Conventions

Convention Report: AOD 2014

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So it was time for me to do my usual career events at AOD – formerly AODSF but it moved to being by the San Francisco Airport, which kind of complicates the whole naming thing.

AOD is an anime con that grew into more of an animation/anime/games convention over the years, and the first one I actually did events for when I moved to the Bay Area. It’s always been well-run and very precise, with some smart placement – putting an anime-and-more con in a Japantown hotel was a stroke of brilliance, for instance.

However, AOD moved to a larger hotel as it was getting pretty large. And that’s where things get interesting.  What happens when you scale up?

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Make It So: More Specific Career Panels

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Awhile ago I spoke at Con-Volution, a new convention in the Bay Area (we are blessed with cons out here) that was very practically focused. It had a lot of panels examining things in depth, talking specific skills, and getting pretty deep into doing things. I of course took my usual career roadshow there becaus I’m me. You know me.

It also got me thinking. In depth panels? Skill-building workshops? People with career interests. Career Panels?  Hmmm . . .

Right now there’s a lot of separate skillsets you need to do your job search and career building properly. There’s also specific things you have to do to get your career going that are also separate skillsets – making a good resume, for instance. Conventions, which often have “effectively doing stuff” events could have workshops and panels that address these various elements and skillsets. Not just a resume panel here or a website workshop there – instead have as many as possible that cover all aspects of careers.

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Make It So: First Episode Con

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As you saw awhile ago I’m pretty sold on the idea of smaller mini conventions. I think there’s a real place for them, I witnessed an excellent one in the form of Kraken-Con, and I’ve had good experiences with them.

Now recently in a Muse Hack get together the gang was discussing how we’d share and experience new media, those one-off viewings, seeing premiers, etc. That consolidated in my head and I want to make a proposition, an idea, something for someone to Make So. Something for you to try.

(Why not me? Well . . . we’ll see. I’m busy here. But I plan to push for this in my spheres when/if I get a chance).

So imagine this . . .

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