Pros and Cons

I'm Random, and I make shiny things. Against my better judgment I'll be a part of the Artist Alley/Areas/whatever at Katsucon next weekend.

So! Who else will be there?

Katsucon 16
Feb 12-14 2010
National Harbor, MD



I know there's been quite a bit of wank and drama surrounding the AA of Katsucon this year--so if you're worried about the show or not going, let us know why as well!

So far, problems have included:

Allowed materials wank (See: 2D stock can only be 20% fanart; fanworks are completely banned in the crafter area; a hard and uncrossable line between crafters and 2D artists)

The banning of semi-professional artists and small craft businesses

Tax wank

Rude/unresponsive/contradictory con staff

Breach of contract (changing table sizes, locations, and hours after the tables had been paid for)


Personally, I worry . . . but my only other show for this month just got snowed out, and I've gotta pay bills somehow.

Tags: 2010, anime convention, katsucon, katsucon 2010, roll call, unprofessionalism

Over on the Ohayocon forums, Alley co-head Sonnie posted about new table openings for artists. Artists who still wanted tables could apply for these ones in a new, separate application system. This was not announced to the rest of the site and was not offered to waitlisted artists.

Here is the official reasoning for this particular course of action:

Since many months have passed since our first round of applications was accepted, we realize that many situations may have changed for our artists during that time. Those who were declined during the first round may have now made alternative commitments, reorganized their portfolios, and so forth. Therefore, to avoid confusion, and to allow a second chance for those who are still interested, we have made the following decision in an effort to allow for the greatest opportunity and fairness for our artists.

This, though, was the email sent to waitlisted artists back on October 31st:

Ohayocon Artist Alley to Ohayocon

The Artist Alley is full at this time you will be placed on the
waiting list. The waiting list will be in effect until the week
before Ohayocon 2010. If there is no word from us at that time, no
slots have opened up, no one has backed out. There will be NO on-site
waiting list, as the rules state if there are tables open at 12 Noon
on Saturday, they will be sold first come first serve with a portfolio
review on premisses at the Alley check in table. Do not approach the
subject before noon, you will be turned away if you do. There is no
need to reply to this email.

Thank you

Add in the questionable policy from earlier where accepted artists were told to not say if they'd gotten in, how timestamping of applicants proves people who applied first didn't necessarily get in (despite the officially claimed policy of first come first served), and the mess from last year, and this show has sent up any number of red flags. I'm interested in seeing how it goes for people.

Well-known and award-winning fannish artist Ghostfire attended Ohayocon in 2009 and was kicked out of the Artist's Alley for see-through/not-see-through outfits on prints and "bootleg" chibis she designed herself--despite how the same artwork passed a jurying process to even be allowed in the show. She shares her story of the experience here.


Anyone else who was there or has had experience with Ohayocon 2009, feel free to add on in the comments.