Thinking about Otakon 2011… ver 3

So the schedule is live… and after sometime pursuing the things to do. Yes to the fact that there is so much to do, crammed in such a tight spot.. so I thought about these things to do.  These are the things I am interested in doing, and not necessarily going to be able to do.. if there is a something else for that time to do.. then I would have to drop what I write like a hot potato.

Friday

4pm-5:30 PM Makoto Shinkai (Autograph 2) (BCC 349)
7pm-9pm CHEMISTRY Concert (BCC Hall D)
11pm-12am The Truth of the Strawberry Milk, a Gintama Panel (Panel 6) (Hilton Key Ballroom 1-6) (Maybe)

Saturday

10:00 AM – 1:00 PM*** Hoshi o Ou Kodomo + Q&A (video room 5)
3-4:30pm Makoto Shinkai Q&A (Panel 6) (Hilton Key Ballroom 1-6)
10PM-1AM Saturday Night Fan Parodies (Video Room 1) (BCC Hall A)

Sunday
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM VIZ Media Panel Panel 3 (BCC Ballroom I-II)

Otakon 2010 Summary/Recap

This year I was at Otakon as press for Anime Diet, and I have to say this is the first that I have used all my powers as press to even did what I did this year. Is it a person give up of attending press panels, when there are fan panels. Probably, but what my comprehension was of this convention, and any other convention – is that there must be an agenda to keep. So this year was an interest in attending Japanese music guests events. I have been at Otakon for a couple of years now, and my interest have changed slightly with each year that I have been attending Otakon. I have always attended as much Japanese guest appearances as much as possible though.

There are way too many things to try and plan for, and with Anime Diet being only a few people this year on the East coast. There’s only so much I can do, so I mostly ran around, and saw some friends that I did.

Was only able to plan to attend one fan panel on Friday,and did some several 18+ panels at night, which I wasn’t as impressed with.Didn’t get to see Welcome to Space Show premiere, so found myself at odds with attending press conference on Sunday. Attended the major concerts – Yoshida Brothers, HMK, and then sat thru Masquerade to listen to a fantastic – only two song performance by Yoshiki and Sugizo

Mostly on Saturday, I attended four press conferences.. If I did meet people, then I met people.

On Saturday night, hung out with some friends, in their hotel room. Then on Sunday made it to Dealers Room and not Artist Alley… bummer.. I might have missed the chance of seeing one of my favorite fan artists as well.

I got a some graphic novels, some video games, and an autograph from Yoshida Brothers.

Next con I will be going for is NYCC/NYAF.

X Japan appearing at Otakon 2010

Just as the time comes for Otakon 2010, well just a few weeks before Anime Expo 2010, when this Japanese fan was all but wondering just wondering which Japanese guests are going to be Otakon this year. (drum rolls)

X Japan…. well X Japan Members Yoshiki & Sugizo are going to be appearing at Saturday’s Masquerade on July 31, 2010. I can only imagine what the lines and the news would be like for the X-Japan fans on the East coast that is. Till then, I am going to go and dig back on old cds for their music…..

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. ^_^