One recent media event I went to, was the End of year 2008 Cosplay at Singapore Expo.

A cosplay is s a type of performance art whose participants outfit themselves, with often-elaborate costumes and accessories, as a specific character. Characters are usually sourced in various Japanese and East Asian media, including manga, anime, comic books, graphic novels, video games, and fantasy movies.

The event is jointly organised by members from the Singapore's largest Cosplay Community known as SGCosplayers that frequent forums like sgcafe.com. The Cosplay Competition and booths are situated inside a pay-to-enter area. Other cosplayers/people that don't want to pay can stay outside the area, and have as much fun as those that paid. Over 3000 people attended that 1 day event. From Cosplayers to photographers, the area is packed the whole day.

The target audience are anime/cartoon/manga/comic fans that appreciate the effort people put in to bring their fantasy to life. The age group can be from as old at 40 to as young as 8.

Since the event is not advertised on any mainstream media in Singapore, people know about this event through the participation in the sgcafe online forum or through friends/peers. The Cosplay isn't widely reported. It is due to the fact that it is an annual event and it only appeals to a niche group with a large amount of people. After the novelty has worn off, the Singapore's mainstream media ceased to cover the event.

To get the media to cover the event, the managers need to publicise on the more circulated media channels in Singapore. They would also need to include a unique activity/competition for this event and preferably link it to a high profile company/brand to achieve newsworthiness.

If I was the manager of this event, I would consider the event a great success. This is simply due to the HUGE turnout. People were spilling out from the whole second floor, where the event is held, all the way to the ground floor, or even outside the expo. The participants in the competition put in lots of effort in their costumes as well.

As for improvement to achieve a greater success, I would do the things I said above to attract more coverage from the media. If possible, I would find sponsors and extend the event to more than just 1 day because everyone was yearning for more after that and the turnout for the next day would be just as good or even better. If possible, I would also make it a profitable event, allowing me to make a bigger and better event the next year.

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Interviewing a Manager

A manager's job is laden with responsibilities ranging from events of utmost importance to companies as well as trivial matters between workers.

As part of the assignment, I had to interview a manager and do a "case study" on the manager I interviewed. For that, I have chosen my Dad.



My Dad is 55, an Engineering Manager in Costa Sands Resort, a branch of the ntuc club. His name is Michael Tan Hian Teong.

He as quite a few responsibilities as a manager, which includes but not limited to:

• Supervising projects
• delegating jobs
• motivate workers
• Taking care of subordinates
• Impart knowledge to workers when needed

His management style is toward the Human Relations angle, where the "interests of workers is brought before the interest of the Company".

He stressed the importance of "Having a heart for the workers", thus engaging the subordinates through deep emotional motivation making them do a job well.

My Dad explains to me that managers do suffer from many complications and problems and largely contributed by the Company rather than his workers.

One of them would be a nosy superior poking its nose into the work of managers that it doesn't understand. Other problems include, too many unnecessary reports and meetings and it takes up time that could be duly spent to work that would benefit the company. Sometimes, the company doesn't recognise enough staff for the work that they put in and the manager would have a hard time deciding who to be rewarded. Conflicts between subordinates are common as well, thus resulting in additional problems for the manager

An efficient manager would have to work towards these problems and solve them. If the company doesn't offer enough recognition towards the hardworking people then it is up to the manager to fork out some of his or her own resources to reward the worker. When conflicts arise, the manager would then have to sit the workers down, talk to them and counsel them and mediate.

A good manager would have to be observant, a good listener and to always put his or herself into the shoes of the subordinate. He or she would have to respond quickly to any problems and show genuine interest to the subordinate's family.

This concludes the interview with a manager