energy vampires at Anime LA 

“I’m not invited, I just show up” needs to be a Swell shirt or sticker or something 😂

Driving was 100% the reason I bet!!! I cannot IMAGINE driving an hour, doing the con, then going home for FOUR DAYS IN A ROW.

Energy vampires, did you see a bald man in tan suit around named Colin Robinson?

Every time you said ALA my brain went “wait you went to the American Library Association conference?” Perils of being a librarian lol

Convention artist insight/ramble here: I make plushies (also can confirm you make excellent background noise for working 😂), and do several conventions a year as an artist. And that post is so real. I still have invoices from conventions sitting in my email from years ago (because I have a problem and never clean my mailbox 😂), and the same exact conventions now charge 2-3x the price they did pre-2021. The size of the convention used to play a huge factor in price, but these days most tables are 300+ unless the con is super small, and one of the most annoying parts of pricing these days is the fact that some cons don't even include badge costs in the table cost and make artists purchase badges separately. It used to be common for tables to come with two badges rolled into the cost. So we're paying more for tables now, but actually getting less with the initial price than we used to.

You're right. The ribbon thing is genius and would totally hook me. And it's obviously a great way for artist and booths to engage with people, at least superficially, and have attendees basically tour the entire venue.

"Love Live is a food anime, apparently there is also singing" oh Amanda no 😂

as an idol enjoyer the concept of love live being a food anime made me laugh thank you (it's one of the biggest idol franchises)

This convention is 100% a cosplay event. We go to meet up with cosplay friends and take photos.

Satan designed the parking situation in the entire city of Long Beach. I live about a mile from the convention center and got rid of my car because it wasn’t worth the hassle of parking.

I took a quick peek in Google Maps and compared the Long Beach Convention Center against the Los Angeles Convention Center. One of the things that sticks out is that the LACC is just a block away from the major LRT lines, surrounded by multiple bus stops, is situated along a major thoroughfare, _and_ is right up next to the street. Once you are there, you are _there_ In contrast, the LBCC, despite technically having all those things too, is situated pretty deep into its own complex, is very big - almost enough to be _two_ convention centers, has parking lots the size OF the LACC; basically, going into it _traps_ you for the day unless you make the hike back out of the complex.

4 days sounds genuinely exhausting. I probably could barely do 2 days let alone double that.

9:23 I believe that whale mural was painted by the artist Wyland! He painted huge whale murals on buildings all over the world, from 1981-2008, to help bring awareness to their need for conservation. Super cool guy, amazing artist with an inspiring story to tell. He's my favorite contemporary artist. He'd also invite local kids to paint a mini mural with him at the places he'd travel to. I got to see one in person, it's fun seeing all the kids rainbow artwork over the realistic backdrop he'd paint for them. He had a Bob Ross-like painting show, and he uses interesting techniques to achieve the underwater look in his art.

Amanda is the convention cryptid x

Oh hey! Thank you for stopping by to chat with me and picking up the "Not Now Kitten" ribbon 😂 definitely was a highlight of my ALA. Hope you recovered your energy!

I've participated as a designer in the Fashion show at ALA for a couple different years, and a fashion/costume designer in real life, I've done, produced, been a part of, etc. tons of different shows. The Fashion show at ALA is the best produced show I've ever been a part of, including Paris fashion week and definitely including NY fashion week. The woman running these shows is an amazing industry professional, fashion industry shows could learn a lot from her. Also a lot of the featured designers are really impressive, and we and the models were all treated super well backstage, and had a ton of workspace. I wasn't there this year, but I hope to be again in the future.

Not me crocheting a top while watching Amanda. She knows us too well

I can’t believe you were ALA!!! Missed connection :’) Most anime cons are moving towards a 4 day model, this kinda started around 2019? Then there is dragoncon thats literally 5 days long, which is insane. The panels this year were extremely lacking, and I agree the guide was horrible. Last year I feel there was better organization.

Since you missed the Maid Cafe - Asayoru Maid Cafe has a physical location. They used to be in Arcadia but looks like they are looking for a new venue.

never apologize for wearing a mask, people are still out here acting like covid is gone and it's so upsetting. great video as always, keep up the shenanigans 💖 edit: oh my god getting interviewed while eating is like, worst nightmare material. and going to a Danganronpa themed thing with no context would have been ridiculously confusing, bless you

Fun History, ALA has only been held at the Long Beach Convention Center since 2022. For years before that it was at Ontario Convention Center. Prior to that it was for years at the Airport Marriott in Los Angeles. The convention outgrew the Marriott, it really became too small of a venue. As for Ontario, I heard the contract just got cancelled post pandemic. I've not had a chance to go since the move to Long Beach. Thank you for doing this! I have gone most years since 2009. If I had been there and ran into you, I definitely would have given you a ribbon! Next year, I hope. YES, the event is EXHAUSTING! In all the best ways. Even if I have cosplayed, I always made sure to take it super easy on Sundays and just lightly roam around, attend the volunteer dinner then get some good sleep before the long drive home. It's a mix of not just all the sights and sounds; it's the ribbon game, the cosplay meet ups, that there is actually so much to do between panels, events, food trucks, cafe's, karaoke, comedy shows, exhibitions and many other "inside" activities like finding specific people and doing on the spot trivia for tickets that you can exchange at the "rewards center," not to mention it acts like a big ol' family reunion. There is something magic about Anime Los Angeles. Thanks for the nostalgia. Really hoping to go next year. PS: if you do want to go next year, get a press pass. It really doesn't get you much else except for a quiet room that has decent internet so you can chill for a moment and upload things. Just in case you are worried about favoritism: you're already a favorite and pretty much everyone who goes there is treated special. PPS: the swap meet is where it is at.

I've been going to ALA for years and it is one of my favorite conventions. I will say, at it's core, it's heart, it is definitively a PARTYCON. It's a convention where the main point is to meet people who have the same niche anime interests and that's what has driven the INSANE ribbon culture that they have. Ribbons are a straightforward advertisement for who people are about, a little like a wearable tinder friendship profile, plus it's a literal gift, gifts makes friends. This is a con where you HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO SOCIALIZE (This is also why there's a strong alcohol presence). There's so many little things going on and talking to people gets you into fantastic parties. I don't know if you went out at night but a main staple of socal anime conventions is the "concon", for this year and location it was fountaincon, it's the main unofficial social gathering and it's always a large and interesting crowd. In the professional sense it's not a safe thing but something important to note about the culture of this convention. Hope to see you at Fanime!

As a Long Beach native, so nice to have visitors agree that nothing ever really makes sense out here. Convention center is convenient with all the motels and hotels directly across the street and around the immediate area. Can’t explain why they make things seem like you’re not allowed in, I think that’s an issue all over town no one wants you around

Swell putting her acting skills to use for that interview 😂

Love Live fan here. High school girls, usually 9 total, make an idol club and make their own songs/dance performances to compete in a national competition. There are several seasons with their own girls/schools/reason why they want to be idols. The food was there because the show is visually appealing and part slice of life. I’ve cosplayed Rin before, she’s from season 1 and a comfort character to me. If you’ve heard a song, it’s probably Snow Halation since it’s been memed to heck and back.

The way my friends were at ALA that weekend while I was up north at SacAnime, only to find out I could've met Amanda if I just flew down to LA 🫠. Also as a Love Live fan, watching her awkwardly stand in front of their booth while an Aqours song is blasting in the background was not a crossover I ever expected to happen lmao

I love ribbon collecting at cons! Dragoncon's ribbon culture keeps growing, and the ribbon swaps and ribbon beard contest have become a must for me there. I've seen someone working on a dress of ribbons. (I'd love to see you go to Dragoncon one year, but it can be A LOT. It's so much fun but a lot. The drinking/party culture is big at that one too, but i don't go as hard on that aspect as i used to.)

Me literally working on my art with this playing in the background, while she's talking about artists having her videos on for background noise. 😶‍🌫️

A lot of artists who attend this con love the ribbon culture exactly for the reasons you said, it helps push sales and brings people to their booths. Smart, to be honest.

Ahh I designed that Monster High ribbon!! My friends run the ribbon department/station at ALA so they printed a bunch to add to the ribbon station. Also, I've been going to 4 day anime conventions since 2004. For me, each 4 day con here in cali (ALA, Fanimecon, AX), are places where you reunite with friends that you meet either online or at the con. Its often the only times we get to see friends irl so the 4 days give time to hangout, wear cosplays together, etc. Nightlife (aka partying with friends) is also a big thing so i cant imagine doing to a 4day con without staying there. Also, if you wear 1 cosplay a day, then 4 days means only 4 costumes, so less days would mean less costumes :( lol. In my younger days I'd wear 2 or more cosplays a day but i cant do that as often anymore hahaha.

I tend to spend the most money the first day I'm at conventions because I'm always afraid I'll miss out on some cool stuff.

Love Live has been like my favorite franchise since it started, so seeing Aqours in this video was a huge jumpscare! in a good way though lmao

It was nice to say hi to you in passing and seeing you eating popcorn while passing was totally like how I thought I would ever have met you lol... but yea i totally agree with you on the energy exhausting thing - its the setup of the con and all that weird walking to places that kills me lol - next con you should try with the same vibe and format is fanime!

girl you're so good at making me care about things i have no business caring about 😭😭😭

the "anime cons always have alcohol available but nobody's ever wasted" thing is funny to me purely because of Colossal Con East. I don't know about normal Colossal Con but i presume it's similar cause it's also a Kalahari resort, but CCE is *so* funny on sunday mornings. cause the waterpark has a swim-up bar with GIANT drinks so everybody is just totally plastered by like saturday, and then sunday is when everybody is checking out of the resort and they're all hungover and so everyone is just zombies and the con feels so empty. there was literally zero line for Voice Actor meet & greets before noon. it was fascinating. excellent con for people-watching. admittedly i mostly attend anime cons so the fact that they have drinks moreso than other cons is something i don't often notice but it's a very funny observation.

When you started talking about Ribbons it got me so excited for Dragon Con b/c that is a major fun part of the 5 days of that convention! They have a whole order of the ribbon and will have full panels for ribbon swaps and its so fun.

Swell, as a cosplayer, most of us at conventions are on the devils lettuce and/or alch because most of the time cosplays are so taxing on the body and walking around trying to keep a good appearance up is… difficult sober 😂

"I spotted Amanda and it was Swell" that should be your ribbon lol

Still putting in my vote for DragonCon! They're a huge ribbon-con as well. Last year I had a long train. I always go to conventions knowing I'm going to spend, which is how I feel comfortable supporting artists even as prices increase. I don't go to them too often throughout the year so they 're easy to plan and justify.

swell swell swell swell swell swell swell swell SWELL!

ALA has always been more of a local/party convention. For the first several years, it was in hotels because it was pretty small. It then moved to the Ontario Convention Center where it stayed for several years and became bigger until they outgrew the location (although there is suspicion that a car getting set on fire in one of the hotel parking lots contributed to them leaving the location). Unfortunately, Long Beach isn't very conducive to a party atmosphere since there's only one hotel in close proximity to the con center. I know a lot of people were mad about the move away from Ontario.

You should look into Dragoncon's ribbon culture! It's insane at that con, there's a competition at the end of the con to see who had the most and they unroll them off a balcony. People make jackets and dresses and whatnot out of ribbons, it's insane!

As a metal fan and anime fan, I think drinking behavior with anime fans at cons is pretty similar to the more moderate/older festival crowd. You'll arrive, get a drink and start to hang out with friends while doing things you enjoy. It's not about getting hammered, drinking pace usually is relatively slow and while having a slight buzz most people don't get completely drunk. Usually at a metal festival you'll find a lot of people drunk out of their minds too so thats very different since it's accepted. I've seen a few very drunk people at anime conventions, but they'll usually either leave on their own or their friends coax them to go home/to the hotel if their behavior becomes an issue.

It makes sense to me that if the ticket prices are reasonable, more people will attend and they'll feel like they have more money to spend inside. Vendors are happy and willing/able to spend more for their booth which offsets the price for the tickets. That's a win-win as long as all the pieces fall into place.

The best Anime Con I have EVER been to was NekoCon in the Hampton area of Virginia. Last time I went was 2014, but it's left an impact for sure. Highly recommend checking it out. It's a decently big con, tons to do, lots of free classes and panels. Had a huge rave, just was so freaking cool.

Is this the really the first time you've encountered ribbon culture? It isn't as big on the east coast where I live, but I know at sci-fi conventions on the west coast, it's been around for ages. I have ribbons from when I went to Gallifrey One in LA (at the Marriott near LAX) back in 2012 and 2013, and that was my first time encountering them. but the people I met said they'd been doing ribbons at least seven or eight years before that. Ribbons are so much fun! Sometimes they're as easy to get as bumping into someone or complimenting a costume, and other times there are scavenger hunts to try and find the ribbon-givers. Regardless, I'm glad you enjoyed your experience with the ribbons! I still have mine from back 10-ish years ago. One person I saw at Gally had a whole skirt made of ribbons! By now, I bet they have a ball gown!

*nods nervously* Very good…..very good

I used to vend, and prior to that, attended about a dozen conventions a year, and drank heavily at them - for me, that was the whole point of going, to meet up with friends (or make money) and spend the weekend binge drinking. That was over a decade ago, so I can't speak to how conventions are now, but there's a not small percentage of con goers that go just to drink/smoke. I remember for one convention, we brought 4 of those big Igloo coolers full of alcohol to host a room party.

Their parking does suck and their food options nearby are amazing

Thank you for wearing your mask on camera. 😷🖤 masks are chill and help everyone. I love to wear my pink kn95💗

ALA is 100% about the community. Year after year you build these ALA specific friendships to reignite again and again come January. The biggest draw to the con comes out at night as there's parties outside at the fountains, in the lobbies, and in every room! Also note on pricing - ALA is volunteers from top to bottom. The goal is to run a great con for this community and not make a profit 😇

Colin Robinson has entered the chat

I feel called out as I was busy looking at pinterest while listening to this video like a podcast...

YOU WERE AT ALA??? No way I missed you 😭 That said, 4 days for ALA is the perfect length for me. Most major anime cons are doing the 4-day model. It's helpful for folks like me who do a lot of events because if you're signed up for certain events, you don't get much time to do other things like shop AA, people watch, trade ribbons, etc. Most of that time for me is reserved for Thursday and Sunday since Friday and Saturday is so busy. Edit: Yeah, ALA is a party con AND very cosplay heavy. Most folks aren't out during the day (morning and early afternoon) and if they are, they're realistically probably hungover and tired. Also re: Ribbons, the chairs/sofas near the North Entrance at night turn into a huge ribbon trading and task earning area. That's where I got the majority of my ribbons; ALA at night is definitely more lively than during the day. Last note (lol): I hope you get to check out the Masquerade next year! It is the crown event of ALA and (although I may be biased) the best run cosplay competition. The level and quality is seriously up there. Other events like the Fashion Show, AMV Contest, and Ball are also some of the best events ALA has to offer, which all happen Thurs-Sat evening. With so many amazing main events (not to mention Cosplay Deviants, CWF, Next Top Idol), it makes sense why the schedule is the way it is and why ALA needs to be spread out across 4 days.

pleeeeeaaaase go to the next horror convention Dead Meat is at I LOVE them and that would be such a fun crossover! in fact, Chelsea Rebecca (one of their amazing founders) is one of the Dangonronpa VAs! I recognized her instantly!

Personally, I like ALA. It is my favorite mid sized convention.

Awe, you didn't pass our booth XD I could've given you our yaoi ribbon. LOL!

Amanda validating Artist makes me so happy! When someone is a smart and genuine consumer it helps the community and future artist alley.

You should go to Dragon*Con. It’s wild. Wednesday to Monday. Entirely fan / volunteer run. No corporate stuff. All in hotels, no convention center (there is a vendor expo hall). Everything has hour+ lines. Madness but fun. The hotels are connected with sky bridges and tunnels full of cosplayers. One of the main hotels is the TVA from Loki.

I love that "there were a lot of Astarion's running around." This makes my BG3 fanfirl heart happy

Oh gosh to me ALA is the American Library Association and, actually, you would love their conferences! Great for professional development, but even without that part, the conference hall is just advanced reader copies as far as the eye can see (and I think the ticket that gives you access to just that part is $40-60? Been a while since I’ve gone)

a lot of people think 4 days is too much, but my friends and i were sad we only went 3 days lol. maybe its cause you guys go to cons all the time and this is the only one i really get to go to, idk. i like going all 4 days. i feel like you mightve enjoyed it more if you went to more of the big events (or had the energy to). you missed out on masquerade, the fashion show, cosplay deviants, the hentai gameshow, amv/idol contests, cosplay wrestling, there's so much to do besides the exhibit hall and panels.

Nice video and some solid critique. As someone who works this one, not management mind you, for a number of years ALA was a 3 day con and the attendees themselves begged to make it a 4 day con long enough that the extra day got added.

My theory for the reason why people were spending so much money at the alley was the cheaper price of tickets. I would see that if you spend less money on a ticket you could be more willing to spend it somewhere else, especially for art.

Planning to go to a gaming convention this spring. Will be wearing a mask to avoid getting sick

I've been to Anime LA several times. They used to be in Ontario, CA., but I believe they both outgrew that convention center, and there was some bad things going on with a stalker incident in 2019 which resulted in some destroyed cars and traumatized con goers.

If you wanna see tolerance at a four day convention, MAGfest in Maryland just happened. I get there on the Wednesday night and people are drinking for four or five days straight. It can make or break people.

The word danganronpa just activated me like a sleeper agent lmao

yes!!!! a ribbon that says “i spotted swell” would be so awesome!!!!

Thank you for preaching the unnecessary need for the 4 day cons. Ugh. 4 days is INSANE! Yuck. Large convention centers are so brutal. The gross lighting, dystopian truss systems, concrete floors. Doing cons is a grind enough.... throw in these convention centers, it's a battle! Great vid!

I have no idea about Love Live but the fact that you were on Japanese TV talking about scallops has me screaming with laughter omfg

have you heard of Colossalcon? Its an anime con at a waterpark hotel that goes from wednesday to sunday in July.

I WAS ALSO INTERVIEWED!! I was in full body paint and it was so embarrassing 😭😭 i noticed the person interviewing you didnt need a translator, day 1 our interviewer only spoke japanes so i wonder if they had different people different days

"I'm not invited. I just show up." You're a journalist! And a good one by my estimation. Hope your critical eye wanders far.

I just placed an order for ribbons for my next con booth. Thank you!

take care of yourself and get some rest!!! my partner and i would love to see your review of Anthrocon, it's another furry con but bigger with more events and basically takes over the city of pittsburgh. weve been dreaming of going and a professional review would be so sick :3 only if you want and can of course!

19:33 my local big anime con has been known as the “Party Con” where everybody is drinking as soon as they get to the hotel and having parties outside of con events. my dad does volunteer stuff and he had to help a very inebriated cosplayer one time, and one time in an elevator i was with two other people, a late 20’s woman and a maybe mid 30’s guy, the guy offered to me and the woman to have shots back in his hotel room. unsurprisingly, we both declined jfksjfjs the board for the con is doing their best to move away from the intense party stuff because there have been issues in recent years about it. this has prepared me for drinking/partying at other conventions tho!

We had a sort of stamp system at EGX last year here in the UK. In the app there was a page where you went around scanning QR codes around the place. I wonder if the stamp/ribbon culture in american cons is where that came from. It was a nightmare though lmao. Tiktok hid theirs so you had to actually interact with them to get it, the app was not well designed so 99% of the icons where monotone until you found it and scanned it, except for mario's which was coloured from the start so I got stuck on that and before I finished asking the information desk "I scanned all the codes, but the final prize isn't popping up, can you help me?" they instantly went "you've not scanned the mario one" lmao.

Giving out an "I met Swell" ribbon is exactly on-brand for a midwest SciFi convention (at least DemiCon and Icon). In fact, before it was easy to order custom ribbons we used stickers -- like small animal stickers a kindergarten teacher might get, put right on on the badge. Ribbons/stickers were usually for just setting foot in a room party but spread to anything interesting so people could say "where did you get that one?". The con organizers might make some, like for Masquerade judges or Volunteers, but otherwise someone involved in an event, or jello shots or whatever, would get ribbons themselves. Giving them for buying from a vendor would be considered gauche, but I guess if attendees are cool with it... .

Independent small-time artist here and I can attest Vending-At-Con prices are outrageous. 😭😭😭 I'd absolutely love to apply and vend more conventions but right now it's not in the cards because yes, it's not just the Tabling fee but also potentially badges, as well as travel, shelter, meals, not to mention the cost of producing items! I sadly am finding even smaller less known conventions are charging artists an arm and a leg. 😭 I do like to attend cons as a patreon tho.

im so sorry to say that assuming a dangan ronpa mock trial meant an actual mock trial is a very deeply funny mistake

ALA is one of my favorite anime cons ever, even after going to anime cons since 2013. besides the security they hire being massive dickheads, everyone I know really likes it too 😭 Our secret to beating the horrible parking though is parking in the MASSIVE empty parking lot behind the center. It costs $15 a day, but two of the days the security people there just let us park for free.

Love live spin-off where they're just eating food and singing about food

A lot of "popular" and "big" cons are moving towards this 4 day model. Katsucon (next month in DC btw) is technically a three day but a lot of people show up on Thursday if not Wednesday at this point. Weebs want to spend as much time as possible being weebs lol and cons started to expand their dates for that now.

I love that it’s four days long, but driving there drains your energy a LOT.

The mock trial sounds so fun

I’m an ALA con goer and I actually got to meet you this year! We were both in artist alley when I recognized you. I usually stay all 4 days and get a hotel. This year was my 4th year attending the con and I’m sad you didn’t get to experience the two most hype events ALA has to offer; the deviant cosplay for 18 years and up and the masquerade. The deviant cosplay event is so fun! Stripping & cosplay plus theatrics is always a good time. The masquerade is for performances and show pieces and open to all ages. Definitely next time if you attend I would love to hear your opinion on those events because I think they are show stoppers and the selling points of ALA.

Ive only been to Ala one day when they used to be in the ontario convention center and it was fun overall. Though everytime I hear about ALA, people always describe it as the ‘ribbon con’ and a ‘party con’

When you say “you don’t want him at boarding!” the captions read “you don’t want him abo*ting!” The way I CACKLED.

I know it's across the country for ya, but Dragoncon in atlanta is fun and itd be so cool to see you cover! The Loyal Order of the Ribbon has blown up enough that we got a whole room dedicated to ribbon trading and collecting last year!

Been binging your videos for a week or so and I finally subscribed today. That's one more sub toward the waifu car.

I really love how you say "viewers" instead of "fans", it feels more respectful and not like you're putting yourself on a pedestal.

Anime LA is an anime con designed and run by people who come out of old school science fiction fandom. The ribbon game, the con suite, and the party scene are all typical in science fiction cons but quite rare in anime fandom. I really need to visit some day.

Ribbons have been a HUGE deal at DragonCon for many years. There are contests now on who can amass the longest ribbon beard during con. I think the winner last year had one that was well over 3 stories long. I would collect hundreds in past yrs, but lately I am getting more picky and only collecting ones I recognize

Aw sad to not get to see you at our table! The ribbon game is fun. Our table didn't have a purchase min, rather we made weebs answer trivia questions...to algebra equations. Nothing anime related at all. We enjoyed their shocked faces and throwing them off LOL!!

anime conventions for me are more the time i spend with friends and hitting the artist ally; a bonus if they organise partys in the evenings alcon in leicester was the best since they had all that

Seeing Monster High pop up 30 seconds into a Swell video was an unexpected delight

7:23 HEY LOOK, THAT'S ME AND MY ZELDA FRIEND DEAD CENTER IN THE FRAME

As a vendor, I felt as if 4 days was fine, considering how busy all 4 days were. However I wish they ended con hours at least an hour early (Thurs-Sat 10am-7pm and Sun 10am-5pm). If it ended earlier, then us vendors would have enough time to get dinner outside the con and get some rest before the next day 😅

Every time you said ALA I just kept thinking the American Library Association. They have a conference too, so I got super excited for book content.