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Random Thoughts of an Otaku
Mar. 24th, 2008
08:12 am - The weekend that was Anime Boston
This year I enjoyed Anime Boston even though the Registration lines were just pure heck. I decided not to let that ruin my fun. The format was the Good, the bad and the Ugly.
The Good
-Finally getting to see the Chibi Project in person. Patrick Delhanty and Jekka Cormier do an incredibly funny show. Basically, you take your favorite Anime toy and torture it. http://chibiproject.com/ is where you can find out more about the show.
-Winning Hyakunin Kuizi (An anime con form of Family Feud). It We beat the other team by a total 300 points by sweeping the Final question. The ending is priceless right after we shook hands with the other team then everybody did the love dance including me badly (as I always dance).
-Finally getting Greg Ayres and Colleen Clinkenbeard's autographs. Jesse Morrow (Anime USA's head of guests) doesn't owe me an autograph from her anymore because of this.
-Getting to see the masquerade in the beautiful theater at the convention center. It gives a major event atmosphere to anything.
-Getting to hang out with the Anime on DVD folks and finally getting some talk time with Chris Beveridge. He has lost a lot of weight and is looking alot better than he used to. He is an inspiration to my efforts.
-Getting to eat a lobster bake without the guilt (no Chorizo because it was friday). It was an absolutely lovely meal from Legal Sea Foods and is worth spending $37.00 (in Boston).
The Bad
-I missed out on Brad Swalie's autograph because of I enjoying my Lobster dinner. Oh, well. I do wish that Anime Boston did more than one autograph session per guest. They did two for the Pillows.
-Giving out Manga and a T-shirt for winning. Those are things that I can buy at the Dealers room. Give out prizes that have special value like no wait seating for the Masquerade or Concert. I will suggest that to Anime USA for their game show winners.
-Don't start the Masquerade until the room is fully loaded. Start loading the room earlier to do this. They only start loading the room 30 minutes to 60 minutes before the event. I missed most of the Novices because of that.
-Have water in the upper deck of the Masquerade. People are afraid to go down for Water. It makes the walk up easier for people. It was also about 40 steps up to the Balcony area.
The Ugly
-The Registration lines. I was among the lucky ones that I only spent 90 minutes Friday morning to Register. There were people who spent eight and a half hours in the Regular Registration line. There are going to have to be some changes. I will save those thoughts for Anime Boston's forums. If you want to hear what I would have done differently, I will respond to comments on this.
That was the weekend that was at Anime Boston. I forget to take notes, so I could do a logner report. I will give you my thoughts on the Hugo nominations tomorrow.
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contemplativeMar. 22nd, 2008
08:58 am - Very Early thoughts on AB
I am at Anime Boston after having Breakfast and I just wanted to say I am having a wonderful time. I will talk more about the The weekend and the Hugo nominations on Monday. I will see you then.
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cheerfulMar. 20th, 2008
06:57 pm - Leaving for Anime Boston
I will be leaving very early tomorrow for Anime Boston (about 5:45 AM to reach my 8:20 AM flight. I may get to the computer over the weekend, but will not be reading much in e-mail or anything else until Monday morning. This is my unofficial 30th Birthday party. I should have tried to make more an effort of getting some of my friends to go. I will see everyone on Sunday night or Monday.
mellowMar. 15th, 2008
08:59 am - Anime Boston Update
I didn't want to Jinx myself because the team I am on hadn't been officially chosen until last night. I will be on one of the teams participating in the Hyakunin Kuizu game show at Anime Boston. It is cool to be part of such a show. My team's name is the Crazy Atasuki.
Hyakunin Kuizu is basically like the American game show Family Feud, but focused on anime questions such as Name an anime that is known for it's music. They surveyed 100 people via the internet and those results are what people have to guess. I do wonder if Jekka Cormier (the host) will act like the classic host Richard Dawson. If it is like Richard Dawson, then expect alot of glumping instead of Kissing.
For those who will be there, the game show will take place at 11 AM on Saturday morning. Check the Con Chowder for the specific room in the Hynes where it is being held. For those who won't be there, when I find some Youtube video I will post links on my blog.
excitedMar. 13th, 2008
09:31 pm - Denvention Airfare Update and Anime Boston
I have my Airfare for Denvention today. US Airways had a $295 roundtrip fare from Denver for the dates I wanted (August 5th leaving and coming back on August 11th). I am flying out of Philadelphia instead of BWI. It is $400 for a United non-stop trip from BWI. I am honestly excited now about Worldcon. It is now about getting the money together for Worldcon. I also need to get a room for Sunday the 10th because I am leaving Denver at 7 AM on Monday the 11th, but will be at my house at about 3:15 PM on Monday. The plane has power ports, so I can watch something besides the in-flight movie.
On to the next convention, Anime Boston is next weekend for me and I am really starting to get excited about the convention. It will be a different way for me to enjoy Easter weekend, but Anime Boston rocks as a convention. The weather looks good on the 10 day forecast. The guests are going to be cool for Anime Boston with the Pillows being there. I usually don't wait in line for anything (except registration), but I will wait for the Pillows concert. The masquerade is in a very nice theatre at Anime Boston. It is in a big auditorium that seats 4,000 people. If you are going to be there, let me know and we can meet up at Anime Boston. I wonder if I should try to do a Science Fiction/Anime Convention dinner up in Boston. There are a good number of Smofers and Anime con runners up in Boston.
chipperFeb. 24th, 2008
01:56 pm - Anime Boston should rock this year
I have been teasing for the last couple of weeks about Anime Boston, since I am more excited about that con than I was Katsucon. Anime Boston is the second largest anime convention in the Northeast and one of a few conventions that have over 10,000 people in the country. Everybody knows that it is an unofficial 30th Birthday party for me (March 24th is my birthday).
The reason I am excited is that I get some second chances to see some guests that I missed from working cons (Colleen Clinkenbeard among them), but the real reason I am excited is that The Pillows are going to be at Anime Boston. The guys who did the FLCL music. I can't wait to hear them in concert. I had a chance to see The Pillows at ACEN 2005 or 2006, but decided that I didn't want to work a booth.
I just got to remember to get in line early enough to get the autographs I want and to see the Pillows. The Hynes Auditorium is a fabulous place to see an event (those who were at Worldcon 2004 or a past Anime Boston would know). I already have my room full for Anime Boston. This is one of those rare times a musical guest makes me go wow instead of huh.
chipperJan. 26th, 2008
12:23 pm - TV and Anime Boston Update
I don't think I mentioned this last weekend, but I do have a new 32 inch Sharp TV. For the tech geeks out there, I went with the 720p model. I saw no difference in an 1080p set over a 720p set except money. I paid $600 for the TV due to a $100 rebate from Comcast to upgrade to Digital Cable with HD. I don't know picture quality, since Comcast isn't coming until Thursday the 31st to upgrade me to HD Digital Cable.
I am excited that it is before the Super Bowl. I should finally have Anime Network On Demand, which is fine because there is no more Linear Anime Network. I need to get the Sports package for HD NFL Network, but I want to see the first couple of bills before I spend money on that package.
I also got myself an upconverting DVD player. I am waiting until Blu Ray falls to $200 this Christmas before I get one. I would give my five year old DVD player to Anime USA for their video rooms, but I am going to offer it to BSFS for their clubhouse instead. Anime USA uses computers with DVD players in them to run their video rooms.
One other effect of the new TV is that I have a few VHS tapes to get rid of Anime. Respond to this post for a list.
As you know, I will be going to Anime Boston. I have a space left in my hotel room for the convention. It would be $110 for Friday and Saturday night. It is March 21-23 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. The hotel I am staying at is the Marriott Copley Place Boston. If anyone is interested in a roomshare, let me know through e-mail or responding to this post.
calmNov. 29th, 2007
08:36 am - Starting to think 2008 Conventions
It is that time of year when you have finished and recovered from your last convention of the year and you start to think about conventions for 2008. I don't really commit to conventions definitely more than three to four months ahead of time. Here is what I am thinking and have committed for 2008 conventions:
Ohayocon January 4th-6th- I am committed to be on Live Events staff for this convention. I should have a fun time there. It will give me a chance to meet some different fans than I usually meet and also work something I haven't done. Variety helps keep a convention runner from getting burnt out.
Katsucon February 15th-17th-Saturday day only at best. I am not impressed with their guest list. They never seem to do different things or try to have a great convention. If they don't get much to impress me with a last minute guest, I may ask for a refund (this is one of the few cons you can get your money refunded from). You would think they would try to get an Japanese director or Voice Actor or a big name band every couple of years. They draw 7,000 people to the event. Since they are going to move to a new hotel in 2009, maybe they will finally put some energy towards making the convention better.
This is where things get merky. March-May is where there are a lot of maybes.
Anime Boston is the first choice of conventions. I want to get some roommates before I commit to a badge. I will start on that quest after the first of the year. Anime Boston is one of the better run conventions out there of any genre. They work hard on getting good guests and don't over extend themselves every year. New England fans are fans that can live without a big name Japanese band. That surprises me and maybe something Anime USA should try for 2008 and get a Japanese director instead. That convention is March 21-23.
If Anime Boston doesn't work out, I may go to MTAC on April 25-27. This is in Nashville, TN and they are supposedly bringing Kaiju Big Battel to the convention. It is also an expensive flight city, but that may be a little better since Southwest has posted their airfares. Note: NY Comic Con is a no go for me because it is the weekend of a family wedding.
Balticon (Memorial Day Weekend) is a definite even if it is for an overnight. I always have fun at the closest thing out there to a relaxacon out there. The Masquerade is always fun and I hope to help out Cindy in Green Room again. I would like to go to Marcon to meet the real Kevin Standlee in person.
From June Onward, it really gets merky. I am considering Anime Expo or Worldcon over Otakon and many other things. I want to see hotel rates for both before I commit to one. I haven't even started to think about what I am doing for Anime USA next year and how it impacts all of this. I need to talk to Mark about this at the meeting on Sunday since Anime USA is in October instead of the usual Mid-November timeframe.
contentApr. 23rd, 2007
08:33 am - Back from Anime Boston
I am back from Anime Boston and alive. I am still recovering from the con, but I hope tonight to write alot more about how it went. I never see enough of the con when I run cons.
Apr. 19th, 2007
08:44 am - Will be away starting very early tomorrow
I am going away to Anime Boston starting tomorrow at 4:20 AM. That is when Supershuttle will pick me up at my house. I will be working most of the weekend. The best night (if you want to meet me) is Friday after 8 PM. I am going to bed fairly early on Friday because of how early I am up on Saturday. I am excited about this weekend and I hope to see you there.
excitedApr. 13th, 2007
08:42 am - Anime Boston Preparation
I have things settled upon for Anime Boston next weekend. I decided to take SuperShuttle to the Airport instead of the train. I do know it will be more expensive than the train, but I think it would get me there by 5:30-5:50 AM better than the Train. There is bridge work on Amtrak in my area starting Monday. It will add 5-15 minutes of extra time to the ride.
I am on the rooming list for the convention and will be getting a free badge along with food for the hard work of next weekend. Working 10 plus hour days to make sure a Registration runs is hard work. It won't be nearly as hard as the person who will be running it's work.
I am excited about the convention and hope to see something of the convention. The Charity Auction really excites me along with some kids who are doing the dance at the end of the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Dance is something you don't see alot in anime con masquerades. It may cause controversy, but these kids are very good. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoHoPUk9
Mar. 25th, 2007
06:04 pm - The con running continues to bite me
I had a lovely time up in Atlantic City, NJ yesterday. I didn't come back with all of the money I brought, but I did come home with some. That is better than most trips there. The tough part of traveling is the bus ride. I loathe long distance Bus trips where you spend more than two hours on a bus. I personally enjoy taking trains or flying more than Bus Trips. My first long bus trip was from Baltimore, MD to Ithaca, NY and had more layovers than you could have hoped for. It still leaves with a bad taste in my mouth for bus travel.
I am going to be helping to run a con in a lackey role. I will be Registration staff at Anime Boston. You won't see my signature change on AB forums until the Secretary receives it. I will not get as much con runner meeting around, as I will be behind the Registration desk and not arriving until Friday morning. It will be nice to help a very nice con happen. Anime Boston seems to be one of the better cons out there. It is only a month away, so there will be alot of information to be provided in the next month.
contentMar. 16th, 2007
09:24 pm - Need help from Veteran Travelers
I am going to Anime Boston next month. This is a last minute con and is preparation for San Diego Comic Con because I haven't been on a plane since before 9/11. I am very nervous that if I take the train to BWI that I won't have enough time to catch my plane. The planes would leave at 7:20 AM and 8:20 Am on different air planes. The trains would get to the aiport about 90 minutes before the flight leaves. I would have to take a short shuttle ride to the airport. Would 90 minutes be enough time to catch a plane? Would I be better off spending the $65 for a cab on the way their? I am asking the veteran travelers like Kevin Standlee and Fausti along with those who go to far away cons regularly (eva_whitley and psipsy) for their help. Thanks for their help ahead of time.
contemplative