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Li's A-kon 2006 Convention Report

Friday

Normally I do my traveling on the day before the con, but for cost considerations, I didn't fly to the con until Friday morning. It was a long day of travel, involving nearly missing my connecting flight because my first flight was a little late starting. I eventually reached the hotel a little after 5. I registered for my room, unloaded my things, and quickly changed into my Akabane costume.

The next step was to find con registration. I successfully registered, found where opening ceremonies was held, and wandered around the artist alley for a little while. There were several people very excited by my costume--I had a couple pictures of me taken and a number of people wanting hugs. I gave hugs, but often would stab them in the back with my knives as they were hugging me. Heh

Then I joined the line up for opening ceremonies. As the line started to move, I was noticed by a GetBackers fan who decided that my costume was cool so I could jump ahead in the line a little and stand in front of him. Along the way, we were joined by another of his friends and the three of us had much fun chatting in line, while we waited for the ceremonies to start, and even during the ceremony at parts.

I generally don't go to opening ceremonies, but I wasn't working in the Artists Alley and it sometimes is a nice chance to see the guests, since I often don't go to their panels. This opening ceremonies seemed to drag a bit. When it ended, we moved the chairs along the wall to clear the room for the concert.

First up was Kristen Sa, who is very pretty and a good singer, but she doesn't really seem to me to be of a professional singer quality. That and also I think all her music sounds the same (it's got the same beat). Still, it was fun enough.

Next came Kotoko. Now first off, Kotoko is ADORABLE. She is so pretty and her personality is very cute. But besides that was her music. I'm not really a fan of Kotoko--I only know/like one of her songs (ReSublimity) but a friend of mine really likes her so for his sake I figured I'd stick around and watch her concert.

It was great! Even not being familiar with most of the music, I really got into it. The concert was a ton of fun. I started the evening about in the middle of the crowd, but as things progressed I managed to worm my way forward until the end where I was about 2/3 row. I danced, jumped around, and used my phone as a lighter/glow stick thingy. I just wish I wasn't in my Akabane costume because man was that hot!

When the concert ended, I considered getting Kotoko's autograph, but by that point I was utterly exhausted, majorly dehydrated, and feeling really off because I couldn’t hear and my ears were ringing.

I think I got back to my room around 1-ish, though I'm not remembering clearly what time it was. My ears were still ringing as I went to sleep...Only to get woken up around 3 by my neighbors being very noisy. Grr. I dozed back off and slept until 6:30.

Saturday

Waking up naturally early, I got back into my Akabane costume, and then I hit the hotel restaurant for breakfast. I figured this was my main meal for the day, so I figured it was worth paying the high price for the buffet.

I found where the cosplay registration would be, then wandered around the artist alley again, taking a slower look around this time and chatting with several of the artists.

A little before 10 I made my way back to where the cosplay registration was. We weren't allowed to line up before 10, but there was a bunch of us just 'gathered' in the area. I wound up being one of the first people in line. We had to wait a little over an hour before the registration room opened, but fortunately once it did, I was quickly in there and quickly out.

I ran into Kuro from the opening ceremonies and he walked around with me for a bit while I tried to meet up with my friend from college. Unsuccessful, I made my way back towards the area for autographing. The voice actor's autograph session was still going on, so I wasn't certain about where to line up for the next session (ie, Penicillin). I noticed a trio of girls who looked like the jrock types and started talking with them. They were also milling about waiting for Penicillin autographing. We got to chatting about jrock and jrockers and had a great time while we waited.

Eventually we found out that the autograph panel was going to be the next day, but what was going to happen was they were setting up a table with Penicillin Nano goods, and if you bought something you received a red ticket which would allow you to get an autograph on Sunday. I bought a photobook with a couple prints of Hakuei and Chisato. While waiting in the line to buy the Penicillin Nano goods, I met up with Tula-chan from the Dears LJ community. I was excited to meet someone I knew from online at the con, and even more excited that she recognized my name and my website. In fact, it seems I was the one who introduced her to Penicillin!

After buying our items, we went off for a quick (late) lunch. We made our way back to the main events area. We caught a bit of the taiko drumming (cool, though it can't compare to the group I heard in Japan). I noticed Michael (aka Piano Squall) walk past and ran over to greet him. Tula and I chatted with him a little as he wasn't quite able to get into main events yet (which was closed off as Penicillin had been practicing). Tula and I both desperately wanted to get inside with Michael, but that wasn't possible. Still, he said he would try to see if he could get us backstage after the concert to meet them.

With a little longer wait, the doors opened, and Tula and I sat up front for Michael's concert. He played a few songs I recall him debuting at last year's Connecticon, as well as several new pieces. I was a quite surprised that he didn't play his classic Aerith's theme, but I suppose he wanted to mix things up and play some different music. He received a standing ovation for his Final Fantasy battle theme composition, as well as when his concert was over. His playing was fantastic as always and it was a wonderful performance.

After the concert, Tula and I helped him sell his posters and hand out business cards. They kicked us out of the room because they needed to set up for the cosplay event, so we just took the table out side and camped out right in front of the main events door. It made things very tight/crowded for a while, but it worked out.

I helped as I could, but then I had to leave to line up for the cosplay. They had us waiting around right outside the room, which I thought wasn't great since it was way too busy/crowded. They could have lined us up inside the room just as easily as making us stand outside taking up too much room.

Eventually, we got in and got lectured at about the rules, procedures, ect. Eventually it seemed like things were getting rolling. They brought the first several of the skits behind the curtain. We got our pictures taken, and then lined up while we waited for the event to start. And waited. And waited.

Without too much preamble, the cosplay began. I was the third skit, (Shakespeare's Dangers of Crossplay) and I think my skit went over quite well. I didn't make any mistakes, and got the audience laughing several times. Though contrary to the MC's comments, my skit really wasn't about yaoi, though I suppose the line "As I am a man, my state is desperate for a bishonen's love" could be misinterpretated that way.

All in all, the cosplay event was a mixed bag. There were several outstanding skits as well as some that were really rather weak. Some of my favorites included the skit that went on before me (the Paranoia Agent/Black Mage/FMA-spoiler skit), the FMA Klondike bar one (I met the Envy in this skit in the shuttle to the airport on Sunday), the between the game and the movie Final Fantasy 7 one, and the Kingdom Hearts 2 skit. The girl who dressed as Ayami was so sweet, and her costume was so fantastic, but she got stage fright and sort of froze when she got on stage. There were others that were a bit amusing, or alright, but some were quite weak (and several that dragged on too long).

After the skits portion, it was the walk-ons. Now in my mind, walk-ons at a cosplay/masquerade event are the best-of-the-best, there for craftsmanship. Yet that didn't seem to be the case at A-kon. Certainly the majority were incredible costumes. But there were a few that made me wonder what they were doing up on the stage.

I've been to many different conventions, and participated in masquerade events at several of them, so I've seen well-run events and poorly-run events. A-kon was definitely among the least well run that I've seen. I didn't like how we were lined up before the event, or how they had us during the event. (that and I really, really think there should have been some water back stage for the performers. I know I could certainly have used some!)

I was also unimpressed by the craftsman judging. There really wasn't any. I don't think you can really get a clear idea of the costumes just by seeing them quickly on the stage without seeing them up close, or asking any questions about the construction. Particularly since the walk-ons were rushed so much.

Then of course there was the cannon/broken chandeler mess. They fired the pirate cannon during a skit (!!) and by accident it hit the glass lights and sent a spray of broken glass on the people right next to me. A couple were slightly injured by thankfully no one was seriously hurt. To my complete shock, the event continued right along.

The cosplay ran long and late, and there seems to have been a lot of drama going on back stage for the later skits/ect that I'm glad I missed. (About some skits getting cut last minute and so on). Things just seemed to go to hell in a hand-basket--it really felt rushed and unorganized. I think the cosplay should have started earlier, and given more cushion room for starting late (because such things are always going to start late) and so on.

Anyway, judging. There didn't seem to be quite enough prizes for such a large number of performers/participants. There were a couple who didn't get anything I thought should, and a couple that did that I didn't think quite deserved it as much as others. And alas, I did not get an award either.

To my great frustration, they kicked us out of the room after the masquerade before the Penicillin Nano concert. Since the line was already huge, I figured I was already going to be so far back in the line it wouldn't matter if I was a little further back. So I ran back to my room and changed to a cool/sexy outfit for the concert. (And wishing I had ducked out during the judging if not sooner to change. I stuck around in the hopes that I might have gotten an award)

Then it was the line of doom. It was incredibly long and we waited for a solid hour and a half. Finally the line started to move and after a while I got to the door. Only to discover that when I ran back to my room to change I had forgotten my badge. They refused to let me enter, so I had to run back to my room again. By the time I got back, the line was gone. I was quite in a bad mood by this point, thinking I was pretty well screwed for the concert, which was so frustrating because I came all the way from New England to Texas just for this concert!

Fortunately, I managed to get myself a pretty decent spot. I could see the stage (well, mostly people's heads) as well as quite clearly see the video screen so I could see the close-ups there. There was a bit of drama when they kept ordering people to back up and give more space to the people in the front. (It did make me wonder why the hell I waited in line for so long though, because even with running back to my room and being one of the later ones into the room, I still got a decent spot). Eventually things were ready to start.

OMG THE CONCERT WAS AMAZING! They played a variety of Penicillin music, many older songs that I wasn't familiar with yet, as well as a song from both Hakuei and Chisato's solo works. They rocked so hard core, and the crowd really was feeling it. I was totally psyched that the encore was my favorite song, Romance. I was totally singing along for the chorus.

Tula-chan lucked out so well. She helped move chairs after the cosplay event, so they let her and the others like her in to the front of the line, so she was right up front for the concert. She was also the one who caught Hakuei’s bottle of water.

After the concert, I found Tula-chan and we squealed excitedly. We looked around for Michael, but couldn't find him, and before long they kicked us out. Because of her shoes, Tula-chan's feet were killing her so she sat down in a chair right outside main events while we looked around for any sign that Michael might be around, as well as to let Tula-chan's feet rest. I stood a bit, but started to sway a bit on my feet so the dealer who was right next to us told me to get a chair and sit down as well. We chatted with the security guy until Tula-chan's feet were recovered enough to move a bit.

She met back up with her group, and I made my way back to my room. It was about 2:30ish by that point. My neighbors were throwing a party and invited me to join them, but I needed to get to sleep so I politely declined. Their partying woke me up twice as I was just starting to doze off, but the third time seemed to be the charm and I fell asleep soundly.

Sunday

Oh god I didn't want to wake up, but I feared if I left myself sleep in, I would miss out. I probably didn't need to worry so much since there was very little open/to do until 11. Anyway, even though I would only have a few hours, I dressed in my Card Captor Sakura outfit (I figured since I brought it, I should wear it)

I wandered a bit, chatted with a guy in the artist alley, wandered some more, and ate breakfast again at the hotel restaurant. Eventually I made my way to the skywalk connecting the hotel and con-center so I could call my friend (it was one of the few areas that I got cell reception). While I waited for him to wake up/get ready, I sketched some chibi pics (including a picture of Hakuei from the concert).

After hanging out with my friend for a little while, I went back to my room and changed and packed up my things. I checked out of the hotel and made my way to the panel room for the Penicillin question and answers.

We found out that they chose the name Penicillin Nano since they were trying to think of what to call themselves and the Ipod nano had just come out so they decided that was pretty cool, and it would give the impression that Penicillin Nano isn't really all that serious. Chisato started playing the guitar when he was 15 because his cousin had a guitar so he just started playing. They were both really excited by the concert Saturday night. Hakuei had been feeling a bit nervous, but as soon as he felt the energy from the crowd, he was really excited.

I also asked a question, naturally I spoke Japanese. First I thanked them for coming to America and asked them to please come again. That went fine.

And than I blundered stupidly that I'm still kicking myself for being such an idiot. I mixed up shumi (hobbies. What I meant to say) with Shuumatsu (weekend. What I did say). Thinking about it... I still feel my cheeks burn with embarrassment.

The absolute highlight of the panel though, was when one girl asked the great question "boxers or briefs?" We all fell apart dying. Chisato declined answering, but Hakuei stood up and dropped his pants to show us. He's a briefs ;)

Immediately after the panel was the autographs. The line was long, but it moved quickly. I got a photo from the photobook signed as well as one of my cds (Union Jap, which apparently Chisato found nostaligic since it isn't one of their recent ones). I presented Hakuei with the chibi sketch I did of him (and fortunately I didn't mess up my Japanese here). He chuckled and thanked me and then I was out of the room.

Tula-chan was right there and we immediately started fangirling. She got the bottle of water signed by Hakuei.

Now, I thought I had probably come the furthest for the concert, but I was wrong. Tula-chan had run into a group of Japanese girls in the front of the line for the concert on Saturday night. That is, they came from Tokyo. To see Penicillin.

We waited by the autographing area for the Japanese girls. We chatted a bit as some of the group went back to get more things signed. (After the fact, I'm kicking myself that I didn't get back in line and get my other cd signed while I was at it. And then maybe apologizing for my stupid stumble before).

Anyway, we chatted with the girls who were so nice and sweet. Tula-chan didn't know much Japanese, but she knew a few words, and they knew a bit of English so they were able to communicate pretty well. I also did pretty well speaking in Japanese with them.

I had planned to go to another panel which was talking about anime and video game music so I could see Michael again, but I was having so much fun talking with the Japanese girls and Tula-chan that I decided to join them and go out to lunch. We walked over to the mall and set up a couple tables into one big one. Half the group got up and hit the pizza house while a couple of us stayed at the table to watch the bags. I lead another group to the pizza house and helped them figure out the money.

The group of girls I was with then went to the little shop next door to buy drinks and got 3 different types to try. They shared the drinks around and they all decided the green tea was too sweet compared to Japanese green tea. They also weren't so fond of my rootbeer that I let them try.

We talked about singers we liked, animals, kimono, and school. (and I got asked by another con-goer what was going on... she noticed a group of Japanese and wondered if maybe they weren't guests.) It was so much fun that I really was sorry when it was time for me to head out. I really wished I could have stayed longer.

While I was waiting for the shuttle to the airport, I chatted with a couple people, and then on the shuttle I met more people. (a couple dealers as well as the Envy from the skit). We talked about various cons and what we liked and didn't like and it was really a great time.

The rest of my trip back was fine. I had no problems with my connecting flight this time. I wound up getting home about 1:30.

In conclusion

A-kon was sort of a mixed bag... some great moments, some crappy moments, but over all pretty fun. As my purpose was to see Hakuei/Penicillin and the concert, my trip was successful. I was unimpressed for the most part with the paneling other than the main events, and I wasn't impress with how the main events were run. Beside that though, I made many new friends and everyone I talked with was really nice.

Will I go back to A-kon? Probably not. It's rather far and expensive to really be added to the con-circuit that Akiko and I do and I wasn’t as impressed with the organization and how it was run. Everyone I met was really nice, but that isn't always enough. Still, I'm glad I went as I did have fun.