Quote sjbonnar:
Honestly, the more I've gone to Expo, the more I've disliked it. I think that the guys there have done is great, but the fact that there's no upper limit to the amount of people means that there are often far larger crowds than I enjoy, and this also means that costumes get broken.
The wings I wore as Abel are a good example, I've worn them before and had no issues, wore them to expo, the copper tubing inside them has snapped from all of the people pushing me around.
People are also far ruder I've found, shoving past someone is one thing, but not apologising is far worse in my opinion.
I've been going to Expos since 2005 and have made some fantastic friends from going, but these days I generally have more fun in the hotel than I do inside the actual event.
The cosplay side of things is run well and the people that run it are fantastic, but the rest of it doesn't really appeal to me any more. Once you start going to other conventions where you can watch animé, sing karaoke, play games etc. in proper comfort or where you can sit in the middle of the convention with friends all around you and RELAX...that's what it's all about for me.
And expo...just doesn't have that anymore. You're hard pressed to find somewhere to sit inside the entirety of the ExCel centre these days.
Thats the prob with it being a collectors fair and not a convention (people often confuse Expo as being a convention). There is never going to be an upper number limit on peeps. Which is great for the dealers, traders and companies and of course the Expo itself but not so good for peeps who don't like crowds.
Not that crowed events can be all bad. Sometimes I find that there is always something happening and you get to see lots of different outfits.
Personally I prefer conventions due to the smaller numbers as I persoanlly hate crowds. I agree that I do find people ruder at Expos. The first time I wore Sephiroth at Amecon '08. People asked me for hugs. At Oct Expo '08 people just tackled hugs with no permission. One guy even did it from behind. Not only is this rude but it is also classed as assult. The idoit was lucky that I didn't smack him in the face. Or had him arrested.
I agree that the costume side of things is very well organised and I love seeing the costumes.
I only really go to socialise. I was luckly that last Oct they had guests that I actually wanted to see. But more often than not there is no one of interest to me.
If it wasn't for the fact that I go to see friends who I don't get to see normally because I live too far away I probarly wouldn't go. I do find the hotel costs too much and would rather go to a con.
Next year might be the last one for Expos for me. I'll have to see. It all depends on how easierly I get to see peeps. Or I might reduce to just one a year.
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