Maid Cafe Improvement feedback + Poll

[Hikaru0]

Ok, trying to get an idea of what you guys would like in the cafe this year.

First of all, I heard a few complaints from attendees (and guests O_O) about my maids not calling anyone 'master/goshujin-sama' or 'mistress/oku-sama'. In the years since the cafe began, I've left this as an entirely optional aspect for the maids as I understand calling a stranger 'master' or 'mistress' can be very uncomfortable. I'd like some feedback though, if any of you are really missing this aspect.

Secondly, I'd like to know what desserts you guys found the best in the cafe so I know what to order again this year. Sadly, we still cannot bring in outside food so I cannot have asian pastries or candies as many of you expressed interest in having last year. If you remember the name of the dessert you ate, that is great! if you can't remember, do your best to describe it and I will try to make note of it.

Thanks again to those of you who return every year!

[Hikaru0]

Reviving this thread---

Really sad that no one gave food feedback. I hope no one complains when I pick out what the food lineup is for this year then...


Anyway, my new question for you, the attendee. Would you enjoy the addition of games to the Maid Cafe? It was one complaint I recieved last year that there wasn't any games, so I am asking to see if there is an interest. These would be short, fast, short-attention span games that the maids would play with you after you have had your snacks.

If you would like to play games, by all means suggest a few! The Maid Cafe is made to cater to your interests!

[KaiserBasara]

What kind of food/treats did you have last year?

What day and time is Maid Cafe registration in the artists' alley?

I have never visited the maid cafe, but I am a fourth year con-goer.

Some ideas for games are Hungry Hungry Hippos, Guess Who, Connect Four, Chinese Checkers, and playing cards.

[Chamelion]

Sorry I didnt see this till now.

Two years ago; Sushi was an option. I didn't see that as an option last year, and missed it.

However, the expense of doing sushi over desserts is vast, I bet, and wasn't too disappointed.

I must say however, cheesecake and sushi DO go together,

Dessert wise; standard cheesecake is always a winner. Not everything should be chocolate, of course. Perhaps have toppings like blueberries and strawberries as options to some desserts.

Overall; keep it cost effective to keep the cafe every year, even if sacrifices have to be made.

A selection of teas, as well as sodas would be nice.

As for the Master/Mistress thing; these are volunteers, not paid staff, so it should first and foremost be FUN and comfortable to do the serving, let alone being a guest.

Also, it would be nice to have an hour separate the OP ceremonies and the first hour with guests at the Maid Cafe, to take into account delays like happened last year. This way, the guests will be able to move to the cafe without rushing and enjoy the full hour with those who attend.

C

[Chamelion]

Games:

Honestly I'd be against this; simply because of the long line that I see every year and having to wait to get in to have a seat to begin with.

Getting a seat, placing an order, eating at a decent pace, conversing with those at the same table takes enough time as it is.

Not that I want to be a killjoy, but I'm trying to think of everyone getting a fair chance to come in and meet the guests.

C

[tomikione]

I second the hour delay actually. XD
I'm really looking forward to this and I want to go, but if it's right at 4 pm my whole group of people and I can't attend (stupid school. >/).

As for desserts:
Cakes, Cheesecakes, Brownies, Cookies. <3
Just the basic stuff that's easy to make (cause they're so delicious! <3).

I'm open to everything else (but I have allergies toward shell fish for one. =/ Should I be notifying someone when I get there if I'm not ordering like a cake or something?)

As for the Mistress/Master idea:
Cute, but impractical. Ma'am-Sir should be fine I think (that and it saves people the awkwardness of calling someone that, or being called that).
(That, and if people get used to being called that, they won't have such high expectations of being called something different and not getting angry if not called that.)

[NemesisKaiser]

For the first topic, I think sir/ma'am is because of tomikione's post, that it's too different for people to really get used to it.

Deserts-wise? I like the ideas you had at last year's cafe, but thought the idea of sushi and/or more pastry-like dishes that are fairly popular in Japan, but both of those are more expensive. In my experience though, the fancy pastries aren't unreasonably so, so you might give it a thought.

The last topic is open for me. I'm not in school or working right now and am likely to be only getting 2-3 hour naps over the course of the con, so whenever works for me. xD

Looking forward to this year's Maid Cafe implementation. 8D

[KaiserBasara]

Games:
Honestly I'd be against this; simply because of the long line that I see every year and having to wait to get in to have a seat to begin with.

Also, it would be nice to have an hour separate the OP ceremonies and the first hour with guests at the Maid Cafe, to take into account delays like happened last year. This way, the guests will be able to move to the cafe without rushing and enjoy the full hour with those who attend.

Isn't the maid cafe in the evening, at about 6 PM? Or are you talking about the $10 signups at the artists' alley?

What time are the signups in the morning? How many tickets are available? If you sign up, do you still have to wait in a long line for the maid cafe in the evening?

As for food, I request Tamagoyaki (Japanese fried eggs), sushi, and desserts that involve chocolate or double chocolate.

[Chamelion]

Well, for anyone who purchases a $10 ticket or got the platinum badge, last year's cafe took place after opening ceremonies, which started I believe like 15 minutes-20 minutes late... and the guests at OC had to then walk over to the cafe to be a part of hte first hour for the meet and greet.

Something that an hour between could easily remedy.

C

[tomikione]

If I'm not mistaken, It went like this:
Opening Ceremonies at 3, Maid Cafe Platinum or Ticket at 4 and then everyone else at 5 to 6. =/
I think the hour would be SOOO beneficial to everyone (even a half an hour. =/).

Not only does it rush the guests, but it'll rush everyone who has a ticket to get in there to.
It seems more beneficial to everyone to have a delay in between. =/

And KaiserBasara, to answer your question about Chamelion's comment,
I think Chamelion is talking about the games taking to long and making it impractical for the rest of the people, since there's always a long line.
(If you buy the ticket, you get an hour to be with the guests without having to wait, unless of course there is a delay, at least that's what I've gotten from everything. =/ )

[Chamelion]

The $10 ticket or platinum badge gave those with them first in line to be in the cafe, during hour #1 when the Guests are ensured to be there. After the first hour, it's free to go to the cafe, but no promises of a guest or guests still being in the cafe by that time.

Allowing games to be played, well, that means less people who paid to be in there during the first hour will have that chance.

Now, if there's a really quick game, something that maid does with each table in turn to just spice up things for a minute or two, that would be a nice addition, sure.

SHe could play rock-scissors-paper with the table and after as many rounds as it takes to get a winner, announce to the room his or her meal is free *its all free, of course, just a game*

Dunno... being oddly creative at 2am here.

C

[KaiserBasara]

Hikaru, does the cafe open at 4 PM, or 6 PM?

Hungry Hungry Hippos and Connect Four should be quick games. Also, there is a speed mode on Chinese Checkers.

They also have quick versions of some board games they sell in stores for people on the run.

[tomikione]

SHe could play rock-scissors-paper with the table and after as many rounds as it takes to get a winner, announce to the room his or her meal is free *its all free, of course, just a game*
C

LOLS.
I like that idea.
It'd be entertaining to watch and hear (not to mention with the speed of that game it wouldn't limit them. =3)

EDIT:
O,O,
Now that I think of it I just remembered a quick game that I played once.
When I went to Bubba Gump Shrimp two years ago, one of the fun things the waitress did was play this speeded up Forest Gump Trivia with my table.
She told us it was one side of the table vs. the other, and she asked us at the most maybe 4 questions fast, and she would make a dinging noise after so many seconds when our time was up for answering it.
The maid's could do something like that, but with anime and manga?
(There's so many popular anime's, a few little random trivia questions wouldn't hurt. Plus, if done right, it wouldn't limit the maid's time for the other people- and the incredibly long line.)

[KaiserBasara]

Maybe some of the quiz questions can also cover classic anime like Otaku no Video, Ranma, and Zeta Gundam?

Maybe questions about good Japanese role-playing games like Shin Megami Tensei, Etrian Odyssey, or .hack?

[Raiji Magiwind]

First off, for the greeting, usually ma'am/sir is fine with me, though if the maid is dealing with a person in cosplay and happens to know the cosplay they are doing, they could maybe have some fun by addressing them as there character they are cosplaying... so like say if a table has say two D-Gray Man cosplayer's and they are dressed as Lenalee Lee and Yu Kanda, the maid could have some fun and address them as Lee-sama and Kanda-sama...
It would be fun to see that sort of interaction, especially if a person enjoys getting into there cosplay, and maybe playing out the characters a little.

As for food, I'm not to picky, as long as there's at least one item on the menu thats chocolate... or even a cheesecake, but have different topping options, like plain, topped with say a strawberry or other fruit topping, or even say drizzled with a little caramel or chocolate syrup. That way you can have a simple cheesecake instead of several types and then add the topping to order, so theres less waste there.

The idea of a delay does sound a little good, if not a hour, then at least maybe 30 minutes, so as some said, the poor guests, if anything, don't have to potentially run down the fans to get to the other end of the hotel for the Maid Cafe Meet and Greet, not to mention, it might give 'em a quick moment to stop by the restroom to freshen up a little or even hit the can....>>
Would also help any folks who have a M&G ticket get a little time to make there way over to the cafe as well, and barrel down fellow congoers...>>, especially if they hit up the Opening Ceremonies first... and then sorta follow the guests also going towards the cafe...

As for games, can't really help there, though I'm also the type where the interaction with the Maids and the guests is enough for me...though a game could be a plus depending on the game...