Kumoricon
Convention Community => Other Conventions and Events => Topic started by: Dubaby on September 07, 2010, 01:26:25 pm
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I know con just ended, but so far it seems like plenty of cool bros are going.... so come on, who's in for a baller weekend????
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ME, YO. I'll probably cosplay from .hack//SIGN, Kumatanchi, and maybe SP if everyone else does and I fix my ouftit!
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I'm totally going, for Jenna!
I might just be a Variant of Miku, or maybe Manuela Hidalgo from Resident Evil.
Something easy. Aha.
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I'm planning on taking a BROvan up there and renting some BRO hotel rooms
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ME, YO. I'll probably cosplay from .hack//SIGN, Kumatanchi, and maybe SP if everyone else does and I fix my ouftit!
I will love you forever..... I don't know who you've been considering but you'd be an adorable Mimiru.
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BEST CON EVER AMIRITE??
It'll be as excellent as last year. I'm so stoked to chill out with all of the bros that didn't go to Kumoricon.
So far my schedule is lookin' like this...
Ushi-Oneesan from Kumatanchi, Makomo from Pokemon Black and White, Ramona Flowers from the Scotty P. game, and Kumatora from Mother 3.
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ME, YO. I'll probably cosplay from .hack//SIGN, Kumatanchi, and maybe SP if everyone else does and I fix my ouftit!
I HOPE WE CAN GO FFFFFFFFFF
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I will love you forever..... I don't know who you've been considering but you'd be an adorable Mimiru.
That's hilarious, I am going as Mimiru! SO PUMPED.
SHAY WE CAN, ME, YOU, AND COLLEEN CAN SHARE A ROOM WITH KRIS (the Magnet Luka) AND TWO OTHER GIRLS, SO SIX OF US. WE JUST NEED TO FIND A RIIIDE.
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BEST CON EVER AMIRITE??
It'll be as excellent as last year. I'm so stoked to chill out with all of the bros that didn't go to Kumoricon.
So far my schedule is lookin' like this...
Ushi-Oneesan from Kumatanchi, Makomo from Pokemon Black and White, Ramona Flowers from the Scotty P. game, and Kumatora from Mother 3.
Once everyone figures out if they're going or not Nikki then I will be figuring out a SP cosplay to do.... BUT I WILL DO ONE!
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I plan on going :D
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I've never been to Akicon, so can one of you give me a rundown on what Akicon looks like based on past years? How is it size-wise compared to Kumo, and is it communal-feeling? All that good stuff?
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I'll be there so it'll be about twice as bro as last year. (conservative estimate)
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I've never been to Akicon, so can one of you give me a rundown on what Akicon looks like based on past years? How is it size-wise compared to Kumo, and is it communal-feeling? All that good stuff?
Akicon is pretty fricken small, I'd say about half the attendees of Kumoricon. It was overall a pretty chill con though. Lots of pretty awesome cosplay, places to just sit and talk, funny panels. I loved it. I'm sure it was like Kumoricon when it was first starting up. It's only it's 3rd year.
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Nah Kumoricon was really sloppy when it was first starting up (still is in some ways). Akicon's really insanely well coordinated from what I've heard and seen.
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I'll be there so it'll be about twice as bro as last year. (conservative estimate)
Yes quite conservative... after working out the calculations I've found that there should be a 112% increase in the level of how "bro" the con is upon your arrival when compared to last years readings.
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Wow I use facebook too much. I just tried to "like" that post :P
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I've never been to Akicon, so can one of you give me a rundown on what Akicon looks like based on past years? How is it size-wise compared to Kumo, and is it communal-feeling? All that good stuff?
there is about 1500 people that go if I remember correctly.I have never been one for panels so I always hung out in the lobby or the dealers hall. It is very laid back and quite relaxing. Oh and did I mention they have scenery set up for photo shoots? Yeah, they have a street one, a winter one, and a Japanese park type thing. Since it is so small you get the feeling that you know a lot of people there. Only two of my close friends went last year so I had fun but not as much as I could have. This year it looks like a bunch more may try to go so it may be way better.
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Hmm, I'll have to check it out then. Sounds like a rollicking good time. Thanks for the pointers, all.
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You should! I want to hang out with you again :3
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Yeah, we'll see! It'd be great to see you and the crew again. I've got to do at least one con in 2010, haha
And the fact that they got Yong Bosch, and only in their third year, both baffles and excites me. I've been hoping he'd come to Kumoricon for years.
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I'm planning on taking a BROvan up there and renting some BRO hotel rooms
no brodowns?
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TD Bros, we need to create a sweet ass playlist of songs for this con.
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Tofu, are you planning on riding in the BROvan?
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Supposedly I'll be going to this. :P
I'll be rooming with oslapedo, Shay, Fate, Kameko, Kanon, Roscoe and some other chick. So yeah, we're a full ass room but it will be awesome~<3
I just need to work out transportation.
I can't leave until after 2pm cause my last class ends at 1:40 and it's math...and I REALLY don't want to miss my math class. :/
I only have two classes on Thursday which is Math and Drama so it's not too bad since my other class gets out at 7:10pm but it's only on Monday and Wednesday.
But travel time would be late in the day for me because of it. :/
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Not sure if I'll be able to go after all and my forum account over there is being weird, does anyone know if it's possible to get your money back for pre-reg?
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Not sure if I'll be able to go after all and my forum account over there is being weird, does anyone know if it's possible to get your money back for pre-reg?
Yeah, they are pretty cool about it. I remember I had problems last year and thought I couldn't go and they were fine with switching the pre reg onto other people, giving me the money back, and stuff like that.
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I generally don't use their forums since they're always either dead or glitchy.
I hope you can go. =[
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I hope I can go too but I'm so negative in the money department, ahaha. boogie, feel free to find another Envy since I'm on the fence, I'll probably still do that game outfit for my own fun even if I don't go.
And thanks for the info~
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Tofu, are you planning on riding in the BROvan?
Is this brovan a definite brovan or a hypothetical brovan? If said brovan has already been confirmed, then yes, I'm down as long as it doesn't smell bad, has a decent stereo system, and everyone in it has respectable musical tastes.
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AkiCon is in Bellevue, so I'll for sure be attending. I'm pretty Psyched.
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Tofu, are you planning on riding in the BROvan?
Is this brovan a definite brovan or a hypothetical brovan? If said brovan has already been confirmed, then yes, I'm down as long as it doesn't smell bad, has a decent stereo system, and everyone in it has respectable musical tastes.
It's a Brovan of epic proportions, my dear Tofu.
We're all meeting in Portland and riding up together in an epic party brovan that will blow your mind.
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That sounds chill then...how much would I be looking at for gas contribution?
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Your soul...
Pft, iunno. Roscoe is pretty much heading all that up...
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Tofu, i have begun calculations now, and i will do a special algorithm to factor you in for the van ride, but not the hotel...
actually, since gryffinclaw isn't comeing in the van, and you're not staying in the room, i can treat you as one mathematical hypoteneuse... wait what
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That word doesn't mean what you think it means.
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Ahahaha.
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Bumping since this is getting closer bro's....
Finally was able to register today after finding out that there was an easier/faster site to reg through.
I really hope I still get my baller badge name though, the people said I should even though the other site didn't ask for it. (I guess they e-mail you for it later or match it to other stuff. idk)
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is there any more room in the brovan? or one of the brorooms? if not i need some roommates! XD and i have a car that can seat 5 besides me, just not much trunk space -_- id prefer not to drive it though.. its a teeny bit rickety..
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Talk to Griff or Kris~
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Man, I need to register. Once I figure out the room situation I'm gold.
Kimi Ni Todoke group, woooo!
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Spork, I'm supposed to be driving, but i still dont have my license (uh oh) so maybe if you can go with us you could drive my car?
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sure i can drive~! as long as i have a good navigator cause im directionally challenged D:
makichan - do you need a room? you can room with me as long as i get enough people XD
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My group isn't going I think, but I am still tempted to. : x
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My group isn't going I think, but I am still tempted to. : x
Wellll.
If you do, let us know!
:'D
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HURDUR YEAH : D
When is it again? *_*
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November 5th thru the 7th~
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Spork, I'm supposed to be driving, but i still dont have my license (uh oh) so maybe if you can go with us you could drive my car?
Reminds me of a Beatles song
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I definitely lost my job, so i used my last paycheck to pre reg for Aki, and set aside the rest for the hotel room
now to live on $15 for a month
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I definitely lost my job, so i used my last paycheck to pre reg for Aki, and set aside the rest for the hotel room
now to live on $15 for a month
Sounds familiar.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmaLiPxEsYg
Check out Aki con TV ad...
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I'll be going
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Hmm...this might be fun to check out ^^ If i can go (which is a very slim chance), i'll just be there on Saturday.
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i would like to go but i have no way to get there and no place to stay
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Hello! I was just wondering if anyone had room for two more people in their car to go to akicon this year? They'd need a ride there and back. I'm asking for my two friends that live in the portland area. They're willing to pay for gas money, and will be staying with me, so they only require the two rides. If any of you can help, that'd be great. :] (But no pressure, because this is supposed to be a chill con with bros and stuff, right?)
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@tas110 im still in need of roommates if you need a place to stay in the hotel!! im not sure about a ride though.. im going with roscoeTEHclam but i dont know how much space he has..
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I still have to buy my ticket, but I'm near positive I can go. :'D
I'm not sure if Akaito (Vocaloid) will be done or not but I will definitely be bringing Mokuba (YGO)! <3
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I still have to buy my ticket, but I'm near positive I can go. :'D
I'm not sure if Akaito (Vocaloid) will be done or not but I will definitely be bringing Mokuba (YGO)! <3
IT WILL. I PROMISE.
No, I'm not being a lurker and posting here because I saw that you did. >A>
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IT WILL. I PROMISE.
No, I'm not being a lurker and posting here because I saw that you did. >A>
LOL <3 LOVE YOU TESSA.
Just don't stress yourself out with it. ;A;
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KITTY YOU HAVE TO GO!!!!!!! Worst case I can help you even more and cut your hotel room fee more. I want you there :D
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I'll be there... and getting to room with awesome buds from Utah, too. BOOYEAH.
@ Paprika = Hope to meet up with you! We YGO-ers gotta stick together! <3
(though it sucks I'm not doing YGO cosplay at AkiCon this year; however, I'm debuting some dream cosplays of mine, Tails from Sonic The Hedgehog and Prince Janus from Chrono Trigger, so it's awesome-sauce)
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It is almost upon us.
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Yeees! <3
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No worries, Nikki >w< My ticket is ordered so I'll be there <3
@Lady Shinsei: I hope to see you there as well! It's unfortunate you're not doing any YGO cosplay there but I'm sure you'll see me around as Mokuba. Not hard to miss the bright yellow vest. XD
I AM SO STOKED. HNNNNNG~
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Psssssttttt, I am giving my very first panel at Aki-con Friday @ 3pm called "Introduction to Cosplay" (guess what it is about. go on.) and people looking for an overview of cosplay should check it out. I'll be giving out small balls of air-drying clay to play with, because really...who doesn't like free crap?
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I AM SO STOKED. HNNNNNG~
INORITE!?!?!?! HNNNNNNNG! Going to Akicon, must go see HOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSEEEE! (that is going to be the whole con I am afraid)
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@Paprika- I think one of my friends is cosplaying Kaiba. I'll tell her to look out for you.
I have so much to do but I'm stoked. SO MUCH SCATT PALGROM AT THIS CON, DAY 2 IS GOING TO BE AMAZING.
Also people should come visit me in the maid cafe! Please~<3? I'll serve you drinks and call you master.
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oooooooooooh maid cafe maid cafe!!!! im so excited about that! i wanted to be part of that but i found out about it too late :C
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I have to figure out how I'm going to get there.
I have a place to stay buuuutt... I have no way to pay Chip for gas.
x.x
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(https://www.kumoricon.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi122.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fo257%2FPennyJasper%2F125339888985.gif&hash=dcc7ec4bae6287f432a4c4838bba22263bce3567)
just a few more days eeeee
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Im so excited!! So close!! X3
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haha! that crocodile looks exactly how i feel about this! XD
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can't wait for sure! oh and if anyones interested i'm hosting Almost anime dating game it's differnt then slightly anime dating game.. and still need people to join in for it if you want to just pm me here if you want to!
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It needs to be Thursday/Friday already! T.T
I get to leave at about 1am Friday...
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In approximately 41 hours I will be heading out for Akicon!!!!! =D
Butterfree is almost done. All that's left is to do the black detailing on the wings (which I'll do in the morning, I burnt my finger really bad and took it as a sign to stop for the night.)
I'M SO PUMPED GUYS!!!!!!!
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Totally decided last minute that I am going to this. GOODBYE DISPOSABLE INCOME, HELLO AWESOME FUNTIMES.
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I am excited for the Akicon! I cant wait till thursday!!! Hurray!
I hope to make new friends and have a great time^^
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This time tomorrow I will be driving to Akicon :3 I can not wait. I am also greatly looking forward to my four days off :D For once I have a day to rest after the con.
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Lucky you... Day after Akicon I have a midterm for English...and Dress Rehearsal for a play. So I will be at college until 10pm that day. :/
I think I'm going to be dead. XP
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I'm staying up all night working on homework and minecraft (mostly minecraft) to prepare for this. ARE YOU STOKED, EVERYONE?
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YEAH!!!! i packed a bag the size of an overweight 7 year old to take on the bus.. thatll be my workout since im missing my PE classes XD
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Oh man... I'm going to be so antsy at school today...
Just put the finishing touches on Butterfree, off to class for a few hours, at 6pm it'll be time to meet up with my crew for some dinner, and then OFF TO AKICON!!!!!
Can't wait to see all you lovely people up there! =]
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Still at school. Ugh...I need a shower and to clean my room still.
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Sitting in my room at Aki-con, waiting for the bros to arrive. =]
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we got here! after a wrong turn and several other things going wrong.. but yay!! akicon banzai!~!!
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Con was amazing. I can't wait for next year.
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It was awesome. Looking into Staffing next year since they apparently are in dire need of reliable staffers.
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A summation of what I thought of Aki: http://congear.wordpress.com/2010/11/09/aki-con-201/
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I wish I had brought some cosplay cause I felt so out of place without it. ):
But I hate cosplaying alone.
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Was it just me or was there an influx of rude people at the con this year? My best friend and I actually had to leave the Harry Potter photoshoot early, because she was getting SO much flack about being dressed up as a random Hufflepuff...including one person actually getting in her face about it. It ended up working out though as our other friend didn't make it down to the cosplay hall to take pictures anyway because she had a couple run ins with people who wouldn't move out of the way even when she tapped them on the shoulder and said excuse me, and with groups of people just cutting her off until a con staffer said "Excuse me, this lady's been waiting!"
There was also the traditional run in with kids who had taken over one of the elevators and were just riding it up and down, but that's almost normal for cons.
My only other major problem with the con was the swap meet, which was abismal. There was nothing written about it in the con book, so most of the people that came in didn't know what was going on...and not that there was many people coming in to begin with. Being in the workshop, far away from everything else, didn't really help matters...hopefully, this will get better next year.
That said, I'll probably go again next year as I did have a lot of fun.
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As far as cons go, yeah, Akicon was pretty garbage in terms of organization. There was no schedule for panels in the programming guide, most of the guests were pretty random, the tournaments were really sloppy, the layout of the arcade left a lot of room for improvement, and there really just wasn't a lot of interesting stuff happening in general.
That said, I spent 80-90% of the con hanging out in hotel rooms definitely not partying, and had the time of my life definitely not doing so. Akicon has a few things going for them (I actually only registered so I could play dancemaniax), but if you're looking for a well organized con, stick with Sakuracon. If you're going to go to every con expecting it to be well-organized, then enjoy years of disappointment. In other words, go to cons to hang out and have fun, and if they're well-organized, kudos to the staff.
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I know right, like read this link
http://www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?p=3691116
Damn Aki con!
Oh an this one
http://notncosplay.wordpress.com/2010/11/08/aki-con-2010/
and these ones
http://www.rangerboard.com/showthread.php?p=3597035
http://www.sheezyart.com/art/view/2313023/
But you know they don't count cause they are only cosplayers and aki con loves cosplays so...
http://daamazingmeepers.deviantart.com/
Oh and this one
http://oikaiwa.deviantart.com/journal/36144690/
whoa whoa wait a minute dude. I think you and me and that other guys might be the only ones... well really only you two.
I had a blast!!
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I know right, like read this link
http://www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?p=3691116
Damn Aki con!
Oh an this one
http://notncosplay.wordpress.com/2010/11/08/aki-con-2010/
and these ones
http://www.rangerboard.com/showthread.php?p=3597035
http://www.sheezyart.com/art/view/2313023/
But you know they don't count cause they are only cosplayers and aki con loves cosplays so...
http://daamazingmeepers.deviantart.com/
Oh and this one
http://oikaiwa.deviantart.com/journal/36144690/
whoa whoa wait a minute dude. I think you and me and that other guys might be the only ones... well really only you two.
I had a blast!!
So looking at your post history, I'm 99% sure you are Aki's organizer.
That said, what you offered could just as easily be offered at any old cosplay gathering (*cough* Gasukan *cough*) where they don't charge admission. Two, those are the exact same links from your own convention's forum post in the feedback thread. People had more fun hanging out outside of your events than the events themselves. That's not a sign of a good convention. There are volunteers from your convention who have posted in my blog agreeing with my stance on your convention. I think that alone says something.
I've also heard of a lot of people who wanted to volunteer be required to pay FULL admission to the convention. That's ridiculous. Kumori doesn't even do that - they charge $10 flat, and PAX and Sakura-Con don't even charge their volunteers. Or are you not like other cons?
I think you need to rethink your rebuttals.
EDIT: adjusted some information.
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lol sorry i didn't know cross posting was a crime. i'm actually not patience enough to search the net for reviews
but i thought a rebuttal to your review was in order
"aki con
Administrator
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2010 4:41 pm
Posts: 51 Thank you, everyone for the feedback. I think we fixed a lot of issue from 2009 and will work on the items mentioned above.
Truly it was great weekend and we have you to thank, be you a cosplayer, gamer, artist, vendor, panelist, guest, volunteer, otaku or not we hope you had a great time!
Aki con 20.....2011!
http://www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?p=3691116
http://notncosplay.wordpress.com/2010/1 ... -con-2010/
http://www.rangerboard.com/showthread.php?p=3597035
http://www.sheezyart.com/art/view/2313023/
http://daamazingmeepers.deviantart.com/
http://oikaiwa.deviantart.com/journal/36144690/ "
oh and i also found this on the akicon forum regarding volunteers. I personally don't volunteer
"Volunteer reimbursement
4 hours = free t-shirt
8 hours = free t-shirt, bag and access to volunteer green room
16 hours = ½ price of badge returns, free t-shirt, bag and access to volunteer green room
32 +hours = full price of badge returned free t-shirt, bag and access to volunteer green room
Volunteer must sign in and out with Volunteer guardian. Your hours must be verified by a
Guardian volunteer that will sign your time card.
Aki con 2010
Nicole"
i think that is reasonable since i know friends that volunteer, get free badges and then never show up to help
I know you hate the idea of cons making money... how dare. From what i've gathered aki con founders build all of the sets and stuff by hand.
they have work days listed on the volunteer sites so i'm sure they get lots of help but still
if they can do all that and still make money more power to them
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I didnt enjoy the con itself but I did love the venders who were there. I also enjoyed the hotel and had an amazing time there with my bf.
But the most fun I had was with the vendors and when Griff, Travis, and I went on a long walk to find food and go to Barnes and Noble.
But yeah...I wish the gamers area was bigger or had different options of a greater range.
And the panels werent done too well either. ):
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Like I said, I had a great time, but the convention itself was sloppy, and that it's not a big deal because most conventions are sloppy, and the ones that aren't are often stagnating. I'm not being "mean" or negative; I'm just sharing my thoughts objectively.
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I didnt enjoy the con itself but I did love the venders who were there. I also enjoyed the hotel and had an amazing time there with my bf.
But the most fun I had was with the vendors and when Griff, Travis, and I went on a long walk to find food and go to Barnes and Noble.
But yeah...I wish the gamers area was bigger or had different options of a greater range.
And the panels werent done too well either. ):
Ow. I know it wasn't meant in a mean way, but "The most fun I had was when we left" is kinda harsh. (^_~)
(My apologies, I know that's not how you meant it - I just have a fatal weakness for bad jokes. If I see them, I have to make them.)
That said, let's please step down the direct argumentation both against and for Aki-con. Their approach has both a lot of potentially-nifty benefits and a lot of potentially-crippling problems, but only they can decide how they want to run things and whether it's worth it. This thread is for people's experiences (like Gryff's) and for them to offer their own opinions of their experience (like Tofu's). For us to offer our opinions of others' experiences is bad karma, and it's getting borderline uncivil.
That's out of bounds both for these forums (where we don't bring personal or off-forum disputes) and for Aki-con itself (which prides itself on trying to make everyone happy).
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Akicon is extremely unorginized and sloppy.
None of the panels started on time and the booklet was a wreck. I didn't even know what half of the stuff in it was. They just had some generic names and no explanation.
I was also upset with the lack of staff in the area. I had a serious problem happen and it took me 40 minutes to an hour to find a staff member so I could talk to them. There should ALWAYS be a staff member somewhere downstairs and there should be a clearer way of identifying them then just me assuming "They are standing by the stairs, I guess they might be staff?"
That said I had an amazing time at Akicon and will be going again next year. I guess I would feel bad for people that had no previous review of this con from other friends and stuff. But pretty much anyone you would have asked that went last year, it was Brocon. This is a con for you to cosplay and dink around with your friends at. And I need more cons like that. I've always got too much stuff going on at places like Sakuracon and Kumoricon, I need a nice lowdown con. That's just me though.
Things I was defiantly disappointed in though and would love to see next year:
*SPEED DATING!!! I dunno if it happened or not, because I got different stories from different people but at least a a clearer showing of what the event is.
*The con book needs to be redone in general. Descriptions of the events would be nice.
*Free play game room was awesome but needs to be better organized. Running in front of Brawl or shimmying across the floor sucked for both parties. Also DDR please. PIU is terrible so hard. The machine like, broke or something halfway through the con.
*At least one staff member posted out. In case someone has problems or questions.
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Just a couple of informational notes:
- AFAIK Aki-con has virtually no "staff" per se, they simply have volunteers who work a lot of hours as opposed to volunteers who only work a few hours.
(I'm not sure whether Washington law requires that naming quirk because of their for-profit status; I'm definitely no lawyer.)
- They do have their own forums, and although they did shut down for a couple of months after con last year, they appear to be open this year.
(That's absolutely not to say that people shouldn't post here, just that it's possible to post there as well as here.)
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Random: XP I didn't even realize it sounded that way though it's kinda true. o 3o
Our roommates next door had a girl pass out from Alcohol poisoning and I felt out of place without a cosplay so it was refreshing to jump out of the hotel and go on a nice little hike.
I think if I go next year I'm going to pack a small, simple cosplay and just wear it the whole weekend. Then maybe I won't feel so out of place.
But I did enjoy some parts of being in the con, just...not a lot. :/
I guess it's because at Kumo I get dragged around by people to do things so I don't have time to relax and it was weird having SO much free time.
But I do wish they had more organized events. Everything just seemed so...random.
I also wish they would get a bigger space for the vendor's hall. It was SO cramped in there!
I did enjoy meeting Boogie~<3 She's so pretty! X3
I don't know why everyone tells me she's a bitch cause she seemed really nice to me. D:
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@Random- I'll cross post to the Akicon forums probably. I just wanted to give a review here too :3~ Sorry if this came off as like, bitching or anything.
@Gryffinclaw- Hnnnnngh, you were super adorable. I am glad we got to meet :D And oh man, stories of me being a bitch to people. You must tell me on Facebook, not gonna deny it, but I'm only a bitch to people I believe deserve it.
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To be honest, none of those links you posted are from actual reviews of Akicon. They are just fans saying they enjoyed themselves.
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@Random- I'll cross post to the Akicon forums probably. I just wanted to give a review here too :3~ Sorry if this came off as like, bitching or anything.
It's all good. I should have worded my first post better - it's not that people shouldn't post how they felt about it, just that arguing over how we think other people should feel about it would be counter to the spirit of the forums.
Good luck with posting over there, and you're always welcome to keep posting here. (^_^)
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Disclaimer: I have not been to Akicon, nor do I plan to attend in the foreseeable future. I am merely crunching the numbers provided and offering some insight as a long time con staffer.
oh and i also found this on the akicon forum regarding volunteers. I personally don't volunteer
"Volunteer reimbursement
4 hours = free t-shirt
8 hours = free t-shirt, bag and access to volunteer green room
16 hours = ½ price of badge returns, free t-shirt, bag and access to volunteer green room
32 +hours = full price of badge returned free t-shirt, bag and access to volunteer green room
Volunteer must sign in and out with Volunteer guardian. Your hours must be verified by a
Guardian volunteer that will sign your time card.
Assuming Akicon runs 07:00-23:59 day 1, 00:00-23:59 day 2, and 00:00-23:59 day 3. Also assuming another 24 hours for set up and tear down (12 hours each) that is 89 con hours over five days. That means, to have a badge refunded as a volunteer one would need to work for 36% (35.955056179775280898876404494382, which is 32/89) of the convention.
For anything reminiscent of Yojimbo(Kumo)/S.A.S.(Sakura)/Aegis(M.E.W.), video gaming staff (or volunteer if you prefer), panel moderators, (insert most things that fall under programming and operations), etc. then one's position is only "active" during con hours. These positions make up 77% (rounded) of Kumoricon's 234 staff (for 2010 at least, 180/234). That would mean that (assuming a similar staff distribution) approximately two-thirds to three-quarters of Akicon's volunteers would only be able to work in their assigned position during the con's (assumed) programming hours (65). This bring the percentage of volunteer hours (compared to "workable" hours) to get a badge refunded to 49% (49.230769230769230769230769230769, or 32/65).
If you were to monetarily compensate these volunteers for their hours worked (thus negating the "volunteer" title) you would owe them (at Oregon's minimum wage of $8.40/hr) $268.80 before taxes.
For some comparison: Sakuracon, Kumoricon, and M.E.W.con all enforce a 16 hour rule for staff. This rule is very simple: If you do not work your 16 hours (insert the standard **** happens {self censor} clause), you lose your staff badge and all the privileges that come with it. Generally managers/coordinators will give some leeway as long as you are present for most of your shifts. For M.E.W.con that is 16 hours out of 52 programming hours and ~62 con hours. This is 30% of the programming hours and 25% of the con hours (not including meetings, which also count in my mind). (I will also update this section with the Sakuracon percents when I have the time.)
Sakuracon and M.E.W.con do not charge their staff anything, they prefer to have very tight control on who they allow to work for them. Personally, I only "hire" people that I can get positive reviews about from a supervisor, or I have some other reason for trusting.
Kumoricon charges $10 to its staff. This is less than half of the retail (selling point) value of a full con-pass if you buy it at con for the next year.
In conclusion, although a sound idea in theory, mathematically it does not pan out. These volunteers would have to work almost half of the con's assumed programming hours (which, I believe, are no where near the actual values as M.E.W.con last year only had about 50 programming hours).
i think that is reasonable since i know friends that volunteer, get free badges and then never show up to help
People like the ones you mentioned (those that try and get a "free badge") get red-listed (no longer allowed as staff/volunteers) very quickly at organized cons.
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I can't say that the volunteer perks are necessarily enticing, but seeing as I average 40-60 hours of work at a typical con where I'm staffing, 32 hours doesn't seem half-bad. That said, I wouldn't get too attached to that policy. 16 hours of work should be more than enough for free admission, as well as a shirt, access to staff preservation/green room, and a staff badge that lets people know that you contributed to the convention being a success. If Akicon wants volunteers, they need to lighten up. If they don't want more volunteers, they need to put a lot more effort into training the ones they have and should probably offer better compensation.
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^i agree. akicon definitely NEEDS more volunteers but there are not enough benefits to attract them. why would anyone spend most of the con working for only a t shirt and partial refund of the badge price? especially since it seems to be a pretty thankless job too.. :/