Hello! This is a short-ish and
unbiased opinionated guide to everything Youmacon.
What:
Youmacon is a free to walk around, but pay to enter any of the rooms event loosely about Japanese culture appreciation.
When:
Youmacon is four days long around the time of Halloween Thur-Sun.
Where:
Detroit, MI Renaissance Center (Ren Cen) and Cobo Center (Cobo).
Who:
Official website Put on by paid staff, interns, and volunteers. Welcome to anyone, even kids.
Why:
• See people dressed up in costumes • Play video games, board games, and trading card games • Watch anime • Dance • Listen to music • Attend panels, talks, and discussions • Buy posters, memorabilia, figurines, stuffed critters, accessories, international snacks, games, digital media, and more
Intrigued? Here's everything I can tell you about my experiences.
Buying tickets:
Buy them online in advance! They typically go on sale around April of the same year and the sooner you buy, the better... 1. Because it's cheaper 2. You can get your ticket sooner 3. You get your ticket way, WAY faster
Which days and times to go:
It's not mandatory to attend all four days; it's a come and go as you please event. Since they only release the official schedule right before the event begins, plan on going on Sat at the very least. Try to squeeze in some time on Fri, maybe Sun. Thur is the least attended day, although everything is completely free.
What to wear:
Anything within reason! •
Emulate a character from popular media (e.g.,
Naruto,
Street Fighter,
Avatar the Last Airbender, etc.) •
Gender-bend your favorite character (e.g.,
Link,
Wonder Woman,
Disney,
Vegeta, etc.) •
Mashup characters and/or ideas (e.g.,
Ash Ketchum as a zombie,
post-apocalyptic Mario,
sexy Adventure Time,
poor man's Gundam, etc.) •
Out of the ordinary outfits (e.g.,
furry,
lolita,
rave cat,
kimono,
steam punk, etc.) •
Geek attire (e.g.,
onesie,
shirt,
hat,
signs, etc.)
What to bring:
Must haves...
•
Money! - cash only for at-the-door tickets and merchandise/food can be purchased with cash or card •
ID - need it for 18+ stuff •
Water bottle - you may be in long lines waiting to get into a panel, so have a water container to fill up at drinking fountains •
Phone - plan out your day, take photos, communicate where you are with friends, navigate the city, and entertain yourself while waiting in line •
Phone charger - preferably a power bank so you can be anywhere and still charge your phone •
Bag - something to hold your stuff in and possibly some merchandise as well
Consider bringing...
•
Pen - you have to fill out a form when you get your ticket at the very least, so it's useful •
Chapstick - give your lips some love after being out in the chilly fall air •
Anti-gas meds - if you're gassy, don't damper other guests' fun •
Snacks - food isn't cheap there •
Energy drink - make the most of your time there and be awake for the late night events •
Deodorant - freshen up a bit from time to time •
Hand sanitizer - some areas have this for free, but they're not everywhere •
Headphones - zone out with some music •
Portable gaming system - don't forget the charger •
Jacket/umbrella/rain coat - check the weather report •
Comfortable clothes and shoes - you will be standing and sitting on the floor from time to time while waiting in line
Where to park:
- Greektown Casino - the parking garage is huge, so there's most certainly going to be a spot open, it's a stop on the People Mover, it's $10 on weekdays (you get that money back if you gamble with a player's card for 30 min), and it's free on the weekends.
- Cobo or Ren Cen lot - it's pricey, but you literally can't get be any closer to the action if you don't want to use the People Mover or walk, even though it's a safe area.
Getting acquainted with the people and culture:
You will NOT recognize or even like many of the outfits, but just appreciate and respect the work and thought put into them (i.e., have fun with it). There will be people there who have... interesting social norms that may differ from yours. Don't touch people without permission, even if you really want to hug your favorite character or inspect someone's intricate outfit. Be patient with other attendees as they may be quite talkative, opinionated, awkward, or not great picking up on social cues. Foster the "all are welcome" environment or at least tactfully remove yourself from uncomfortable situations and people if need be.
What to do first:
Once you have your ticket, take a look at the scheduled events and plan out your time at Youmacon. 1. Find a few panels that you would want to check out, then mark down when and where they are in your organizecalendar of choice 2. Figure out when are good times to eat (preferably outside of the busy times of around noon and 6pm) 3. Familiarize yourself with the map of the two centers and maybe the surrounding city area, especially since the Ren Cen layout is SUPER confusing 4. Go to the vendors room as early as possible to not miss out on limited quantity items 5. Walk around or play games in between panels/events If you just don't know what to do, then locate the gaming areas and take your time getting there to enjoy the costumes.
Going to a panel:
At least 30 min before a panel is going to start... 1. Head to the area where it's taking place (you will get lost at least once in the Ren Cen) 2. Go to the bathroom 3. Fill up your water bottle 4. Locate the end of the line (don't be afraid to ask which line someone is in) and don't be afraid if it's long; there's a 95% chance you'll get in and find a seat just fine 5. Keep yourself busy by talking to people in line with you if they're feeling social or do stuff on your phone (panels may not start on time, so you need to occupy your time) Panels may be quite interactive, so be prepared to sit in a spot that's near the front and by the aisles if you want to participate or away in the middle/back of the room if you just want to listen and observe.
Panel recommendations:
Totally subjective. Look through the booklet and check out anything that you might enjoy, and if you end up not liking it, you can simply leave to do something else. I personally like Raunchy Shakespeare (18+). A lot of people like the Live Action Mario and celebrity Q&A panels.
Where to eat:
The Ren Cen cafeteria on the lower level has the most selection and affordable food. Cobo has a cafeteria and some food outlets scattered about, but they're kind of over-priced. There are restaurants and bars nearby, especially around Greektown, just depends how much you want to spend, what you're craving, and how much of the sights you want to see.
What to buy:
The vendors room has a lot of stuff, but half of it is stuff you can get online for cheaper, although some offer special bulk discounts and you may be able to haggle (politely) with sellers. Look for the hand-made toys, art, trinkets, and figures. They also sell board games and trading cards in the table top areas.
Video game room:
The busiest room in all the con. If you want to play in a tournament, ask a staff person about signing up as early as possible. Many of the games are in Japanese, so just ask someone who seems to know how to use the machine when they're not busy.
Video game recommendations:
- Jubeat - fantastic rhythm arcade game pressing buttons to the beat that you MUST try out.
- Taiko no Tatsujin (Taiko Master) - another awesome rhythm arcade game using a drum.
- Cho Chabudai Gaeshi! (Super Table-Flip!) - a quick and silly game where you charge up your rage and flip a literal table controller destroying as much as possible.
- Music GunGun! - a rhythm game where you shoot targets to the beat.
- Any of the PC/Console games - take a break to play some familiar games, try out games you've wanted to look into, or have fun playing classics with new people
Table top room:
Test out new games or play one's you know with others. People in here can be real passionate about gaming, so be prepared for enthusiastic responses and advise if you ask questions.
Table top recommendations:
- Red Dragon Inn - the perfect party game that's all about fun, drinking, and gambling.
- Betrayal at House on the Hill - explore a haunted house and find out who amongst you is the traitor.
- Legendary Marvel / DC Comics Deck-Building Game - recruit your favorite super heroes to fight bad guys in card form.
- Alhambra - build your city one building at a time.
- Games in the raffle - there's an area where you can try out a new game, and then enter into a drawing to win it.
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