Otakon - past weekend reflection
OK, now that I'm pretty much recuperated, I want to share my experiences from this past weekend's Otakon. But, for this post, I want to do something different. I am going to list the high parts and the low parts of Otakon weekend. I will start off with the low parts so I can end it on a happy and upbeat note.
The Lows:
1. Friday morning, which I'll dub "fucked up Friday", as I arrived to the BCC, my camera stopped working. I stopped to take a photo, and I just stopped working. The zoom lens got stuck and wouldn't work. I thought, NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! NOT NOW, DAMMIT!! Fortunately, there was a Best Buy 4 blocks away, and found a Nikon Coolpix digital camera. It set me back $119 plus $35 for a 2-year warranty (it came pretty handy, will explain as story unfolds), and a photo card came to a total of $171. I ran back to the BCC in time to catch Kikuko Inoue's panel. It was a nice panel. After the panel I took my new camera out to take a photo of a Sailor Jupiter cosplayer. I noticed a small brown smudge on the back of the camera, and when I turned it on, the screen was messed up. I was freaking out, and scurried back to Best Buy, sweating profusely. I explained to customer service what happened and showed them the mark. I told them I didn't drop it and the rep noticed the battery inside where I kept the camera, and figured it got scratched by the battery. Since it was on warranty, I thought they could replace it, but it didn't get into the main office system yet, and would take 2-3 weeks to fix it. AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH! I told them I don't have that time and I am on Otakon. So the main customer service rep pulled some strings and helped a brother out. I wanted over a 1/2 hour, and then one of the Geek Squad members said he had good news and bad news for me. I said tell me, I can take it. He said the bad news is that you have to walk all the way back to the photo department and pick another camera. I'm like, not bad news to me, I basically chose the same Nikon Coolpix, and THIS TIME I invested $10 for a clear cover for the rear lens so that bullshit won't happen a 2nd time. I had to pay for another $35 2-year warranty because I used the first warranty on the damaged camera.
2. I never got Kikuko Inoue's autograph!!!! SOB, SOB! Because of the line being long, they cut the remainer of the line short due to time constraint. I wanted to give her my gifts (2 Beanie Babies), so one the Otakon's Security staff took them to her and I waited by the entrance to make sure Kikuko knew they were from me. It's a small consolation, but others got shut out, so I shouldn't feel too disappointed. Kikuko loved the gifts (she thanked me from a distance) and the staffer said Kikuko was very happy.
3. I missed Kanon Wakeshima's Saturday afternoon concert!! I went back to the hotel room for a small nap and then head to her concert. But by the time I woke up, it was 4:45 and missed most of the concert!
4. The Friday night How To Draw Yuri panel was full and couldn't get in! DAMN! So I settled for the Friday Night fan parodies.
5. Found out from my fellow Delaware Anime Society members that Creepy Chris was also staying in the Days Inn, and they were hiding from him. Thankfully, I did not run into him.
And now the highs:
1. I did manage to get 2 autographs that Friday; 2 of the musical guests, Kanon Wakeshima and Becca. I got Becca's first as she autographed my black Peavey Rockmaster guitar. I gave here 2 small stuffed bears and even got a photo of her, the gifts, and the guitar (you will find it in my DeviantArt gallery). I got Kanon to autograph my guitar as well and I presented her with 2 Beanie Babies.
2. Mell's concert. It was very energetic. Backed up by a talented 5-piece band, Mell started off in a Lolita-like long dress and changed into a sleeve-less dress 3 songs later. There was a minor wardrobe malfunction when one the snaps at the rear of her top popped off, and ran off but appeared a minute later in a kimono. 4 of the band members were dressed in black while their talented and gregarious keyboardist wore a white shirt suitable for the renaissance faire (but changed to a black shirt for the last song and the encore). When Mell performed the last song, people were already lining up to the merchandising both to buy her items (i.e. - T-shirts, CD's, even shot glasses), and some called for an encore, which Mell was happy to oblige. I told one of the Security staffers I wanted Mell's autograph but didn't want to be trampled by overzealous fankids. Before the concert was over, the staffer saved me a place near the merchandise table, and I was the FIRST IN LINE for her autograph!! I also found out that they would have to buy something from the table as proof that did purchase from there, otherwise Mell wouldn't autograph anything else (even an Otakon program) other than her merchandise. The only largest size they had for the t-shirts was XL (what, no 2XL??? And $20 for a shirt??), so I ponied up $30 and purchased her CD. She was happy to autograph both the CD & the guitar. As a presented her my gifts (2 Beanie Babies), she started to autograph them, so I explained they were for her. She was surprised but very happy.
2. I got a chance to check out the Dealers Room before Naomi Tamura's autograph session. I picked up a stuffed Mokona for her (she did the opening songs for Magic Knight Rayearth, very appropriate) and presented it to her, and she signed my guitar. Now, I have the autographs of all 4 musical guests!
3. The cosplay! One of Otakon's Security staffer took me inside and I got to sit in the Special Needs/Handicap section, which was the 3rd row. I got a really nice seat for the cosplay, and was treated to 40+ entries and some nice hall cosplay costumes!! I attended the Otakon Game Show afterwards, and when I saw Creepy Chris' user name on the screen as one of the texters (HockeyKamen), I hi-tailed out of there when midnight rolled and caught a few more of the Saturday Night Fan Parodies.
4. The Sunday concerts by Becca (at 12 noon) and Naomi Tamura (at 1:30). Becca put on a very good performance. Her stage persona had the innocence of Mandy Moore, the angst of Avril Lavigne, and the raw emotion of Michele Branch. Naomi's concert was a treat to all Magic Knight Rayearth fans as she sang the opening songs ("All You Need Is Love" from the OVA, "Yuzurenai Negai" from the TV series). With her guitarist, she even performed an acoustic version of the Jackson 5's "I'll Be There", as a tribute to the late Michael Jackson. Her cover was touching and tugged many heartstrings.
5. I had a group of very good roommates this year. Jefferson from the PA branch, Michael from the LJ, Jose also from the LJ (he was my traveling partner since he lived in Bear), and Sarah, a friend of another LJ. We ordered a rollaway bed for her. At least we weren't charged for it. And what's also nice I didn't get charged for parking since I was handicapped, and they let me park in the Handicap spot in front of the hotel.
Despite the messed up Friday beginning, I managed to put that behind me and enjoy Otakon. I did buy a few anime figures from the Dealers Room (Eri Sawachika of School Rumble; Sakura Matou {in a bikini!!} and Caren from Fate/Hollow Ataraxia). I even have $80 in Traveler's Checks left over (talk about budgeting!).
I will still continue to attend and support Otakon.
I even took some great cosplay photos of Otakon. You can check them out at:
http://jpop52.deviantart.com/gallery
The Lows:
1. Friday morning, which I'll dub "fucked up Friday", as I arrived to the BCC, my camera stopped working. I stopped to take a photo, and I just stopped working. The zoom lens got stuck and wouldn't work. I thought, NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! NOT NOW, DAMMIT!! Fortunately, there was a Best Buy 4 blocks away, and found a Nikon Coolpix digital camera. It set me back $119 plus $35 for a 2-year warranty (it came pretty handy, will explain as story unfolds), and a photo card came to a total of $171. I ran back to the BCC in time to catch Kikuko Inoue's panel. It was a nice panel. After the panel I took my new camera out to take a photo of a Sailor Jupiter cosplayer. I noticed a small brown smudge on the back of the camera, and when I turned it on, the screen was messed up. I was freaking out, and scurried back to Best Buy, sweating profusely. I explained to customer service what happened and showed them the mark. I told them I didn't drop it and the rep noticed the battery inside where I kept the camera, and figured it got scratched by the battery. Since it was on warranty, I thought they could replace it, but it didn't get into the main office system yet, and would take 2-3 weeks to fix it. AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH! I told them I don't have that time and I am on Otakon. So the main customer service rep pulled some strings and helped a brother out. I wanted over a 1/2 hour, and then one of the Geek Squad members said he had good news and bad news for me. I said tell me, I can take it. He said the bad news is that you have to walk all the way back to the photo department and pick another camera. I'm like, not bad news to me, I basically chose the same Nikon Coolpix, and THIS TIME I invested $10 for a clear cover for the rear lens so that bullshit won't happen a 2nd time. I had to pay for another $35 2-year warranty because I used the first warranty on the damaged camera.
2. I never got Kikuko Inoue's autograph!!!! SOB, SOB! Because of the line being long, they cut the remainer of the line short due to time constraint. I wanted to give her my gifts (2 Beanie Babies), so one the Otakon's Security staff took them to her and I waited by the entrance to make sure Kikuko knew they were from me. It's a small consolation, but others got shut out, so I shouldn't feel too disappointed. Kikuko loved the gifts (she thanked me from a distance) and the staffer said Kikuko was very happy.
3. I missed Kanon Wakeshima's Saturday afternoon concert!! I went back to the hotel room for a small nap and then head to her concert. But by the time I woke up, it was 4:45 and missed most of the concert!
4. The Friday night How To Draw Yuri panel was full and couldn't get in! DAMN! So I settled for the Friday Night fan parodies.
5. Found out from my fellow Delaware Anime Society members that Creepy Chris was also staying in the Days Inn, and they were hiding from him. Thankfully, I did not run into him.
And now the highs:
1. I did manage to get 2 autographs that Friday; 2 of the musical guests, Kanon Wakeshima and Becca. I got Becca's first as she autographed my black Peavey Rockmaster guitar. I gave here 2 small stuffed bears and even got a photo of her, the gifts, and the guitar (you will find it in my DeviantArt gallery). I got Kanon to autograph my guitar as well and I presented her with 2 Beanie Babies.
2. Mell's concert. It was very energetic. Backed up by a talented 5-piece band, Mell started off in a Lolita-like long dress and changed into a sleeve-less dress 3 songs later. There was a minor wardrobe malfunction when one the snaps at the rear of her top popped off, and ran off but appeared a minute later in a kimono. 4 of the band members were dressed in black while their talented and gregarious keyboardist wore a white shirt suitable for the renaissance faire (but changed to a black shirt for the last song and the encore). When Mell performed the last song, people were already lining up to the merchandising both to buy her items (i.e. - T-shirts, CD's, even shot glasses), and some called for an encore, which Mell was happy to oblige. I told one of the Security staffers I wanted Mell's autograph but didn't want to be trampled by overzealous fankids. Before the concert was over, the staffer saved me a place near the merchandise table, and I was the FIRST IN LINE for her autograph!! I also found out that they would have to buy something from the table as proof that did purchase from there, otherwise Mell wouldn't autograph anything else (even an Otakon program) other than her merchandise. The only largest size they had for the t-shirts was XL (what, no 2XL??? And $20 for a shirt??), so I ponied up $30 and purchased her CD. She was happy to autograph both the CD & the guitar. As a presented her my gifts (2 Beanie Babies), she started to autograph them, so I explained they were for her. She was surprised but very happy.
2. I got a chance to check out the Dealers Room before Naomi Tamura's autograph session. I picked up a stuffed Mokona for her (she did the opening songs for Magic Knight Rayearth, very appropriate) and presented it to her, and she signed my guitar. Now, I have the autographs of all 4 musical guests!
3. The cosplay! One of Otakon's Security staffer took me inside and I got to sit in the Special Needs/Handicap section, which was the 3rd row. I got a really nice seat for the cosplay, and was treated to 40+ entries and some nice hall cosplay costumes!! I attended the Otakon Game Show afterwards, and when I saw Creepy Chris' user name on the screen as one of the texters (HockeyKamen), I hi-tailed out of there when midnight rolled and caught a few more of the Saturday Night Fan Parodies.
4. The Sunday concerts by Becca (at 12 noon) and Naomi Tamura (at 1:30). Becca put on a very good performance. Her stage persona had the innocence of Mandy Moore, the angst of Avril Lavigne, and the raw emotion of Michele Branch. Naomi's concert was a treat to all Magic Knight Rayearth fans as she sang the opening songs ("All You Need Is Love" from the OVA, "Yuzurenai Negai" from the TV series). With her guitarist, she even performed an acoustic version of the Jackson 5's "I'll Be There", as a tribute to the late Michael Jackson. Her cover was touching and tugged many heartstrings.
5. I had a group of very good roommates this year. Jefferson from the PA branch, Michael from the LJ, Jose also from the LJ (he was my traveling partner since he lived in Bear), and Sarah, a friend of another LJ. We ordered a rollaway bed for her. At least we weren't charged for it. And what's also nice I didn't get charged for parking since I was handicapped, and they let me park in the Handicap spot in front of the hotel.
Despite the messed up Friday beginning, I managed to put that behind me and enjoy Otakon. I did buy a few anime figures from the Dealers Room (Eri Sawachika of School Rumble; Sakura Matou {in a bikini!!} and Caren from Fate/Hollow Ataraxia). I even have $80 in Traveler's Checks left over (talk about budgeting!).
I will still continue to attend and support Otakon.
I even took some great cosplay photos of Otakon. You can check them out at:
http://jpop52.deviantart.com/gallery