Thread by @DrJessicaLanger

We all know by now that the @vulture article on #UniversalFanCon/#Fancon is just... so far beyond wrong in every possible way, and that @DarthGeekonius has some f’ing nerve.

But I also want to talk about the finances of another con run by Thai Pham, their finance guy. (Thread)

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This is a link to the financial disclosure form for Anime Expo in LA, run by the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (a nonprofit), in 2009 while Thai Pham, #Fancon/#UniversalFanCon’s finance VP, was head of finance for the SPJA: irs990.charityblossom.org/990O/200912/94…

/2

(Remember that Pham was also head of PrideCon, which cancelled a week before and kept $15,000, and senior in TouhouCon, which promised to pay for talent’s hotel rooms and... didn’t.)

#fancon/#universalfancon

/3

Here’s Page 1 of Form 990 from the SPJA in 2009, when Pham was head of finance for them.

They moved a LOT of cash. Keep an eye on some of those numbers.

#fancon/#universalfancon

/4

Compensation schedule for the SPJA directors... ok. $50-$60k/year for 20 hours of work a week... alright, y’all.

But that’s not where it gets... overmuch.

#fancon/universalfancon

/5

It was a big con, so these big revenue numbers are still sensible. Well done, SPJA!

For now. Just wait.

#fancon/universalfancon

/6

.......whoa, now wait a minute, Thai Pham, Director of Finance for the SPJA.

$67k in legal fees on a $2 mil budget? Did someone sue you?

$66k in office expenses, SEPARATE from equipment and IT AND ‘improvements’?

$77k in ‘other’?

#fancon/#universalfancon

/7

$52k in occupancy? So what was that $67k in office expenses for??

ONE HUNDRED SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS in travel?!

$82k in depreciation? Whose cars is the SPJA paying for?

Remember: Thai Pham, of finance for #fancon/#universalfancon, was director of finance here.

/8

Here are the biggest expenses for the 2009 Anime Expo, put on by the SPJA under Thai Pham’s financial leadership: convention centre rental, AV rental, and Experient, which is an event-management company.

They spent more on travel than on the VENUE.

#fancon/universalfancon

/9

Also they spent $27,000 on a trip to Japan to ‘maintain and establish relationships with vendors’. I’m just gonna leave that there. 🙃

#fancon/#universalfancon

/10

In the end, there ended up being huge drama, apparently, with a lot of turnover in the board etc because they ‘flat out spent too much money.’ More: animenewsnetwork.com/convention/200…

With Pham as head of finance.

Sound familiar?

#fancon/#universalfancon

/11

In closing:

@DarthGeekonius, show the receipts. Show the accounts.

SHOW PEOPLE THE MONEY.

/the end.