Anime Conventions: Small vs Large
May 21, 2007
By Daniel

I have been fortunate enough in the past two years to visit three anime conventions. Two of them were small relatively new conventions, while the other was very big. Different people like different parts of any anime convention, and that is true whether they like large conventions or small ones. My personal opinion is what you are going to read in this article.

Let's start out with pros for small conventions. A lot of people will be easily intimidated by a larger anime convention with thousands of people moving about. With a small convention, you get to interact with more people and feel less inhibited by the crowd.

Smaller conventions allow you to learn how to act. Anime conventions have their own little world sometimes and not knowing how to act can lead to some discomfort when trying to figure them out. Do note that 95% of the people you meet at these conventions will be nice and helpful to you, even though their actions may be a bit unconventional (no pun intended.)

Overall they are a more personable experience for new and old con-goers. Actually having the chance to play a video game or strut your stuff in the cosplay event is an exhilarating experience. You can also get closer to the guests and have more intimate encounters like special VIP access to group gatherings.

There are some downsides to small conventions. They sometimes don't have the experience of a bigger anime convention because they are new and are still working out kinks. Just realize sometimes that happens since some like to keep it small for a more personable experience or location.

Small conventions also can't have the diversified field of a larger convention due probably to money concerns. They can only invite so many guests and reserve whatever convention center their budget can afford. The Dealers room will probably have far less dealers than you would see in a bigger convention. That is the same for video and game rooms.

For new con-goers, don't think bigger is better when deciding which convention is better. The small conventions can give you just about as much emotion and excitement as a big convention can give. For old con-goers, don't forget about the small conventions after you have been at large ones and have seen what they have to offer.

Now, I'll mention the pros of the LARGE anime conventions--stuff of myth and legend. Ok, I have been to the sixth biggest anime convention of 2006, so that is large enough to get a feel for the bigger anime conventions. They have a uniqueness about them that is hard to forget.

The entire size of the convention can almost be overwhelming to new and old. That alone can bring a person down to their knees with excitement because of all the stuff they can do. Larger conventions are going to be in big metropolitan areas, which allows for more people to come in and spend money and time on stuff there.

People come from all over the world to be a part of these types of anime conventions. You will have seen several thousand people over the course of three days looking around, dressing up, and generally having a great time. Anime conventions are special because you can see just about anything there that has come from anime, games, or general sci-fi.

The Dealers Room gets a section all on it's own. Based on my thoughts and my friends thoughts, the dealers room will sell you to a large convention. You will see rows and rows of DVD's, figurines, weapons, manga, and a lot of other stuff lining dozens of booths. The whole convention can almost be spent inside there looking at stuff and wondering why you didn't bring more money or if your kids really need a college fund.

There are some minor drawbacks to the large conventions that must be stated. These conventions are in big cities, so expect a lot of people and traffic. Plan a lot for these conventions and plan early. You can get into a disfavorable situation quickly if something happens that you could have planned for beforehand.

Con-funk. Ok, I said and it needed to be said. Con-funk is a bigger problem at these things than the small ones. When I said these people are in their own little world, I was not kidding. Some people will do nothing but play games in the game room, watch videos, or just wander around the convention center for three days straight.

Lastly, you can get lost in the large anime conventions. I almost mean that literally since they can get pretty big. Generally safety is not a big concern because the convention does the best it can to make it a safe place, but do realize that with so many people that bad things could happen, so be careful.

So, large or small. Which one is better? Well I can't tell you which one because they both have great points and low points. I was just trying to give out some of the good and bad for both types of conventions. If you enjoy anime of any type, then you will enjoy both kinds. You should know that being somewhere to experience the event is better than just watching. Have fun on your trip and save a few dollars for body deodorant.