Things I Wish I Learned Before I Started Covering Anime Conventions

Anime Boston 2016 - Photo Credit: Samantha Ferreira

I'd argue that I've been covering anime cons for a little while. I've been in the trenches for every Anime Boston, several Otakons, and a number of smaller cons across the northeast. And, with each event, I still find myself marveling at the infectious energy that seems to permeate through the halls. You can see it in every smiling attendee, every excited cosplayer, and every enthusiastic attendee.

It's a unique experience, where I can honestly say that there's nothing like it out there.

That said, when I stepped into my first "for-work" con in 2003, I was completely over my head. While covering a con from the ground-level is one of the greatest privileges any otaku journalist could ever receive, it's also a gig that will test your limits of concentration and stamina.

Yes, you're here to have fun, you're here to get the full experience. But at the same time, you're here to flippin' work. Every moment you're not writing, you're snapping photos, talking to people, keeping appointments... it's enough to make newcomers' heads spin!

That said, all of this prep for Anime Boston 2018 has gotten me thinking. Amid things like packing, writing notes, and building schedules, I've gotten to really thinking about the many things that I have learned over the years... mostly those things that I wish that other people had told me! So, I guess today, it's going to be part listicle, part help article, as I go over those little random bits of advice that I've picked up over the years.

1. Have a Plan of Attack (But Don't Let Your Plans Control You!)

Looking at a convention schedule can be pretty overwhelming in and of itself. Depending on the size of the event and the venue, there can be anywhere from six to thirty-six events running at any given time (sometimes, even more!). That's to say nothing of "fixtures" like the Artist's Alley, game room, and Dealer's Room.

It's easy to say "I'll decide what I want to do when I get there!", but that's a recipe for disaster. Sure, wandering and sampling is key to the experience as a whole. At the same time, though, you're often on a schedule, yourself, trying to juggle your leisure time with interesting content opportunities and events that have fixed schedules, like interviews.

The ideal in this case is to make a basic plan of attack. A few days before the con, take a look at the convention schedule. Log the events that you want to cover into Google Calendar, set your alerts, and be ready for changes - panel times can (and often do) shift over the course of the weekend due to numerous factors.

With a plan in place, though, don't feel like this has to control your weekend. Maybe "A Visual history of Mecha" seemed interesting but isn't grabbing you. Maybe the "Bad Anime, Bad!" show is overbooked. If that's the case, then you have to be nimble enough to roll with the punches. Be ready for things to change, and never be afraid to change course if something doesn't feel right. (Seriously, the #1 rule is to have fun!)

2. Plan for Leisure Time and Meals

Yes, you're at the con to work. At the same time, though, you're there to have some fun in the process! Block out an hour or two each day to go and explore things *you* want to do. Plan some time to go to the Artist's Alley, or the game room, or even just to go grab a coffee at Starbucks if necessary. Trust me, your brain will thank you later.

On that note, I'd like to give you a firm reminder to EAT while you're there. Plan time for meals - at the very least, breakfast and dinner (but seriously, try to eat lunch, lovelies). Try to scope out good spots that serve real food - even if you have to venture off-site for a few minutes. Your body will thank you, and you'll find yourself in a much better position to concentrate and work if you have a full tummy.

Also, try not to have too much grease... it makes you logey, which is awful when trying to sprint through a crowded convention center to that next event.

3. Bring Snacks!

This is something that I really wish someone taught me at Anime Bostons 2003 - 2006. Like... really. For any event, you want to have a snack and a bottle of water handy. For snacks, shove a few granola bars or similar into your bag. Basically, you want something that gives quick energy that you can eat on the go. 

Not only is this just good practice, you'll be doing yourself a favor, both on a financial level and a time level. On the financial level, you'll undoubtedly save a few bucks over the weekend, as you won't have to forage at local convenience stores or (ugh) the convention center's overpriced food vendors. Seriously, it's eight bucks for a 20-ounce bottle of water at the Hynes! Eight bucks! For a dollar bottle of Aquafina!

And, let's be honest. Even if you don't crack into that bottle of water or nosh on that snack, it's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have them.

4. Never "Wing" Your Interviews

For this one, I'd like to begin with a story.

At a convention one year, I had shared a round robin interview with a guest. The panel of outlets had five people. Among us, four of the five had prepared questions. Number five went in, stating "I'll just wing it" at the outset.

Number five ended up botching their interview. Every time their question opportunities came up, they'd waffle for a minute and say "pass," unable to think of anything, or "I just had a question, but I can't recall it!" In the end, they ended up blurting out a few softballs just to get something to put to paper for the event.

Don't be number five. Time in interviews is super limited - I'm talking "to the minute" limited. Wasting time, be it the guest's or the other interviewers', just hurts everybody.

I'm not saying "Don't ask questions that come to mind," of course. If you have a question that you want to ask, by all means, ask it! This is your chance to ask pretty much anything about some truly amazing people! Just, be sure to have a good collection of stock questions ready, so that you can fall back on them if you don't have that "top of head" question ready to go.

Also: record your interviews - invest in a good digital recorder, which can be used time and again (and uses replaceable batteries, for the love of God!), and take notes. You want your words to be as accurate as can be, so that you get the best coverage possible.

5. ABS: Always Be Snapping (Photos)

From my personal experiences, the biggest catnip for readers are as follows:

1) Interviews

2) News

3) Photos

Getting a good, comprehensive photo selection is something that you should make a baseline of your general coverage. Always be on the lookout for great photo ops. 

See an overhang at the top of a balcony? Get a few landscape shots for flavor!

Is that uniquely adorable signage? Snap a shot and preserve it!

No, really. Look how adorable this was! Get photos of this stuff for your articles! Photo Credit, Samantha Ferreira

Are you covering a concert? Talk to your press liaison for photo policies!

Is that an amazing cosplayer at the side of the hall? Take a moment, and ask for a photo!

And so on. At the end of any convention, I'll have somewhere between 500 and 2,000 photos to sift through. Very few get used in the final articles, but you want to have that breadth and variety of content so that you can be ready for any article you plan to write.

Now, that said, a few caveats:

1) Cosplay is not consent. Ever. Ask permission for photos of cosplayers - be polite and THANK THEM when you're all set. Common courtesy should always be observed.

2) Do not ever take photos at a concert without express permission. That's a fast track to getting your equipment confiscated, as you're shown out of an event. (True story! I've seen this happen a few times before!)

3) Do not be a jerk - don't block traffic, and don't do anything that will generally annoy the people around you.

6. Learn Which Questions NOT to Ask

Every single industry panel, every single interview has that one person who asks something that's either patently obvious, or so beyond the pale that the question doesn't get answered. Learn which questions not to ask and avoid them.

1) No industry rep will tell you about a license they haven't been cleared to talk about. Ever.

2) Don't ask uber-personal details from interviewees - they're people who've been nice enough to share some time to talk with you.

3) No guest will shit-talk other people, so stop trying to get them to do so for a soundbite!

4) No industry guests will discuss details they haven't been cleared to discuss, so asking if, say, an uber-serious show like Psycho-Pass will have a creepy fanservice episode in it? That's just going to get you a ton of cringes from the room.

5) When a rep explicitly says "do not ask about this," DO NOT ASK ABOUT THAT. God, I remember meeting one group who just had a member leave. The first thing the reps told our groups was "DO NOT ASK ABOUT THIS MEMBER." The group before us went in - four minutes later, they were promptly escorted out.

...They asked about that member.

There are a lot of other "questions to not ask," but these are definitely among the biggest.

7. Get Plenty of Sleep!

Honestly, this is something that I'm really... REALLY bad at, but you should at least be shooting for 6-8 hours of sleep per night. Running on nothing more than adrenaline causes you to make mistakes in your work, and you'll just end up hating yourself the day after the convention. 

8. Dress Comfortably, but Present Professionally

For one of my first conventions, I went in dressed as a "pro" - slacks, dress shirt, the whole nine yards. That was one of the most miserable weekends of my life, because I hadn't accounted for the fact that I'd be surrounded by 10,000 people. I quickly got overheated and just ended up buying a damn T-shirt in the dealer's room and changing in the bathroom. 

Dress for the event - wear your comfortable, (but presentable!) stuff, and make sure that you have clothes you can move around in. There's a nonzero chance that you'll be sprinting to a meeting at some point or another, which is all but impossible in flats or loafers. 

That said, be prepared to present yourself professionally. Carry yourself in a professional manner, and maintain your personal hygiene. Seriously - nobody wants to be sitting next to the person who smells like they came out of a place that conditions the air to smell like Dead Sun.

9. Don’t try to get everything out over the weekend.

Animation Runner Kuromi 2

I know you’re going to be excited about everything that goes on, but don’t try to force your content out at-con if you can help it. (This goes out the window if you have a team, mind you!) Focus on embracing the moment, getting your photos and notes, and being ready for when you do get rolling.

The only items that should be 100% priority are news (if you’re covering that), or time-sensitive items - for everything else, you have a good week to get through everything before the “convention halo” dulls out on you.

10. Bring Business Cards!

Seriously. Cons are the best places to network for our field, since it's a rare gathering of many voices within the community. Be prepared to get your name and face out there! Get some business card printed (I get mine from Moo - no affiliate links - I just adore their cards <3) , and don't be stingy with them. You'll want to swap cards with, at the very least:

• Fellow AniBloggers
• Industry folks you talk to (for follow-ups)
• People working the convention
• Artists you commission

Getting your name out there, and getting to know people will go a super long way toward establishing yourself within the con's press community (yes, every con has its own form of press community).

11. Have Fun!

Honestly, this is something I have to tell myself, from time to time. All work and no play makes Jill a dull girl, after all... and if you're not having fun, it will show in your coverage.

Looking at the AD Classics piece that goes live today will show you what happens when you just go to punch the clock, and don't have fun with things. You'll get two very different takes on Anime Boston 2009 - one from Matt, one from myself. Guess who had more fun! :D