General Information: Frequently Asked Questions

This page has information regarding the most frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Zenkaikon. Please read this page before e-mailing our department heads or chair with questions. If the answer to your question is not on this page, feel free to direct your question to the most appropriate email address on our Contact page.

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General Questions

What is Zenkaikon?: Zenkaikon is a southeastern Pennsylvania convention celebrating anime (Japanese animation), comics, gaming, sci-fi, and fandom! Zenkaikon features a variety of activities including anime and live action screenings, video and tabletop gaming, special guests, costume competitions, panels, concerts, vendors, and more!

Who runs Zenkaikon?: Zenkaikon is run by Zenkaikon Entertainment, Inc., a 501©(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting knowledge and enjoyment of Japanese art, animation, and culture as well as science fiction and fantasy literature and films of all origins. The organization is staffed completely be volunteers who want to share their appreciation of these mediums, and all membership fees and donations go towards supporting this mission. You can think of Zenkaikon as run "by fans, for fans."

When/where is Zenkaikon?: Zenkaikon 2014 will take place from Friday, April 25^th, to Sunday, April 27^th, 2013 at the Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster, PA.

What time will Zenkaikon start and end?: More details about the start and end times of the convention will be posted soon. However, you can generally expect the convention to run from the mid-morning until late night on Friday, early morning until late night on Saturday, and early morning until late afternoon on Sunday. Members who have pre-registered will also be able to pick up their badges beginning on Thursday evening.

How old are the attendees at Zenkaikon? Are there kids there?: People of all ages attend Zenkaikon, from young children to senior citizens. Whatever age you are, you will likely see people your own age.

What is there to do at Zenkaikon?

Zenkaikon aims to have plenty of activities to cater to every fan. Please see our website for up to the minute information regarding our:

Main events, including anime industry guests, musical guests, live comedy, dances, and game shows
Video Rooms for anime and live action showings
Panels for a variety of educational, humorous, and fan-related programming
Dealer's Room for anime, manga, figures, and a whole lot more
Artist's Alley for original artwork made by fans like you
Anime Music Video Contest
Video Gaming Room for a wide variety of video games and tournaments

Location Questions

Where is Zenkaikon? How do I get there?: Zenkaikon 2014 will take place at the Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. You can get directions from anywhere in the world to Zenkaikon through Google Maps. You can also view our Location page to find more information about getting to Zenkaikon via public transportation.

Where can I stay at Zenkaikon? Where can I sleep at Zenkaikon?

Zenkaikon has an attendee room block at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square, attached to the convention center, and we encourage attendees to use this room block. (It helps us out, you get a discount on your room, and you’re right upstairs from all the fun of Zenkaikon!) Visit our Hotel page to learn more about how to book your room!

You are not permitted to sleep anywhere in the convention areas.

Where can I get food at Zenkaikon?

A concessions area will be open for a portion of the convention. The hours of operation and menu will be posted on the Zenkaikon website as the convention draws near.

In addition, Downtown Lancaster has a variety of restaurants including Asian, American, Irish, Italian, and more! The Lancaster Central Market is also located across the street from the Convention Center, and is open Fridays and Saturdays with a variety of fresh and prepared foods. Check out Dining Guide for more details on food options.

What is the cost to park at the Lancaster County Convention Center?: Zenkaikon has negotiated a reduced rate for parking in the adjacent garage at $5.00 per day. If you are a guest at the hotel, this reduced parking fee can be automatically added to your hotel room. If you are not staying at the hotel but parking in this garage, there will be vouchers available for you to pick up to receive the reduced parking rate.

Why aren’t you in Philadelphia?

When looking for a location for our convention, we looked at locations throughout the tri-state region, including Philadelphia. We evaluated venues on a variety of criteria including affordability, accessibility, distance, space, location and availability. In the end, Lancaster came out to be the best fit for us and had the easiest time meeting our needs.

Lancaster is only a 90 minute drive from Philadelphia and Baltimore. It’s also easily accessible via public transit from Philadelphia, New York City, and other destinations via Amtrak. Downtown Lancaster is filled with shops, restaurants, tourist attractions, and plenty of great places for cosplay photos. The Convention Center itself is a beautiful facility with plenty of room for all of our programming, and an attached hotel. We’re very excited to be in Lancaster this year!

Membership & Registration

How much is it to attend Zenkaikon?: In order to attend Zenkaikon, you need to purchase a Zenkaikon membership. Exact rates depend on how early you register, and are available on our Registration page.

What does a Zenkaikon membership get me?: The primary benefit of becoming a Zenkaikon member is that you get to attend our annual convention - Zenkaikon! You also support us in our mission of celebrating and educating about Japanese animation, comics, games, science fiction, and fandom. We also conduct several other initiatives throughout the year (such as sponsoring programming at other events). Sign up for our Mailing List or follow us on our social media sites to find out about everything Zenkaikon is up to!

Are there single day tickets for Zenkaikon?: Since Zenkaikon is a membership-based non-profit organization, there are no single day tickets to the convention. Everyone who attends Zenkaikon is a Zenkaikon member and can attend the convention on all three days! If you are unable to attend the entire convention, you can purchase a membership on a later day of the convention and the membership is discounted accordingly.

How do at-door memberships work?: Zenkaikon memberships purchased at door are valid for the entire convention. However, depending on what day you purchase your membership, you may get a discount. For example, memberships purchased at door on Friday grant access for all three days (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), and cost the full at-door membership rate. Memberships purchased on Saturday will grant access on Saturday and Sunday, and are discounted since Friday has already passed. Memberships purchased on Sunday are more heavily discounted, as Sunday is the last day of the convention.

How do I get my ticket/badge for Zenkaikon? Will you mail it?: Zenkaikon does not mail out tickets or badges. When you arrive at the convention, you can check in at the pre-registration desk and show a photo ID to pick up your badge and other membership materials.

I heard that you need to bring an ID to get your badge. What types of ID are acceptable?: You must bring some form of identification (ID) in order to receive your badge. Acceptable forms of ID include the various types of government-issued ID (Driver's License, Military ID, Government ID, etc). For those between the ages of 14 and 18 who are attending unsupervised, a school-issued ID will be acceptable. For all attendees 18 and under who are accompanied by an adult, the adult may present their ID.

I’m under the age of 13, can I attend Zenkaikon alone? Are there kid’s rates/discounts?: All attendees that are age 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult. We recommend that attendees under 18 have an adult with them. Children 6 years old and under can attend Zenkaikon for free with the paid membership of a parent or guardian.

What is the VIP Meet & Greet?: The VIP Meet & Greet event is a chance to meet up with other Zenkaikon VIP members, staff, and some guests. Location and time for this event will be published a little closer to the convention.

I have applied to be a Gofer/Panelist/Artist/Vendor/Member of the Press at Zenkaikon. Do I still need to Pre-Register?

Gofers should pre-register for Zenkaikon. Once you have picked up your badge, you will need to report to the Zenkaikon Gofer Head for a quick briefing and for assignment to a station. There may be some opportunities to volunteer if you register at the convention; however, we cannot guarantee you a gofer position unless you pre-register and are approved by the Head of Gofers.

Artists must purchase at least one membership to Zenkaikon in order to man their table. This membership fee is included in the cost of registering for the Artist Alley. Additional memberships can also be purchased for Artist Alley helpers at the time of Artist Alley registration. More details can be found on the Artist Alley page.

Vendors are given a certain number of badges to man their booth at Zenkaikon, and do not need to pre-register. If more badges are needed, they can be arranged to be purchased through the Head of Zenkaikon Exhibits. More details are available on the Dealer page.

Press should apply via the Zenkaikon Press Application once it opens, and will need to be approved by the Zenkaikon Head of Communications. Zenkaikon only has a limited number of complimentary memberships to distribute each year to members of the press, and acceptance is not guaranteed. Even if you are accepted as press, you are not guaranteed to receive a complimentary membership. Press who are not accepted are still welcome to pre-register to attend Zenkaikon. More details are available on the Press page.

Attending Zenkaikon

What should I bring to Zenkaikon?

Bring your cameras, hotel confirmations, and a photo ID. It is very important to bring a photo ID in order to check in to Zenkaikon. Also, bring money for food, beverages, and any merchandise you might like to buy. For more information on disallowed items, please visit our Cosplay Weapons and Props policies.

For more suggestions on items you should consider bringing to Zenkaikon, check out our New Attendee Guide.

How much money should I bring?

This is up to you. We suggest keeping in mind a few things:

Registration Fees (if you are registering at the door)
Public transit or gas (if needed)
Food
Merchandise (Dealer's Room, Artist Alley, and Zenkaikon official merchandise)

There is one ATM in the Scanticon Lobby and one ATM in the Radisson Lobby.

For more tips on what items to bring to Zenkaikon, check out our New Attendee Guide

What are the rules of Zenkaikon?

The full list of Convention Policies can be found on the Policies page.

Most of the rules are common sense. Anything that is illegal outside the convention is also illegal inside the convention. Zenkaikon is also a family friendly convention. We ask that you:

Respect other attendee's personal space and belongings.
Listen to and follow the instructions given by Zenkaikon Staff members.
Be on good behavior.
Observe the general policies on camera and autograph etiquette.
Adhere to cosplay policies regarding signs and props.

All attendees are expected to follow these rules. Please abide by Staff instructions and do not continue behaviors if you have received a warning from a Zenkaikon Staff Member.

Can I bring/consume alcohol at the convention?

Zenkaikon is a family-friendly convention; the consumption of alcohol and disruptive public intoxication will not be tolerated in the convention areas. You will be asked to leave the convention areas for the safety of yourself and the other attendees.

Adults who are of legal age (21) at the time of the convention may drink in one of the hotel restaurants or bars or at one of the local restaurants. Please remember to bring a designated driver.

Under no circumstances may alcohol be given to an attendee who is under the legal age.

Cosplay Questions

What is cosplay? Do I have to cosplay at Zenkaikon?: Cosplay is the act of dressing up in costume like characters from anime (Japanese animation), manga (Japanese comic books), Japanese music, video games, etc. Many cosplayers will also act out the character he or she has dressed up as. You are not required to cosplay at Zenkaikon.

If I wear a costume do I have to enter the cosplay contest?: You do not have to enter the cosplay contest if you decide to cosplay.

How can I sign up to be cosplay events like the Masquerade or Cosplay Dating Game?: Sign ups for cosplay events will be accepted online. You some, but not all, events may also accept signups at the convention. Visit the Cosplay section of our website for more details.

What are the rules for cosplaying at the convention?

The main cosplay rules are:

Extremely large costumes and props should be kept at home as the halls do have a limited amount of space. If you do have a large costume, please be considerate of the amount of space it may take up.
Please dress appropriately for the event. Neither full nor partial nudity is allowed as Zenkaikon is a family-friendly event.

What kinds of weapons and props can I bring?: The Convention Policies on cosplay weapons and signs can be found on our website.

My costume utilizes stilts, can I wear it?: Unfortunately, in the convention space, one will encounter narrow hallways, stairwells, ramps, low ceilings, and large groups of convention attendees. For the safety of all present, stilts will not be permitted at Zenkaikon.

Guest Questions

How are guests selected?: Zenkaikon takes guest suggestions, from the public, in the Guest Suggestions for Zenkaikon forum thread. We look at attendee and staff suggestions and they are reviewed by our Guest Liaison. The suggestions get narrowed down to a handful of possibilities. Then, the Guest Liaison starts to contact the guests and invite them to Zenkaikon. When a guest accepts our offer and the contracts are completed, we officially announce their appearance at Zenkaikon, and put they are listed as a Guest on our website. Until a guest has been officially announced, Zenkaikon will neither confirm nor deny if someone has been invited as a guest.

Can I be a guest?: If you are someone of note in the anime, manga, Asian music, or science fiction industry and would like to be a guest, please email us at guests@zenkaikon.com. Unfortunately, we receive many more people asking to be guests than we could possibly afford to have at the convention. Please do not be offended if we turn you down, even if you offer to come for free. We hope you understand that our Guest Department is limited and they can only handle so much work. Nevertheless, you are still welcome to attend the convention and can apply to host a panel if you wish.

Will you be getting a Japanese guest?: Our budget does not currently support guests from outside the United States. Hopefully this will change in the future!

I'm friends with someone you may want as a guest. Should I invite them for you?

Please do not invite guests on behalf of Zenkaikon, although you are perfectly welcome to send their contact information to our Guest Department.

Why? For example, let's say that a regular fan tells a popular voice actor that "Lots of people at Zenkaikon want you as a guest! You should come!" The voice actor interprets that as an official invitation and is naturally excited by the idea. Later on, when the voice actor e-mails our Guest Department, we may have to turn this guest down due to budgetary constraints. This puts us in a really bad place, because we run the risk of offending a possible future guest. Please help us avoid this situation and do not contact guests on our behalf. Thank you kindly for your understanding.

I am close friends with someone you have as a guest. Can I meet up with them at the con?: Absolutely! Attend their guest panel. All registered attendees are welcomed to attend guest panels. You can also arrange with them before the convention to meet up with them during some of their off time. Please note, however, that being friends with a guest does not allow you to enter the guest break room, staff room, or utilize other facilities or courtesies we may have arranged for the use of our guests.

Why don't you say who you're considering as guests?

There are many reasons we don't say who we are considering:

We do not want potential attendees to register for Zenkaikon based on rumored guests, only to be disappointed if a guest is not invited.
If a guest is unable come for some reason (such as travel, expense, or other needs that we are unable to fund), we do not wish to upset either the fans or the guests.
We would prefer to represent our convention officially with potential guests via our Guest Liaison.

Why can't you get a particular Guest at Zenkaikon?

When our Guest Liaison extends an invitation to a guest, we have no guarantee that they will be able to attend. Scheduling and personal conflicts can get in the way.

Bringing a guest to the convention can cost a lot of money for accommodations, travel, food, and other expenses. Zenkaikon does the best it can as a growing convention with a limited budget. Every year that we continue to grow, we have a bigger budget to accommodate a greater number and wider variety of guests. We try to accommodate attendee suggestions within our means. If your guest suggestion has not been selected for this year, don't feel badly! We may still be considering the guest for a future year.

Where will you announce guests?: We announce guests on our website, our Facebook Group, Twitter Feed, and anywhere else we have an official online presence.

What days will the guests be there?: It varies. Some of our guests will be there Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or all three days, depending on their schedules and what activities the guests will be participating in at the convention. Check the convention schedule to see what activities guests are participating in. We will try to schedule guests for the entire convention, but his or her availability may vary depending on their schedules.

When can I get autographs? What is the Zenkaikon autograph policy?: You can get autographs at the official autograph sessions we schedule with our guests. These sessions will be clearly marked on the schedule which will be released a week or two before the convention. Please review our autograph and guest etiquette policies in advance.

What can I have guests sign?: Guests will not sign any bootleg or illegal item. Please bring licensed items only. Autographs are also limited to one item per person. You can read our autograph policies on the Convention Policies page.

Can I give the guest a present?

Yes, you may. However, you should present it during your turn at the autograph session.

Please do not give them food, as they might be allergic.
Do not ask them to put on articles of clothing during the autograph session out of respect for other members in the line behind you.
Do not expect gifts in return.

Zenkaikon, Greater Philadelphia's Anime Convention. March 22-24, 2013. Lancaster, PA.