Akon, Dane Cook, and stuff

[beck]

guardianhunter and I decided to go to Akon for a bit Sat. evening. She had some work to do and I told nightambre I'd go to meet her for once and eat dinner together (it was awesome to finally meet you). When we got there, all I can say is that I had a better time just walking around the artist alley than just being at the con itself. I haven't been to Akon since 2 yrs ago and I don't miss it one bit. Just something about that con I lost respect for. Not sure if its all the stories I've heard about staffing stuff or knowing how the con is handled overall. Bleh, whatever, *shrugs* maybe I'm just having that slight burnt out feeling of going to it.

I'll be honest and this isn't geared up at all to those on my flist, but I didn't think there were all that many good artists. And the thing that really shocked me is that there wasn't much for Bleach fanart either. Most were Naruto, One Piece, IY, original stuff, and shitloads of chainmail stuff. I did collect some artists business cards that I really liked and will hopefully be able to commission something from them in the future. It was really neat to see the artist druihd but missed out on seeing pzb since she stepped away for a moment during the time when we were walking around.

I didn't see overly much for Bleach cosplayers when we got there but what bit I did see where a good bit of SS captains. I must say I was TOTALLY impressed with the One Piece group that were dressed from the Water Arc/CP9 and there was a chick who was Robin in her purple outfit with the white cowboy hat, very hot.

While Anna was working with Caitlin Glass's mom (for those that don't know, Caitlin is Winry's VA on FMA), Caitlin's mom was nice enough to offer me her badge to use even though I didn't bring any money with me if I wanted to check out the dealers room but I accepted anyways just in case. I was wondering why Caitlin's mom was putting together these Black Cat figures that Caitlin bought till I read about Funi picking up the license for the series so I'm curious to see if by chance she's going to be a voice for one of the girl's.

For those on my flist who was in my group/shared my room back in '04, (the first yr Akon was at the Adam's Mark), you'd be surprised at the changes they FINALLY made when it came to crowd control at the hotel. Akon had their staff man the elevators instead of it being ONE HUGE CLUSTER FUCK when you tried to get in one. You had to stand in line to get on but hell, I'd rather wait in line than being shoved around just to get on or off. AND you could use the stairs too without being yelled at.

The ONLY time I will ever consider on spending money on Akon is if #1. they get really good guests and bands that I've been waiting forever and a day to see or #2. a huge group of friends come down for it again. Other than that, I'll stick to AnimeFest, it's still a small con but I enjoy myself better there plus they've had much better guests.

~*~

Looking around, I'm really surprised no one has mentioned about Dane Cook's show on HBO called "Tourgasm". It's about he and 3 other ppl he has with him on a comedy tour and you see all the bullshit that goes on when things clash and it's not a pretty sight. The main eps are shown on Sunday nights but it airs again during the weekday nights, check your listings for the times. Another show that comes on before his is "Life with Louie". Not a bad show, sounds funny to hear the characters be so vulgar. I guess I could imagine it if Married With Children were allowed to be this dirty.

~*~

While watching Sun. night's Adult Swim, they were showing more bumps for P. Playhouse and there were some things they showed that I HAD NO CLUE about. One was Cyndi Lauper either wrote or sang the theme song. Which thinking back on it now, if she did sing it, you can tell cause of that high pitched voice. And the other had to do with Rob Zombie as one of the production assistant's O____________O.

Some crazy crazy shit.

Comments

[kwycksylver.livejournal.com]

So what's the scoop on the Phoenix Entertainment people?

This was the first year I've attended AKon since '02 and I have to agree that AFest is better.

I think what gets me is this was - what? - AKon 17? You'd think that in 17 years they'd have figured out a better system for the pre-reg line, which still took forever because they kept changing how they were handling the line while everyone was still standing in line waiting for their badges and packets. I don't know why they can't just mail the badges and perhaps a verification slip of somekind that you turn in at the con and they check off later, and forget the packets. The whole purpose of the pre-reg line is to verify how many people showed up that paid in advance anyway.

[eyoko.livejournal.com]

Who kept changing the lines? Was it con security? If so, then that's no excuse for not being better prepared. Then again, it's a possibility that the fire marshall was there trying to make sure the codes werent broken.

However, there is still no excuse for such disorganization. [shakes head]

[kwycksylver.livejournal.com]

Part of the reason for changing the lines around was because they needed the space where the line was for an exhibit. I think they were also trying to figure out a way to make the line go faster. All I know is, each time they changed it, we ended up farther back in the line. They did finally come up with an idea that made it go a little faster though. What they really need, however, is to put more volunteers on the pre-reg line. There were only six.

[eyoko.livejournal.com]

What they need is better internal workings -- there should really be no reason for volunteers to be working on con security. That dept should have been doing some high recruiting. The volunteers shouldnt be relied for consafety... Volunteers should be more like gophers for the other depts (Registration, Artist Alley, Dealer Room, etc).

It's really sad AKon is going down the drain...

However, if AnimeNext does get overly crowded this year, we might have to put a cap... We've grown quite abit; & now w/D'espairsRay & the other JGOH on our roster, that'll boost up reg! _-_

I am SOOOOOOO dreading this wkend... I have yet to pack... Leaving work now! ;_;

--Lucky
Animenext's 2006 Registration Director

[yankeerose69.livejournal.com]

So what's the scoop on the Phoenix Entertainment people?

The treatment of their guests and just how things are handled overall. They've been doing it for how long now and it seems like every yr it either gets worse or stays the same (thats just as bad, not for the good). Hell, Greg Ayres will be one to tell you how shitty they treat the guests, hence why he won't attend the con (can't blame him). With the stories I hear, it makes me wonder if they treat their Japanese guest the same way or like royalty.

Sounds like their reg or even pre.reg lines will NEVER change on how they try to man the stuff. It's always a HUGE cluster fuck with them.

Yeah, I wondered too about them not mailing the badges out but then again, you'll have ppl claiming it got lost in the mail and never received them, etc, etc. The slip sounds like a good idea too. And yes, fuck the packets, the majority of the time its nothing interesting in them.

From what I've seen with Afest, especially last yr since it seemed like they finally were allowed more space (since this was only their 2nd yr at that hotel), they had a bigger room to go get your badges. Considering that I always go early that Fri while kids are either still in school or ppl at work, I don't have to deal with huge lines. Now during the weekend when there are tons of ppl, I'm sure their lines are pretty long but I'm also sure that they have a system to where it makes things go smoothly. How was it for you guys last yr when you went to get your badges?

[kwycksylver.livejournal.com]

We didn't go on Friday at AFest last year, we didn't go until Saturday, so most of the con-goers had already gone through the lines. Barb had pre-regged but I bought chibi's and mine at the con. It took us about a half hour to 45 minutes.

[babaca.livejournal.com]

There were tons of Bleach cosplayers... mostly Captains, but there was an imprisioned Rukia complete with red collar and a few Ichigos... I didn't see any Renjis or Ishidas though.

The elevator folks were something... but I was impressed that there was elevator management, and I was also happily surprised that none of the elevators crapped out (at least with us on them).

You should have given a call it would have been fun to see you.

[yankeerose69.livejournal.com]

I saw a chick dressed as Renji and I think a Bankai!Ichigo who was walking with a Yoruichi, some Urahara's, a Rukia or two, and one of the girl's on my flist who was Ulquiorra.

I think that was a good idea of them doing that elevator management. I'm surprised ppl haven't been trampled or hurt in general cause of the assholes that can't wait for ppl to GET OFF the elevator. Knock on wood but thank god I haven't experienced a shoddy elevator, I just hear about it from other ppl. *lol*

You should have given a call it would have been fun to see you.

I was trying for the life of me who it was that said they were going to be there and drew a complete blank till I was half way home that it was you guys. I totally would've called.

[nockergeek.livejournal.com]

The elevator chaperones were put in place last year, and made a huge difference, so I was glad to hear that they kept that going this year. We didn't stay in the con hotel, and never actually entered the hotel itself this year, so we didn't get to take advantage of this, but if it was anything like last year, it was a vast improvement.

As far as Bleach art, we just didn't see much interest in it. Of the keychains we had, our Kon and Ichigo keychains sold the least, as compared to the FMA and Inu Yasha keychains, which sold out. With Bleach not quite fully state-side (at least until it begins airing on Adult Swim), I wouldn't expect it to be big this summer in artist alleys. Sure, there's a lot of hardcore cosplayers (it was nice to see such a huge variety of Bleach characters represented), but as far as buyers of art, Bleach was a bit of a null space. We're working on rotating Naruto art out, though, and rotating Bleach in, since it's the_z's main fandom right now, and it's got a lot of potential to be HUGE once it hits the airwaves.

[yankeerose69.livejournal.com]

The elevator chaperones were put in place last year, and made a huge difference

It took me totally by surprise when I saw this. It was HORRIBLE the 1st yr there. And I'm surprised no one used their brain about doing that to begin with, especially considering the amount of ppl going to be there. What the fuck did they expect? The hotel staff had a shit fit if they saw ppl using the stairs. There is no law saying that customers are not allowed to use the stairs.

I don't blame you guys for not staying at the con's hotel.

Yeah, good point about the Bleach art. I guess I was expecting to see a little more than what little there was. Plus with me not carrying any money prevented me from commishing art, hence why I picked up artists cards who I happened to like. And even then it's a toss up if the artist will actually draw the art I want.

[kumagoro-usagi.livejournal.com]

I live in the UK. I have none of your cool shows on my telly. :sobs: