherings, which I'm not very fond, I think they would want to post a good size cosplay gathering schedule somewhere people may see it, like the Hotel Lobby or near the entrance to the exhibit hall in the convention center. Antother idea is having signs marking the spots where the gatherings would take place, such as garden, tree area, or label them cosplay gathering area "A", "B", "C", etc. At the cosplay locations, you could also try posting a schedule(kind of like ACen does with the programming rooms) of what group is going to be there when. That would also depend on if the hotel/convention center would allow that.

I do not think it's very effective to have it listed in only one of the program books either, since a lot of people don't even look at them.

[Neonraver247]

Personally, I think if Acen wants to make some "official" con photoshoots for the larger gatherings (Naruto, Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, etc), that'd be fine, but leave cosplayers the opportunity to do it on their own also. Last year putting them in the program books seemed fine with me, and you're just not going to be able to tell every single person where a photoshoot is even if you staple a shedual to every staffer's forehead lol. There could be certain areas the convention claims for official photoshoots that are unavailable for the hour or so it takes to do them, but leave the majority of it up to the attendees. I mean, people don't like being told what they have to do, when they have to do it, and where if they've been able to decide for themselves in the past.

[jenchan]

SongstressLenne, on Aug 14 2009, 12:50 PM, said:

Ok I am throwing in my two cents. Over the years I have always heard, "Do you know where this photoshoot is?" as a cosplayer and now this year as a staffer. Not everyone that attends the convention or cosplays looks at the forums, everyone needs to remember that. Not everyone prints out everything ahead of time, a lot of congoers look for paperwork AT-CON.

Maybe we can all meet halfway on something that can appeal to the majority. If you think you have a better idea, then say it. I'm pointing to all of the veterans out there when I am saying this. I know there is someone with a brillant idea or a brain storm. Come on guys

I think this is the message that a lot of us are trying to convey as well. I don't want to sound harsh, but there has been little response from staff as it is about my suggestions thus far, so I don't know what will happen with others input. I have been going to ACen for about seven years now, and have cosplayed everyone one of them.

Staff may want to go back and read some of my posts in this thread, in case they got lost in the shuffle here.

http://www.acen.org/forums/index.php?showt...st&p=750089
http://www.acen.org/forums/index.php?showt...st&p=750701
http://www.acen.org/forums/index.php?showt...st&p=750990
http://www.acen.org/forums/index.php?showt...st&p=762520
http://www.acen.org/forums/index.php?showt...st&p=782239

Again, although this sounds like a good idea, I think groups would feel a bit restricted by it. IMHO I feel it would make groups feel more "controlled" by the con. I think several people have also made this point as well. As I have said before, I don't support it, but I understand why the con would want to do it, and I hope I can do all in my power to help the con view this from a cosplayers point of view, and help.

[~Sarah-Chan~]

Neonraver247, on Aug 14 2009, 02:35 PM, said:

Personally, I think if Acen wants to make some "official" con photoshoots for the larger gatherings (Naruto, Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, etc), that'd be fine, but leave cosplayers the opportunity to do it on their own also. Last year putting them in the program books seemed fine with me, and you're just not going to be able to tell every single person where a photoshoot is even if you staple a shedual to every staffer's forehead lol. There could be certain areas the convention claims for official photoshoots that are unavailable for the hour or so it takes to do them, but leave the majority of it up to the attendees. I mean, people don't like being told what they have to do, when they have to do it, and where if they've been able to decide for themselves in the past.

Frankly I don't like the idea of them regulating any of the gathering. Why should the larger ones have to be regulated and not the small ones? I think that would be highly unfair to those that are planning and working on setting up a location for those shoots and spreading the word around. I honestly don't think we should have ANY of the shoots regulated by staff.

I like the idea of getting the times and locations in earlier so they can be finalized ahead of time and aren't being rushed to be put on the schedule. As for Acen picking the locations and times, no. Things have been fine the way they are in the past and there is no need to change things.

This post has been edited by ~Sarah-Chan~: 20 August 2009 - 11:24 PM

[Millions_Knives]

how is that photo shoot location map coming
i think that holds real promise
or at the very least it will give staff something to point to

~thinks~
i have to say at this point
some of the groups are large enough to pose a fire hazard

[Neonraver247]

~Sarah-Chan~, on Aug 21 2009, 12:24 AM, said:

Frankly I don't like the idea of them regulating any of the gathering. Why should the larger ones have to be regulated and not the small ones? I think that would be highly unfair to those that are planning and working on setting up a location for those shoots and spreading the word around. I honestly don't think we should have ANY of the shoots regulated by staff.

I like the idea of getting the times and locations in earlier so they can be finalized ahead of time and aren't being rushed to be put on the schedule. As for Acen picking the locations and times, no. Things have been fine the way they are in the past and there is no need to change things.

Well, I don't like the idea at all myself, but there's seems to be a push to find a way to do it regardless. If it were up to me, I wouldn't change a thing, seeing as how I agree with you that it would be unfair to make groups have their photoshoots run by staff. But it seems that staff wants to do this, and they keep trying to find ways to do it whether people aren't liking it or not. I guess making only the large groups do it, since they're so popular, is kind of the only way I can see it being remotely reasonable. I don't like it, but if they gave us the option to have our own as well as their official ones, it might be a good way to cut our losses frankly. You know what they say, a good compromise leaves everyone unhappy, lol.

[this_chick25]

SongstressLenne, on Aug 25 2009, 09:47 AM, said:

-A cute little mini map with spots marked on the maps of where it would be or places that are neat to have photoshoots would be nice.

A mini map would not only be nice, it would be necessary. It would also be useful to put the nicknames of all the places like "the Garden", "East Outside Wall", "East Inside Wall", "Dome Staircase" (AKA "Where the fountain used to be"), and label the hotel's landmarks like the Elevators and the Revolving Door and what not so people can orient themselves to the photoshoot locations.

As long as I have been attending ACen, I still get lost locating the photoshoots, because I can't associate the nicknames of the places with the actual physical location; of course people who have never been to ACen are completely lost. Photos and videos of the locations are only moderately useful without a map; it's easy to get disoriented in throngs of people and getting turned around in hallways so much, and the Convention Center area is kinda big.

[jenchan]

SongstressLenne, on Aug 25 2009, 09:47 AM, said:

Jen-chan I am going to keep your posts on file for future reference in regards to this situation. I appreciate your input.

Thank you. I certainly hope that what others and I have mentioned previously is being well considered. I beleive that if this is done right, perhaps it will be a peaceful transition. I understand that you must defend your fellow staff, but the way this was originally proposed to us here gave most the impression that staff would be making decisions for the cosplay groups.

[Neonraver247]

I'm confused then. I'm not trying to be a pain or anything, but if we still get to pick where we want our photoshoot and when, how is it any different than how we've been doing it? We've had the photoshoots listed in the programs already anyway and the time and place was always first come, first serve. I guess my concern is that despite several people stating that they really don't like the idea, no one is saying that if enough people don't like it, it's not going to happen. I'd hate to think the convention would want to do something the attendees didn't like.

[~Sarah-Chan~]

Here is another suggestion, rather than keeping the information on just to forums, why can't it be posted up on the main Acen webpage and have its own link for photoshoots/cosplay gatherings? On that page could be a list of all the locations with a mini map that is labeled and have pictures/videos of the gathering locations. Also it could have the entire list of the gatherings and the times/locations. Not everyone goes on the forums and if it were on the main website maybe it would help to alleviate some confusion.

I could see that being highly beneficial since not everyone uses or checks these forums and if it were on the main page, it would be much easier to find and help get rid of a lot of confusion. That's just an idea, but it would help in my opinion. If I were someone that wanted to know about the photoshoots/gatherings and I didn't know about the forums, I would see it on the main page. Everything else gets a spot on that main page, why can't the photoshoots and gatherings be included as well? These gatherings are just as much a big part of Acen as everything else.

[cactusmomma]

Since this is something that's on the talking blocks, I'm going to close this thread until we have more definitive answers from the higher ups. I am liking some of the suggestions from here and the coscom threads, so please pm anything else to me!

[cactusmomma]

A submission form is being worked on right now, which will include spaces to request a time/day and preferred location/backdrop. Staff is more than aware of what 99% of the series involved for gatherings will entail for proper setting, so that part is nailed down. A map has already been made and is going not only in the books, but also to customer service and will again be on both this forum and ACen's boards, since a bunch of people missed the ones on the boards this last year.

Kitsoru said:

So if people don't submit a shoot and have their shoot meet in such an area, what are they gonna do?

If there's a group that does this before the book goes to print, they'll have the option of us scheduling a time and place for them. Otherwise, they'll have to compete for space by waiting their turn or deal with a staffer on a case by case basis. Larger gatherings (50+) will already have a guaranteed spot on the schedule, so there won't be any getting around that. I currently have a 7 page list of gatherings from past ACen's and other cons to see what groups are garnering interest. I've also been told that we're working on getting a back projector and screen so we can at least filter in appropriate backdrops for the bigger groups.

Again! If anyone has any other suggestions, please pm me with them here or on the Cosplay.com boards. Same username over there. I'm usually on during the evening hours.