Fanime Con

I went to this con every year for many years even after they switched to the jury system. It used to be my favorite show and I had fond memories coming here (for the rest of the convention in general, not for AA). But ever since the jury system, this convention has been a nightmare to apply to. I was accepted a few times and rejected some other times, it's not worth the time and effort waiting to hear back as if we have nothing better to do. It's disheartening. It's disrespectful to returning vendors. I lost motivation to do art for a while after Fanime messed me up.

They have extremely subjective standards -- they are looking for a single style of art only, doesn't even matter if you're professional. I have a friend who is a well-known artist who makes.. let's just say, A LOT per show.. who was also rejected simply because she did flat 2D art. If it doesn't pop a ridiculous amount of bright colors, with light, shadow, dodge and burned out of this world in digital, you're automatically rejected. Another friend of mine who attendees absolutely adore was rejected because he colored in Copics. They'll accept a few crafters but that's about it.

You'll also need a massive online presence. I rarely use any form of social media and refuse to start just for them so gave up entirely.

I've tabled at Fanime twice, and both times me and my friend whom I drove with from SoCal were swamped with commission requests. This year I actually did 14 commissions and broke my first $1000+ profit goal at this con, so I am definitely coming back. The attendees definitely have money to spend!!

There was plenty of space behind tables and they didn't crowd control entrance and exit (so you can enter and exit on both doors) which actually made it really easy for me to use the restroom.

I get the impression that people don't really like the jury system for table signups, but I am terrible at getting tables via first come, first serve method so I actually like this method. I got in twice out of three times I applied through this jury system.

Getting a hotel was not bad, just be ready with your friends when hotel registration goes up and you'll be OK.

Anyone who has tabled at Fanime knows the pain involved with the application process for the AA there. Before 2014, it was FCFS, which was 3 minutes of hell, unless you got stuck on the wait list which was months of hell. Even so, it was months of delay before payments were processed, permits were logged, table placements were assigned and all that jazz. One time, it was 5 weeks before the con before the process was complete. The next year it was 2 weeks before the con.

Then they switched to a jury panel system.

I've applied to other cons that used a jury panel system. I've seen it work well. And then there's the way Fanime does it.....

That, said - if you survive the ordeal of applying for an AA table and actually get one, you'll probably do well. Fanime is a well-attended show in the middle of a region with an embarrassing amount of expendable income. A large number of my best sales events of all time have been Fanimes. If your product line appeals to the mainstream anime fan, you're probably going to do well there.

I am local to the area and have never had to face the horror of the Fanime hotel registration system. If you are not local, getting a table at Fanime will be extremely troublesome because of the usual lateness of their registration system, which makes it hard/expensive to arrange hotel registrations and airfare.

After the renovation to the San Jose Convention Center, the AA is now in its own room across from the dealer's room. It's a bit smaller than it used to be, a little cramped and, when crowded, a little stuffy. Years before, it had been adjacent to the dealer's room (which used to be nice because the exit from the dealer's room was next to the entrance to the AA) and then it got moved into the tent, a dingy pseudo-temporary structure in what used to be a parking lot behind the convention center. That year was awful for hygiene reasons and for a complete lack of signage or informational support by the staff. Then, finally, back inside the convention center proper.

I am actually on the art staff for this con so I can't really comment on registration/badge pick-up etc since I go through a different process than the rest of the AA sellers. But I have attended this con in teh AA for the past 8 years so I feel I have some insight into Fanime's AA.

Even though I do not go through the normal registration process, I always find the AA staff to be very helpful when any issues arise.

Mostly, I find the attendees to be a really good bunch of people. I do find it to be a bit of a younger crowd that sometimes doesn't spend as much as other cons but I still do very well at this con every year. That being said, what the attendees lack in buying power they make up in friendliness and respectfulness. Everyone I speak to is incredibly friendly and I often get the same table visitors from year to year who are generally happy to see me and stop by.

I also consider this con an incredibly good one for networking. I live in Colorado but every single art based job I have landed has been through this convention. I have made more friends in the art community and more job contacts at this job than any other I have attended since I started AA's in 2007. And sometimes, that is more important than making quick cash over the weekend.

Fanime's pre-con organization is a legendary mess. From having to scramble to pick out tables amongst fellow AAers, to simply not having our full confirmation until a few months before the con, it's stressful to deal with. The AA staff don't communicate very well pre-con either, and that makes things even more frustrating.

At the con, however, it's very smooth, and the staff are great. I will say that the layout of the room leaves for very little room behind you, so it's cramped and easy to annoy neighbors if you need to get up a lot (esp if you're me w/ a medical condition). The tables are also some of the smallest I've ever used, so you really have to consolidate your space carefully.

Sales wise it's a wonderful convetion with a great buying crowd. The Silicon Valley has a lot of money to spend, so you hopefully don't have to fret too much.

I cannot speak about the nearby hotels or food, as I have an Uncle who lives 10 minutes away from the con center who housed me, thus bringing my overall costs down.