Navigating DesignerCon 2020 via PopShop Live
With my current desktop woes, I couldn't commit to going on PopShop Live for this year's Online DesignerCon, besides sporadic features on the blog (whenever I am able to) ... but I did managed to register and log on, on the night of Day 2 (which is the morning of Day 3, Singapore time), and the following was my experience of navigating the site, as viewed from my desktop web browser here in Singapore. Blessed be the Wi-Fi Gawds!
I accessed the PopShopLive main website via my desktop (instead of mobile phone), because (A) I am based in Singapore, and I am ignorantly fearful to be charged for my phone-call(s)! I have yet to figure out calling via wi-fi, so sue me ... but as importantly, (B) it'll suit my eye-sight. Blessed be the folks who engage in the blinking flashing gifs tho! I'm just "old fashioned" like that :p
I "registered" unto the page, using my Facebook account to log in, along with a dedicated "Media" password (provided by DesignerCon folks, which I realized later it was the same as what they'd stated on their Insta, so...), and I managed to find my way unto the popshoplive page to realise I have no way to search for folks, except for those who had provided a dedicated URL (like @maxtoyco and @tenacioustoys had)... hoping to say "hi" face-to-virtual-face, but also realize I am dreaming all these up and have zero context to make it happen lol (I'm obviously thinking of Zoom, but :p)... or maybe I'll just stick to "text messages"?
Or maybe I should've clicked around more to find a list of scheduled happenings that were apart of "DesignerCon" - even if it was something like "TV Listings", which would've given a once-over complete glance at whom were to be expected. But I found myself totally "blind" in that regard...
The event had mentioned the involvement of "200 vendors", but via my desktop, I could barely find 10, based on codes I could search for, and admittedly sometimes even randomly come up with text (as if I am hackign someone's password ffs) ... or maybe I just sucked as a toy-blogger (Don't answer that), and simply could not just click about to find info (my desktop woes crippling my efforts too) ... or perhaps the mobile phone app had a clickable menu I did not know about?
If not, this was a very isolating exercise where I could only access what/whom I already knew about, but unable to "discover" folks (unlike wandering around a physical convention, but I know this point is moot here) ... which in Singapore means going to the one with the longest queue, or avoiding it and be literally able to discover and browse (semi) leisurely different artists, IMHO.
And while the timezones is understandably a HUGE deterrent, but if there was anything I was hoping to snag, I would've worked for it - as I did in the past my mons ago ... muahahahahaha :p
But this round, I had no such plans nor ability, and so cannot comment on my non-existent purchasing experience.
I eventually managed to find the "search" field (by clicking around blindly OMG) and found the WATCHLIST tab (middle top menu on main webpage), and managed to find the following folks via their CODE(s) - which they had provided on their socials!
A bit of digging was needed tho, to find folks - especially those not on my socials - even so with quasi-effective hashtags (which was somehow spectacularly lacking time around, IMO) ... so do remember to self-promo with the codes, or specifically dedicated URLs, would be exceedingly helpful - even more so if it it was clickable from your IG-profile = a consideration for future online shows.
You can argue "if someone wants to find me, they will!", and I will not stop you, cheers :)
As I am neither using my mobile nor PopShopLive's mobile app, I cannot speak for accessibility of the search function via the app tho, and neither am I able to comment on the usability via iPhone or Android function of the mobile app too ... I currently do not intend to download app on my mobile, nor react to it (sorrynotsorry :p), so anybody has a headsup or hack to share, do drop them in this blogpost's comments section.
Featured here are a couple of edited videos of what I had missed (Day 1 & Day 2), and I recognised I missed a hella lot more, with reveals and teasers too! Perfect content for my blog! Content that I might not have had the chance to know about, much less feature! Content I still missed, alas... :p
A few of the pages I found had video (on a playback repeat loop) of the vendors/artists/exhibitors leaving behind a message, which I certainly found "helpful", simply because it showed I FOUND THE RIGHT PAGE! LOL
I don not know of these were an "extra" function that needed to be paid for, or os apart of the package tho, but it certainly helped "brand" that specific page - whenever it was not "live" - and would serve as a active promotional page/ad for the schedule to come, I think? I do not have the facts here, sorry.
My favourite was Eric Nakamura (from Giant Robot) eating a hot dog (or pastry) on loop! I had known about Giant Robot because I randomly saw a flyer-ad for James Jean sharing session, in my social feeds, but was unable to "attend" said sharing session ("timezones" suck).
I know if ever I did my own TOYSREVIL-booth, it'll just be filled to the brim with goodies for sale, and a signage right in the middle of it, with code and dates/times, simply because that's what I'll need to remember myself lol
Such a "funny" circumstance too, as I'd watched folks present themselves, most likely I've not met and more likely might not have the chance to meet, seen here Vlogging themselves in a TikTok-styled portrait format!
Personally for me, one of the draws of collecting collectibles, is the creator behind it, and how I perceive and vibe or "connect" with him or her, which ultimately provides a further depth of story, than just the HUNT and BUY aspect of sad collectible .... and for someone does not travel as much to shows as I want to, it becomes a decent "valued" scenario too :)
I managed to log on Monday morning 9Am (which essentially worked out to the last few minutes to 5PM Sunday = closing time for DCON) and found myself on Max Toy Co's page, but experienced crippling audio distortion for a good few minutes, while grasping what seemed to be Mark saying "toysrevil", and it bugs me til now that I couldn't hear him until I had to reload the page a few times. But frankly, I shouldn't "complain", as I had the opportunity to see a familiar face, and remembered fondly of meeting Mark twice when he was in Singapore for toycon! The audio subsequently was legit, and I enjoyed every moment of it!
With sales accessible to folks with addresses in the U.S., or for folks with U.S. forwarders accessibility, I could not partake in the sales aspect of the virtual pop-up, but had a swell time listening to Mark and Max (who made a guest appearance)! Having them reacting to folks' text messages immediately gave the impression of connectivity, beyond seeing a one-sided video "presentation"or "sales pitch".
Listening to Mark share his stories, of seeing the unpainted MazingerZ figure (YAY), and his spray-paint holds and stories that comes with it, was such a tremendous experience, IMHO. We go to conventions not to just buy stuff, I personally would love to hear stories as well! And best of luck to Max for his new school term! I couldn't stop staring at his BECK tee ... AND Mark's Eyezon Chibi tee too!
And what I saw on my browser, opens up so much more possibilities OMG! Front and center is the vendor (in this scenario, Mark Nagata from Max Toy Co) speaking to folks like "friends" do, while on left-of-screen is where the text messages are, and on-right is the item sales pop-up, where you can click to buy what you see! The TOY-TEMPTATION IS REAL OMG! "Add To Cart" is a very real thing (at least for me), if I see the item in hand and ready to rock my toy-collections LOL
Again, if I were able to, I would've tried out the purchasing process and be able to share my experiece with you folks :)
And while the sales presentation on video is now a staple on Facebook (at least in Singapore, when folks are auctioning off assorted items and even fresh fish - Whom is a SELL OUT, BTW, so I am not taking the mickey in anynways, shapoe or form here) - and have no doubt FB is currently configuring folks to being able to click-n-buy too ... the current platform provides another aspect to online commerce. The prevalence of vlogging/streaming life on Twitch and YouTube has led us to be both tolerant and susceptible to such presentations, and I am all for it! The ability of the viewer to CLICK-&-BUY might well be an eventuality for most, if not all.
Currently PopShopLive caters to U.S. addresses only. If other platforms are able to cater to direct purchases from the vendors/exhibitors, that would be another plus, IMHO, subject to business model(s), of course.
Alternatively, we are able to engage directly via IG LIVE as well, for that crisp clarity in visuals (which platforms like Zoom cannot provide), especially when we are looking at TOYS muahahahahaha
What this bodes for Toy-Culture in general is currently confined to USA, for purchases and fulfilment, but the opportunity to be able to see/meet folks/vendors/exhibitors, is a tremendous draw! If only the timing worked for timezones, I would've had the chance to say "HI" to more folks!
Kudos to 3D Retro and (birthday boss) Ben Goretsky for organising this party! This must NOT have been easy, to coordinate multiples of folks, and can only hope things'll be smooth(er) in events to come!
ASIDE#1: I have read a bunch of online complaints+commentary, and the response from organisers, so I am aware of the glitches+hiccups, but choose not to comment on them as I'd not experienced it myself, and I do not think it'll be fair of me to do so. Constructive comments and feedback are welcomed tho!
ASIDE#2: As self-conscious of not wanting to be a "nuisance" to the vendors online ("talking" but not "buying" :p), I had even thought of going in under a "cover identity", but that's bullshit, and neither would I have been a good "mystery shopper" LOL
Hope you'll had a good con, folks! I certainly hope to be better prepared for the next one!
Cheers,
Andy TOYSREVIL
