Dolls and Conventions

I Took Little Cas To Renfest Ohio And To Tall Stacks In Cincinatti. She Gets Alot Of Attention From Little Girls Who Want To Paly With Her And That's About It. Some Of The Other Ladies Liek The Older Women Would Ask About Her But That'd Be About It. THEY R FESTIVALS NOT CONS BUT STILL. AND MY CAS IS AN ELFDOLL LYN

 

I have taken my boys to Anime North where there are lots of other BJD people, and we have seminars about collecting and making. And large photoshoots. I think we had 55 dolls last year. Anime Expo was a larger convention, but I only saw 5 other dolls there. So sometimes it depends on the convention. It can really cause quite a commotion when they see lots of the dolls. Comments like "invasion of the dolls" was bandied about. But lots of folks loved to take photos and asked for individual shots. Not to mention seduced a few into collecting. So, its all fun. This has grown in Toronto area quite a bit. Maybe we will have our own BJD con soon.

 

The only convention I've taken any of my dolls to was a fetish fair; I took Marius, dressed up in his PVCs and fishnet top and collared. He got a lot of attention from people who wanted to know where I got him, whether I made his clothes, etc. A couple of fetish club owners offered to guestlist me to their clubs if I brought Marius with me! (Uh, no!!)

Poor Marius spent the whole time huddled on my shoulder in the typical Hound slouch, looking traumatised by the whole affair!

Apart from that, Eric has come with me to a Neil Gaiman book signing, and Perseus to a medieval fair in Wales.

 

I guess I was just wondering if it was a that part of the country thing. . . I went to Fanime, AX, Kumoricon, and I didn't get asked questions at the last (when I had my first boy), and they were pretty common elsewhere. I've been seeing them at convention for about two years now. . .

I just thought it was weird.

 

I'm amused just reading about the responses dolls get at cons... Is it just me or do dolls seem to get a fairly good reception at fantasy/sci-fi cons? Anyone can confirm this? While anime cons instead...quite a bit of people at anime cons seem to know about BJDs and have already judged them as creepy before seeing them...

It just amuses me in general that fans of anime and cosplayers can be so close-minded about BJDs... It's like...go look in the mirror or at the cosplayers around you, hey?

 

Well, I have decided that whenever i go to a Renassaince (Spelling?) festival, My boys are going with.

I also take my boys to Megacon every year The response is overwhelming. People stop me CONSTANTLY to take pics with my boys. LOL And guys and girls ALIKE beg to hold them. LOL I don't mind, but i'm quick to say, "Just hold him under the arms, and butt, like you would a baby".

 

Once I get my girl, she'll be going everywhere with me, including to any cons or other events that I attend. And she'll be cosplaying when we go to any anime cons...and probably at the sci-fi cons, too. ^_^

 

I'm going to Fanime this year(my first con :]), and I was thinking of bringing my doll. However, I'm a little worried about people being not so respectful of her.

So, for those who have brought a doll to a con(or if you've been to a con and can guess what would have happened to your doll ) do you think it's safe to bring a doll? Were people being careful with your doll or were they molesting the poor thing?

 

I've been to cons where people brought along their dolls. I think more than anything you'll get some interested stares, maybe someone asking if they could hold it.

So it's up to you if you want to give it to the person or politely tell them 'no'. If you do give it to them, be sure you let them know to be careful around it. Wouldn't want it to fall off ^w^;

But I think it's better to hold on to it, especially in crowded places >w<

 

I've been to a couple of cons of various sizes and people were pretty respectful about them-- but there's a huge thread about this kind of stuff here:

http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113018

... ok not huge, haha.

 

I've only taken Zarr to MangaNEXT with me, and got three reactions:

1.) The, "omg it's a doll scary D:" sort of reaction, where people keep casting quick glances towards him, and keep a distance,

2.) The "OH HE'S PRETTY " reaction, where people bolt over to have a look. I usually pick him up myself when I see people charging over, and move him around a bit...but don't let them touch. xD;

3.) The "doll people" reaction. You can kind of just tell when someone's a doll person. xD I let them hold Zarr as they like, but the ones I met were VERY careful...we played the, "Are you sure I can hold him? Are you sure? I don't want to hurt him...okay, are you really sure? " game for awhile.

My guess would just be to watch out. If someone comes bolting over waving their arms or a prop-weapon to have a grab at the doll, don't let them. Pockyrush+doll=disaster.

And I only had one minor incident with Zarr at mNEXT. I was swooping down the long hallway to the Artists' Alley, wheeling my Suitcase O' Stuff For Sale and carrying my doll in one arm...

Suddenly someone comes charging up behind me, "I think this is yours!" I turned around and they had Zarr's wig, which had blown off while I was racing to my table.

 

I've only had a BJD at one con, there were definitely some interested people who came up and asked about her, including a few "wow, is that a BJD?!" people and other people who knew nothing about them but thought they were really cool. A few people asked to hold them and I just used my judgement, everyone who actually wanted to hold her seemed like they would be delicate with her and they were, which was relieving (then again at least 2 of them had asked how much I spent on her first and got a bit of a O_O face). I've seen some people carry their dolls around in doll carriers and only take them out for photo ops or other doll people- this would certainly reduce the amount of random grabby people.

I should note that this was a con in Australia, where people seemed to be a bit tamer and more respectful, on the whole, than some I've seen at American cons. ^^;

 

I had a friend here in the UK who had 13 dolls, all 60cm and over. She used to take them to all kind of cons and meetups she went to, no matter what it was for, hehe.

I don't think she had any accidents, as she generally had a table and kept them boxed apart from two or three, and then would get the rest out if people asked. I'm not sure if I would be brave enough to take 13 big dolls anywhere though :/ Trying to watch everything all at once.

Her reactions were pretty much the same, you had those who were either creeped out/jealous so pretended not to like them and turned up at the next con with one of their own Or the people interested, I don't think anyone was very negative at all though.

 

I take dolls to cons quite a bit, and feel safe doing so. Like any public place, keep a close eye on your doll--a lot of keeping your doll safe is fairly common sense stuff.

I've gotten a mix of reactions at cons. I've had people who were really positive, really interested, nice etc. I've also had people make dumb comments--I think being at a con all together gives people this sense that they can say things that they wouldn't normally walk up to someone and say. However, I've never had anyone do anything that would endanger any of my dolls.

 

Like anywhere you've got to be cautious but I wouldn't worry yourself sick over it. The only people you have to watch out for are the people who feel the overwhelming need to screech and run everywhere(see- annoying fanperson) and may just come up and smack your doll in an attempt to touch it or something. However they're like zombies, you can seem them coming a mile away! Most people are content just to look and if they can take pictures(that's all I did ^^') because the last thing anyone wants is to break someone's 600$ doll!

 

I only got my first doll in September, so I haven't taken one to a con. However, my friend Zirconmermaid takes hers to anime and science fiction conventions and hasn't had any problems that I've heard. We are both scary old ladies, though, so even shrieking fannits know better than to act up around us.

I'd say don't worry too much, just take some basic precautions and have fun. Don't forget your doll's carrier, because it can get tiresome holding her all day, and you'll want to put her safely away when you eat (I would lock or tie the carrier shut, but I'm a paranoid old bat ). Tell people very firmly, "Look don't touch," and mean it. Never let your doll out of your hands, especially with people you don't know personally, and don't set her down anywhere in the dealers' room. If you cosplay, incorporate the doll, or make her a pretty new outfit or two if you sew. Most of all, act as if you have a perfect right to bring your doll into the space...because you do!

 

Might I suggest getting a bag? (to carry dollfie in)
That way if you feel iffy from carrying her around in yer arms you could just put her in the bag.
Most people are nice, so you might not need to worry.
But like everyone else said above:
- Do not take yer eyes off the doll D:
- Pay attention to peoples reactions. (negative and positive)
-Make sure not to lose any of her stuff!
- Have fun

 

Mine have been to WorldCons and DiscWorldCons (and historical re-enactments but kept out of sight until after hours when the public have gone home) with no problems. Some people may come runnign up to you saying.. "Is that a..?" Some others may have their own BJDs with them, some people may ask questions.

It's unlikley anyone would touch your dolls without permission.

Since you only have one doll, it shouldn't be any problem. Once you have more, you'll need to decide which one or two you take with you to any given event as I wouldn't advice taking more dolls than you can easily carry around with you (one SD sized one is best, possibly with a tiny which can easily be securely tucked into a pocket or bag). You might be able to manage two MSD size... but the more you are carrying the less easy it wil be to actually do anything (pick stuff up from dealers stands to get a closer look for example) without risking dropping your precious BJD - so it's way easier to stick to one and leave one arm/hand free

Hope this helps

Teddy

 

I've brought my boy to Metrocon. And well, he got tons of interest. One being, he was cosplaying as Edward Elric from Fullmetal, and I was Winry. And two, everyone thought he was just so cute. I let someone hold him and people stare at him, but also carried my bag just in case I got tired of holding him. Everyone was pretty respectful. Of course you had a comment of "Ahh scary! It's a dollfie" but they usually run. They never try and hurt them. Well for me anyway~

 

I'm thankful that another doll fan brought *her* dolls to the last con I went to, because had she not, I may have never made that initial leap to buy *my* first doll!

From my observation, she and her dolls were treated very well, very respectfully.