Well, my main reason for going to Kumoricon was to learn more about stuff that I like via pannel discussions, q&a with industry celebrities (eg Tiffany Grant, etc.), buy stuff, and see and photograph all the cosplay stuff. I found the latter to be really enjoyable eye candy, although I felt that there was an implied lecherousness involved in photographing attractive women in costume. This seemed somewhat awkward, especially given the average age at the con. Squick!
As a 27-year old who has been going to cons since 2000, I have a standing tradition: for each con, I try to focus on something new. I may spend most of that particular year doing the same thing, but I'll try something new the next time. Among the things I've focused on:
- Watching non-stop anime (during my first year where having ACCESS to so much was something new)
- Room parties
- Running an event (karaoke)
- Vocal performance on the big stage
- Gaming
- Panel-hopping
- Costuming
- Karaoke performance
The last four I do every year, but each had its day in my personal spotlight of interest, to the exclusion of everything else (or nearly everything else). I think it's a good way of handling the huge variety of events to choose from at a convention.
This way, I learn to enjoy variation, and it also makes it easier to prioritize and decide what NOT to try to attend each year.
I'd like to have met some people, but, as I said before, most of the attendees appeared to be children. None the less, I have no real complaints, as watching anime, is by nature a solitary activity, like reading a novel.
I'd actually disagree with the part about it being a "solitary activity." Well, conditionally disagree. I do watch anime alone on occasion. But I
really got into anime at the university, when we had a weekly club. I have a bunch of high school buds. However, I met most of my recent local friends either through university anime club, or through the convention (and since the aforementioned anime club
founded Kumori Con, there is plenty of overlap).
Anyway, suffice to say, I love watching anime with friends.
Alone? Not as fun. I prefer to play video games when I'm alone with a TV screen.
I really thought the purpose of a con was for fans to meet the artists, like at comicon. Were anime cons like that once, and subsequently morphed into something else?
There are plenty of people who would like to meet the artists and industry. However, in anime there is a bit of a practicality problem there. Getting American voice talents and industry reps is pretty easy. But most fans want to get the Japanese talents over here.
Obviously, this is difficult. It requires much more expensive accomodations, and Japanese guests usually get the star treatment... not just because they might well deserve it, but also because they sometimes need a lot of motivation to go so far away from home. Also, we've got the language barrier. Not many Japanese are fluent enough in English to work without a translator. This is doable, but it limits how many people can interact with each individual Japanese guest.
All of these things combined with the fact that higher expense means fewer Japanese guests means that more fans are fighting for the attention of a handful of Japanese guests. Personally, I've all but given up on trying to get autographs and ask questions... partially because it's not a huge priority for me (I like to enjoy the fruits of their labor rather than engage in idol-worship), and partially because I want to give others (who want it more) a chance to meet them.
Anyway, that's my somewhat lengthy response, but you sound like a curious soul with a lot of insightful observations in you.
I'm not sure your interests align quite as much, since I am a uncured gaming addict among other things, but keep an eye out: there are definitely people closer to your age at the convention.
The catch is, they're often running things...
