Otakon 2009 and aftermath…

Right now thinking about how to write the con report, will link back here when I am done with the writing. So if you’re reading this. This is a customary thing I do. A con report for JLHLS and a perspective here. LOL.

Ahh what can I say about Otakon 2009, other than meeting up with my con roomies from last year, our friendship has gotten better. It is nice and strange to talk with them. Weird feeling no? Also I believe this is the year, where I met a lot of people that I would have loved to meet, via Twitter or non-Twitter. I met some of them such as TheBigN, Sh1zuka, and Moritheil. Thank you guys and gals for the experience!

Also as Press, spoke with Gia of AnimeVice some more, and definitely made some more photographer acquaintances, Peter Ng. It was great like that. I am by no means technical, and definitely need more time – that I don’t really have. Most likely would go and take a class in the near future.

For many of the events on Friday, I hung out with Omo and his friends for a lot of the events on Friday. Friday night was the concert. My god that was an amazing experience.

Saturday was a day of running around to correct what I thought I lost. That would have been a problem for my con report.

Oh and yep I must be a lucky person sometimes. When I wrote on my blog, last I said I lost my SD card ne? Well come Saturday night, I went back to the last place I thought that I last saw it, and lo and behold I found it. Of course now I am trying to think about fixing the convention images nice and pretty. That is going to be a tackle, since my photographer friends seem so swamped. Just need to get a better lens and flash, and it is off I go.

Anyhow in the mean time I went off and did other things I normally did at Otakon, which was was wait. I wasn’t as able to attend many panels this year at all. All those little favors, I truly hope that my report won’t be that bad.

Got all the autographs I would ever want this year! Three for my own fan collection, and two more for my friend. I was so surprised at getting them all!

Also broke my condition to my mother yet again. God she needs to get a grip, or is it that I have such a complex about her? Well for the same matter, I can say yet once again I HATE/love THE DEALER”S ROOM.. them with their products! That’s the whole concept of spending money and more that bites you in the back. Ah woe it is to be an Otaku or anime fan. My room’s mess is inching way and way near the bed door with my collection.

I couldn’t believe how many Secret Desires products I got this year. Will update game list to be played later. Will probably give them reviews if I ever finish them. Ahh the desires of a shopaholic, and the fact that I feel the need to spend spend spend.. on things that I can get in Japan or on 18+ things. My other friend had to take back a One Piece POP figure I got. Should I do a convention haul?

Roughly I got four new PC video games, One Piece POP figure, two books from Artist Alley, bookmarks, and earrings from Artist Alley.

Now back to New York City, and real life comes crashing in. Need to go and do my Japanese homework for lessons, and do a lot of other tasks. Edit some more papers, work on writing the con report, and prepare the concert pictures, which I am relying on my photographer friend, who is very busy by the way. Maybe I can ask my other photographer acquaintances, who lent me a flash and an extra SD card during the con, but I feel kinda bad to ask him, when he might be doing some other things. Argh! Well MELL concert pictures and Tamura concert pictures are going to take a slight bit of time. So those who would want to see them, better wait.. >_<

Otakon 2009- Day 1 and Prior

I arrived to Baltimore via Bolt Bus with a roommate acquaintance, which has free Wifi, will be leaving on it by myself on Sunday. Hopefully I will be able to sneak past my mom some items I shouldn’t have got in the Dealers room. What can I say, penalty next month then.

Oh well another year at Otakon, what is that word again? I probably should use this type of phrasing to being my official Otakon report. This year so far as I saw is that the crowds and lines are actually larger, it is actually quite nerve wrecking. This year is my second year as press, and it is a grain of salt.

Grain of salt, they have great guests, but really bad on the scheduling. I was trying to get for Rai Becca’s sign and there is only one chance, and I lost it. I did get to get Kikuko Inoue and Mell’s autograph today. This year there is a lot of concerts, and I am sure if you look at Anime Vice, Japanator or all the other blogs, then you’ll see something.

My legs, and arms are hurting in some muscle group, and I am in shock actually.

Right now it is about 4am in the morning, and I am trying to get over something that really upsetted me, in the last two hours when I realized that I lost it.

For people who follow me on twitter. My twitter is at the moment private, and for Otakon, I am actually twittering on another name, that is my organization that I am writing for.

Otakon Schedule – initial planning..

My blog will probably turn into an Pre-Otakon planning ground. This is my third year going, and first time that I didn’t plan on the moment (ie when I get to Baltimor). Got inspired to plan my schedule after seeing Omo’s planning. Lucky him with getting to go Tokyo. I still miss that city after going there in May. Got a slight headache from trying to scroll the page from left to right.. why can’t they have an option where you can check off things you want to do from a damn stationary checklist?

At the moment, these are what events I am going to most likely do at Otakon:

The first set of tables is on Friday. I will be giving up the time to go see VAMPS, but I think the opportunities to see a seiyuu is much more important. Will have to see on the spot if I want to go to Otakon Fan Parodies or not. Also not sure about fan panels. 18+ panels I am slightly iffy on, but because I am actually in a closer hotel this year, shall have to see. Not included in the events are Twitter Meet up on Friday evening before MELL’s concert.

Wondering at the moment if Naomi Tamura can autograph my artbook for Magic Knight Rayearth. Ahh most likely not, but cool swag for her I don’t have.. still I think I have okay items for the other guests to sign. I hope to god that I will be able to get Becca and Kanon Wakishima’s autographs – for a friend.  I can say now that I am not really familiar with their works, but because my friend asked for autographs, must attempt.. still this year’s Otakon is going to very likely be a memorable year as well. ^_^

Otakon 2009 Prelimiary Event Schedule released!

Whoa.. I just found out about Otakon’s Preliminary Event Schedule and man is this year’s autograph scheduling sad or what.. >_<

It can probably lessen wait time, but if my eyes aren't deceiving me – Kikuko Inoune is only going to be autographing for one day. MELL, Becca, and Wakishima Kannon will be doing autographs after their concerts or so. Oh and because VAMPS are going to be in the room prior to the Opening Ceremonies, they’re going to empty the room half an hour before. I don’t believe this would conflict with press. I wonder if they’ll do it like last year? Because of the stress of there being a duo of famous rock singers, and the fangirls. I am actually thinking about the relative calmness of the Opening Ceremonies afterward. >_<

I somehow feel my face kinda pinching up in stress.. at the wait and running between these autograph sessions, and trying to go to other panels.

Preparations for Otakon 2009

Okay, hotel room check – months ago, with roommates from last year. Triple check!

Bus ticket check check..

I don’t know if I will be able to locate my DS Lite in time, oh well I never was able to get into those huge group things at Otakon. I still have my beloved laptop and PSP though.

Also placed the things to get autographed somewhere I can remember it.

Must remember to go out tomorrow and purchase Sharpies from Staples. Go and hit the three bookstores for Becca’s cd and definitely go and check out B&H for a camera bag.. with an extra battery to purchase.. must find the SD card I purchased when I was in Japan. ^_^

Cosplay and the beginning of Otakon 2009 waiting..

Technically as a New Yorker, I should have started to count my Summer convention season since Anime Next, but nah, it would have to be Otakon. Let’s see my convention schedule mostly for this year and last, was New York Comic Con, Book Expo, New York Anime Festival, and that’s about it. So my only out of state convention is Otakon. It is actually a goal of mine to eventually go to Anime Expo and Anime Boston, but who knows. This year’s Otakon is my third time going, and second year as press, plus with a Twitter Meet up, that is pretty exciting.

Also because this year, they’re having MELL!

So I am set for my waiting for her appearances at Otakon. Well will also try and see Becca and Wakishima Kannon. But yep.. am waiting.

Now what does this got to do with cosplay?

I really appreciate good cosplay, and as an amateur photographer. I like to take cosplay photography. I really wish that I can also have the time, patience to even get my act together to dress up. I have two cosplay friends that I look up to, and at the moment – even though they are not in the states, both of them at the land of the rising sun at the moment. I always think about the day I will cosplay as Arale Normaki!

Still I alwas think about a pesdo-cosplay, it worked slightly last year, but the attempt for kinda lack luster. Still I appreciate good cosplay tips, and I found it while reading through my 1000+ Google Reader.

Cosplay Body Tips – covering that Tattoo

Cosplay Survival Bag

Interesting reads for a would be cosplayer! There are some more blog entries about cosplay tips at Otaku Review.. ^_^

Thought on con etiquette on recieving a Japanese celebrity guest…panel or autograph?

Okay the picture might not fit, but this is a thought that struck me, I remember reading this as a thread on the Otakon Bulletin Board.

The background is this, Japanese seiyuu’s, musical guests are invited and attending American conventions. This is a great treat for con goers… and Otakon has delivered.

Japanese guests, or convention planners would really appreciate fans going to their panels, as oppose to waiting for their autograph. Perhaps that’s an ungrateful sign?

Sure you can auction off the signed items, but if you are a fan you keep it and chalk it up as a positive con going experience.

My impression is this…. attend one of their panels, and then wait like hell for their autograph session, in hopes that you can attend both. You can meet and say thank you to the guest, with the assistance of the interpreter. It is more of a personalized experience than trying to stand out from the crowd in the panel.

I found my experience attending autograph sessions a little hectic, and trying, as with the chance to get the autographs get cut, if you arrive too late for that event, and my pet peeve on waiting and lines.

Still I would probably implore people to choose to attend events, when the guests are going, so that is a way to show support.. and then thank them in person, upon going to get their autographs.. as well as bringing them a token gift for their return home.. I believe it is a good reminder for Japanese guests to realize that they have an international following..  So that is my resolution for prepping for Otakon this year…. get something more thoughtful for a guest that I may be a fan for.

Proper personal closure to Otakon 2008

All right, I realize I completely forgot about putting a perspective of Otakon here as I wrote in previous Otakon 2008 posts. Well in a month being overdue and with Fall semester underway and my posts on NYAF, why beat the dead horse of Otakon 2008? Well because I am feeling like jumping on the bandwagon and doing a final personal perspective post for Otakon 2008 – so there.

I got lazy because, one I was so wiped out by the con and two I wrote a two-part con report for JLHLS – which a friend called it dry and so I was feeling kinda bad. Now as a recap and as a memory cap, I am writing here – one month late. I attended the convention as press, so my philosophy was that if I were to write a report – have to report facts. I didn’t want to introduce emotion to things like that.