If BJD's were to become the 'next big thing'...

I think it's already happening - my friends who were at yaoicon this year report that -whereas previously only a few attendees had BJD - they were all over the place this year, and it seemed those who didn't have one were planning to get one, and the JS table was perma-swamped.

How far it penetrates into the mainstream remains to be seen, but I think ultimately it will prove a positive watershed for the hobby, long-term. Production times and prices will come down, and after the 'bubble bursts' and the shine is off the fad, solid companies with sound business practices and innovative and quality products will remain, and the fly-by-nighters will collapse. The more people who become involved in the hobby, the more opportunity is made for fresh techniques and concepts in the dolls themselves as well as secondary goods and services.

Remember 'back in the day' (/em rockingchair) when they were saying the internet was a 'fad'? A lot of the services, software, and technology we take for granted now was a direct or indirect product of the dot.com bubble.

I also think veteran BJD enthusiasts have a major role to play in how the hobby develops. If they choose to be proactive, fostering positive experiences for new recruits to the hobby, then the community will be strengthened. If they choose to be insular and elitist, trashing 'n00bs' at every opportunity, well...you reaps what you sows, baby.

 

edit: hay! my 222nd post - is that a lucky sign, or a harbinger of eeeebille?

oops, sorry. that was supposed to be an edit, sorry...I think I needs moar coffeeeee...
aren't you glad I don't operate heavy machinery for a living?

 

I keep telling people not to reap sows, but they just ignore me.

 

nooooooooooooooo!
...think of the little piggies!

 

I once dreamed that everyone had one and only one bjd with them, that they would carry it everywhere, and it was so cool! So I say that if it's the next big thing, I wouldn't mind, it would be nice

 

I wouldn't really change I collect BJDs because I love to so it wouldn't matter to me.

 

Wouldn't it actually make even more companies appear and drop the prices some?
And hey Federie, that idea of everyone having a dolfie reminded me of this movie, the golden compass, where everyone had their animal counterpart or something like that. Fun stuff.

 

I know I would enjoy it. And if it did become 'the next big thing' you know there would be people out there who would buy one just for the sake of having one. And I know a few people who have done that and then when the 'newer better' model comes out they get rid of their old one (like with their Ipod) I have gotten two free Ipods due to the fact that my friend is constantly getting a new one. And she knows that I always collect stuff, even if I don't WANT it she gives it to me and tells me to sell it on Ebay.

She is sadly not into dolls, which I think is a good thing because of how easily she falls in and out of hobbies.

If EVERYONE or at least 90% of everyone started collecting BJD's I seriously wouldn't mind. ^-^

 

i would have no idea how to react to such a thing. i can barley imagine it O_O. i think that the only part i would not like is DOA crashing from the over load of people, or the huge meet ups.

i think the big meet ups would really bug me. i love meeting new people, but in a more personal way where i can get to know the people.

i guess i would also be less willing to talk to people about the personal side of my dolls, like about their characters and such. i would worry that people i told wouldn't really care, and that maybe their doll has no meaning to them in that sense. i dunno how to explain it.

the thing i like about this hobby is that there are many people who are similar to me. thay understand the making of charcters and stuff, but i think most people cannot relate or understand that.

so i guess i would react somewhat negativley to BJDs being the next ipod.

 

Fortunately, even if they do become more popular, too many people are still freaked out by the whole 'doll' thing. They're too Uncanny Valley for some people, and therefore they probably won't ever get TOO widespread to the point everyone has them or has heard of them.

But I think we'll see them a lot more around anime and other such conventions.

 

Honestly, it wouldn't change my feelings about BJDs or effect me at all. Big things come and go, but my love for something just because it's big won't change. It's like finding an unknown band and really liking them, but they get big. Just because they're well known doesn't mean I'll like them anyless. (If this all makes sense. ^^
It'd be cool to take my darlings out with me and not be looked at strange, or laughed at, but I also wouldn't like to look like someone who got into the hobby just to be cool. I'd still keep my dolls at home or in isolated areas. So that part of my interest with dolls wouldn't change. I'd still take pictures, I'd still do customizing. I'd still love my dolls.

So simply put: If dolls were the next big thing, nothing about my routine with them would change. I'd wait for the fad to pass, and my feelings about them would still be the same.

 

I don't see them becoming the next ipod, but I know it's becoming more and more popular. I just officially got into the hobby with the arrival of my doll but I've been watching from afar for a while now. Personally I think it would be wonderful if they became somewhat mainstream. It would make taking my doll out a lot easier. No one would look at you funny or ask stupid questions. They would just be common place. So I think it would be wonderful!

On a different, but related note, an art store near my place sells a brand of BJD for drawing reference now. I think they're obitsus but I'm not sure. I was just excited to see them in an actual store! Just goes to show they're getting a little more popular, even if its just for art purposes.

 

This is exactly what I was thinking of. If you think about it, a lot of people are freaked out at dolls as it is, and once they find out the price, it can turn them off instantly in most ((or some?)) cases.

If BJDs were to become the next big thing, I can't say I wouldn't be turned off, because a part of me would. I really like this hobby as it is quite "hidden," but now that I think about it, if BJDs were huge, would that mean doll clothing would be mass produced? And be available at every Wal-Mart you stop at? I would be in love.

 

Hmm, well since I live under a rock I probably wouldn't even notice if abjds became "the next big thing"
There would still be uniqueness to dolls though, some people just breathe life into their dolls and if other people ran out and bought that same bjd trying to chase some craze it wouldn't be the same.

 

Some great points have been brought up! I do think the BJD world is exploding and as someone mentioned it is a great boon to the whole doll collecting industry. It is wonderful to see young people enjoying dolls, designing clothes, customizing creating characters etc. So creative! I keep thinking how I would have LOVED to have seen this when I was a teen. When I was a teen I made soft dolls and Teddy Bears when most kids had "outgrown" them. It didn't bother me that no one else did it, I still made them, but it would have been really nice to have someone one to share it with.

I also second the concern about quality going down the more mainstream it gets, but I guess that would not necessarily be the case. We just have to keep demanding quality in what we choose to buy. (If no one buys poor quality stuff, companies will not make it)

To answer the question "what would you do?"--I would keep collecting what I love and I would not worry in the least if it were popular or not. It has always puzzled me when people let others' opinions dictate what they "like". To buy/like something only because it is popular is absurd, of course, and I think most people would agree with that. What fewer people seem to realize is that it is just as absurd to decide against purchasing something you like because it has become popular. You are still letting others dictate what you should like. Collect what you love.

 

Couldn't agree more. Except that fashion doll collecting, or even any kind of doll collecting, isn't all that big. The great general public kind of know about Barbie, but that's about it. I'll think it's popular when I see huge piles of FDQ at the newsagents.

You can see some of the big players are panicking, throwing everything they can think of into the market. There is even a BJD Tyler.

The popularity of the BJDs has meant more manufacturers and more people like me getting caught up in it. By the way, I came in via Tyler, then bought a gorgeous Custom House Choa on Ebay. "Only need one. I love her soooo much and I can't afford any more..." A male Model and two Unoas later, I am now looking for a Super Gem girl to partner my Dragon Lord.

So take pity on poor souls like me. If BJDs hadn't got a bit more popular, I would never have found my Lily.

Kat

 

I'm all for more of it (Hey maybe it would create some cheaper competition hehe). But imagine all the sites that would crop up. It would loose some of it's close community spirit IMHO.

 

You know, i totally agree with this. I don't think I'd mind as much, if it became mainstream (well maybe on the fringes of mainstream instead? lol!), but i think what would bother me the most is if people bought them just because they could, because they could say, "I got such and such," But don't really love them, you know.

I think my feelings stem from the fact that I've been in love with these dolls for so many years, (we're talkin' at least four) and could never afford one. I've lusted after an Elfdoll Wu for well over a year and was able to get one just this past Sept., by the grace of my best friend. It would hurt to see the dolls not loved for themselves, just used as some sort of status symbol, bought and then cast aside.

That would be the biggest con to them becoming mainstream to me!

 

I don't mind them becoming mainstream. My only worry is that as cool as it will be, more companies will sprout. I don't want the value of my doll to go down. I love them with all my heart now, but like anime which I thought I'd never get sick up, I ended up drifting out of the hobby. I only go to cons now for art tables and friends. So, with a BJD, I'd hope that if ever somewhere down the line I chose to get rid of my doll, I won't end up selling it for a fraction of what I bought it for.

 

I'd LOVE it if BJDs became the next big thing.
They're pretty popular in Japan, and there's huge Dollfie gatherings and conventions SPECIFICALLY for BJDs. Here, there's a small amount of conventions just for BJDs, but you normally just have big gatherings at Anime conventions.

I think if they were to become as popular here as they have in Japan, it would be more enjoyable taking my doll outside (not having to deal with so many people staring and giving nasty looks as much). Sure, availability might be lost slightly, but that's why I'm getting into saving for another nice doll NOW, since, well...I'm kinda preparing for the popularity to rise, since I think it's starting to slowly get there~