ShutoCon 2011
Okay, time to take the next con report off my list! Finally into 2011, lol! I've had a lot of cons back-to-back, which hasn't been helping me at all, in regards to time. Next up is ShutoCon 2011, which was held in March~ A first year con, in Lansing, MI. Without further ado, here's my report!
Precon/Thursday
We had the fortune of rooming with the conchairs for ShutoCon back at NMA con last year. That was our first time really hearing about the convention, and they convinced me, by the end of the weekend, to put in for their artist alley and attend the convention. I gave them my information there, and paid a couple weeks later for my table and our badges. We ended up not putting in for panels at the con, but I did help with a panel last minute while at the convention. Because the con was only three hours away, and it was just me and my mother, we took my car to the convention. It was nice not having to leave at crazy hours. The convention was 2 days only, but we roomed with some girls who got the room for Friday night as well, so we decided to head up in the afternoon, and actually get sleep the night before a convention (or try to anyways, lol). We even managed to get our badges Thursday night, too, which saved us the hassle of worrying about it in the morning <3 I spent my whole Thursday night in the room, listening to music and working on Desert Tracer. It was nice and relaxing~
Friday-
Cosplay: Lily, AniMOVE (Vocaloid) *debut*
Like usual, we got up early and got things ready to trek down to Artist Alley and check in for set-up. We found the alley pretty easily, and the convention center staff were pretty nice about directing us as well. No signs were set up yet, since it was so early, which made it a bit less smooth than it could have been. Once we got to the right place though, we got checked in and set-up with little hassle. Since there wasn't a whole lot for Urd-chan to do at teh convention (they didn't even have karaoke for me ;_; ), she spent most of her time at the table with me, which was nice to have the company. I even got to explore AA on the first day *gaspeth*. I befriend Alice, another artist in the alley and she asked me to assist her with her panel the next day, and I happily agreed. I spent a lot of time just chatting with other people, and working on Desert Tracers between commissions and sales. When the alley closed up for the night, we headed back to the room and grabbed ourselves some food. We spent a couple hours just relaxing before we finally went to bed, for the early morning ahead of us.
Saturday-
Cosplay: Luka, Uragiri ha Boku no Namae wo Shitteru
Panel: Fangasm (assisted only)
After rising early, I got my luggage together so that Urd-chan and I could run the stuff down to the car. The girls we stayed with ended up having the room for Saturday night, as well, so we weren't in the same hurry we usually were, lol. When my stuff was finished, I headed down to open up my table, and Urd-chan joined me later. Around 11 or so, it was time for Alice's panel "Fangasm." Basically, it was an anime trivia panel. She had me help pass out prizes and markers during the panel, including throwing freebies into the audience, lol. I had a lot of fun at the panel (though it was depressing how many people couldn't get answers to the trivia questions about old classics like Gundam Wing and Escaflowne). After the panel, I helped her get her things back to her table before retiring to my table once more. About an hour before things closed, I finally took a chance to run into Dealer's room, but most of the dealer's were already closing up by that time, and there wasn't anything I really wanted that I saw or could afford, anyways. I grabbed some last minute pictures and changed before taking down my AA stuff and heading for the car. Once everything was settled in, we headed on home, and managed to get home at around 9 or so. I wasn't in dire need of sleep like I have been at some cons, but I was tired, so I went to sleep.
For the final tally~ The convention itself was decently organized, and I had no major issues with the alley, registration, or anything in that manner. However, the con fell short on guests and events. As it was a first time convention though, I wasn't expecting much less. The venue was a bit tedious, but it was nice, and there was a lot of room for the convention to grow. I give the con a 5/10! I already have my AA table for next year <3
Pictures have been up for a while, but you can see them here: ShutoCon 2011 on DSOD
Precon/Thursday
We had the fortune of rooming with the conchairs for ShutoCon back at NMA con last year. That was our first time really hearing about the convention, and they convinced me, by the end of the weekend, to put in for their artist alley and attend the convention. I gave them my information there, and paid a couple weeks later for my table and our badges. We ended up not putting in for panels at the con, but I did help with a panel last minute while at the convention. Because the con was only three hours away, and it was just me and my mother, we took my car to the convention. It was nice not having to leave at crazy hours. The convention was 2 days only, but we roomed with some girls who got the room for Friday night as well, so we decided to head up in the afternoon, and actually get sleep the night before a convention (or try to anyways, lol). We even managed to get our badges Thursday night, too, which saved us the hassle of worrying about it in the morning <3 I spent my whole Thursday night in the room, listening to music and working on Desert Tracer. It was nice and relaxing~
Friday-
Cosplay: Lily, AniMOVE (Vocaloid) *debut*
Like usual, we got up early and got things ready to trek down to Artist Alley and check in for set-up. We found the alley pretty easily, and the convention center staff were pretty nice about directing us as well. No signs were set up yet, since it was so early, which made it a bit less smooth than it could have been. Once we got to the right place though, we got checked in and set-up with little hassle. Since there wasn't a whole lot for Urd-chan to do at teh convention (they didn't even have karaoke for me ;_; ), she spent most of her time at the table with me, which was nice to have the company. I even got to explore AA on the first day *gaspeth*. I befriend Alice, another artist in the alley and she asked me to assist her with her panel the next day, and I happily agreed. I spent a lot of time just chatting with other people, and working on Desert Tracers between commissions and sales. When the alley closed up for the night, we headed back to the room and grabbed ourselves some food. We spent a couple hours just relaxing before we finally went to bed, for the early morning ahead of us.
Saturday-
Cosplay: Luka, Uragiri ha Boku no Namae wo Shitteru
Panel: Fangasm (assisted only)
After rising early, I got my luggage together so that Urd-chan and I could run the stuff down to the car. The girls we stayed with ended up having the room for Saturday night, as well, so we weren't in the same hurry we usually were, lol. When my stuff was finished, I headed down to open up my table, and Urd-chan joined me later. Around 11 or so, it was time for Alice's panel "Fangasm." Basically, it was an anime trivia panel. She had me help pass out prizes and markers during the panel, including throwing freebies into the audience, lol. I had a lot of fun at the panel (though it was depressing how many people couldn't get answers to the trivia questions about old classics like Gundam Wing and Escaflowne). After the panel, I helped her get her things back to her table before retiring to my table once more. About an hour before things closed, I finally took a chance to run into Dealer's room, but most of the dealer's were already closing up by that time, and there wasn't anything I really wanted that I saw or could afford, anyways. I grabbed some last minute pictures and changed before taking down my AA stuff and heading for the car. Once everything was settled in, we headed on home, and managed to get home at around 9 or so. I wasn't in dire need of sleep like I have been at some cons, but I was tired, so I went to sleep.
For the final tally~ The convention itself was decently organized, and I had no major issues with the alley, registration, or anything in that manner. However, the con fell short on guests and events. As it was a first time convention though, I wasn't expecting much less. The venue was a bit tedious, but it was nice, and there was a lot of room for the convention to grow. I give the con a 5/10! I already have my AA table for next year <3
Pictures have been up for a while, but you can see them here: ShutoCon 2011 on DSOD