What is new for Professional Registration at FanimeCon 2023?

• We are not allowing at-con registration for Professional Registration so please make sure that you are pre-registered and approved before coming to the Marketing room.
• Please note that everyone attending FanimeCon 2023 will need to adhere to our COVID policy.

What are the requirements for professional badges?

Professional Registration grants Press access to FanimeCon for journalists who wish to write articles about FanimeCon for their publications, as well as Industry access for industry professionals who are actively involved in creative anime and manga projects that are popular with FanimeCon attendees. Each qualifying company may receive up to four (4) complimentary badges, and people with Press and Industry badges are restricted from participating in some events (these will be marked appropriately in the program guide and/or on event signage). Note that only those involved with the creation of the final product(s) qualify – Please read the rest of this FAQ to see if you qualify.

FanimeCon reserves the right to approve or reject applications at its discretion. If your application is rejected you may contest it once – to contest your application, please e-mail Professional Registration. In the event that the limit is reached, you will be unable to receive a professional badge to FanimeCon 2023.

If you do not qualify for professional registration, or if you wish to attend Fan-only events, please use the Fan registration form. There is a limit of one FanimeCon 2023 badge-type per individual, so you must choose whether to register as a Fan, Staff, or Professional. Professional attendees are welcome to sponsor events and/or host panels. Please contact Marketing to sponsor an event.

When is the last day that I can pre-register for a Professional badge?

The last day to pre-register for a Professional badge is May 17, 2023. After the cut-off date, you may purchase a badge at our attendee registration.

We make an attempt to reply to applications and questions within 2-3 days after we receive them, but there may be issues that delay us from replying in this timely manner.

A note about "Professional badges"

FanimeCon determines a "professional" by work ethic (not only by the quality of work). As such, we hold our professional attendees to a higher standard. FanimeCon is a "By Fans, For Fans" convention, so our requirements for professional badges differ from other events (in some cases, they slightly differ and in other cases, greatly differ). Industry badges are for people who directly benefit our fans: creators, executives, and marketing personnel. We are aware that there are many additional positions that may not exclusively fall under one of the three industry positions listed so please reach out and ask us if you qualify as we update and clarify our requirements each year.

What are the requirements for obtaining a Press badge?

Press applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Individuals covering FanimeCon for print publications (such as magazines or newspapers), broadcast companies (such as television or radio shows), or online publications might qualify for complimentary access if they meet the following requirements:

• The individual must maintain their integrity as a professional journalist.
• The individual applying for press access may not be involved in the business side of the organization that they are representing but this is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• Professional press attendees must maintain an independence from those they cover.
• Only journalists who produce significant original content may apply.
• One photographer or camera crew member may be named as necessary support on the application of each qualifying journalist but are not eligible for press badge without a journalist. This means that a group is able to have a maximum of two combined photographers and camera crew members.
• Websites that are mostly images (i.e. photography) or unrelated content may be rejected.
• For organizations distributing content via print, the publication must produce original editorial content at least once per quarter.
• For organizations distributing content via a broadcast medium, the publication must produce original editorial content at least once per week. The quality, content, and audience of created content will be reviewed.
• For organizations distributing online, the publication must produce original editorial content at least once per week. Furthermore, the original editorial content must be available to the general public for free. Visitors to the site should not have to pay or register to read the content. For users using free hosted services (Youtube, etc.), other factors such as viewership will be viewed during the application approval process.
• The organization being represented must have complete editorial freedom from any sponsors. All sponsored material must be clearly identified as advertisements.
• The organization must accept all responsibility and liability for any material it gathers at FanimeCon.
• The publication being represented must bear some relevance to FanimeCon attendees.
• The publication must be cautious of the content it publishes. FanimeCon is a convention for all ages and we would like our press coverage to maintain the same standards of family-friendliness that FanimeCon adheres to.
• Video Applications - Applications for Press based solely on a video channel must demonstrate a certain level of event coverage content. Video coverage needs to give viewers an inside look into our event. This could be interviews with Cosplayers, videos (compilation and highlights) of various events, and should include some type of verbal or text content to give viewers an idea of what FanimeCon is like. If the channel is accompanied by an article on a blog or other outlet, please include those in your application.
• Content creators with be reviewed based on the content they produce, including view count, type, and length of content.

Press applicants must provide the following:

• A valid government-issued photo ID (such as a driver's license or passport).
• At least one of the following verification of employment or assignment from the organization being represented:
  • A business card with the organization's name and logo, the journalist's official title at the organization, and the journalist's name as it appears on the FanimeCon Press application. (This must be given in person and must be printed on professional business card stock. Do not e-mail it to us.)
  • A letter of assignment on the official organization's letterhead. This option is only available for writers on assignment (who might not otherwise have business cards -- student writers and interns, for example) from their editor/manager.
  • If on paid assignment, a verification of work such as a W2/1099/Paystub issued by the organization may be accepted. We strongly encourage that you don’t bring this to the convention if you don’t feel comfortable but instead blank out sensitive information and email it to us ahead of time for verification.
• Links to or copies of at least one article published on or after Jan 1, 2023 that contains the applicant's name in the byline. These articles should be of the same subject and tone that your article covering FanimeCon will be.
• If a returning publication, links to or copies of the previous FanimeCon's articles. It is strongly recommended to e-mail this to Professional Registration ahead of your application submission (you may e-mail it to us as soon as it is posted and we will note this for future reference).

What are the requirements for obtaining an Industry badge?

FanimeCon welcomes creators, executives, and marketing personnel from companies that are actively working on current anime or manga projects that interest FanimeCon attendees. Industry applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis directly by the executive Marketing staff, and FanimeCon will need to know about your current projects in order to review your application. Please note that all creators must register separately (they may not register in a group).

Industry applicants must provide the following:

• A valid government-issued photo ID (such as a drivers license or passport).
• At least one of the following verifications of employment or assignment from the organization being represented:
• an e-mail message (from your manager) sent from the employer's domain AND a business card with the organization's name and logo, the applicant's official title at the organization, and the applicant's name as it appears on the FanimeCon Industry application
• A W2/1099/Paystub issued by the organization. Please blank out any important information (i.e. Social Security number). If brought in person, we only need to see it and will not require a copy of this for our records.
• Links to or copies of anime/manga containing the applicant's name in the credits on a credible website (ISBN for books). Note that work linked must be published and cannot be independently printed.

How does a professional badge differ from a normal fan badge?

Attendees that attend FanimeCon via a Press or Industry badge are expected to act professionally at all times. A professional badge does not grant you any special access, abilities, discounts, etc and some events and activities may exclude you as they are for fan attendees only.

• Professional attendees must not own/operate/work/assist any Artist Alley table.
• Professional attendees must not own/operate/work/assist any Dealers Hall booth without prior authorization.

The following only applies to Press attendees:

• Press attendees are not allowed in The Cosplayer Hangout during non-competition hours. Please inquire with The Cosplayer Hangout as to when these hours are.
• Press attendees are allowed into Guest of Honor panels ten minutes before general seating starts. Press attendees are not allowed to save seats for anyone, including other Press that are not present. (When shooting photography during a panel, please be mindful of others and please do not block aisle ways, walkways, or doors at ANY time. You may be asked to move or leave if you block the view of others.)
• Press attendees are allowed to request interviews with FanimeCon Guests of Honor. The request form will be sent out shortly after the form becomes available.
• Note: During the interview, only approved press attendees from the same company will be able to enter the interview room. If you need other people in the room, please work it out with Marketing beforehand.
• We will have special seating available for Press attendees. Please arrive early and head to the first two rows of seats in the middle section. You will need to show your press badge to the house ushers and please fill the first row before sitting in the second row.

Am I guaranteed a professional badge if I received a Press or Industry badge from previous years?

No. Our professional badge requirements change each year, based on feedback from previous years. All professionals are required to re-apply and all credentials will be reviewed before we make our decision. You will be notified via e-mail within a timely matter (as early as 24 hours but it may take as long as a week or two). Please remember to whitelist @fanime.com e-mail addresses as important e-mails might be incorrectly flagged as spam.

If I qualify for a professional badge, can my friends also receive a free badge?

No, we only allow attendees that are attending FanimeCon on official business and represent the same company as you to receive complimentary badges. Unfortunately, this means that we are unable to assist you in purchasing a fan badge or skip the line.

What happens if I lose my badge?

Please check Con-Ops for any lost badges. If a reprint is needed, they will follow the same rules as general attendee registration.

Are there hotel rooms for qualified individuals?

We have a limited number of hotel rooms for those that qualify for a professional badge.

What is the process for reserving a press/industry hotel room?

Once you are approved for a professional badge, contact Professional Registration for further information.

I have checked and all hotel rooms are sold out. How can I get a hotel room?

Please contact CMR using the contact information on the housing website and request to be put on the waitlist. Please note that if it is within 15 days of FanimeCon, you may need to contact the hotel directly (CMR will provide guidance).

For other accommodations, such as parking/shuttle buses/public transit, please see our accommodations page.

Where is Professional Registration Located?

Professional Registration is located in Room 114 on the first floor of the San Jose McEnery Convention Center (on the side where the San Jose Marriott is located). When entering the convention center from the Marriott’s first floor, you should see two sets of double doors with a convention TV above them. That area is where you’ll find Room 114.

What times will Professional Registration be open?

If you require a professional badge pickup outside of normal scheduled hours, please contact us (e-mail listed below) and we can work something out. In most cases, Press badges will not be approved for pickup after we close on Sunday (including Monday).

What else do I need to know about Professional Registration?

Your application can be rejected for any reason and at any time. After receipt of your application, Professional Registration will send an email out to every applicant using the email provided on the application. FanimeCon staff will make every effort to respond to applications with an updated status before FanimeCon starts. Qualified staff attendees can revoke badges at any time for any reason.

By applying for a professional badge, you are agreeing to abide by our Code of Conduct, Costume/Prop Policy, and all other requirements that attendees must adhere to. All perks, restrictions, and rules are subject to and may change at any time at FanimeCon staff discretion.

Once you accept a professional badge, you represent the company named on your badge at all times during the convention and when dealing with FanimeCon. The company named on your badge will be held responsible for your actions, and that company may be liable for any misconduct on your part. Professional attendees are expected to behave professionally at all times and must not represent another company.

If something isn't answered here, whom can I e-mail?

proreg@fanime.com can answer any and all Professional Registration questions that you may have.

Where is the link to apply for Professional Registration?

Professional Registration is now available on our website