Most disappointing NDK ever!!! :-(

[Dr Kain]

Seriously, what the hell?!  My girlfriend and I have gone to NDK for four years now, and this has got to be the worst of them all.  We spent more time standing in a friggin line today than getting to do much of anything, which took away the fun.  Never have I EVER been unable to get autographs before even when I arrived an hour before to stand in line, let alone a half hour, but today it happened.  Not just that, but most of the panels seemed like you had to be there 2 hours beforehand just to get in, as we did not get to go to Wendy's, Aaron's, nor Todd's panel.  Hell, I had to leave during Michael and Melonie's webisodes just to be able to get into Chris Patton's Tells All panel, stand in line for an hour and a half, and I STILL did not even get a freaking seat.  This has truly killed the energy to the point that I do not know if I even want to return next year, as it has ruined NDK for me, a weekend I have been looking forward to since it ended last year, and instead, all I get are high levels of disappointment.  I paid to be able to enjoy myself, and I have not been able to do that this weekend.  I do not even know if I'll be able to get to see anything beyond closing ceremonies tomorrow due to this.  Oh yeah, and not to mention there are panels that the host does not even show up for.  What is the deal with that?!  Your staff is doing a great job keeping things in control, but this year has been very piss poor.   
   

[AnaKen]

I guess is the spot where someone tells you: Just cause you don't like it...doesn't mean that's the way for everyone.

I personally don't care for the panels...at ALL.  I go to NDK to hang out with other cosplayers, meet new people, and just socialize with geekciety.  I have never been to a panel, and likely never will go to one...so for ME...this NDK has been one of the better ones.  There seemed to be less activities overall going on, and as such, there weren't as many lines of people just "standing around" and being in the way.  The Masquerave tonight (sat night) was the best one in years.  I actually stayed for more than ten minutes this time. 

I'm not trying to say you have no reason to complain, as quite frankly, everyone is entitled to their opinion.  But this year, the staff (unlike last year) has been almost COMPLETELY polite (one little altercation tonight was all), as opposed to last year when the entire staff seemed like Anime conventions were the worst thing ever, lol.  I've been able to enjoy myself far more this year than last, and that to me says they are moving in the right direction. 

[Dr Kain]

Are you seriously telling me you do not mind having forty 16 year old fangirls shriek at the top of their lungs every time someone even mentions the name Aaron or Todd all at once?  I go to this because I like interacting with other fans, meeting the voice actors as I care about them just as much as the series they do, and getting to enjoy the panels to see what other people have to say or think to voice actors and whatnot.  I should not have to stand in a line for autographs for two hours, missing out on two panels, while not even being guaranteed that I'll get an autograph.

[theshadow]

Are you seriously telling me you do not mind having forty 16 year old fangirls shriek at the top of their lungs every time someone even mentions the name Aaron or Todd all at once?  I go to this because I like interacting with other fans, meeting the voice actors as I care about them just as much as the series they do, and getting to enjoy the panels to see what other people have to say or think to voice actors and whatnot.  I should not have to stand in a line for autographs for two hours, missing out on two panels, while not even being guaranteed that I'll get an autograph.

Dr. Kain we appreciate the feed back and really are sorry that you didn't get into all the activities you were expecting to get into. As you may, or may not be aware, we definitely had more than 7000 attendees this year. With this many people and such amazing guests there are going to be points where you may not be able to get into the all the panels of your choice. Again, we do apologize we will look at things for next year to see if we can find a way to accommodate more attendees for various panels. Please keep in mind though, convention space is limited and we make every effort to assure anyone who wants to see a panel can do so.

[Rumor]

I honestly don't mind fan girl shrieks. Don't like em', but they're part of an anime con.

And I also am ok with not getting everything I want, because the people who did get autographs waited a long time, certainly longer than me

[Haithin]

NDK is just getting huge, that's all there is too it. but i know the feeling seemed like last year i was able to snap more pictures quicker, this year it seemed like i saw the person, wanted a picture and by that time they were already swept away in the crowd. Guess i should have made a point to get to more of the photo shoots, >< and yeah i wanted to see the panels before patton's and ended up missing it because of the line afterwards.

So many people that's all there is.

[cosplayer_alex]

I do have a complaint that I must vent about. Yes, the preregistration line was too long and people who are not registered got their passes faster than we did. Now my real complaint. I am the white Gundam that was severely damaged just before I went on stage for the cosplay competition. While waiting behind the curtain to go on stage a member of NDK decided to run through the small curtain hallway and run right into me. I did not know how hard I was hit until I got on stage. The member broke my gun swords, my molding around my front upper body vents, and my left shoulder was broken at the metal hinges. It was embarrassing when I was on stage and my gun swords broke. I have talked to the NDK OPS Staff and the sad part is not a single person could apologize to me. If someone could say they were sorry that would of been enough, but obviously no one cares. I am disappointed also about see the rave people and the incidents that have happened in front of the hotel on Saturday night. NDK is supposed to be a family friendly event and yet that's not what I saw. Very sad and not a good image for NDK.

[Aylegard]

Hi,

Cosplayer_alex, we saw that costume, and it was awesome, we're really sorry it got damaged. 

My wife and I generally agree with Dr. Kain.  While I expect lines at any convention, I also expect the planning staff to also figure out how to schedule their space to accomodate the crowds.  Anyone at last year's con or this year's con knows that Chris Patton's panel was standing room only, overcrowded, and an incredibly long wait to get into.  It should be in a bigger room, or space that you can fill a little more efficiently. 

It does not help that you chose to place Chris' panel immediately following one of the more popular events in the same room.  AMVs are popular, and many people (us included) expected to be able to stay for both as we wanted to see both.  The most aggravating thing is that a staff person told us that they thought we would be able to.  To be blunt--it is perfectly fair to have a general policy on clearing rooms between events.  It is completely unfair, and shows disorganization, for the policy to not be well communicated, unclear to the point that your staff isn't sure of it, and seemingly enforced randomly or with no notice.  Had we known, we probably would have skipped AMVs and waited for the Chris' panel.  However, it would have been nice to be able to make that as an informed choice.

Like I said, no arguments with the policy if there is one, but I certainly didn't see it in the program guide when I looked just now--the most annoying thing is the lack of notice and consistency.   

[mastergods]

I am sorry to say this might be last NDk for some time. I have been coming to ndk for sixs years and this NDk was on the bad side. as you know from my con stories topic. Friday was really bad.  The thing I wish to point out is the weapon policy. I made a nice little gun to go with my cosplay. And after a little running around I did get it bonded.How ever even with the tip being painted a bright color marking it as fake, and the bright blue tie wrap showing Ops said it was okay. I did have a few staff/ Con workers tell me to go put it away.  Yet walking past me was people with live metal showing off the weapons from the dealers room.
 
As for pannals. there were like three  I really wanted to go to. and even though I was inlane an hour before it started I never got into any of them (Mostly due to the fact I saw friends letting other friends cut. One person turned into 10 for the  Cosplay contest alone)

The only other thing I wish to say is not bad about the con. but about the Marriott. Not only did they lose my reservtion(lucky me had the email right on my cell) when I proved them I did make one they told me "sorry, this is for next weekend. It said right on the email I was coming in on saturday and out Sunday. of this week! yet after I showed them that they told me "Sorry...This is not for our hotel" after an hour talking with them and the 1800 Number I did get a room.

[Haithin]

Marriott also messed up our room, we had reserved an atrium room way back when, and when we got there we were off in the tower somewhere. We brought our print-out of the reciept from the order luckily and the manager was like "ummm, oops i'll be right back" and was able to fix it for us very thankfully. This year sounds like it was pretty crazy all around for everyone.

[Stormblazer]

I enjoyed this NDK, but Iunderstand the coplaints. The lines have gotten out of hand, and some of these panels *need* to be in larger rooms - especially ones like patton's panel, which was already standing room only last year... It should've been obvious there'd be even more people this year for that one. I managed a good seat only because I enjoyed talking to people and found the line before it got crazy long.
But even some smaller panels were nuts. I tried to go to Japanese Mythology, and it was full before it even began too.

I realize a lot of this is just symptoms of how big NDK has gotten, but maybe it's time to get a bigger location. Again, I did enjoy myself, but I had a pretty flexible plan of events. For those trying to visit more than a few panels, it would've been extremely frustrating.

[Sprobby]

I disagree with OP's statement. Personally, I thought last year's NDK was lacking mostly due to the rave and how bad the music was. I don't much care for the panels, I just like hanging out with people who can match my level of ridiculous.
Oh, now that you mention it, I do have something to vent about. But first!!
Cosplayer_alex, I've seen your suits before and I just want to tell you that you are very good at what you're doing. I couldn't manage to salvage the mental capacity to even think about making a costume that complex.

Now onto my bit of a rant: I walked into the dealer room and noticed all the neat BB guns that a vendor was selling. Well, I was cosplaying as Joker this year and I thought a Desert Eagle would make an excellent edition to my costume. Once I spent the $55.00 on it, I ventured to get it peace binded although I was turned away instantly for the gun being too realistic. I can understand this rule, because if they had allowed realistic guns to be carried around, there would be many more scares happening. I asked the peacebinders if there was anything I could do to make the gun acceptable and they gave me a grunt, a shrug and then told me that I could try painting it neone orange or something.

Right... I would take the time to go buy paint, paint my newly bought gun, wait for it to dry and then get it peacebinded. Sounded like a great plan. I noticed that they had neon orange tape in the back and I asked them if there was any way that I could borrow their tape and cover my gun. They said they were all out of tape despite the large varieties and colors of duct tape they had. Finally, after 4 attempts and making my gun look absolutely ridiculous with blue tape, they finally said I could get it peacebinded.

Thanks for at least trying to help, guys.
That was sarcasm, by the way.

[Stormblazer]

I disagree with OP's statement. Personally, I thought last year's NDK was lacking mostly due to the rave and how bad the music was. I don't much care for the panels, I just like hanging out with people who can match my level of ridiculous.

This is what I mean - if you like to just go and have fun, and don't attend much in the way of panels, it was great. But those who do vist more than a couple panels... The panels were just outright overloaded.

[Rumor]

It sucks because the heads of NDK don't seem to be interested in moving to a bigger location (or if they are, i've only heard evidence to the contrary)

[loki]

It sucks because the heads of NDK don't seem to be interested in moving to a bigger location (or if they are, i've only heard evidence to the contrary)

Actually, they might not have a choice in the future if the fire marshall is called in.  I'm a staffer at two much larger cons (Otakon and Anime North) and I understand how it can be difficult to organize space.  However, in all honesty, from the way I've seen the panel rooms and video rooms filled (and general con space on saturday), the con would be shut down if a fire marshall were called in.  Otakon had to put a cap on registrations one year due to this concern.  For future possibilities, NDK may have to seriously consider either putting a cap on registration or moving to a larger venue.  Because once the fire marshall shuts it down, it's pretty much over for the weekend.

[Sprobby]

That makes me glad I pre-registered this year.

[Rumor]

Actually, they might not have a choice in the future if the fire marshall is called in.  I'm a staffer at two much larger cons (Otakon and Anime North) and I understand how it can be difficult to organize space.  However, in all honesty, from the way I've seen the panel rooms and video rooms filled (and general con space on saturday), the con would be shut down if a fire marshall were called in.  Otakon had to put a cap on registrations one year due to this concern.  For future possibilities, NDK may have to seriously consider either putting a cap on registration or moving to a larger venue.  Because once the fire marshall shuts it down, it's pretty much over for the weekend.

Except wouldn't the cap have to be less than the attendees they had this year?

[loki]

Except wouldn't the cap have to be less than the attendees they had this year?

This is correct.  Considering the size of most of the panel and video rooms, I would personally advise a cap of 5000-6000 people including single day registrations.  

[Rumor]

This is correct.  Considering the size of most of the panel and video rooms, I would personally advise a cap of 5000-6000 people including single day registrations. 

Do you think being able to extend beyond 6000 people would be worth a move at this time?

[loki]

Do you think being able to extend beyond 6000 people would be worth a move at this time?

As I mentioned before, extending beyond 6000 would most likely require a larger venue as a visit by the fire marshall would be a very risky event.  It hasn't happened that often, but if it does, it could possibly mean the end of a con and most of the congoers like NDK too much to let that happen and would be crushed if it did if it was a result of poor planning.