As a former florist and someone who works for a bridal industry…. Who ran a bridal expo…. PLEASE go to a bridal expo…. It’s NUTS…. Weddings are another level of crazy
I’m currently reading ‘Past Mortems: Life and death behind mortuary doors’ by Carla Valentine, it’s all about her years training as an Anatomical Pathology Technologist and it’s fascinating. Highly recommend it if you’re into that sort of stuff!
I've been to one because of my job, it wasn't as exciting as you think(it was also a small show so that could be part of it) I don't think they would allow the general public to listen in on any of the classes tbh
Great video, Amanda! I'll just say this: unionize the game industry, unionize VFX, protect artists from getting their work stolen by AI, pay artists properly for their time and work. Thats all.
I'm surprised you went to LightBox. Thanks for mentioning the AI issue. I'm an artist and I had my art used in an AI database without permission even though I'm a student.
Literally everyone who has ever posted there art publicly, even if that's only on there own website, has been used for AI training. Literally the entire Internet has been used for AI training. The only content on the Internet that has any chance of _not_ having been used for AI training is behind a paywall. If I can visit a website (no matter what the site in question is) and view any sort of image of your art, then your art HAS been used for AI. Plain and simple. And here's the thing: They don't need your permission. That's literally how "fair use" works. Look up the parameters for what qualifies as "fair use", and TRY to tell me how AI doesn't fit that description. I'm no more happy about it than you are, but the simple fact is that it's everywhere, it's inevitable, and there's nothing you can do about it. So just stop whining about and get on with your life.
The state of animation is so sad to me right now. Because if you look at the animation work coming out, it’s fantastic stuff! It feels like 3D has finally broken out of the perceived confines of semi-realism and is taking advantage of what animation can do. And 2D has been seeing some really cool stuff in TV animation despite the financial restrictions. But companies are so focused on the money that they’re willing to throw artists to the curb, pay poorly, and demand crunch. I want so badly for animation to not only be a wonderful art form but a genuinely good and fulfilling career choice.
Movies like Into the Spiderverse are making so much money, can’t they just pay the artists a little more and hire a few more people to decrease the workload… That would literally be a minuscule amount of money in the grand scheme of things
@@OldSchoolAnniinto the spider verse is also horrendously animated. It looks like the animators made the movie, and then meticulously went through and removed 2/3rds of the frames. It's choppy as hell, and it makes what is otherwise an incredible looking movie literally unwatchable. A 10 year old with a bootleg copy of windows movie maker could probably produce smoother animation than that. (Yes, I know they did it on purpose. But there are some "artistic choices" that simply aren't choices. They're mistakes. It should NEVER be done that way for any reason.)
I brought this up already with the LBX staff but another issue is its inaccessibility for guests with mobility devices. Its new ticketing system makes it very hard for people with mobility issues to go back and forth so often just to retrieve tickets. As well as maneuvering its MASSSIVE attendance line Absolutely incredible event that changed me as an artist forever but if it can be helped for future thats one note for the team
Excellent point. Do they not allow people with mobility needs to skip the line? Events I’ve been to in the U.K. will generally allow folks with disabilities / mobility aids to skip the queue
@notville_ If they did I wasnt aware, I saw a few other people with mobility aids in the line so I assumed that was the only option ;-; !! I never heard anything like that from security/volunteers so they maybe wouldnt have been aware either if this is the case
That’s kind of disappointing to hear (though kind of understandable - convention management sounds extremely difficult). When I went last year I thought their crowd control and line management was easily one of the biggest drawbacks of the event, even though it was one of the highlights of my year and I’m so grateful for everything it brought me. It seems like the team are at least doing their best to address feedback by trying out new systems, but it seems like they’re still figuring things out. This also seems to be a common issue at a lot of cons, so definitely not a unique failure. Hopefully they’ll find something that works soon!
My wife is an Animator and artist and a huge fan of your videos. You said someone told you that a lot of artists draw while watching your videos and she is one of them. we died laughing when you said that because she was actually sketching at the time.
Christina Grimmie was a singer and youtuber. She was shot three times at point blank by her own fan back in *2016*. There is never an argument for "there wouldnt be x type of bad person here, its just a small thing". DO PROPER SECURITY. Properly secure your facilities. Keep your panelists, employees, and atendees safe.
Howdy Swell! I worked as a vendor in AA this year at Lightbox and we met super briefly! LBX is my favorite show to vend at because the organizers really treat the artists well. They give us a LOT more table space and space behind the table compared to other artist alleys. They also had a lounge for vendors with food and water that I utilized all three days! I definitely think they need to address crowding and safety more, though!! I wanted to mention some of the other issues with CTN. The biggest thing was that people were being charged for portfolio reviews. Vendors were also getting placed in really inconvenient areas or behind giant beams. I think there was also a lot of discussion about the event organizer for CTN yelling at vendors and staff. Loved the video!! Thanks for making it!!
I don't know much about the organizer's treatment of staff/ vendors so I won't comment on that, but I really don't know where the "being charged for portfolio reviews" thing came from. I've been going since 2015 and have never paid for a portfolio review or even seen any place where I would be able to purchase a portfolio review from anyone.
@yahoodotcom5321 Ok, where? I’ve been following them for a very long time and have never seen anything like this (and btw I’m a brown artist myself so I would remember if I felt offended by anything regarding that). If you will say something like this, don’t, unless you have a proof or something, people who don’t know anything about them will go and start repeating what you said with 0 base whatsoever.
As annoying as the double line is for panels, I appreciate the attempt at controlling the seat hogging. It sucks missing a panel because theres people who don’t care just waiting for the next one.
But all you'd have to do for that is a forced exit of the room after each panel. Which sucks and people hate, but it would avoid the double line situation.
I was definitely one of the people who said “what are you doing here”. BUT TO BE FAIR at the time the only thing I knew about swell was from her smosh cameo, and how she went to “weird” conventions. She kept referring to a furry convention video that was on the way. That being said, loved the video, and it was nice meeting you swell!
I went to the online Lightbox Expo back in 2021 (I think?) and I learned so much and had a blast-- it sucks that it'll likely never be as accessible for me ever again. The cost, the distance, and the accessibility (even if COVID ever goes away) make it impossible :(. It's hard to get an idea of what the expo is actually like, so your more objective, outsider perspective is really nice to hear.
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I also ran into you at the convention for like 5 seconds lolol. Your review covers many pros and cons I had with Lightbox this year. As a panelist for my company and at an industry booth, I noticed that people travel from all over the world to go to this convention so that they could get any guidance on their work and getting a job. Due to portfolio review spots being filled up so quickly, I and others ended up informally reviewing work. The urgency, especially among students facing industry uncertainties, was palpable. Having attended CTN as a student, I once had an anxiety attack in the middle of the hall because I felt like my work wasn't good enough and I couldn't get to talk to professionals due to the lines. Now that I'm on the other side, the issues with crowding still persist, and I wish they invited more artists from all parts of the pipeline out at industry booths to talk to students in an informal setting. I hope they address the convention's growing cost - I'm not sure if I'd pay that amount on my own.
As someone in the industry, how would you expose a high schooler who’s thinking they might want to be an artist to different ways that looks like after school? There are some RUclipsrs who talk about such things but it’s a pretty narrow view. I was discouraged away from art when I was my kids age and gave up. I almost invested in the major college debt to become my second choice, a veterinarian. Due to a summer internship I learned that it was super not the right choice for me. (I couldn’t deal with the pet owners and business side of things it turns out. Also my allergies really couldn’t be overcome) I don’t want to discourage my kid, more so to encourage and give direction. Thank you! Also I understand if you don’t have an answer. It’s cool! ❤
I work in animation and have gone to lightbox all years, SO crazy to see you also went :O!!!I did get a job at Netflix because of Lightbox, I have been working there for 3 years now!
Saw you walking around the exhibit hall! I got too nervous and didn’t say hi but I was more in awe about your stature. You give off such tall energy that I wasn’t expecting that. And then I realized in a week or two you’d have a video out so I was like ok let them work.
When you mentioned how dangerous not having bag checks and metal detectors were and how "who would do anything its an artist convention" I was immeditly reminded of that one Undertale fanartist who was given cookies by a "fan" at her booth. She found out they had needles in them after taking a bite ,and she person who gave them to her was I think arrested. It really does go to show how anything can happen even at the most chill of places. Im glad this con has such a hard stance against AI because more and more often I've been seeing booths that have very obvious AI art being sold. Its really dissapointing to see and knowing this con is very stict about it is nice.
lightbox was great last year, but like you said, it was originally created as an alternative to the other big animation networking convention, CTNX. From my experience this year, they're having the exact same issues that CTNX had (at least on the public facing side) CTNX also had a very 'industry ready' mindset. It was somewhat unfriendly to beginner artists and even recent grads. It was mostly geared towards people who already had 1-2 years of industry experience. I'm happy that Lightbox is much friendlier, but I think it's become unhelpful to the people it set out to help. Hopefully they move to a bigger hall or prioritize independent studios, rather than the large ones that aren't hiring
A convention where there is a lot of people looking at jobs and where people might negatively review the convention because they didn't get a job is exactly the kind of place you need to have more security. Especially when there are more people looking for jobs than there are currently positions.
Omg I saw you walk by and literally my first thought was "Damn she really does go everywhere" But definitely have started paying attention to security and safety more after watching your videos. Lightbox could very much be safer. Part of that could be from bag checks and moving to a larger space that allows for less congestion.
Re: the demo space, I went to a conference with a similar setup and they had headphones that you could grab when you sat down in your chosen section - the speakers were mic'ed directly into the headphones, not to the room. You had to pick up headphones to hear them. It does draw people in because they're curious about the headphones and the speakers voices aren't clashing with the other stuff in the room; also a nice accessibility thing.
whoaaa it's so awesome that they were teaching artists about their options regarding AI art! I'm writing a research paper about the training data sources for some of the biggest text and image generators and their legality and I'm genuinely so curious about what action they suggested artists take. it makes me really happy to see things like this as a computer scientist who is very angry about tech companies stealing whatever data they can get their hands on.
I’m so glad you went to LBX!! I work shows with my spouse Rj Palmer and this is our favorite, it’s not even close. Really easy load in and out, where other shows like GenCon you might have to lug inventory from a nearby parking garage. Also BIG BRAIN idea, they put the show hours ON THE BADGES. It sounds simple but no other shows do it, you have to sift through like 6 website subpages to find artist alley hours, it’s maddening.
My friends went to lightbox and the way you described people looking for a purpose in art really sums them up. Animation field is grim and people are looking for any way to break in!
honestly wouldn’t be surprised if artist based conventions had an increase in attendance post lockdown because the online artist community thrived during the time
One thing not adding to the lack of hiring, and the rise of AI replacing animation jobs in the industry is SCHOOLS-the animation department was the biggest in my art school and while there are genuinely plenty of talented and incredible artists there, the school did NOT let students clearly know how saturated the animation industry is, how to diversify your income, how to use animation across several industries, not just entertainment, etc. Art schools are a huge monetary investment and of course they want more students (they high key run like a business instead of the nonprofits the majority are labeled as but that’s another convo) and right now animation is trending/high demand but the way they’re approaching it is not at all reflective of what the industry might look like in the next 5-10years! And that’s not even considering those who learned animation outside of art schools and how much more difficult the barrier to entry is for them, esp even at a more friendly expo like LightBox compared to CNXT.
Man I have been to maybe 2 conventions in my whole life but this channel is so awesome. Love the perspective you give about what things can improve and what aspects were good. Can't wait for a funeral industry event.
Oooo! When I first saw your social media posts about being there, I was stoked. (Was curious to see what this year’s was like from a "How to run and maintain an event" perspective.) I went to LightBox Expo in 2019 and it out grew the space then (my early bird ticket for that year was $136, btw). Artist demos were in one of the hallway corridors of the main building, panels filled up fast (there was no ticket system, so lining up early was bad - like "How close can we get to summoning the fire marshal?" bad), and lines to enter the convention were long. After the first day, it was show up an hour before opening just to get in ASAP to catch a panel/see an artist/secure a portfolio review. While it was a busy event then, I left feeling hopeful and inspired. (First year felt like 15,000 or 20,000+ attendees/staff/exhibitors/etc.) Now… it’s bittersweet looking back at the 2019 event because the hiring scene was wild. Recruiters were there to fill a whole bunch of gigs (Netflix was hiring for Cuphead). I found out there one of my professors was getting multiple offers from different studios to make her own show. … Now in 2023, it’s just been seeing friends and acquaintances getting laid off (due to project cancellations) and still not getting a gig on another project. And with The Animation Guild’s contract ending next year… it may be worse until a new deal is reached. (Fingers crossed for an amazing new deal. WGA and SAG-AFTRA managed to get theirs.) I also attended the online versions in 2020 and 2021. The price was much cheaper then (under $20 for digital only, $40+ if you wanted a merchandise bundle), but that had its own issues too. Panels held on Zoom would hit the max capacity within the first minute of launching, online demos held in other Discord servers required verification (which wasn’t advertised, so if you just hopped in to watch the demo, you might not be able to due to waiting on a mod to verify your request), and the online exhibit hall ran slow initially. Also, due to how low the ticket prices were, fans for some shows would get into a Zoom panel and spam the chat asking Fandom Stuff (when it was meant to be a space for artists to see what it takes to run a show, make an episode, etc.). Obviously, having that online version converted people to attending the in-person events in 2022 and 2023 (on top of people joining Schoolism and participating in their official Discord - Schoolism is behind Lightbox Expo, FYI). You mentioned CTN, and while yes Lightbox was a bit of a response to it… last year CTN was empty due to Designer Con happening in Anaheim at the same time. So some industry reps had to pick one or the other. (Which, hey, Designer Con was cool… but shilled NFTs hard, so fuck them.) (Note: I never went to CTN, but knew how slammed it was due to classmates attending. If I really wanted to get a portfolio review during that weekend, my best bet was to check in on some artists that were doing free reviews in a park nearby in Burbank because they were fed up with how nuts it got. I wish I was kidding.) One last thing in this essay of a comment… because you didn’t buy your ticket through Lightbox/Showclix/whatever, you didn’t get all the e-mails leading up to the event. There was a portfolio lottery sign up prior to the event this year. Plus, I don’t know if this was implemented this year, but in the past, ticket holders could also make an online profile on a special site where you could link your portfolio, resume, etc. for recruiters. That site would be available after the event for a few months.
Most of the reason the animation industry has been looking so bleak, lately, is because the writers strike caused most productions to shut down. The majority of my colleagues have been out of work since May for that sole reason. But hopefully, now that the writers are back to work, things will start to go back to how they were. Many of the artists on my production are already scheduled to return to work in January. 🤞
Hi! I’m an Storyboard Artist who has been out of work bc of the strike. Yes most of our industry is looking for work, no it’s not bc of the strike. It’s mostly adult prime time shows that shut down bc of the strike; Family Guy, Bobs Burgers, Simpsons. Most animation uses our TAG writers. Animators aren’t working right now bc of all the mergers and studio executives sitting in handfuls of finished seasons
To be honest that’s not really the main reason why. From what I’ve read and talked to with people I know. The animation industry is changing from getting shows made in much more cheaper labour markets (Indonesia & Philippines as examples). Animators are cheaper there with the same quality as their American animation counterparts. Because of that and because Netflix and Sony are moving production to Southeast Asian and Asian as a whole where you can get animation quality higher for less cost. You are seeing animation jobs/positions move away from US/European market to the Asian markets.
@@SavvyArtz They most certainly are. I work on Bob's Burgers and all of our writers were on strike. Acting in SAG-AFTRA, on the other hand, was a different story. Actors could still do voice acting, so long as it wasn't for a feature.
It was such a pleasant surprise running into you on Sunday! I'm sure you encountered a lot of fans since artists love listening to your videos while they work lol. Glad you ended up making a video after all!
it'd be really interesting to see you go to wrestlemania sometime. there are so many events attached to the show, and it'd be interesting to see your perspective on the week of activities around it
i never really comment on youtube videos but this one specifically feels so useful to me as a current art student soon to graduate (as i realized today!) and also a frequent convention goer-- i didn't know this convention existed let alone all the opportunities it had! i really appreciate your content in general but this video specifically has been so thoroughly useful as an artist
i don't know why i enjoy watching a person i don't know review conventions about stuff I'm not interested in, but i find it so relaxing. So I'm glad you were there! ❤
Hearing about the artist’s alley, I would totally want to go for a day, just for the chance to shop it. (I was a deviantart teen who enjoyed favoriting art more than trying to post anything. 😂)
So Amanda, when are you going to start your OWN con? You can call it SwellCon Expo-Fest-O-Rama and it would be the MOTHER OF ALL CONVENTIONS. Included will be representatives and booths from every con you've ever been to, were planning on attending but couldn't for various reasons, and have never been to (but heard about.) It would fill EVERY convention space in Las Vegas and THEN SOME! Food for thought.
Heard about Lightbox Expo for the first time in 2020 just days before they held it online, and I "attended" it. I can only speak for that experience, but I loved it! You got to choose how much you paid to attend (quite low and reasonable i think), and there were different perks per price point. You got to listen to Zoom panels and get video exclusives. I wish it was still like that since traveling and ticket prices are more of an issue for most now, including me.
I am an art student and I went to lightbox last year and it was wonderful. I was applying to schools then and the advice that I got from the colleges there was invaluable and it just made me excited to continue in the art world! I would love to go back someday
As a student attending art school right now for illustration/animation, I know many of my friends attending school/recent grads who went looking for a place to get advice for breaking into the industry and getting inspired. I don't know if they sought out companies for portfolio reviews, but it was just a place where really popular artists in the industry to kind of spread their love for the industry, give advice, sell their work, and just be engrossed in this place where everyone loves creating. I wanted to go but I didn't have the money to budget out a 3 day trip across the country. But next year I'm going to try to attend. Your video was really insightful for me on the troubles surrounding the con. I've been to a few conventions where I've had serious issues with planning and timing all of the things I want to do and see and missing out on paid events I paid for. But with your video, I'm definitely going to keep these issues in mind when planning my trip for next year. (if you give a crap about SPN, I would love to see a video about their conventions from you because I have had several bad experiences with the large convention company running them but also know people who love them, and drop 5k every weekend on a weekend pass/photos/autographs to have a parasocial relationship with actors, and it is insane.)
Oh hey that's my booth at 6:19 haha! Yeah LBX was great would reccomend to anyone wanting to sell their merch there. I sold out of my books in 3 hours on the first day.
I went to LBX this year for the first time and completely agree with everything that was said regarding 1) needing a bigger venue 2) the ticketing system being strange 3) the demo hall being a mess. Lots of great stuff was happening but there are definitely things that need to be tweaked.
I spat water when I saw the title haha! Thought it would never happen cuz it was such a specific industry focused event. Our AA table is in shot the couple seconds you filmed in the artist alley! I've always been to LBX as an Artist alley exhibitor, never an attendee. I always wondered how it is compared to other conventions and actually how well-run it is on the scale. Since the organisers are so nice to us artists, and imo very thorough with instructions. But it always seemed chaotic looking out into the crowd, with queues and horror stories of how hard it is to get into anything lol. Seconding many comments, your videos are relaxing to listen to. They get me through lots of tiring work hours. Thank you Swell!
When I went to Adobe MAX at the LA convention center in 2019 security was very minimal, the only bag checks and metal detectors were at the Microsoft Theater down the street (or whatever it’s called now). IMO it was fantastic to not be stopped at every entrance for security checks, especially because you were constantly coming and going across multiple buildings and there were already super long lines for everything 😂
Fun Fact, I got one of randomized portfolio reviews, and it also in the demo room, so we could still hear all those voices while trying to ask the professionals we were meetings with questions.
I worked LightBox as a “fire fly” (the ones in the yellow shirts lol). I will say they did not accept volunteers and you did have to apply and I heard the hiring process was more selective. That being said I did hear that they hired twice as many people as last year. And the reason they do choose to hire is because when you get paid you are more likely to do your job. I did volunteer at a film festival earlier in the year, and I will say that was the case for that one. Where some volunteers (like 3 I noticed). would ditch there stations and go to watch the movies or be gone for large stretches of time. I also will say that the event organizers were really good about making sure everyone who was working the event was clocked in, took any breaks. And also if we wanted to see a panel but had to work during that time they were able to adjust it so we could attend.
14:23 ?? Not sure if the term is different in America, but in Australia "spastic"/"sp*z" is defs considered a slur by those in the disability community. Does this mean something else for Americans?
I did Rose city comic con in Portland Oregon in September, and we had a critical role panel at 10:15am. We got to the convention center at like 9:30, and got through bag check very fast, which was fine for time but the conversation center was an absolute maze and for some one who can't easily use the stairs or escalators, navigation was hard. So after looping floor 2a for 10 minutes then finding the main hall entrance on level 1, we finally got to level 2b after wandering down a lightly signed hallway and finally made it to our panel. Basically I fully agree about staggering early panels. That was a ticketed panel too, and that's a whole other thing. I get the tickets that's totally fine but I wished the website had a bit more instructions because I sat there on the phone with my partner trying to get our tickets and I just started at a page for 10 of my 15 minutes because I thought I had done it but wanted him to confirm it , just to figure it out on my end and realize I hadn't reserved ours and then finally did. So what was a mess.
I attended LBX the year it was online and I really loved it! Sadly I don't think I'll be able to attend again since I live in another country, so thank you for making this video!
My problem with events like lightbox is that they're basically the only way to get work in the animation field unless you a) are rich/a nepo baby or b) get INSANELY lucky with youtube/your indie projects/social networks/etc. Nothing can compare with directly networking with industry people and someone like me will never be able to do that because I can't afford to go all the way to California for an event with 0 guarantee of a job. There need to be more events like this in different parts of the country, or more companies willing to do online portfolio reviews even if it's on a limited basis, but the industry is in such a terrible state right now that that's just not possible.
On the one hand, I agree. Nothing beats going right into an industry hub because that’s how you make real life connections and wiggle your way into studios. Tech people move to Silicon Valley, airplane engineers move to Seattle, actors move to Hollywood and animators move to Burbank. But you’re right, it’s super inaccessible to people who can’t afford the move and that’s a shame. But in the grand scheme of things, the animation world is small! Finding work locally is just as viable, if not easier. Teeny, unglamorous studios are scattered across the globe. But it’s all interconnected - it’s only a matter of time for someone at the little studio to know someone at a big studio and to get your name over to a major city. Employment opportunities are awful right now but that’s just the animation industry as a whole. Anyway, none of this is really helpful but you know what is? The WIA (women in animation) newsletter!! If you haven’t already, I highly encourage you to sign up (all genders welcome) and every Tuesday, they send out an email with a bunch of events (in person across the world and online), mentorship panels, screenings, discounts, scholarships etc. Post pandemic, online opportunities for networking have definitely dwindled but they’re not completely gone!!
UGH I was so bummed when LBX switched from online to in person only. It was so nice being able to tune into so many amazing panels in a weekend and learn. Now that panels aren't livestreamed anymore it feels like the art industry is back to being its exclusionsary California club 😭
I know is important, (unfortunately especially in the US) but I HATE clear bag/no bag policies. It seems like a cost cutting move and has a higher impact on women.
7:58-8:44 it's how this take makes SO much sense yet i've never thought abt it like that?? 😲 as a nerdy hobbyist i only think abt the drop-off of the panini "hobby-boom" as ppl drop new interests as micro-trends (leading to a lot of waste bc of consumption yada yada) but i didn't translate that to newly demonstrated interest at cons! makes me wonder what will happen the day some media/communications/events director has a 1:1 talk w amanda that turns into an accidental consultation of sorts XD ty always for the interesting review swell! awesome to hear lightcon's artist exposure + AI measures and hopeful that there'll be more professional resources for upcoming artists amidst these changing times. here's to supporting creatives always!! 💪😤
On security, I went to a football game last weekend at a large university in Texas that I would think with 100,000 people in a stadium I would walk through metal detector and have a bag check. They let outside drinks and I had no security check in at all in a stadium of over 100,000 people. It was wild what you could do in that scenario.
I tabled in the artist hall year one and 2023. The founder Bobby Chiu and his wife Kei Acedera are both incredible artists in the industry. That is why there is such excellent quality control for who gets to table there. I think it’s great they alternate artists. I did present a demo and the acoustics were not well thought out. Year one that room was our VIP lounge area. I would put money on it that they’ve figured out a better place for 2024.
I got to go to Lightbox's 2021 Virtual Expo, and honestly it was an amazing experience. My best friend and I were looking through all the zoom calls and were amazed by all the fun things to listen to. We're not from the US so ofc we knew that 2022 and forward wouldn't be virtual anymore, but I think it was so cool to be able to talk and make friends with something as simple as a digital whiteboard.
thank you for summarizing the pain points of this convention. as i've experienced these are my biggest annoyance: -Ticketing system, i REALLY feel like they could have come up with a better way to do this. -Demo areas are, like you said, laughably bad. I had to leave one of the most interesting ones to me and my career interest because I was getting a headache from the noise, and tired from standing because I had no chair. -Security. I did not see metal detectors anywhere, and I shouldn't have to worry about a potential shooting while at a convention for my passion. Despite all of this, wonderful experience, it was invaluable to me as a student even though I didn't bring a portfolio for review, Im planning on going hard into portfolio reviews next year when I'm hopefully working on collaborative projects. I'll go next year!
Long time fan, first time commenting lol. I'm a older Gen X animation student, survived the embezzlement fiasco at AI Los Angeles in Santa Monica and even pitched a few shows at the old CTN building. That's said it did break my heart to hear a recruitment con for the industry was not really, doing the thing it seems they exist to do. From hearing countless recruiters just say "We aren't hiring" to not finding anyone at the con who landed job placement and so on, just kind of a bummer. It makes me w9nder what the ultimate point of Light box is, and if recruitment isn't feasible maybe a shift to expand the artist alley presence so artist have that opportunity to generate revenue might be better? Casual thinking out loud. Keep up the great vids.
Ah, so glad to have briefly run into you & hear you liked it! Dunno if this info matters at all but CTN was actually this weekend and from what I heard was pretty mid, but honestly the smaller size I think made it mildly more helpful for what minimal networking any of us currently in animation can do. The thing with CTN wasn’t just the size or crowdedness honestly but that it always felt more “corporate”- better maybe for those already in the industry, but kinda weird for students. Lightbox is definitely more approachable even if basically no one is getting jobs from it haha
i think you were literally at a halloween party that was happening after lbx that i was at and i MEANT to find u and say like hey i love ur work, but then i promptly forgot when i got there u_u regardless i can say it now especially cuz of this video; i love ur work! and im so glad youre talking about the event because there absolutely were pros and cons that should be discussed so that lbx can improve in the future! having a perspective like yours too that is specifically someone going to the event looking from the outside in is very valuable. keep up the great work amanda :D
This was my first year going to lightbox (I’m in the crowd at 4:38 , and that’s my friend hitting the crosswalk button lol). I went in as an illustrator, I just graduated art school as an illustration major, and I thought it was interesting going in as someone who didn’t plan to work for a studio. I was really going for the panels and networking. And the panel ticketing system was a nightmare. My group didn’t know about the ticket system until the day before, because luckily someone in my group had to go to pick up her badge in person and we were able to grab their booklets early. Booklets which, by the way, were printed out of date so if anyone was following the schedule in the book, it would be completely wrong. But anyways, after learning about the tickets, all our previous panel plans were thrown out, and we spent the rest of the night sitting in a circle on our hotel room floor trying to figure it out. We also had to call a few of our friends in different groups to give them the heads up, since they didn’t know either. As painful as the tickets were, I was able to go to everything I wanted to do. Friday was 1 panel (ticketed) 2 demos and 1 drawing session (not ticketed). The only annoying thing was that the drawing session was in a room surrounded by ticketed panels, and no one told us that it wasn’t going to be ticketed, we asked the staff volunteers and the first set of volunteers said to wait, and the second said no tickets, so I don’t know. Saturday I did 2 panels, both ticketed. I was able to get a ticket to it just fine, but I was still on edge because a ticket didn’t guarantee a seat. One of my friends had gotten a ticket for a panel, and even with it she wasn’t able to get in. This is the thing that made me the most angry. I can live with a complicated ticketing system, but if you give out more tickets than there are seats, what’s the point? So there was never a peaceful moment trying to go to a panel until you were inside sitting down. Horrible. On Sunday I was able to 2 panels (one in the morning, so no tickets, and one later with a ticket) and one talk in the auditorium (so no tickets). Overall I did get what I wanted out of it, so I do think it was worth it even though it was a headache. Oh and the after party mixer on Friday, so crowded. We got there a bit after it started and the line was pretty much out the door. It was so densely packed that it was hard to move. We left around 9:45, I think it was supposed to go till 10 or 11, I don’t remember. There was still a massive line to get in when we left, to the point that people were just hanging out in the lobby of the hotel instead of trying to get in. But rumor is that a little after my group left, everyone was kicked out because the caterers ran out of food and drinks (?).
Hi, I just wanted to let you know that you used an ableist slur. You used the word “sp**tic” at 14:21. I know you probably didn’t know that because from everything else I’ve seen from you, it wouldn’t make sense for that to have been a conscious choice. So I figured I’d let you know
Can’t believe I actually showed up in a Swell video (for like a whole second wow!!!) I went to LB for the same reason you mentioned; trying to get an animation job, but I couldn’t get into a lot of reviews or talk to a lot of industry people, and who I did meet agreed that the industry is just kind of on fire right now even for those already in it. So best of luck to all of us trying to get paid for art lol Also I didn’t know about the convention’s ai stance, but that does make me like em just a little bit more
Hi, I'm yet another artist who watches your videos! I went to Lightbox it's first year and loved it compared to CTN. It didn't have as much of a crowding issue back then, but yeesh it looks packed now. The demo areas have always been lackluster, unfortunately. Thank you for talking about AI!
i do think either multi-year contracts are common with certain venues, or you have to book those venues several years prior, so it may not be possible for them to move next year. i work for an organization that has a summit every year (smaller than all of these conventions, like 2K people) and we have contracts with venues like 5 years in advance, and usually for one venue several years in a row.
i actually happened to notice you while walking in the artist alley on friday and was wondering if you'd end up making a video on this LOL thank you for bringing up issues many of us had like the overcrowding and cost, i could only afford a one day ticket and ended up not getting to rlly do anything but walk around the AA bcuz panels/booths were booked to capacity and i was just so overstimulated >_< i have several friends that were vendors who had great luck selling their stock so there's definitely no denying this event has benefits for artists in the industry! it would just be better for everyone if they moved it into a bigger venue so less ppl were spending $75-200 to wait in lines for 2/3's of that time :,,] anyways i rlly enjoy listening to your con reviews while i work so thank you for these great vids!!
absolutely love the note about rotating out vendors - i wish more events did that to some degree. I regularly attend cons and also ren faires and as much as i love seeing regular vendors at ren faires every year, it very quickly makes every event feel the exact same. Especially since if you have people running the same local event circuits, it's not just one event with all the same vendors, but two or three with identical vendors to each other every year. Thankfully i don't run into that problem at cons as much, particularly since unlike ren faires, convention vendors tend to rotate out stock depending on what media is popular at the time. ren faire vendors have more of a tendency to just make the same products every faire season. it just sucks because i love those vendors! but i've bought everything from them already four years ago! i can imagine how in particular an industry-focused event like this would potentially run into a problem like that.
You should go to BJDC TX. The oldest and biggest ball jointed doll convention in North America. I went last year and it was a mixed bag. Not what I was expecting and I hope the 2024 con will be better.
I love learning about other types of jobs and industries AND my job includes event planning, so your content is incredibly fascinating! Keep doing you! Here's an idea for you...not sure how the IP end would work, but you doing a film update of Studs Terkel's "Working." It's a monster of a book, but it's all interviews, you can hop around. I know your content feels completely different, but Terkel's style was of his time, and I think you might be more of a journalist than you realize. Ngl, love the nerdy bi representation especially, but truly do think youve got the chops & the mind for a project like that. I know youve got a solid liberal arts education, so youd be able to work with the historic perspective.
YES! THE BAG CHECK THING! I Went to Anime Pasadena which was a few days after this in the same location and they didn't check any bags either! There was also no one making people get their prop weapon checks done, I think they were just hoping people would walk to the table, me and my friend found it weeeird
As someone who has been to the event since the first year, they out grew the event in the first year. It was incredibly crowded and panels filled out quick, not as fast as last year, but still it was almost impossible to get in. I only got into panels last year because I worked at one of the major studios showing there. Otherwise it was a cluster fuck. Some rooms only held 30 people for big title shows. Job wise, with the recession and strikes and layoffs, this year was not a good year to job search.
I went to Lightbox Expo last year (for the first time), and the complaints I had back then are the same that you express now. On one hand I'm sad those issues haven't been dealt with, and on the other I'm glad I opted not to go this year. Also, the demo hall is THE WORST. Thank you for speaking on it.
I’ve never heard of Lightbox but to be fair I barely know much about conventions besides what you share on your channel. But after hearing about this, this seems like a convention I’ll definitely have to put on my bucket list since I’m going to be starting my Animation and games course next year.
Hey Amanda! I was at LBX the last two years and I 100% agree with all your criticisms, specifically about the location. They really need to change event locations, and I do wonder if theyre under contract or something because theyve already announced the dates for next years event. Or if theyre just trying to milk as much money as they could. The ticket system for the panels was better than last years because last year was just line up and hope you get in. They had a fire marshal tell them they had to stop letting extra people into the panels (to stand at the back) last year, which is what brought on the ticket situation on the last day. They changed it this year from day 1 to be the ticket system and implemented it so poorly which lead to like you said the double queues. 100% agree with the demo area, absolutely laughable. It was exactly like this last year. Lightbox did their own reviews this year, on a lotto system, to mitigate the insane amount of lines and waits at the booths last year. You had to sign up under specific labels so I am surprised to hear you had a Storyboard Artist that was with a Video Game person that would not work out? Because the story artists were separated into i think 2d and 3d? I feel like there was more . so maybe 3d got funnel into video games? I will say, I am a board artist who signed up for 2d story and got in and I'm more focused on teen~adult TV action/drama and the guy I got paired with works live action currently but has worked in animation. On top of this, companies put out applications on social media to do portfolio reviews, unsure if this was random or if they chose who to review. These companies were not allowed to look at portfolios in line at their booths. There was also companies who did not put out applications but just chose people who had their art+portfolios on the lightbox artist profiles and emailed them super last minute if they wanted to do a review (had a few friends who got reviews from skydance like this, despite them not having any application open for it)
Every time someone says something like "who would target artists or animators?!" I cant help but think of the Kyoto Animation arson attack. You really cant predict what some people will do. Security is extremely important.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
As a former florist and someone who works for a bridal industry…. Who ran a bridal expo…. PLEASE go to a bridal expo…. It’s NUTS…. Weddings are another level of crazy
oh this would be incredible
I would 100% watch that video
This is just cruel to suggest 😂
Wedding make up artist here, please go to a bridal Expo
Omg PLEASE go to a funeral industry event!! Would be FASCINATING
I’m currently reading ‘Past Mortems: Life and death behind mortuary doors’ by Carla Valentine, it’s all about her years training as an Anatomical Pathology Technologist and it’s fascinating. Highly recommend it if you’re into that sort of stuff!
I will unsub if it doesn't happen
I've been to one because of my job, it wasn't as exciting as you think(it was also a small show so that could be part of it)
I don't think they would allow the general public to listen in on any of the classes tbh
YESSS
Also would watch this lmao
Great video, Amanda! I'll just say this: unionize the game industry, unionize VFX, protect artists from getting their work stolen by AI, pay artists properly for their time and work. Thats all.
😂what a weird time we live in.
Hear hear. My uncle might actually get some time off finally 🥲
@@jacksyoutubechannel4045please be quuet
@@jacksyoutubechannel4045I thought we like UAW? They just had the really successful strike
KINGGGG
I'm surprised you went to LightBox. Thanks for mentioning the AI issue. I'm an artist and I had my art used in an AI database without permission even though I'm a student.
I had my face and attire used in one without my consent. Can't get it out. Feels bad. Feels REAL bad.
How did you find out? Now I’m worries
Why does your student status matter?!?
@@kimwhatmatters4085 Because it shows that this isn't just an issue for bigger, more popular artist. Literally every artist is a target.
Literally everyone who has ever posted there art publicly, even if that's only on there own website, has been used for AI training.
Literally the entire Internet has been used for AI training.
The only content on the Internet that has any chance of _not_ having been used for AI training is behind a paywall.
If I can visit a website (no matter what the site in question is) and view any sort of image of your art, then your art HAS been used for AI. Plain and simple.
And here's the thing:
They don't need your permission.
That's literally how "fair use" works.
Look up the parameters for what qualifies as "fair use", and TRY to tell me how AI doesn't fit that description.
I'm no more happy about it than you are, but the simple fact is that it's everywhere, it's inevitable, and there's nothing you can do about it. So just stop whining about and get on with your life.
The state of animation is so sad to me right now. Because if you look at the animation work coming out, it’s fantastic stuff! It feels like 3D has finally broken out of the perceived confines of semi-realism and is taking advantage of what animation can do. And 2D has been seeing some really cool stuff in TV animation despite the financial restrictions.
But companies are so focused on the money that they’re willing to throw artists to the curb, pay poorly, and demand crunch. I want so badly for animation to not only be a wonderful art form but a genuinely good and fulfilling career choice.
Movies like Into the Spiderverse are making so much money, can’t they just pay the artists a little more and hire a few more people to decrease the workload… That would literally be a minuscule amount of money in the grand scheme of things
@@OldSchoolAnniinto the spider verse is also horrendously animated. It looks like the animators made the movie, and then meticulously went through and removed 2/3rds of the frames. It's choppy as hell, and it makes what is otherwise an incredible looking movie literally unwatchable.
A 10 year old with a bootleg copy of windows movie maker could probably produce smoother animation than that.
(Yes, I know they did it on purpose. But there are some "artistic choices" that simply aren't choices. They're mistakes. It should NEVER be done that way for any reason.)
I brought this up already with the LBX staff but another issue is its inaccessibility for guests with mobility devices.
Its new ticketing system makes it very hard for people with mobility issues to go back and forth so often just to retrieve tickets. As well as maneuvering its MASSSIVE attendance line
Absolutely incredible event that changed me as an artist forever but if it can be helped for future thats one note for the team
Excellent point. Do they not allow people with mobility needs to skip the line? Events I’ve been to in the U.K. will generally allow folks with disabilities / mobility aids to skip the queue
@@trala8911 I'm not sure! If they do I and others werent aware
@notville_ If they did I wasnt aware, I saw a few other people with mobility aids in the line so I assumed that was the only option ;-; !! I never heard anything like that from security/volunteers so they maybe wouldnt have been aware either if this is the case
That’s kind of disappointing to hear (though kind of understandable - convention management sounds extremely difficult). When I went last year I thought their crowd control and line management was easily one of the biggest drawbacks of the event, even though it was one of the highlights of my year and I’m so grateful for everything it brought me. It seems like the team are at least doing their best to address feedback by trying out new systems, but it seems like they’re still figuring things out. This also seems to be a common issue at a lot of cons, so definitely not a unique failure. Hopefully they’ll find something that works soon!
@@ItsGuffledon't reply to spam bots
My wife is an Animator and artist and a huge fan of your videos. You said someone told you that a lot of artists draw while watching your videos and she is one of them. we died laughing when you said that because she was actually sketching at the time.
Christina Grimmie was a singer and youtuber. She was shot three times at point blank by her own fan back in *2016*.
There is never an argument for "there wouldnt be x type of bad person here, its just a small thing". DO PROPER SECURITY. Properly secure your facilities. Keep your panelists, employees, and atendees safe.
Howdy Swell! I worked as a vendor in AA this year at Lightbox and we met super briefly! LBX is my favorite show to vend at because the organizers really treat the artists well. They give us a LOT more table space and space behind the table compared to other artist alleys. They also had a lounge for vendors with food and water that I utilized all three days! I definitely think they need to address crowding and safety more, though!! I wanted to mention some of the other issues with CTN. The biggest thing was that people were being charged for portfolio reviews. Vendors were also getting placed in really inconvenient areas or behind giant beams. I think there was also a lot of discussion about the event organizer for CTN yelling at vendors and staff. Loved the video!! Thanks for making it!!
CHARGED‽ Omg how cruel...
I don't know much about the organizer's treatment of staff/ vendors so I won't comment on that, but I really don't know where the "being charged for portfolio reviews" thing came from. I've been going since 2015 and have never paid for a portfolio review or even seen any place where I would be able to purchase a portfolio review from anyone.
Omg Megan hi I love your art
@yahoodotcom5321I went to the website formally known as Twitter and couldn't find anything like that in the replies.
@yahoodotcom5321 Ok, where? I’ve been following them for a very long time and have never seen anything like this (and btw I’m a brown artist myself so I would remember if I felt offended by anything regarding that). If you will say something like this, don’t, unless you have a proof or something, people who don’t know anything about them will go and start repeating what you said with 0 base whatsoever.
As annoying as the double line is for panels, I appreciate the attempt at controlling the seat hogging. It sucks missing a panel because theres people who don’t care just waiting for the next one.
But all you'd have to do for that is a forced exit of the room after each panel. Which sucks and people hate, but it would avoid the double line situation.
I was definitely one of the people who said “what are you doing here”. BUT TO BE FAIR at the time the only thing I knew about swell was from her smosh cameo, and how she went to “weird” conventions. She kept referring to a furry convention video that was on the way. That being said, loved the video, and it was nice meeting you swell!
I went to the online Lightbox Expo back in 2021 (I think?) and I learned so much and had a blast-- it sucks that it'll likely never be as accessible for me ever again. The cost, the distance, and the accessibility (even if COVID ever goes away) make it impossible :(. It's hard to get an idea of what the expo is actually like, so your more objective, outsider perspective is really nice to hear.
I also ran into you at the convention for like 5 seconds lolol. Your review covers many pros and cons I had with Lightbox this year. As a panelist for my company and at an industry booth, I noticed that people travel from all over the world to go to this convention so that they could get any guidance on their work and getting a job. Due to portfolio review spots being filled up so quickly, I and others ended up informally reviewing work. The urgency, especially among students facing industry uncertainties, was palpable. Having attended CTN as a student, I once had an anxiety attack in the middle of the hall because I felt like my work wasn't good enough and I couldn't get to talk to professionals due to the lines. Now that I'm on the other side, the issues with crowding still persist, and I wish they invited more artists from all parts of the pipeline out at industry booths to talk to students in an informal setting. I hope they address the convention's growing cost - I'm not sure if I'd pay that amount on my own.
As someone in the industry, how would you expose a high schooler who’s thinking they might want to be an artist to different ways that looks like after school? There are some RUclipsrs who talk about such things but it’s a pretty narrow view.
I was discouraged away from art when I was my kids age and gave up. I almost invested in the major college debt to become my second choice, a veterinarian. Due to a summer internship I learned that it was super not the right choice for me. (I couldn’t deal with the pet owners and business side of things it turns out. Also my allergies really couldn’t be overcome)
I don’t want to discourage my kid, more so to encourage and give direction. Thank you! Also I understand if you don’t have an answer. It’s cool! ❤
I work in animation and have gone to lightbox all years, SO crazy to see you also went :O!!!I did get a job at Netflix because of Lightbox, I have been working there for 3 years now!
Saw you walking around the exhibit hall! I got too nervous and didn’t say hi but I was more in awe about your stature. You give off such tall energy that I wasn’t expecting that. And then I realized in a week or two you’d have a video out so I was like ok let them work.
When you mentioned how dangerous not having bag checks and metal detectors were and how "who would do anything its an artist convention" I was immeditly reminded of that one Undertale fanartist who was given cookies by a "fan" at her booth. She found out they had needles in them after taking a bite ,and she person who gave them to her was I think arrested. It really does go to show how anything can happen even at the most chill of places.
Im glad this con has such a hard stance against AI because more and more often I've been seeing booths that have very obvious AI art being sold. Its really dissapointing to see and knowing this con is very stict about it is nice.
lightbox was great last year, but like you said, it was originally created as an alternative to the other big animation networking convention, CTNX. From my experience this year, they're having the exact same issues that CTNX had (at least on the public facing side) CTNX also had a very 'industry ready' mindset. It was somewhat unfriendly to beginner artists and even recent grads. It was mostly geared towards people who already had 1-2 years of industry experience. I'm happy that Lightbox is much friendlier, but I think it's become unhelpful to the people it set out to help. Hopefully they move to a bigger hall or prioritize independent studios, rather than the large ones that aren't hiring
thats bc ctnx was never meant as a job placement or student con.
A convention where there is a lot of people looking at jobs and where people might negatively review the convention because they didn't get a job is exactly the kind of place you need to have more security. Especially when there are more people looking for jobs than there are currently positions.
I cant believe I went to the same event as THE Swell Entertainment, I'm so starstuck rn
Omg I saw you walk by and literally my first thought was "Damn she really does go everywhere"
But definitely have started paying attention to security and safety more after watching your videos. Lightbox could very much be safer. Part of that could be from bag checks and moving to a larger space that allows for less congestion.
Re: the demo space, I went to a conference with a similar setup and they had headphones that you could grab when you sat down in your chosen section - the speakers were mic'ed directly into the headphones, not to the room. You had to pick up headphones to hear them. It does draw people in because they're curious about the headphones and the speakers voices aren't clashing with the other stuff in the room; also a nice accessibility thing.
whoaaa it's so awesome that they were teaching artists about their options regarding AI art! I'm writing a research paper about the training data sources for some of the biggest text and image generators and their legality and I'm genuinely so curious about what action they suggested artists take. it makes me really happy to see things like this as a computer scientist who is very angry about tech companies stealing whatever data they can get their hands on.
I’m so glad you went to LBX!! I work shows with my spouse Rj Palmer and this is our favorite, it’s not even close. Really easy load in and out, where other shows like GenCon you might have to lug inventory from a nearby parking garage. Also BIG BRAIN idea, they put the show hours ON THE BADGES. It sounds simple but no other shows do it, you have to sift through like 6 website subpages to find artist alley hours, it’s maddening.
My friends went to lightbox and the way you described people looking for a purpose in art really sums them up. Animation field is grim and people are looking for any way to break in!
honestly wouldn’t be surprised if artist based conventions had an increase in attendance post lockdown because the online artist community thrived during the time
One thing not adding to the lack of hiring, and the rise of AI replacing animation jobs in the industry is SCHOOLS-the animation department was the biggest in my art school and while there are genuinely plenty of talented and incredible artists there, the school did NOT let students clearly know how saturated the animation industry is, how to diversify your income, how to use animation across several industries, not just entertainment, etc. Art schools are a huge monetary investment and of course they want more students (they high key run like a business instead of the nonprofits the majority are labeled as but that’s another convo) and right now animation is trending/high demand but the way they’re approaching it is not at all reflective of what the industry might look like in the next 5-10years! And that’s not even considering those who learned animation outside of art schools and how much more difficult the barrier to entry is for them, esp even at a more friendly expo like LightBox compared to CNXT.
Man I have been to maybe 2 conventions in my whole life but this channel is so awesome. Love the perspective you give about what things can improve and what aspects were good. Can't wait for a funeral industry event.
This was fun to watch as one of those “listens to Swell’s videos while drawing / animating” fans…
Oooo! When I first saw your social media posts about being there, I was stoked. (Was curious to see what this year’s was like from a "How to run and maintain an event" perspective.)
I went to LightBox Expo in 2019 and it out grew the space then (my early bird ticket for that year was $136, btw). Artist demos were in one of the hallway corridors of the main building, panels filled up fast (there was no ticket system, so lining up early was bad - like "How close can we get to summoning the fire marshal?" bad), and lines to enter the convention were long. After the first day, it was show up an hour before opening just to get in ASAP to catch a panel/see an artist/secure a portfolio review. While it was a busy event then, I left feeling hopeful and inspired. (First year felt like 15,000 or 20,000+ attendees/staff/exhibitors/etc.)
Now… it’s bittersweet looking back at the 2019 event because the hiring scene was wild. Recruiters were there to fill a whole bunch of gigs (Netflix was hiring for Cuphead). I found out there one of my professors was getting multiple offers from different studios to make her own show. … Now in 2023, it’s just been seeing friends and acquaintances getting laid off (due to project cancellations) and still not getting a gig on another project. And with The Animation Guild’s contract ending next year… it may be worse until a new deal is reached. (Fingers crossed for an amazing new deal. WGA and SAG-AFTRA managed to get theirs.)
I also attended the online versions in 2020 and 2021. The price was much cheaper then (under $20 for digital only, $40+ if you wanted a merchandise bundle), but that had its own issues too. Panels held on Zoom would hit the max capacity within the first minute of launching, online demos held in other Discord servers required verification (which wasn’t advertised, so if you just hopped in to watch the demo, you might not be able to due to waiting on a mod to verify your request), and the online exhibit hall ran slow initially. Also, due to how low the ticket prices were, fans for some shows would get into a Zoom panel and spam the chat asking Fandom Stuff (when it was meant to be a space for artists to see what it takes to run a show, make an episode, etc.). Obviously, having that online version converted people to attending the in-person events in 2022 and 2023 (on top of people joining Schoolism and participating in their official Discord - Schoolism is behind Lightbox Expo, FYI).
You mentioned CTN, and while yes Lightbox was a bit of a response to it… last year CTN was empty due to Designer Con happening in Anaheim at the same time. So some industry reps had to pick one or the other. (Which, hey, Designer Con was cool… but shilled NFTs hard, so fuck them.) (Note: I never went to CTN, but knew how slammed it was due to classmates attending. If I really wanted to get a portfolio review during that weekend, my best bet was to check in on some artists that were doing free reviews in a park nearby in Burbank because they were fed up with how nuts it got. I wish I was kidding.)
One last thing in this essay of a comment… because you didn’t buy your ticket through Lightbox/Showclix/whatever, you didn’t get all the e-mails leading up to the event. There was a portfolio lottery sign up prior to the event this year. Plus, I don’t know if this was implemented this year, but in the past, ticket holders could also make an online profile on a special site where you could link your portfolio, resume, etc. for recruiters. That site would be available after the event for a few months.
Most of the reason the animation industry has been looking so bleak, lately, is because the writers strike caused most productions to shut down. The majority of my colleagues have been out of work since May for that sole reason. But hopefully, now that the writers are back to work, things will start to go back to how they were. Many of the artists on my production are already scheduled to return to work in January. 🤞
My understanding though is that animation writers aren't included in the WGA?
@@SavvyArtz I thought the same. I don't think games are either. Maybe the live action funded the animation side?
Hi! I’m an Storyboard Artist who has been out of work bc of the strike. Yes most of our industry is looking for work, no it’s not bc of the strike. It’s mostly adult prime time shows that shut down bc of the strike; Family Guy, Bobs Burgers, Simpsons. Most animation uses our TAG writers. Animators aren’t working right now bc of all the mergers and studio executives sitting in handfuls of finished seasons
To be honest that’s not really the main reason why. From what I’ve read and talked to with people I know. The animation industry is changing from getting shows made in much more cheaper labour markets (Indonesia & Philippines as examples). Animators are cheaper there with the same quality as their American animation counterparts. Because of that and because Netflix and Sony are moving production to Southeast Asian and Asian as a whole where you can get animation quality higher for less cost. You are seeing animation jobs/positions move away from US/European market to the Asian markets.
@@SavvyArtz They most certainly are. I work on Bob's Burgers and all of our writers were on strike. Acting in SAG-AFTRA, on the other hand, was a different story. Actors could still do voice acting, so long as it wasn't for a feature.
Funeral event? Do it. DO IT. Team up with Ask A Mortician!!
1) Hawkeyeeeee
2) EXACTLY my thought too!
Going through the toughest time I’ve had in a while, your vids have been on to get me through every bit of it
It was such a pleasant surprise running into you on Sunday! I'm sure you encountered a lot of fans since artists love listening to your videos while they work lol. Glad you ended up making a video after all!
it'd be really interesting to see you go to wrestlemania sometime. there are so many events attached to the show, and it'd be interesting to see your perspective on the week of activities around it
i never really comment on youtube videos but this one specifically feels so useful to me as a current art student soon to graduate (as i realized today!) and also a frequent convention goer-- i didn't know this convention existed let alone all the opportunities it had! i really appreciate your content in general but this video specifically has been so thoroughly useful as an artist
i don't know why i enjoy watching a person i don't know review conventions about stuff I'm not interested in, but i find it so relaxing. So I'm glad you were there! ❤
I love that someone who's binging Swell's work can gague her growing success by looking at her gradual accrual of gold accessories.
Amanda, the cutest bumblebee buzzing around and telling us about all the cool flowers she saw today.
Wild that no one told the panelists it was being recorded
Hearing about the artist’s alley, I would totally want to go for a day, just for the chance to shop it. (I was a deviantart teen who enjoyed favoriting art more than trying to post anything. 😂)
It’s so funny that you went to lightbox cus I was there thinking damn no security at all? Amanda would be on these guys so fast lmfao
When I clicked on this I said "She looks like a bumble bee today" and just after 10 mins you made my day!
So Amanda, when are you going to start your OWN con? You can call it SwellCon Expo-Fest-O-Rama and it would be the MOTHER OF ALL CONVENTIONS. Included will be representatives and booths from every con you've ever been to, were planning on attending but couldn't for various reasons, and have never been to (but heard about.) It would fill EVERY convention space in Las Vegas and THEN SOME! Food for thought.
This would be so expensive to pull off😂
Swell Entertainment Xpo
Heard about Lightbox Expo for the first time in 2020 just days before they held it online, and I "attended" it. I can only speak for that experience, but I loved it! You got to choose how much you paid to attend (quite low and reasonable i think), and there were different perks per price point. You got to listen to Zoom panels and get video exclusives. I wish it was still like that since traveling and ticket prices are more of an issue for most now, including me.
I am an art student and I went to lightbox last year and it was wonderful. I was applying to schools then and the advice that I got from the colleges there was invaluable and it just made me excited to continue in the art world! I would love to go back someday
As a student attending art school right now for illustration/animation, I know many of my friends attending school/recent grads who went looking for a place to get advice for breaking into the industry and getting inspired. I don't know if they sought out companies for portfolio reviews, but it was just a place where really popular artists in the industry to kind of spread their love for the industry, give advice, sell their work, and just be engrossed in this place where everyone loves creating. I wanted to go but I didn't have the money to budget out a 3 day trip across the country. But next year I'm going to try to attend.
Your video was really insightful for me on the troubles surrounding the con. I've been to a few conventions where I've had serious issues with planning and timing all of the things I want to do and see and missing out on paid events I paid for. But with your video, I'm definitely going to keep these issues in mind when planning my trip for next year.
(if you give a crap about SPN, I would love to see a video about their conventions from you because I have had several bad experiences with the large convention company running them but also know people who love them, and drop 5k every weekend on a weekend pass/photos/autographs to have a parasocial relationship with actors, and it is insane.)
Hey, I love the standing videos! They are really animated and expressive
Oh hey that's my booth at 6:19 haha! Yeah LBX was great would reccomend to anyone wanting to sell their merch there. I sold out of my books in 3 hours on the first day.
I went to LBX this year for the first time and completely agree with everything that was said regarding 1) needing a bigger venue 2) the ticketing system being strange 3) the demo hall being a mess. Lots of great stuff was happening but there are definitely things that need to be tweaked.
I spat water when I saw the title haha!
Thought it would never happen cuz it was such a specific industry focused event. Our AA table is in shot the couple seconds you filmed in the artist alley! I've always been to LBX as an Artist alley exhibitor, never an attendee. I always wondered how it is compared to other conventions and actually how well-run it is on the scale. Since the organisers are so nice to us artists, and imo very thorough with instructions. But it always seemed chaotic looking out into the crowd, with queues and horror stories of how hard it is to get into anything lol.
Seconding many comments, your videos are relaxing to listen to. They get me through lots of tiring work hours. Thank you Swell!
When I went to Adobe MAX at the LA convention center in 2019 security was very minimal, the only bag checks and metal detectors were at the Microsoft Theater down the street (or whatever it’s called now). IMO it was fantastic to not be stopped at every entrance for security checks, especially because you were constantly coming and going across multiple buildings and there were already super long lines for everything 😂
Fun Fact, I got one of randomized portfolio reviews, and it also in the demo room, so we could still hear all those voices while trying to ask the professionals we were meetings with questions.
I worked LightBox as a “fire fly” (the ones in the yellow shirts lol). I will say they did not accept volunteers and you did have to apply and I heard the hiring process was more selective. That being said I did hear that they hired twice as many people as last year. And the reason they do choose to hire is because when you get paid you are more likely to do your job. I did volunteer at a film festival earlier in the year, and I will say that was the case for that one. Where some volunteers (like 3 I noticed). would ditch there stations and go to watch the movies or be gone for large stretches of time. I also will say that the event organizers were really good about making sure everyone who was working the event was clocked in, took any breaks. And also if we wanted to see a panel but had to work during that time they were able to adjust it so we could attend.
I love the “what are you doing here” events. It also covers a lot of events that I hadn’t heard of but would have loved to attend.
14:23 ?? Not sure if the term is different in America, but in Australia "spastic"/"sp*z" is defs considered a slur by those in the disability community. Does this mean something else for Americans?
I noticed the same thing I’m from America and it’s considered a slur too I was very confused
It's more common in the US but still a slur, yes. Here in the UK it's an awful word to use
Obsessed with the silver glasses especially when paired with the dark green and necklace in the sponsored segment. Such a good look!
I did Rose city comic con in Portland Oregon in September, and we had a critical role panel at 10:15am. We got to the convention center at like 9:30, and got through bag check very fast, which was fine for time but the conversation center was an absolute maze and for some one who can't easily use the stairs or escalators, navigation was hard. So after looping floor 2a for 10 minutes then finding the main hall entrance on level 1, we finally got to level 2b after wandering down a lightly signed hallway and finally made it to our panel. Basically I fully agree about staggering early panels. That was a ticketed panel too, and that's a whole other thing. I get the tickets that's totally fine but I wished the website had a bit more instructions because I sat there on the phone with my partner trying to get our tickets and I just started at a page for 10 of my 15 minutes because I thought I had done it but wanted him to confirm it , just to figure it out on my end and realize I hadn't reserved ours and then finally did. So what was a mess.
25:57 worlds blurriest text
also i feel like "needs a better venue" is the swell entertainment catchphrase at this point
Side note, your hair looks gorgeous in the Aura ad!
I attended LBX the year it was online and I really loved it! Sadly I don't think I'll be able to attend again since I live in another country, so thank you for making this video!
My problem with events like lightbox is that they're basically the only way to get work in the animation field unless you a) are rich/a nepo baby or b) get INSANELY lucky with youtube/your indie projects/social networks/etc. Nothing can compare with directly networking with industry people and someone like me will never be able to do that because I can't afford to go all the way to California for an event with 0 guarantee of a job.
There need to be more events like this in different parts of the country, or more companies willing to do online portfolio reviews even if it's on a limited basis, but the industry is in such a terrible state right now that that's just not possible.
On the one hand, I agree. Nothing beats going right into an industry hub because that’s how you make real life connections and wiggle your way into studios. Tech people move to Silicon Valley, airplane engineers move to Seattle, actors move to Hollywood and animators move to Burbank. But you’re right, it’s super inaccessible to people who can’t afford the move and that’s a shame.
But in the grand scheme of things, the animation world is small! Finding work locally is just as viable, if not easier. Teeny, unglamorous studios are scattered across the globe. But it’s all interconnected - it’s only a matter of time for someone at the little studio to know someone at a big studio and to get your name over to a major city. Employment opportunities are awful right now but that’s just the animation industry as a whole.
Anyway, none of this is really helpful but you know what is? The WIA (women in animation) newsletter!! If you haven’t already, I highly encourage you to sign up (all genders welcome) and every Tuesday, they send out an email with a bunch of events (in person across the world and online), mentorship panels, screenings, discounts, scholarships etc. Post pandemic, online opportunities for networking have definitely dwindled but they’re not completely gone!!
UGH I was so bummed when LBX switched from online to in person only. It was so nice being able to tune into so many amazing panels in a weekend and learn. Now that panels aren't livestreamed anymore it feels like the art industry is back to being its exclusionsary California club 😭
I know is important, (unfortunately especially in the US) but I HATE clear bag/no bag policies. It seems like a cost cutting move and has a higher impact on women.
7:58-8:44 it's how this take makes SO much sense yet i've never thought abt it like that?? 😲 as a nerdy hobbyist i only think abt the drop-off of the panini "hobby-boom" as ppl drop new interests as micro-trends (leading to a lot of waste bc of consumption yada yada) but i didn't translate that to newly demonstrated interest at cons! makes me wonder what will happen the day some media/communications/events director has a 1:1 talk w amanda that turns into an accidental consultation of sorts XD ty always for the interesting review swell! awesome to hear lightcon's artist exposure + AI measures and hopeful that there'll be more professional resources for upcoming artists amidst these changing times. here's to supporting creatives always!! 💪😤
Thanks for this swell video, Swell!
Your hair during the ad break! 😍
On security, I went to a football game last weekend at a large university in Texas that I would think with 100,000 people in a stadium I would walk through metal detector and have a bag check. They let outside drinks and I had no security check in at all in a stadium of over 100,000 people. It was wild what you could do in that scenario.
HAHA WHAT I WAS LITERALLY THINKING WHILE I WAS THERE "I wonder what Swell would think of she was here" BRO
I tabled in the artist hall year one and 2023. The founder Bobby Chiu and his wife Kei Acedera are both incredible artists in the industry. That is why there is such excellent quality control for who gets to table there. I think it’s great they alternate artists. I did present a demo and the acoustics were not well thought out. Year one that room was our VIP lounge area. I would put money on it that they’ve figured out a better place for 2024.
I got to go to Lightbox's 2021 Virtual Expo, and honestly it was an amazing experience. My best friend and I were looking through all the zoom calls and were amazed by all the fun things to listen to. We're not from the US so ofc we knew that 2022 and forward wouldn't be virtual anymore, but I think it was so cool to be able to talk and make friends with something as simple as a digital whiteboard.
omg I so glad you did on video on Lightbox expo, im an animation student and just just learned about it this year so this video really helped :)
thank you for summarizing the pain points of this convention. as i've experienced these are my biggest annoyance:
-Ticketing system, i REALLY feel like they could have come up with a better way to do this.
-Demo areas are, like you said, laughably bad. I had to leave one of the most interesting ones to me and my career interest because I was getting a headache from the noise, and tired from standing because I had no chair.
-Security. I did not see metal detectors anywhere, and I shouldn't have to worry about a potential shooting while at a convention for my passion.
Despite all of this, wonderful experience, it was invaluable to me as a student even though I didn't bring a portfolio for review, Im planning on going hard into portfolio reviews next year when I'm hopefully working on collaborative projects. I'll go next year!
Long time fan, first time commenting lol.
I'm a older Gen X animation student, survived the embezzlement fiasco at AI Los Angeles in Santa Monica and even pitched a few shows at the old CTN building.
That's said it did break my heart to hear a recruitment con for the industry was not really, doing the thing it seems they exist to do. From hearing countless recruiters just say "We aren't hiring" to not finding anyone at the con who landed job placement and so on, just kind of a bummer. It makes me w9nder what the ultimate point of Light box is, and if recruitment isn't feasible maybe a shift to expand the artist alley presence so artist have that opportunity to generate revenue might be better? Casual thinking out loud. Keep up the great vids.
Ahhhh it was so dope to meet you!
YESSS SWELL THANK YOU FOR THIS
The absolute glow up for the ad read is amazing lmao... I guess I'd do my hair for Aura too.
Honestly, did not skip the ad because your hair looked so good
Ah, so glad to have briefly run into you & hear you liked it! Dunno if this info matters at all but CTN was actually this weekend and from what I heard was pretty mid, but honestly the smaller size I think made it mildly more helpful for what minimal networking any of us currently in animation can do. The thing with CTN wasn’t just the size or crowdedness honestly but that it always felt more “corporate”- better maybe for those already in the industry, but kinda weird for students. Lightbox is definitely more approachable even if basically no one is getting jobs from it haha
i think you were literally at a halloween party that was happening after lbx that i was at and i MEANT to find u and say like hey i love ur work, but then i promptly forgot when i got there u_u
regardless i can say it now especially cuz of this video; i love ur work! and im so glad youre talking about the event because there absolutely were pros and cons that should be discussed so that lbx can improve in the future! having a perspective like yours too that is specifically someone going to the event looking from the outside in is very valuable. keep up the great work amanda :D
Oof, Amanda’s hair in that Aura ad looks *fantastic*
This was my first year going to lightbox (I’m in the crowd at 4:38 , and that’s my friend hitting the crosswalk button lol). I went in as an illustrator, I just graduated art school as an illustration major, and I thought it was interesting going in as someone who didn’t plan to work for a studio. I was really going for the panels and networking. And the panel ticketing system was a nightmare. My group didn’t know about the ticket system until the day before, because luckily someone in my group had to go to pick up her badge in person and we were able to grab their booklets early. Booklets which, by the way, were printed out of date so if anyone was following the schedule in the book, it would be completely wrong. But anyways, after learning about the tickets, all our previous panel plans were thrown out, and we spent the rest of the night sitting in a circle on our hotel room floor trying to figure it out. We also had to call a few of our friends in different groups to give them the heads up, since they didn’t know either.
As painful as the tickets were, I was able to go to everything I wanted to do. Friday was 1 panel (ticketed) 2 demos and 1 drawing session (not ticketed). The only annoying thing was that the drawing session was in a room surrounded by ticketed panels, and no one told us that it wasn’t going to be ticketed, we asked the staff volunteers and the first set of volunteers said to wait, and the second said no tickets, so I don’t know. Saturday I did 2 panels, both ticketed. I was able to get a ticket to it just fine, but I was still on edge because a ticket didn’t guarantee a seat. One of my friends had gotten a ticket for a panel, and even with it she wasn’t able to get in. This is the thing that made me the most angry. I can live with a complicated ticketing system, but if you give out more tickets than there are seats, what’s the point? So there was never a peaceful moment trying to go to a panel until you were inside sitting down. Horrible. On Sunday I was able to 2 panels (one in the morning, so no tickets, and one later with a ticket) and one talk in the auditorium (so no tickets). Overall I did get what I wanted out of it, so I do think it was worth it even though it was a headache.
Oh and the after party mixer on Friday, so crowded. We got there a bit after it started and the line was pretty much out the door. It was so densely packed that it was hard to move. We left around 9:45, I think it was supposed to go till 10 or 11, I don’t remember. There was still a massive line to get in when we left, to the point that people were just hanging out in the lobby of the hotel instead of trying to get in. But rumor is that a little after my group left, everyone was kicked out because the caterers ran out of food and drinks (?).
Hi, I just wanted to let you know that you used an ableist slur. You used the word “sp**tic” at 14:21.
I know you probably didn’t know that because from everything else I’ve seen from you, it wouldn’t make sense for that to have been a conscious choice. So I figured I’d let you know
yes!!! i noticed as well!! thank you for saying something!!
OMG!! I was there!! I brushed passed you and had to a double take!!
Can’t believe I actually showed up in a Swell video (for like a whole second wow!!!)
I went to LB for the same reason you mentioned; trying to get an animation job, but I couldn’t get into a lot of reviews or talk to a lot of industry people, and who I did meet agreed that the industry is just kind of on fire right now even for those already in it. So best of luck to all of us trying to get paid for art lol
Also I didn’t know about the convention’s ai stance, but that does make me like em just a little bit more
Hi, I'm yet another artist who watches your videos! I went to Lightbox it's first year and loved it compared to CTN. It didn't have as much of a crowding issue back then, but yeesh it looks packed now. The demo areas have always been lackluster, unfortunately.
Thank you for talking about AI!
i do think either multi-year contracts are common with certain venues, or you have to book those venues several years prior, so it may not be possible for them to move next year. i work for an organization that has a summit every year (smaller than all of these conventions, like 2K people) and we have contracts with venues like 5 years in advance, and usually for one venue several years in a row.
i actually happened to notice you while walking in the artist alley on friday and was wondering if you'd end up making a video on this LOL thank you for bringing up issues many of us had like the overcrowding and cost, i could only afford a one day ticket and ended up not getting to rlly do anything but walk around the AA bcuz panels/booths were booked to capacity and i was just so overstimulated >_< i have several friends that were vendors who had great luck selling their stock so there's definitely no denying this event has benefits for artists in the industry! it would just be better for everyone if they moved it into a bigger venue so less ppl were spending $75-200 to wait in lines for 2/3's of that time :,,] anyways i rlly enjoy listening to your con reviews while i work so thank you for these great vids!!
absolutely love the note about rotating out vendors - i wish more events did that to some degree. I regularly attend cons and also ren faires and as much as i love seeing regular vendors at ren faires every year, it very quickly makes every event feel the exact same. Especially since if you have people running the same local event circuits, it's not just one event with all the same vendors, but two or three with identical vendors to each other every year. Thankfully i don't run into that problem at cons as much, particularly since unlike ren faires, convention vendors tend to rotate out stock depending on what media is popular at the time. ren faire vendors have more of a tendency to just make the same products every faire season. it just sucks because i love those vendors! but i've bought everything from them already four years ago! i can imagine how in particular an industry-focused event like this would potentially run into a problem like that.
OMG YOU WENT TO LIGHTBOX?! That’s awesome :0
You should go to BJDC TX. The oldest and biggest ball jointed doll convention in North America. I went last year and it was a mixed bag. Not what I was expecting and I hope the 2024 con will be better.
I'm always interested to see what different industries get up to, go to whatever you can find
I love learning about other types of jobs and industries AND my job includes event planning, so your content is incredibly fascinating! Keep doing you! Here's an idea for you...not sure how the IP end would work, but you doing a film update of Studs Terkel's "Working." It's a monster of a book, but it's all interviews, you can hop around. I know your content feels completely different, but Terkel's style was of his time, and I think you might be more of a journalist than you realize. Ngl, love the nerdy bi representation especially, but truly do think youve got the chops & the mind for a project like that. I know youve got a solid liberal arts education, so youd be able to work with the historic perspective.
YES! THE BAG CHECK THING! I Went to Anime Pasadena which was a few days after this in the same location and they didn't check any bags either! There was also no one making people get their prop weapon checks done, I think they were just hoping people would walk to the table, me and my friend found it weeeird
Thank you for covering light box!
As someone who has been to the event since the first year, they out grew the event in the first year. It was incredibly crowded and panels filled out quick, not as fast as last year, but still it was almost impossible to get in. I only got into panels last year because I worked at one of the major studios showing there. Otherwise it was a cluster fuck. Some rooms only held 30 people for big title shows. Job wise, with the recession and strikes and layoffs, this year was not a good year to job search.
I'm begging, please go to a wedding convention.
I went to Lightbox Expo last year (for the first time), and the complaints I had back then are the same that you express now. On one hand I'm sad those issues haven't been dealt with, and on the other I'm glad I opted not to go this year.
Also, the demo hall is THE WORST. Thank you for speaking on it.
I’ve never heard of Lightbox but to be fair I barely know much about conventions besides what you share on your channel. But after hearing about this, this seems like a convention I’ll definitely have to put on my bucket list since I’m going to be starting my Animation and games course next year.
Hey Amanda! I was at LBX the last two years and I 100% agree with all your criticisms, specifically about the location. They really need to change event locations, and I do wonder if theyre under contract or something because theyve already announced the dates for next years event. Or if theyre just trying to milk as much money as they could. The ticket system for the panels was better than last years because last year was just line up and hope you get in. They had a fire marshal tell them they had to stop letting extra people into the panels (to stand at the back) last year, which is what brought on the ticket situation on the last day. They changed it this year from day 1 to be the ticket system and implemented it so poorly which lead to like you said the double queues.
100% agree with the demo area, absolutely laughable. It was exactly like this last year.
Lightbox did their own reviews this year, on a lotto system, to mitigate the insane amount of lines and waits at the booths last year. You had to sign up under specific labels so I am surprised to hear you had a Storyboard Artist that was with a Video Game person that would not work out? Because the story artists were separated into i think 2d and 3d? I feel like there was more . so maybe 3d got funnel into video games? I will say, I am a board artist who signed up for 2d story and got in and I'm more focused on teen~adult TV action/drama and the guy I got paired with works live action currently but has worked in animation.
On top of this, companies put out applications on social media to do portfolio reviews, unsure if this was random or if they chose who to review. These companies were not allowed to look at portfolios in line at their booths.
There was also companies who did not put out applications but just chose people who had their art+portfolios on the lightbox artist profiles and emailed them super last minute if they wanted to do a review (had a few friends who got reviews from skydance like this, despite them not having any application open for it)
Every time someone says something like "who would target artists or animators?!" I cant help but think of the Kyoto Animation arson attack. You really cant predict what some people will do. Security is extremely important.
Hotspot appreciation moment for helping this video be uploaded!