I know that Wasabicon didn't actually happen this year, but I still wanted to do a review as I think it's important to talk about what happened as well as a convention being held accountable when they mistreat not only their vendors, but their attendees, and guests. Some of this is stuff that I had heard over the weekend and want to remind you to take everything you see with a little grain of salt, but with how horribly everything went, it wouldn't surprise me if everything was true.
I also wish to send my love to the folks who were affected by Hurricane Milton, and hope that things can be replaced, and hearts can be healed from those that lost loved ones.
If you can, please support these artists who were not only affected by the canceling, but some are also Florida residents and may have lost more than just sales. https://jax.wasabicon.com/artists/
Finding out about Hurricane Milton the week before the convention, especially when it was announced as a Category 5 (I believe at one point it was a 6?) obviously made me nervous about doing the convention, but not being from Florida, I understand those are some hardy folk. Maybe it wouldn't be as bad as it was for Helene, and maybe it wasn't going to be a Category 5 and everything would be fine. I was hoping and watching my email like a hawk to see if Wasabicon would be canceled, and even pushed back us leaving from Thursday at midnight to 6 a.m. on the off-chance we got a 4 a.m. email saying, "JK! We're not having it 'cuz the roof was ripped off," or something of that nature. I was hoping the convention would be canceled only because I knew either people wouldn't be there, or the sales just wouldn't. I tried to remain positive, and so my partner Tolia and I finished packing up and hit the road.
We got into Georgia/Tennessee (You leave TN, get into Georgia for about 5 minutes, get into Chattanooga, then back into Georgia and continue to head south, for our route) after driving for almost 9 hours, and stopped at a rest stop as nature was calling. Tolia took a little longer than I did, so I got back into the car and checked my notifications, which included the email stating that Wasabicon was canceled. I'm livid, as I had wasted a tank of gas (and then some), time, effort, and feelings. Their reasoning of, "It wouldn't be fair to those affected," seems very disingenuous as it completely leaves out the artists, vendors, and guests that had either already arrived, or were already on their way. Of course my feelings are hurt, but there were hundreds, if not thousands of people coming to try to make money and now they were out hotel, travel, and food expenses where they didn't really have an opportunity to make it back. Again, some of those are Floridians and they were banking on being able to pay to fix things that were taken in the hurricanes, and that's what made me the maddest.
Here's where some of the rumors come in. Their Risk Assessment staff member had quiet quit the week leading up to Milton, and had sent all their emails to spam. The call should have been made the day this person quit. From what I had heard, they weren't good at their job anyway, so who knows, they may have said it was fine to run the convention anyway. But logically, it wouldn't have taken a Risk Assessment Specialist to tell me it's a bad idea to have a con during/immediately after a hurricane.
I almost phoned it in. I legit almost turned around for another 9 hour drive back home. I honestly don't understand why the hell conventions are sucking so hard in communication, organization, and sales this year, but it's not okay and it's gotta change. But Tolia convinced me to truck on ahead and get us down to Jacksonville. We spent some time in Chattanooga, trying to figure out what we wanted to do, which included a nifty historical park (seemed a little too in favor of the Confederacy, in my opinion), as well as the Naughty Cat Cafe (which, honestly, I could do a whole review on, and have a ton of video footage from so look at my tiktok @Ashfosterscats for it!) and decided we needed to go, even if it was for a mini vacation to the beach.
We got in very late, checking into an airbnb because I absolutely couldn't afford the hotel at this point. We got up Friday and headed to the beach, where I gladly picked up over 20 pieces of garbage and disposed of, lost my sunglasses to the sea (yet again), and stumbled into Jacksonville Beach's Oktoberfest. I was scrolling on my phone and found out Kawaii Kunai was organzing a pop-up DJ event with DJAwesomusprime, so I told Tolia we needed to shower (bruh, I had so much sand in my shorts), and get on over to the Justice Pub. Shoutout to those guys for helping the community and having an amazing time! While I didn't make a ton of sales, a really sweet patron bought my Froakie amigurumi, not knowing what he was, as well as the sweetheart who bought the Vriska Scalemate and even showed it off the next day! Also, I hope the gentleman who was drunkenly hitting on and having a full conversation with Bethany, my mannequin, drank some water and didn't have too bad a hangover.
Tom of Wasabicon did work to try to fix this HUGE mistake by helping organize a couple more pop-ups, one being Saturday in the parking lot with Nakama Anime Bar, and the Sunday one that I wasn't a part of because emotionally, I was done. We did okay for a one day pop-up and again, shoutout to all the people who showed up and showed out, supporting the affected vendors and artists. We didn't sell a whole lot, but thanks to Austin, we got to finally cross of Golett! Making connections is where it's at and again, being surrounded by some of the friendliest people really made up for the shitshow that was this Wasabicon.
Throughout these two days, we made friends with B and Z’s Relics and Events, who were so kind to share some of their displays, as well as hang out with us and make sure we had a good time. Their 3D printed fidgets are really the freaking cutest and they had some really cute ribbons I can't wait to add to my ribbon scrapbook! We also chatted with Cozy Furb Cafe and the other artist whom for the life of me, I cannot remember their name, and they gave us some rad (cursed) stickers! We really would not have survived emotionally if it weren't for these kind strangers. I hope that no matter what they do in the future, only good things and kindness lead the way.
Sometime on Saturday, we found out that some vendors/artists (I don't know the names, but I wish I did because I would not shop with them after this) had doxxed the staff members and had been sending death threats to their homes. That is absolutely NEVER okay, and may you never vend at another convention. It's perfectly fine, and absolutely understandable to be upset and mad about this situation. Some people were stuck in the airports in other states trying to get to the con when they found out it wasn't actually happening. Big feelings are okay and valid. Threatening to take out someone's family is not. My heart goes out to one staff member who straight up quit because of the threats, and may she have peace quickly.
I'm also frustrated that Wasabicon decided to move the con back a month to Colossalcon North's weekend, which I wouldn't be able to attend. Being told I was also not allowed a refund or rollover really wasn't the move that Wasabi made it out to be. Coming with an email stating that 75% of your guests, and over 20% of your artists not being able to show up makes it seem more of a pity party rather than just offering the refunds/rollovers immediately. Several people had to eat the costs of their trip, including myself. I didn't even make back what I had spent to get there and back. I know everyone's suffering, but back to back convention failures was not on my 2024 bingo card. I really believe that Wasabicon should have canceled until next year and just automatically allowed rollovers or refunds. I had several people upset that I wouldn't be able to make the new dates, but traveling around Thanksgiving, on top of this whole debacle really put a sour taste in my mouth for this convention in general.
Thank you again to the people who supported me, as well as the other folks that came to the pop-ups. I do wish they had been a little better organized, because some folks had emailed Tom immediately after receiving the email about the pop-ups (including myself) and had been excluded from the vendors list, sometimes both times. Again, if you have a spare few dollars, toss them to the Wasabicon Jax artists and vendors. I myself will have a coupon for you (if you made it this far) where you can get 15% off any ready to ship item until October 31st. I really need to recoup more of this loss and I can't even imagine how bad it is for some other artists. 2024 has really tried me as far as conventions, but this one takes the cake. Maybe I'll see folks in Florida again, but for now, I need time for my heart to heal. If you want to see me at a con, let those con runners know! I can't always be on top of applications, and sometimes it's a little too expensive for me to travel without a little help from the con.
Use the code "WASABITOOSPICE" for the 15% off coupon. It's able to be used on anything under the Ready to Ship tab of my shop. I really appreciate you and appreciate your continued support of my business.
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