1. General
2. Guests
3. Staff
4. Gaming
5. Events and Panels
6. Cosplay
7. Theme

General

When and where is the con?

The convention will take place at the Hyatt Downtown at the Arch in St. Louis, MO the weekend of February 8-10, 2013.

What is your convention about?

We are a convention about many geek subjects with extra emphasis on Japanese culture, run for fans, by fans.

I want to bring my boyfriend/girlfriend/mother/father/distant relative, and he/she/it doesn't like anime.  Is there something for that person there too?

Although we started out as an anime convention, we've been working since the beginning to add a huge variety of programming. With at least nine rooms of programming all day as well as a large vendor room, video and tabletop gaming, and video into the night, there's a whole lot to do. We have nine blocks of panels and events each dedicated to a subject in addition to our main events, guest panels, and miscellaneous panels throughout the con.

We do ask that people who want to come just to wait for family members don't hang out in the con areas. Badges will be checked at the doors of all of the panels and events though the dealer room is open to the public. If we are having trouble with crowding, we may ask those without badges to stay out of the corridors unless they are walking to the dealer room. They may have to wait in the hotel lobby.

When will your schedule be up?

It will be up about a month before the convention.

Do you have a group rate?

We do! In fact, we have a special method of registration just for groups. Check it out on the Registration page.

What are the forums?

Forums are a place for congoers to hang out and talk about anime, video games, the con, and other topics.  You can post without joining, but we encourage you to join (which is FREE) so that you can get private messages and e-mails from other forum members.

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Guests

Who are your guests this year?

Our guests will be announced over the course of the year. We'll post more information as soon as each is confirmed.

Why don't you have the guest I wan.?

We ask for suggestions for guests on the forums before we start getting guests for the next year, and we do our best to get guests we think our attendees will like.  We try to balance musical guests, voice actors, and other guests, and we DO have a budget.  Right now, Japanese guests aren't in our budget range.  Likewise, some guests charge large appearance fees, and we can't afford them either.  Other guests just aren't available or don't reply to our inquiries.  In the end, though, we have to decide between the guests who DO agree to come because we obviously can't have everyone.

I know that guest!  Can I be his personal escort?

We have staff members that will already be in charge of escorting guests to and from events.  I know that a lot of voice actor guests have some friends in the anime fandom community, but we ARE the ones paying for the guests and would like to make sure that they attend everything they are supposed to.  Also, we can't let just one congoer be a guest's personal escort because everyone else will want to do it as well.  We'd like to avoid messy fangirl fights, thank you.

Can I pet them?

We will have autograph signings.  You may pet them if they give you permission.

Are the guests going to do panels?

Keep checking back for a panel schedule which will include at least one panel for each guest.

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Staff

Why won't the staff answer my questions within an hour after I ask them?  I'm busy, and I need to know NOW!

You'll most likely get an answer within a couple of days. If you don't, feel free to ask on the forums in case your e-mail didn't make it to us (that does very occasionally happen). The very quickest way to ask us a question is on our facebook page.

I know one of the staff people.  Can I get in for free?

No, I'm sorry, but we're a small convention.  We wouldn't make any money if we let everyone in for free.  You CAN, however, volunteer.  Information on volunteer registration is on the Volunteers page.

How do I get on staff?

At the beginning of each new planning year (around June or July), we will have a meeting to find new staff members. You MUST attend that meeting if you want to be considered for a staff position. We will interview you and generally get to know you at that meeting, and you will be notified soon afterward whether you will be on staff this year. Please email katrina@kawakon.com if you are interested in joining the staff.

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Gaming

What types of gaming will there be?

There will be video gaming (including DDR, Super Smash Bros., and other multiplayer games), tabletop role-playing, miniatures games, card games, board games, and live-action role-play.  If you want to suggest a game or volunteer to run one, contact our gaming director.

How do I get to be a GM (Game Master)?

If you have a game that you want to lead at Kawa Kon, you can volunteer to be a GM.  You must be at least 16 and have GM experience with that game.  E-mail either the gaming director or volunteer liaison.  Volunteers who GM can get free memberships by working a certain number of games.

Can I let you borrow my awesome new Wii, PS3, or X-box 360 for the convention?

We're sorry, but we cannot be held responsible for attendees' systems.  Please keep them in your rooms if you do bring them to the con.  We will be providing our own systems for gaming.

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Events and Panels

What main events will you have?

We're bringing back the masquerade (costume contest), game shows, and dances.  We'll also be adding some new events to try out, including several events specificially for this year's theme.

What are you showing in the video room?

The video room schedule should be up within a week of the convention.

What panels do you have?

We will have a variety of panels that will run until at least 1:00 in the morning on Friday and Saturday and until after closing ceremonies on Sunday.  Panels will be on a variety of topics, from specific shows to Japanese culture, Doctor Who to doll restringing.

Why aren't there enough/any panels on [blank]?

Because either no one has suggested them yet or no one signed up to run them!  We try to gear our panel programming toward everyone, but we obviously can't fit every topic into one weekend.  If you want to run a panel or have a suggestion for a topic, please post about it on the forums or facebook... or fill out a panelist form.  Let the programming chair know what your idea is, whether or not you want to host it yourself, how it should be presented, and why other congoers will want to attend the panel.

Can I run a panel?

Head over to the Panel Programming page to sign up! You'll even get some of your registration money back!

My friends and I are hot stuff!  We want to host a panel about ourselves!  Can we do that?

Er... no.  A lot of people think they're hot stuff, but we can't let all of those people host panels about themselves.  If you belong to a recognizable area group (like the Costumers Guild or FantAsia), then you and your group members can apply to have a panel.  If you are working on an interesting project (such as a film or video game), you can do the same.  We may or may not be able to give you a panel.  If we turn you down, you may NOT create your own panel at the convention and have it "unofficially".

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Cosplay

What is cosplay?

Cosplay refers, basically, to wearing a costume.  That costume can be anything from a full character costume from your favorite show to a generic witch costume you decided to wear to a convention.  

In order to get the cosplay discount at registration, that must be FULL costume, not just a wig or pieces of a costume.  It also can't be an "original character" who just happens to wear normal clothing.  But basically figure that whatever would get LOTS of looks on the street is most likely good enough.  If you're not sure whether something you're wearing will be accepted, bring a reference picture.

Is there a cosplay contest?

Definitely!  Check out the masquerade section for more details!

Can I dress up as ANYONE I want to at the convention?

If your costume follows the rules of our convention, you may wear anything you want.  Darth Vader is more than welcome at an anime convention!

I just bought an awesome new sword in the dealers' room!  Can I use it with my costume?

No.  Please take all metal weapons, live or dull, to your hotel room or car and LEAVE THEM THERE.  We WILL confiscate dangerous weapons.

Can I sword fight in the hallways?

No.  We're sorry, but we cannot allow fighting in the hallways.  It's dangerous, and the hallways tend to get very crowded during the convention.  Dueling may be allowed with BOFFERED (foam) WEAPONS ONLY outside in NON-CROWDED AREAS or in designated boffered weapon areas. If you are asked to move or to stop, move or stop immediately.

I'm in costume!  Do I get a discount?

Yup.  If you wear your costume when you register at the con, you get $5 off your admission.  If you pre-register, please mark on your form that you are planning to cosplay.  If you mark it on your form but do NOT cosplay at registration, you must pay the extra $5.

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Theme

What is this year's theme?

For Kawa Kon 2013, the theme is "Old School". It will focus on pop culture of the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Bring your favorite childhood toys! Eat cereal and watch Saturday morning cartoons! We're bringing back the past for a weekend of nostalgia.

Do I have to dress up from the theme?

Not at all.  Some people will, but all costumes are still welcome.

What does the theme mean for me?

Basically, it means that we're having a few events, panels, and shows (in the video room) that feature the theme.  Other events may include special sections regarding the theme. Our theme track room will be decorated to look like a classroom from the 80s, including posters from some of our favorite nostalgic shows. Panels will be devoted to the "good old days", and there may be lots of characters you remember dressing as for Halloween as a kid wandering the halls. Expect a lot of 8-bit video games and pre-2000 anime... or is that... Japanimation?

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Revised: 07/13/12 .

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