Conventions!
-
Just got an idea about selling stuff. If you decide to bring an author/illustrator over, you should sell the physical raws so that we can get those autographed.
-
@Sam-Pinansky I'd definitely recommend #s 1-5, with the biggest ones for me being #s 2-4. #5 sounds weird...almost like trying to hard. #6 would be a good idea if it's affordable.
Panels (#2 and 3) and vendor booths (#4) would definitely help give J-Novel Club some exposure, since most anime/manga fans either haven't been introduced to light novels yet or don't know which series are currently/will be available and/or where they can buy them in English. Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash is one of only two of J-Novel Club's LN series that have received an anime adaptation, and the anime for Grimgar seemed to be generally well-received here in the U.S as far as I have heard/read online (at least for those who stuck with it), so I would highly recommend using Grimgar as a way to reel in potential customers.
For vendor booths, I suggest having some basic merchandise to sell or give away for free (bookmarks, posters, pins/buttons, etc.) for both J-Novel Club and the various series that J-Novel Club has licensed (especially for Grimgar), have tablets that have an account/newsletter sign-up and maybe some little handouts with QR codes to the J-Novel Club website so they can read the free PrePub teaser chapters, and sell any physical copies of the light novels that J-Novel Club has licensed, especially for Grimgar when the first volume's physical copy is released.
For hosting an industry panel, talking about J-Novel Club itself, listing already licensed titles, and announcing upcoming titles is a given. I think it would be cool to have a giveaway for a current and an upcoming title as well. For a normal panel, I think it would be helpful to begin with a basic introduction to what light novels are, explain their recent rise in popularity in Japan, and list some famous/popular anime adaptations of light novels (such as Sword Art Online, Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash, Fate/Zero, Durarara!!, No Game No Life, Free! Iwotabi Swim Club, Overlord, The Irregular at Magic High School, Monogatari, etc.). I would then go on to briefly describe the localization process, who the main publishers are (Yen Press, Vertical, and, of course, J-Novel Club) and where fans can purchase the English-translated light novels (Amazon (physical and ebook), BookWalker (ebook only), publisher's websites, etc.) and give a range for how much light novels generally cost ($7-15 per volume, depending on format (physical copy or ebook), popularity of the series, etc.).
Hosting a panel that introduces people to light novels is another great way to hook future customers and allow anime/manga fans to at least learn about and consider buying light novels, both from J-Novel and the few other English publishers out there. I see this as a win-win situation for everyone: it helps the English localization publishers increase their market size while also connecting with potential future customers, and it solidifies J-Novel Club as being one of the industry leaders in translating/releasing light novels in English (along with Yen Press and Vertical, J-Novel Club's only other major competitors in the industry at this point) in the near future as light novels gain more popularity in the anime/manga fandom outside of Japan, especially in the United States, Canada, U.K., and Australia.
As for which conventions I think J-Novel Club should attend, the obvious answer is to attend the most attended ones: Anime Expo (AX) in Los Angeles, California; Anime Central (ACen) near Rosemont, Illinois (close to Chicago); Anime North in Toronto, Ontario (Canada); A-Kon in Dallas, Texas; Otakon in Washington, D.C.; Anime Boston; Anime Weekend Atlanta; Anime Matsuri in Houston, Texas; Sakura-Con in Seattle, Washington; the London Anime & Gaming Con; and maybe one or two of the conventions in Australia and New Zealand. It would also be a great idea to attend the new Crunchyroll Expo convention that will debut in Santa Clara, California late this August.
Sorry for the long comment, but hopefully this was helpful!
-
This post is deleted! -
@Ryan-Monahan
London anime and gaming con: >3000 visitors
London MCM Expo (or MCM London Comic Con to give it its proper title): >130000 visitors -
@kuuderes_shadow Thanks! I was having trouble finding numbers for U.K. anime conventions.
-
@Sam-Pinansky said in Conventions!:
- Hold an all-day, multi panel seminar about the intricacies of interpreting Little Sister Literature and the thematic significance of different colors and patterns of panties.
This. This is the most important. I'd also like to have a discussion on how the emotional significance of KASHA, SHAAA, and RASHIN sound effects when a panty flash happens.
I think that if you decide to do a convention, your number one priority should be growing J Novel Club. You want the most cost effective means of acquiring new subscribers to your service. The best events for doing that are probably combine #1 and #2.
As a general strategy, you should already be doing #3. People need to learn and understand your service. The best people to promote it are the thought leaders in the community.
I'd also suggest giving out free trials of the service to people at the convention. Possibly even an account that has volume 1 of all available LNs available to read for let's say 1 month. From there, you can ask people to register.
If you opened a booth, I think this is what it should be doing. There should be computers and staff there who's sole purpose is to get people to register, download the smart phone app, and say, "While you're waiting in line to the next panel, why don't you read some of the awesome LNs we have? You can read volume 1 of every title for a month!"
I'd really push your most popular titles here. I'm guessing that Grimgar and Occult;Nine are the two big ones because of the print deal with Seven Seas and anime.
It might worthwhile to acquire some the best shoujo LN you can get your hands on. I remember reading that manga was popular among girls in the west, but I don't know if that also applies to LNs. It could help diversify your offerings which are getting a little heavy with other world titles.
-
@Sam-Pinansky I guess 1, 2, 3, 4 are the ideas I like the most.
-
I got a pass to E3 from some Sony rewards thing, but... I live on the East coast, have no monies, and I have work Tuesday and Thursday
-
@Terrence I wish I could go to E3. Can I use your pass? (Btw, I'm going to Anime Expo like some of the other people in this post).
-
@Azsendi I don't know. I think you need a valid ID to pick up pass. =[
Edit:
On-Site Registration: On-site registration opens on Sunday, June 11, at 1:00 p.m. All E3 attendees will be required to show government issued photo I.D. (i.e. driver's license or passport) in order to pick up their 2017 E3 Badge and Badge Holder. The name on your ID and the name on your badge must be the same.
Attendee on-site registration at the Los Angeles Convention Center will be available in the South Hall Lobby. Badge Pick-up Counters will be available outside both the South and West Hall Lobbies.
Badge Swapping: Badge swapping or sharing is strictly prohibited. Anyone found using another person's badge will have the badge confiscated and will be immediately asked to leave the premises.
Badge Reprints: Badge reprints are not allowed. In the event that you lose or forget your badge and if the Los Angeles Convention Center hasn't reached its maximum capacity and on-site registration is still open, you may register for a paid pass at E3 2017.
-
@Terrence Rip. I have a California ID, but I don't have your name. Lol. Well, you're one lucky fellow to even have the chance to attend E3.
-
@Sam-Pinansky Okay I'll go over your ideas one at a time, then I'll give you my own thoughts
1 Sounds like a fun idea, though unless its a big name I'm not sure how many people will be interested.
2 If you go to a panel this is a must, if you can a good way to build hype may be to announce the license of the novel version of a popular currently airing anime.
3 While I don't know if it needs an entire panel, at the very least you need to be able to explain what a light novel is since since you have no idea if your audience even knows what they are.
4 A booth is a definitely a good idea. One idea I would recommend, though I don't know how viable this is, is to sell some limited edition physical versions of some of your more popular series. This would help build some hype for the hardcore fans here and give them a good reason to attend.
5 Sounds like a fun idea.
6 I think some kind of contest could be fun.
7 So long as the Little Sisters aren't secretly old men in reality.
This last part is just a request from me but if you do hold a panel could you either stream it or record it and post it to youtube, I really enjoy panels but don't get too many chances to attend cons.
-
@Sam-Pinansky Your con ideas are good and I've put them in order of preference below (7 :laughing: ).
2 Hold a panel talking about our service and pushing our titles, with title announcements.
4 Run a booth in the vendor's area and sell... stuff? Or at least have demo ebooks.
1 Bring over an author or illustrator as a guest.
3 Hold or host a panel about light novels in general, bringing in bloggers or people from the community.
5 Hire cosplayers to go around the con promoting our stuff.
6 Sponsor events like cosplay masquerades, karaoke rooms, etc.I think it would be cool if you find ways to include those who can't attend cons as well. For instance, announcing a new title at a panel and then having it up on the site to read straight afterwards, having merch available online after the con or having a merch giveaway, putting up an interview/article with the guest on the site, photos of the cosplayers etc etc.
-
Anyone headed to Pax East this year? Any games you're looking forward to?
I got nothing that I'm anticipating, so I'm just going to try whatever catches my eye unless there's some stuff I hear about from day 1 attendees / see on social media. I hope the VR demo lines aren't as packed as last year. T.T
-
I’ll be going to A-Kon in Dallas, along with a local Austin con most likely.
I would love to see a panel discussion (of any sort) and a booth, even if only an informative one with no merchandise. I think it would be a great way to get JNC more visible to people honestly. Maybe even get Seven Seas to have a little display of JNC promo papers to hand out at their booths if nothing else.
-
I'll be at Sakura-con at the end of the month.
-
@aruseus493 but will you be giving Yen Press the business?
Sorry but J-Novel Club does not publicly comment on any potential licensing decision or acquisitions.
J-Novel Club, Future Volume Release Schedule
Manga FAQ
Premium Content List -
@rahul-balaggan What other purpose is there to visit Yen Press at Sakura-con? I have a good number of hard hitting questions saved on my phone to try and light some fires. :3
-
@aruseus493 said in Conventions!:
@rahul-balaggan What other purpose is there to visit Yen Press at Sakura-con? I have a good number of hard hitting questions saved on my phone to try and light some fires. :3
If you have it on your list, please ask about future Sound Euphonium novels (expecting a non-answer). =D
-
@terrence Will add it to my list now. :3
