Pacific Media Expo 2008
Convention Report
by Pedro Rodriguez
A good idea is a funny thing. They look so solid when they are on a piece of paper, but executing it is another story altogether. Like all the other conventions this year, Pacific Media Expo faced several challenges including a difficult economy, and booking talent from overseas. Determined to have a good convention, they banked on what worked for them in the past, as well as some new ideas from themselves and fans alike. In most cases the ideas were delivered well if not above expectations. In a few cases the events did not make do with general expectations. Here is a little bit of both.
The event with the biggest issue had to be the Bebop Experience at the beginning. According to the announcement, it was going to be a party with a Cowboy Bebop theme. The room would be decorated to feel like the clubs and casinos from the anime series. It was also going to feature a live jazz band that would perform music from the series and be hosted by the characters. The general problem was the lack of ambience. The only decorations in the room were several small tables with a deck of cards, making it hardly feel like a casino. The band was also ill prepared for the event. While I understand that the music is difficult, most groups would compensate it by simplifying the most difficult parts of the song. Instead the group decided to take it head on, making their inexperience all the more obvious.
The video rooms did a better job meeting my expectations, making the Bebop Experience the only dark spot. While the convention does feature anime, its key selling point has always been to have a broader range of Asian Pop culture. Staying with this formula, the schedule consisted mostly of live drama from Korea and Japan. Featuring themes such as comedy, drama, action, and the supernatural, the movies were fairly easy for newcomers to get into.
There were other factors that indicated that the convention was doing well. On Saturday a friend pointed out that there was an increase in foot traffic compared to last year, indicating a growth in attendance. While I believe that it wasn't a drastic increase, it was a sign that the convention was healthy. It also appears that word has gotten out on how press friendly the convention is compared to others. While I wasn't able to attend the press conference for Suicide Ali on Saturday, I was told that the room was packed with press. The Kaya press conference on Sunday was also well attended, compared to last year.
Other new attractions were handled well. One of them was the Pocky tasting room located by Artist Alley. Attendees would pay their five dollars and have a sample of various flavored Pocky. Most of them are generally difficult if not impossible to find here in the US. The small room was also well decorated with comments from earlier patrons. There were also the small structures built from the sealed boxes of pocky, which were quite creative. The Maid Cafe was another new attraction that gained interest. Again people would pay their five dollars and a cute girl (or guy if that's what you're into) would serve you your choice of tea, soda, or a cookie. Despite the steep cost in service, I can't criticize them mainly due to the fact that they were still losing money on every cookie that they sold, which brings me to my closing statement.
When it comes to a good idea, you are always bound to inherit obstacles. In fact the bigger the idea, the more obstacles you will face before reaching your goal. While elbow grease plays an indefinite role, the degree of success can often be measured by how well it is sponsored. In this case the convention this year was a modest success. The staff is not afraid to try new ideas, and they do a good job handling the obstacles that come with it. Despite what struggles it shares with other conventions, Pacific Media Expo is pulling itself at a moderate pace. Right now the only real thing that is holding the convention back is sponsorship. I think despite the issues in the beginning of the convention, it's more frustrating to see a convention with so much potential. Hopefully as things begin to turn around, groups will be more willing to invest in the convention.
Who knows? Maybe in a year or two the con may be big enough to return to the Anaheim Convention Center.