Once again, it’s time for Katsucon! This time, instead of dedicating
the entire Friday to the con, I figure I’ll just go right from work, which
is maybe half an hour away. Saves me some gas. It’s odd, five
years ago, I was like, “Woo! One month to Katsucon!” (or whatever con was
coming up) and would result in driving all day to get there. Now
it’s “Hm, Katsucon’s coming up tomorrow. I guess I’ll check it out
after work.” Times have changed indeed.
So close, you can feel it.
After finishing my shift at work, I headed out with all the intense buildup that one would normally experience right before ordering a cheeseburger. Cashed my entire paycheck, and from there I plunged headlong into inner Baltimore at the dawn of Friday rush hour. Thick, but not unbearable.
Up, up, and away!
Got into the parking garage and went around in circles all the way to the top before finding a parking space. Parking in Baltimore isn’t impossible, but it isn’t cheap. Next objective: registration. $50. Such is fate. First thing I come across is the dealers room, where I find Corey. He told me what the room number is, but I should have written it down. He then shows me where he got a tiny R/C car, and I had to get one too. Then I found some Excel Saga manga! Found Dave, but lost Corey. Until I find him or Mike, I’ll be living out of my coat. Otakon shirts are in, so I get a couple. Meg calls my cell phone, to let me know that she has a bunch of things to return to me.
A little tired, and a little hungry. Been up since 5 AM, and had just a light lunch. But I’m ok so far.
Got room happening now.
Found Corey again, and went up to the room for some munchies. Mike showed up, so I could get a key. Went to a nearby restaurant for dinner, saved the leftovers, then unloaded my car. After that, I returned Meg’s Rayearth set to her, and got a couple tapes and such back. Managed to land myself a copy of “This is Otakudom”. Wandered around, getting tired, obviously. Been running 19 hours on 4 hours of sleep. Damn, I need to sleep.
A salute to...
Way back in the day, during my early years of con-going, I was aware of fan parodies. But I had no idea who or where to get them from. It took me over a year to finally get ahold of “Voltron: Hell bent for leather” and I got a copy of “Bad Scottish Dubbing” only because it was lent to me to begin with. However, the folks behind “This is Otakudom” make it very clear they want their fan parody circulated as much as possible. They show up for convention showings, with a bundle of copies on hand for sale (which go quick, I’ve found), for the price of the blank tape. Two dollars gets you a whole hour of hilarity and inside jokes that only we anime fans can really understand. For Katsucon’s showing, they brought along close to 100 tapes for the sole purpose of distribution. I can imagine that stack of tapes didn’t last long.
This is Otakudom, I salute thee.
Like a kid in a candy store
Playing with my little R/C car all night with Corey resulted in a bit less sleep than I’d rather have had. But woke up in the AM anyway. Grabbed a shower, then went off to buy more toys and finish off the selection of Excel Saga manga available. I’m on a serious toy kick lately. Got Transformers, FLCL action figures, and an Eva-05 mini figure. I’m seriously considering getting another R/C car for the hell of it. Scarfed down my leftovers for a quick, cheap lunch. Couple anime soundtracks, NieA_7 candy bars... Chocolate with caramel, those things are like crack for me.
Giving up the ghost
A sign-up sheet for photo pit for Cosplay became available, but I didn’t find out about it until it was too late. Then I thought, Corey’s going to tape it, no one I know is going to be in it... and there was the Gendo Springer that was coming up. Sounded interesting.
Sure enough, it was. Comedy gold, in my opinion. Got it on tape, too. Though I think I waited in line for as long as the show itself. Katsucon planning severely underestimated the interest in this idea. Line of about 150 to get in a room that could hold 40. Personally, it was likely worth missing the Cosplay for this and could be the next rising star event. Walking back to the room reminds me it’s knee brace time.
Classic anime... of tomorrow
After that was done, hung around with Mike and got something to eat in the hotel restaurant, and talked about a wide variety of things. From there, I decided on checking out Soul Taker. Main ingredients: Devilman, Guyver, and Armitage. I found it enjoyable, definitely something to look out for in the future.
Would you spank a monkey for Pocky? I would!
Anyway as I was sitting here writing this, someone with a stuffed monkey runs up and holds it up to me and says “Spank my monkey!” so I did, because it was that fun spontaneous thing to do, and they gave me some Pocky for it.
The raffle must go on!
The AUSA party was cancelled due to circumstances beyond their control, but the Utena ring raffle went on anyway, right in front of the dealers room at midnight. After that, I felt a bit run-down for the evening, so I went to bed.
Something about buying a bunch of toys really lifts my spirits.
What I wouldn’t do for a good-sized cardboard box right about now...
Woke up, and looked over my pile of stuff I got. The first time in a long time that I bought a lot of stuff, and I forgot to bring something to carry it all back with. Eh, I’ll survive. So, settled my room share, and got my stufff out. Back to living out of my car and coat. It’s just for a few more hours, which will go quick.
No, I’m not done buying stuff.
Still had to buy some stuff. Snagged some Angel Links DVDs, a Noir dojin, a NieA_7 shirt, and had a break for a salad. Aeris wanted some Fuu merchandise, but by then everything was picked over or packed up. Someone was selling R2 DVDs but most of that was already US released.
Sitting here, during the art auction. Less than half an hour before I head home, so I said my goodbyes.
At 3:50pm, I began my trip home on largely familiar paths, roads that I’ve become accustomed to driving on a daily basis. Aside from a stop for some soda and an attempt to find some car parts for a future repair, it was quite a mundane trip that got me home before sundown.
So what was Katsucon this year? Hard to say. There were a few things that I wanted to have done but didn’t, prices were much higher for room and parking, and Corey and Mike are more inclined to move on to other cons. Katsucon has become one of the larger cons over the years, and while larger cons are more hassle for us, they are no less important to attend. It was fun to cut loose and spend money like crazy, like the good old days. I feel like a kid again, and that’s a good thing.
However, while Katsucon’s largeness has caused it to be a bit inconvenient
at times, the fact that it’s still hotel-based is in itself good.
No need to march across town during questionable hours. No fear of
the weather, aside from going to or from home. Someday, maybe they’ll
have no choice but to move to a convention center like what Otakon had
to do. Either way, for next year they will have to move, as the hotel
has asked them not to return. Odds are they’ll return to Crystal
City, which I thought that Katsucon had washed their hands of. Hm,
we’ll find out where it is next year.
Attendance: about 5000
Highs:
goodly amount of cash to work with
got a copy of This is Otakudom
mimimal travel time
Gendou Springer show
found my inner child again
Lows:
couldn’t get in for the Cosplay
higher prices for registration, parking, hotel
Grub:
mostly restaurant cuisine, with some sandwiches and munchies tossed
in.
Cost overview: This is a list of the goodies that I got, and the
total cost. For the record, it’s the most I’ve spent in years.
BitCharG car
Excel Saga manga, vol. 2 to 8
Otakon shirts
Katsucon shirt
This is Otakudom tape
Tsunami fanzine
some Transformers
FLCL action figures
Kubrick toy
Ah My Goddess soundtrack, Urusei Yatsura Symphony
Noir pencil board and doujinshi
Angel Links DVDs
Niea_7 shirt
Including the operational expenses, the total cost was just over $700. Crazy, daddy-o.
Next year? At the current rate of things, I don’t see why not. If they remain in Baltimore somehow, all the more reason to go. If they go back to Arlington, I'll still go. I enjoyed being able to go from work to a convention in minutes, instead of hours.
Up next: Animazement 5!