Celebrity guests are a perennial favorite at any convention. After all, who doesn't look forward to meeting their favorite actors? What about hearing stories from figures like Laura Bailey or Vic Mignogna, as they combine spirited impersonations with tales from their experiences in the booth?

It falls upon the guest coordinator to secure appearances from the stars that drive fans to the gates. There are a number of factors that go into each contract, from transportation costs, to room and board, and even fees for showing up. Also, some guests are in higher demand than others. "It is a shot in a dark to retrieve some high end [guests]," remarks Thai Nam Pham, coordinator for Anime Expo's Guest Selection Committee.

In a guest coordination position, the relationship begins with the first contact. "You have to be patient and courteous with the guests that you want to obtain," comments Nam Pham. This sometimes proves to be more difficult than one expects, since there is often a "delayed response of talking with representatives from Japan... they are 17 hours ahead of us."

Even before the guests arrive, guest relations members are hard at work "ensuring that all the needs fo the guests are known prior to the convention," according to Nam Pham. This includes guarantees of hotel room meals and other ameneties (like airport pickup). The ultimate goal is to "make sure that their stay is a comfortable and fun as possible."