Conventions suck now

Summary of the video’s main points (convention culture decline)

The speaker argues that convention culture has shifted negatively since 2020 and has rapidly worsened to the point that some events feel close to “no return.” They claim they’re not just voicing a vague “vibe shift,” but pointing to specific, observable factors affecting attendees, creators, and the overall community.

1) Cost increases and reduced value (especially for attendees)

• Money is the biggest driver: people have less disposable income, while conventions keep raising prices.
• The speaker criticizes ticket hikes that don’t come with enough programming, venue quality, guests, or experiences to justify the cost.
• Examples include “local cons” charging similarly high weekend prices to major events despite lacking comparable scale or offerings.
• One-day passes are also criticized as poor value, often nearly as expensive as multi-day options.

2) “Hidden”/extra fees and reduced accessibility

• Shipped badges are portrayed as beneficial for skipping lines, but the speaker dislikes when conventions don’t allow opting out, forcing additional shipping/convenience fees.
• They argue that even “only” $15–$20 can be significant for people living paycheck-to-paycheck.

3) Corporate takeover and exploitation of fan culture

• The speaker claims many conventions have become more business-like and profit-driven rather than passion-led community events.
• They argue conventions treat attendees and community members as revenue sources rather than participants in a shared culture.

4) Volunteer mistreatment and cutbacks

• They contend conventions mistreat volunteers by being non-transparent about responsibilities and applying heavy stress without adequate compensation or meaningful “value” in return.
• They criticize a general mindset of prioritizing quantity and output over quality.

5) High costs for vendors/artists (and worsening treatment)

• The speaker argues convention income increasingly comes from table/vendor fees rather than badges.
• They claim table fees have increased dramatically, and vendors/artist alley participants may face additional burdens.
• They cite a practice (via “Editing Ezra”) where conventions charge a percentage (e.g., 15%) of artist sales in addition to table fees—further squeezing profit margins.

6) Less compelling programming and poorer event execution

The speaker says they attend mainly for shopping and socializing, but they still check schedules—and claim recent programming doesn’t motivate repeat visits.

They criticize:

• Niche/guest choices at local cons paired with high badge costs
• Low audience turnout for guests/panels (in their view)
• Narrow content framing, such as rejecting panels adjacent to anime like K-pop or video games
• Possibly missing categories such as character-focused panels
• Poor advertising and weak professionalism, including:
  • Events aren’t clearly promoted
  • Main locations can be hard to find
  • Schedules rely on unreliable apps instead of being accessible via website/print
  • Costume events (masquerades/prejudging) may be run with organizational problems
  • MCs described as lacking stage presence/professional training

7) Dealer room/artist alley “slot fests” and resale/bootleg fatigue

The speaker argues shopping spaces are becoming repetitive and low-quality due to:

• Reselling, thrift/Temu/AliExpress-type sourcing, and drop shipping
• Bootlegs/unauthorized merchandise
• Low-effort or misleading sales practices (e.g., claiming items are “made by” the seller)

They also criticize:

• Insufficient screening/vetting
• Lottery-style selection, which they say can worsen quality control

As a result, they claim many attendees get tired and may skip dealer rooms entirely.

8) Convention failure to listen and broader accessibility/safety concerns

• They argue conventions ignore attendee feedback, allowing recurring problems to persist.
• Accessibility is highlighted as a major issue:
  • Disabled attendees pay the same costs and should not be treated as an afterthought.

They mention serious concerns such as:

• Overcrowding
• Stolen art
• AI-related issues
• Allowing dangerous individuals
• Inviting highly problematic guests without due diligence
• Poor accountability and potential cover-ups

9) Family-friendly push and the safety of minors (speaker’s nuanced critique)

• The speaker discusses a growing family-friendly / traditional values trend.
• They argue it might help, but won’t solve underlying problems like harassment, grooming, or unsafe situations involving minors.
• They claim the issue requires adult supervision, accountability, and real safeguards, not just rebranding events as family-friendly.
• They also argue some adult attendees may avoid conventions due to fear/uncertainty about what’s appropriate when minors are present—especially for 18+ cosplay/art.

10) Social media’s cultural effects and community behavior problems

• The speaker says COVID and social media massively changed cosplay/convention culture.
• They argue some attendees now:
  • Constantly complain about every convention
  • Act in ways that reduce others’ enjoyment (poor etiquette, disruptive behavior)
  • Treat conventions as opportunities for clout/networking rather than community-building/friendship

They criticize both:

• Newcomer shaming and “poser/larper” accusations based on appearance
• Veteran con-goer hostility toward newer attendees

Their thesis: infighting and blame-shifting distract from improving conventions and community.

Proposed “way forward” (within limits)

• They suggest that even if conventions can’t quickly be fixed (prices/programming may not change soon), attendees can help by improving community attitudes.
• They believe restoring unity and mutual respect can improve experiences and that this is not yet “past the point of no return.”
• They conclude that the most immediate power attendees and community members have is how they treat each other, while convention operators must address structural problems.

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Presenters / contributors

• Ezra Faye (speaker; creator of the video)
• Editing Ezra (credited voice used for an inserted add-on segment about a specific convention fee practice)