Izumicon 2018: The Worst Con that Never Happened

[@RedBardIsCool]

Additional notes/clarifications/corrections/etc zone: - I mention this a few times in the video, but I wanna say it plainly to make sure there's no mistake: SoonerCon isn't an anime con in Oklahoma; it's more akin to a sci-fi con and/or general fandom con (but yes, it is in Oklahoma!). There's anime stuff there (just this past year in fact, I was a guest! Also, there were anime voice actors, too!) but it's not an anime con, specifically (as Amber stated toward the end of the video). That being said, SoonerCon is by far my favorite Oklahoma con in general. Even before I was a guest this past year, I'd attended SoonerCon a number of previous years (in addition to some b-roll from SoonerCon 2023, you can see b-roll from some pre-pandemic SoonerCons in this very video, too! When in doubt, if it looks like the b-roll was taken in the Reed Center, it's probably a pre-pandemic SoonerCon). Currently (or, since the death of Izumicon) it's my favorite OK con in general and def the one I'd recommend the most if this video has made you wanna give OK cons a try. - Correction: The members of BoldEgoist (they're a duo of artists: Ickah and Sam) use they/them and they/he pronouns respectively. It wasn't my intention to misgender them, and I've apologized to them. You can check out their work here: boldegoist.carrd.co/# - The photos of older Izumicons (and 2017) that don't have photo credits in the corner are photos that I took (again: I was at Izumicon from 2007-11, and then again in 2017; I was also supposed to be a panelist at 2018). If you happen to be one of the cosplayers in the photos and you'd like the full-res image, get in contact with me and I'll happily send it to you if you want!

[@Meimoons]

This is a really good video! 👍 I’m invested! On the other hand, I wouldn’t be surprised if she tried to come after you for this. She seems like a spiteful person who would.

[@fernandorosales599]

I was in the “Fuck Kopf” photo. There are a lot of receipts of the con runner and I hope you can make a video regarding him. A lot of people have tried to publicly make his actions more aware, but some people who were about to release the vids were either A. Threatened with “legal action” since the individual is unknown B. Couldn’t release it due to other circumstances. It’s a big issue in the Midwest community and it’s ridiculous that he is still running the cons and how some of the people that know, still go/support it. I feel that if the voices of those affected are finally heard, real justice can be served. He’s trying to run for mayor or governor of Iowa (and I personally knew someone who was affected by one of the people that worked for him) which is why I hope you can bring him to light.

[@ibiyashev]

When you start out wanting to be a con owner, but inadvertently become a con artist…

[@Pikeandglaive]

That, is honestly, probably the best summary of the situation I think I've ever read.

[@caylapowell920]

this made me actually cackle 🤣

[@anjetto1]

Good work

[@kflemonice]

Actually, if you're an artist selling goods at a con, aren't you a con artist?

[@HomemadeDeer]

@@mayonotes9849nah nah they got a point tho.

[@Silvermoon424]

Have I ever heard about this con? No. Am I thrilled to watch a movie-length video by Red Bard about it? YES.

[@Moonhermit-]

You just know there's gonna be more tea getting spilled than an airstrike on the Lipton factory.

[@SesshyLover777]

As someone who has gone to like 5 (and dodged a bullet by being fresh home from living in Japan when this one happened) IT WAS * USUALLY * GREAT!

[@jessdrewthis]

Right? Not even 24 hours ago I was taking with a friend about how much I’m interested in failed conventions. It’s not schadenfreude, I’m not laughing at the attendees who lose time and money. I guess Im fascinated at how so many bad decisions can be made in such rapid succession to lead to these disasters over and over. Despite growing histories of failed cons and how not to run one. I Can think of only a single first (and only) year con that was planned in like two months and went off without a hitch, it was a furry new years con.

[@aliencafe]

That's how I feel any time Kennedy uploads tbh, I never know about these topics but I'm always SO interested in them!

[@SonicTheHedgedawg]

This. Exactly this.

[@hispanerd880]

So the moral of the story is: "Don't hand leadership roles of your business to an acquaintance who has the mind and attitude of a DeviantArt teen otaku with no experience whatsoever"

[@sophiagonzales8974]

At least dashcon’s teen founder was slightly competent than dez here because there’s at least something planned

[@eddythefool]

​@@sophiagonzales8974I mean, that ball pit took some work to make happen

[@sophiagonzales8974]

@@eddythefool yeah but it compares to izumicon because nothing tangible actually happened or worked besides Dez is like the person who someone asks if they had a plan and actually doesn't have anything The ball pit was dashcon's founder idea it actually happened though if you make a pale comparison with izumiconcon

[@eddythefool]

@@sophiagonzales8974 that's what I'm saying. That ball pit took some planning, but Dez just sounded like they were hoping everything would work itself out.

[@Dante2056]

Hey, that's mean. The DATO doesn't deserve to be dragged down to Dez's level like that.

[@sovietcanuckistanian]

This con was going so off the rails I was half expecting to hear “And then a suitcase full of yaoi paddles showed up “

[@aderyn7600]

“And three people died from getting them cheeks clapped too hard”

[@maffieduran]

​@@aderyn7600"8 others got their pelvises shattered"

[@poesnacks7273]

Dez reminds me of a former coworker of mine, whose complacency and ineptitude initially came across as malicious. After working with them for long enough I realized they were just profoundly self-absorbed and unintelligent. Dez's actions make a lot more sense when you realize there was probably no thought process behind anything she did. People really do be out here sleepwalking through their own lives

[@greyblaspheme]

I had a gm who let our tacobell fail the inspection 4 times in a row, he would blame any and everyone over any mistake, claiming we planted expired lettuce to screw him and such Until they get fired or demoted they'll do the same technique or method that got them this far

[@pluna3382]

This is exactly my sister-in-law. She just did things spontaneously and cuz she felt like it at the time and is always acting the victim when things didn't go her way. Even if everyone in her family pitched in, she always acted like they did nothing and constantly belittled them. Recently she had told her mother she wasn't needed as a mom to her anymore if she was gonna continue to telling her what to do. Broke her heart and convinced her to move out. People really do nothing but only think of themselves and their world goes out to the air of their skin.

[@zombietrash416]

Lol. The ending kinda made my night.

[@juliamavroidi8601]

"never attribute to malice what can also be attributed to incompetence"

[@anjetto1]

I'm gonna be real with you, I lived in the American south very briefly. "Profoundly self absorbed and unintelligent" is basically how I would describe all of them. I can't imagine Oklahoma being any different

[@adamaukerman2808]

I was a director for Izumicon from 2011 to 2016. I left as soon as we sold the convention. Unfortunately, I’m not shocked this failed. That opinion was made up in my head after I found out who it was sold to.

[@RJ_Barricade]

All things considered I have some fond memories during the few years I volunteered at Izumicon with you my G❤ 2017 going as just an attendee, im not too surprised things failed either.

[@adamaukerman2808]

In my mind, my crew was undeniable. They took the time to always ask the attendees if they could do anything to make their day. You guys worked your ass off and I couldn’t have been more proud of all of you. Thanks RJ! I hope you will come to AWA in the future. If you do, you will always have a badge waiting for you.

[@Plasmawarrior]

I've never been to Izumicon (mostly because I had to fit in San Japan during that time), but I've heard nothing but great things during the run. I've also heard nothing but great things about Anime Weekend Atlanta, but sadly again during that time, I've had to either make the choice of that or Dragon*Con from where I am. Sorry, Dragon*Con wins out there. Anyway, all that aside, what would you say was your best event that was constantly at Izumicon? Each cone has that something or other that makes it stand out. Oni-con is the beach. Dragon*Con is the parade. Yama-con is the area around it, and so on and so on.

[@adamaukerman2808]

Dragoncon will always generally get the nod solely based on it size. I mean 80,000 attendees?!!! Hard not to go and enjoy something so crazy! I totally get it though. I loved my time at Izumicon. I have been working for this company for over 12 years and still manager 3 other shows of theirs. The two most popular events at Izumicon would have the be Ask an Anime Character or the Vocaloid Experience. Ask an Anime character is pretty straight forward. 8 different characters would appear on screen and audience members would get to ask the voice actors questions. Always a huge hit. Vocaloid brought Miku and her friends to life in a full 3D stage performance. We are talking Tupac level recreating from years ago. At the time, we were the only approved US company to offer this event. All in all, I have more fond memories with Izumicon than I do negative ones.

[@Plasmawarrior]

@@adamaukerman2808 Size isn't exactly everything. I've had way too many bad big cons and I could write a book about Anime Masturi itself. But Dragon*Con is great because of the many attendees that go to it. No other convention that I've been to has the same energy and positivity around it. As for the Vocaloid events, I think that's when I heard of Izumicon. At that time, I had just recently gotten into Vocaloid (around 2013, thanks in large part to Project Diva), and I heard that Izumicon had something special there. I couldn't go, because of being with San Japan at that time.

[@Magmafrost13]

The biggest question I have coming out of this is, how did Dez apparently not face ANY legal consequences for blatant embezzlement?

[@Hawkatana]

The video explains it. The cost of the lawyers was lower than the amount Dez embezzled.

[@barsabe]

Leslie was basically not worth it

[@CarnivalGrotesque]

None. I was in contact with Dez for a little bit after everything fell apart, but, as far as I was aware...she just washed her hands of it.

[@Shatterstar]

@@Hawkatana That's for civil. The big question is how prosecutors didn't get involved.

[@AeonKnigh432]

​@@Hawkatana That's suits, not the criminal aspect. Probably same reason, but she was technically embezzling from a company she had sole ownership in so its weird.

[@OhNoBohNo]

I dunno, it's made clear here that Dez could've at least made a pretty good career in furniture transportation, given how much rug pulling she did

[@seekerstheshy3842]

missed opportunity to say she'd be good at crypto

[@anjetto1]

Make her speaker of the house

[@randomnpc7773]

I spat out water.@@anjetto1

[@agarciahunter]

Nah. She’d probably just pull 2 carpets, say she met the quota and take a bunch of carpets, saying that it’s her benefits

[@SuperCosmicMutantSquid]

(rim shot)

[@CarnivalGrotesque]

Wow...It really WAS worse than I imagined. There's some information here that I do remember talking to her about but, just like everyone, I never got the full story and I was perpetually confused. I'd hoped that my FRIEND, of all people, wouldn't lie to my face, yet here we are. I do find it funny that I had literally offered to do all of the art for basically free, but even the tiny price I quoted her ($250+free art table for the t-shirt design, badges, con book, EVERYTHING) was still too much and she went with the contest anyway. Without relaying that to me, of course. I found out through Ashley. Fun times. I'm glad Dez and I are no longer in touch. -Carnival Grotesque (MxVile)

[@erichoselton5340]

I am sorry to hear how you got jerked around, it is always so much worse when it is by a friend. I hope things have been going well for you since then.

[@alfietheelf]

$250 and a table is a steal. Honestly. For the amount you were willing to do in exchange? That's terrible, especially from a "friend"

[@Miksho7]

I have always struggled with dystopian fiction like The Walking Dead, because it felt ridiculous to claim that EVERYONE in times of stress would immediately betray everyone around them or go mad with power. And then EVERY STORY LIKE THIS ONE is basically "An unprepared person gets the smallest amount of power; days later, they begin punishing their enemies and embezzling funds." Amazing work as always!

[@hoonterofhoonters6588]

Do not assume that the beast is gentle because it has not yet its teeth.

[@snowstorm9310]

Dystopian fiction is more akin to dystopian speculation when it revolves around human failings as the core component of the story. But it takes little more than a small window into *any* possible power dynamic to see how power corrupts even the purest of individuals. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, but it really should be "All" power. It takes a person of genuinely upstanding character to deal with that corruption and remain unchanged.

[@snowstorm9310]

@@hoonterofhoonters6588 I like that. Reminds of of "Don't assume the man is violent because he holds his sword"

[@sunny1salvage]

Reminded me of the seven year war reddit post a bit. Giving one person who has proved they shouldn’t have power, all the power and being shocked it goes wrong 😂

[@_kalia]

​@@snowstorm9310I much prefer 'Power _reveals',_ because power won't make someone do something they never wanted to do in the first place, but it will show you exactly what they'd like to do when given the means and shielded from the consequences.

[@enriquekahn9405]

geez, it's almost as if running an event with 10k+ expected guests requires work and management skills and handing it off to some rando is a bad idea

[@adamaukerman2808]

The original owners sold it as they were done running the con moving forward. Based on their other con sizes, it didn't make sense to keep it going. It wasn't handed off either. The rights were sold to an individual who pleaded a case to keep it going. Unfortunately, we never understand everyone's motives.

[@RumForBreakfast]

Why is it that nothing of worth is ever said after "it's almost as if"?

[@themadmallard]

Fans in general don't realise how much a minor miracle it is that any con happens in the first place in the face of how much work it is, especially ones driven thru volunteers and not an industry directed event.

[@weglord]

Im so glad this story was told. I worked under cisco for the 2 years I got to volunteer. It was so heartbreaking getting a text from cisco saying "dont bother, the cons not happening".

[@Pikeandglaive]

Hey there, brother!

[@Woynich]

at 46:31 I can't be the only one who forgot when all this went down and thought that when you said "they did what any corporation who wants art but doesn't want to pay for it does..." that you were about to say, "they used an AI to make the promotional materials."

[@Healermain15]

My first thought was steal it off the internet, but AI is just an advanced version of that.

[@krisberg5308]

I was thinking the exact same thing!!

[@S1apShoes]

I also thought that , then I remembered this was 2018 😂😂

[@shanelbryant5638]

Ngl when she said “a could hundred dollars” my brain went “that’s so cheap!”. Promo art that goes on stuff every year? Super cheap

[@hcneysenpai]

that was my first thought as well, i'm so used to AI art at the moment that it just seems so normalized for big corps.

[@TheREALTheRealAdam]

Dez's obsession with being in charge of "Guest Relations" and complete disinterest in just about everything else sounds like this was all a ploy to try and social engineer her way into...something. Being an anime VA via "having an in?" Vague social climbing? Well, that and skimming money off the top, but so little money was brought in she ended up skimming most if not all of it. Hence her insistence at 'being a victim.' "If more people had given us money, my embezzlement wouldn't have been noticed!"

[@Belgand]

Just general fangirling. Sounds like she wanted to be "in charge" for the prestige and to attend the con rather than actually running it. Fully consistent with someone who walked away from her post watching a door because she was bored. She never wanted to help out, she just wanted free entry (nothing wrong with that) but was unprepared to actually put in the work.

[@Pikeandglaive]

I am literally moved to tears knowing that truth behind the final chapter of Izumicon has been thoroughly researched and shared with the public. Thank you Cisco

[@Stronkhold]

Me too, Cisco. Me too (Am Brandt)

[@alphaqueer]

Following you out with the rest of con ops was the right call, esp as I watched everything burn down through my contact with the directors who stayed on. Glad you're still out there Cisco! Your info booth AD from so long ago, James

[@weglord]

Hey cisco! Its tennant! Miss ya man! Sent ya a fb request!

[@Pikeandglaive]

@@alphaqueer cheers brother!

[@Pikeandglaive]

@@weglord cheers! And thanks.

[@MisakiUsagiForever]

you may wanna look into the chaos that is this year's youmacon. it's completely insane and it hasn't even happened yet. accessibility, health concerns, known doxxer was scheduled to participate then forced to withdraw, the fact that there are only like seven in person guests and 15 vtubers zoom calling in.

[@MesmeristMusic]

If Youmacon goes under in the next couple years like I expect it to, I wouldn't be surprised if it gets a deep-dive autopsy like this by 2030.

[@jsc315]

As a elder weeb I've heard rumors of this disaster from people that actually worked in the anime/convention industry but most of the info could not be confirmed for multiple reasons. So thank you for this.

[@33melonpaws77]

"an elder weeb" - Is there a high council with a complex political ecosystem?

[@mr.smithsgovermentclass4556]

​@@33melonpaws77We mostly want to be left alone due to the Great Swirly Apocalypse in the 90s.

[@MEGVTRON]

🤣

[@Elenrai]

​@@33melonpaws77Yea, they form a council to fufill the whims of Samuel Conway which just adds a ton of irony to the whole situation😂

[@Meimoons]

@@mr.smithsgovermentclass4556Wait- there’s a story you gotta share now. Please tell us ol’ elder weeb.

[@skyblade7438]

“There’s a surprising number of Ambers in the local con organising community” I mean…have they ever all been seen in a room together?

[@1upRosie]

*suspicious eye shifting* no but I can explain... Signed One of the Ambers

[@asmrtpop2676]

@@1upRosiethis is so cringe

[@1upRosie]

@@asmrtpop2676 not the asmr KZbinr calling anyone cringe 😂

[@Turbo_Waitress]

The RedBard convention cinematic universe continues to grow! Thank you for this!

[@CaitlinKoi]

I cannot believe she so blatantly embezzled money and never received any repercussions.

[@BurstingColorz]

fancy seeing you here! 😊

[@ExcenGaming]

2 entire hours of info about a failed con I have never heard of, in a state I have never visited before... And I couldn't be more invested.

[@JzelMoniK]

2 entire hours of info about a failed con I have never heard of, in a COUNTRY I have never visited before... And I don't even care about cons And I couldn't be more invested.

[@swordimpulse07]

@@JzelMoniK 2 entire hours of info about a failed con I have never heard of, on a PLANET I have never visited before... And I don't even care about cons And I couldn't be more invested.

[@Mordecrox]

Can't say the same, sounds interesting but 20 minutes in, it failed to grasp my interest. I have a feeling that is why this wasn't widely publicized, this was too small of a fish to fry in the grand scheme of things. You can't get everyone, this seems like pure drama and I don't like drama for drama's sake (when you have no interest in the subject and just want to see everything burn), love her but I'm tapping out of this one.

[@Santoryu90]

@@Mordecrox To each their own I guess didn’t really need to explain all that.

[@hypothalapotamus5293]

"Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plain... And the waving wheat can sure smell sweet when the wind comes right behind the rain..." I'm pretty sure Rogers and Hammerstein have never been to Oklahoma before.

[@cyborian007]

I remember Dez going into a volunteer meeting in her pajamas. She was more focused playing with a baby that working the business. My associate and I were honestly debating on standing up and demanding that she either take the job seriously or pass it on.

[@sophiagonzales8974]

That's wildly un serious I was thinking how that was mentioned in the video

[@RootVegetabIe]

I'm remember Dez nuts.

[@vanesslifeygo]

:(

[@dcbueller]

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep that was so redonks.

[@asarishepard8171]

People that literally sleep walk through life are awful. Think they have main character syndrome but I think its also they never take a look around and react to their surroundings. I know a couple people like this and its frustrating to have any conversation outside of mutual tv shows we like.

[@Magmafrost13]

America's whole "super small local con for a few hundred people" will never not be wild to me. I dont think we even have 1 annual anime con per state here in Australia

[@Hawkatana]

I don't know of many anime-specific cons, but weebs would often overtake a couple cons I'd visit a lot when I lived in Canberra.

[@Skrimbi]

As an Oklahoman believe me these things are incredibly wild. Noone knows about these unless you are in like an extremely small group. Like these are held in big ass meeting buildings.

[@ianhoopes6650]

Cons will dedicate tables in the vendor's hall for other cons to distribute fliers and promote themselves. Some of the cons you see at these booths aren't even listed on most websites that compile lists of cons, and they're held at like student union buildings, airports, small hotels etc. A lot of these cons are just general pop culture conventions rather than dedicated anime cons, though. Anime or not, you can always count on there being a booth for some local indie dev demoing a game that just... isn't very good.

[@EmilyRafferty]

please help me find the scene, I just moved to Lawton,OK!@@Skrimbi

[@Skrimbi]

@@EmilyRafferty believe me I'm still trying 🪑

[@lorcannagle]

As someone who's been working cons since the mid-90s, stuff like this boils my blood. Cons are exceptionally hard work for no financial reward and the organisers and volunteers do it for the love of fandom. People who mess around con organisers or con organisers who are big on ego and unable to collaborate with volunteers need to just step aside.

[@Koda89]

It is done, finally the documentary over the insane story of the demise of Izumicon has seen the light of day. Honestly this feels like a cathartic closing of the book for this whole thing. I went to literally every Izumicon. I was a panelist in 2015 and 2017, and was going to be a panelist for 2018 until...well you know! I still have my emails from applying for my panels and everything. The last of which being from August 11th with the penciled in times for when my panels were to happen in the schedule that never manifested. After the con cancellation I went to the artist alley sampler at One Stop Anime, but honestly after that, I actually haven't been to a convention since. From 2006 through 2017 I had an unbroken streak of attending at least one con per year, but after a while Izumicon became the only con I went to. Once it ended, especially in the way it ended, I dunno, I guess I kinda just got wary of opening myself to caring about cons in the OKC metro area, because all these smaller cons would pop up, some looking rather sketchy. I am somewhat interested in this upcoming OKC con in January 2024 called Anime 405, and just going off the vibes of it both being in the brand new big bougie ass OKC Convention Center and the fact it has currently a whopping 12 guests announced, all of which are voice actors, tells me there is some serious money involved in this con.

[@augustawickmanart]

Since you are in the OKC area, you should check out Soonercon. I have been going for the last 5yrs or so (not 2020 or 2021 of course) and I actually like the convention a lot. Tokyo, OK (formerly Tokyo in Tulsa) is also a pretty good con, despite the mishaps and controversies from 2019 (as discussed in the video) it's still a pretty good convention that seems like it may be continue to grow and get better.

[@andrewfrederick2339]

Sooner con, still the biggest ok the state, it is okay. Lots of negative reports about them. Things like the cosplay contest is allegedly predetermined, and their leadership threatening other convention leaders for have events on/around the time of theirs. Another locally ran ones are Okc Popculture and Horror. They are ran by the same group and holding a Tulsa horror con this year (2024) too. Miracle con is a small but good one too. In the past they have been only one day, but trying for a 2 day even this year. New World comic con is also planning on being a 2 day this year as well.

[@thomasyoung3342]

Yknow, for most people this video is just a weird thing that happened in the middle of nowhere. As someone who went to Izumicon pretty much every year from 2010 to 2017 before becoming too busy with adulthood to continue, this is absolutely surreal.

[@PhoenixWeaver]

If you want another con to look into, Animeland Wasabi was really bad in Colorado. One year there was a wedding at the same time... a wedding with normal people while us cosplayers ran around and had to be quiet in front where the wedding was happening

[@drpibisback7680]

Personally, if I were getting married and there were just people dressed as Naruto characters wandering around the background of our wedding photos, that would make my day.

[@BwahahahaX3MyBananas]

OH GOD ANIMELAND WASABI I was deadass in Homestuck when that wedding pulled up, in front of the venue with someone else. The horns and grey skin paint really freaked out everyone coming out of that limo hummer (iirc) I also feel like Anime Southwest and it’s fraud can also be it’s own video, how CSCC forced Starfest out, or the mismanagement of this year’s NDK and how it’s not surprising considering other moments of management fairlue. Colorado has an…. Interested history of conventions.

[@twotruckslyrics]

dashcon is that you??

[@MegaDoomdoomDoom]

This feels so similar to what is happening to Ohayocon, a long running anime con in Columbus, Ohio. It’s a currently developing story, but anyone who has any interest in anime cons should look into it

[@lynnharvard2927]

oh shit, I used to go there every year until I moved. what happened with it?

[@candleeyed]

Uh oh. That's the only con I regularly go to. Now I'm scared.

[@AnnePackrat]

I’m on the fence in whether to go this year because if this.

[@ethickca1317]

NGL, saw this video and immediately went to the comments to see if anyone had brought up Ohayocon haha!

[@delvinginthedepths]

What's going on with Ohayocon? I haven't gone since 22.

[@AeonKnigh432]

The sad part about this story is that literally almost everything would be fixed if ANYONE more responsible had bought it

[@izzyraimi]

Kennedy, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Taylor, AKA Chris Taylor in the Oklahoma indie wrestling scene or Izzy Raimi online, and I have been an Izumicon attendee since its inception in 2007 up until it's final in 2017. My partner and I had been at this event as a constant, having gimmick cosplays as Doctor Who from 2012 until its demise, even hosting a few in character Q&A panels, which you may have seen in programs as the Five-ish Doctors Panel. I would love to say thank you so much for telling the story of this con's demise and letting people beyond the Oklahoma scene about how terrible it was when we lost our "home away from home" event. While we have Anime Oklahoma, OkiCon, and the inaugural Anime 405, nothing is ever going to replace how at home I felt at Izumicon, and losing it was such a huge heartbreak. Then the Pandemic happened and I was worried if cons would ever be the same again. We have since been healing from that, yet the specter of Izumicon still remains, and likely will for years to come as, like you said, a cautionary tale of what *not* to do. Thank you so very much for your hard work in putting together this feature length documentary on the phantom con of 2018. You're a credit to information gathering and reporting, and we're so happy to have you, especially in Oklahoma.

[@hyakushiki_0087]

As a Texan who knew that Izumicon died, but not sure how, boy do I live for local con drama. This video was incredibly informative and absolutely hysterical. Great work!

[@koruton9925]

As someone who worked at Izumicon in 2017, I wondered what ever happened to it as I was very busy with high school at the time. All I remember is hearing about issues with the owner.

[@l33tg4m3rl0lz]

From everything you've uncovered about Dez, it sounds like they wanted the clout and fame from being a "convention owner". Being able to rub elbows with celebrities and big names, etc. Awesome video!

[@Cadmann778]

I love long overly detailed stories of event disasters

[@TonyBMan]

MichaelJacksonEatingPopcorn.gif

[@MEGVTRON]

@@TonyBManwhat

[@kiricappuchin]

@@MEGVTRON Eating popcorn cuz this stuff is entertaining! This vid is as long as a feature-length movie haha

[@pippop7284]

Seeing all the cosplays from anime I grew up watching is so nostalgic! Thanks for all the visuals and the stellar research, this made me want to dig out my own con photos from the early 2000s!

[@KingOfGaymes]

I remember when I first started going to anime con’s and there was Black Butler, hetalia and homestuck cosplay everywhere... Ah memories 🥹

[@rustyslug2943]

WOOOO UMARU PROFILE PICTURE!!!

[@MEGVTRON]

🤦‍♂️

[@asmrtpop2676]

@@MEGVTRONlol i can smell another autistic a mile away, sup dude, classic username-he’s such an autismo icon 💋

[@MEGVTRON]

@@asmrtpop2676 😘

[@wxnxyz]

I love (genuinely) how this video is about twice as long because you kept going on tangents about other disastrous conventions. It’s so fun hearing about all the different ways these things went wrong and all the ways they were connected to each other.

[@augustawickmanart]

I honestly really loved the tangents too. I was like Yes! Go off about all these other conventions mired in controversy! I want to hear this juicy con gossip! 🤣

[@chemergency]

If you were trying to hold a convention in OKC in 2017 you were so fucked. Super Bitcon 2017 also suffered from a tornado and storm damage that caused a flood and they haven't been able to hold it again since.

[@otastorian]

That was the year the megachurches started (literally) praying on our downfall

[@adamaukerman2808]

I felt awful for them. Was good friends with the owners at the time. Izumicon and Superbitcon did some outside events together.

[@chemergency]

@@adamaukerman2808 Yeah it's a real bummer the fate that befell Super Bitcon and I don't even know if it would be possible to revive it since interest in retro gaming seems to be waning among younger people in favor of emulation (and also the fact that AlphaOmegaSin has largely-quit producing content), but at-least I got to go the previous year and meet The Gaming Historian and then went to Tokyo in Tulsa with my girlfriend in 2017 and we had a good time... aside from the bed bug scare in the hotel we stayed at. "shudders"

[@ayajade6683]

Good crypto is a scam all their cons shouldn't be allowed to happen

[@guitarguyjones]

Not only has this video been fascinating, it's also made me so much more thankful for the small local cons I've been lucky enough to attend in the past. They may not have had the biggest name guests or the most packed schedules, but at least they happened. (and they were managed reasonably well and were still a lot of fun)

[@SarahZ]

OH MY GOD IT'S OUT, I CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH THIS

[@exploshaun]

I know Bard needs to be careful with her words, but I'm 100% sure that everything is Dez's fault by being comically incompetent, and everything afterwards is just running away from responsibility and consequences because narcissists never admit fault.

[@KnakuanaRka]

Yeah, the big questions for me is why on earth the old owners gave the con to someone so obviously incompetent.

[@GhoulishTeatime]

Narcissist has become such a overused buzzword

[@brilliancelovinggear1567]

The Return!!!!!!

[@artsyheartsy361]

I have a special interest in anime conventions, (specifically pre-2010s cons) so this coverage on conventions has been feeding me well. Great videos!

[@nee7178]

Thought I was the only one, love hearing about these old conventions! ❤

[@IamEssence]

Dez and the vendor door issue is the kind of issues I've dealt with as a volunteer coordinator that have made me utilize headsets and half-hour checks on all the door positions. And why we have a 3 minor/1 major strike rule.

[@Pikeandglaive]

it sounds like you and I should compare notes sometime ;-) (said by the guy who tried to blacklist her).

[@Archgeek0]

Heck, way back in the days of the last RoninCon, we literally had a set of walkie-talkies. If someone was informed under no uncertain terms they had to hit the bathroom, they could literally radio for someone to cover the post briefly. Absolutely no excuse to silently abandon their post.

[@ayajade6683]

​@@Archgeek0it's not even like they had a medical emergency and were taken to the hospital unconscious unable to notify others they just quit

[@beesandbookcases]

Never, EVER ask "what are the odds," in regards to OK weather lmao

[@Pikeandglaive]

Amen!

[@S1apShoes]

WOW, the level of research involved in this is just staggering. Great job on doing the groundwork and even talking to the people involved. I can see why this took so long to come out. Top tier stuff! This deserves a million views.

[@BugsyFoga]

As a fellow con goer, this definitely catches my curiosity on such a horrendous year for a convention, one of which is apparently worst than dashcon.

[@ademonslayer7130]

I feel like there's been a trend happening where incompetent people think they can run a convention without hard work or even basic communication and then they become shocked and surprised that it ended in disaster. When will people learn that conventions are really difficult to plan and organise? Dez sounds like she still doesn't really understand what it takes to run a convention and she was part of the leadership team that was trying to organise one.

[@Whitney_Sews]

The first con I ever attended was Izumicon 2014. Edit - Just got to 54:01 and saw myself and my husband (dressed as Pema and Tenzin) from Izumicon 2014.

[@augustawickmanart]

That's so cool!

[@LadyofInsanity]

Izumicon '14 was also my very first con. I wonder if our paths even crossed? I dressed as Carlos from WTNV. I'm... VERY grateful I didn't see myself; I still get embarrassed at that attempt at cosplaying.

[@ElduRSverO]

I work for one of Europe’s biggest anime cons and, above Dez’s blatant incompetence, I couldn’t stop thinking that of course the con is doomed to be a failure and a mess when positions such as all the director positions are run by volunteers. Those are jobs, you need to have competent people in these positions who are giving it all their time and attention. Also I am absolutely shocked that it’s apparently normal to ask panelists to pay for their entry ??????? Even if there may be an eventual reimbursment, how is that accepted? You are adding value to the con’s program, why should you be paying???

[@Pikeandglaive]

I am all for business models where directors and ADs are more thoroughly compensated for their work. But here, at least (in the US), for cons that come in under 10K people (like Izumicon did), your options are all-volunteer, or no con at all. If we payed directors for the hours we put into the con , the added cost would price us out of being able to do it. We (the staff of Izumicon) ran a successful, 5k to 9K person con for over a decade on the all-volunteer model, and looking back on it, every second of that work was worth it for me, at least. I look forward to a day here in the states where people paid and supported so that they can seek out what they love, and have the money to properly pursue it. But until then, we work with what we have. Cisco Former Izumicon Con Ops Director

[@kakerumanabelover]

Found myself at 42:46, I have GREAT memories of this OHSHC tea party, it was so much fun! I have many fond (and some not fond) memories of izumicon. An ex friend of mine went to the January one when I skipped bc dangerous driving conditions and every picture they sent me was cursed af and empty looking. I also volunteered like for 1 or 2 years, and had attended the con since it's first one at the Biltmore, but it's been SO long I don't have much recollection other than babysitting some video rooms. Thanks for going over this, a mystery finally solved!

[@jamesmortimer4016]

Ah yes, a 2 hour video essay from a youtuber i never watched about a con I live an ocean and a half away from my location that is now defunced. Splendid! Have a like.

[@hellopeople1013]

a deep dive into a failed social event i have no prior knowledge of is exactly how i want to spend the next couple hours 👍

[@MEGVTRON]

im always down to watch some autismo

[@fuffilicious]

It's finally here! A video on the trainwreck that is Izumicon 2018 couldn't have been more fitting to watch than on friday the 13th. This was a fantastic horror story to see unfold every step of the way. Definitely worth all of the years in the making!

[@zgamer200]

I've waited years for this, and I have to say it was well worth the wait. Definitely some of your finest work to date, Kennedy. I cannot imagine the amount of work that must have gone into this, but it paid off for sure. As someone who came into this more or less completely blind(I'd at least heard the name Izumicon before, but that was it) I now feel reasonably well informed, and I only say reasonably because ultimately I am taking all of this secondhand rather than first. Thanks again for the watch. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, although I wish there was nothing to enjoy to begin with tbh considering how poorly things went for everyone involved.

[@Release_the_Bees]

I absolutely LOVE learning about con and festival disasters and it's nice to see a video about one that isn't Dashcon, Rainfurest, or Fyre Fest. Thank you.

[@McGruder25]

After all of your con videos I realized something. One way to tell you're an oldtaku is that the reason modern anime conventions don't appeal to you is the lack of the wild west feel of them. Modern cons just feel too, with emphasis on "too" business like. There was a sweet spot where it was out of complete chaos and into controlled chaos. But now there is a complete lack of chaos... Bear in mind I'm talking my con years being around the early 2000's and very early 2010's.

[@Lazysupermutant]

Feel yah there brother, cut my teeth in the 2000s and ran in the early 2010s. I stopped working in 2019 since the fun had died out for me. It was just...work.

[@gr3mliiiiinnn]

the fact that she had SO many times to save this con and it makes me frustrated that she sat there and stole ALL their money and just kept it. like that is so so so so wrong.

[@sugarysymbiote]

Saying "Thanks for coming to Cosplay Beach Party!" while sliding Godaikocon Con Ops their flyer back is always gonna be funNEEE 😭😭😭💀

[@li2253]

I came to the comments wondering if this con would be mentioned. Dude, I was there as an artist and there was a literal mob of a representative from every artist and vendor (except of course the con chair's own vendor space for his personal business-- can you say conflict of interest?) to demand a refund because he straight up LIED to people about attendance estimations and charged different prices to different vendors. Promised some like 2-5k in attendance. There was like 100 people. Maybe. It cost some of them thousands (hotel, gas, airfare, time, etc) just to be there. Nobody even made their table. A lot of us made a private group to try to help each other with the refund he allegedly promised after lots of arguing. The ones who paid in cash were sol but some of the people who went through paypal were able to dispute. There are private videos of the mob happening. It was real bad. I heard about the underhanded flyer bombing of that event. I was like they are literally just a cosplay meet up group, why are you bothering them. I still have my shot glass that he had the poor maid cafe peeps pass out as a reminder to not get involved with cons he either directly is involved with or "secretly" apparently. The reason I can't morally go to ACross anymore is because I have indirect proof that he has his hands in that. Which is sad cause some of the staff are such good people and do so good at what they do.

[@li2253]

I clearly didn't finish the video and JUST saw the section about Godaiko or I wouldn't have rehashed what Red Bard said.

[@capriciouschronicler1872]

I’m from Midwest City and was staff at the 2016/2017 ice storm con. Appreciate you covering this! It was a massive shitshow

[@amandahallows5444]

Would love to see a video like this for Michigan's "Shuto Con" in Lansing. It's death hit the Midwest anime community hard, and it was a painful death to see. Also, only time I've ever seen a con get fought over in a divorce like a split custody battle over a child.

[@artisticflower]

I’d be super interested in this one too! One year it’s a great fun con, next it was gone and I had no idea why!

[@SusanIvanova2257]

As someone who's currently grumbling about lacking communication and disorganisation of a con I'm set to staff a booth at later this month - this was almost a cathartic watch. At least from all I've seen so far from them I'm unlikely to have to have a mess of such proportions at my hands

[@paulj6805]

at first I was like "Oh SNAP! Red Bard is back!!" But then I looked at your channel and you have other recent videos so... I guess you've been back. Well, for what its worth, belated welcome back, love your stuff. Now to binge through all the videos I missed 😊

[@jobellk]

It's SO WILD seeing years of just what was considered my local animal con gossip being turned into an entire expose video.

[@kokoro7996]

Your commitment to making this video for literal years is amazing.

[@OtterParade]

Video turned out great! I had no clue this con had such a tragic downfall. The fact that they reached out to me makes me wonder if someone just liked my videos and made a decision to bring me to the con on a whim without literally any consulting with the press team. The whole thing is wild and the fact it's all just Midwest anime con lore now. Thanks for letting me help! Took some years, but this is amazing, and your stamina to stick with telling a whole story it is inspiring! Thanks again!

[@JackSiesko-li5ow]

1:27:50 this is literally a move Tommy Tallarico pulled during the Amico disaster. And as Hbomberguy noted in his video, it resulted in him and Intellevision getting ordered by the FEC to remove any references of people who left the project. Dez is doing crimes, and theres no way she doesnt know it

[@ocarinachic76]

As someone who has been volunteering at anime cons since 2015, I haven't been this invested in a story in awhile. This is wild.

[@mouselet]

I always love watching your videos, regardless of how far your interests diverge from mine. It's educational and fun and your enthusiasm is wonderful. This video made me wish that you'd do something similar over what happened to OdysseyCon in Wisconsin a few years back. Hooee, watching that implode in real time as guests, vendors, and attendees dropped out prior to April was insane. And then it took them until December to admit that would be the last OddCon. It basically came about because of one sexual predator that one Guest of Honor was uncomfortable with.

[@Stronkhold]

Thank you for your hard work on this and how well you put together all of the chaos in a logical order. As one of the directors who put over a decade into the con, having our story told means a lot. Thank you for the literal years you put into this piece.

[@ddubbeleim_]

Wow this is a long time in the making. My wife and I and some friends put on the RIP Izumicon event at Main Event that year. Good video! My wife is Allison of Divine Creations. I was the Shoto Todoroki 😊

[@kensie9660]

As someone who attended izumicon 2018, I have been waiting YEARS for this write up. Thank you so much for all of your hard work!!! ❤

[@carbunky6098]

You attended a con that never happened? Did you mean 2017?

[@GregTheFree]

Great video! Just a bit of feedback: please don't just flash additional text and screenshots for like 1 second (like at 1:12:43). I get that it's like random bits of extra information (and you do give enough time for the "main" material), but having to pause the video and go back to read stuff (that just could've stayed on screen for actually enough time to read it) can get a bit frustrating. Especially since the video has absolutely enough "free" screentine to accomodate them. Besides that, I'm happy that you finally got it out! It was super interesting!

[@Mintpuppy17]

I know you chose this one because it was close to your heart but dang, I would love if you could dig in to what happened to Daishocon in Wisconsin. Beloved con put to bed due to mismanagement, suddenly leaving room for Colossalcon to come to town as Daishocon was coincidentally in their signature venue? 👀

[@FlamingNeonRose]

I have a close friend that was a big part of Daisho. I'm sure there were underlying issues, cons are fuel for drama, but a lot of the reasoning was due to all the financial losses experienced by the pandemic. Daisho was very beloved but unfortunately 2020 killed a lot of nice things 💔

[@MEGVTRON]

@@FlamingNeonRose🤦‍♂️

[@livinglikeananimal]

this was absolutely worth the wait, i love a good hyperlocal con disaster story and it's a shame that the various flavors of geeks of oklahoma seem to have such terrible luck with conventions especially in recent years, y'all deserve to have a reliable space to hang out with folks, make new friends, and have fun with sharing your interests!

[@Account_Not_Applicable]

I keep watching/playing this video whenever I can. Doing some art? Izumicon 2018. Cooking some stir fry? Izumicon 2018. Online browsing and shopping? Izumicon 2018. Laying in bed not wanting to do anything? Izumicon 2018. It's become my favorite vid you've done, and I'm hoping all these rewatches are giving you proper compensation for the hard work put into it

[@TheTrixyLeStrange]

Oh man, this explains so much! I moved to the OKC area during the pandemic so I always chalked up the rough con scene to the pandemic, but a lot of that felt off. This explains everything!

[@HomeAndHappy9999]

Soonercon is the move.

[@whatsupfandompodcast]

This video is like a walk down memory lane. We actually introduced Unlocked to Izumicon. So that was fun reliving that. We also were talking with their press director about what all was needed for the press room. Haven’t finished watching yet, but I’m dreading getting to the guests. We referred one to Izumicon and were in constant conversation about how they were being treated.

[@Crim_Brulee]

I remember reading about this happening on Twitter in real time. Seeing the VAs post messages, people questioning when there would be an official announcement on the cancelation, panic about refunds, etc. This whole video was super informative and interesting. Thank you for for all your research and making it.

[@maxwellrobertson4831]

The repeated use of the phrase "then friend" is certainly a concering hint towards how, uh, not well both the event and Dez's personal dealings end up going. This has been a very interesting, and entertainingly oresented, deep dive into a con i otherwise never would have known about, thank you

[@madisonfreedman4150]

I can’t believe this video is finally out! I’m so excited to watch! So I just finished the video and it was fantastic! 1000% worth the wait!

[@rileykemp1]

i remember going to Izumicon in either 2013 or 2014. it was my first con, and i went with my cousin, some of her friends, and one of my friends. being an anime fan in Oklahoma back then sometimes felt like being from another planet, and i was incredibly lucky to find anyone in my small high school who was interested in the same things i was. I'm still very lucky in that way today, though ive lost touch with those friends. the memories i made with them will always remain with me.

[@strong-tree2]

bwahaha, I was 13 when I went to Tokyo in Tulsa in 2013. I made sure not to tell anyone at school and my parents weren't entirely convinced this whole anime cosplay thing wasn't devil worship. kids today have no idea

[@sevds]

The Tokyo OK badge reimbursement policy brought me some flashbacks. As someone who does lots of panels at cons, conventions who won't reimburse their panelists with badges are so scum. If giving me a badge to provide content for your damn convention is too much to ask then maybe I shouldn't bother.

[@essidus]

I'm always impressed with the amount of legwork you put into your videos

[@Daniel-oj7xh]

A 2 hour red bard video to close out my work day? Literally perfect

[@Samael767]

I've waited so long for this! And i am sure it will be worth the wait. Nobody breaks down anime fandom history like RedBard. :D

[@dcbueller]

A little late to the party, but super huge props to you for your continued diligence and research after all these years. Definitely a cautionary tale at the very least, especially since I really like to see the good in folks! Definitely cannot say much good about Dez even after all these years. Unfortunately since we last talked I've had to leave the gaming space, but I will always treasure the folks I got to share the good times with! And a personal huge thank you for showing off pictures and videos of the better times, helping me remember some of the good times despite this experience :)

[@saedyne]

shout out to the among us recreation of the money troubles at 1:13:19 that was GENIUS like so creative and hilarious! loved (i.e. i was enraptured, glued to the screen) this whole video, but that one detail i just had to mention specifically :D

[@commandernomad2817]

Its clear to me that Dez is what's referred to as an "ideas person". That is, someone who sits around and just thinks up stuff "wouldn't it be cool if this?" "why do we have that?" "we should do those things!" etc etc. to be clear in the creative circles and the endearment industries, an "ideas person" is the lowest of the low and considered completely useless. Anyone can come up with ideas, it tales work to actually realize them. Dez seems like the kind of person that considers themselves smart because they have all these "great ideas" and everything would work out perfect if people just "listened to her".

[@tehhymnofvalefor]

The hotel that godaikocon was at is abandoned now. Midwest Media expo got canceled because the hotel needed the money badly and it recently changed management. Morgan had a deal with the management to pay them after the con was over. They changed it and everything went downhill from there. I was supposed to be an artist alley artist with a friend at Midwest. When I heard about godaikocon I was still really angry at the hotel, and I gotta say I think that was a big reason why nobody went along with the youmacon cosplay party. I went to my first youmacon at that hotel in 2007 and I feel really conflicted about the place. Is so sad to see it so empty now.

[@corbasm2]

35:31 Transcript of the clip for those who are hard of hearing - "I mean she was-- Most of it boiled down to, "i really love this con and i want it to succeed." No business plan, no talk of investors, No concept of management.. i mean-- the amount of information lacking was terrifying."

[@corbasm2]

next clip at 36:32 - "After about an hour of council with a couple of close friends as well as the fellow leadership of Izumicon, operations i have decided that i will no longer serve as director for Izumicon, nor will I be volunteering in any capacity. I wanted you to know that the crux of my decision is very simple and, frankly, rests at your feet. I will not follow the leadership of someone who, of their own accord, decided that they were not fit to follow my instructions. The basic tennant of security is "never abandon your post." You broke that tennant, and you were likewise judged unfit for security duty. I will not ask my people to follow instructions from me when I have to follow instructions from someone who is not fit to follow my directions."

[@thatoneguy4101]

Your a legend in my college's gaming club, keep up the great work!

[@QueenoftheHorizon]

I absolutely love deep accounts of conventions and anime-related topics like this. I'd be so pumped to see more! This had my attention the entire run and I found it to be extremely well done. 10/10!

[@Ryclak]

Homie I have no idea how I got here but I'm listening to this at 2 am in a parking lot drunk and I'm SO invested

[@Cosmignon]

So happy to see you post another video, your documentarian skills in presenting con and Fandom culture is really impressive and engaging! Never heard of izumicon before and by the end of this im sad for the volunteers and congoers who lost a con thru such disruptive negligence. Looking forward to what you make next, id certainly be interested in more stories documenting interesting con tales.

[@heckyeahbirds6287]

It's crazy to think anyone could have this level of malicious apathy towards their event, I staff my local anime con and gets majorly anxious about messing up or accidently hurting the con in some way all the time, but could never do anything like Dez did here. Major props to staff at every level for real, it must have been the worst feeling in the world to see the con go under despite everyone's best efforts. Amazing video (and well worth the wait)! I hope you do more videos about cons in the future :)

[@aidanboyle7374]

I have never seen a more inexplicably ominous slow zoom on a Denny's sign

[@lotsandlotsofpossums2967]

You do not know how absolutely ecstatic and happy I am that this video exists!! I was an attendee at Hobby Lobby con, had to get out of my hotel room due to the fire alarm at 4am and used my phone flashing to see in the artist alley and all that good stuff. You do not know how nostalgic that footage made me lol. Ever since tnt 2019, disaster cons have been a BIGGG interest for me, especially the ones in OK. For how small of a state it is we have an outstanding number of events like this. Izumicon, tnt 2019, Free Fur All, the all American conservative furry convention that happened in Tulsa that one year (I know it’s well trotted ground, horrible people horrible con, but the post ironic absurdity of it still lingers in my mind) (they even had a ball pit), I’m pretty sure there was like an exotic animal show when ol Joe was here but don’t quote me on that. Anyway, I have never seen a video that felt like it was catered specifically to my interests, I had such a blast Ty sm for making it!!! Why is it always Oklahoma. Why is it always us.

[@RBNinja]

Oh man the fabled Izumicon Video is finished! I can't wait to watch it.