+

[Kimiko]

The Good:
Meeting Rosiel
Being in the Angel Sanctuary group.. being in the masq (even though it wasn't all that fun.)
Seeing Layne again.
Cosplaying
Getting pictures taken
Meeting a Vash that "rocks my world" ^.^;;
Actually going to AX

The Bad:
being in the masq.. that damn meeting
having to leave AX

I think that's it. ^.^


Ax report is up... Pics comming soon! ^.^

[AngelJibrille]

Could you tell us why you hated the Masquerade so much? We tried really hard this year to help the cosplayers as much as possible. The rehearsal didn't really go off due to VTech issues (they wanted to spend too much time with each group and did not realize that people needed to go change).

If you could send us some suggestions, we would really appreciate it. We can't fix it unless we know what is broken.

Thanks!
Marisa
AX Masquerade Coordinator
costume@anime-expo.org

[Rosiel]

> If you could send us some suggestions, we would really appreciate it.

From the POV of someone who was asked to register by masq staff but ended up giving the form back to the people at the desk without filling it in...

Asking for contestants to come at 2pm and stay until the masq then joking "well you can go out for bathroom breaks" is the not way to get contestants in and make people happy. Saturday is the best day of the con, can't people come in 1 or 2 hours before the masq like at other cons? Run-throughs could be done on Friday which is a lot quieter, instead of using up the whole of the best day of the con.

Maybe then there will be happier contestants.
And maybe then people like me would register. ^___^

[AngelJibrille]

@_@

Who said the comment about bathroom breaks? I can't imagine one of my staffers would have said that. Perhaps a security, volunteer, or VTech staffer was confused and gave you the wrong information. If you can remember the name/description of that person I can take care of it offline.

Aside from that, at this point I'm really confused too...

We had a mandatory meeting at 2:00 pm, that lasted about a half an hour (it started late due to the event booked ahead of us running overtime due to the AMV awards deal -_-# ). We then asked that at least one person from each group stay to be shown how to get around backstage. After said person and/or group was shown around you were welcome to leave and not come back until 6:30 pm.

The only people that were asked to stay from 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm were those who wanted a rehearsal. The rehearsal was not mandatory.

So, I guess I'm really confused. We were basically asking for about a 30 minute meeting, and then for you to be there for an hour and a half prior to the Masquerade itself. No one expected you to stay there from 2:00 pm - end of Masquerade. That was all listed on the Masquerade Timeline that we gave out to everyone who registered. In fact I did it that way specifically so that people had plenty of time to get ready.

I also announced that everyone was free to go until 6:30 pm at the 2:00pm mandatory meeting itself.

If you would like to review the timeline that we passed out, it's still available on the AX site:
http://www.anime-expo.org/masq_timeline.html

I apologize if someone verbally told you incorrect information. In the future please be sure to read our timeline as that has the exact information as given by me. Also, if you are worried/concerned/confused or upset, please come up and let me know. I can't solve an issue if I am not aware of it.

Please don't assume that we are out to get you ^_^; We really did our best to try to accomodate everyone this year, and we really want feedback --- even during the event itself. If I hadn't happened upon this thread I might never have known that you had encountered this problem and I wouldn't be able to address it in the future.

You can always contact me at costume@anime-expo.org

I'm sorry that you had a bad experience and we will do our best to make sure that everyone is clear of the expectations in the future.

Marisa Price
AX Masquerade Coordinator

[Rosiel]

> I apologize if someone verbally told you incorrect information.

Oh, don't worry, it's not a big deal, I wasn't planning on being in the Masq, it's just a staffer who talked me into it. ^___^ The only reason I was going to enter was to see the Masq, since I had to commute in and my costume made it impossible for me to wait in line outside for tickets. So no harm done.

As for who told me I don't remember. >__< I was jetlagged and going on very little sleep. It was someone at the table though.

> Please don't assume that we are out to get you ^_^;

I don't. ^__^ I just thought that this setup was very discouraging for more 'casual' cosplayers like me who like to make extravagant costumes but do not enjoy competition & performance. I guess I lack dedication, but the thought of waiting so long in a room starving just killed my enthusiasm. =)

[AngelJibrille]

Thanks

Next year I am going to try to have a dedicated cosplay room (where everyone can meet) near the lobby (I'm trying on this one... watch me beg the people setting up rooms ^_^;;; ). This room will have a stage a la the Fashion Show room again (though that room was in the middle of BFE, I hope to get it closer to the hotel lobby). My dream is to have a place for cosplayers to meet, and it will be Fashion Show all day long because people can get on the stage and pose, no stress, no hassle. We will try to have one competitive event (the Mini-Masquerade) with prizes and mini-trophies, and the JRock event (though we may need to move that to a bigger venue this year). Some of the participation prizes for the Mini-Masquerade and the JRock events could possibly be Masquerade tickets So maybe that would be a better venue for you (no waiting ^_^) and you can still win nifty stuff.

My husband (I think he was the one that tried to draft you into coming) really liked your costumes and raved about you all. As you can see from my nick, I love Angel Sanctuary ^_^. We were really sorry to see you not participate (I'd seen you in the lobby and I was impressed too). Hopefully next year we can work it out so that you and your group will attend if not the big Masq, at least the mini-Masq.

Take care and good luck with your cosplay efforts ^_^

~marisa~

[MugenH]

There were too many good things. I feel like this is the first year that I've really appriciated the AX *community*; there are so many incredible cosplayers at the con, and they're all very friendly with one another. I've heard rumors of bickering and sniping and such, and as a result have kept far away from the cosplay world (outside of making my own costume) ~ but this year's experience convinced me that I want to meet all of you! Everything was so postive.

<glow!>

While I'm at it, Rosiel, your costumes were all amazing! Next time, I'd love to see that Dragonslayer you mentioned. ^_-

The Bad:
Hmm. The line for the Dealer Room is an impossiblity when you're wearing head to toe PVC. I wish there had been an alternate line going through the building, or a ticket system: "You can enter the Dealer room from 2 - 2:15 today" like a theme park.

Or a special pass for cosplayers! Hey! We're what makes the con cool! ^_-

Toodle-pip
MugenH.

[UrashimaKei]

hello i'm the newbe here... Well my favorite memory was being in Tech TV I was at the Tokyopop booth outside the convention ^_^

[Kimiko]

Marisa,

Wow.. I didn't mean for my lil' posting thing to sound so bad... I'm not used to big masq stuffs... ^.^;; So it took me by surprise and I didn't get to meet up with a few people the time I should have been there. I know now.. and it was a good experience in all...
Sorry that post before sounded all mean... >.<;;

Kimiko

[Rosiel]

Marisa:

> Some of the participation prizes for the Mini-Masquerade and the JRock events could possibly be Masquerade tickets

That is a GREAT idea. I'd definitely enter then. =)
Anything for a chance to see the Masq without waiting in line!

> We were really sorry to see you not participate (I'd seen you in the lobby and I was impressed too).

Thank you for the compliment. *_____* Especially since I didn't think that costume was complex enough to have Masq potencial anyway.

> Hopefully next year we can work it out so that you and your group will attend if not the big Masq, at least the mini-Masq.

That would be fun! We're already thinking of resurrecting our big AS group next year, so I'll make sure at least some of us show up. I already have a new Rosiel costume planned. =)

------------
MugenH:

> Next time, I'd love to see that Dragonslayer you mentioned. ^_-

Are you the Dilandau? I hate wearing Miguel but I would definitely repair/finish him and wear him to AX if you're bringing yours again!

My Miguel (baaaad Fansview picture alert) http://www.cosplay.com/mod.php?set_a...view_photo.php

[MugenH]

>Are you the Dilandau? I hate wearing Miguel but I would definitely repair/finish him and wear him to AX if you're bringing yours again!

>My Miguel (baaaad Fansview picture alert) http://www.cosplay.com/mod.php?set_...=view_photo.php

Wow! Very very nice! I don't know what Con I'm going to next, but Dilly will definitely be in the suitcase. So finish that costume!

Err ... not that I know what needs to be finished ...

Toodle-pip
MugenH.

[Ayaka]

Ah . . . lol I'm gonna look weird four pages in posting entirely on topic.

Favorite stuff - being at AX for the first time!
Picture with Nobuhiro Watsuki! XD
Otaku Generation's strip routine at the karaoke contest, lmao
doing karaoke at 5 AM in the masq tix line
talking with all kinds of people!

Not favorite stuff - my signed poster being stolen . . . T-T
Had too many costumes and no one to help me with changing (MANY pin injuries), too much franticness and not enough enjoyment
Being cold (that one threw me)

[Rosiel]

> Err ... not that I know what needs to be finished ...

The shoes! My shoes are not blue! And the blue on the fingers...
I'm just not very inspired by working with that awful blue vinyl again. >__<

Sadly Miguel is rather shoddily done, because I sewed him all by hand a year ago. >__< But I'll repair him as well as I can.

[Celine]

I thought AX was great~! I saw tons of people I knew (though, never for long enough!!) and met lots of new faces! Yay! I managed to find all my groups for our designated photo shoots. Everything went well.

But definitely the highlight was the masquerade for me! Despite the fact that I ended up in the theatre almost all day, I got to hang out with so many super talented people who were all awesome! I was afraid they might be snobby or something, but they weren't at all. Yay for cosplayers being a good group. I'd never been in anything like the AX masquerade and it was a great experience. It was SO exciting!! I got to go on stage!!! XD

[AngelJibrille]

Kimiko---

Whew. Okay, I was just really worried ^_^ ! I'm glad you had fun.

Marisa