VidCon

VidCon is a multi-genre online video tech conference, held annually in Southern California since 2010 and currently organized by ViacomCBS. Originally conceived by Hank and John Green of the Vlogbrothers YouTube channel, the convention is one of the largest of its kind, gathering thousands of online video viewers, creators, and industry representatives worldwide.[2][3][4] In February 2018, Viacom acquired VidCon; however the conference remains a standalone subsidiary.[5] Its offices remain in Missoula, Montana, sharing a building with Complexly.

VidCon
Slogan: "For People who Love Online Video"
StatusActive
GenreOnline video tech conference
VenueHyatt Regency Century Plaza (2010–11)
Anaheim Convention Center (2012–present)
Location(s)Los Angeles, California (2010–11)
Anaheim, California (2012–present)
CountryUnited States
InauguratedJuly 9, 2010 (2010-07-09)
Most recentJuly 10–13, 2019
Attendance26,200 (2017)[1]
Organized byViacomCBS
Websitevidcon.com

History
VidCon founders Hank and John Green at VidCon 2014

The first VidCon was held in July 9–11, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza hotel in Los Angeles and sold out in advance[6] with over 1,400 people attending.[7] In February 2018, Viacom announced that they were acquiring VidCon.[8][9] VidCon was held annually as a physical conference until 2020, when three conferences were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a virtual conference was held from June 20th-July 6th.[10]

People with disabilities are offered assistance throughout the convention, as of 2017. Special accessible seating is provided along with ASL interpreters present in the arena and main stage.[11]

Attendance
Year Venue Attendance Source
2010 Hyatt Regency Century Plaza 1,400 [7]
2011 2,500 [12]
2012 Anaheim Convention Center 7,000 [13]
2013 12,000 [14]
2014 18,000 [15]
2015 19,500 [15]
2016 25,500 [1]
2017 30,000+ [16]

Controversy

Tana Mongeau feud

After being reportedly snubbed and restricted at past VidCon events, YouTube star Tana Mongeau decided to create her own convention, TanaCon (deemed by some to be the Anti-VidCon).[17] While this move was initially applauded by fans and fellow YouTubers (who had also taken issue with VidCon's past handling of creators), TanaCon 2018 was ultimately deemed a failure. The event took place at the Anaheim Marriott Suites, a hotel situated in the Anaheim Convention Center complex during the same weekend as VidCon 2018. Reportedly, 4,000 to 5,000[18][19] fans showed up for a venue that only held 1,150 (an oversight exacerbated by the pre-sale of 5,000 tickets).[20] The event was shut down by police, with many receiving first-degree and second-degree sunburns from standing outside waiting in LA's June heat. At least one attendee had to be hospitalized, following an injury that occurred during a door rush in the overcrowded hotel.[21] Tana was later invited back to Vidcon the following year as a Featured Creator, after a mutual decision between the two parties.[22]

References
  1. "VidCon Announces International Expansion for 2017". Streaming Media. June 23, 2016. Archived from the original on December 6, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  2. Carrasco, Ed (February 5, 2013). "VidCon Returns To Anaheim August 1–3, Anticipates 10,000, Attendees". New Media Rockstars. Archived from the original on June 14, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  3. "YouTube Blog: Our highlights from Vidcon". Archived from the original on October 15, 2010.
  4. Bascaramurty, Dakshana (July 2, 2010). "Meet your Vloggers – The Globe and Mail". Toronto. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012.
  5. "Viacom Acquires VidCon, Boosting Live Event and Digital Businesses". Viacom Corporate. February 7, 2018. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  6. "Twitter / VidCon 2010". Archived from the original on April 5, 2017.
  7. Pham, Alex (July 10, 2010). "Vidcon conference celebrates YouTube culture". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014.
  8. Lopez, Ricardo (February 5, 2018). "Viacom Acquiring VidCon (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  9. Spangler, Todd (February 7, 2018). "Viacom Announces Acquisition of VidCon Internet-Video Conference". Variety. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  10. "VidCon Isn't Happening in Anaheim, So It's Launching a Free Series of Online Programming All Summer". Variety. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  11. "What types of assistance are provided for attendees with disabilities at VidCon US? : VidCon US 2017". help.vidcon.com. Archived from the original on June 7, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  12. Wallenstein, Andrew (August 1, 2011). "VidCon revels in YouTube". Variety. Archived from the original on October 31, 2011.
  13. Miller, Liz Shannon (July 1, 2012). "VidCon 2012: love, respect and double rainbows". GigaOM. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  14. Graham, Jefferson (August 4, 2013). "VidCon brings out YouTube fans". USA Today. Archived from the original on August 5, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  15. Hamedy, Saba (June 29, 2014). "VidCon 2014: 5 things you may have missed (picture 4 caption)". Archived from the original on August 11, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  16. "About". VidCon US. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  17. Ward, Tom. "Watch Out, VidCon: YouTuber Tana Mongeau Isn't Letting Anyone Stand In Her Way". Forbes. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  18. "Parents Called The Police Because Their Teens Were Getting Sunburned At TanaCon". BuzzFeed News.
  19. Farokhmanesh, Megan (November 6, 2018). "TanaCon "documentary" offers a clumsy behind-the-scenes look at what went wrong". The Verge.
  20. Lee, Josh. "TanaCon Shutting Down "Due To 15,000 Extra Guests" Isn't True, Police Say". We The Unicorns. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  21. Kircher, Madison. "A Mouth to Hell Opened This Weekend at Tanacon, a Fyre Festival for the YouTube Set". Intelligencer. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  22. Alexander, Julia. "'TanaCon' creator Tana Mongeau is heading to VidCon one year after retaliating against it". The Verge. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
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