Community

Kou Kou ChibiCon Review

by

I got invited to Kou Kou Chibi Con this year, and was glad to attend.

ChibiCon is held at Branham High School in San Jose, California.  It's a convention thrown for one day by the school's anime club, essentially an extension of the club's events.  The convention was held in a gym and an adjacent room.

The con put in a LOT of content:

  • Gaming an gaming tournaments (when people weren't playing Pokemon – HeartGold and SoulSilver came out after all).
  • An art area for an art show.
  • A cafe area selling snacks.
  • A presentation area with video projector.
  • A dealer's area for independent businesses/fan businesses.
  • Several events throughout the convention as well.

I did two presentations, my "why you don't have a dream job" panel and an experimental one on brainstorming (that I hope to develop into a full panel).  They were received pretty well, and I had a chance to talk with some remarkable people who show a lot of career potential and were quite talented.

It was quite well done, and I enjoyed talking and meeting some of the club members.  The club members did most of the work – two teachers there to help out and supervise praised how the students had organized it themselves.  Me, I hope to speak there again next year.

I think it's also a good example of how anime events don't have to be gigantic or independent.  Taking a club and extending it to a one-day con was obviously a lot of fun for the attendees.

– Steven Savage

Convention Idea: Have Some Fun

by

The roundup of convention ideas is here.

So I've been talking for quite a lot the last few months on different ways to do career oriented events at conventions.  Let me note that, you can also have fun with this.  In fact, I advise you consider some "career-fun" mix events to stimulate your imagination and avoid the risk of making things overly serious.

So among your career events, why not try a few fun things that, though career-oriented and indeed educational, can add some levity to the event – as well as making people think and giving them a chance to network.

GAMESHOWS:
Gameshows are a mainstay of conventions – so why not try some with a career orientation?

  • Do a gameshow quizzing people on their knowledge of game history?
  • Do a gameshow for programmers about obscure and humorous technology.
  • Do a gameshow on failed technoligies (Apple Lisa?  Microsoft Bob?)

COMPETITIONS:
Competitions always add a bit of spice to events and can let people use and show off pro skills:

  • Have an art competition (always a classic).
  • Do a competition in Cosplay to use limited materials (also a classic).  See if you can get actual people involved in clothing or fashion as judges.

GENERAL FUN:
Why not just have fun with your usual events.

  • As per my previous column, have some of your pro guests discuss their own great failures.
  • Have "stump-the guest" events where aspiring progeeks get to try and stump the more senior progeeks out there.
  • Have a party with some of the pro guests.  Make it a networking event if you want, but be sure it's fun.

Go on and add a bit of fun to the professional proceedings.  I'm sure you'll be glad you did.

– Steven Savages

Frustration Friday: Cult Misses

by

You'll notice that though I talk economics in this blog, I am careful around the subject of politics.  In some cases, where politics intersects economics (which really is in most cases), I also am cautious about what I discuss.

So for a moment let me throw some caution to the wind and watch it blow away.

I'd like to discuss my caution.

Read more