Anime/Manga Swap 5!! - sign-ups end Jan 5 - send outs Feb 10

[RevolutionaryGirl]

Still alive, work's been really busy lately.

I've got a good portion of my stuff done, just the most difficult one coming up.

I can't wait for Dragoncon this year - I finally be doing real cosplay as Utena. I'm so excited!

[Chrislea]

Wow, you'll have to share photos!  Are you gonna go with a group, or at least have an Anthy at your side?  ^_~

[TwistedTruth]

I wanna go to a con so bad!

Boo, the one I know of in Indiana is so expensive. 

[angelcallie]

Over the past few years I've only been able to get myself out to one con, but I really want to start going to more. They're so much fun!

[shdwstrm]

Started work on the large item (time wise) and will have a couple of items done tomorrow eveing (working 6 days straight at work, then 1 day off and then 4 days of... I'm POOPED!!)

[Deseree]

I have a half-finished Vash the Stampede coat just hanging in my room, accusing me.

ooh! Trigun is awesome. You should post pics of your coat whenever it's finished. I'd like to see it ^^

So far I've cosplayed as Ayame (Tenchu), Pucca, and Luka (Vocaloids)...and I'm not sure what to do next,
but I really want to work on a steampunk outfit...

@ Puffy - I've been dyinggg to go to Otakon!! how is it??

....ok I've finished 2 items for my partner...moving on to the next!

[angelcallie]

Oh, I love steampunk! I am mentally piecing together a steampunk outfit/persona as well.

And of course I'll post pics of my Vash cosplay if when it gets done!

[TPauSilver]

I went to my first con last september. I have to say that I was actually a little bored. Maybe I missed what you're supposed to do at cons...I will admit though that it might have been more fun had I stayed at the hotel, but since I have two little ones, I just wasn't comfortable with that. I did dress up though. That was tons of fun. But I dont really need to go to a con to do that. I'm thinking that I might try it again this year. Anyone have any suggestions on what I'm supposed to do? lol. I literally felt like one of the oldest people there and I'm only in my 20's.

I do think it would be tons of fun to have a table there tho. But I hear that it's really expensive and having one doesnt allow you to partake in panels. What do you think? Some of you mentioned having tables- is it wortj it? Do you usually come out even or profit?

What people get out of conventions varies. I go almost entirely for the people, a lot of my friends do the conventions, a go to  the big events (the omake and the masquerade, normally) and a few panels, but I'm mostly there to chat and look at other people's cosplay. At the other end of the spectrum, I know people who skip the socialising aspect entirely and go only to use the dealers room, attend panels and watch anime. Most people fall somewhere in the middle. I think the best advice would be that if you want socialising, pick the smallest con you can. If you want events pick the biggest. Look at reviews and try posting on the message boards for the con before you go too. Smaller cons tend to be more close knit and more orientated to hanging out and being geeks, whereas bigger ones end to be more professional and are about the events. Both good in their own way but sometihng to think about XD

Oh, and about the tables, only ever helped out with my fiends but I'd say that if you want to actually take part in the activities like panels etc then don't. If you're more there for the socialising aspect they can be nice to do, I'd certainly consider doing it again but I don't really care about missing anything other then the parties and the omake.

All the conventions in America baffle me, so many of them XD England's great as the convention circuit is pretty small and pretty well contained. London expo is the biggest but that's just essentially a massive dealers room. Still fun but not as much fun. Then you've got ame/aya con which alternate in some strange pattern, then a range of smaller cons. I went to Tokonatsu last year and plan to go again, which is a camping convention where we spend a lot of time shooting each other with water pistols and making running around fields in cosplay.



And yes, I am rambling XD I'm at an awkward part of my large items and dont want to have to do it but I know I do have to XD I'm just going to have to suck it up and go and make the thing. Also, I thought I knew what I was making them I had an awsome idea last night for something else. Not worked out if it's fesable yet but I at least have to try.

[Chrislea]

Man, yeah, I know what you mean about missing events.  The only panels I've been to in the past three years are the ones I hosted.  =_=  Sometimes I get lucky and have a table right in front of an open panel room door, and once a host gave me a quick, personal demo right before her panel began.  And some of them look so cool.  Cosplay 101s, digital-on-a-budget tutorials, BJD workshops, redubbing...  T-T

[Riechan]

I've been only to a con twice, and it was a very very small one... In belgium things like manga are finally starting to get up. There is one larger con that I know of but it's not only about anime but also about comics, sf, and stuff (most cosplayers are from star wars)
Sooo what I was planning to ask... what's a panel?
(for the rest I read the 2nd manga of Dramacon, that's how much I know about cons )
I want to go to one !!! There are more in The Netherlands but it's a bit far for me