Sorry, I've not been writing more lately, but it's pretty quiet on the Tom Front at the moment. The next thing big thing for me will be Boston and I've also decided not to push fan drama and stress out to everyone else. I guess that it is a good thing, but It does leave me writing less about life. I enjoy writing though and I think I need to do some more of it.

I got asked recently why I pay for con badges when I'm not staffing them and that got me thinking about Fandom Philosophy. I could probably use my status or connections to never pay for a con badge (except maybe at a con or two). The only place I would accept a Free badge for is SDCC or Baltimore Comic Con. I also know that my employer expects me to be the best representative of the company possible (not doing things like fainting at the sight of Scarlett Johansson).

As I tried to explain to the person who asked this, It is that I don't feel (different than thinking) that I should owe people favors. I would rather build trust and loyalty with people through my actions than by asking for favors. It's because of that trust that has earned the level of responsibility inside of Anime USA I have. I feel that Heinlein is correct in this sense that There is no such thing as a Free Lunch.

My friend when posed with that point said just look at every woman on earth. They get free lunches all the time through things like Dating. Men are trying to build trust with a woman that they hopes turn to Romance and hopefully marriage. Man is trying to find someone who can be the person who will spend the rest of their lives with and be a family. That trust is a much more difficult level of trust than fandom's sense of trust.

Paying for conventions as a fan also keeps me engaged in trying to bring the best to the convention I run. I'm much more observant of things when I attend a convention than I am working a convention. I think I can take the time to slow down and notice things. I can't just pop into a concert for 20 minutes when I'm working it. Trying to keep watching the stuff also keeps giving me ideas for guest and events to do. It keeps me engaged in the fandom. If you aren't engaged in the fandom, How do you make it better?

This is the first time in a while I've done an con/festival report. There is something different about this festival. It was the first time I didn't feel stressed in an event runners role for a while. I really got to observe and just have fun.

Note: What I'm seeing is coming from a fan's view and not as the Director of Guests of Anime USA. 

This is one of those weekends where I have reignited my passion for fandom and being a fan in it. I have been told for quite a while that you need to be more professional to be an event runner (Specifically an anime con runner). This has led me to be more judgmental and just trying to find opportunities to be better con runner. I hadn't had fun at an event since Otakon 2007 (the year I didn't gofer due to San Diego Comic Con).

MAGFest is an environment where you can still run into people and have long conversations or play games. Through some texts I was able to get in a lot of Munchkin in with friends. I finally got to play X-MEN Video game (Something I didn't do back in MAGFest 8). I had lots of decently long conversations and some meals with people I haven't talked with in a while.

The staff do care even though some people don't show it (Paul the chair for example). If I could be as chill as Paul and make things happen like he did, I would be a better person for it. There was no major problems and the hotel staff really seemed to embrace the festival. They have a very simple mantra and that is don't piss off the hotel.

The space was really well laid out I think. They used only two of the Exhibit Halls, one ballroom (place has four ballrooms) and about 6 meeting rooms. Even though they used the third floor of the venue, it was a lively event on all levels. Many panel rooms were filled. The exhibit halls had people doing things nearly all of the time including the liveliest Tabletop Gaming area I had ever seen.

I really enjoyed the concerts. The sound wasn't super insanely loud in their concert venue. I almost didn't need earplugs and I was in the front half of the room. They gave 2,400 people an amazing experience with only six front facing speakers. Earthbound Papas was an amazing concert and it makes me want to bring them back to DC. They really rocked the house in a unique style of Video Game Rock.

Nobeo Uematsu (Composer for the music of the Final Fantasy Games) really enjoyed and embraced the spirit of MAGFest. He was out around the area accepting everything from getting his picture taken to having a six pack of Samuel Adams given to him. His presence meshed in with the festival because he wasn't hidden from the festival goers. He was hanging around at various places throughout out the event. A lot of the other guests embrace this event and it's spirit. I got Wes Johnson (VG Voice Actor and In house voice of the Caps) autograph by seeing him on Sunday and asking.

This is probably the first time ever I have left an event where I don't want to help it become a better event. My viewpoint on things and there's wouldn't work very well. This is the event I want to come back to as an attendee no matter what. This is where the fans still matter. That is I think the highest compliment I can give to any event in fandom.

Life has gotten way too busy for me with Anime USA and work. I will be honest on this front. I don't think I will be doing much more on Livejournal because I do alot of my thinking on Facebook. I will try to do some longer form posts on LJ, but I think it won't be possible for at least the next month. I haven't dropped off the face of the earth, but life is just making me make some choices with my time.  Hope I can talk more about the cool I'm helping to make happen soon.

This year I am going to be a responsible fan and conrunner and finally shift to staff. That doesn't mean I don't want to do other things at Otakon. I still want to give you 10 or so things to do that you may enjoy and can tweet and facebook on for me. These are some of the cool underrated things that Otakon is bringing fans this year. The stuff that could easily bring empty rooms without fan promotion. These are 10 or so cool things that will make you a better fan and will be the things that ANN will probably be talking about after con. THey are in no particular order.

Angel Scandys Q and A- This is a new show that has virtually no promotion behind it yet because it hasn't been released. This is from Noboru Ishiguro and Artland studios (Macross). The Main cast are all unknowns. This may be a moe show, but it does have a few neat things. This could get a big buzz boost from Otakon before it's Fall or Winter release. Anime has no buzz or talk until right before something comes out. I hope this is the wave of the future for anime where this stuff is previewed and marketed more to build an audience on both sides of the pacific. Friday 3 PM Panel 5

Kylee Concert-An American artist who sings in Japanese and has just broken on this side of the country with her appearance in May on Good Morning America. She has performed songs for Heroman and Gundam Unicorn. From what I have heard, she seems to be an upbeat Katy Perry type without the highly sexualized image. Q and A Saturday 4 PM Panel 2. Concert Sunday 12:30 PM Main Events (BCC).

Full Metal Alchemist: Sacred Star of Milos: This is the new FMA movie less than a month after it's Japanese release. Set in the lost land of Milos, Ed and Al must find the truth behind Alchemy in this land. The director is going to be there to talk about the film after it. Saturday 5:30 PM Video 1.

Anything Makoto Shinkai-One of this generations auteurs in anime. He is bringing his newest movie for it's first time subtitled. He started out as a one person animation machine on a Mac and still runs a fairly small studio. He has been compared to Miyazaki, but I think that is an unfair comparison of this guy. This is probably the biggest non-musical guest for this year. His new film debuts at 10 AM Saturday in Video 2 and Q and A panel is Saturday 3 PM in Panel 6. 

Live From Tokyo Documentary-A very good documentary on the music scene in Japan right now. It is facing the same issues that the American market is the short answer for those who want to ask now. From seeing the trailer, it looks like a very interesting way to start your Otakon weekend. Friday 9 AM Video 4

Magical Madoka Q and A and Screening-This popular in fandom magical girls show will be making it's US premiere there. A 14 year old girl encouters Kyube who can grant one wish. The caveat of that wish is that she must become a fighting Magical girl and have to fight witches. Friday 5 PM Video 5.

Stephanie Sheh-The only American Voice actor that I will be putting on this list. She has done alot of things in anime including Yui in K-on, Eureka in Eureka 7 and Audrey in Gundam Unicorn. She doesn't make a lot of convention appearances in the area. The last one to my knowledge was T-Mode 2008. Friday 3 PM Panel 6

Maseo Mauryama-I think I have gushed enough on Madhouse for people to realize how much I enjoy their work. His Q and A should have some significance according to Jim Vowles of Otakon. I think we get the release date for Satoshi Kon's last picture there. We shall see what news comes out of it. Saturday 10 AM-11 AM Panel 2.

Quick- A korean film that is debuting days after it's original country release. Basically a Delivery guy is delivering bombs and he tries to stop from blowing up the city. High drama and action sequences are expected. This sounds like what Michael Bay should be, but never is. He is usually sound and fury signifying nothing. Friday 7 PM Video Room 5

Anime's Craziest Deaths and Anime 101-Daryl Surat does great panels (Charles Dunbar is taking a panel year off), so anything of his is worth the hour of time to give. Go see them and become a better educated fan at the end of the weekend. Check schedule guide for these panels.

Other things I would go to due to their awesomeness:

-Kekko Kamen (Everybody should see something of Go Nagai once)
-Anime Amazons-Panel about strong females in anime.
-Tiger and Bunny Panel
-Steins Gate Screening
-Otakon Game Show Quiz

I hope to actually see some of you at Otakon this year, but I make no promises on this front for a variety of reasons (mostly because I don't know my schedule). I am not even sure I will be able to see anyone at the con even at con tables. 

I had a blast on vacation from Saturday to Thursday. It was what I really needed at this point in time. I am energized for the rest of the convention season ahead. I do know I want to do a vacation again and sometime early in 2012. A first thought is to do Anime Central in Chicagoland at the end of April, 2012. Then, put a few days after it for Giordano's along with the Cubs or White Sox. 

I do have all of my photos up on my Facebook. www.facebook.com/media/set/ is the link for my Photo Set of the trip. I think you will find a good number of proof I can relax photos in there. I think I have gotten to a point where I can be in photos again for the first time in eons. The highlights of the trip for me was riding Haunted Mansion in the Magic Kingdom, riding a roller coaster for the first time and loving every second of it (Revenge of the Mummy at Universal) and finally seeing MuppetVision 3D. Muppet Vision 3D was some of the best 3D I have ever seen. Most of today's 3D films don't immerse you, they just make it shaprer. Muppet Vision actually drew me in and I felt like the wall was being broken.  

Another highlight for me was going to Medieval Times for the first time ever. I won't debate historic accuracy of Medieval Times. I still enjoyed it. It was a great show along with a pretty good dinner. I had enough leftovers to feed me for another dinner. The show was colorful and probably as much fun as any renaissance festival. Show was done in a brisk two hours.  

I didn't get a chance to get to this until Memorial Day because of a busy work week (happening more and more lately) along with cleaning my room out in preparation for painting while I am away next week. I am going on Vacation starting Saturday, so don't expect much posting until June 11th or 12th. This will probably be the first time where I will purposefully not have the netbook. If Mom wasn't expecting a daily call, I would be leaving the cell phone at home. Orlando should be a blast and hopefully a lot less stressful for me than the emergencies and cons of the first half of the year have been. 

I do have some fun to show you all. I had a very busy last saturday in my life.  I have pictures of the Preakness up on Photobucket at s68.photobucket.com/albums/i11/tstidm/Preakness%20pictures/. Preakness was a great time. I didn't win any thing at the race (should have bet Shackleford for a nice Exacta), but I had a blast of time. I didn't have a Black Eyed Susan because the glasses with drinks sold out for the first time in several years. There isn't my proof I can relax picture because it was too dark for people to see my face. 

I also saw the 40th Anniversary Amtrak train that day also. s68.photobucket.com/albums/i11/tstidm/Amtrak%2040th%20Anniversary%20train/ for proof of that. There is alot of Pictures of cars, old Amtrak schedules and lots of things train nerds love. Things I wanted to share with some people who aren't big Facebook fans. I hope kevin_standlee gets a chance to see the train when it comes to his neck of the woods. 

I do have some fannish thoughts and maybe some controversy about what I am thinking fannishly right now. I may just save that for a point later this week or while I am away. 

 I have a lot to say (some nerd wise, some not) after three weeks off. Work hit me hard with the arrival to customers of Free Comic Book Day books. This leads somehow to more issues on that front (for a variety of reasons) along with covering someone else's work last week made it very busy.  

I did see Thor and was entertained by it. I won't say this was the best superhero film I have seen, but it is the best since Dark Knight . The one thing that it did feel too much like was a tease. They could have covered Thor's origin in about 20 minutes of an Avengers movie. I hope the Captain America film isn't as much of a tease as the Thor movie. I do think it will at least be better than the Green Lantern film. There is something that doesn't seem real and believable as the comics do.  I can't quite figure out what though.

Anime USA work is coming along well even though I can't say much more about it yet. I am making progress on that front and that I am glad on. Along with a very hush, hush project that I hope to speak more about very soon.

I have finally decided to take a real vacation instead of a convention vacation. It is why I am canceling going to Animazement in two weeks. I hope to finally get to that next year. I am going to Orlando from June 4th to 8th. I need the break badly and my goal is to leave all tech at home except the Cell Phone at home.  That is right the plan is no Netbook and the IPOD touch is for music and video only, not communicating.  I am planning to take a sleeper for the way there and to force myself to do nothing on the first day of the trip after I get there. Whether this helps me recharge batteries, I will let you know.  

T-MODE was a mess in many ways.  Also, people had lots of fun at it. This is going to be a conflicted viewpoint and I admit. There is a part of me that wants to rip it hard (and I did earlier today and regret it). There is a part of me that thinks I had fun and that is all it matters.  

Here is what went wrong this year:
-No Top Level guests (Voice Actors or even a well known regional band like The slants) or guest that could build community (Onezumi, A well known Webcomic in the Northeast). 
-The Program Books didn't get finished until Friday evening and were ready on Saturday morning. The schedules were out on time.
-Lots of Empty slots in the programming. They ran too many programming rooms. The only rooms that were filled with programming was the video room and one panel room all of the time. Most of the others had a couple of hours of programming a day
-Lack of promotion in general. In order for a small con to grow, you have to do big things like bringing guests that don't come to other cons. They started to be better on this last year, but had problems with this due to the short time frame. 
-Paying attrition for the event because you don't fill a room block. The website wasn't updated until January with Hotel Information was part of it, but not having time to promote hurt the most.

Here is what went right this year:
-Had fun because I decided not to make this a 24/7 work con like last year.  I played Munchkin over the weekend.
-I also had the most unusual moment of my fannish life. I did go to Hooters to watch the Caps beat the Rangers. The ladies had more fun at Hooters 
-The conrunners who try hard to make things happen. Cory the head of security and Colette the hotel liaison.This gives me the greatest hope for the future. 
-Staff did eat at least two meals a day. 
-People had fun in spite of it.
-Saw some great costumes like JEssi From Geeks Next Door cosplaying as White Mage.

This lead to lots of quiet rooms and about a total attendance (including artists, staff and the local guests they did bring) of maybe 175 people.   It some key unfilled positions. I also realize that people still had fun those that I talked to about it. I think those people would have even more fun, if it was well run.

I believe that if you put quality behind an event (with Marketing) people will come and be loyal to it. I also think that a small con can work in a big market. Capclave (DC's Literary con www.capclave.org) is viable as a 350 person event in the same hotel. Intervention (A web life and webcomics convention www.interventioncon.com) draws about 400 people in that venue in it's first year.

 If things get better, I can come back next year. I also can see myself not coming back and that disappoints me because I believe that a under 1,000 person convention can build community more than Otakon. 

Even though Sakura Matsuri felt closed in this year, I still had a blast last Saturday. I need to get more pictures of the festival. Next year, the National Cherry Blossom Festival is going to be five weeks. Sakura Matsuri is usually the end piece of it. It may be the middle (they don't have it on Easter), but I think it will still be on the end next year. We will find out about August or September when they usually announce the events.

There are two conventions that are doing some very unconventional (no pun intended things) in a few weeks. I will be at one of these con experiments, T-MODE, this weekend as a security person on Friday and Saturday (maybe Sunday, if I can phone in the report for AUSA staff meeting). I will be talking more about that on Monday.

The one I want to talk about today is Animazement by making some very mission focused choices that could backfire on them in major ways. First of all, they chose very traditional Shimasen musical guests (Umekichi, Kanako Mikado and Dorami Umenoya). My focus may be domestic guests, but I do realize that the mainstream (and hardcore of the fandom) may not be traditional Japanese musical fans. Even though I deeply believe in the educational mission of Anime USA, I wouldn't have the heart or guts to even try it.

The other thing I strongly disagree with and would bet a BBQ dinner at the Pit in Raleigh on it backfiring. They are dedicating the convention Satoshi Kon and showing some of his anime in main tent (that I don't disagree with). I disagree with bringing the wife of Satoshi Kon to the convention. They are bringing his wife, Kyoko Kon, to the convention as a guest of honor.

Let me explain on this point. I lost my uncle earlier this year due to cancer. To support Relay For Life (ACS fundraising event) charity auction is why I made it to Katsucon even though I had been home a total of 16 hours after seeing him for the last time. I understand what Mrs. Kon is going through the stages of grief, sadness and loss that she is going through. I don't think a widow or family member should be drugged through those emotions at a convention and have to speak publicly on it.

I get the other side of this, which says you show Satoshi Kon's family respect by inviting her. Another way this could be done is through a charity auction or even a memorial service including Daryl Surat and other American thinkers. You don't bring her to the convention and possibly face empty rooms of convention going fans (very different fandom than the Hardcore otaku). That isn't respecting his memory. I hope it goes well and I get proven wrong on this. If so, I will eat Wasabi Peas and like it (so to speak).