- Date: 2/17/2024
- Location: Katsucon 2024
Kennedy: So, Greg, usually I begin this out by asking, like, “For our readers who don’t know who you might be, please inform us who you might be!” However you—you’ve been interviewed by us a couple instances!
Greg Ayres: A couple of instances—not too way back, really.
Kennedy: So as an alternative, I’m going to start out this out by asking, so how lengthy have you ever been a fan of anime?
Greg Ayres: Man, I don’t know that I can put an precise quantity on that. I imply, I do know after I began watching. I used to run round with a bunch of skaters, and there’s solely a lot you are able to do as a skater in Texas in the course of the summer season as a result of you have got two choices: It’s both boiling sizzling or it’s raining. And if you’re a little bit child, boiling sizzling doesn’t matter—you’re like, “Ah, solar, no matter.” However when it rains, there’s nothing to do. And we had this—there was this one buddy of ours who was all the time speaking about, we didn’t even realize it was referred to as. I feel they have been calling it “Japanimation” on the time. We had this one buddy that simply all the time had this ratty backpack, and he all the time had, like, a bunch of videotapes in it.
He’s like, “I actually want you’ll watch this present! Y’all would like this!” And I feel the very first thing he ever confirmed us was, like, a nasty switch of Fight Mecha Xabungle, which is outdated—which is outdated! However we dug it.
I feel that a part of what made it so cool to me then as, like, a 16-year-old was that it was this factor that had come from Japan; it was on this ratty outdated videotape, so that you couldn’t actually see it that nicely. And so, then the following factor I remembered is he needed us to observe Macross. And that was the primary time I noticed that storytelling was for adults—wasn’t for youths. And naturally, if you’re sixteen, you need to do all the grownup issues. So then I noticed we have been experiencing one thing that wasn’t for youths. As a result of y’know, at first look, they seemed like, as American youngsters, they only seemed like cartoons.
And what modified all the pieces—and this sounds so cliche, however I suppose not anymore, as a result of I do know younger youngsters that haven’t even seen this movie—I used to be an enormous artwork movie individual. And we had gone to see—I can’t even bear in mind, it was Liquid Sky or some bizarre ‘80s film. However this trailer for this film referred to as Akira performed earlier than the film. And the primary phrases I bear in mind, “Neo Tokyo is about to blow up.” After which the drums begin.
And I used to be like, “What is that this?” And that opening animation sequence they used within the trailer jogged my memory of one thing from Blade Runner. After which there have been these dudes on bikes and, like, this man in a clown masks. And I used to be like, “What is that this?” We have been lifeless. We have been like, “That factor, we’re going to go see it!?” And my buddy’s like, “That’s Akira! That’s the kind of animation I’ve been making an attempt to get you all to observe!” So like, he knew what it was, and I bear in mind he was like, “Y’all are simply silly.” So at that time, it was simply no holds barred. We have been like, simply in for the experience. We have been anime followers to the purpose that we have been watching all of his movies.
However he had mentioned that you may purchase this stuff referred to as laserdiscs, and we wouldn’t have to observe these crappy-looking videotapes. And so we hatched this plan. I like this. We have been like, one group of us was going to purchase the participant and the others would purchase the disks. Properly, I don’t understand how I managed to be the one which had to purchase the participant. So I purchased this laserdisc participant, and I feel I paid like $400 or $500 for it. It was actually costly for what it was. Like, when you think about VHS, you may purchase a VHS participant for like $50.
Kennedy: And that is $400 or $500 in, like, what is that this, late ‘80s, early ‘90s?
Greg Ayres: Yeah, yeah! So it was actually costly. After which I had it. And I purchased one—I feel I had one of many Tenchi Muyo! laserdiscs. And I knew there was going to be a Criterion Assortment of Akira. And I used to be like, “Hey, we have to get it! There’s a particular model that has an animated model of the manga.” Like, it was a walkthrough of the primary quantity— like a visible novel. I used to be like, “Oh my god, we’ve to get this.” Properly, then my pals have been like, “Properly, these issues are costly.” Properly, I already had this participant, so I ended up being one to purchase all the pieces. However the cool factor about that’s I’ve all these basic anime on the laserdisc that you simply can’t discover wherever. So, like bizarre stuff like Twilight of the Cockroaches and unhealthy OVAs like The Humanoid, however I’ve all of them. I nonetheless have all of them. I’ve Serial Experiments Lain on laserdisc. I’ve a bunch of the Tenchi Muyo!, a number of the Macross films that by no means made it over right here, I’ve on Laserdisc.
The one factor I have to do is get that again in working order as a result of the holy grail of laserdiscs on the time was the Miyazaki Museum Assortment, which is just like the definitive field set. And there have been issues on the time in that laserdisc assortment that weren’t obtainable wherever else. They usually have been subtitled, so we have been like, “Whoa, we are able to watch this in English!” And I bear in mind you simply couldn’t get your fingers on them. They have been actually costly on the time. They’re like $500, $600 only for the discs. And there was a restricted run of them. Properly, now, as a result of everybody’s gotten rid of their laserdisc gamers, you will discover them typically for, like $75 on-line, the entire set. So I’m like—bruh! I have to get my laserdisc participant working once more so I can watch a few of these basic anime!
And I’ve one other buddy that’s, like, a youthful fan that’s simply actually into outdated anime. So I advised him when he comes down—he lives in Louisiana—I advised him when he comes down, I’ll mud off the outdated laserdisc participant and we’ll watch a bunch of outdated stuff on laserdisc. Like, I feel I’ve Lensman on laserdisc. I’ve a bunch of simply, actually wild outdated titles that I haven’t seen since in all probability I used to be like sixteen to nineteen years outdated.
So, I’ve been into anime for a extremely very long time. And I type of fell out of anime fandom for some time, simply because I used to be in a retailer—it’s now not in Houston, so I can say the identify, it was a retailer referred to as Planet Anime—and there was this dude that labored there that was, you already know, that know-it-all otaku man. And, like, there was this little child who didn’t know so much about something, however he was an enormous Gundam fan and he was simply within the retailer, like, simply speaking the poor clerk’s ear off. Properly, this dude, like, shamed this little child. He’s like, “Properly, I noticed it on TV in Japan. You don’t know what Gundam is.” And at this level, I used to be, like, an grownup. And I used to be like, “Wow, dude, you simply made a little bit child really feel unhealthy. Do you be ok with your self?” And I used to be stepping into different issues.
After which my buddy dragged me again kicking and screaming, as a result of he had acquired like—there was in all probability a complete yr that I didn’t watch anime. And I’m like, “Ugh, no, I’m out of that.” After which the DVDs for Fushigi Yugi got here out. And that was an enormous deal, as a result of after they launched Fushigi Yugi on VHS, they chopped the music—so they might do like three episodes on a VHS tape. The factor about Fushigi Yugi that’s so cool is the music begins constructing, like, in the course of the final scene and simply builds and builds and builds until that increase, after which the track begins. Properly, once we purchased them on VHS, they might cease and they’d go to the following episode and also you solely acquired one opening and one closing, and so they have been on the canine ears on the tape. So right here was the prospect to see Fushigi Yugi the way in which it was supposed to be seen. And I began watching that, and we began watching it each evening. I’m like, “Oh, God, now I’ve this pastime once more.” (Laughs)
The toughest factor is working on this trade has type of modified that for me. I don’t watch a number of anime now. I’ll watch the start of one thing {that a} buddy’s in. And I suppose I get it due to being uncovered to it on a regular basis now. However I don’t have the craving to observe it on a regular basis like I used to, as a result of I feel it’s a lot of my Monday via Friday. However that love for anime is what makes me love this neighborhood a lot. It makes me take reveals significantly. It makes me notice, as a result of I’ve been watching anime a very long time, I do know there are some simply rubbish reveals on the market. So typically, I get solid to work on one thing and I’m like, “Properly, this can be a present. Can I please simply know what it’s?” And I’m like, “All proper, let’s simply have enjoyable. Let’s simply do that present.” However I don’t suppose if I wasn’t a fan earlier than I might have been on this trade this lengthy as a result of it’s not some huge cash altering fingers, at the least not from the work itself. And it’s typically exhausting work and typically it’s a hustle. However being part of one thing you like makes that a little bit totally different.
Like, you’re similar to, “Oh, I can’t run out on this.” However yeah, I’ve been at it for some time now, for positive.
Kennedy: And the way lengthy have you ever been going to cons?
Greg Ayres: Properly, I imply, as an trade individual, 24 years. I feel my first con I ever went to was Animazement in North Carolina in both ‘99 or 2000. No, it was earlier than that, as a result of I used to be already within the trade at that time, so it needed to have been like—I do know that Jigglypuff was an enormous deal on the Pokémon present, as a result of the rationale we went to that particular one is the unique voice actress, Rachel Lillis, was going to be there. And the concept we’d get to satisfy the Jigglypuff was outrageous.
And now, granted, I used to be a grown man at this level—I used to be in my thirties, I feel. However we needed to go meet Jigglypuff. And it was the funniest factor. And a number of the people who I acquired autographs from in that present ended up being, like, actually shut pals and colleagues that I labored with.
Brett Weaver and I apparently had an trade within the elevator that didn’t go nicely. And I wrote one thing impolite in this system above him. And I advised Bret, “I discovered this outdated program for a present I used to be at and I wrote this factor above you.” He goes, “Oh, yeah, nicely, you have been in all probability a child, so that you in all probability irritated me.” (laughs) Like, it was only a nice, humorous second. However working with him now, I do know he’s a fantastic man. And I discover myself in elevators the place like, I’ll get in an elevator at a con, and I see a child’s pushed all of the buttons, and I’m like, (exacerbated sigh). And I take into consideration that interchange apparently between Brett, and I’m like, “Okay, don’t—don’t freak out, don’t freak out.”
However like, Toshifumi Yoshida—I used to be simply stating his identify in one of many mangas that I signed earlier. A few of these people who I noticed at that very first con, I might find yourself attending to know very nicely working within the trade. So it’s so bizarre. However I’ve been going to cons, not essentially anime cons, since I used to be a toddler as a result of my brother was an enormous horror film fan. In order a child, I might get dragged to all of those horror film conventions. So when I discovered an anime con, I used to be like, “Oh, I understand how to do that! I’ve accomplished this earlier than! I do know there’s a vendor’s room, there’s a spot we are able to go watch films.” It was all very outdated hat to me, nevertheless it was all of the stuff I used to be into versus, you already know, my brother’s horror films. However, so, yeah, I’ve been going to cons since I used to be a child. However anime cons didn’t begin till whichever, I’ve to look that up as a result of I used to be already within the trade in ‘99, so it’d need to be a number of years earlier than that.
Kennedy: So what about staffing cons? You’ve helped employees cons, you DJ at cons. When did you begin doing that, and what made you need to do this?
Greg Ayres: So there’s two tales that actually, actually have been the start of my staffing reveals. One has to do with me DJing and the opposite has to do with me being a visitor. The DJing factor, individuals came upon fairly shortly that I had been a nightclub DJ. Like, I’d solely been on this enterprise some time, and naturally, individuals begin digging via your outdated pictures and stuff like that. Properly, any individual right here in Virginia noticed a photograph of me DJing at a theater after we wrapped Romeo and Juliet. Me and my buddy Wilson have been DJing up within the catwalk of the theater and enjoying on vinyl. And so any individual’s like, ”Wait, are you a DJ?”
And I used to be like, “Oh, nicely, I was. I used to be a nightclub DJ for years.” They’re like, “Will you throw a celebration at NekoCon?” And I used to be like, “I don’t play anime music.” They’re like, “We don’t care! Simply throw a celebration!” In order that began. And as soon as I began DJing at conventions, then all people was like, “Oh, nicely, apparently he’s a DJ, too.”
So this one conference I went to in Ohio, that they had put me on the lineup, and so they had advised me that I used to be going to be DJing. They’d not advised any of the opposite DJs. So I used to be at one other con in Cincinnati, and I mentioned, “Yeah, I’ll be at this con in January, and I’ll be DJing!” And this child was like, “Says who?” Like, within the second row. And he’s like, “Says who? I’m one of many DJs. Who mentioned you’re enjoying?” And I used to be like, “Uh, the chairman of the con advised me, who’re you?” And I used to be like, “What is that this?” So what I didn’t know is that con’s chairman had made a promise that he actually shouldn’t have, as a result of the people who run the dance must be choosing the DJs and all that. However in fact, as the person who was simply, “Hey, do you wanna DJ?” “Yeah, positive!”
So I discovered myself in a extremely unhealthy scenario. And, sadly for the people who I used to be enjoying with, they selected to be actually unprofessional in that scenario. And whereas I used to be enjoying, they have been unplugging my gear and inflicting issues to my gear. And I’ve been a DJ lengthy sufficient to know that after a crowd thinks you’re silly otherwise you’re no good, there’s no successful them again shortly. And there was completely no method I might do it when the individuals round me have been messing with me and messing with my gear, and in my mind, I used to be like, “There’s a room referred to as the inexperienced room upstairs with free booze and free meals, and I’m down right here busting my butt with a bunch of men that don’t like me.”
So, I placed on a track that was unattainable to combine out of and mentioned, “Y’all have enjoyable! I’m gonna go get drunk!” And so I left. Properly, after I acquired upstairs, the con chairman was up there, and so they have been like, “What occurred? They mentioned it was a catastrophe.” I used to be like, “Yeah, they have been unplugging the gear whereas I used to be working.” They usually’re like, “Now we have a lot drama with our DJs. If we had any individual that would—” I used to be like, “Wait, actual DJs don’t act like that.” It was like, DJs are nerds. We’re simply music nerds. And so a dialog occurred that evening like, “Hey, would you are taking over our dance and do that?” And I used to be like, “Properly, these guys already hate me, so I’m not gonna be on this market,” I used to be like, “Positive, if that’s your name, I’ll take over your dance.”
And naturally, I did the—in all probability not the neatest factor. I fired all people and simply introduced in my very own crew. However in doing that, I had this imaginative and prescient that took a few years to make occur. However I needed to construct this group of nerdy DJs as a result of a number of the fellows that have been enjoying didn’t even like anime. It was only a DJ gig. They’re like, “Oh, I’m enjoying for nerds this weekend.” I needed to get a bunch of nerdy DJs collectively that had no ego, that beloved one another, that promoted and inspired one another, and beloved to play at cons and didn’t suppose enjoying at a con was an insult.
My pals that DJ in nightclubs used to tease me after I first began doing this. They’re like, “When are you going to get out of lodges and get again into the nightclubs?” I’m like, “Bro, youngsters line up for the door to open at this present,” I used to be like, “Y’all need to hope any individual will straggle in within the first hour in a nightclub.” Being a nightclub DJ is so boring for the primary hour as a result of there’s no one there after they open, however the music’s acquired to be going. Man, youngsters line up, and when the doorways open, they’ve cat ears on and so they’re able to occasion. The power of my crowd’s by no means off, in order that’s what I needed. So at that present, I continued to construct that, and that acquired greater and larger and larger, after which different cons requested me to do it for them.
And the rationale I acquired concerned in staffing in one other regard, I used to be at a conference that was run by my pals, and it was on the peak of ADV’s reputation, and I used to be the lead in a bunch of reveals, and so they put me as a visitor at their panel as a result of they have been my pals or no matter. They’re like, “Will you go to our present?” I’m like, “Positive.” They usually labored me to dying. There was in the future that I didn’t have a break from 11 AM till 3 AM., like, from 11 that morning till 3 AM that evening. I used to be livid. And I went—and my pals jokingly name me hockey-tempered for a cause—I went in and simply began screaming at my pals. I used to be like, “Why would you do that?!” Why do you suppose I don’t have to eat?!”
Properly, I’d additionally been round a bunch of different actors that had been actually abysmal behaving at conventions, and I all the time hated the concept some individuals deal with con employees like maids. Like, “How dare you not blah blah blah! I used to be wanting water!” My angle has all the time been like, for those who’re not keen to assist repair an issue, you’re simply screaming. You’re not being constructive in any respect. And so then I got here again and I used to be like, “Hey, I didn’t imply to come back down so exhausting on you. You guys nearly killed me.” They usually felt horrible, and so they’re like, “Properly, how can we maintain this from by no means occurring? Is it occurring once more?” Properly, from that, I used to be displaying them how to do that schedule that broke it out in a method. They usually’re like, “How have you learnt this software program?” I used to be like, “Oh, I’ve a complete diploma in promoting and advertising and marketing.” Earlier than I knew it, I used to be a publications director for this place, and I used to be doing this system information as a result of the opposite individual was making an attempt to do it in PowerPoint. I’m like, “That’s not what that program is for!” So I discovered myself in three years time, a triple division for that present. And I’m like, “I positive hope you don’t need me to do visitor stuff.” (laughs) However I do, and I nonetheless work at that present.
Kennedy: Can I ask what present it’s?
Greg Ayres: Yeah, it’s a con in Galveston. And truly, we have been in Houston, and anytime a bunch of different cons become involved, there’s this bizarre politics and this competitors that basically doesn’t have to exist. And when the Houston market acquired gross and folks began being bizarre was proper across the identical time that Hurricane Ike type of worn out Galveston. So we consciously moved that con there to type of assist with the rebuilding of that island’s financial system as a result of—the IHOP that’s subsequent to our conference heart mentioned they meet their yearly numbers the weekend of the present. As a result of it’s a small island, the objective for that IHOP was so low. And since youngsters simply eat 24 hours a day on the con, as a result of the older crowd that will get up, they go there for breakfast. The youngsters are up all evening on the rave type of wind down there. So they only have been slammed 24 hours a day. They usually’re like, “Yeah, we meet our monetary numbers for the entire yr this one weekend.” And I’m like, “Oh my god.”
Kennedy: We’re operating out of time. So on that word, I suppose we’ll go forward except you have got the rest you’d like so as to add.
Greg Ayres: I proceed to work to cons to today, and the one factor that I like about that’s if there ever comes a time that I don’t need to do voiceover for a residing, if there ever comes a time when the trade modifications as a result of there’s all this speak of AI taking up all the pieces or no matter, I received’t have to fret about not being part of this neighborhood. Although I may not do the identical job that I’m doing now, I’ve labored exhausting to be part of the neighborhood itself, so I received’t be a type of individuals like, “Properly, I suppose I’ve to seek out new pals.” I’ll all the time be part of this neighborhood, for positive.
