Katsucon 8

Con count: 5! ^_^'

Information

Thursday:
I flew to DC and was at the con around 6 or 7. I was signed up as staff and my area was working with volunteers. My job was to sign up gophers, send them to the different places they are needed, take them to the rooms, and more. There was no volunteers on Thursday becasue it was before the con so most of the staff was in registration getting the books and bags ready. There were 7000 books that need to be ready. You never realize how much work goes in to the con until you work staff. I love to work staff because I get to get there early and meet other staff. I work until 1 or 2 (I always lose track of time at cons) then I went to sleep ready for the opening Friday. I had so much candy and Code Red it took me a hour to go to sleep.


Friday:
I woke up at 7am and went down stairs. I was one of the first staff members to arrive. I hung out with the other staff members in front of registration. When more of the staff woke up we went inside and helped finished up some of the books and bags. The volunteers area where I was working dose not get busy until after reg opens. When someone else came down to work the volunteers area I went to reg and worked with the volunteers on handing out badges. When more people started showing up I moved back to the volunteers area. I got to meet many new people and some others I have met before. I had my Maya (from EVA) plushie helping me signing up gophers. Later I went to the Dealers room (before it opened...I love being staff! ^_^'). While in the Dealer's Room I got a Zeon Flag, T-shirt, the 3 goddess figures from the movie, Magic Users Club DVD, 3 flavors of Ramune soda, and POCKY! I also bought Battle Athletes Victory. The main reason I got it was to get the Escaflowne poster they were giving away with it.

I went back and worked for a few more hours (like staff ever stops working). About now you would be asking, don't you hate missing everything? Well, I have a HUGE fansub collection so I have seen about 90% of the anime they were showing and I did not miss any of the important things I wanted to do. I am doing a Photoshop class in school so I stoped by the Photoshop tips class at the con. Later that day my friends showed up and went out to eat dinner at the resturant. We hung out at the dance, went to Plushie-con 1.3, and just hung out. I was having a great time so I did not want to go to sleep. I went up to my room got some soda, candy, and Pocky(WARING: Don't not try this at home!). Well, to put it simple I kind of had a Pocky/candy OD. I was crazy hyper! I went to the dance and ran around crazy. Then I went and signed up to work sercurity(fun to do late night). Then my friends finally caught me and made me go to sleep (I was also kind of ordered to by staff ^_^'). SLEEP IS EVIL!


Saturday:
When I woke up I kind of had a sugar hangover. Luck me, my body got use to the sugar and it never happened again but it still kept me awake for the day. When I woke up I went back down stairs at 7 to get ready for the big Saturday group. I was still kind of out of it but from what I remember, I went back to work. More people were up so I had more to do and people to meet. I worked till the dealers room opened and then check out what was going on there. I got to visit with my friends some more and some of the gophers. I got to meet Kelly from an anime club I have been in for a few years. We hung out while working but she only stayed till Sat. I hope we can hang out more at other cons.

Then I got to do something that was better then I thought it would be. I went to the Maria Kawamure(Naga's japanese voice and singer) pannel. I have never been to a pannel so I did not know what to expect. I walked in and she was with Lisa Ortiz (Lina's dub voice from Slayers). They are both from Slayers and I LOVE Slayers! They were doing a dub of one of the Slayers movies that has not come out yet. Maria was doing Naga in japanese and Lisa was doing Lina in English. It was great, very funny! Then they did the Dragon Slave spell. Lisa did it in Japanese (she did very good) and then some people watching got to try it. Then Lisa got Maria to do it in english (she did good but it was funny). Lisa was very funny and I could not wait to go to her pannel later. Maria was always wearing cute costumes(kawaii!). After that she gave out postcards and pins with her on them. I went and worked(I would not call it work because it is fun) some more before the Lisa Ortiz Pannel. I wanted to go the the Maria signing to get my card signed but it was the same time as Lisa'a pannel. I went to the Lisa pannel and I was one of the first people there so I got in early. I got to hang out with a girl dresses as Lina Inverse while waiting to get in. She did a very good job on her costume. There were tons of people there! They filled the room and had to tell some people that they could not go in. Lisa was VERY nice and said she would have another pannel Sunday for the people that could not make it. Lisa's pannel was great! She told everyone about her self and answered questions. She was very funny! I got a picture with her holding up a Seig Zeon sign with me and my Slayers box signed. Then I just went around and checked out the rest of the con.

The next big event was Cosplay! I love cosplay! I got to sit in the third row (have I told you I love being staff?). There were many great things in cosplay but my favorite was Coyboy Bebop. I got to go back stage to see the costumes and take pictures before and after the cosplay. This about the time I finished my first roll of film. Next was the dance with Maria Kawamura singing. I got to go in there early and take some pictures of her singing and dancing before it opened. I got a picture of her with me too. ^_^' Before the dance we had a Anime Mid-Atlantic( I can't wait!) staff meeting. I got to meet the other staff members and more info about the con. After all of that most my friends went to sleep. I stayed up and worked sercurity and got to hang out at some parties and with some people. I stayed up till 6am walking around(I had fun) and I went to sleep.


Sunday:
I slept in til 10, I wanted to wake up at 8 but 24hrs of no sleep and my body needed it. I got up and help in volunteering area a little. Next I went to the 2nd Lisa Ortiz pannel. It was not as packed so I enjoyed it a little more. I went to the dealers room before that and I bought the Slayers Next Box set. I got Lisa to sign that and if she had more time I would have got her to sign my Magic Users Club DVD. The two things were fine and I was more then happy. I also went to the art auction and closing ceremonies. I finished up my other roll of film and got to see a few more things like the artist alley and more cosplayers. I left the con at about 5pm and I slept for about 2 days after the con. I had a great time and I met alot of new people. I LOVE CONS! I can't wait till AMA 2. ^_^'


What I got:
1x SD Zaku II model
1x Zeon Flag (Seig Zeon!)
1x Slayers pin
1x Gundam t-shirt (Zeon)
3x Ah! My Goddess movie figures

DVDs:
Slayers Next box set
Magic Users Club 2
Magic Users Club 3
Battle Athletes Victory 5

Manga:
Neon Genesis Evangelion Special Edition 1
Neon Genesis Evangelion Special Edition 2

Pictures I took

SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Con MOM and everyone else for making great food (the only thing keeping me going)
Edward for making me staff
Don for sharing the room
Eiza and John for helping with gophers
All other Staff and volunteers...