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Converting and introducing people to dolls

Dec 11, 2004

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    1. Took Keiji for an outing yesterday. We went to the fabric store for some supplies. One of the girls who work there already knew about Keiji, because I mentioned waiting for him when I bought fabric while he was still in the mail. I showed my baby to her yesterday and she absolutely loved him!

      Then, while I was waiting for some more fabric to be cut, the woman in line in front of me asked about Keiji and I told her about him. She mentioned she was a doll collector, and asked if I had any info about the maker and all that.

      Sooooo, I wrote down the URLs for the Volks and Luts sites, and Den of Angels, and directed her to read the FAQ and poke around. She seemed very excited.

      The rest of the day, a lot of people commented on him and asked about him. It was very fun to share him with so many people. Keiji just sat silently in my arms and blushed at the attention.
       
      #1 FlightOfSwords, Dec 11, 2004
    2. XD Oh, believe me, I understand!

      My friends were questioning me about my interest in the ABJD, so I showed the Gigglegeek's BJD database.

      At first, they were skeptical -- then, they saw Shirou Tachibana and Isao. And they fell madly in love! XD So I ended up giving them a bunch of URLS.

      Converting friends, even without a doll in my possesion... the influence of the dolls... rawr... they shall soon own the world in their tiny little hands...!
       
      #2 Mandiiv, Dec 11, 2004
    3. Question... why do you want to "convert the masses"? Is it to show off your doll? To make BJDs another "world wide phenominon" (like anime)? Just for the hell of it? I'm just curious is all.... I've always thought that hobbies should be a personal thing. Yes, I'm sure people like to let others know about their hobby, but still... *shrugs*
       
      #3 Candied Kisses, Dec 11, 2004
    4. i agree many peopel will see one buy it cause they can affor dteh price. decide they don't like it and then sell it.

      I inform people as ai Go along but I sure tell them about allthe cons as well and about all the money spent investing in one. these may be a hobby, but their a big hobby.

      i tell them about price, about what if a part breaks, about restringing, fixing joints, S hooks. repainting eyes, hair. sanding.

      and to the 'omg i wnat one caus eit's pretty' people. after I say all that they've been turned off.

      I got Rotten Lullbay into dolls here. and after I did it with her,she was stillinterested and is getting her own boy soon ^_^

      weed out the bad seeds bring in teh good ones. just don't tell them about the pros.teh cons are important too
       
      #4 Kai Nimura, Dec 11, 2004
    5. XD I don't think the point of this topic was to 'Convert the Masses.' I think FlightOfSwords was just relating a cute story. He/she didn't set out to convert people =P people just BECAME interested, so it was more being cute than serious when he/she said 'Converting the masses'
       
      #5 Mandiiv, Dec 11, 2004
    6. I dont know, I REALLY dont like to admit what I've spent purchasing Maya, her wigs, her accessories, etc. I still tell people that my friend Lindsay bought the bed for me. It's an expensive habbit and I dont exactly have the income to go about bragging.
       
      #6 sedatedtoi, Dec 11, 2004
    7. who said it was bragging.?

      When people aks teh price. I'm nto going to lie. my mum bought ammon for me ut i am svaing every last dollar I have to buy Kami the DoD Hoo I wnat for him. and most likely I'll save to buy Link as well.

      I'll give out URLs. but I'm not going to sit back and tell themall teh good stuff and none of teh finicial things. these dolls ARE expensive. they are not an easy hobby. But a hobby I find myself able to save my money for.
       
      #7 Kai Nimura, Dec 11, 2004
    8. Why does it matter if they buy it, don't like it, and sell it? Who's to tell them how they spend their money? If they want to do that, it's their buisness. It's not like they're having a child with feelings and emotions, they're buying a plastic doll.
       
      #8 scarlet_hands, Dec 11, 2004
    9. I agree with Scarlet_hands. And even if they sell it, the doll is most likely being purchased by someone who does want it and will appreciate it. It's not like they're going to buy it, hate it, and throw it in the dumpster ^^;;
       
      #9 Mandiiv, Dec 11, 2004
    10. Because... Wouldn't it be awesome to be able to carry your doll around and have people say, "Oh, I've heard of these! How pretty; did you customize it yourself?" instead of, "WTF is that thing?"
       
      #10 Bella, Dec 11, 2004
    11. Actually, something simmilar happined to me yesterday too - I went to JoAnn fabrics and the ladies there who are always asking what I'm buying the fabric for and keep telling me to bring my doll in so they can see it were sorta like "oh, she's pretty..." *they seemed a bit on the conservative side and didn't like that Masuimi had purple hair.*
      But then I stopped into Hancock Fabrics which is just down the sreet and the woman there was SO interested in her it was a little overwhelming! She really seemed to understand that she was an investment after I told her the price, but really loved her anyway. I gave her info on volks and eluts and DoA, and she said her niece would LOVE to find out about BJDs too and was going to send her the info. She was very nice ^_^

      All in all, it was a good day, even if most people didn't get why I carry my doll around (I do it all the time now anyway, so I'm getting used to it but it's really nice when you get someone so genuinely interested ^_^)
       
      #11 Zevchan, Dec 11, 2004
    12. I guess it's kind of like having a drug habit. Tell about it and the prices to those that are predisposed or addicted, and it'll encourage them. Tell about it to non-doll/drug people, and they'll be disgusted. xD
       
      #12 gloombox, Dec 11, 2004
    13. I think like any hobby it's very nice when someone suprises you and shows an legit interest in it ^_^
      It's like a persons artwork, every artist appreciates an interest in their art, even the most outwardly humble love attention paid to something they love.
      It's like wearing an outfit you're very proud of, or part of the reason people cosplay.
      The attention paid to the hobby while hobbies tend to be personal, can be very rewarding, and from my experience, while peoples wallets may not thank you; the person will if they end up really enjoying BJDs.
      I have personal experience with this ^_^
       
      #13 lunarwhirlwind, Dec 11, 2004
    14. Amen to that! *laugh*

      It's a very beautiful thing to own, I find my boy a great creative outlet and enjoy the sense of acomplishment when I make something new for him. I enjoy taking photos and seeing photos... so if I know someone who thinks creatively the same way as I do, and thinks the dolls are pretty, of course I want to influence them to "take the plunge". ^__^
       
      #14 zoi_no_miko, Dec 11, 2004
    15. Didn't mean to cause a conflict...

      In response to several comments made:

      There seems to be some idea that there was an ulterior motive behind using the title "Converting the masses". I really only used it because I thought it was cute and it was a general way of describing my day.

      And lunarwhirlwind is right. While hobbies are a personal thing, being able to share them with others is what makes them fun. Think not just of BJD cons, but of sci-fi cons, anime cons, Star Wars cons (to be more specific). They are gatherings of large groups of people, celebrating and sharing their personal hobbies. And if we don't share with others, we may not add more to our group, and we may not meet new people and make new friends (not to mention missing out on opportunities to meet new dolls and see great new customizations and pics).

      As for weeding out the bad people... that seems a bit ridiculous. It isn't our personal responsibility to govern who is and isn't in the BJD community. I started as one of those that "thought the dollies looked pretty". And since I liked them so much, I researched and lurked and scrimped and saved (and eventually begged Mum for the money) for my doll. And truthfully, I hadn't even planned on getting different wigs, doing sueding or restringing, making elaborate clothes and many other "advanced BJD practices" (so to speak). Not even to the point when I had ordered Keiji. But the second he arrived, it all flew out the window. Like a parent who's reluctant at first to have a child and worry about paying for college, giving "the sex talk", peer pressure, blah blah blah. They too are reluctant until they have that child, look into his eyes, and realize they love that new life more than anything else in the world. Are we not parents to our dolls? Who is to say who would or wouldn't make a good BJD mommy or daddy?

      In regards to letting others know about the cons of BJD ownership, I did do that. I told the woman who was very interested how much I spent on my doll, how much she could expect to spend on others of his size, others of smaller size, this brand compared to that brand, extremes in pricing, etc. etc. but didn't list that in my original post for the sake of brevity.

      Scalet_hands, althought I used the analogy of a parent and child, which rather contradicts what you said, I do agree with you. These are just dolls. Though we may come to love our dolls like children, others don't have that attitude coming in, and it really is up to them to decide if they want to plunge all the way in, or just get a doll, "decide they don't like it and then sell it". The world won't end if we told the wrong person about BJDs. There isn't a shortage. The dolls aren't being rationed out. And on the bright side, if someone does decide they no longer want their dolls, we can all descend like vultures and claim the clothes, doll, wigs, etc., at hopefully a lower price. Who doesn't like a bargain?

      Sorry if I got on a soapbox for a moment there...

      And just for y'all's information, I am a girl.
       
      #15 FlightOfSwords, Dec 11, 2004
    16. I don't see anything wrong with responding to people who express an interest in your doll. Answer their questions, and give them some URL info if they want it. What else would you do??? Scream, "MINE!!!" and run the other way??? It's not hurting a thing to pass along information about the dolls...it's not some secret society. If someone is not interested in the dolls, then fine. Don't chat them up about it. As for FlightofSwords using the title "Converting the Masses" I thought it was a cute way to title this thread...I'm sure it wasn't meant literally...like she goes out and stands on the street corner preaching about BJDs!!! Maybe we should all lighten up a tad bit.


      Az
       
      #16 Az, Dec 11, 2004
    17. I know how it is! Everytime I go out with Choco that I get her some people ask about her... she just get mad when people start getting out her clothes to see the perfection of her body ¬¬
      and... as I'm the mother I get more angery than her XD
      Lots of people love my baby. i don't like showing her out... People are scary.
      But my mother loves to show her... everytime somone comes here mommy tells about her and get her and shows her works at outfits too... this is great 'cause I love seeing mommy liking my lovely angel but.......
      as I said, I'm a lil bit scared of people >.<... They are so.... I don't know... might hurt her... might say bad things... and I love her too much to see it ^^
      Lots of friends of mine wants one but don't know how get money....
      So... I think it is normal. Some people react bad at her price and blame me, but most of people know she is special.
      Ah! I forgot! Most of time I do the same, give the websites, etc, tell where to find...but some people just want to look...
       
      #17 CacauBR, Dec 11, 2004
    18. I think you're all lucky :) I tend to get the "WTF is THAT" comment more than the other ones. So I don't generally tell people about them or take my dolls out.
       
      #18 Hush, Dec 11, 2004
    19. Wow, I can relate. X_x I took Sebastian to Sugoicon, and I got stopped practically every ten minutes to answer questions about him. I had one lady ranting about how she was going to buy one for her daughter - and this was AFTER she asked about the price. Man. I wish I had a mom like that. XD

      But, as for converting the masses - I probably take the blame for getting a ton of my friends into BJDs, but pruely on accident. I have two or three friends with dolls on the way, just because they loved Bastian so much, not because I tried to encourage them.
       
      #19 Obscurity, Dec 11, 2004
    20. My friends all think I'm nuts. :oops: I showed some of them Zen on the Dream of Doll website, scrolling past the price, but someone caught it.
      "$250 on a doll?!" is the most common reaction around here. That and, "that's one gay looking boy," seem to be tied, at least.
       
      #20 Meep, Dec 11, 2004
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