Dolls and Conventions

1. No, I am not a cosplayer. However I do wear full blown lolita at convention, and to people that are not familiar with the fashion, they do mistaken me as a cosplayer.

2. I do think convention environments are a sfe place to take my dolls.

3. How to prevent the grabby hands syndrome? Well, since I wear full lolita with Elan on my left arm and my right arm on Elan's lap. I tend to move slower and walk slower, also being aware of surrounding will help.

4. If I am going to an event on my own, I will not let my doll leave my eyesight. Even if I give people permission to touch or hold her, I will keep myself close enough to reach my doll, so in case some crazy people was running and bumping into us I am there to catch Elan. When I do have friends with me, I will only ask the ones I can trust with my doll to hold it when I need both hands. As for the stolen part, like some other owners do, I do "mark" my doll. I taped papers in the strings with content only I will know.

 

1. Are you a cosplayer? If so, does your doll cosplay with you? Have you ever had an overly hyper fan tackle you from behind with a doll, or without?
I do cosplay but I usually have props and camera and want to take photos of everything that bringing a doll is just not always practical. Plus, most of my dolls are too heavy to carry around the whole day. I did cosplay with my doll at Anime Expo a few years ago but soon regretted it. I got annoyed pretty quickly with the weight of the doll and having to keep an eye on her constantly while going through the crowds.

I only bring dolls to the smaller cons now. The bigger cons, like Anime Expo and Comic Con, are just so big and crowded that it can be hard enough to maneuver the large crowds without a doll. At this years Comic Con the halls were so crowded we were constantly bumping into people that I can imagine a doll wig easily getting messed up or falling off and lost in the crowd.

I have never had anyone tackle me, with doll or without. Although I have seen it happen. I also do wear lolita to conventions and lolitas don't usually get tackled at events in Southern California (A lot of cosplayers in my neck of the woods assume lolitas are "snobby") Just be aware of your surroundings, get out of the way, and make sure you have a good hold on your doll at all times.

2. Do you think Convention environments are a safe place to take your dolls?
Yes, they are. They can be crowded so having a way to stash them in a carrier if needed may be a good idea.

3. If you take your dolls, how do you prevent people from ‘grabby hands syndrome’?
I usually keep them in a carrier until I get to a meet. Its so easy to mess up a wig when maneuvering around with a doll, your other stuff, camera, costume, and props. If you are going to carry them, don't leave them out of sight.

4. What safety precautions do you take to assure your doll isn’t harmed/stolen during such an event?
Don't leave the doll unattended. If you are going to be busy with events or doing masquerade it may be a good idea to leave the doll at home or in your hotel room during that part of the con.

 

1. Are you a cosplayer? If so, does your doll cosplay with you? Have you ever had an overly hyper fan tackle you from behind with a doll, or without?

I don't really cosplay, but I usually wear lolita to conventions and my dolls wear lolita or froofy outfits. I've never been "glomped" but the local anime convention has a rule against it. I think it's a pretty inconsiderate practice and I wouldn't be surprised if other conventions have similar rules to protect conventiongoers and their property.

2. Do you think Convention environments are a safe place to take your dolls?

I think it's fine- I haven't had any problems but it's nice to have a carrier or even a tote bag to stash your doll away in when the halls are crowded or it's just too difficult to carry them in your arms.

3. If you take your dolls, how do you prevent people from ‘grabby hands syndrome’?

It's honestly not something I've had a problem with- I've had people ask if they can touch or hold them but never make a grab without asking first. I suppose just holding them in a secure position would help with that as well since it's harder for a stranger to grab the doll and it also gives the visual cue that it's something dear to you.

4. What safety precautions do you take to assure your doll isn’t harmed/stolen during such an event?

Honestly, just hold on to your doll at all times if you can, or put them in a carrier and hang onto that carrier. If you need to put the doll down, make sure it's within your immediate personal area and that you can keep your eye on it, or that you have a trusted friend who can hold your doll for you. It's very hard for a doll to get lost or stolen if it's on your person at all times, whether that's in your arms or in a carrier over your shoulder, and I don't think I've ever heard of a doll being stolen from its owners arms. I wouldn't put my wallet or my phone on a table and take my eyes off of it either.

5. Have you ever witnessed/have had an accident occur at a con with your doll?

No, about the worst thing that's happened at a convention is a doll's hat falling off and needing to be picked up.

6. Do you think bringing dolls to conventions is a good idea?

I think it's fine and can be a way to meet doll owners, make new friends, and get people interested in the hobby. Just be careful and aware like you would with any important or valuable possession. If you think it will be too difficult to bring your doll (too heavy to carry, you'll be wearing a complicated costume, etc) then leave it at home, at least for the busiest/longest days. The less you want to be holding your doll (for example at the end of a long day lugging it around or to when you're taking posed cosplay photos), the more you're going to want to put it down... which makes it easier for someone to take it. Personally if I know I'm not going to be in the mood to lug a doll around (too tired, too busy, just don't feel like the hassle) I'd rather leave them at home. So really you yourself will be the best judge of what you feel like doing and what will make the convention happiest for you. : )

 

1. Are you a cosplayer? If so, does your doll cosplay with you? Have you ever had an overly hyper fan tackle you from behind with a doll, or without?
Kinda, though I don't always do it. If I have the money I would love Miyoubi to do cosplay. No.

2. Do you think Convention environments are a safe place to take your dolls?
Definitely no unless you have bodyguards.

3. If you take your dolls, how do you prevent people from "grabby hands syndrome"?
I look scary enough ^^; But talking usually does it. Though for those w/ uber grabby hands syndrome I use my free hand to cover my dollie.

4. What safety precautions do you take to assure your doll isn�t harmed/stolen during such an event?
If there are too much people then she goes in my mail bag w/c is cushioned. If the crowd is not much, I just hold her tightly and she usually holds me back. Also, I watch her all the time.

5. Have you ever witnessed/have had an accident occur at a con with your doll?
Fortunately no.

6. Do you think bringing dolls to conventions is a good idea?
Somewhat, it's fun and it is one of the few times that we are able to go out of the house. You never know what you might find there or whom you may meet.

 

1. Are you a cosplayer? If so, does your doll cosplay with you? Have you ever had an overly hyper fan tackle you from behind with a doll, or without?
I occasionally cosplay, though not often. I still carry my doll around with me but they don't tend to cosplay too (I can't really afford a costume for both of us so it's one or the other!) No fans have ever tackled me (and with doll or without they're liable to get an elbow to the face if they tried ¬_¬) as I don't cosplay super-popular characters and I make it extremely clear that I do not do glomping
2. Do you think Convention environments are a safe place to take your dolls?
Yes, as long as you keep your doll with you or in a safe place at all times, or leave it with someone you trust. That said, I've been to a couple of cons where I've just left my dolls lying around on a table guarded by a complete stranger (a member of convention staff, though, of course) but since I staff at most of the cons I go to and know most of the other staff pretty well by now I feel I can do this. I would not do it somewhere I didn't know anyone/many people and really I think I'm taking a bit more of a risk than I should be
3. If you take your dolls, how do you prevent people from ‘grabby hands syndrome’?
I find if someone reaches out to grabby-hand my doll a sharp smack to the back of the wrist and a firm "NO" often works 8D I'm only partly joking >.> I consider grabby hands of anything to be one of the worst forms of rudeness (you wouldn't just randomly pick up a complete stranger's phone and start playing with it, or their handbag or their purse now would you?) so generally it's speed over politeness when it comes to my very expensive dolls. If they can't be bothered to take the extra four seconds to ask before grabbing my doll I can't be bothered to take the four seconds to ask them not to touch before batting their hand away. I am very friendly with people interested in my dolls, and have never ever refused to let someone touch or hold them when asked, and usually I actually offer if we're having a conversation, so I don't feel there is any need for 'grabby hands'.
4. What safety precautions do you take to assure your doll isn’t harmed/stolen during such an event?
Keep them in a safe place, on my person or with someone I know. Admittedly I have on occasion left them with a few other random doll owners but thankfully due to the UK being such a small country I usually know or know of at least a couple of them, and generally share friends or friends of friends :3
5. Have you ever witnessed/have had an accident occur at a con with your doll?
Haha, only one caused by myself - restringing my girl for the first time ever her hand fell off! The pin came out and I managed not to panic. The girls running the panel were super-awesome though and helped me fix her as best we could. Other than that I've always found people are extremely careful with their dolls at cons. The worst that has happened to me or anyone I know is either wigs falling off while walking around (usually spotted and returned by random congoers) or dolls being posed falling over and faceplanting the floor (which is a general hazard anyway ) though I know that at other cons (and probably just out of my sight at ones in the UK) there have been some nasty accidents
6. Do you think bringing dolls to conventions is a good idea?
As long as you're careful, yes! It's great fun and a good chance to see other doll owners, and if you like attention then it's all the better (I actually don't, but I love my dolls too much to leave them all at home ) because there's always lots of people wanting to come over and talk to you about them or take pictures :3

 

1. Are you a cosplayer? If so, does your doll cosplay with you? Have you ever had an overly hyper fan tackle you from behind with a doll, or without?
No, no and no.

2. Do you think Convention environments are a safe place to take your dolls?
Yes because they have volunteers watching over the doll table. One con I went to last year had like a ticking system? (Like when you hand in your bag for storage at an art gallery, you need to return the tag to collect it). Usually people just take photos, ask questions and then walk away.

3. If you take your dolls, how do you prevent people from ‘grabby hands syndrome’?
Usually I just leave my dolls at the display table though I've been asked a few times nicely by people if they could look at it more closely (this was when I was carrying my first doll around one year).

4. What safety precautions do you take to assure your doll isn’t harmed/stolen during such an event?
I've actually only been going to anime conventions for like the last few years just for the bjd table ^^'' I don't cosplay or find anime/manga that interesting anymore. So I usually hang around the doll table with my friends.

Though this year I'm volunteer for the doll table at one con I plan to help make signs like "please don't touch" and to ask people nicely to step back if they are too close and might bump the table.

5. Have you ever witnessed/have had an accident occur at a con with your doll?
No.

6. Do you think bringing dolls to conventions is a good idea?
Yes, I find that going to conventions is an easier way to meet up with a bigger group of doll people :3 And I think it's nice to show people about bjds. I went to a con when I was 16 and it was the first time I saw bjds (upclose) which lead me to DOA. So I hope to give other people an interest like this

 

1. Are you a cosplayer? If so, does your doll cosplay with you? Have you ever had an overly hyper fan tackle you from behind with a doll, or without?
I cosplay, and have carried my doll around in costume, sometimes the doll is related to the costume, but not always. Luckily I don't tend to get glomped.
2. Do you think Convention environments are a safe place to take your dolls?
Very. People always seem overly parinoid already on this thread. Obviouslly you don't just leave your doll laying around somewhere. But when at a doll meetup, often we'll have people put their doll down, and then wander off to do something and come back. I go to one convention where the meetup is planned specifically to allow people to come and go.
3. If you take your dolls, how do you prevent people from ‘grabby hands syndrome’?
You tell them no. It's your doll, your property, they have to accept that.
4. What safety precautions do you take to assure your doll isn’t harmed/stolen during such an event?
None. I keep the doll in my sight, or make sure a doll person is watching the doll for me. Most people don't care about your doll, they don't know it's value. Those who do, tend to respect that.
5. Have you ever witnessed/have had an accident occur at a con with your doll?
The number of dolls that have fallen over is rediculous. No matter how many times you tell someone that the table the dolls are on is not stable, they insist on standing their dolls up on it. I usually try to find a nice sturdy table that won't move if knocked into, but that's not always an option.
6. Do you think bringing dolls to conventions is a good idea?
Yes. More people come to conventions so more likely to see new faces (people & dolls) from outside your local community. There is usually always one person who shows up at the meetups that didn't bring their doll(s) and feels left out/sad to miss out on all the fun/socializing.

Is there a risk to bringing your dolls out? Yes... but it's one that's easy to negate. Treat your doll like your purse. You don't just leave it laying around.

 

So much input already! I'm hoping to see someone who's opinion on the other side. c:

 

1. Are you a cosplayer?
Yes and no ? As in I just finished my first (2) cosplay and I'll be wearing them for the first time in 2 weeks > w<

2. Do you think Convention environments are a safe place to take your dolls?
As safe as bringing anything else ;3

3. If you take your dolls, how do you prevent people from &#8216;grabby hands syndrome&#8217;?
I did not get to experience that yet...
Last year (my first Con & BJD) I kept Merry in my hands the whole time and except other BJD owner not a lot of people tried to take him ^^

4. What safety precautions do you take to assure your doll isn&#8217;t harmed/stolen during such an event?
Always keep it with you! Or make sure people you know are watching over it ;3
That is all I can say.... and keep a bag to store it if you get tired *spending 3 days with a SD in your arms is not a good idea*

5. Have you ever witnessed/have had an accident occur at a con with your doll?
Not that I can remember...
Except some pretty weird pictures when you leave them with friends..., nothing bad happens if you are careful ^^

6. Do you think bringing dolls to conventions is a good idea?
Its not a good Idea but I do not feel its a bad one either ;3
Its way~ more fun to stand around doing nothing with a doll in your arms then doing nothing with nothing xD

 

1. Are you a cosplayer? If so, does your doll cosplay with you? Have you ever had an overly hyper fan tackle you from behind with a doll, or without?
I've been cosplaying for a few years now and I've never cosplayed with a doll for a number of reasons...one of them being the tackling/glomping. I tend to cosplay fairly popular bishounens and have gotten tackled or violently hugged enough times to be paranoid about having anything breakable on my person when cosplaying at conventions.

2. Do you think Convention environments are a safe place to take your dolls?
As long as you're aware of your surroundings and sensible about not leaving your doll unattended, yes

3. If you take your dolls, how do you prevent people from &#8216;grabby hands syndrome&#8217;?
I carry my dolls close to my body when not at meet-ups or BJD panels. I only really carry my dolls around when I'm not in costume and I must be tall enough or old enough or threatening enough lol for nobody to have tried snatching my doll from me while I was holding it.

4. What safety precautions do you take to assure your doll isn&#8217;t harmed/stolen during such an event?
Again, just keeping him close to my body generally. If I know the area is going to be crowded, ie if I'm swinging by the dealers room on the way to a meet, I'll sometimes put my doll in his carrying case instead of holding him in my arms.

5. Have you ever witnessed/have had an accident occur at a con with your doll?
With mine? No.

6. Do you think bringing dolls to conventions is a good idea?
Sure! Again, as long as you're sensible and keep in mind that not everyone at conventions is familiar with BJD and, at somes cons, the crowd can be young/physically unaware

 

1. Are you a cosplayer? If so, does your doll cosplay with you? Have you ever had an overly hyper fan tackle you from behind with a doll, or without?

I have cosplayed on and off, mostly to be apart of someone elses larger cosplay. Normally i resign myself to being the pack mule XD which is okay. I've only been at a Convention with a doll once so this has never happened to me. I've also never seen it happen.

2. Do you think Convention environments are a safe place to take your dolls?

I think its about as safe as taking it anywhere else. As long as you're careful and concious about your surroundings it should be fine. It would be like watching your doll at a larger doll meet in a public place.

3. If you take your dolls, how do you prevent people from �grabby hands syndrome�?

I've found that a good majority of people will ask, I think the hobby has expanded enough that people recognize the dolls are expensive. I've never hand anyone reach out and grab my doll, but their is always a first for everything so maybe this is something i should keep an eye out for at my next convention at the end of the month.

4. What safety precautions do you take to assure your doll isn�t harmed/stolen during such an event?

I usually limit myself to one doll. I also normally have a Tote bag or over the shoulder bag that the doll can gently rest in when im making purchases or any other time i need to set the doll down. I have seen people make a bag like this that actually match their cosplay or Lolita attire which was brilliant because they didnt have to put the doll down for photoshoots.


5. Have you ever witnessed/have had an accident occur at a con with your doll?

Thankfully the only 'near' accident i saw was when a doll toppled off a table he had been sat on. The doll had simply lost balance and had no injuries whatsoever. I have honestly never heard of or seen any other mishaps regarding dolls at any of the other conventions i've been to.

6. Do you think bringing dolls to conventions is a good idea?

I really think this is up to personal opinion for the people, and an issue of comfort levels in large crowds with your doll. Personally I wouldnt hesitate to bring a doll. I am comfortable in my ability to be responsible for the doll and to watch it.

 

1. Are you a cosplayer? If so, does your doll cosplay with you? Have you ever had an overly hyper fan tackle you from behind with a doll, or without?

I am a cosplayer, and I've never cosplayed with my doll. Not only do my characters tends to have props, I have a lot of luck attracting glomps/hugs/molestations and it's a pain in the ass to constantly have to be looking for a safe place to set a doll down when I would much rather have my hands free to fight off/reciprocate the attention. I actually don't mind the glomping all that much and find it pretty funny. I've never been physically injured by it or had costume damage from it, though, and I have really handsy friends, so it's just not a hot button with me.

2. Do you think Convention environments are a safe place to take your dolls? They can be if you are smart about it.

6. Do you think bringing dolls to conventions is a good idea?

I honestly don't see the appeal of carting around a doll with me all day long. They are heavy. They are fussy. Things can break or get lost and it's something I don't want to have to worry about when I could be having fun. When I do take dolls to cons, they only ever come out during the specified meets and then they are transported to and from said meets in a bag, and I won't even carry the doll bag around with me all day. I'll go back to the hotel and get it when it's time. So I personally think that it's a waste of energy to bring a doll to a con, and after this Otakon I just went to, I probably won't be doing it at all in the future.

 

1. Are you a cosplayer? If so, does your doll cosplay with you? Have you ever had an overly hyper fan tackle you from behind with a doll, or without?
Yes and no. I would cosplay, but not carry my doll around because 1) I'm too lazy to carry them around with me and 2) if my costume is complicated, I don't want them to get in the way... so I would much prefer to have them on display at my artist's table in the artist alley.

2. Do you think Convention environments are a safe place to take your dolls?
Yes... well, I was sitting behind an artist's table, and I put my dolls there on display. I made sure someone was watching the table at all times... so that is definitely a safe place. x)

3. If you take your dolls, how do you prevent people from ‘grabby hands syndrome’?
I printed out a sign that said "Please do not touch" and put it in front of my dolls, but as usual, some people/children don't see it >_> So I just kindly told them not to touch.

4. What safety precautions do you take to assure your doll isn’t harmed/stolen during such an event?
Same as above^ I should've put a "not for sale" sign too, lol because I had people asking if they were for sale, where to get them, what sculpt where they, what their names were, etc... xD A doll is pretty hard to steal, but it does happen, so have someone watch it at all times. As for accessories that might get lost--I make sure my doll wears things that can't be taken off so easily. ;D

5. Have you ever witnessed/have had an accident occur at a con with your doll?
No, but I have heard stories on here about how dolls got stolen at cons... @_@ very unfortunate...

6. Do you think bringing dolls to conventions is a good idea?
Yes, I do, despite the drawbacks. If you're okay with carrying them around all day, and knowing that the majority of people think they're 'creepy' and asking where you got them, what they are, etc... the fact that there are quite a few people who are into the hobby who come up to you and talk with you, makes those things seem insignificant. You can meet new friends, and if not, at least have a decent conversation with other doll owners, see other people's dolls and learn a few things, too. I have yet to go to a proper meet-up at a convention, though... ^^

 

1. Are you a cosplayer? If so, does your doll cosplay with you? Have you ever had an overly hyper fan tackle you from behind with a doll, or without?

I'm not a cosplayer.

2. Do you think Convention environments are a safe place to take your dolls?

Yes and no -- it really depends on how you handle it. You're talking about a very crowded setting, so you definitely have to keep a close watch on your doll. I've taken dolls to every convention I've been to and not had any issues, but I don't let them out of my site, either.

3. If you take your dolls, how do you prevent people from &#8216;grabby hands syndrome&#8217;?

I've not really had too many issues with this. I don't mind if someone wants to look at or hold one of my dolls, but I usually ask that we sit down somewhere, since bjds can be surprisingly heavy if you aren't used to them and I don't want anybody dropped. It also helps to not be passing a doll back and forth in the middle of a huge moving crowd of people.

4. What safety precautions do you take to assure your doll isn&#8217;t harmed/stolen during such an event?

Keep them with me at all times, or if I have to run to the bathroom or something, I'll have a friend hold them. I also have learned that it's better to not take too many -- be realistic about how much resin is going to be comfortable to haul around. For me it's one 60cm doll or two minis. Any more than that, and it's just too awkward and heavy.

5. Have you ever witnessed/have had an accident occur at a con with your doll?

Nope.

6. Do you think bringing dolls to conventions is a good idea?

Sure, as long as you're prepared and use common sense.

 

2. Do you think Convention environments are a safe place to take your dolls?
In my opinion, they are a little less safe than a typical public place (mall, school, etc) because the high concentration of people makes it easy for anything - wallets, etc - to get stolen and the increased likelihood that that the people around you know the value of the doll they're looking at.

4. What safety precautions do you take to assure your doll isn’t harmed/stolen during such an event?
Despite my pessimistic outlook above, I think just common sense is enough. You don't leave your iPod laying around, or a set of DVDs you just bought in the dealers' room unattended. The same common sense should apply to your doll.

5. Have you ever witnessed/have had an accident occur at a con with your doll?
One time, I met another doll owner and her boy's hand was shattered after a fall at the con. I don't know how it happened...but yeah, some areas are not carpeted, so stuff like this can occur if a doll falls from a person's arms.

6. Do you think bringing dolls to conventions is a good idea?
Depends on what you want out of it, and if you are willing to carry your dolls. XD I find it tiresome, because I want two hands to do stuff and once you start buying things, or accumulating water bottles and snacks and stuff...I find it too complicated. That, and one time I was cornered in a full elevator with an alpha male who was well aware of the value of bjd and embarrassed me in front of the other occupants for my "wasteful" spending habits.

But I have also had positive experiences with meeting other owners. And if that's what you want, then it's a good idea because bjd is a very wide field. By narrowing it down to people who like both bjd and anime, you're more likely to find other owners who share the same interests.

 

1. Are you a cosplayer? If so, does your doll cosplay with you? Have you ever had an overly hyper fan tackle you from behind with a doll, or without?
I do cosplay, but my dollies don't usually cosplay with me. I like having them be themselves. And I haven't ever been tackled by a fan.

2. Do you think Convention environments are a safe place to take your dolls?
As long as you know where they are at all times and are aware of the situations around you, I think taking dolls to conventions is fine. Most people I've encountered are either too distracted to notice your dolls or know enough about them to treat them with respect.

3. If you take your dolls, how do you prevent people from ‘grabby hands syndrome’?
I've never really had a problem with people being grabby. I love letting people hold and play with my dolls as long as they know to be careful. They always ask before touching.

4. What safety precautions do you take to assure your doll isn’t harmed/stolen during such an event?
Whenever I bring my dolls to cons, I always take them in a hardshelled picnic basket to make sure nobody gets crushed. I either hold them, have my friends (who have been lectured about dolly safety) hold them, or store them in the basket. I don't let them out of my sight unless they're with someone that I trust.

5. Have you ever witnessed/have had an accident occur at a con with your doll?
Thankfully no.

6. Do you think bringing dolls to conventions is a good idea?
I think it's perfectly fine as long as you know the risks and are prepared to deal with them.

 

1. Are you a cosplayer? If so, does your doll cosplay with you? Have you ever had an overly hyper fan tackle you from behind with a doll, or without?
Yep, I'm c(r)osplaying at every convention. And so are my dolls. Preferably matching cosplays. Like both cosplaying the same character, or character which can be paired together or are from the same show. So far with Shinta I've done: Kenshin & Kenshin, Saito & Battoussai, Kagome & Inuyasha. I usually take one, so they can ride in my "babypouch". It's a carrying blanket I made a while ago for LARP. Last time at Chibicon, I took them both with me in a contraption I have made which kind of resembles modern baby carriers. Shinsengumi, all of us . Never had any trouble with hyper fans. Around here, conventiongoers respect dolls it seems. And I'm not the only one bringing dolls. This weekend: Castlefest. There will be more people bringing dolls and we're having a meet as well.
2. Do you think Convention environments are a safe place to take your dolls?
At Dutch conventions, yep.
3. If you take your dolls, how do you prevent people from ‘grabby hands syndrome’?
Haven't had much to do with grabby hands so far. Most people are respectful.
4. What safety precautions do you take to assure your doll isn’t harmed/stolen during such an event?
Keep them with me at all times, even in the bathroom.
5. Have you ever witnessed/have had an accident occur at a con with your doll?
Shinta fell once, but was unharmed. I was taking a slight swing at a certain rurouni for a picture, but apparently my hips were creating a little too much kinetic energy on him sitting in his pouch.
6. Do you think bringing dolls to conventions is a good idea?
It isn't a bad idea. But you'll have to be mindful about your doll at all times.

 

1. Are you a cosplayer? If so, does your doll cosplay with you? Have you ever had an overly hyper fan tackle you from behind with a doll, or without?
I am a cosplayer. If I have plans to do a private photoshoot while at the convention when I bring my dolls, then yes. I'll have them cosplay if I had plans of getting high quality photos taken of them in it. Usually, they are just in casual clothes since people will be handling them. I have been tackled to the floor once at Megacon 2010. I was wearing my Smile!Ciel costume with my first doll, Adam in my hands while I was looking for a friend to help since something had happened recently while at the con. I wasn't very happy at all, since he almost fell out of my arms and hit the tile floor.
2. Do you think Convention environments are a safe place to take your dolls?
From my point of view, it's not worth the risk. When you have tons of props and a full blown costume to worry about, adding the doll on top of that isn't helping the stress. I personally have around 2 bags every day at every con so adding a doll on top of those bags which hold my expensive electronics, it's so stressful to be worrying about stealers. Plus you have people bumping into you and large things being carried around that can hit them and yourself.
3. If you take your dolls, how do you prevent people from ‘grabby hands syndrome’?
When I take my dolls to meets at conventions now, I never let anyone besides my very close friends hold them. My boys have had too much damage at the cons by DOLLOWNERS here on DOA that it's ruined the fun to me. I can't see myself letting people hold them anymore due to the awful damage they did to my poor Adam. :C
4. What safety precautions do you take to assure your doll isn’t harmed/stolen during such an event?
As stated above, I almost always have my boys in my lap and have my close eye on them. If I'm walking around with them out, I hold them rightly to my chest so that if they were going to steal them, they'd have to fight with me first to pry the doll out of my hands. I also have my mother on guard when I go to meet-ups.
5. Have you ever witnessed/have had an accident occur at a con with your doll?
As sad as it yes, I must say yes. I took Adam and Ren to their first con at Megacon 2010. I attended the BJD meet all 3 days, but only had Ren with me Friday and Saturday. Took Ren home on Sunday and kept Adam with me. At the meet up, when DOA users handled him, once they were done, they just placed him on the ground like he was just a bag! If he fell over while I was looking at other people's dolls, no one would pick him up and fix him so he wouldn't get scratched up or broken. They scratched up his expensive, default face-up too. It was just horrible.
6. Do you think bringing dolls to conventions is a good idea?
It all depends. If you are going to the con just for the doll meet, then sure. If you are just wearing regular clothes to the con, then go for it. You HAVE to keep your eye on them. It might seem mean, but you can't trust some of these other dollowners either... Just let people know at the meet how you feel or make a little sign or button for your doll saying Please don't handle/touch/mess with.

 

Well, I haven't been to a convention since my first doll arrived, but I do think dolls at conventions is a good idea, since a con was the first place I was able to see dolls in person, and it's a good place for meeting up with other owners.

I've been back-up doll sitter for my sister's doll at a con before. If we go together to one in future, each of us carrying one doll, we can still take turns watching both, freeing one of us up to run to the ladies' or to run to Starbucks or whatevs. Since neither one of us has a huge doll, it would be doable, and of course there's basic precaution taking.

My doll would cosplay, yes. I've been planning out a couple.

=^__^=
Anneko

 

1. Are you a cosplayer? If so, does your doll cosplay with you? Have you ever had an overly hyper fan tackle you from behind with a doll, or without?
I am a cosplayer, and I hope to have my dolls cosplay with me in the future. I have been "glomped" and it can get rough, I would never want to be involved in a glomp with a doll in my hands
2. Do you think Convention environments are a safe place to take your dolls?
Not Per-say. Depending on the calibur of the Con, it can be very wild. If I took a doll to a really big Con with lots of people, I'd take a smaller one and even then be REALLY cautious.
3. If you take your dolls, how do you prevent people from &#8216;grabby hands syndrome&#8217;?
Get yourself practiced with the "doll block" (covering the doll with your own body somehow), think of possible situations and what you'll do in them, and just pay attention. There's nothing you can do to completely prevent it, they're interesting and people will grab, the most you can do is be careful and pay close attention to what people are doing regarding your doll.
4. What safety precautions do you take to assure your doll isn&#8217;t harmed/stolen during such an event?
Don't tell people the exact price, or how expensive they are. If someone wants a reason as to why they can't touch or hold the dolls, just tell them that they're very fragile and you put a lot of work into them, not that they're expensive. People may be more likely to attempt stealing a doll if they think they can sell it for a lot.
5. Have you ever witnessed/have had an accident occur at a con with your doll?
I've not yet been to a con with a doll, but I have heard lots of stories (mostly scary ones) about bad things happening to dolls.
6. Do you think bringing dolls to conventions is a good idea?
Sure! If you're prepared to take good care of them, have a plan so there are no surprises, and be very watchful, go for it! You'll also answer a lot of questions, which can be fun. Nowadays though, dolls are becoming pretty well known at Cons and most people will know that they're pricey and should be handled carefully.