(Very late) AMA Convention report
I promised a full report of my convention goings about a month ago...
Better late than never I suppose.
First of all Anime-Mid-Atlantic (AMA) was held about five minutes away from my house this year so my friend and I were very lucky.
However, we only went on Friday instead of the whole three-day-weekend.
Reason? Lack of sufficent funds -_-
Anyway, we arrived at the hotel around 11 or so. (I have videos of the con, but I lost my DC cable and thus, I am unable to get the vids on my computer
).
Parking was a major pain, but was nothing compared to finding parking later that night.
It was very, VERY crowded (and the majority of the con go-ers haven't arrived yet) and directions were very confusing. Security wasn't top noch either, there were many places we could've gone without badges.
The registration line was confusing and very closed in. Not a good thing on a hot day. It was amusing to note that the majority of the con events were in a hotel room, ergo there was a bathroom at the end of the line. It's the random things that amuse me. ^.^
After registering my friend and I wandered around the con wondering what to do first. The first thing we noticed was a big line. Not knowing why there was a big line, I took a risk and decided to stay in the line before it grew bigger. Long story short, it was a line for the dealers (shopping) room. A room we all could enter (without a waiting line) after about 2. A room I waited in line for, for about 2 or so hours.
It was all good though. We made new friends, had a soda, signed up for karaoke and costume contests, watching other cosplayers get glomped (O.o) and chilled.
The dealers room and video gaming room was nothing special this year. Artist Alley was good though, lots of space and a comfortable environment (air condictioning... Ah...)
The dealers room didn't really have much, compared to nekocon's. As a smart thing, I went through the entire room to ensure what I would be wasting my money on this year. Unfortunatly I had to run around the crowded room three times before I made any decisions.
The weapon dealers weren't too special. Nothing of interest caught my eye (maybe a few keyblades here and there, but cane swords were few and far between).
There weren't any particular imported games of interest, (either way I couldn't play them, I don't have a modifed gaming system) except for panel de pon for Gamecube, couldn't afford it though. D:
Also, NO imported manga! Fail, Just... fail.
However, there was an interesting stall in the room, full of dominatrix gear and S&M. Sorry I lack pictures (I don't think you're allowed to take pictures in the dealers room, but everyone else was anyway). Face masks, spiked collars; the works.
The cosplay gear was practically nonexistant save for some cat ears and t-shirts. Makes my heart sad. The japanese gear was in stock though, everything from tea cups, to paper fans, to green tea, to yukatas and geta sandals.
And of course, the toys and trinkets were in good supply, as expected.
After the dealer's room chaos my friend and I headed for Artist alley and looked around. There were some good artists this year and beautiful art to go around. Delicious eye candy. ;)
We then met up with some friends, had the vain quest of help her find parking, and made more friends at photoshoots. Then we took a break in a viewing room. A dark, AIR-CONDITIONED viewing room (I think it was Xenosaga or something, like it mattered to me). It was insanely hot that day; walking around a small hotel, over packed with countless anime fans did not help.
My friend and I left around 5 and took a break at my house. Then we had to go to my pastor's house for a youth meeting and try to hide the fact that we spent all day at an anime con AND were planing to return.
We got back to the con about quarter to nine. My friend had to jump into her costume if she had any hope in getting to her costume contest on time. The stuggle of finding parking didn't help.
After the confusion there, we headed for the karaoke contest.
(Sorry guys, I have a video of my, seriously, bad performance; but I can't get it outside of my video camera)
Despite was seriously out-of-tune, lack of lyric knowledge, performance I had a lot of fun. And for some reason, everyone thought I was worthy of the karaoke prize of mecha soap! ^.^
(Of course, the whole crowd chant of "SOAP! SOAP!" could be taken another way entirely.)
I swear, once I figure out how to get my vids on my computer, you ALL can see my horribly bad performance.
And that was it for AMA 2008. Trust me, it hurt the whole weekend to know there was an anime convention down the street from me, but lacking the money to get in. D:
Oh well, it was great fun while it lasted.
RATINGS:
Location: A for proximity, 5/10 for small space.
Dealer's Room: 6/10, Seen better. Could've had better.
Video Game Room: 4/10, nothing special, not many games either.
Events: 7/10, Karaoke was fun but contestant order was chaotic, it needed more time. The various panels and stuff should have been more organized as well.
Artist Alley: 9/10, Well-lit atmosphere and plenty of space passes for me. However, the fact that all the artists weren't in the same room keeps this from being perfect.
Overall rating: 6/10, Wasn't anything spectacular, but it certainly made my weekend.
Photos!!:
Convention book:
Con badge:
Con swag! :D
Kirby Plushie ^.^
Custom ID badge and button, Mecha soap as a prize from karaoke (it smells like citrus)
Shugo Chara keychain. (Cost me 8 DOLLARS, believe it or not)
Bag I bought from Artist Alley. Isn't it cute?
Close-up of said bag. Like my smiling syringe button? XD
In case you're wondering it's 'Sloth' from the 7 deadly sins. I'm planning to get a whole set of the prints next con.
Ninja mask. I'm a medic ninja! XD
I bought my friend that headband for her birthday, it counts as swag.
Model Shoot J/K, Cosplay photos:
My friend and I
My other friend and I
Me wearing my Haruhi ribbons, I didn't wear them with my costume because it was too hot that day. I wore a ponytail instead.
That is who I was 'attempting' to cosplay btw.
And we will end with me "caramelldansen"