Been going since it started in Hayward, CA.
I am a bit excited but not as much as I used to be when I started attending FanimeCon. I have to admit, I am not a fan of anime (I don't dislike it). But I found that there are many non-anime related things to do at FanimeCon or in San Jose during that weekend. One of the most important reasons for me to be there is that (including myself) my friends, all of them, actually have the entire weekend off. It's the only time we have a coordinated weekend off for us to hang out. Since some of my friends live close to San Jose, we've chosen to use FanimeCon as a hang out spot for us. Despite having full weekend passes and a hotel room for 3 nights, we often go to other places in San Jose. Movie theaters, night clubs, etc. Sometimes we remain in the hotel room to play some X360 or watch DVDs, use laptops for Youtube or just get drunk.
So I am excited about being with my friends all in one spot.
What has changed the past few years is that my friends and I started doing the cosplay thing. Ever since we stormed in as Pirates back in 2007, we've felt it was now necessary to attend being part of the event rather than being a spectator. In turn it added the stress of building the costumes or spending a lot of money to get the quality you want. This year we're doing what we did last year (Metal), only we've just upgraded what we have now. I spent like $600 last year on pieces which I built into a costume. This year, spent maybe $200 just to upgrade it. Not fun having to spend a lot, but it was needed otherwise I'd go to the con as an unhappy camper.
So I am not too excited in the last minute cosplay work I need to do.
And of course there is the girlfriend difference. Normally we'd (the guys) go by ourselves. Everyone would ditch their wives or girlfriends for the weekend while they hang out with the guys. I never actually had a GF during a FanimeCon weekend which made me the only single guy of our group. So it was a bit exciting going to scope out the fangirls. ;) I've had many-many post-con encounters with girls and some which I've even dated, so why wouldn't that be exciting for a single guy? Well now, I have a GF (and happily so) and she and her girl-friends are coming to the con with us, and are going to dress the part matching our own costumes (for more impressive group shots). So in a way one aspect of excitement is gone. However it may create a new one with her being there. This time, I'm the only one in the group who ISN'T single while all my friends are and I think it'll be somewhat interesting to see how the guys and the girls I'm going with (all of which are strangers to each other) will interact with each other.
THAT could be an exciting Fanime. =p
I am a bit excited but not as much as I used to be when I started attending FanimeCon. I have to admit, I am not a fan of anime (I don't dislike it). But I found that there are many non-anime related things to do at FanimeCon or in San Jose during that weekend. One of the most important reasons for me to be there is that (including myself) my friends, all of them, actually have the entire weekend off. It's the only time we have a coordinated weekend off for us to hang out. Since some of my friends live close to San Jose, we've chosen to use FanimeCon as a hang out spot for us. Despite having full weekend passes and a hotel room for 3 nights, we often go to other places in San Jose. Movie theaters, night clubs, etc. Sometimes we remain in the hotel room to play some X360 or watch DVDs, use laptops for Youtube or just get drunk.
So I am excited about being with my friends all in one spot.
What has changed the past few years is that my friends and I started doing the cosplay thing. Ever since we stormed in as Pirates back in 2007, we've felt it was now necessary to attend being part of the event rather than being a spectator. In turn it added the stress of building the costumes or spending a lot of money to get the quality you want. This year we're doing what we did last year (Metal), only we've just upgraded what we have now. I spent like $600 last year on pieces which I built into a costume. This year, spent maybe $200 just to upgrade it. Not fun having to spend a lot, but it was needed otherwise I'd go to the con as an unhappy camper.
So I am not too excited in the last minute cosplay work I need to do.
And of course there is the girlfriend difference. Normally we'd (the guys) go by ourselves. Everyone would ditch their wives or girlfriends for the weekend while they hang out with the guys. I never actually had a GF during a FanimeCon weekend which made me the only single guy of our group. So it was a bit exciting going to scope out the fangirls. ;) I've had many-many post-con encounters with girls and some which I've even dated, so why wouldn't that be exciting for a single guy? Well now, I have a GF (and happily so) and she and her girl-friends are coming to the con with us, and are going to dress the part matching our own costumes (for more impressive group shots). So in a way one aspect of excitement is gone. However it may create a new one with her being there. This time, I'm the only one in the group who ISN'T single while all my friends are and I think it'll be somewhat interesting to see how the guys and the girls I'm going with (all of which are strangers to each other) will interact with each other.
THAT could be an exciting Fanime. =p