Public Apology from AB08's Masquerade Manager

[LadyHawke78]

Due to some feedback received, I wanted to post a public apology to anyone who may have had a negative experience at this year's Masquerade and Hall costume Contest. During preparations for Anime Boston 2008, I have had my own doubts as to whether or not I would be returning to this post in 2009. It had been offered to me multiple times; however, I had my reservations about accepting the position again and rightfully so.

In retrospect, I failed as a masquerade manager this year, and for every contestant who suffered because of my own mismanagement of my event, I offer my deepest condolences. There were many things that went wrong this year that were no one's fault but my own. Now, to get into the specifics of EXACTLY HOW I screwed up WHAT I screwed up:

The walkthrough went horribly, because I did not pace it effectively. The seating of the masquerade participants and the briefing of the hall cosplay people was poorly timed and planned out, resulting in the fact that we were unable to do a stage walkthrough. For everyone who felt 'cheated' by not being able to do this, my sincerest apologies.

Due to my gross mismanagement of my time during the walkthrough/seating portion, the masquerade did not start on time. We were about 15 minutes late starting. And for those sitting there for a long time, every one of these minutes was felt.

I have also received some negative feedback on how I attempted to implement the Hall Costume Contest Fashion Show this year. I tried to do something nice here, and it absolutely blew up in my face. It was a failure. I do not think that it went off as well as I would have wanted to, and it definitely did not meet my own expectations as for they type of experience I would have liked to have given to all of you. I feel terrible for each and every Hall Contestant who did not have a positive experience with this. While I cannot force the audience to remain in their seats after the Masquerade/AMVs are over, I COULD have tried to make the experience as comfortable and positive as possible for the participants involved.

I also failed in my attempt to improve the flow of the ending awards ceremony. Again, I tried to improve this over last year, but it ended in what was seen as a failure. I cannot force people to remain in their seats for these awards, especially when the start time fro the Masquerade was moved later in the first place, but maybe I could have done something to design the program flow better so that people were entertained from front to back, so that they felt less of a desire to leave before awards were given.

Once again, I apologize to everyone whom I failed this year: the Masquerade Contestants, the Hall Cosplay Contestants, and the audience members who did not have an enjoyable experience at my event. I can only hope that a managerial change-up will result in an improvement in future years. Please, do not use this year as any example regarding how the Anime Boston Masquerade and other cosplay events will proceed in the future. Before a seeing this feedback, I was on the fence about returning next year. Now I am almost sure that I will not. I do not believe that I am truly cut out to be a Manager for an event as large as this, and I care enough about Anime Boston's Masquerade and Cosplay Events to recognize that they may be better off in the hands of a more competent individual.

I congratulate everyone who wound up as an award winner in this year's event, and it is always a pleasure to see all of the hard work and dedication that you put into your work for this event. Please believe that deep down, I truly want the best for every one of you, and for the convention as a whole, and I apologize if I have failed in providing that experience.

I sincerely apologize for ruining ANYONE's convention experience. Please do not blame Anime Boston for my own shortcomings. It is my problem, not the convention's. I tried to inject this year's show with an air of professionalism and I FAILED. I do value EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU and all that you bring to the convention. If I could take back any of this, I truly would. However, the only thing I can do is step down and turn my post over to a more experienced manager. Spending 2 years of effort and still being unable to surmount my opportunities is enough. All of the participants and attendees deserve better from our convention, and you have my word that I will work on finding a solution to this problem as we enter the planning phases for Anime Boston 2009.

Tl;Dr: I Lost the Game. Hopefully, you will have a better experience with a new manager in 2009.

[Kuroki]

Jeni, you DID not fail. Not the least. I had a much more enjoyable experience this year, and the last, then in previous years. Especially the judging process, which is much more organized than before you joined. I don't want to see you discouraged because of a few negative experiences. There will always be bad experiences with this type of event, you just have to keep believing in what you are doing, and try to improve on that each year.

[Mustang_Hughes]

Seriously Jenni! You put on a really awesome Masquerade! I agree with Kuroki 100%! Some people are just really hard to please and we can't make everyone happy! Its a huge event and you pulled it off fantastically. I had a great time and I know everyone I was with there did as well! I'd really hate to see you give up your position because of a few people

Amazing work as always and I hope to see you back next year!

[NiceGai44]

You got to give yourself some credit honestly I think the biggest problem was the scheduling. The rave was mad early. Honestly I dont think you are to blame. With all the problems with registration people were trying to do everything in a timely manner and enjoy themselves. Everyone who registered on Friday and Saturday were probably a little pissed already and you have to understand what you are up against in trying to make people happy. I have seen your events you planned out before and you are def a keeper and AB would be stupid to get rid of you. Even if you still feel like you didnt do a good job I still have to give my hat off to you for attempting to please so many people with the time and other stuff that was going on. Just look at it as a learning process. I have to give you props for that.

[sephygoth]

only a couple posts here?
to you leaving i say BAH
to you stickinig around and just performing a small refresh i say yay.

masq was in fact very good.
an overlooked order of amv/masq/fashion show = who cares
behind the scenes masq and craftmanship is an ez change not involving you.

I had a horrible time with this weekend, but it was not cause of the things you listed. 2 doctors appointments later i should be fine, but you and your way of dealing with clusterbuck was fine. Get that ankle checked if need be.

you either just don't need to deal with this anymore or just have post con deprssn like the rest of us ^^
And don't speak for others faults, taking others' responsibility will only cheat n make you feel worse after feeling better for 2 minutes.
Hey, I've complained, but nothing personal against you and you know it ^^

But if you feel you gotta throw in the towel, make sure it lands on my face.

[Sindra]

See, it's things like this that make me feel better about my entire convention experience. I personally didn't go to the Masquerade, but I did make note of the massive lines outside waiting for it. If you feel you screwed up and are getting negative feedback, but you're issuing a formal apology for the ordeal and explaining things rationally like you are.....it just makes things better for everyone. I commend you for your honesty.

I honestly can only hope that the managers of the other areas that didn't perform like they should have (registration particularly) follow your lead and at least explain themselves and try to make things better for next year, without going through the whole corporate bullshit routine that some try to sell, thinking we're all idiots and will blindly except some half-assed apology and merely return next year like nothing happened.

*breathes*

Ok, I'm done.

[tmchiba]

I wasn't at the masquerade in the audience, but everyone I talked to enjoyed it immensely. Just to add my two cents.

[LadyHawke78]

A lot of things WERE going on with scheduling this year, but as head of a department, you cannot shift blame for your own mistakes.

If I failed one person or one hundred people, it is still an upset customer in my opinion. Coming from a customer service background, I realize that bad news spreads like wildfire. For every upset person you have, the bad feedback spread faster than the good. Therefore, I always shoot for a 100% success rate. This year, I doubt I even came close to 50%.

I actually submitted to have the mods lock and sticky this, because while I appreciate it, I really do not need any back-patting comments right now. I have the feedback thread open, where I EXPECT to get ripped apart. And before anything can be re-built to a highter standard, it NEEDS to first get ripped apart.

Whoever takes over the department will need a solid foundation to build off of, and I need to try and at least succeed in laying that foundation. I owe THAT much to the con.

Now quit the patting, and go over the the feedback thread and give me some SHIT!!!

[miniskirtstang]

No Jeni you did a great job. And besides everyone makes mistakes but by learning from those mistakes that's what makes us better. Besides you always do a great job. I came to watch the masquarade for once because of you. Your awesome please reconsider and come back next year.

[Zanduar]

No individual has sole power; however, a great deal of problems happened at AB and that affected every part of it. I actually have a good friend who was a volunteer at the con. She was upset at the general anger of the con attendees.

When a few parts of a grand plan fall apart it hurts the rest. I didn't actually get to see the masquerade, nor did thousands of others, but it would have probably gone better without the dozens of other problems.

I applaud you for your apology and what nears to be a resignation post. The con was almost an utter failure and it takes cajones, big ones, to actually step up and admit something was wrong.

Come back in a year or two, or at a different con. If you truly care their will be a place. As it stands now there is so much public outrage at AB and its organizational staff that 2009 is already on a bad start.

I would have probably said all of this at the masquerade gripe but it was:

A) Scheduled at the same time as the closing ceremony

and

B) The doors were locked at 4pm when the closing ceremony/gripes were supposed to begin. People were turned away when they expected to be able to be a part of the end. Instead of getting to vent in person there will be many more online complaints because of this.

I could go into a million details about what went wrong with the con. I may still do so but I won't do it in this thread. A thread where you have willingly put yourself out on a limb. You haven't described all the problems with the masquerade but you've at least stepped up to accept that the problems were there.

[Zanduar]

BTW. I'm not back patting you. I barely know you. Things were messed up and everyone knows it. Your martyrdom just makes me appreciate you enough to not outright nitpick every detail.

[lialia]

Ok so I really feel the need to post something here

Hands down this was the best anime boston Masquerade I've seen and I have been here since the first year.

yes it was long yes it started 15 minutes late yes I enjoyed it very much so and am glad that I went and participated in it

As one of the people who managed to get a last minute hall judging spot for Saturday(I cant even explain how thrilled I was) I can honestly say that I in no way felt "cheated" by not having a walkthrough. In fact, I thought that the simple notecard with character name and series on it was the most simple and effectual thing to do. It eliminated the mess of a pre printed list incase people were out of order or just didn't show up. I thought it was brilliantly simple. The preshow and the midshow were extremely entertaining and I have always loved seeing the winning Amv's during intermission since i always seem to miss them.

I know that running something so big is a daunting task and can be thankless at times, but I just want to thank you for caring so much and the fact that you yourself feel that it did not go well only proves how serious you are about putting on a great show.

~Lialia/Kristin/Hall Contest Participant(Skuld)

[ZiggyB]

LadyHawke78 has asked that this thread be locked.

I'm going to go ahead and sticky this thread, which was also requested and revert it back to normal after one week.