Katsucon was has been a dream con for me since I learned about conventions at about the age of 13 or 14. And now being 22, it's been nearly a decade of wanting to go to this con. I was able to come into this con with reasonable expectations thanks to the different Facebook groups that I'm in as a side, so don't expect too much hate or gushing either way.
Pro: The location
The location is something that for years has made me want to attend. Katsucon is held at the National Harbor Gaylord Resort and Convention center (I've put in a photo of the location for your reference). This location has beautiful in-door and outdoor locations galore. Starting outside there is the harbor that has many large rocks and a small beach that make it a great area for water photos. Then moving back a bit there is a large lawn with rolling hills that provide another beautiful location. There is also the small garden right outside of the Gaylord that has bushes cut into curling and rounded shapes that make even more visually interesting.
Then moving inside the atrium is a large indoor space that has lots of live plants, fountains, small streams, buildings, and more. Then if you go up a few floors there's the famous Katsucon gazebo (see @kimochi.sensei touching it for the first time).
Because so much of the Gaylord is made up of glass, the lighting is beautiful inside and if it ends up in the background of a photo taken from outside it won't ruin any pictures. I loved doing photoshoots at the Gaylord.
Con: The staff
This includes the hotel staff, the security staff, and the convention staff. The hotel staff were rude in general to convention attendees. This likely was because they'd have to be there once we all left the con and then have to clean up after the convention, but their attitude was not appriciated.
The convention staff was more just lost and confused about things, but a number of con staff also were rude to me. I was a model for A. Gatto Designs (check out the entire modeling group + the designer and then also what I wore) and on Friday night I was instructed by the designer to meet her and the other models at a particular location that was just beyond a few panel rooms (and still open to the public) for a rehearsal. I was sitting on the floor waiting for the other models and the designer when a staff member approached me and said that I could not sit there. Had it been a safety concern or the area closed off to the public then I'd have not taken issue. However the area was open to the public and not in a walkway. Additionally, I'd been instructed to wait there in that spot. So I asked to speak to their department manager and supervisor (Karen, eh?), and when I spoke to him he said that I was fine where I was. The supervisor/department manager was perfectly polite and didn't take issue with me there. It was the lower ranked staff member that had an issue. In the future it would be nice to have the staff members more thoroughly instructed on what is and is not allowed in regards to resting and mingling areas.
The security staff was by far the worst staff that I encountered. I kept my badge on my backpack firmly attached to two lanyards that were secured to the handle at the top of my bag. To show the badge when it's on my backpack I just turn around and lean back a bit gesturing to it or telling them that it's on my backpack. Otherwise I keep it at an easily accessible but still out of the way location. This is fairly common for cosplayers and photographers who don't want to keep taking their badge off for photos or work around their badge when photographing. In fact, the only time I've ever worn my badge around my neck is when I've staffed a con and I'm on duty/on the clock and actively walking the con floor. But as I was walking back into the atrium from outside on Friday around 2-3 pm a security staff member physically grabbed me by each of my arms when I got close to them and turned to show the badge. The staff member demanded to see my badge and when I attempted to tell them that it was on my back they wouldn't listen. It wasn't until I quite loudly told them to "shut up and just listen" that they shut their mouth long enough for me to say that it was on my backpack and I was turning around to show them. Then they had another staff member who was standing about 5 feet away check for my badge. After the other staff member verified that I did in fact have a badge the original security staff member finally let go of me and let me past. I had shoots back to back that day and at the end I had the fashion show rehearsal so I never did report it, but if a Katsu staffer sees this then maybe letting the security team next year know that they cannot touch an attendee and that sometimes our badges are on our bags would be a good idea.
Pro: The weekend
I personally didn't take advantage of this particular part, but with Katuscon weekend falling on Presidents Day weekend many people had a full 4 day weekend and were able to stay at the Gaylord for an extra day for shoots. Others went home and had an extra day to just recoup and relax before going back into work. But at any rate, I know everyone liked this.
Con: The weekend
I loved the extended weekend, but I hated that it was over Valentines day. I'm married so I'd have loved to spend a romantic weekend with my husband, but alas, it didn't happen.
Pro: The food options
I did get groceries for most of the weekend but I did splurge twice at the con. The first time I just couldn't eat another sandwich and I ate at the little stir fry food cart in the atrium. It was $10 and I couldn't finish all of my food. It was yummy, and about what you could expect from a food cart. But again, it was a lot of food. So for me it was well worth. The second time I ate at Nando's just down the street. I had the 1/2 chicken plate with the mango lime sauce. My sides were the rice and fries with extra sauce. And honestly, I didn't expect to get full so quickly. In the future I probably would split this plate with someone or get a smaller plate. But the chicken was delicious. I 100% see why this is a Katsu tradition for many. And now I also want Nandos to open a place in Charlotte, NC. As a side, did you know that the only sauce that they don't sell by the bottle is the mango lime? I found out after trying to buy it and them telling me that they can't since it has to be cooked.
Con: The fake service dogs
So while I know that many service dogs don't appear to be service dogs, a dog that lunges, barks, snaps at other dogs, and seems to visibly be upset in the crowd isn't a service dog. Or it if is then it hasn't been trained to work in busy and crowded areas and should be left at home. I did see a good amount of well behaved service dogs, but I also saw a good amount of what I feel to be fake service dogs. Hotel staff, security, and con staff should all be trained in the two questions you can ask someone with a service dog.
Is this a service dog?
What tasks is this dog trained to perform?
Anyone with an actual service dog will not mind answering these questions and will be happy to do so since it cuts down on the amount of fake service dogs making it into a con. Emotional support animals are not allowed. And the only animals that can be service animals are dogs and miniature horses (I don't understand that one but okay). Cats, bunnies, and other animals that I saw rumored to be there are not able to be certified as a service animal.
Pro: The CVS
My friend @kimochi.sensei told me I should add this to my post, so here it is.
According to her the CVS staff were extremely helpful to convention attendees and went out of their way to assist. @kimochi.sensei was looking for eyeliner and a stick for a sign when she went in and the staff, upon learning that she was looking for a stick, were helping to come up with other items that could have worked instead since there were no sticks in the store. The CVS also was apparently very large and well stocked with all manner of things, making it easy to find nearly everything that was needed.
Con: The weather
I know that this isn't something that the convention can control, however it was truly awful. It didn't rain cats and dogs or anything, but rather it just was extremely cold and windy. So much so that I'm not sure if my dry lips, face, and skin are the lasting effects of the cold and wind or from the dry air that they convention space had pumping in all weekend. Quite honestly it's probably both, but really I can't be sure. But the cold and wind made it difficult to take pictures. Thankfully the wind died down after Friday, which did make the cold more bearable, but none-the-less it was awful.
Pro: the people
I got to hang out with so many friends that I'd met before or was meeting in person for the first time. One of the folks I finally got to hug was @whimsycosplay. She organized the My Hero Academia kimono group that I participated in. I was Ochaco and she was Toga. This group cosplay was actually what made me go to Katsucon in the first place. When @whimsycosplay first announced that she was doing the group I just up and added the con to my plans and ordered the cosplay. I'm so glad that I participated and I'm so glad that I met everyone else as well. When the photographer sends the group pictures I'll start sharing them to my Instagram.
I also got to hangout with other friends and catch up with some folks. I didn't get to do it as much as I'd have liked, but oh well. I'll try to do better next con.
Con: The crowd
The amount of attendees was... frankly ridiculous. It took me about 5 minutes to get about 10 feet at one point because everyone was so congested. Finding some way to limit the amount of attendees just sitting in the atrium to hang out may be something to consider in the future. There are other places to hang out other than somewhere where photographers want to work. Perhaps providing more seating in the convention space would be a good idea? It could even be folding chairs or some benches. And perhaps there were just too many attendees for the space as a whole? With this many people it felt like a fire hazard. And maybe it was just because many cosplays took up more that 1 person's space, but the convention should be able to take that into account.
Pro: the beautiful cosplays
This is something that has made me want to go to Katsu for so many years. And I was not disappointed. Sure I didn't see some of the characters I'd have liked to, but the ones that were there were so elaborate and so beautiful I COULDN'T have been disappointed.
Con: The pre-reg line
I pre-register for Katsu back in... September? Not sure of the exact month but it was a while ago. And typically pre-reg means that it's easier and faster to pick up a pass. However this was a nightmare. I heard many comparing it to Momocon 2019s pre-reg line. I volunteered at Momo so I was taken to a different location for my badge, but I waited for someone to pick up the badge at Momo 2019 and the Momo pre-reg line was no where near as bad. I was in Katsu's line for about an hour (shoutout to the guy who was goofing off in line with me and my friend), whereas my friend was in Momo's pre-reg line for about 20 minutes. I see a vast difference in that personally.
Pro: The parking
I know some folks hated it, but honestly it worked well for me. Had it been raining I probably wouldn't have been such a happy camper, but with it being sunny the whole weekend I was fine. I pre-paid for parking the day that the plateau lot opened. That meant that I was about a 5 minute walk from the con once parked. I had in-out privileges there (which I actually never used) and there were nearly always attendees at the entrances and exists to help us get in and out. On Saturday I believe that the lot sold of out spaces for pre-paid since I did see them turning some vehicles away. But since I had pre-paid I was let it fine and without any issues.
Con: The harassment
I personally didn't experience this but I also looked like a cute hobo most of the weekend since I was photographing a lot. But a few friends, who I'm going to leave the names of out for their comfort, did experience harassment. One had her butt groped as well as one of her breasts. Another had someone take a picture up her skirt. And yet another had someone smack her butt. Whether or not they were in cosplay or looked like a cute hobo means nothing in terms of harassment. The convention did not make clear enough a place for this type of thing to be reported. Reg was hard to get to, badge checkers didn't want to speak about anything but badges, the most helpful person was at prop-check when I just stopped by to ask for help with the map. And while I didn't use the disability services, I have heard that they were very rude to many attendees. The convention did not have a clear place for con-ops or anything. There should at least be a booth somewhere for attendees to ask questions or to report things. Perhaps the hotel lobby would be a good place? And if they already had one, signs or something would be useful.
So yup! There are my thoughts on Katsu 2020. I had fun, but there were some things that definitely need work. What are your thoughts? I'd love to hear them!
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