FanimeCon 2010 Report: Part 3 - Friday (Day One)

Unlike previous FanimeCons, I'm up by 8 in the morning versus 4-5 in the morning because I'm already here. After getting ready for the convention, I head downstairs to get some photos of the registration lines before heading upstairs to take more shots of the empty Stage Zero and the somewhat busy Gaming Room since its the only thing open at 9am, playing a bit of DJ Hero to get my morning started.

I keep walking around, taking shots of cosplayers -

- until it's time for me to eat some lunch before the main day starts at Opening Ceremonies, with me and Ryan getting together to film the ceremonies.





Right after that, we need to get ready for the Ouran gathering since we're "expecting" 50+ people that expressed their interest on the forums.

Unfortunately, we ran into some problems with the smokers and people playing loud music which sort of killed the "high-class" mood, and then only a small fraction of the expected people came but at least (GG)Nami_Misaki came through with the cake. For everyone who did show up, I gave them all a bottle of apple cider for our appreciation for coming and I gave (GG)Nami_Misaki the 4-pack.

 

I then went upstairs to change into something light for the FLOW concert and then came back to take more pictures of the gathering that had moved to a different spot to eat the cake.

We then jump in line for the FLOW concert, and we had a favorable spot in line near the corner of South Market Street and San Carlos. Me and Ryan take turns changing out and getting drinks while we wait in line. Right around 6pm they open the doors and the fans flood the Civic Auditorium. To our surprise, we get FRONT (RIGHT) ROW SEATS. By 7pm, we were ready and when they came on, all hell broke loose for the next hour and a half. We were jumping around, feeling the flow of the music as we immersed ourselves in a dream-becoming-a-reality. Once they left, we had to call encore, so we ran up and down the aisles calling for it and eventually they did come back for one last song.

By then, we were tired as shit and about to lose our voices on a Friday feeling like a Sunday already. Me, Ryan, and Lucas head off to Johnny Rockets for a well-needed meal...




...before going back to the con for more adventures from Ryan buying more stuff from the Swap Meet to some Initial D Ver. 4 to me finally getting back to playing some Rock Band to watching some viral videos on Stage Zero.

With a long road ahead of us after burning ourselves out, we decide to crash only to realize have more morning stuff to do...

-Day One End-

FanimeCon 2010 Report: Part 2 - Thursday (Day Zero)

We begin this report with trying to get everything together on Wednesday while working one more day while waiting to see where Ryan and Lucas are as they drive up from Los Angeles. Since they left late due to heavy traffic, they didn't get up to Sacramento until like 1 in the morning, and then we got an early breakfast from Sherri's near my house.

We left Sacramento at 8 in the morning to pick up Tom in San Rafael. It was crazy drive up because all the rain was passing through but we made it there around 10. We then went to San Francisco's Japantown to secure the Ouran wallscroll for the panel (which later I realized I shouldn't have, but that's for later) as well as FLOW CDs. With that, we leave for San Jose pretty quick, even if we did stop by M5 Industries, aka the home of Mythbusters.

We got to San Jose pretty quick, and I was able to check-in before 2. I found out we were on the 10th floor, one floor down from where I was last year. I set up the laptop before heading down to the pre-reg line at 2:30pm, which meant we had a two and a half hour wait, but it didn't seem as long as I had a chance to catch-up on my podcasts, read the USA Today, and play some cards.

After we pick up our badges, we went to get some last-minute food and supplies. After that, Ryan puts on his Philippines from Hetalia after wearing Rin from Shuffle! and carries around the flag for a bit giving a small taste of what was to come on Sunday.




By then, Swap Meet was open and we looked around the Gaming room for some deals. Ryan found some good figures, and I got my Modern Warfare 2 Prestige Edition strategy guide for a cheap price. We were supposed to go to Johnny Rockets with the small Hetalia group that was forming, but by then they had closed. So, it was the Ramen dinner and to rest up before the real part of the con began.

-Day Zero End-

FanimeCon 2010 Report: Part 1 - Prologue

My, my, my, what a year will do to you.

From FanimeCon 2009 to FanimeCon 2010, a lot of things happened which affected this convention. For one, I really got to know Ryan Silva, the man behind running the Ouran gathering in 2009 and again in 2010. After what had happened at Anime Los Angeles, we became good friends and decided to stay with me at FanimeCon. Also, Lucas, the Emperor Lelouche from ALA also wanted to stay with me as well as my good friend Tom from San Rafael. This meant I had more people in my room, which meant less of a cost for me. There was also me joining the SoCal Host Club, and for that we got the panel together and now both me and Ryan were co-hosting the Ouran gathering with ideas that seemed wonderful at the time.

This was also my first ever Day Zero, so I didn't know what to expect as well.

The leadup to FanimeCon 2010 was the best from all other FanimeCons, from seeing all the food that I bought to figuring out FLOW's setlist for their concert on Friday to actually wearing multiple cosplays in a day (a first for me), there was a lot of planning and speculation.

-Prologue End-

FanimeCon 2010 Photos

While this year's photo set is smaller, it's still photos from this year's FanimeCon!

CA Con Blog @ FanimeCon 2010 - Matthew's "Reading" of "Burn My Dread"

Courtesy of the FanimeCon Karaoke Staff

CA Con Blog @ FanimeCon 2010 - Day Four & End-of-con(?) Review

CA Con Blog @ FanimeCon 2010 - Day Three Review

Saturday Recap

The Geass Gathering went alright, although both me and Ryan got there late because we both got ready together after getting FLOW's autographs. After that, we ate some pizza from Papa Johns and watched a bit of Lakers/Suns and Flyers/Blackhawks before heading back down to Stage Zero and the Fireside Chat in which afterward talked to Erica and we talked about our convention reporting. Then I went to Artists Alley and got my chibi badge, then I found Ryan again as we competed in the FanimeCon Game Show. Also free food with Chaz and ALA!!!

Saturday So Far Recap

 So far through this Saturday at FanimeCon, we've gotten signatures from FLOW, went to the RPG Gathering, spoke to Ejen in the Artists Alley, and Ryan got Reuben Langdon's signature.

We're waiting to go to the Geass gathering, and then pizza tonight up in the room and free time!

Friday Recap

OK, we seriously need to crash or else our voices will be burnt out forever because we blew it all out at the FLOW CONCERT!!! IT WAS FREAKIN' EPIC!!! We did the wave while they sang their rendition of Surfin' USA, and literally they were looking at us as they tried to start the wave from out end of the hall. We also were the driving motion behind getting the encore chant going, and we pulled the impossible and got them back out for a farewell song.

This caps off a up-and-down Friday, if you want to call that. While we were expecting 50+ for the Ouran Gathering, we only have a handful of people show up. I'll keep the details for another time. Also was the Opening Ceremonies, and we got the whole entire thing recorded; we'll post that later, probably after the convention. And then there was some ID4, viral videos, and more swap swag in between.

As the video states, it's only Friday...and even if it's only Friday, this con is PROFOUND SUCCESSNESS!!!