[Sayuri-chan]

I think I just died a little in pure ecstasy. If you guys haven't looked at your email boxes lately, there was a recent update to the guest list, and OMFG, it is amazing. I thought ACen's guest relations staff did an awesome job getting FLOW last year...this just makes it even more epic.

(Quoted from Anime Central Newsletter)

Quote

Anime Central is proud to announce that LM.C will be Guests of Honor and performing at Anime Central's 15th Anniversary Celebration! The Japanese visual kei "electrock" band will kick off their 2012 world tour with a guest appearance at Anime Central in Rosemont, IL April 27-29, 2012. Aside from LM.C's concert performance, members maya and Aiji will be available for Q&A and autograph sessions over the course of the celebration weekend.

LM.C debuted on October, 2006 as a rock unit made up of maya (Vocals) and Aiji (Guitar). Mixture, digi-rock, HIPHOP-like… their variety of pop and catchy sounds cannot be categorized easily and they do not confine themselves to the conventions of "visual-kei."

The year of 2012, LM.C has already announced their new releases and the long-awaited world tour "LM.C LIVE TOUR 2012 –STRONG POP- world tour" starting in this coming spring. Surely, the band’s first original album release and first world tour in 2 years make their worldwide royal fans go crazy for LM.C again!!

Click here for more information about LM.C

If this is just the start, I can't wait to see what else ACen comes up with. Ken, I know you get this alot, but seriously, thank you for being so awesome when you answer our questions and give us information. You truly are a professional in every sense of the word and I appreciate that more than I can express in words.

[YoungBirdcall]

Ohki, on 05 February 2012 - 02:37 PM, said:

Every year we get guilt tripped for even asking for the con to consider moving so it's not so close to college finals or Mother's Day or Golden Week. Concerns about this are always voiced, and it's always that same line about how we can't because the contract is made in advance, and because you're afraid of being too close to A-Kon, etc, and always with that same "how dare you even ask?" tone.

The con chairs are in the difficult position of trying to stay within the same monthly time frame each year while also having to make reservations for future Acens years in advance due to the nature of the Donald E. Stevens Convention Center and how frequently it is booked (also well in advance) by other conventions and events. I personally have been following every single "Why is Acen on 'X Date' this year/next year?" thread on these forums, and I have never even gotten a whiff of the dismissive tone that you're complaining about. Most of the time the staffer explains the situation and leaves it at that, because there really isn't much more to say. I'm not saying that this tone doesn't exist when staffers address other concerns, but on this matter, i have to disagree with you.

[El Ken]

Just to clarify, ACen's convention chairperson doesn't make any decisions regarding event dates. Those are all negotiated by the Board of Directors of MAPS. Regardless, it's true not only that we have to plan according to what's going on in Rosemont at the DESCC and the Hyatt, but then there's also making sure not to overlap other major anime cons around the same time. I personally have not followed threads regarding moving ACen to later dates, so I don't know about that. Was just commenting on a detail of the statement, not its validity.

Cheers!

[Hoshigumo]

El Ken, on 05 February 2012 - 11:52 AM, said:

Lastly, to interested fashionistas, we will be opening fashion show model applications soon. I can't say too much, but there should be more than one Japanese style represented at ACen this year. Please look forward to those announcements!

...wat. 0_0

I must know more! *hovers over board in anticipation*

[Krystal]

Hoshigumo, on 07 February 2012 - 02:33 PM, said:

...wat. 0_0

I must know more! *hovers over board in anticipation*

Me too! Do you know when there will be applications for the people who want to donate/model their own outfits? Those are usually up first...

[El Ken]

Krystal, on 07 February 2012 - 03:53 PM, said:

Me too! Do you know when there will be applications for the people who want to donate/model their own outfits? Those are usually up first...

The Japanese fashion designers I'm bringing over will have their own events this year. I do not have information on non-guest events unfortunately.

[Krystal]

Oh geez. :/ I hope they're not getting rid of the ability for us wear their own stuff. I can't fit into Japanese brands. ;_;

[Hoshigumo]

Krystal, on 07 February 2012 - 06:25 PM, said:

Oh geez. :/ I hope they're not getting rid of the ability for us wear their own stuff. I can't fit into Japanese brands. ;_;

Same. I'm short and narrow-shouldered enough to wear kimono, but leery of trying to fit into something else.

Still, I'll probably try out for it and see what happens. I can always wear my houmongi around the con, rather than a runway, anyways.

[Otaku Otoko]

77 days left until ACen and only one guest announced...

[Dark Spellmaster]

El Ken I have a fast question. Regarding the guests, don't you have to go through their agencies as well to get the contracts and personal info placed up? I recall last year you, or someone on staff, mentioned something in regards to going through channels to get some guests. I also remember Greg Ayres mentioning that some panelist need to be paid to come. Also don't they have to make time with the studios they work with to come out here and get compensation for the time lost? Or something along those lines?

[El Ken]

Not all guests book appearances through agencies. As a matter of fact, this is the case with just about all American guests. However, in order to do title-specific events with guests, those have to be arranged with the licensee of the title. Panelists as a general policy don't get paid. If a panelist worth having at ACen needs to be paid, then he/she will become a Guest of Honor.

Regarding studios, if they can't get off of recording work or whatever, then it's simply a scheduling conflict and they won't make an appearance. We do not factor in compensation for time on the job lost. Many American guests actually make much of their living off their appearances, as voice acting work can be low paid and/or unstable.

[Dark Spellmaster]

So as a whole it's really just a question, at least with the american guest, of networking with them and asking them to come to the con as long as they can make it? Does Acen pay for hotel and airfare? Also curious what about internet guests: The guys at Channel awesome, for example, how would you guys go about getting them to come?

[El Ken]

Essentially, anyone who is at ACen as a Guest of Honor should not be paying anything out of pocket. Travel and lodging is paid, meals are included, and most guests ask for an appearance fee. Those fees are negotiated, and there are limits as well on what we agree to pay for, but for the most part it's all-inclusive.

If we decided to go after an Internet guest, the process would be the same. One of my relationship team members would reach out to see if there is mutual interest, and then we'd negotiate out the agreement (number/types of events to appear at, other requirements, payment, transportation, etc.). It's not usually a difficult process.

[Sayuri-chan]

Thanks for explaining the process, Ken. I was actually really curious as to how it went with bigger events obtaining guests. I know at one point the club I was in tried to get a va to appear on campus to speak and there was a little bit to it beyond asking if they were available to appear.

[Dark Spellmaster]

Curious, how long does it normally take to get someone to agree to appear and work out the deals? Also does a guest have to go through the same process of getting approval for a panel like the rest of us? For example, Crispan Freeman does a panel at various cons he goes to about the mythology in anime. So would he have to submit the panel to the panel programing group to be approved? Or is that part of the deal?

[El Ken]

Dark Spellmaster, on 15 February 2012 - 01:55 AM, said:

Curious, how long does it normally take to get someone to agree to appear and work out the deals? Also does a guest have to go through the same process of getting approval for a panel like the rest of us? For example, Crispan Freeman does a panel at various cons he goes to about the mythology in anime. So would he have to submit the panel to the panel programing group to be approved? Or is that part of the deal?

The time it takes to get a confirmation (agreement to appear) varies widely. Many times, especially with popular/busy guests, they won't know if there is a work conflict or something similar till 2-3 months prior to our event. Once we have a confirmation, we work on the contract details. Those details include the number of panels they will run/appear at, but not necessarily the content of the panel. After contracting, we continue working with the guest to determine logistical and event scheduling, which includes the panels. Many guests have panels they want to do, and we are generally accommodating. I have an assistant whose sole job is to schedule guest logistics and events (and to maintain those schedules). Guests do not go through the same panel application process as fan panelists.

[Dark Spellmaster]

Another question then, how do you decide which guests will appear and won't appear based on the suggestions? I know you get a lot of suggestions and you can't just have the same people all the time coming even if they are fan favorites, so how do you guys in GR decide which guests to inquire about and which to hold off on till a later date?

[El Ken]

Dark Spellmaster, on 15 February 2012 - 11:17 AM, said:

Another question then, how do you decide which guests will appear and won't appear based on the suggestions? I know you get a lot of suggestions and you can't just have the same people all the time coming even if they are fan favorites, so how do you guys in GR decide which guests to inquire about and which to hold off on till a later date?

Well, that's the magic question. When I came into Guest Relations last year from my previous post in Hotel/Convention Site Relations, I was expecting there to be some sort of super committee or at least a group of con management that would discuss things like themes, events, and potential guests to tie all of the con activities together. There was no such formality. So, much of GR's decisions are based on what we deem to be popular with the fanbase(s) now. Much of that input comes from the forum suggestions; some of it is from how guests do at other cons. Some will be from hype around new releases or working directly with anime companies. There's really no set way to determine the invites right now, but I would prefer more oversight with this process in the future.

[Darkspawn]

Any news on when announcements might start? My sister and mother have been asking me if we're heading to Acen this year (they enjoy tagging along for the people watching), and I told them I'm holding off to hear who's coming.

I'm just hoping we get announcements in time for me to purchase badges and have them mailed to my house (if I decide to go)...

[Voxx]

March is approaching quickly with April right behind it...

[Aphex]

Though I am happy that LM.C is coming since they are one of my favorite bands and I always wanted to meet them.
Anyway, what about some American guest? ^^

[Dark Spellmaster]

Curiosity killed the cat, but El Ken, any news on the front of if there is going to be announcements soon?

[GITS SAC Motoko]

El Ken, on 15 February 2012 - 02:19 PM, said:

Well, that's the magic question. When I came into Guest Relations last year from my previous post in Hotel/Convention Site Relations, I was expecting there to be some sort of super committee or at least a group of con management that would discuss things like themes, events, and potential guests to tie all of the con activities together. There was no such formality. So, much of GR's decisions are based on what we deem to be popular with the fanbase(s) now. Much of that input comes from the forum suggestions; some of it is from how guests do at other cons. Some will be from hype around new releases or working directly with anime companies. There's really no set way to determine the invites right now, but I would prefer more oversight with this process in the future.

I really like the theme idea. I always thought it was cool for cons to have a theme, like it was really cool in 2010 for "the 13th" to have like a spooky/creepy theme like having Aural Vampire there and such. Because to an extent couldn't you say that "big fan base" would draw in a lot of main stream guests (nothing against main stream) but a lot of other guests that are awesome as well aren't picked because they animes they have been in aren't in the "big fanbase." Maybe like from series like Dennou Coil, Elfen Lied, Boogiepop phantom, Skip Beat!, and perhaps even Ghost in the Shell if you count it in that category too. But the theme idea would be really cool to maybe think about in the future? Like hey, next year is ACEN 16, sweet 16! :3

I like your approach for the future and I know good things will come. Thanks for your dedication to everything, and doing everything you can to make us con-goers happy with the guests and all. I'll admit a huge reason why I go to cons is for guests--I like meeting and talking to the people that make anime possible whether it's a English dub voice actor, or a manga-ka they made the anime/manga possible.

edit: stupid typos.

This post has been edited by GITS SAC Motoko: 22 February 2012 - 11:27 PM

[Sapphy]

We're almost into March, any word on when guests might be announced?

[MandiPandi]

This is honestly the only thing that is preventing me from having bought a badge just yet. I cannot even fathom paying the full price without even knowing what ACen has to offer this year. I think that most of us can understand that it takes some time to confirm guests, but we are quite literally 2 exact months from the convention date with only one guest to base our potential con experience after. I've been attending Anime Central for nearly a full decade now (this will be my 9th consecutive year) and I have seen the ups and downs of new con chairs and staff members. Year after year the integrity of the convention seems to drop. Not always in such a noticeable way, but this year and the last, it has seemed we've been left in the lurch with guest announcements until almost the last possible minute. I am still attending because I've made unbreakable plans to attend this year, but I am really hoping that ACen staff is working boatloads of miracles for the con so that next year will ensure me, and others, as attendees.

[DarkBebi]

MandiPandi, on 27 February 2012 - 03:38 AM, said:

This is honestly the only thing that is preventing me from having bought a badge just yet. I cannot even fathom paying the full price without even knowing what ACen has to offer this year. I think that most of us can understand that it takes some time to confirm guests, but we are quite literally 2 exact months from the convention date with only one guest to base our potential con experience after. I've been attending Anime Central for nearly a full decade now (this will be my 9th consecutive year) and I have seen the ups and downs of new con chairs and staff members. Year after year the integrity of the convention seems to drop. Not always in such a noticeable way, but this year and the last, it has seemed we've been left in the lurch with guest announcements until almost the last possible minute. I am still attending because I've made unbreakable plans to attend this year, but I am really hoping that ACen staff is working boatloads of miracles for the con so that next year will ensure me, and others, as attendees.

I am on the same boat as you, My first con was Anime Milwaukee and even though the guests were posted in advance and I loved the guest choices(Goku, Vegeta, Broly) but the con was so horridly put together, I think I could of done a better job. Now with Acen Last year, I was wondering why it took so long for the guests to be announced and I already scheduled everything with my buddies up in canada, that and Colleen was a guest and she was my favorite character in borderlands, I just had to come, so backing out of acen was a no go, now the same thing with this year. Acen was so well put together, so much to do I actually had to plan on what panel to go to and what gathering to go to, it was incredible that everyone was on time and even though the line took about 5 hours to get through (that I do not plan on ever going in that line again), the con was nearly perfect.

I am not much of a music person so the ball and rave and all the music and fashion people are of no interest to me, but that does not to say about the other con goers, I can't back out of acen even if there is absolutely no guests that I like. We planned this last year right after the con was done.

[Darkspawn]

DarkBebi, on 27 February 2012 - 04:37 AM, said:

I am on the same boat as you, My first con was Anime Milwaukee and even though the guests were posted in advance and I loved the guest choices(Goku, Vegeta, Broly) but the con was so horridly put together, I think I could of done a better job. Now with Acen Last year, I was wondering why it took so long for the guests to be announced and I already scheduled everything with my buddies up in canada, that and Colleen was a guest and she was my favorite character in borderlands, I just had to come, so backing out of acen was a no go, now the same thing with this year. Acen was so well put together, so much to do I actually had to plan on what panel to go to and what gathering to go to, it was incredible that everyone was on time and even though the line took about 5 hours to get through (that I do not plan on ever going in that line again), the con was nearly perfect.

I am not much of a music person so the ball and rave and all the music and fashion people are of no interest to me, but that does not to say about the other con goers, I can't back out of acen even if there is absolutely no guests that I like. We planned this last year right after the con was done.

My experience was the total opposite of your experience. Thought Anime Milwaukee was generally well-organized, especially for such a young convention. However, my experience at Acen was one of the worst I'd ever had. No one could get their act together. It was pure madness. You know when you see other con-goers crying because of the sheer lack of organization, event-related stress, and the staff's total indifference that there's a big problem. Still, Acen draws in the big guests, and there's plenty of things to do there, so I'm willing to give it at least 2-3 more tries.

But not until we get a guest list.

[Dark Spellmaster]

We will probably get a list soon as they have up a request for Guest handlers, so my guess is that we shall get the list soon. I hope. *crossing fingers*

As for disorganization, I have to agree with Darkspawn in that there was was a bit last year, there'a also been situations that might not totally be the con's fault but congoers and even guests. >_> Hopefully with people like EL Ken leading the way to the guest relation department, we may see things go smoothly next year. This is only his second year as head, I think.

Edit: My 500th post! Yay!

This post has been edited by Dark Spellmaster: 27 February 2012 - 12:37 PM

[AnimeGeek120]

DarkBebi, on 27 February 2012 - 04:37 AM, said:

I am on the same boat as you, My first con was Anime Milwaukee and even though the guests were posted in advance and I loved the guest choices(Goku, Vegeta, Broly) but the con was so horridly put together, I think I could of done a better job.

Sorry to go off topic for a sec, but what year are you talking about? (I'm guessing it's 2010.) We've improved a lot since then, but it always helps to give cons feedback so they know what to improve on for future years.

Actually on topic here. I hope we do hear more soon with the last pre-reg tier closing in a little over two weeks. I understand how crazy things can get with trying to get all the necessary info for guests before they can be announced on the site and everything. As long as something can be announced before pre-reg closes I'll be happy.

[Alkaren Hyralt]

Dark Spellmaster, on 27 February 2012 - 12:37 PM, said:

We will probably get a list soon as they have up a request for Guest handlers, so my guess is that we shall get the list soon. I hope. *crossing fingers*

Sorry, what do you mean?