Not at Anime Expo...

It actually kills me that I'm not at Anime Expo this year.

It's depressing!

What's funny though is that my monthly thing is late again (I'm just not regular anymore it seems!)

and it'll probably hit on the 4th of July..Last year it hit the day of AX. XD

Sooooo yeaaaaaah.

I just wish I could have gone this year. I loved Fanime and all, but one big con a year is not enough for me. I love it too much to just be happy with that.

Luckily, Sac Anime looks like it will be a definite thing so I'm looking forward to that! I'm also looking forward to our D.gray-man night this Friday and Ani-Vent next month.

It looks like quite a few friends from everywhere, even the bay area are going to it!

If we get enough people to go we can earn more money..and then it will encourage more people to go next year. This year could be the last year it is held because the host is moving away. :[ I don't even know if I Should tell anyone but yeah... Unless people take his place, this won't happen again so I REALLY hope we can get enough people to go to the con. SO PLEASE GO!

n________________n

Alright, I need to get ready. I'm going to Wal-Mart today with my Miam.

-

Sheik

READ MORE - Not at Anime Expo...

Not at Anime Expo...

It actually kills me that I'm not at Anime Expo this year.

It's depressing!

What's funny though is that my monthly thing is late again (I'm just not regular anymore it seems!)

and it'll probably hit on the 4th of July..Last year it hit the day of AX. XD

Sooooo yeaaaaaah.

I just wish I could have gone this year. I loved Fanime and all, but one big con a year is not enough for me. I love it too much to just be happy with that.

Luckily, Sac Anime looks like it will be a definite thing so I'm looking forward to that! I'm also looking forward to our D.gray-man night this Friday and Ani-Vent next month.

It looks like quite a few friends from everywhere, even the bay area are going to it!

If we get enough people to go we can earn more money..and then it will encourage more people to go next year. This year could be the last year it is held because the host is moving away. :[ I don't even know if I Should tell anyone but yeah... Unless people take his place, this won't happen again so I REALLY hope we can get enough people to go to the con. SO PLEASE GO!

n________________n

Alright, I need to get ready. I'm going to Wal-Mart today with my Miam.

-

Sheik

READ MORE - Not at Anime Expo...

Le SIGH.

No JoAnn's today.. Oh well! Went to Ross and Wal-Mart. Didn't buy anything though, just followed Robby's sister around as she bought Valentine's stuff for her kids.

I haven't been doing anything but following Robby around and stuff. Eventually I will have to work on my cosplay stuff. I need more money though, so I'm lookin' into getting a job while I'm here. Probably like a house keeping kind of thing. I'd prefer that over a stupid food job. UGH. It makes me sick thinking of a fast food job. ;[



Sooo, I haven't been able to do any videos either for my cosplay youtube, which SUCKS! I really want the Mino FlipHD. It's smaller than the Flip Ultra, but the quality is the same as the Flip UltraHD! I'm more concerned about quality, more than the size of the screen... IF I have nice money though I may just get the FLip UltraHD!! XD Heheheee. I want that AND a dress form. Then I will be a happy camper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n____________________n


Anyway...my baby is playing with his new PS3. I am happy for him. He isn't a huge addict for games, he plays for a while then does other stuff..so I am fine with it. We both have our own stuff we like to do (I like games but I love the internet too..xD)

Alright and since Amber posted her thing for 2010, I felt the need to put mine too!! Well, what I have planned so far O___O!

AOD already passed - Ayame Sohma

Mizumi-con:
I dunno T-T I don't think I'll be able to wear ANYTHING. I will just go as a crazy otaku..and take pics!! XD FAIL.

AnimeMatsurei:
This is a very popular con held from April 2nd-4th. So if I'm still here, I plan on going to it!! I will get to meet my Texan cosplay friends! What I will wear? I don't know. If I Have money by then WHICH I SHOULD (if I get a job) I will probably do my Gijinka one:


Fanime:



Ani-Vent:
(A small 1 day con in Fresno, CA this June!)
I think we'll be going in our Odin Sphere costumes or pokemon Gijinka! D:

San Japan:
Probably won't be here for it..oh well =/

AnimeFest:
I hope I can go to this oneee!!!!!!!!! It will be in Dallas, TX...in August or September, I forget. o.o I think I want to wear my Princess Agitha one to it and possibly:

Superbi Squalo~!!

So yeah, that's all I can think of for now...
Things might change. I don't know. We'll see!! n__n

READ MORE - Le SIGH.

Le SIGH.

No JoAnn's today.. Oh well! Went to Ross and Wal-Mart. Didn't buy anything though, just followed Robby's sister around as she bought Valentine's stuff for her kids.

I haven't been doing anything but following Robby around and stuff. Eventually I will have to work on my cosplay stuff. I need more money though, so I'm lookin' into getting a job while I'm here. Probably like a house keeping kind of thing. I'd prefer that over a stupid food job. UGH. It makes me sick thinking of a fast food job. ;[



Sooo, I haven't been able to do any videos either for my cosplay youtube, which SUCKS! I really want the Mino FlipHD. It's smaller than the Flip Ultra, but the quality is the same as the Flip UltraHD! I'm more concerned about quality, more than the size of the screen... IF I have nice money though I may just get the FLip UltraHD!! XD Heheheee. I want that AND a dress form. Then I will be a happy camper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n____________________n


Anyway...my baby is playing with his new PS3. I am happy for him. He isn't a huge addict for games, he plays for a while then does other stuff..so I am fine with it. We both have our own stuff we like to do (I like games but I love the internet too..xD)

Alright and since Amber posted her thing for 2010, I felt the need to put mine too!! Well, what I have planned so far O___O!

AOD already passed - Ayame Sohma

Mizumi-con:
I dunno T-T I don't think I'll be able to wear ANYTHING. I will just go as a crazy otaku..and take pics!! XD FAIL.

AnimeMatsurei:
This is a very popular con held from April 2nd-4th. So if I'm still here, I plan on going to it!! I will get to meet my Texan cosplay friends! What I will wear? I don't know. If I Have money by then WHICH I SHOULD (if I get a job) I will probably do my Gijinka one:


Fanime:



Ani-Vent:
(A small 1 day con in Fresno, CA this June!)
I think we'll be going in our Odin Sphere costumes or pokemon Gijinka! D:

San Japan:
Probably won't be here for it..oh well =/

AnimeFest:
I hope I can go to this oneee!!!!!!!!! It will be in Dallas, TX...in August or September, I forget. o.o I think I want to wear my Princess Agitha one to it and possibly:

Superbi Squalo~!!

So yeah, that's all I can think of for now...
Things might change. I don't know. We'll see!! n__n

READ MORE - Le SIGH.

Day 113

I'm only about $70 away from having all the money I need for Fanime. Food excluded, because, psh, who needs it. I'll feed off of the energy of the con like a parasite! Or convince my mom to buy me Cup Noodles to last the weekend. >_>

Last night, I received a second confirmation of my free Fanime ticket. Seems my information has been forwarded to the correct departments, and it should be finalized soon.

Funny thing, I keep looking forward to the convention after the next one that I'm going to. I looked forward to AOD before SacAnime, but now I'm looking forward to Fanime, even though AOD is only a couple of weeks away. Hmm..

In any case, I'm almost hoping that I don't win the costume contest at AOD now. Turns out, the people who gave me my Fanime ticket (P.M.B.Q.) are also going to be at AOD. I have not idea whether or not they have any connection to the costume contest or Fanime during AOD, but it makes me a little nervous. Though I could just sell the ticket at a reduced price to a friend. I think o.o I'd probably pass it off to the runner-up for my category. Or something.

In other convention (sadly not cosplay) news, I was told be the convention head for the con I'm staffing for, "I have important info on the con date. Shall I e-mail it to you later?" I said yes, of course, and have not received an e-mail. In all fairness, I didn't e-mail him either, and I said I would. I should get on that.

READ MORE - Day 113

What Not to Pack in Your Convention Backpack

This will be a much shorter post than the last, I promise, haha.

I didn't do anything cosplay-related at all today, but I have confirmed, for the millionth time, via my Costume Construction class, that I HATE sheer fabric more than anything else on this planet. Well. At least more than any other fabric. Today, I told it to go to Hell and stabbed through it with a pin. It's literally making me crazy.

So, today's topic: What Not to Bring to a Convention. Since yesterday was an extensive list on what to pack.

► Real Weapons - Most cons specifically state "no live metal" in their rules on their website and convention packets (if they have them). Just don't do it.

► Anything That Could be Used as a Weapon - Hammers, wrenches, large wooden objects. Most conventions have even banned yaoi paddles. (Of course lightweight props are usually alright.)

► Spray Cans of Anything - Avoid them as much as you can. This means perfume, body spray, Axe, and even hairspray if you can get around it. If you must bring one of these, please wait until you get into the bathroom to use it. I don't need to walk through the hallways and come out smelling like a mixture of Irresistible Apple, Strawberry Passion, and Pine Sol. Thanks. (Not sure where that Pine Sol remark came from... Sorry.)

► Large Quantities of Food - Snacks and water or soda are understandable, but full meals are a bit silly. I'd suggest using Google or MapQuest to find local eating places outside of the convention. Eat before arriving, and leave any other food in the hotel room or at home.

► Giant Music-Players - Small speakers for you and your friends are one thing, I've done that myself. They were so quiet, you had to get at least close enough to talk to us in order to even hear it, and even then, sometimes you couldn't. There's no need to blast music down the hall. Just because you think it's good, doesn't mean everybody does, and I guarantee somebody will hate it and get annoyed.

► FREE HUGS Shirts & Signs - They were fun for a while, but now they're old and obnoxious. After being borderline sexually harassed by a "Free Hugs!" guy (some say it was sexual harassment), I've come to dislike almost all of them.

I'm sure there's more, but I have a general rule: If you can't get it through airport security, re-think bringing it. Now, of course, airport security is much tighter, but with good reason. If you can't get it through airport security, it's because somehow whatever object it is has caused harm to someone. Ask yourself how that is possible, and see if there's another object you can take in it's place. (For example, I cheap, cardboard nail file instead of a metal one.)

I may come back and update this post on occasion, but I'm tired right now.

READ MORE - What Not to Pack in Your Convention Backpack

Cosplay Fan Service

No cosplay today, so here's a post with a cosplay topic again.

Fanservice! Who, what, when, where, why, and how? (Not necessarily in that order.)

UrbanDictionary.com and Wikipedia.org loosely define fanservice as unnecessary romantic fluff or sexually-derived situations (not in those exact words). These can include romantic scenes between two characters, wherein the scenes contribute nothing to the main plot, or shower / bath scenes with only one character. The term "fanservice" is not an anime-exclusive term.
In relation to cosplay, this would be one or more cosplayers pose for a picture or act in a way that is out of character and caters to the whims of fans. This could be anything from a silly face to publicly indecent acts.

I've heard stories of cosplayers being pushed and into fanservicing by rabid fans, but I've never experienced this myself. I've been asked to do yaoi poses before, but usually my partner isn't ready for it and we end up standing there looking like idiots. However, on the occasions that we're not caught completely off-guard, my boyfriend and I usually pose and the fan snaps a picture, thanks us, and leaves.

I've also seem some extremely indecent acts in convention halls being cheered on by a circle of fans. No, I don't encourage them, although sometimes my inner fangirl lets out a mental squeal, and I just walk away. Yes, it does bother me most of the time, these people would probably not be doing such inappropriate things if they weren't in costume, nor would others be cheering them on. Not in public anyway.

At Yaoi Con, there was almost no fanservicing, believe it or not. I think this was due to the age cut-off of eighteen. Which upset me only because this means that it is the younger age group (most likely young teens) who are both giving and encouraging fanservice. Which is just wrong on so many levels.

Personally, I do fanservice because I like to entertain people. I don't go out of my way to get people's attention, but if they ask, I deliver. I also never to anything indecent. I think there was only once I kissed for a picture, and it was a kiss, not a full-on make-out session. Still, if you want to call this attention-whoring, I'm not going to argue details, that isn't the point of this post. However, I'm sure that many people use fanservicing as a form of attention-whoring.

My boyfriend and I have basically been asked to fanservice for friends when we're not in costume. I guess they just want something to "aww" at and call "adorable." So we're used to being asked to be "cute" in front of others or the camera. It's usually the girls who don't have a boyfriend, but sometimes it's ones who do. I'm assuming the same theory could be applied to cosplay fanservicing. All types of people ask for it, and all types give it.

I don't believe that it's wrong to give. I also don't think that fanservicing in general is indecent. It's the way that it's interpreted that usually ends up wrong.

READ MORE - Cosplay Fan Service

Cosplay, Conventions, & Parents, Part 2 (Days Twelve & Thirteen)

Oops, I missed a day. I wonder if anyone really cares.. In any case, I haven't been feeling the best, so no real progress on anything. I went to work on my Halloween costume, but ended up in the hospital for shortness of breath and chest pain. They told me "Nothing's wrong. Here's an inhaler. Thanks for the fifty bucks and your four hours." Big fat waste of time.
I almost want to stop posting every day, but that's a good way to forget that I'm even doing this.

So back to what I was talking about before. Getting parents to understand cosplay.
I would suggest introducing it to your parents slowly. Start by making a Halloween costume for yourself. This shows your interest and allows you to get a handle on what your doing. If you've already made costumes and your parent just don't know yet, just back track a little and let your parents know you're making a Halloween costume. Even if it's November, tell your parents it's very elaborate or it'll take a while because you're making it from scratch.
If your parents already allow you to go to conventions, that's a big help. If not, take them to one. Actually, even if they already let them go, you should take them. Find a convention that only charges to get into events. Fanime does this for example. You are free to wander the halls and watch events on the main stage, you only need a pass to get into the dealer's hall, artists alley, panels, etc. This way, your parents won't be "wasting money" and can leave after they see that you are in a safe environment.
Chences are, your parents will see a few cosplayers. On the way home from the convention, or once you get home (never in a public place) express your interest in the hobby. I personally believe that it is best to discuss it after your parents have seen it, so they don't have any preconcieved notions and you can say more than "you just don't know."

READ MORE - Cosplay, Conventions, & Parents, Part 2 (Days Twelve & Thirteen)

Cosplay, Comventions, & Parents, Part 1

I did a lot of thinking about cosplay today, and I talked to my mom about it some. It gave me a topic for a short-ish post today too.

Getting parents to understand cosplay.
Obviously, not all parents are the same, and some just refuse to understand. But for those on the edge, consider this:

Renaissance faires have been around for a while. A long while. Most people consider those to be, while still rather geeky / nerdy, pretty much normal. The truth of the matter is, the full name for a Renaissance faire is The Renaissance Pleasure Fair, and it is named that for the very reasons that you or your parents' minds can come up with. Renaissance faires today are actually more wild than when they started. And Anime / sci-fi / gaming / comic book / whatevers conventions are a lot tamer than Ren-faires today. This negates most worries parents could have about conventions perverts. Of course, this only works if your parents think Ren-faires are okay.

I'll post more thoughts tomorrow, when it's not 1:30 in the morning.

In other cosplay news, I'm planning a couple more cosplays. One for my boyfriend, a mystery cosplay, and one for myself, which I haven't decided on yet. =/

READ MORE - Cosplay, Comventions, & Parents, Part 1