Tigercon 2009: Interview with Tyler Waldman

Sarah Barrett: So, first, tell me a little about yourself! Who are you? How long have you been into anime and gaming? What do you do?

Tyler Waldman: I’m Tyler Waldman. I’ve been into anime… Wow, that’s a good question. I always had an awareness of what anime was for a longest time, but I was never really that into it. My little brother was the Dragonball Z fan — I thought it was crap. Today, I’m the otaku, he’s the musician and Dragonball Z is still crap, but I digress. As for the [video games], I’ve been gaming since I got a Genesis when I was five or so. My day job, if you can call it that, is as associate arts editor, circulation manager, columnist, occasional photographer and whatever else I may be doing at The Towerlight, the independent student-run newspaper at Towson University. I also produce Rangercast, a podcast about Power Rangers and stuff at rangercast.net.

Barrett: Wow, you have a lot going on. And working on Tigercon, too. What exactly is it that you do for Tigercon?

Waldman: Anything and everything that needs to be done. I’ve been working with on-campus organizations, other conventions, artists, dealers and guests. As a co-chair for the con, I’ve also been helping to arrange logistics. There is no chair. There is just the three of us: myself, Carrie Wood and Mykeal Spivey, Towson Anime’s president.

Barrett: And who can we thank for coming up with the whole idea for a free anime convention in Towson’s University Union?

Waldman: It sprang out of the wish of Towson Anime’s then-president Monika Grigore and myself. We really wanted to do something bigger. We went to Johncon down at Hopkins. It was a weekend of basically hanging out and watching stuff and it was OK, but it really got the gears going in our heads of what we’d do if we could do a convention. We had access to an SGA budget, we had access to the money, we had access to a lot of the people. We were going to do it in Spring 09, but Monika said “Why not?” so we went ahead and come that November, we had ourselves a convention.

Barrett: Last year was the first official Tigercon, right? How many attended last year?

Waldman: Last year was the first. We estimate around 400 people turned out.

Barrett: 400 people? That’s a lot! How many of those were students of Towson University itself?

Waldman: We don’t really know. Last year’s prereg rolls turned up about half of the 150 or so preregistered were TU students, though I need to confirm that. This year, as a percentage of those registered, most aren’t, but that is kind of a skewed figure because we did a lot of promotion off campus during the summer. And pre-registration is optional.

Barrett: What is the expected attendance for this year?

Waldman: 600-700, we’re projecting.

Barrett: Would it be advisable for attendees to preregister? Is there any sort of benefit to that?

Waldman: Good question! Anybody who registers by September 12 has a shot at winning tickets to see the new “Eureka Seven” movie on Sept. 24. Additionally, they get a cool person badge, the special privileges of which we’re still working out.

Barrett: Is there a “less cool person” badge for people who just show up at the door?

Waldman: No, you’re just a person. That doesn’t mean we don’t love you, though.

Barrett: So, what did you have in terms of gaming last year? Any tournaments? Some consoles set up?

Waldman: Last year was pretty bare bones. We had Rock Band, Smash, a few others and that was it. This year we’re expanding the space and getting about five times more games. We will also have tournaments, the details of which are still being nailed down.

Barrett: Awesome! So Tigercon sounds like it’ll be a good place for some local gamers to check out. I’m assuming the anime fans will be pleased, too? Any video rooms?

Waldman: Two, in fact. Details still need to be ironed out, a phrase I’m sure you’re tired of hearing by now, but these things take time.

Barrett: And how about panels? Workshops? I’m sure the details are still being ironed. Which makes me wonder how they got wrinkled to begin with.

Waldman: Actually, panels are pretty much good to go. We plan to release the schedule all at once, but panels are in good shape. We will have the standard RPG, cosplay and webcomic discussion panels as well as some real off-the-wall stuff. Yu-Gi-Oh Abridged is doing something with us. My podcast will have a live show. We have one panel called “Batman is Awesome.” That panel looks to be, well, awesome.

Barrett: Yu-Gi-Oh Abridged? What’s that?

Waldman: It’s a hot web series at www.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com.

Barrett: That sounds like an excellent list of panels! Any familiar panelists from Otakon that people may have heard of?

Waldman: We have a bunch of the usual local webcomic suspects. Beyond that, I guess you’ll see when you get there.

Barrett: And of course, everyone likes to spend their money at conventions, right? So will we be offered some places for that? Artists and/or dealers?

Waldman: Yep! Lobbies on all three floors will be home to dozens of local artists and vendors. Some of them are even Towson students.

Barrett: Can you tell me about any of the merchandise we’ll be seeing?

Waldman: We have plushies, prints, props, books, games. Legends Comics will be setting up shop and running card tournaments.

Barrett: And what about guests this year? I know last year you had the Geek Comedy Tour, right? Will they be reappearing? Anyone that you are particularly excited about?

Waldman: They’re coming back. A lot of our guests who could come back are coming back. I’m excited for the concerts and Super Art Fight in Paws. For the concerts, we brought back Geist from last year with a video game cover band, Rare Candy, and a solo chiptune artist, Ten Elevenths, who is actually a Towson student. Super Art Fight is like a cross between Iron Chef, pro wrestling, Pictionary and punk rock.

Barrett: Well, it sounds like it’s going to be a great convention! I appreciate you taking the time to talk with me and answer my questions! Is there anything else you want to add?

Waldman: We have a masquerade, and it’s going to be awesome. We’ve been working really hard to make this convention rock. Let’s say we have a few surprises up our sleeve. Even though we’re up against things like Small Press Expo and NYAF, I assure you Tigercon is not to be missed.