I knew someone at this and was able to find out about it. It was Sunday morning, Ingram got cancelled before, and most of the ‘press’ people there were never actually in Q&As; it was like the same 5-6 people in most of them, save for like Tabitha & Andrea which were more crowded.

@Background Pony #A073
 
@PonyPon
 
The Namek Saga established several things for the franchise, from memes to characters and future story arcs. Also, people’s opinions change as they get older, so considering the audience it was geared towards wasn’t them as they are now, their opinion has since become irrelevant.
 
While it’s true that views don’t equal how well-liked it is, views equate to plenty of factors. After all, general interest in the show is truly all that matters, for the most part. It’s one of the ways these companies make money: Viewership. It’s hardly the primary means, but it’s still a means, so even if everyone who watches the show hates it, they’re still watching, and that means money.
 
… Though in this case, there’s plenty who enjoy the show, and plenty who don’t, but it seems the primary means of one side dealing with the other is to pretend that the other side just doesn’t exist… shrugs

@Background Pony #A073  
Views don’t necessarily guarantee a positive reception?

@ShimmeringStallion  
Back in the 80’s, Dragon Ball Z’s Namek saga was the most viewed in Japan and since then everyone agree that it was awful, bro.

@Background Pony #46A5  
Considering Season 4 has had the highest viewer count, that’s a pretty flawed opinion.

Eh, I don’t really see what’s so special about having something signed by an MLP person. Whether they’re a VA or other staff.  
I probably wouldn’t even talk much with the staff if given an opportunity. They’re just people. They made an okay show that got a crazy unexpected following and both are kind of on a decline, IMO.

@Itsthinking  
Then the whole autograph signing makes no sense.

@Background Pony #A073  
I don’t think they expect people to know who they are.

@Masem  
If this had been “before” then at least one news site would have transcribed and posted the press conference by now. Questions, answers, comments, surprises, etc.
 
Not a single thing has been commented anywhere so it’s safe to assume that Jim’s conference was a massive flop.
 
Some people evan made fun of Jim and Josh Haber’s autograph desk, which was not only empty but people also had no idea of who they were supposed to be.
 
So yeah, taking the fandom’s support for granted is definitely not a good move.

@Background Pony #A073  
Which is why (having no idea exactly the situation), I noted that Jim does joke around on Twitter, so this could have been just before or after. Ignoring the HN mess that happened, EQD/EFN and local media outlets would likely have been there.

@Masem  
No EqD, Horse News or EfN people covering the conference isn’t normal, man.
 
Equestria Daily never skips a press conference.

@Background Pony #3A3B  
This was a press conference, it was not open to regular congoers but only to those with press badges, and thus should have been in information they got separately. (I know there was a more normal panel about the show production that Jim and other writers were on that was much better attended based on the videos I saw)

How was it described in the con program? “Jim Miller Press Conference”? “‘Big’ Jim Miller: Co-Director of MLP:FiM”? “Jimbo and his magic armpit perform Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony”?
 
@Background Pony #A073  
Odd that ratings for the fourth season were higher than ever, then.

I suppose this empty press room shows the current state of the fandom regarding the franchise: not interested anymore.
 
This is a big, flashing warning for Miller and company regarding the fandom’s opinion about their actions in the cartoon and the “special” sense of humour they dispense on the fans (Sarcastic trolling is still trolling) which shouldn’t be ignored or brushed aside.
 
Blaming their actions on Hasbro or shifting the blame on the fans isn’t an option anymore.

@Masem  
But to add, if this was the state of the press conference, and none of the “press” guests even bothered to send a person to cover it (which was already covered by the costs of their press badge), that’s really bad work on the so-called “brony” sites. I realize he’s one of the newer people (stepping in to take where Wootie left) but seriously, going by twitter he’s still very witty and knows how to put a good episode together, there was zero reason not to have people there from press sites.
 
(mind you, some of Jim’s tweets have the same ring of sarcasm of Meghan’s at times - this could have been before people came in, but I feel it isn’t the case here :/)

There was another tweet from him showing an empty autograph line (mind you, on Sunday), same with Josh Haber.
 
Part of the problem is that like all other cons that you had to get a voucher per autograph for the show staff which were $20 a pop (part of their contracts in addition to usual comp). For most, $20 is reasonable for someone that has a recognizable role (like Tabitha or Andrea) but for behind the scenes people, it’s like “ehhh, I’ll save my money”. And it’s not like these VIPs could say “Oh, screw the price I’ll sign anything for free”, as that’s likely deals set by their agents.
 
It’s a supply/demand pricing problem for all purposes. If one could get Jim’s signature for free save for the matter of waiting in line while he was available for autographs, I’ve no doubt there would be a full line.

Well, that’s fucking disappointing. Jim Miller’s name is on every goddamn MLP episode. He deserves some fan love.
 
I swear, there are people in this fandom who think Lauren produced every fucking episode all by herself and everyone else contributed nothing.

@Background Pony #2154  
…Huh? 6_o

Why are you surprised ? It’s not like the website that shant be named get out of its way to demonize the current staff as mythomaniacs…OH WAIT THEY DID !

@Itsthinking  
Tabitha St. Germaine’s panel was ridiculous at the autographs line. Andrea Libman’s was much smaller, but I figure it’s because of those who were in last year’s con had significantly less fans that were there for them in particular.

Man, this sucks butts, Big Jim is a supercool guy; I really hope he was just being silly and joke captioning a photo from a between-events room.

@Dale  
Again, would have gotten an autograph had he not been in the same room as the VAs and hence a huge line.

What? Aw, no, that’s bullshit. I didn’t even bother hitting any of the guest panels, I figured they’d all be way too packed to be pleasant at all. I wish I’d known, I’d have happily showed up.

Most of the people who watch this damn show have no fucking clue who actually makes it. It’s just Faust and then everyone else is a nameless blob.
 
Cartoon fans used to know who made the things that they loved.
 
I would have gotten his autograph and thanked him, but the line for autographs in general was too long.