Dolls and Conventions

^^ I'm now quite experienced in this category. I took a trip to London and Ireland, and my friend and I took our dolls. I had 2 SDs-- 1 girl, who gave me almost no trouble, because she's a Thaasa and I can curl her into little tiny shapes, and a boy, who was REALLY heavy after a while and non-curlable. xP If you just want to take pictures of the sights, it's best not to have a doll with you, or at least to have one small/flexible enough that you can quickly stuff them in a bag when photo ops arise. Also, airplanes: you'll eventually get tired of carrying a doll and a suitcase. xD
As for conventions, I've always had two with me. One of the dolls I bought whilst in California, and the other I just took with me to AX. I only ended up carring 1 in my arms; the other stayed in the bag. Then at Otakon I brought only one girl, and that was my SD. And this year at Katsucon, I brought two; my boy and a girl. I only carried the girl; the boy stayed in the room. That's only because I missed meetups, though.
This year I plan on bringing the MSD that matters most to me. ^^ My incoming Bluefairy Olive. However, I will probably also take my Yo-SD Kanon, since she's so tiny anyway, and since I just love her.

 

I'm slowly getting to the point where I don't think I'd be able to bring all of my dolls. I got away with it at MFF last November due to having one doll. Got away with it at Acen this past May with three. Will they all come next year? Probably not. With four home now and more than likely 3-6 on the way home in the next year I won't be able to bring all of them with me. Not when it means leaving the dolls in the room unattended where any hotel staff can walk in and take one (yeah I know it sounds crazy but I'm not trusting anyone with them). Choosing a couple to bring is fine, but like others have said it's too much at conventions. Especially when I cosplay as I tend to do the bigger cosplays and I go to a ton of panels and then the dealer rooms....yeah got to start acting like a better owner and stop being so careless with them.

 

Okay, so I'm about to have to fly on a plane with my boys. I have a DOI... I have NO idea what to carry him in. Does anyone in the US have any exprience taking their LARGE doll onto the plane? What do you pack him in? How do you make sure they are okay?

 

Try the 'travel' thread-there's a lot of information there.

Edit: Found it! http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197

 

omg thank you.. I was looking for that kinda thread!!

 

I know this is an old thread, but the leash idea reminded me of a plan I have if I ever attend another con. I discovered bjds at Dragoncon this year and Jado will go with me if I ever attend another. She'll be wearing a dollie harness under her clothes and she'll ride on my messenger bag, safely secured to the strap. I've read cool melt hot glue can be used to affix wigs and some clothing, then peeled off. I'll probably stick everything on, perhaps stitch-tack a tab into any loose clothing and glue that to her.

That's not necessarily true. One of my favorite spectacles at Dragoncon this year came from investigating bloodcurdling screams outside a dealer room. Several aliens were taking bows and a bunch of soldiers were strewn about on the floor.

Collateral damage must be avoided, of course

 

your doll should be fine a con, many people will ask to hold it or take pics of it tho.....I know I did everytime I saw a doll and had a break....

 

I brought one of my dolls to Otakon two out of the three days this year and it went really well for the most part. I carried him in my arms for most of the day, but I brought along a bag to carry him in when I was in the Dealer's Room so I could have both hands free to shop with and not have to worry about him. Almost everyone that asked about him was really nice and friendly. My doll is based on the main character from Gravitation, and we even got his picture with a Shuichi cosplayer!

The only problem I had with bringing him was when my sister and I were in line for a panel. Since it was still about a half hour away everyone in line was sitting on the ground, so we sat down and I stood my doll right in front of me. Some people walking behind us in the hall suddenly started play fighting and some guy jumped back to get out of the way and stepped right on me with his huge heavy boots. I had a big bruise on my lower back after that, and even though it hurt, I was relieved that he had stepped on me instead of my doll, who was right there. I think having my doll broken within the first few hours of the first day of the convention would have really put a damper on the weekend.

But all in all it was fun and I want to bring him again to the next one.

 

I'm glad that people have brought there dolls to cons. If I hadn't seen them at ACEN for years, I wouldn't be here on the forum, with (almost) two dolls to my name. Me, I honestly can't wait to carry my doll(s) around ACEN with me in 09 and go to the programs with a doll to sit on the table for people to admire. I'll have my eye on her like a hawk, but i can't wait!

 

Bringing dolls to conventions is fantastic! i love the reaction of people due to 2 things:

1. AWWW How cute is she / he

2. How much was he / she

* Jaw Drop *

 

I had the opportunity to take my girl to San Diego Comic Con this year and I really didn't have a big problem with people getting too grabby at her or anything. I sometimes kept her in my bag but I generally carried her and despite the huge crowds, no one bumped into me or hurt her in any way

 

Did the guy apologise for hurting you, or did they carry on like nothing was amiss? I got thwacked in the leg by a bat'leth once and the Klingon was so immersed in character that he pushed straight past me...and I've had more drinks spilt on me than I care to remember at conventions For these reasons I'd be so uncomfortable bringing a doll.

Gwen is too precious to me, if I brought her and something bad happened the other person would be a smear of blood on the wall. My tinies are too tiny, anyone could swipe them. Thia is probably too big and heavy for a full weekend and I'd be nervous about leaving her in a hotel room with maids coming and going in the morning. So that leaves Zee...and he's a demon, so anyone who harmed him wouldn't last very long

I get very claustrophobic in crowds, to the point of panic attacks and blackouts and blind hitting out, so if some fantwit raced towards me flailing their arms and shrieking I think I'd hit them before I even realised what they were after. I'm very personal-space centric, plus I can't stand the 'squee patrol' at conventions Hearts and flowers are nice, but keep them over there.

 

No, he didn't apologize. When I looked back after it had happened, he was already walking away. My sister didn't think he even realized that he had done anything, but I don't know how he couldn't have. All I know is that if he had stepped on my doll, he would have heard about it. I don't know what I would have said, but I wouldn't have just let him walk away without me saying something to him. I mean, I understand that it was an accident, but I would have at least wanted him to apologize or at least know that he needed to pay more attention to his surroundings or something.

But I really didn't have any problems with carrying my doll around, and that was just a 'what if' type of moment more than anything. I'm sorry about the things that have happened to you - I can't believe that people have spilled drinks on you! If that happened to me I definitely wouldn't bring a doll with me again.

 

I'm taking my doll to a smallish comic convention today, and I'm a little leery- at Kakkoi-Con he was pretty much a hit (he was dressed as the Joker, SO many pictures taken for that one crappy little cosplay...) but this will be my first entirely comics centric con visit and I'm afraid some snobby fanboy will knock him out of my arms >_<

EDIT: Let's just say, um, oops? Totally not my fault, but the con seems to be next weekend @_@ So I'll have a day there and a day at the doll meet, it's all good. Instead I got to lug my boy along to my sister's college campus and watched Hitchhiker's Guide, while her friend taking Abnormal Psychology classes was preoccupied with his tattoos and his stunt head. All good, I guess.
If anybody gets that Iplehouse Akando or that Super Hero body by them, I dare them to dress him up as Captain America

 

I did it for the first time last weekend so I know how worry you must be!
I was really scared but no one said mean things xD At AWA,There were a few BJDs people in the artist alley and they were really nice and polite and only said good things about my doll
Just make sure you put your doll down and forget you left him/her there, that was my fear but my friend and I had taps on Caesar so I felt good
Don't be afraid,as long as you're not forcefully thrusting your doll in people's faces,you're good. xD have fun at Fanime!

 

In my experience, anyone who wanted to see my dolls asked first. If they held them, they were really good with him as well (though most were doll owners already, so I suppose they know what they're doing. xD)

 

Calic came to Chibicon with me last weekend, and it was fine! I did take my rucksack with his doll pillow inside it, and his face protector, so that when necessary he could go in there. However, I only did that during the end party as I didn't want him to get trodden on during the dancing.
Basically, I kept him with me at all times, apart from when we went to dance on stage. At that point, I left him with my friend's doll and our bags, guarded by a cosplayer we trusted. Some people were very interested, most often people who wanted their own doll and were interested in how much money we'd had to spend to get our dolls then the wigs, eyes, outfits etc they were wearing. It was really nice to talk to these people, and I offered most of them to hold him as everyone I met there was so lovely (please don't be offended if I didn't offer him to you and we talked and you're reading this, it was nothing personal!! I just didn't ask everyone in the moment). Some of them declined and others accepted.
Whatever you do, mind out for dolls during dancing. Our dolls sat on Mongoose's bag while we danced to Dissident Genro. One guy was walking backwards and was getting mightily close to the dolls - we stopped him, I can't remember how I think we said exucse me and put out our hands - and he was so upset to think he might have stepped on them! It seems obvious, but we thought they'd be safe on the bags, and they weren't so safe.
Just always know where your doll is, and make sure that's a safe place. It's really fun carrying them around and talking to people about them!
Three little points:
x Take a bag because dollies can cause serious arm-ache and although I carried my doll though town, this led to interesting reactions not everyone enjoys....
x Fluorescent lighting can cause yellowing I've heard so if this worries you, check with the venue as to its lights!
x Finally, take lots of money, because your doll will make you buy things for them...!

 

In my experience, dolls are treated wonderfully at anime conventions, but, like any other public place, there will be lots of people, lots of traffic and lots of noise. You will be distracted with sights and sounds and things to buy so always have a firm hand on everything you are carrying, including your wallet. The larger the convention, as well as the more people you know, the more likely you are to be buzzing from group to group and activity to activity. Always have a nice padded place that you can stick your sweetie away in when you're just having too much fun to hold him or her. Make sure it isn't anything flimsy, or when you're knocked into by a distracted con-goer you might be shocked by the nasty crunch. Maybe even bring along some zip-top baggies for his or her expensive wig or special clothing. Don't forget to keep track of those shoes as dollies don't ever seem to like keeping them on when you're most busy~

Whatever you do: don't take your doll to the rave or the dances! Tables are limited, water and soda is spilt everywhere, coats are thrown, and people like to jump. I would even recommend not having them out past dusk. Around that time, people are tired and clumsy and cranky and just aren't willing to pay attention. Have someone knock the doll from your hands and your angry scream probably won't get too kind a response.

I have found the best day to bring about dollies is ticket pick-up day. Everyone is pumped to be there and your little baby gets lots of attention. No one is overly-tired so you get kind compliments and people are more wary of your children. People also don't have make-up, wig gel, and paint on their hands.

It is also wise to only bring one doll per day, especially if you cosplay. It's hard enough to watch your costume's train and, as a seasoned cosplayer, I'm speaking from experience. XD

 

Maybe his boots were just so thick he couldn't feel that he stepped on you? I still can't believe it though. People can be so rude and self-occupied...especially people with pint glasses in their hands. It doesn't help that I'm only 4'11'' tall, so most people tower over me, especially in their Klingon boots A lot of people don't even know I'm there until after they've spilled their drink on me or stood on me and I've yelled at them. Accidents happen, but when people don't take responsibility for their actions I get annoyed. A simple apology costs you nothing and saves you from being killed in your sleep

It doesn't seem like it's dampened your enthusiasm though, which is cool! I'm trying to screw up the courage to go to a convention with one of my dolls, especially since I want to meet more dolly people and the quickest way to break the ice is to band together with the people who have similar interests

 

I bought my doll from a vendor at Anime Evolution in Vancouver, BC. xD Featherfall was there with a whole table of them, and the whole half hour or so that I was there choosing my doll and his clothes and every thing, no one just ran up and grabbed any of the dolls. xD There were a few girls that came to the table, gawked and asked how much before frowning and walking away, but no one was really disrespectful.

When I bought him and left the vendor's area, I kept him out of his box until we met a group for a photoshoot, and he was fine the whole day.