Spotlight: Stories from OffKai Expo Gen 3

It's been weeks since OffKai Expo Gen 3 happened in Burlingame, CA with a packed crowd of around 2,500 visitors. Every participant has their own story, and we found people who are happy to share their stories with us.

We take a look inside the OffKai Gen 3 experience from the perspectives of two vendors, a panelist, a main stage participant and a unique visitor.

Correspondent's Rundown

We received an outline from our correspondent Nethyr form nullptr::live following the event, giving a glimpse on their experience aside from the recap we have shared:

Venue

For Nethyr's first time at OffKai, they described the venue as "Modern and sleek." Chatter can be heard at the Atrium in the middle of the hotel.

It’s overseen by a huge Hoshimachi Suisei inflatable from HoloTakeover, and various VTuber agency booths: lucid Multimedia, NEXAS, Phase Connect, VOLs, and idol Virtual Talents.

Overtime, it slowly grew crowded when heading up to the Atrium or to the Main Stage with many kinds of people on the way including cosplayers, VTuber Fans, and VTubers themselves!

The Atrium is a beloved spot at the end of each day where VTubers get to know each other and head over to after parties.

VTubers would talk about what they learned from their content creation journey to their oshi that inspired them.

"It honestly felt like a relief to talk to fellow VTubers here and feel like I belong somewhere for once."

The Atrium became an unofficial networking & meeting spot for VTubers to find like-minded peers that seriously loved the VTubing craft.

Panels

For some attendees, this is their first time meeting other talents in the VTubing scene outside of their current oshi — Nethyr was present at the panels hosted by Bijou & Kaela, Mint Fantome & Matara Kan, Regis Altare & Gavis Bettel, Tomoe Umari and Pheesekai.

These panels taught Nethyr a lot about the importance of connecting with the audience, their peers, and themselves. As long as you have a strong connection and understanding of each element, you will get far in the VTuber space.

• Bijou & Kaela tested the audience’s and their own knowledge of each other with fun batsu (penalties) to boot.
• Mint & Matara reflected on their friendship and shared what they were most looking forward to with the audience.
• Altare & Bettel had a relaxing chat together and answered many questions from the audience.

On the side of indie panelists, they provided wonderful details on how to further grow in the VTubing space.

• Tomoe Umari discussed the importance of having a central brand and creating content that connects to that center.
• Pheesekai shared why vtubing is important for sharing your identity and how vtubing helps people learn more about themselves.

Vendors' Hall

On the first day, it had one of the longest lines, and it would take hours to enter. The volunteers had to cap it at 5:00 pm. By the third day, it still had long lines.

Many attendees quickly bought merch with some stalls already being sold out of people’s oshi. There was so much beautiful art hung on the stalls.

Some of the artists were even VTuber parents and showed their VTuber model portfolios or sold merch of their vtuber children.

Others provided inquiries for VTubers such as making VTuber merch (Neon Shrine, Kawa Entertainment) or consultation for VTuber lore (Galeia Studio).

A few booths also hosted meet and greets for indie vtubers like KissVT.

Industry Track

Several companies had their appearances in the American market for the first time. Their goal is to understand the American market. Nethyr was able to visit Iriam, Anilive, Character Studio and Hatsu-Muv.

Live Concerts

The concerts were the most magical moments to encounter at Offkai Expo.

Each concert was special for their fans and to those that newly discovered them:

• From the love of V4Mirai and idol where they sang acapella during tech difficulties to their audience,
• to the High Interactivity between Pippa & Tenma to their audience, and the dedicated skill of those at Offkai Live.

At each concert, was a color coordinated crowd for each singer, and echoes of them going monkey (or barking for when Bao arrived).

By the end of Offkai Live in particular, there was a warm hue of orange spreading from the center of the crowd – rows of KFP members in orange were cheering for their beloved oshi. 

Meeting and Connecting VTubers with Fans

First up, we check the Vendors' Hall and meet our good friends from KissVT whom we put on the Spotlight a long while ago. They hosted several meet-and-greet activities of their talents as well as those from Project Demi•Pact.

"The indie VTuber meet and greets were actually planned a while in advance, and it took a lot of organizing between groups to make it happen," manager Fryxie told VTuber NewsDrop in a post-event email.

On top of catering to the visitors, they were also able to meet a ton of really cool fellows. KissVT members are sharing their experiences with us: Fryxie and Ezra Andromyda both enjoyed meeting people at the booth, and Corvina Hadria and Rosie Mallow both enjoyed meeting their VShojo idols.

"Meeting Matara and winning her meet and greet was great, she was so nice! I also really liked the Ashton Marten concert!," Lady Hadria said. "Seeing friends for the first time, and meeting Ironmouse at the maid cafe!," Rosie adds.

Fryxie is pleased with her experience boothing at this year's Expo. Setting aside the WiFi signal that needs improvement, she said OffKai staff has been super nice and helpful. "Everyone was so nice and a lot of them asked about who we were, which was great!

"Overall, the experience was great and I’m glad we got to bring people around the Vendors' Hall who couldn’t be there (we even did some shopping for some of them)! Next year if we table we’d like to extend the meet and greet offer to more, well, independent indies!"

Overwhelming Support from Friends

Game dev VTuber Mirynth manages Neon Shrine, a hobby store specializing in producing custom penlights and penlight films. "Vending at Offkai Expo is unlike any other convention we booth at. Being a part of the VTuber community, we had many friends visit us to check out our booth and say hi, some of whom we've never met in person before!"

This was not the first time Mirynth set up shop at the Expo, however, this year's crowd size surprised her. "This year had a MUCH bigger turnout than we expected and were prepared for. We heard that the line to get into the Vendor Hall on the first day was over 2 hours long and wrapped around the building! We sold out of some of our stock and had to restock each night after closing up."

Mirynth chose to booth at this year's OffKai, which also added an industry track for those who want to be up-to-date with the latest. "Offkai this year also had a bigger industry presence, which is perfect for anyone looking to network or look for career opportunities in the VTuber industry.

"Offkai Expo also has a special place in our hearts being the first convention to take a chance on us to give us our first boothing experience last year. We hope to keep growing with the convention as it grows bigger each year!"

While she missed several activities as she tends to her shop, she knows she's doing good business. "Though it was a lot of hard work, and the feeling of FOMO definitely crept in as we missed some panels and concerts, the overwhelming support from VTuber friends and fans sharing with us how they believe in our products and mission to cheer on VTubers kept us motivated throughout the entire weekend.

"Seeing their smiles and faces light up when they see merch of VTubers they love, geeking out over said VTubers with us at our booth, and seeing our penlights used everywhere around the con made everything worth it." She can't wait to be at next year's edition.

From a Panelist's Viewpoint

Red panda VTuber Pheesekai hosted a panel on VTubing and Identity, a series of discussions with its pilot video reaching 10 thousand views on YouTube.

"VTubing and Identity is something that I feel EVERYONE should care about, whether you're a VTuber yourself or a viewer," nonbinary Phee explains. "VTubing has helped me explore myself in SO many ways, and I feel it would be a discourtesy to keep this side of VTubing secret. I want others to experience the freedom and euphoria that I do from VTubing."

Expressing Identity through VTubing

Phee tells NewsDrop that these two aspects go hand in hand. "Society places so many limitations on us based on our appearances and the way we act, but VTubing takes those shackles off and lets you just be YOU, whether that's by expressing your gender identity, culture, interests, or whatever else you feel is YOU at your core."

She felt grateful to OffKai for giving her the opportunity to make people more aware of the matter at a larger platform. "My voice is only so small, and can only go so far. OffKai Expo provided my small voice with a space to amplify it.

"For OffKai Expo to not only allow, but also endorse discussion of this topic, is a clear sign that you are welcome in this community. At the end of the day, even if you run into people who may show you disdain for what you do or who you are, you will always have a home at the center of it all.

"Your main takeaway from this move on OffKai's part should be that the space is growing, and you are welcome into it, no matter your size, shape, color, gender identity, or interests. I will be forever grateful to OffKai Expo's staff for giving me, and everyone really, a space to be seen."

She encourages everyone to find their identity through VTubing. "You are unique, and you are welcomed. Feeling the need to properly express any part of your identity is simply human nature. Humans want to feel included and like they are a part of something.

"VTubing is absolutely one of those spaces that welcomes people from all sorts of backgrounds and interests. It's part of what makes the space so unique, and a bit of an oasis in a world where society maybe isn't as welcoming to change or differences.

"Though real life may be tough, and people may treat you as less than equal, you can guarantee that you'll find your home in VTubing. You just need to search, and express yourself. Those that want to be a part of your journey will stick with you, and you WILL find them in this space. Experiment, evolve, and persevere. I did it. Many others did it, and you absolutely can too!"

Interested folks who weren't able to attend the panel can look forward for another run of the panel on stream soon.

Focused on Community

Most of the fist-time attendees have a goal to connect with others in person—or in the case of Seattle-based Kenley Cheung, meet new friends. His goal to become a better VTuber and network with peers is what led him to attend last year.

"I've been attending conventions and events (Penny Arcade Expo and TwitchCon) since 2015 as a content creator. OffKai Expo has a completely different atmosphere and vibe compared to those larger events. It's an event that is focused on community and meeting up and making new friendships. I had such a great experience at OffKai Expo last year that I simply had to come back again this year," Kenley told NewsDrop via email.

He even shared with us photos from Vivi Chan the Dragon's outrageously wild "Take me to Church" panel as its photographer, with permission from the panelist.

"I learned a lot about audience and community engagement, developing innovative activities and mini-games, and how to be a better entertainer through role-play by watching a sermon that had me rolling on the floor in laughter."

A Trip Worth Remembering

"One of the things on my list to be completed before the end of the year was going to a convention – so what better convention to go to than one for VTubers? I was also looking to make friends and maybe meet someone I looked up to."

Most of us have heard of Nenkan Alice, a VTuber whose graduation was set a year after her debut — and also the same creator who's producing a song to be released a hundred years from now.

"I mostly went to panels where other VTubers shared their experiences in the industry, such as one about how to be a better entertainer, and I felt like I learned a lot of skills and mindsets of how to approach streaming."

Her first trip to OffKai gave her the confidence to meet other fellows in person, even if the thought scares her. "I'm very much a non social person, and it's incredibly anxious for me to drop the mask as a VTuber and go outside to meet people.

"There are a lot of worries in my head about dropping the facade and breaking the immersion people may have with my character, but so far the response is positive – and other VTubers who do so without worry really helped me to overcome this mental block and try something out of my comfort zone."

One moment she won't forget is the scenery she saw at the OffKai Live concert. "On the evening of the second day, I went to a concert in the main hall – and in that dark room, when the ocean of glow sticks changed into the same color and waves around with the music like waves in an ocean, it was a really amazing and inspiring moment."

Even with her limited time she has, Alice will keep the vision she saw in person. "I remember thinking to myself, that this was where the magic of VTubing lies, and I will continue to remember that moment for however long I will be here."

This year's OffKai Expo had been made colorful during the time it was being prepared, and more so when the big weekend came. The pioneer VTuber convention did well in serving its purpose to gather online friends and meet them in one place, where they share their interest and passion with each other.

VTuber NewsDrop is grateful to have been part of another historic event. Thank you for having us, and we look forward to doing this coverage again online and on-ground.

We have more photos posted on Facebook, and we'd be happy to see your reactions from there.

—with reports and assistance from Ducky and correspondent Nethyr of nullptr::live