Anime USA?

[ClosetOtaku]

AFAIK, there is no pre-reg desk open Thursday night (unlike Otakon, they don't usually open until the day of the convention).

According to the website, the registration desk opens at 10 AM Friday.

[Bap]

I'm going. O:

[Blitzkrieg1701]

YAY!!! After a very uncertain weekend, my traveling/staying arrangements are worked out AGAIN.

...now all I have to do is get these costumes finished (and, um, print out my order e-mail thing. I've already had a few dreams of showing up in Virginia without it )

[Blitzkrieg1701]

Well, I'm heading out Friday moring, and I'll probably be busy all Thursday getting ready (darn you costumes), so I'll just take this chance to remind everyone who be at AUSA to seek me out and say hi! Again, look for Irvine from FFVIII and Joshua from Chrono Crusade on Friday, Urahara from Bleach on Saturday, and James from Pokemon on Sunday (and, unless someone's taking a picture of me right then, I'll have very out-of-character-glasses on). Oh, and just for the record, I will answer to "Blitz," so if you think you see me, don't be afraid to call me out.

Hopefully, the prayer get together will be around 9 or 10 Sunday morning, but the location will have to be figured out when we're all there. Clearly, it's being played entirely by ear, so let's just see what happens.

See ya'll in Virginia!

[Kamille]

Hey Blitz,

Hope you had a great con (same for everyone else who went). Sorry I missed you. My brother decided to come along at the last minute and since we drove home together I didn't even get to go to the con on Sunday.

Interestingly enough my most memorable moment was when I did my daily Bible reading in the hotel near the panels on the fourth floor. I'm not sure, since I was reading at the time, but I think I got some wierd looks from passers-by. But besides that it was fine.

[Blitzkrieg1701]

Well, most of the time I could only barely track down the people I came with, much less anyone else (that five story layout made finding people murder, didn't it?)

I personally had a very interesting experience. The guys I roomed with were... a colorful bunch, but it was okay in the end. Honestly, it felt really weird to not have anything to, ya know, DO during the con. It just wasn't as satisfying to just bop around for my own amusement. That, and there was only a few people I actually knew, but that's to be expected.

As for Sunday, we didn't really do MUCH since everyone was in a hurry to pack up. Me and some of my friends just got together for a few minutes in that little space behind the video room and prayed for each other. Simple, but it was still a really good experience. In the future, I think it would be better to try something like that on Saturday instead of Sunday.

...that, and work out a better way of finding my fellow CAAers

[ashfire]

I cameby for Saturday on a one day pass since I live just across the river in Maryland about 30 mintues away.
I was not impressed with the registration with the way it ran. I guess its like was said, its the layout of the hotel which may have alot to do with the way things were ran.
I came to see the AMVs and look in the dealer room for somethings I didn't look for at Neko Con. The AMVs broke down for 30 minutes and started from the begining again
I would have taken photos of cosplayers but to me there were too many people to work around to do it. I guess I was there for about 5 hours and left to go shopping nearby and home.
This is the first year in the Hyatt for Anime USA. The con has moved around since it started.
It was in Tysons Corner the longest time in a hotel there a few miles away.

[Blitzkrieg1701]

Yeah, the change in venue deffinately threw things for a loop. Compared to Animazement, it seemed much more chaotic and unplanned, but that's really not a fair comparison since AZ's had pleanty of years to get used to their hotel. I'm interested to see how they use the lessons they learned here for next year's con.

[ashfire]

I have been to the Hyatt a few times for different anime cons held there.
The one that used the hotel the most was Katsucon.
The dealers room has been the same for different shows held there.
Registation has moved around to different places in the hotel.
One time it was in a area near the parking garage so the crowd wouldn't interfear with movement of attendees or areas of the hotel.
I guess when I seen the way Neko Con runs registation I think other cons I have attended have a long way to catchup.
Neko Con has computers for attendees to register on so has to speed things up.
I work on staff at Neko Con so I guess I look at things different.

[ClosetOtaku]

Friday was spent in getting registered, walking around the complex, and blowing a lot of money in the dealer's room. Went to the AMV contest -- not bad, but the staff spent too much time walking around in front of the room and distracting the people trying to watch.

Saturday I caught the first 6 episodes of Air (reminiscent of Kanon), played Go (I fared decently against a couple dan-level players at a 9-stone handicap) and taught a game of Masons. I went to the panel on the Geneon meltdown, very interesting. More time in the dealer's room and artist alley.

Best costume seen: the guy (or gal) in the Totoro costume. S/he was getting hugs from everyone.

[Kamille]

Sorry I haven't said anything in a while, but I think you all hit it dead on the head - it wasn't a well organized con. I could tell on Friday when about 50 people showed up to the opening ceremonies, including the guests, whereas at animazement '07 opening ceremonies was nearly standing room only.

Also, anyone been to Katsucon? I'm thinking of going this February.

[Bap]

I'm going to Katsucon. Katsucon, Otakon, and AnimeUSA are my usual stops. xD

[ClosetOtaku]

I'll be at Katsucon as well. Just like Goldilocks, I find Anime USA too small, and Otakon too large, but Katsu is 'just right'.

And, no, I won't be dressed as Goldilocks.

[Blitzkrieg1701]

Hey, I'm hoping to make it to Katsucon too!

Maybe we could do a SUCCESSFUL meet up?