Attention Otakon '06 AMV Submitters

[hackerzc]

THE CONTEST HAS BEEN CANCELED!

Actually no, I'm just kidding.
The real reason I needed your attention was because I am curious if the submitters this year are at all interested in getting a section of seats marked off for your use at the contest showing this year?

In previous years it's always been a spur of the moment thing that was put together like 5 minutes before the contest started, and the end result was that the seats were usually cruddy and everyone would have been better off if they had just come in with everyone else.

Anyway in hopes of doing this the right way and making sure everyone gets good seats I would first like to know if this is something you are at least interested in. Secondly if you could let me know where you think might be a good place to stick everyone it would be a big help (I'll use this information to find a good spot to suit everyone).
Please keep in mind that the first few rows in the center are reserved for staff and guests (so don't say there).

[anneke]

I think it's a good idea. Sadly I won't be at Otakon. I'll eventually make it out there.

-Anneke

[Kusoyaro]

Yeah, definitely do it. Except, this time don't make the reserved seats so bad that everyone decides not to use them, which is what happened a couple years back.

(won't affect me this year anyway, since I didn't submit, but still...)

[ReligionX]

Seating for the AMV creators? To be grouped together? All in one place? I have no preference. Unless I can bring other people into that area, which I have a feeling is not the case. I'd ruin it for everyone. "We gotz the seatz! Thissa way everyone! I gotz tha hookup." (scalping tickets)

I haven't really noticed "a line" to get into the AMV contest, as it's generally shown in the largest room possible. Not even everyone in the entire convention center could fill that room. Everywhere's a good seat, really, besides the far right or left in the first or second row...

But if the AMV winners are being shown at the end of the Masquerade like it was several years ago, and we could get some special seating for that, I'd ditch everyone I know for a few hours, since that event is always flooded (wink) (wink) (nudge) (nudge).

[Brad]

Well true it doesnt totally fill up, but there most certainly is a very huge line. And I wouldnt say that every seat is a good one. I'd definitely prefer to sit at least in the center section in front of the largest screen (I'm not remembering if there was more than one screen now).

Not that it matters to me since I didnt submit this year.

[mckeed]

Yeah, definitely do it. Except, this time don't make the reserved seats so bad that everyone decides not to use them, which is what happened a couple years back.

(won't affect me this year anyway, since I didn't submit, but still...)

As one of the people who fought to get our crappy ass seats moved to halfway decent seats last year, if your going to reserve seats...give us good seats or we can just take our chances in the general line.

[genestarwind21122]

Back in 2004 it was great being able to sit up front with all the editors. I would like to do that again this year. It depends on the set up of the room. Somewhere near the front of the room maybe like 6-10 rows back in front of the screen. I think that's the way it was last year too. It still being held in Main Events right or did we get the "First Mariner Arena" like the cosplayers did?

[keiichi93]

I think it's a good idea in general. I would definitely love to have a good reserved seat to enjoy the contest. (but for me personally, I'm suppose to look after my younger siblings, so sitting some place by myself while they have to sit elsewhere would be a big "no go") Anyhow, that's just my own personal situation, but I would say definitely to reserve good seats for AMV creators. I mean without the AMV creators, there wouldn't have been a contest to begin with ...

[Scintilla]

2004's contestant seating was nice.

But you know what would have made it even nicer?

Knowing about it BEFORE I got on the normal line (I was just lucky that a bunch of others who knew about it spotted us on line).

So please, please make sure all the entrants know that there will be special seating and where they have to go in order to get in on it.

[hackerzc]

I haven't really noticed "a line" to get into the AMV contest, as it's generally shown in the largest room possible. Not even everyone in the entire convention center could fill that room. Everywhere's a good seat, really, besides the far right or left in the first or second row...

There Have been lines in the past. infact I remember waiting in it for nearly an hour back in 2002 and I think 2003 also.
The room (while being large) only holds 5,000 (only heh), which is FAR short of the 22,000 we'll have at the con.

But if the AMV winners are being shown at the end of the Masquerade like it was several years ago, and we could get some special seating for that, I'd ditch everyone I know for a few hours, since that event is always flooded (wink) (wink) (nudge) (nudge).

I want everyone to know that the AMV contest winners will NOT be shown at any time durring or after the masquerade. Cosplay staff has made it perfectly clear they do no want us there.
A note on Masquerade though, from what I've been told it will be in the Baltimore Arena this year (for those curious).

I'm not remembering if there was more than one screen now.

There are three (the center being the largest).

As one of the people who fought to get our crappy ass seats moved to halfway decent seats last year, if your going to reserve seats...give us good seats or we can just take our chances in the general line.

That's why I'm asking about this now. I want to make sure I have time to go through proper channels so this gets done right. I'll be taking care of this myself this year (unlike in previous years), and to be frank, I have a reputation for getting shit done.

It still being held in Main Events right or did we get the "First Mariner Arena" like the cosplayers did?

Still in Main events (level 400) of the BCC. I can get confirmation on this if you'd like.

but for me personally, I'm suppose to look after my younger siblings, so sitting some place by myself while they have to sit elsewhere would be a big "no go"

There will be enough space reserved to allow each person attending room for a couple guests (we are talking limited space.... so not your entire extended list of friends and family).

2004's contestant seating was nice.
But you know what would have made it even nicer?
Knowing about it BEFORE I got on the normal line (I was just lucky that a bunch of others who knew about it spotted us on line).
So please, please make sure all the entrants know that there will be special seating and where they have to go in order to get in on it.

Yup Yup, that's why I'm here. As I said, in past years it was a last minute thing the Coordinator would setup (and not to any great success) which is why I'm bringing this up.
There are a lot of details to iron out yet, but I'm thinking something along the lines of having creators RSVP me so they and their guests can be put on a list. There may even be badges printed up that people can pick up form the info desk so they can get in to the room ahead of people (just a possibility).


From the response on this so far, it looks like everyone agrees it'll be a good idea.
I just didn't want to go through the trouble if no one planned on using the seating anyway.
Expect to see an announcment in the usual places about this some time in the next few days.