Designing a Con Video Series
1. A Unifying Theme
2. Ambiance
3. Points of Play
4. Empathy (The Comics Box)
5. Limitations (You Are Not Disney)
A Unifying Theme
Theme
Something that unites, and in doing so often makes something seem bigger. Uniting is not 1 + 1 = 2, uniting makes things greater than the sum of their parts.
Participatory Theme
Design an event so that the event is not just themed, but the way people interact with the event is themed. For instance our theme was “Origin Stories” and people got to write their own origin stories, see their origin stories on the wall, and some of their origin stories were even part of panels with our top celebrity guests.
Something that unites, and in doing so often makes something seem bigger. Uniting is not 1 + 1 = 2, uniting makes things greater than the sum of their parts.
Participatory Theme
Design an event so that the event is not just themed, but the way people interact with the event is themed. For instance our theme was “Origin Stories” and people got to write their own origin stories, see their origin stories on the wall, and some of their origin stories were even part of panels with our top celebrity guests.
Ambiance
Ambiance Space
Space where people can just enjoy. It is why good art galleries have sitting areas and create a culture of lingering.
The Coffee Stand Principle
If you have a spectacular view or beautiful monument or a fun con space, people might enjoy it for a few minutes but if you can give them a seat and a coffee they will linger long in that ambiance. Many places are amazing but you need to provide the content and cultural norms for people to enjoy the ambiance instead of just walking through it.
Space where people can just enjoy. It is why good art galleries have sitting areas and create a culture of lingering.
The Coffee Stand Principle
If you have a spectacular view or beautiful monument or a fun con space, people might enjoy it for a few minutes but if you can give them a seat and a coffee they will linger long in that ambiance. Many places are amazing but you need to provide the content and cultural norms for people to enjoy the ambiance instead of just walking through it.
Points of Play
Points of Play
Places where guests can play ranging from a simple photo opportunity to a more directed gaming experience.
Quick and Many
A con should strive to have many quick points of play, this will facilitate a larger playful attitude toward the entire con, where each moment is a time to enjoy and be happy rather than a "wait and watch" or "buy and leave” vibe.
Undirected Experience
Space where fans can explore and discover. Examples include undirected displays, finding easter eggs, and just looking around.
Directed Experiences
Space for specific direct experience such as curated photo opportunities, video game booths, card game booths, or guided group activity.
Constrained Creativity
Consumers love it when they get to be creative but have enough boundaries to know what to do, how to judge their actions and complete something in a certain amount of time.
Places where guests can play ranging from a simple photo opportunity to a more directed gaming experience.
Quick and Many
A con should strive to have many quick points of play, this will facilitate a larger playful attitude toward the entire con, where each moment is a time to enjoy and be happy rather than a "wait and watch" or "buy and leave” vibe.
Undirected Experience
Space where fans can explore and discover. Examples include undirected displays, finding easter eggs, and just looking around.
Directed Experiences
Space for specific direct experience such as curated photo opportunities, video game booths, card game booths, or guided group activity.
Constrained Creativity
Consumers love it when they get to be creative but have enough boundaries to know what to do, how to judge their actions and complete something in a certain amount of time.
Comics Box
Knowledge + Listening
In order to direct or make recommendations to any guest you must have a guide who is both knowledgeable but also knows how to listen. In my academic research I found that those with lots of experience often make mistakes when recommending to those with less experience. Structured listening can help fix this.
Consumers Want Help Exploring
At a con, there are many people looking to expand their fandom, providing opportunities for that will not only be something they enjoy, but truly be a service they are looking for.
Structured Time With Celebrity Guests
Giving celebrities a fun way to interact with guests that is structured and allows them to use their knowledge rather than just have another normal meet and greet. Many celebrities like this more and it can create unique quality interactions.
In order to direct or make recommendations to any guest you must have a guide who is both knowledgeable but also knows how to listen. In my academic research I found that those with lots of experience often make mistakes when recommending to those with less experience. Structured listening can help fix this.
Consumers Want Help Exploring
At a con, there are many people looking to expand their fandom, providing opportunities for that will not only be something they enjoy, but truly be a service they are looking for.
Structured Time With Celebrity Guests
Giving celebrities a fun way to interact with guests that is structured and allows them to use their knowledge rather than just have another normal meet and greet. Many celebrities like this more and it can create unique quality interactions.
You Are Not Disney
You Are Not Disney
Disney is offering truly spectacular better than anywhere else in the world moments. Unfortunately, that is not all us. In short, me, you, everyone else is not Disney. This means that while we can draw inspiration from Disney, directly copying them can be difficult.
Misery Moments
Moments during the day that are not fun such as waiting in the line, bad parking, or a low quality overpriced food are really bad anywhere but are more tolerated at Disney than other places.
Joy-Misery Trade Off
People will take a lot of misery to do something truly spectacular, but most experiences don’t have truly spectacular Disney level things, so understand the realistic trade offs you are dealing with.
People Can Leave
Remember that at any moment people can leave and they will if they get grumpy, can’t get food they want, or just feel uncomfortable. They won’t leave Disneyland or a huge concert, but they will leave most normal events if the misery levels gets too high.
Disney is offering truly spectacular better than anywhere else in the world moments. Unfortunately, that is not all us. In short, me, you, everyone else is not Disney. This means that while we can draw inspiration from Disney, directly copying them can be difficult.
Misery Moments
Moments during the day that are not fun such as waiting in the line, bad parking, or a low quality overpriced food are really bad anywhere but are more tolerated at Disney than other places.
Joy-Misery Trade Off
People will take a lot of misery to do something truly spectacular, but most experiences don’t have truly spectacular Disney level things, so understand the realistic trade offs you are dealing with.
People Can Leave
Remember that at any moment people can leave and they will if they get grumpy, can’t get food they want, or just feel uncomfortable. They won’t leave Disneyland or a huge concert, but they will leave most normal events if the misery levels gets too high.
Designing A Con Compilation Video
Compilation Video