Tekkoshocon: Random Thoughts…

This past weekend I was at Tekkoshocon. This was my first time venturing out to this event. Last year at Otakon, I met Chris Barretta and a few others and was told that I should go to Tekkosho for the model contest. The time came and I had the resources and time for heading out there for the event. I just really wanted to meet the several people that I have communicated with via various model related forums; and finally get to see in person, some of the wonderful works that I have only been able to see online. Pictures of the event can be found here: Tekkoshocon Pictures.

The only anime conventions I’ve attended in the past are Anime Expo and Otakon, so I had certain expectations. Yes, Tekko is only 5 years old and looks to be continually growing. But it would be a bit unfair to make certain comparisons without making scale adjustments. Starting with a rounded attendance number of about 2.5k people at Tekko, AX had about 45k, and Otakon about 25k. I can make comparisons amongst the events using the following scale adjustments.
AX Scale: 18
Otakon Scale: 10
Model contest
– Tekko: 24 entries, 6 display only (total of about 30)
– AX: approximately 15 entries
– Otakon: 18 entries
The balanced comparison puts AX and Otakon’s respective turnouts to be .83 and 1.8 models entered in comparison to Tekko’s 24. I firmly believe the success of Tekko’s model competition is the advertisement for the event. The more folks know about the event, the more apt they’ll enter something. There was no fee charged for the event, and I believe the final budget for prizes and trophies was approximately $450.00. Some of the prizes were donated by Black and Decker and is not included in the budget costs.

I believe that with proper advertisement of the event, AX and Otakon should be capable of reaching similar participation as Tekko.

Model Workshop Attendance
– Tekko: average of about 8/day
– AX: average of about 80/day
– Otakon: NA
I will have a better gauge of model building interest at Otakon if and when I can do the model building workshop there as well. But granted that I was a little disappointed with the participation numbers, I need to put things into perspective. The attendance numbers of AX has a profound effect. Calculating in the scaling, AX’s participation in comparison to Tekko should be 4.4 people/day. In the broad spectrum of things, I did better at Tekko than AX. Hopefully these numbers will continue to grow. And hopefully, this will help improve the quality of the model contest.

Game Room Size
– Tekko: Hotel sized conference room/theater
– AX: Hotel sized conference room
– Otakon: Entire exhibition hall
Using the scales Tekko and Otakon are even, AX is absolutely pathetic when it comes to the game room. It’s a problem of focus.

Dealer’s Room
– Tekko: 1/3 size of small exhibition hall
– AX: 2 large exhibition halls
– Otakon: 1 large exhibition hall
The three conventions are fairly balanced in this area. The benefits of going to a larger convention is that there is the bigger pull for exhibitors/dealers. This was a great tool for make the size comparison of the various events.

Artist Alley:
– Tekko: about 1/3 the size of the Tekko Dealer’s room, and placed in a very high traffic zone
– AX: same size, if not smaller than that of Tekko’s AA
– Otakon: 2/3 of a large exhibition hall
This area of the event tells me clearly the focus of the event. Tekko and Otakon are more focused towards the fans and artist. This looks like a result of funding and importance focus. The argument of industry vs amateur/semi-pro/aspiring pro.

Art Show
– Tekko: About the same size as the Tekko Model Competition
– AX: Small corner in a large exhibition hall.
– Otakon: 1/4 the size of a large exhibition hall
I get the same comparison here as I do with the Artist Alley. This is simply a difference in focus.

I heard the argument that some folks at Tekko feel that Otakon is overly corporate. I know these folks have not gone to AX, so their comparisons are most likely made from comparing small cons like Tekko to the fairly large Otakon. The bigger picture is that AX is far more corporate and industry focused than any other con I have attended. Overall, the there are two types of conventions: fan focused and industry focused. The smaller the con, the more fan focused it tends to be; where as the larger the con tips the scale towards industry focus (the big money draw). There are benefits to both, and I will continue to attend both styles of conventions because they simply offer things only found at Otakon, Tekko, or AX.

The things I enjoy the most at the con have little to do with the fan/industry issues. I enjoy just hanging out with friends that I don’t get to see often. I do enjoy seeing more people dressed up in creative cosplay. The problems I see with participation in the model competition is purely the lack of focus and lack of advertisement of such events. In conversations with AX staff that run the model competition; I have often heard the following in one form or another: “The Modeling Competition is not a very big money making event.” For Tekko and Otakon, I believe the model competition section is given a budget, and then are left to their own devices to promote the event and create trophies and prizes. I don’t believe that Tekko or Otakon feel the need for the event to “earn revenue”.

All in all, I had fun; and look forward to AX and Otakon later on this year.