Navigating Corporate Interests :: Otaku the World P4
All right, here is the final column on making a difference as an otaku. Sorry about the lateness, life decided to hit me with lots to do, as well as taking away my internet for a week.
Navigating Corporate Interests
Communicating with companies comes with its own set of headaches. Unlike conventions, it's not quite as easy to get involved yourself, though future career plans can come out of a desire to bring a change to the industry. Most of the time, the way to enact change is to write a lot of letters, gather together people who feel the same way, and simply make a polite pest of yourself. There's a fine line between being effective and being obnoxious, and you'll have to do your best to walk it.
The first place to start is with a good plan of what you want to accomplish. I've been having some good PM discussions with a member of theOtaku about bringing anime movies to local movie theaters, so let's use that as an example. The problem is that the local/small town theaters aren't getting movies like Howl's Moving Castle, even though they're being distributed to some bigger theaters. So first step is to contact the local theaters and express an interest in them putting on a viewing of the movie, even if it's only a limited engagement of a week or a night. Since this is a local issue, it's probably more effective to go to the theater and talk to the manager than to write a letter. It's much harder to say no to or ignore a person face to face than with a letter.
From talking with a manager or owner, we can then decide where the problem lies. Is the movie theater owned by a corporation or is it completely local? How do they get their movies? Most movie theaters are owned by a larger corporation, even if they may not appear to be. When this is the case, just talking to the manager isn't going to be enough. The local manager may very well not be getting the choice to show the movies to begin with. That's why you need to start writing to the company in charge and ask for them to give your local theater or area the choice to view these movies. This step will take patience, and the more people you can get involved, the better. Remember that your local anime clubs and conventions can be a great way to meet like-minded people. You can even meet others who might have done a similar campaign in their hometown. The internet likewise serves as a place to meet others and find out how they've changed things. Since many companies are national, you might find someone else who dealt with the same company in a different part of the country.
The above example also holds true for most contact with a store, TV channel, etc. Many of the places you interact with in your daily life are owned by a larger corporation or have their distribution determined by someone else. Still, the local people do have some say, and making your opinion known to them is crucial, because they're interacting with the parent companies as well.
As soon as you make a difference, get that anime viewing at the local theater or convince the cable company to carry a new channel, make sure you throw your own promotion efforts into it as well. Tell all your friends, all the local high schools and colleges, and make sure that everyone who might be interested shows up. The more money you can make for that company, the more interested they will be in bringing more of the same kind of thing into the area.
By Bee
Starting a revolution can involve a lot of time on the phone.
Promote Your Interests Throughout Your Daily Life
Finally, you never know when your interests are going to make a difference. Not only do you want to get the corporations to take note, but you also want to let those around you know there's something cool they're missing out on. The more vocal you are about your interests, the more likely you are to give other people something new to try or to find out that the cheerleader in the corner is also totally addicted to Shojo Beat. Allies are always helpful in getting your point across.
On a smaller scale, you might not even be that interested in changing what the corporations do or what events your local anime convention hosts. Instead, you might just want manga recognized as a literary form at your school. I've always been very vocal about my interests in anime and shifted many a school project towards an anime focus. I've had teachers who thought anime and manga were the lowest forms of media, down there with soap operas, and others who appreciated a different cultural look on pop culture. Experiment and try to bring your interests out where you can in life. It's useful to not only change the opinions of big corporations, but to also change how the rest of America sees anime. The more mainstream it gets (I know, some people want to see it stay a sub-culture geek thing… but…), the more companies are going to give us options in our viewing and merchandise. In Japan, manga and anime are such broad terms that it's like saying "I like TV, I like books," and the more mainstream it gets over here, the more new companies are going to give us choices in what we see. Even with all the fansubbers and scanlators out there, we only see a fraction of the choices.
Hopefully over the last month's articles I've helped you learn a bit about the current industry, how to go about affecting change within conventions and corporations, and how to give effective criticism. I know everyone won't agree about fansubs or the correct method for becoming involved, but that's because there are no easy answers. My goal is to open your eyes to the other side, give my readers a starting point for their own journeys.
Next time I plan to talk about cosplay. Feel free to ask questions now or as next month goes on, and I will try to cover those questions. As always, archives of my columns are up on the Otaku Survival Guide website.
This is the last column for now on changing the world, otaku style. Sorry it was so long in coming, but life kind of hit my with a couple of conventions, way too much homework, no internet, and well, general life stuff. Enjoy!
Navigating Corporate Interests
Communicating with companies comes with its own set of headaches. Unlike conventions, it's not quite as easy to get involved yourself, though future career plans can come out of a desire to bring a change to the industry. Most of the time, the way to enact change is to write a lot of letters, gather together people who feel the same way, and simply make a polite pest of yourself. There's a fine line between being effective and being obnoxious, and you'll have to do your best to walk it.
The first place to start is with a good plan of what you want to accomplish. I've been having some good PM discussions with a member of theOtaku about bringing anime movies to local movie theaters, so let's use that as an example. The problem is that the local/small town theaters aren't getting movies like Howl's Moving Castle, even though they're being distributed to some bigger theaters. So first step is to contact the local theaters and express an interest in them putting on a viewing of the movie, even if it's only a limited engagement of a week or a night. Since this is a local issue, it's probably more effective to go to the theater and talk to the manager than to write a letter. It's much harder to say no to or ignore a person face to face than with a letter.
From talking with a manager or owner, we can then decide where the problem lies. Is the movie theater owned by a corporation or is it completely local? How do they get their movies? Most movie theaters are owned by a larger corporation, even if they may not appear to be. When this is the case, just talking to the manager isn't going to be enough. The local manager may very well not be getting the choice to show the movies to begin with. That's why you need to start writing to the company in charge and ask for them to give your local theater or area the choice to view these movies. This step will take patience, and the more people you can get involved, the better. Remember that your local anime clubs and conventions can be a great way to meet like-minded people. You can even meet others who might have done a similar campaign in their hometown. The internet likewise serves as a place to meet others and find out how they've changed things. Since many companies are national, you might find someone else who dealt with the same company in a different part of the country.
The above example also holds true for most contact with a store, TV channel, etc. Many of the places you interact with in your daily life are owned by a larger corporation or have their distribution determined by someone else. Still, the local people do have some say, and making your opinion known to them is crucial, because they're interacting with the parent companies as well.
As soon as you make a difference, get that anime viewing at the local theater or convince the cable company to carry a new channel, make sure you throw your own promotion efforts into it as well. Tell all your friends, all the local high schools and colleges, and make sure that everyone who might be interested shows up. The more money you can make for that company, the more interested they will be in bringing more of the same kind of thing into the area.
By Bee
Starting a revolution can involve a lot of time on the phone.
Promote Your Interests Throughout Your Daily Life
Finally, you never know when your interests are going to make a difference. Not only do you want to get the corporations to take note, but you also want to let those around you know there's something cool they're missing out on. The more vocal you are about your interests, the more likely you are to give other people something new to try or to find out that the cheerleader in the corner is also totally addicted to Shojo Beat. Allies are always helpful in getting your point across.
On a smaller scale, you might not even be that interested in changing what the corporations do or what events your local anime convention hosts. Instead, you might just want manga recognized as a literary form at your school. I've always been very vocal about my interests in anime and shifted many a school project towards an anime focus. I've had teachers who thought anime and manga were the lowest forms of media, down there with soap operas, and others who appreciated a different cultural look on pop culture. Experiment and try to bring your interests out where you can in life. It's useful to not only change the opinions of big corporations, but to also change how the rest of America sees anime. The more mainstream it gets (I know, some people want to see it stay a sub-culture geek thing… but…), the more companies are going to give us options in our viewing and merchandise. In Japan, manga and anime are such broad terms that it's like saying "I like TV, I like books," and the more mainstream it gets over here, the more new companies are going to give us choices in what we see. Even with all the fansubbers and scanlators out there, we only see a fraction of the choices.
Hopefully over the last month's articles I've helped you learn a bit about the current industry, how to go about affecting change within conventions and corporations, and how to give effective criticism. I know everyone won't agree about fansubs or the correct method for becoming involved, but that's because there are no easy answers. My goal is to open your eyes to the other side, give my readers a starting point for their own journeys.
Next I plan to talk about cosplay. Feel free to ask questions now or as next month goes on, and I will try to cover those questions. As always, archives of my columns are up on my website .
One of the most underrated skills online, in my opinion, is that of giving effective feedback. Critique vs. criticism, feedback vs. "you suck." Anyone who's ever put their creative works and heart and soul out there on the internet or in real life probably has a few stories about bad experiences with a less than helpful reviewer. So this week I'm going to focus on feedback. Now, I'm talking about it in the sense of giving conventions and corporations feedback about the products and events that you like or that you think can be improved. Still, these pointers apply to artists, writers, or co-workers, and remember, when you talk to conventions and corporations, there are real people on the other end who are getting your feedback.
Giving Effective Feedback
Feedback can be a very effective tool, when given in a coherent and comprehensive manner. Sometimes by being the first one to speak up, you can encourage others with the same opinions to speak up as well. Many conventions host wrap-up panels at the convention itself as well as posting a comments thread on their message board. Use these venues to let the convention know what you thought. Just make sure what you're telling them is productive and useful. Also, scan through the previous comments to see what others have said; someone may have touched on the subject already. Which isn't to say you shouldn't add your opinion, but by building off of their comment, you encourage that person to keep posting as well as unify the fact that multiple people were upset. We'll talk a little more about what's useful to complain about and what will be ignored later on when we talk more about conventions.
By Bee
For example, critiquing like that will may cause the person to never try again. At the very least, it will most likely make them so angry they don't want to consider anything you say, even if you might have some valid points.
Likewise, this can work for companies , as many host message boards or post their e-mail address. There's some argument among letter writers about whether it's more effective to send an e-mail or a letter. An e-mail can promote a dialogue between you and the representative as well as be a quicker read, but it runs the risk of being overlooked or not taken seriously. A letter these days can be seen as overly formal to some, but it does give you the appearance of being more serious about the matter, since it takes more energy to write out a letter, print, and mail it than to simply send off an e-mail. Either format can be effective, though if you've got an actual petition I personally think a hardcopy with signatures looks more formal and imposing that just an e-mailed list. Also, don't overlook the value of a phone call in some cases.
When dealing with corporations, you will most likely have to write many letters and make phone calls when you can. The first step will be tracking down the chain of command and figuring out who actually has the power to make the changes you want. If your trying to get more anime into your local theater or more manga into the bookstore, you may very well find out that their order decisions are limited by those above them. Still, making your concerns known to the local people is a good step, as you might find that some of them are sympathetic to your cause and willing to join in your fight. For example, most of the bookstores I've been to that had excellent and well-stocked manga selections had those because there was a staff member who liked manga. It works for any genre or product, that if there is a staff member that appreciates it, they will make sure the section is the best it can be. Even the staff at your local Barnes and Noble does have a limited amount of control over what goes on to their shelves. It's far more limited than that of someone at an independent store, but they do have some power.
One thing you should always remember when giving feedback is to start with something positive. There must be something you like about the event/company, or else you wouldn't be bothering to try to improve them. Saying something like "I admire the quality of anime programming that you are bringing to movie theaters across the country and would like to see more titles offered to my local theaters." Is a much better way to start out than just saying "Why aren't we getting any anime in my small town?" By starting on a positive note, you immediately let them know that they are doing things that you really like, and therefore it makes them more receptive to your criticism. People tend to get defensive if they just hear a complaint and are much more likely to disregard your comments as just you not understanding their vision or intent.
I hope you enjoyed this week's discussion and that it will be useful in your daily life, as we all end up in situations where giving feedback is necessary and useful. Next week I'll be covering how conventions are run for the fans and hopefully giving you a bit of insight into the workings of your local convention. Feel free to leave questions here.
In response to Fasteriskhead’s essay "Anime Companies and Otaku - Another Look"...
Read the full post »
Conventions *are* run by the fans
Anime conventions started out of a combination of fans getting together to watch fansubs and anime related panels at science fiction conventions. They have always been fan run and continue along that path. Sure, some of the big conventions have to answer to sponsors and need a lot of rules and by-laws to keep the peace when they have 20K+ attendees, but most of your local conventions continue to be fan run. Even the big conventions do not pay their staff, convention chairs, or board members (to the best of my knowledge), with the possible exception of a stipend to cover gas, hotel, or food.
So, what this means to you, the average attendee, is that there is a lot you can do to affect how conventions are run. First off, most panels are run by fans who know something and want to teach others, so if you think there is a topic that is lacking, then next year volunteer to lead that panel. Leading a panel usually requires no more commitment than volunteering (or filling out a panel request) to show up at the correct time and have something to say.
The other more direct ways to affect a conventions, besides leaving feedback on websites and with staff, is to participate at the convention as a staff member or volunteer. Most conventions are set up with a hierarchy that runs along the lines of: Convention Chair -> Department Heads -> Staff Members -> Volunteers. All of these people are crucial to making the weekend enjoyable and run smoothly. Now, volunteers often only participate during the actual weekend (though local ones may be asked to help stuff bags, assemble name tags, etc. before the convention) and they are the ones checking badges, handing out water bottles, etc. They are the grunt labor that frees up staff members to take care of bigger problems and to make sure that everything else is running smoothly. Most conventions allow you to sign up as a volunteer on-site without a prior commitment. If you have a few hours to kill, it’s a great way to do some good and meet new people.
Art by Nightambre
Volunteers for everything from badge checking to guest wrangling are needed to make sure a convention runs smoothly.
Staff members have a higher level of commitment usually. They tend to work most of the weekend and are in charge of individual areas or tasks, often working under a department head. Working as staff will get you a lot more exposure to the inner workings of an anime convention, as well as allow you to network. Typically, staff need to attend meetings occasionally (every few months to once a month) in the city that the convention will be held. Still, if you want to work as staff and know you can’t make most of the meetings, you can talk to the department head that you want to work for and see what can be worked out. Some jobs don’t require a lot of prep ahead of the convention, but need lots of knowledgeable helping hands at the event itself.
Age is always a concern with these kinds of things, and you’ll have to check with the convention itself for their policies. Some allow volunteers as young as 13, whereas others don’t let you until you are 18. Staff ages vary as well, and some conventions don’t mind kids volunteering with their parents. If you can’t volunteer yet, just remember, it’s not because they think you’re too immature or don’t want you to volunteer, it’s almost always an issue of liability risks.
How does being staff/volunteer help change the way a convention is run? Because it’s the staff and volunteers who are running it. If you’ve gone to the same convention for a few years, you might notice a major difference between two years in how an event is run. Each department head that comes in depends on their staff to help them make decision and give them feedback on what works. Staff are needed before the event to generate ideas and strategies to help it run smoothly. Just being a volunteer or staff member also puts you in touch with the people who make the upper level decisions and they depend on you to be their eyes and ears at the event. The head of cosplay may be stuck in the back room making sure that everyone lines up correctly, therefore they might never see for themselves that people in the back row couldn’t hear or see very well with this year’s set up.
So remember, conventions are run to give anime fans a fun place to hang out, learn, and meet guests at. But, it does cost them a lot of money. It can cost just 10K alone for the hotel, 20K for a convention center, money that quickly adds up. As I said before, the people running these conventions are not making money any profit for themselves, they are running it because they are fans too. Keep in mind the costs when making a suggestion to a convention. Very few can afford to bring over Japanese guests, so don’t be surprised when they ignore your request for that. On the other hand, you might be able to suggest some great low cost event that they can run or help them find a way to ask a more unusual guest to attend. The more details you can give with your request, the more plausible it becomes for them to fulfill it.
I’m also going to address a few common complaints now: space, noise, and food. These three things are most often the biggest problem (or at least most noticeable) at a convention. Unfortunately, due to extremely complicated contracts, they’re also issues that the staff has the least control over. Every space being used costs the convention money, and there’s no perfect set up plan. It seems like no matter how hard the convention tries, there is always something wrong with the placement of events. Maybe the video rooms have crummy soundproofing or the artists alley is off in an undisclosed location, and if you point these things out to staff members, you may get grumbled responses or excuses on how it’s not their fault. Chances are, by the end of the convention they’re very tired of hearing this complaint. A good convention staffer probably figured out the problem half an hour after opening ceremony, but there just wasn’t anything they could do.
Food is another issue that gets hotly debated with the hosting location. Most contracts prevent the convention from selling refreshments, and any food will be provided through the hotel/convention center. So food is going to vastly depend on the location. I’ve seen some conventions work out great buffets and others where the best they could do is the give attendees maps to local restaurants. You might think conventions have great bargaining tools, but they don’t. Most cities only have one or two venues that can support an anime convention (due to the number of smaller rooms a convention needs available for a multitude of programming), and hotels don’t really care about hosting conventions. A hotel would much rather have a wedding on Saturday and Sunday than a convention, because a wedding involves catering, which is where the hotel makes a good portion of their money.
And one last note: The way to change your local conventions is *not* to start your own. Most of the country is oversaturated with conventions and starting your own is not the answer in most cases. If you do study the situation and still think that your convention is the answer, then you need to staff at at least five different conventions, preferably one for multiple years and then a few different ones, so that you get a full taste of what it entails to run a convention. I’ve helped start one that is going into its fourth year now, and the two years that I staffed/ran/lived it consisted of a lot of conversations with the two other people in charge that went along the lines of “I slept 5 hours last week.” “Okay, you won, I got seven hours.” Trust me, it takes a lot of money, time, energy, and sanity to start your own.
If you are looking for a local anime event, try having some kind of one day festival. If you have an active anime club, that is the perfect place to get volunteers. This is also a great way to make local businesses aware of the anime related interests in town. If you're still considering starting up a local convention, a one day event can also help you test local interest and build up some starting capital. Thats how my convention got started and thats how we kept out of the red.
