Youmacon 2009

October 29–November 1, 2009 Hyatt Regency Dearborn Dearborn, Michigan

Frequently Asked Questions

Pre-Registration

Where/When do I get my badge?: At the convention registration desk located in the back of the lobby. No badges are mailed. Hours will be posted on the registration page closer to the con.
What do I need to get my badge?: The confirmation number that is e-mailed to you. If you're under 18, you'll also need a parental consent form.
When will I get my confirmation number?: Most online registration payments are processed within a couple days. PayPal transactions made with E-Checks instead of a standard transfer take up to a week to clear. Mail-in registrations take longer to process than online registrations. E-Checks and mail-in registrations are confirmed within 30 days of the payment clearing or the check being received.
I've lost my confirmation number. What should I do?: Retrieve it with the form at the top of the registration page.
Where do I send mail-in registrations to?: Youmacon 2009
P.O. Box 554
Troy, MI 48099-0554
Why is it a "three-day" badge? Shouldn't it be "four-day"?: No badge is required for Thursday night's programming.
How can I get a refund?: Refunds are permitted only within 30 days of pre-registration. E-mail registration to request one.

Cosplay

Is my prop weapon allowed?: If you're uncertain after reading the general cosplay rules, e-mail cosplay to get a solid answer.
How do I become a piece in Cosplay Shougi?: A signup form has been posted in the cosplay forums. If there are still pieces available when the con arrives, Shougi signup will also be available at the cosplay signup desk. Follow the procedure in this forum thread.
Do I have to compete if I cosplay?: Not at all. In fact, only a small portion of cosplayers do. Unless you're competing, the only rules you have to worry about regarding your cosplay are the general cosplay rules.

Maid Cafe

Is this Hooters for otaku? Are the maids/butlers going to act fanservicey for me?: If seeing people dressed nicely or in frilly dresses gets you hot and bothered, well, more power to you. There will be no flashing panties, kissing, or otherwise acting like a bizarre otaku strip joint.
Isn't this just a boy-friendly event?: Both girls and boys staff the cafe. The Youmacon maid cafe combines the elements of both maid cafes and host clubs to appeal to both genders.
Why such a high price? Why can't it be free?: The proceeds compensate the cost of the caterers and their food, and also go towards future con events. After the first hour, the cafe is free, but there's no guarantee you'll meet the guests then.
Will there be b33r?: No, alcohol is not served or permitted in the cafe.
May I get autographs?: Some guests may be nice and do this for you, but it's generally discouraged. Autograph sessions are the recommended time to request autographs. Pictures are permitted, but make sure you ask nicely first.
May I leave a tip?: If you'd like. It's not required as it is a free event, but the maids and butlers do appreciate any donations for their work.
How can I work in the maid cafe?: E-mail Artists' Alley expressing your interest and you'll receive a short application to complete.

Panels

How do I sign up to run a panel or event?: Sorry, panel submission for 2009 is now closed.

Video/Audio Track

What is the VAT?: The VAT is essentially Youmacon's dedicated AMV room, however, it doesn't contain only AMV programming. The VAT focuses on all fan-created videos, such as AMVs, Flash videos, parodies, and any other types of fan-created video work.
I have this cool video that should be in the contest; can I bring it with me to the con?: The contest showings are prepared weeks in advance, so we cannot accommodate at-con submissions. However, the VAT staff will gladly accept videos from individuals who bring them to the convention and we will try to show them during AMV Theatre.
Can I get a copy of this video I saw in the music video contest?: It is the responsibility of the creator of the video to release their video for distribution. A list of videos in the contest including winners will be posted to our forums to aid in your search for videos.
What about a video I saw at another time outside the contest?: Generally, any music video shown during the convention can be easily downloaded from the Internet; Youmacon can't burn discs or copy videos for you. If you don't know the title, our staff can help you identify it.
I want to see a certain music video.: Requests are gladly accepted on a sheet at the VAT desk for all AMV Theatre showing blocks. All other panels and events will not be request friendly unless stated otherwise.
I saw this cool video in the contest but it didn't win anything. Can I give it my own award?: Yes. On Sunday, the VAT holds its own closing ceremonies, where we will wrap up our business for the weekend and hand out awards that have not been claimed in past years. We will also announce Guest Awards, a special award that a video can receive from any attendee at the con. You are limited to one award to give out, so choose wisely. Fill out a form at the VAT desk after Saturday's music video contest to nominate your favorite.

Artists' Alley

When does artists' alley open and close?: Artists may check in at noon on Friday. From then, the alley is open at all hours until the convention concludes.

Volunteering

What do volunteers do?

Volunteers keep the con running smoothly. The bulk of the work volunteers do falls into three main categories:

Gophers: Run errands for the staff, such as unloading supplies or delivering messages to staff.
Badgers: Sit in front of event, panel, and video rooms to check attendees' badges, and IDs in the case of age restricted events.
CATs (Convention Attendee Tamers): Control the lines for events and registration.

What are the requirements for becoming a volunteer? What are the perks?

See the volunteering page.

May volunteers cosplay?

Yes, as long as the cosplay does not interfere with your ability to work.

My 18th birthday is two weeks after Youmacon. Can I still volunteer?

Sorry, no. You must be 18 as of the first day of the con to volunteer.

What do you mean by "crash space"?

All of the volunteers share a standard hotel room. Each volunteer is entitled to sleeping space, usually on the floor.

If I volunteer, can my friend and I both sleep in the volunteer crash space room?

No, the crash space room is for volunteers only.

Do you have to work 16 hours to volunteer?

No, 16 hours is only the threshold for getting your registration cost refunded. If you want to work less than that you may.

May I volunteer for an hour and sleep in the crash space room for the rest of the con?

No. A volunteer must work a minimum of five hours a day to gain access to the crash space room.

May another person work my 16 hours for me?

What? No. You must work your own 16 hours.

I have a Platinum registration. If I volunteer will I get a $100 refund?

Nice try, but no. We will refund only up to the $45 cost of a 3-day badge.

What is "Gopher Ops"?

"Gopher" is a term for a volunteer. The Volunteering Operations room is sometimes referred to as Gopher Ops.

General

When/Where is Youmacon?: See the Location page.
How big is Youmacon?: Not too big, not too small. Over the four years of Youmacon's existence, we've grown from 1,078 to 4,494 attendees. How much we grow this year depends on you.
When does the convention open and close?: Programming begins at 8:00 PM on Thursday and concludes at 6:00 PM on Sunday. Video and gaming programming run all night, while major events and panel programming end in the late night and resume at 10:00 AM the next day.
When will the schedule be posted on the Web site?: By mid-October.
Where can I eat?: The Hyatt has a few places for snacks and meals, or you can walk across the street to Fairlane Town Center, which has many restaurants to choose from, including a food court. Check out this map to see all the dining options in the area. They'll be listed in the program guide at the con.
How do I get on staff?: A good way to start is to volunteer. Volunteer duties earn you registration and room space, and many well-performing volunteers are invited to work as staff in future years. Occassionally departments in need of staff will have open invites; check the department forums for these posts.
What if I have a question that's not listed here?: Look in the corresponding forum to see if anyone has already answered what you're looking for. If not, e-mail the appropriate department.