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I'll be there for the third year in my big, fluffy Boota costume! Looking forward to it!

Oh darn--the submission date is during finals week for me and my friend who are working on our AMV. :( Looks like we might not be able to make it after all! I'm still going to try, but we'll see what happens. We're about 60-70% through, and while I have quite a bit of free time to work on it in the next ten days, my friend doesn't, and the AMV is on her computer and won't work on mine. Just had to vent a little!

I was huge fuzzy Boota at the GAINAX meet and greet and the Gurren Lagann gathering on Saturday... Anyone get pictures of me?

I was mostly involved in going to the GAINAX events (panels, Meet and Greet), and I thought they went marvelously. The panels were interesting and well-organized, I loved that autographs were allowed after the panels (I got EIGHTEEN autographs and sketches!) and the Meet and Greet was absolutely amazing. I wish I had some suggestions, but I really can't think of any complaints. Great job! The GAINAX events really made the convention for me. :)

I completely agree with and second this post. It wasn't too bad finding the boards with the gatherings, but a list in the registration bag attached to the schedule would have been much more convenient and simple for everyone. In previous years, I've met people who had no idea how to figure out when and where the cosplay gatherings were, so this would make it easier for them.

THANK YOU [insert deity]!

I'm a mascot cosplayer, so I would have nearly died if it was going to be incredibly hot. I've had enough of this hot weather--today was nice up here in the foothills.

I am so happy I can go outside in my costumes without collapsing immediately.

I'm coming from Nevada City, which is a little town between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. It's about a three hour drive or so. Just the right distance of a drive to listen to a few anime OSTs and make "ON THE ROAD TO FANIME" signs to flash at the cars we pass! >D Man, I love that car ride.

Fifth year for me! I can't believe how time flies (when you're having fun)! I can't wait. <3

I'm hopefully doing a big, fluffy mascot-style Boota costume, so I'll hopefully be joining you all for the gathering!

These aren't so much survival tips as enjoyment tips, but whatever. I think they'll serve you well anyway. :wink:

~ Be sure to go to as many things as possible. Don't overdo it, but if something looks interesting to you, don't pass it up! I've had friends go to conventions and not have a very eventful time. When I asked them why they didn't enjoy the convention as much as they expected, it became apparent that they had hardly gone to any events. Go to things!

Also, oftentimes the best events are the ones that seem embarrassing/a little outside your comfort level before you go to them. For instance, it took me twenty-one whole conventions to work up the courage to do karaoke, but once I did--wow, I sucked--but I wish I had done it at every convention, because I had a blast! So, don't be afraid to take some little risks or go to things even if they're a little intimidating to you.

~ On the flip side, don't do too much. Cramming your schedule too much will cause a lot of stress, and sometimes you'll find amazing amounts of fun waiting for you in the halls, in lines talking to people, or just hanging around. Find a happy medium where you have gaps between panels/viewing room/whatever so you have time to peruse the dealer's room, artist's alley, and generally wander.

~ If you're cosplaying, leave early for panels. I've been late to several panels because I was stopped so often for pictures! XD

~ Usually convention folk are great people, but if someone is making you uncomfortable (taking inappropriate pictures, following you, whatever), be sure to tell the person so. If they don't leave you alone, go to Con-Ops about it. In my experience, Con-Ops are friendly and willing to help.

~ Make sure to keep your badge on you at all times! This is especially difficult if you change in and out of costumes during the convention. Do a double-check on it often, because it's a hassle when you lose your badge. I lost mine jumping up and down at MusicFest one year.

~ If you're like me and enjoy having convention memories, definitely bring a charged camera with lots of pictures on it, or a camcorder, or even a notebook to write down your experiences in.

~ Go to the cosplay gatherings! They're fun, and it seems like a lot of the convention goers aren't aware they're happening.

~ Make friends! Convention people are almost always happy to make friends and talk anime with you. If you're in a line or you see a cosplayer who interests you, go up and chat!

~ Try to travel around the convention with a small group of friends. Having no friends around makes conventions a bit lonely, and big groups can get messy or hard to manage. Smaller groups tend to be the most fun and it's easier to agree what to go to.

I'm sure I have more, but I can't think of any right now. I hope you have fun, though! :D I think you're going to love the convention.

Mine is hardly started! Eeek, I'd better get working faster... ><

1. Cowboy Bebop
2. Wolf's Rain
3. Gankutsuou
4. Mushishi

Those are my absolutely locked-in top four--after that it's a mess of Honey & Clover, Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu, RahXephon, Last Exile, Kino's Journey, Fullmetal Alchemist, Haibane Renmei, Naruto and a TON of other things I'm not even going to bother listing. I have wayyy too many favorites. ^^;

That's not including anime movies. XD; Because otherwise it just gets too complicated.

I live about an hour from Sacramento... Do I count?

Hello everyone! At the moment, I don't really have time to arrange one, but would there be any interest in forming a gathering for cosplayers from Miyazaki/Ghibli movies?

I'm going to be Teto (from Nausicaa) this year, and one of my good friends is possibly going to accompany me as Nausicaa, and I was just wondering if there are enough of us for a gathering? Please comment if you're planning on going as any character from a Ghibli movie! It would be nice if we could all get together for photoshoots. :D

Maybe I will have to set aside time outside the gathering to wear the Akamaru costume... I'm going to be spending most of my cosplay time in the Teto (from Nausicaa) costume that I'm just about to start, but I'll have to find some time in my schedule to wear Akamaru for a little while, too.

OMG, were you the big Akamaru last year? *stare* I'm the Hinata who was hugging you in the Team 8 shot at the gathering! And met you again at AOD. ^-^; Woot. I wanna join the Team 8 rampage... lol I'm planning to cosplay time-skip Hinata this year. Woot. x3

I most certainly was! Yay, it'll be fun to see you again! :D Please do join the rampage--it'll be beautiful! Looking forward to seeing your new costume, too~! I love Hinata's time-skip outfit.

Oh, and you have seen this picture of us, right?



That's actually probably my favorite picture of my costume, in large part because it makes it so much cuter with you hugging me. :3 Makes it seem kind of like something that would happen in canon, in a way.

I got #00858. Well...at least it's easy to remember! :)

I should be tagging along with PacificPikachu dressed as Hinata, so you can put me down. If all goes well I should also be dragging a Shino along with me, but that's only if he gets me the materials soon enough for me to get the costume together for him...

*Waves* Wonderful! Can't wait to see you there! We'll have to get together all of Team Eight and run around causing chaos. :D

Maybe I will have to set aside time outside the gathering to wear the Akamaru costume... I'm going to be spending most of my cosplay time in the Teto (from Nausicaa) costume that I'm just about to start, but I'll have to find some time in my schedule to wear Akamaru for a little while, too.

Returning Costume:

* Akamaru from Naruto

New Costume:

* Teto from Nausicaa

Costumes that are being left at home:

* Pikachu
* Kumagorou from Gravitation

I wish I had the money and time to make more than one costume a year, but seeing as the Teto costume is likely going to cost upwards of ~$250 and is going to be quite complex, there's no way I could pull off another costume.

I'll be bringing my Akamaru costume from last year, so expect to see me at the gathering!

Last year's gathering was sooo much fun~! All the crack!posing was great, and it was hilarious watching the poor normal people in the park trying to figure out what was going on.

:P

Darn it, I'm already so excited for Fanime 2007.

I'll be doing a Teto (from Nausicaa) costume this year, and would be more than happy to find a Nausicaa to wander around with. I'll be fuzzy and totally open for hugs! XD

I'll also almost certainly bring along my Akamaru costume from last year for the Naruto gathering.

I don't think I'll be bring my Kumagorou and Pikachu costumes this year... Not enough room in the car!