How often do you get the chance to sit down with an anime convention’s chairman and chief of staff, in private, and talk about how their convention runs and why they do it? Not often, especially for a network of our stature. That’s why the opportunity given to Nerd Caliber representatives at Animaine was so special. On Sunday, Sept 2nd, Shauna Leva and Kelley Griffin of Nerd Caliber joined Chairman Colin Harvie and Cheif of Staff Chris Perry in a private hallway far removed from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the convention, save for the occasional walkie-talkie crackle.
We found out that Harvie and Perry are long time friends who have always kind of wanted to start their own convention; one year they just went for it! You will hear in the video interview below that just getting the venue was a challenge. In planning large events there always seems to be a few things out of ones control, such as a staff change at the venue and the resulting loss of reservations. Other than this initial bump, it sounded like the creation of Animaine went off quite smoothly. It is the first convention in the area to be organized in under a years time!
Animaine got a little bit of starting advice from other conventions in New England because a lot of its staff works for other conventions as well. Chief of staff Perry is also a staff member for Portcon, Maine’s other premiere anime convention. Animaine is also friendly with Bakuretsucon, of Vermont. Because of Animaine’s small size, it can serve as a testing ground for new ideas to avant-garde for large scale testing. This year, they were testing the integration of an alcohol service into convention facilities. A service that I myself did not have the pleasure of testing first-hand.
Besides the testing of new ideas, Animaine also does guest relations a little different. Where other conventions may have a tight-lipped and stead-fast itinerary planned for every guest, Animaine gives its guests a chance to do what they want to do: literally dropping them off in the city or at a local attraction for a few hours during the weekend, and letting them roam on their own. It was nice not having special guests barricaded behind red-tape and security: it made them seem like real people who you could just go up to and (humbly) have a conversation with.
When a convention pops out of nearly thin air, one must ask, who pays for all this? Animaine is financed by Anime Defense Project, which is a non-profit organization hell-bent on stopping piracy and theft in the anime and gaming industry. As producer of the convention, Animaine then spreads Anime Defense Project’s message through it’s panels, guests, vendors, and subliminal messaging that litters its swag and program booklet. You can find out more about Anime Defense, and their mission, by visiting their website at Animedefense.com This producer, like the convention it sponsors, is still growing. The convention is currently non-profit, but as the chairman put it, “this isn’t about the money;” Animaine wants to be a convention to spread awareness of the declining state of the industry as a result of rampant theft. For these guys, running a convention isn’t about turning a profit, its about fighting to save an industry they love.
After our wonderfully candid interview, Nerd Caliber reps were taken to convention staff headquarters where we met the other lovely men and woman (only one woman was present at the time though I’m sure there were more on staff) that made this event possible. Animaine 2012 had thirty registered staff members, some of which work other conventions in the area at different times of the year. The staff was welcoming, efficient, and professional in all my encounters, and they welcomed us into their “lair,” of sorts, with open arms. We learned that the secret to keeping a happy staff is pizza; Cheif of Staff Perry is quoted saying, “this convention runs on pizza,” as he pointed out the dozens of empty pie boxes lining the walls. No one seemed to be complaining. The staff seemed well fed, somewhat rested, and all amicable towards one another.
Though still a small convention, Animaine grew in attendance by 22% in the last year. Their next convention is set for November 8th through the 10th of 2013, again at the Best Western Merry Manor Inn of South Portland Maine. If you’d like to learn more about what this convention has to offer, please visit their website at Animaine.com
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