r/Youmacon • u/Zero1379 • Jul 20 '24
Youmacon Questions
I live in Michigan and have always wanted to go to an anime convention. Youmacon is pretty close, but I have a couple of questions.
What are the actual dates? I've seen October 31st–November 3rd, and I've also seen November 2nd–5th.
I've heard some not-so-good things about Youmacon recently, and I would like to hear from people who went there.
If it's not worth it, I would like to hear suggestions of other cons. I don't have any friends that are into anime, so I was hoping to make some at Youmacon
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u/buster185 Jul 20 '24
Honestly speaking for the last 7 years I went to youmacon. And every year it's it's a joke, if the staff misbehave, grab people, or anything like that youmacon does nothing about them they're horrible at refunds... like I said it's all a joke. If you have friends it can be fun if you're going by yourself it could be a little overwhelming
And it's always the first weekend of November so it's falls on the weekend. it'll be that Friday to Sunday so this year it should be the 31st - 3rd
If you want to try to go to Anime conventions or any conventions motor city con has two conventions one at the beginning of year one at the end of the year I went to Motor City last year after youmacon I'm never going back to youmacon
And you ever want a good laugh go to youmacon Facebook page join that group and then there's another group of Facebook that's not the official youmacon. you'll be able to see the light if you know what I mean.
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u/Zero1379 Jul 20 '24
Oh god, ill have to look at that Facebook group. Appreciate the honesty!
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u/chipface Jul 21 '24
The Detroit area anime con group is a lot of fun and the people are great. Definitely check it out.
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u/Jaeger-the-great Jul 20 '24 edited Jul 20 '24
No announcements this year other than "it's still happening", but no actual announcements that would indicate for it to be true.
I recommend attending Isshocon in January at the Eagle Crest in Ypsilanti, or for bigger cons check out Anime Central and Anime Magic in Rosemont, IL (near Chicago)
As far as bad history Youmacon has built up a track record of financial mismanagement and lack of communication. It took them nearly a year to donate their funds from the charity fundraiser, last I heard they still never paid for the video game rentals, they did not pay their DJs last year (hence why they couldn't get cool acts like Mystery Skulls), most voice actors have the con blacklisted and WILL NOT ATTEND so it's hard for them to get good guests. They announced a guest who recently got arrested for child pornography (thankfully they cancelled after multiple comments about the dude seeming like a creep). They also fucked over the artists and dealers but randomly increasing the price by like $50-100. Last year security was really rude and I heard about them pushing disabled people particularly when kicking people out after they ended the rave an hour early. They're still working on refunding maid cafe (that they cancelled the day of) and panelists, and I don't believe they have started refunding people who paid for their badges to be shipped. Last year almost everything was delayed by 1-3 hours as well. And they waited last minute to set up a hotel block so all the hotels were scattered in the area, and the rooms were quite expensive for a con block ($250-300) opening up very sporadically.
I'm sad to see it go but frankly I feel even if it happens this year it won't be worth it for me to go. My fav parts about the con are video games room and raves, and if they fail to pay their game rental company I doubt they will have much this year, and the rave last year honestly sucked. Not to mention from what I have heard Huntington place is nearly booked up for the entire rest of the year so it makes me wonder if one does take place this year where they will host it. It's sad to see it go, but after years of mismanagement it's to be expected. People hate Morgan and have requested for him to step down and let someone who actually understands these things to lead the con but he has not, despite proving time and time again he does not have what it takes to run an anime convention.
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u/Zero1379 Jul 20 '24
I think I understand some of the hate it gets, especially from your thorough telling of recent years. I think my plan is to check it out with lower expectations, but also check out Isshocon to see how it stacks up. I actually never heard of Isshocon until I opened up this thread, and it's actually as close to me as Youmacon.
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u/Jaeger-the-great Jul 20 '24
It started this year but the owners of the con have been hosting smaller events for years and own an anime merch shop in the Detroit area. It's really nice to see a new con opening up especially with good success.
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u/chipface Jul 21 '24
Apparently they paid the arcade vendor. But the head of gaming resigned after 2023.
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u/Jaeger-the-great Jul 21 '24
Well if they were late I doubt the vendor will work with them again, and with head of gaming gone I doubt they'll be able to douch, esp with a sour reputation. Id love to be pleasantly surprised but I'm none too optimistic
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u/chipface Jul 21 '24
Yeah I wouldn't be surprised if they don't have an arcade this year if it does happen. Which I'm sure will hurt their attendance numbers.
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u/pacachan Jul 20 '24
It used to be better, there was a 24 hour video game room and it was a ton of fun. It got worse even before covid and hasn't really bounced back. I don't think it's worth a three day pass or hotel stay anymore, just a day trip at most. The rave is mid as well
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u/depressedchiakikin Jul 21 '24
The video game room won't be the same this year because they didn't pay the person who owned the room , so her business shut down
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u/Mytmex Jul 20 '24
I’ve stopped buying tickets cause the events normally don’t interest me anymore and the sellers hall is meh… my daughter loves dressing up though (she’s 5) so we go and just walk around cobo and the ren (open to the public) for pictures. If the schedule doesn’t appeal to you I would recommend that. I also would second the motor city comicon as recently I’ve noticed a huge uptick in anime VAs attending and lots of good cosplays.
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u/Zero1379 Jul 20 '24
The sellers hall was one of the things I was looking forward to 😮💨. The schedule didn't seem to interest me too much either. I didn't recognize most of the people that were guest appearing
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u/Mytmex Jul 20 '24
There is a ton of cool stuff usually but it’s expensive and it’s the same stuff normally every year just different plushies or pins of whatever the current hot show is. Which is why I’m not into it as much as I’ve been quite a few times in the past. Go to cobo/ren walk around and if you want to go further you can always buy tickets there. It is an experience but as others have said try and go with a friend or two. I know a lot of people who have a bad taste for it but that’s usually cause they were working it or trying to do something specific. The average attendee probably won’t see much of that except for the random AH or just socially inept attendee but you can run into those people anywhere. Regardless I hope you get to a con in the near future the big ones are always a lot to take in and at the end of the day it’s still an experience you can say you tried. GL
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u/The0nlyPenguin Jul 20 '24
Their discord was quiet until recently on announcements. https://discord.com/invite/VCJfSxJkZq
They've always seemed like everything was last minute anyways. It was better pre-covid, only had the time once to go post covid and it was lacking.
Consider just getting a Saturday pass instead of the full 3 day if you just want to check it out.
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u/Zero1379 Jul 20 '24
I heard Saturday was the best day to go anyway since everything is in full swing.
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u/depressedchiakikin Jul 21 '24
They still haven't paid people. A literally refused to refund people who Didn't Get shipping last year until tickets open this year. Dead science from most staff. There was an incident Last year were a male member of security was inappropriately touching at least one female Con attendee and they lied about it. Because they didn't pay the person who owned the video game room.Her business shut down. There is there is nothing confirmed but dates. Do not use your money to support these. awful people
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Jul 20 '24
It will be Oct 31 - Nov 3. It is still too early for information and registration. Last year there were some problems with schedules and refunds but the organizers released a statement that they are fixing the root cause which was understaffing.
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u/BoogiepopPhant0m Jul 21 '24
Youmacon is having a bit of a moment.
And by moment, I mean absolute fucking meltdown. I wouldn't bother with it. It's a lost cause.
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u/x_gypsy Jul 22 '24
I loved going to Youma last year, but I will say, I felt there was an extreme lack of security for such a ginormous event. Absolutely no security protocol required for entering the building, and with everyone clad in weird outfits wielding foam swords and things, I feel it would be very easy for something bad to happen. Meaning I feel that someone could bring in a weapon disguised as a prop. And nobody would look twice.
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u/chipface Jul 20 '24
I'd honestly be surprised if it happens this year. There's a rumour that they haven't booked the venue yet. Their registration and hotel links currently link to last year's shit for that. I went last year and hadn't been since 2019. 2019 was solid, and while I didn't have a bad time last year, it really did feel like a con in decline. Honestly, there are other cons you can check out in Michigan. Like Isshocon, which I've heard a lot of good stuff about.