Come Out and Play at L.A. Comic Con!

Hi all! It's been a little while since my last post, but it's also been a little over five years since I've started my blog! I am so pleased I've kept this blog going for five years. :) Today's post has been a very long time coming, and the reasoning for that can be seen in a past life update blog. Since Los Angeles Comic Con is about a month away, now's the best time to hype you up for the con with a comprehensive recap from last year's experiences and a future outlook of 2019's con!


Previously at LACC 2018:

I had the opportunity to attend the con for two of the three days as press. Typically, I have a game plan when I attend conventions: Scope out the vendor's hall, interact with con attendees, do free scheduled cosplay photo shoots and if time permits, attend panels that interest me. Unfortunately, I was unable to make any panels or the fashion show that year, but I was able to interact with both con attendees and vendors. Overall, the outlook of the convention was positive.  Also, can I just say that the mascot for the con is awesome looking. I am glad that they kept the same design for 2019.

In 2017,  the process was somewhat unwelcoming when I picked up my press badge. However, in 2018, this was quite the opposite and I felt very welcomed throughout the whole experience from bag check to badge pick up. The staff members looked happy and like they enjoyed their assigned shifts. As someone who does staff for a different convention, maintaining a pleasant guest experience is important. I am always very pleased to see when cons improve upon themselves. Even the convention security situation was a much more pleasant experience than 2017.

When I had discomforts about an uncomfortable situation at the convention and expressed them with a staff member, they did not disregard my concerns. The staff member took my discomfort seriously and notified security. I was extremely pleased to be taken seriously in regards to this situation, as that has never happened before at other conventions. So, for future con goers to Los Angeles Comic Con, please feel free to voice your concerns to staff members, if need be. Never feel like you cannot say anything to anyone. From my experiences, last year, someone will listen to you.

In 2017, I rated the con 8/10, but based on how well they improved upon themselves from 2017 to 2018, I believed that they deserved an increase in rating to 9/10.  I cannot wait to see what 2019 brings.

Peep some photos I took from last year's con:

@januarycosplay - Star Wars

@thebigloserqueen - Snow White

@miss_madra_rua - Gwenpool

I JUST LOVE THAT MASCOT

Coming soon to LACC 2019:

COSPLAY COSPLAY COSPLAY!

I really like that this year is very cosplay focused. Anyone who has followed my blog or either of my Instagram pages knows that I am both a cosplayer and a cosplay photographer. In 2019, Los Angeles Comic Con will have both The Dark Crystal Cosplay Competition and the Cosplay National Championship. Click the links to apply for both competitions, if you're interested in competing! There will also be a Kid's Halloween Costume Contest and Indoor Trick-or-Treating. I like the idea of indoor trick-or-treating because it's a safe alternative for children that might not be able to go out at night on Halloween . It's also reminiscent of what malls used to do in my childhood.  As for me, I was asked to participate in a cosplay group based off of Savannah Alexandra's Puppettes and Purrlesque's fan art, so I hope to be able to fulfill that request to the best of my abilities. I've never done a cosplay group before despite cosplaying for over 14 years. Also, I've been on a con hiatus essentially all summer due to personal reasons and am looking forward to getting back into it. Los Angeles Comic Con is a relatively good sized con where you can wear a more elaborate cosplay and not worry about it being ripped.

There are a lot of interesting guests coming in 2019 as well. Some are giving panels, such as Gerard Way, while others are going to be making appearances and doing autograph signings.

Tickets: If you don't have a full weekend free and are interested in attending Los Angeles Comic Con 2019, the one-day passes are rather affordable for the size of the con. Also, the three day passes are rather decent as well. Children under 12 are free with a paying adult badge too! Very few cons do that, so that's a great perk, if you would like to take your child with you to the con. :)

Anyhoo! That's all from me for now! If you do happen to go to LACC 2019, I hope you have a safe and amazing con experience!

I've also recently created a photography portfolio & post my favorite photos from various cons in there now as well, so check that out too.

Me cosplaying as Blake Belladonna from RWBY (LACC 2018) - Photography courtesy of @jackofsometradesx11

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Let me tell you a tale of the Renaissance Pleasure Faire!

Greetings fair knights and ladies! It has been quite a while, hasn't it? First new post of the year too! I'll have to explain my absence for another time and also fill you in on my previous con adventures another time, as well. For today, I'm here to tell ye about my experiences at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire. This particular Renaissance faire is quite possibly unlike any ren faire you have ever been to! Let me stress that there is something here for everyone!

I went on Saturday, April 27th - Renn Con weekend. As I had noticed, each weekend was designated a theme. Since I am both a cosplayer and a cosplayer photographer, I chose Renn Con weekend to attend the faire as press. This weekend was geared towards those who love cosplay and wanted to combine Renaissance styles within known cosplay fandoms. Also, Craft Beer weekend happened at the same time so beer enthusiasts came out to partake in delectible brews and enjoy the events This was also my first time ever attending the Renaissance Pleasure Faire.

The entrance into the event was pretty easy, a quick bag check and a ticket scan. Parking at the dam was only 10$, which is cheaper than pretty much every con I have ever attended. From scanning my ticket and onward, I was immersed within the Renaissance ages. I loved, and let me stress this again, absolutely loved the diversity of this con. I understand for some people, historical accuracy is more important, but for others, diversity can be just as important. Seeing individuals of varying ethnic origins, doing roles that would otherwise not have been assigned to them during this era made me so happy.

The events were pretty fun. The events I watched were dancing, swordplay, comedy, and jousting. Seeing the belly dancers be able to balance bladed weapons on their head and still move made me want to up my belly dancing game. I loved that the swordplay group by the maypole let both men and women fight together, regardless of size. I love swordplay as I was a kendo practitioner, myself for a few years. Jousting was also a good time; I cheered on the blue side. Even though we lost, it was exciting to see the fans taking the action seriously and how big the crowds around the arena got.

There was so much food to choose from as well, which is awesome for the diverse event goer. I opted for Caramel apples, and the workers at the booth cracked me up. I also watched my friend test his strength at a booth, as well, with the worker giving tips and encouragement along the way. If there is anything I can say about the Renaissance Pleasure Faire, they have amazing customer service at every turn. From the moment I got my ticket in the Will Call line to the moment I returned my media badge for the day, just about every worker I encountered was amazing. I only had one questionable experience the whole time with someone taking their character a bit too far in the jousting area causing a moment of discomfort, but everyone else's good energy dispelled that. For the most part, this event brought a very positive experience for me and I am very glad that I was able to attend. I hope to attend the Renaissance Pleasure Faire, next year and bring more of my friends with me.

Here are some photos from the event and when I finish processing other photos, I'll include a slideshow! :) As always, typically, I will post photos from any event I attend prior to writing about it in a blog on my photography Instagram.

Te Fiti by @adinn.cosplays

Daenerys by @kowaikohai

Maleficent and Princess Aurora by @criccicricci & @abracatrena

My event rating: 9.5/10 - would definitely recommend this event to others & want to return again

Pros:

• Diversity
• Themed Weekends
• Enthusiastic Workers
• Variety of Events
• Variety of Food
• Variety of Vendors
• Large event

Cons:

• Parking on grass/dirt
• Needs more Seated Spaces
• Some workers take roles too far - could lead to harassment
• A solution to that is a training weekend for preventative measures

My dear knights and ladies! The Renaissance Pleasure Faire is on it's last two weekends for the 2019 season! So if you can, get out there and go enjoy it! :)

Dr. Facilier - me ( Cosplay/personal - @bosshachi_08/ Photography - @himawarisayscheese)
Taken by @pyrozack & edited by me

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Happy Anniversary Long Beach Comic Con 2018! - Press Edition

Hi all! Things have been pretty busy since last time I have posted. I got a full time job! So exciting! I'm working with voice recognition software and programming it to understand human speech better! I love being able to utilize my Linguistics degree for what my interests lie in. So, yes posts might come slower than I would like because I also do photography as a side job, but the posts will certainly keep on coming! Anyhoo, that is not the reason for today's blog. Today's blog is all about Long Beach Comic Con! Last month, I had the pleasure of attending LBCC for two days as press. It was also their 10th anniversary, so happy anniversary, or how we con nerds call it - coniversary, LBCC! <3

Overall Con Breakdown:

The convention was not in the usual location facing the Pike Outlets, but on the side facing the fountain. While it was a minor inconvenience as some of the signs were slightly hard to tell where they were pointing to, this location was extremely ideal from an outdoor photography perspective. The bag check for the most part was rather acceptable.

 However, one problem that I can state that I had was borderline sexual harassment during Saturday of the con on the part of the security asking me to lift up my shirt after stating to prior security personnel that I had a corset under my cosplay. Cosplay is not consent, nor will it ever be. We must stand firm and call out all wrongdoers.  All of the other security personnel had accepted my statement about my corset (which is still noticealy visible under my cosplay), had just simply wanded me, and were going to send me on my way. However, this one particular security worker decided he would try and convenience me to lift up my shirt for him when my corset can be see through my shirt. By lift up my shirt, I mean my entire shirt, not just a little bit. To which, I promptly told him off and stated that the lining and busk was visible without the need to remove anything. That was an unfortunate mishap that in no way, shape, or form reflects on the convention or the convention center, but on the person, himself. I should hope, that they are dealt with after I gave my report. Unfortunately, that particular experience had me off to a bad start for the day on Saturday.

I was worried this bad mindset would continue; however, getting to the press check in process was great! The staff member that ran that section was extremely friendly and welcoming. That instantly boosted my mood and every other security team member was amazing and showed great professionalism in their duties. The vendor's hall has something for everyone too. They even incorporated wresting this year as that has garnished more interest at conventions in the recent year or two.  I got to meet and talk with various artists in the artist alley and see how their con experience was going and was even interviewed as well. I attended the Space Expo panel, "So you want to build an R2", which featured a group of panelists discussing how they built their own replicas of the iconic Star Wars character along with other droids.

Photography wise, I shot both indoors where the beautiful lights were and outdoors by the reflective windows near the fountain were. Depending on the aesthetics you're looking for, this convention center in particular is quite possibly the most aesthetically pleasing one to me. At this con, I cosplayed as both Velvet Scarlatina from RWBY and Rouge the Bat from Sonic the Hedgehog. One a faunus photographer another an international jewel thief. A fun fact about me, I connect better with non human characters.

Velvet Scarlatina

Rouge the Bat, photography courtesy of @yorkinabox

As stated many times in the past, I am a cosplaying photographer, so I happen to look at the con from the lens of both an insider and outsider's perspective. From an insider perspective, Long Beach Comic Con is such a welcoming and inviting con, that is why I always enjoy going to this particular con every year. They are a very cosplay friendly convention and do all that they can to ensure that the public remains safe, and that cosplayers are not limited in any way with what they can cosplay within reason. From an outsider's perspective, the con has grown so much over the years I have been attending it. I am so pleased and I can see why so many people are willing to purchase the lifetime pass to the con. I know a few that have it, and none of them regret it at all. The con continues to grow and thrive as a welcoming atmosphere to both new and old attendees. I am looking forward to Long Beach Comic Expo in February. Some of my happiest memories happened at this year's Long Beach Comic Con and I am looking forward to creating more in the years to come.
(all photos below taken by me)

Soldier 76 x Fallout 76 mashup by @alexdrastal

Cinder Fall - RWBY cosplayed by @kajicosplays

Psylocke - X-Men cosplay by @utahimecosplay

8.5/10 (honestly, this is one of my favorite cons, I would probably go to this con and Long Beach Comic Expo for as long as they run)
Pros:

• Friendly Staff 
• Considering that I am a staff member for other unaffiliated cons, we represent the face of the con. So I take professionalism and a good attitude to heart, this can make or break a con for so many people.
• Many things to do
• Interesting Panels
• I attended a panel on how to build your own R2D2, that was extremely cool as my old research lab tried to build a robot before
• One thing I like about the panels at LBCC is that there is honestly something for everyone. Some cons do not get very diverse in their panels, and more of them need to. 

Cons:

• The parking situation was not ideal
• This was a complaint I heard from many that I asked about what was their least favorite part of the con. I think the Pike Outlet parking threw so many people off.
• Location change/ Signage
•  I didn't mind the location change all that much
• However, many people, myself included found the signage explaining where the new location was and how to get to it were completely thrown off by it.

Stay tuned for more posts! I still have to tell y'all about NerdbotCon, CBD Expo, and LA Comic Con!

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Not an Itty Bitty Waist of Time! - Orchard Corset Review

Hi all! I hope you've been well! Today's blog has been a long time coming. It's the first of two corset review blogs I am planning to do. How exciting, huh? My biggest issue when writing blogs isn't coming up with the context of a blog because I have plenty to say and write about. My biggest issue is writer's block. Losing the motivation to write on occasion even though I really want to. It also did not help that after posting my last con blog, that I and several other press members were subject to constant harassment. All is well and I am alright. As a result, that is also why the Lvl Up Expo blog has been delayed so long as well. It will be coming within the next couple of weeks or so. With that being said, away we go with today's blog!

So today I am reviewing the CS-426 Longline by Orchard Corset in Black Satin size 30. I received this corset after being featured on Orchard Corset's Waist Training Before & After Results for waist training in my CS-201 waspie corset. Although this corset was given to me for being featured, I always give completely honest reviews and will tell it like it is.

For those of you that don't know how corset sizing works, the size number is how small in inches your waist will be. My natural waist on a good day is 36" now, and with this corset, I can comfortably size down to 30" (It is actually too big for me now, and I will need to get either a size 26 or 28, depending on fabric). Yes, I can still breathe & eat, contrary to popular belief. I also do most of my photography in my cosplays while in this corset. I have been waist training for about two years now and have become quite adapted to life in a corset. People wear corsets for a multitude of reasons. Some people wear them for the dramatic hourglass aesthetic, while others may wear them for cosplay, pin up, and/or burlesque aesthetics or for medical reasons like bloating, posture, back pain, etc. The list goes on. My main uses for my corsets are cosplay, pin up, anxiety, and bloating. I also wear a corset about four days out of the week.

So, this is how Orchard sends their corsets to you, wrapped up like a burrito. I like their sticker because it reminds me a bit of the Tree of Life, but that is another story. Anyway, all of their corsets are already laced up for you, so you just slip it on, and let the seasoning begin!  You can also purchase new laces, and Orchard has many YouTube videos teaching you the way of the corset.

I was recently on a Cosplay and Corsets panel at Comic Con Revolution Ontario in mid May with my friend Crystal Rose Creations and a few other lovely corset wearing ladies and we gave tips and eased tensions about corset wearing during cosplay. My cosplay/personal IG is @bosshachi_08. On there you can find various pictures of me in my well seasoned corsets. Seasoning is the best way to get your corset to fit your body in a safe and proper way. Word to the wise, the proper way to season a corset is to have it feel like a warm hug, not like a vice grip or like someone is trying to squeeze the life out of you. If you feel pain, dizziness, or difficulty breathing, loosen up your corset, and discontinue usage in the meantime. Actually, the reason why I like wearing corsets is because that hugging sensation is calming for a person prone to anxiety. Also, consider inquiring with Orchard's sizing department to find a size suitable for your body type. Squishiness, along with torso length factors into a lot of how sizing works and how corsets will look on you as well.

Pre-opening

How it looks straight out of the wrapping paper

Never before worn and unwrapped!

My first time wearing this corset! and one of the few times it was on the outside of my clothes :)

One thing about me is that I absolutely LOVE stealthing in my corsets. Stealthing involves wearing your corset under your clothes so that it is not visible. I will seldom wear this particular corset on the outside of my clothing because it's so long and it does not work well with much of what I wear as an "outside" corset. While I do not go to great lengths to hide that I am wearing a corset, I like the satin because it is smooth and the clothing clings to it well. I personally see no reason to hide the fact that I have a corset on, even if it is under my clothing, and will actively tell people I have one on.

Stealthing as Lucoa from Kobayashi's Dragon Maid at Los Angeles Comic Con 2017 - Photography courtesy of @jackofalltradesx11 :)

Cosplaying as Gijinka Butterfree from Pokemon at Anime Impulse 2018 - Photography Courtesy of @tammohawk.photography :)

Pin up Aesthetics for a photo meet (This look went on to be published in Sex Kitten Pin-Up Magazine)

Unfortunately, all good things eventually come to an end. After about six months of usage, my corset's boning started to come out of the fabric. This is the second corset by Orchard that I own that has had this problem. I think a simple solution is to use tougher fabric to hem the edges with because otherwise, it will keep coming apart like this. My other corset by them is the CS-201 in Grey Cotton, and it also came apart in the same fashion around the same amount of time - except at the closure hooks. It might be a coincidence, but it still makes me sad.

Boning coming out of the back of the corset :(

CS-426 Longline - 8/10 stars.
Pros -

• Natural hourglass (probably the thing I love the most about Orchard's line <3 )
• Great for Stealthing
• Comes in other styles: Leather, PVC, Cotton, Mesh, Brocade, with/without hip ties
• In fact, I would still love to get a mesh corset strictly for the hot California summer and those conventions that I cosplay at.
• Standard option for shorter waists
• Option for plus-sized women 
• Hashtag #orchardcorset and the name of the corset (#cs426 or #cs426longline) and they will feature anyone on their page, not just "famous" people like other companies.
• Orchard Corset also holds weekly, weekend contests to win a free corset on their facebook page - great for those that are frugal or cost-mindful like me to have a shot to win a corset. :)

Cons-

• Can be pricy - Ranges from $70-80$ for standard and $76-$86 for longline
• Boning comes out of the fabric after about half a year of continuous usage
• I have a long waist, but smallish hips, which somewhat made it look a little awkward in the back at times. 
• Can make your skin sweat, bruise, itch with certain bras regardless of tightness.
•  However, they have offered a fix for that with their new bamboo corset liners that go under the corset. I am curious to try one out since they are only $9.99 and I am cheap. :')

Anyhoo, that's all I got for you guys today! If you have any corset questions, or have any brands you would like to recommend that I check out in the future, let me know in the comments below. :)  I also have the patterns to make my own corset, I just need to the time and the money haha.


Till next time,

Hachi

Watchuknow about Long Beach Comic Expo? - Press Edition

Hi all! Have you guys ever have instances of writer's block? That's what went on with me these past few months. Even though I had so much to write about, and so much to say, I couldn't motivate myself to put words on paper, so to speak. I cannot stand the feeling. It makes me sad to have so much to say, but just could not for the life of me find the drive to put words on paper. However, I am back and would much enjoy writing about the latest convention that I had the pleasure of being press for, last month. That convention is Long Beach Comic Expo, hosted at the Long Beach Convention Center by Mad Event Management!

I have been attending LBCE for the past three years now. I have been a regular attendee, a panelist, and now a member of the press. LBCE is a two day annual convention that happens in February. Before this convention, there is a smaller conference for Comic Creators called Comic Creator Conference or C3. At the end of this conference, they have an awards gala for the Dwayne McDuffie award for Diversity in Comics. I was lucky enough to be a guest to this gala. Us guests got to see some of the biggest names in the comic book and creative pop culture world give speeches such as: Don McGregor (Black Panther & Jungle Action) and Phil LaMarr (Static Shock & Samurai Jack). We also got to learn a little bit about the five finalists and see a video acceptance of the winner of the 2018 award. Afterwards, we were treated to hor d'ourves and drinks. This event also allowed people to networks after the conference from the afternoon prior.

I always go to both Long Beach Comic Con and Long Beach Comic Expo the entire weekend. These events are very diverse in that they are more than just comic book driven. They are a collaboration of artists, cosplayers, photographers, media, and other industry professionals. Since Black Panther had just came out, several panels about the character and his series were also happening. I like that the convention stayed relevant to the times in the pop culture realm. I also like that Long Beach Comic Expo has a Space Expo attached to it. It's a nice added addition. The bag checks and security screenings were very easy to go through and efficient. The convention felt very safe as local law enforcement were at the con as well to keep the peace. The food trucks were out giving attendees options outside of the restaurants and convention center dining. The staff actually looked like they wanted to be there, which is not the case at some conventions I have attended. The security workers had good vibes and positive attitudes, which made for a welcoming experience.

I had a blast at the convention for the most part. 9/10 stars (would always attend, if given the chance and opportunity) By the way, the dates for next year's Long Beach Comic Expo are : February 16-17, 2019. If you can't wait that long and want to enjoy another Long Beach convention, Long Beach Comic Con, also hosted by MAD Event Management is September 8th and 9th, 2018. Check them both out, if you can! :) This year is also Long Beach Comic Con's 10th show!

The only downside was, I have two convention creeps that follow me around most cons, and one creepy vendor that had previously sexually harassed me at LBCC, and encountered two of the three. One, I was able to get away from, and the other proceeded to push his boundaries by practically french kissing my hand after I said I wasn't comfortable hugging him. If I could ever get photos of the three, I would make sure they couldn't harass anyone else. They only seem to do it when security is not around. A possible solution to this is to have more security and make them roam the hall floors more often, as well as the outer limits of the con.

 If anyone in my viewership has ever been harassed or stalked at a con, concert, or other event, please go to someone trusted for help. It is not your fault, and never will be your fault. Cosplay or any type of attire worn is not consent for unwanted advances or sexual harassment. Be someone's advocate, or be your own, but most importantly be safe and aware.


I would normally post a bunch of photos from the convention, but unfortunately, Adobe Lightroom CC Mobile messed up on me and deleted all of my photos from the con. Luckily, I was able to upload a few cosplayer photos before this happened and those can be found on my photography Instagram page: @himawarisayscheese.


Let me know in the comments below what your favorite part of comic book, anime, or pop culture conventions is. My next major con that I will be writing about is Lvl Up Expo in Las Vegas, NV. Take care and treat each other with kindness.


Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Taking it Back Old School (Great Depression Era Cooking)

Hi all! I am sorry that this will be a quick post, but I did want to put something up for the week. I was out of town for the first half of the week and have been a bit busy for the past few days. I also had to deep clean for apartment inspections & entertain a guest, today.

However, I do have a quick update! I came across a Great Depression era cookbook that belonged to my late great-grandmother. It's called "Meals for Small Families" by Jean Mowat. What I would like to do is periodically post recreated recipes from this book. I will call it "Taking it Back Old School", or TIBOS for short. One normal blog post and one cooking post of me replicating the recipes in the book and giving you a review on how each tastes. Some of the recipes are very interesting. I'll insert a picture of the author's recipe for coffee. There is a big difference between a one person serving and a whole cup of coffee. I believe that the egg and egg shell are being used as a thickening agent in this recipe to make the coffee go further. Perhaps during the Great Depression, eggs were affordable, or maybe more people did homesteading and had easy access to hens. I love history from WW1 to the end of WW2, so this little new blog segment will be fun for me, and I hope it is for you as well! I will do a history factoid too, because why not. I hope you guys are looking forward to this new blog segment, and enjoy!

This book is copyright 1929 and has been in the family for a long time. That's why it's so worn out looking.

It will be interesting to incorporate the egg in this one. I hope I don't get sick!

Let me know in the comments below if you would also like me to do WW2 era recipes after I get through the end of this book.


Till Next Time!

-Hachi

How to Survive the Con-pocalypse!

Hi all!

As promised, I am giving you all some pro tips on how to survive your first con! I've been attending cons consecutively since 2005, while cosplaying for the majority of them. I currently average at attending around 8 cons per year. Sometimes more, rarely less. I've volunteered for Comic-Con International for the past 5 years, and have been on panels for other cons.

I was tasked by Vegas.com to provide some tips to their viewers attending Lvl Up Expo in Las Vegas, NV. Lvl Up Expo is known as the ultimate gaming and anime convention of Las Vegas. It runs from May 12-14, 2017. If you'd like to go to this con, check out some of these nice travel deals! I've only been to Las Vegas one time as an adult, so I hope to go back soon! Another good website to use for registering for conventions is Eventbrite. Some conventions use this service as a quick and easy way to register for their events. I have primarily utilized the site for smaller cons, but big ones do use the service as well. Anyhoo, onto the tips, with a little bit of a twist!

Nurse Morrigan at Comikaze Expo/Stan Lee's L.A. Comic Con 2016  - courtesy of Novice Snapshots

Pro tips for attending your first con!

1. Remember cosplay is not consent.
• Never touch or photograph a cosplayer without their permission. 
2.  Stay hydrated
• Bringing your own water and refreshments is a good way to avoid sticker shock at the con.
• Some cons do allow hydration packs.
• As some cons have the tendency to draw large crowds, ie. San Diego Comic-Con, & Anime Expo, it can be easy to overheat, especially in cosplay. Drinking a decent amount of water can keep you cool and avoid heat exhaustion.
3. Utilize "Day 0" as often as you can. 
• Day 0 is meant for picking up your badge early. It helps you not miss out on those panels you'd like to attend by having to wait in line for your badge.
• Occasionally, day 0 has some early access perks.
4. Anticipate long lines, especially if you attend on the expected "busy" days of the con.
•  This is called "line-con" as a term of endearment. 
• Lines can get long for big panels, screenings, con exclusives, and badge pickups.
5.  Cosplayers:
• Anticipate that many people might ask for your photograph. 
• Never feel obligated to give a photograph, if you do not feel comfortable doing so.
• Unfortunately, some people at cons do not have the best of intentions.
• If you are cosplaying as a princess or superhero, expect kids to come up to you. Be polite to children and if possible, act in character. It really makes a child's day to see that.  
• To piggy back off that, most conventions are family friendly. Please consider that when you think about what you would like to cosplay as. 
6. Bring cash with you, not every vendor will have a POS (point of sale) machine or a Square reader.
•  Sometimes, vendors will give special deals for patrons using cash.
7.  Photographers: 
• Don't forget to ask permission to photograph a cosplayer.
• If you are worried about forgetting to credit the cosplayer, bringing blank pieces of paper, having the cosplayer fill out their information on it, and snapping that photo first before the shoot helps with combating that.
8. Bring a friend! 
• Cons are a lot more enjoyable when you have a buddy to go with.
•  However, if you do end up going alone, cons are a great way to meet people. I have made several friends from all of my con attendances.
9. Do the demos! 
• One of my favorite parts of attending video game expos is trying out all of the new games before my friends. 
• The lines don't take that long and you get a decent amount of game play time.  
10. Just have fun! 
• In the end, the con is what you make it out to be.  
• So try to make it one of the best experiences you will ever have and enjoy yourself! :)

So here's the twist, I've interviewed some of my friends and asked them to provide their own pro tips for attending your first con as well! Please take a look and enjoy! Links to their pages will be provided in their names, so please give them some love! :)

Provided by Queen Akemii & Taken by wafflopogusarts

Name: Shae - ( Queen Akemii  )
How long have you been attending cons?:
Ive been attending conventions since 2013, which is 4 years. 
What is your favorite thing to do at the cons?: My favorite thing to do at cons is going to panels, especially those crowd interacting ones. They're always fun to just watch, even if you're too shy to join in.
What role do you play at cons? (cosplayer, photographer, handler, or multiplayer mode):
I'm a cosplayer, but I casually take photographs of other cosplayers during my down time at cons. 
So, what's your pro tip?: 
A tip that I'll have for others that are interested in joining the community will be to just go with the flow. Majority everyone at the con scene are extremely nice. Don't be afraid to approach new people so you can gain friends. It's a welcoming community and we'll love to have you.

Derek is essentially my photography sensei (teacher), who gives me tips to use in my own photography

Name: Derek - ( Tammohawk Photography )
How long have you been attending cons?: Since 2014, AX (Anime Expo) was my first con.
What is your favorite thing to do at the cons?:
I like to check out the artist alleys. Outside of photography, I also like to draw. I enjoy supporting other artists.
What role do you play at cons? (cosplayer, photographer, handler, or multiplayer mode): Photographer! For now, I would like to start cosplaying soon.
So, what's your pro tip?:
For photographers, make business cards. It really helps cosplayers figure out where their photos are at after the con. Also, utilize bag check rooms, if provided. These help so that you aren't carrying heavy items around all day during the con.

Ezra's photography accounts for a majority of my con based posts on here. He's amazing, check out his work!

Name: Ezra - ( Novice Snapshots )
How long have you been attending cons?: 
I've been attending cons on and off since 2005.
What is your favorite thing to do at the cons?: Hit the dealer's hall, artist alley, food trucks, and most recently, hang out with friends. 
What role do you play at cons? (cosplayer, photographer, handler, or multiplayer mode): Photographer and handler. Plus, I always keep an eye out for con creeps.
So, what's your pro tip?:
Plan ahead for parking and be early.



That's all folks! I hope my friends and mine's tips and experiences have helped to make your first con experience more exciting! Let me know in the comments below how your first con experience was. :) Special thanks to Queen Akemii, Tammohawk Photography, and Novice Snapshots for being willing to be interviewed for my blog. :)


Till next time!

-Hachi

Wonder(con)ful Day for Some Cosplay!

Hi all!

Today, I'm going to show you some of the photography I did at WonderCon. I went for days 2 and 3 and cosplayed as two different characters. My character for Day 1 (2) is Atsuko Jackson from the anime Michiko to Hatchin, and my character for day 2 (3) was Morrigan Aensland from Darkstalkers/Marvel Vs. Capcom (and other Vs. Capcom games). During WonderCon, I worked with three photographers in particular for cosplay photoshoots: James Rulison of Rulison Photography, Ezra Ramirez of NoviceSnapshots, and Derek Tam of Tammohawk Photography. I did take photos for other photographers, but not actual photoshoots. I'll post a photo from their collection at the end, but first, a brief overview of my characters.

Atsuko Jackson:

Atsuko is a recurring character in the anime Michiko to Hatchin. This anime takes place in alternate reality Brazil and covers several topics. These topics include race relations, strong female characters, class differences, coming of age, and family dynamics. Atsuko is a sergeant of the police force tasked with capturing her childhood friend, Michiko Malandro. Throughout the whole series, Atsuko's past with Michiko comes to haunt her. She feels conflicted between doing her job and her feelings about her old friend. Atsuko's character is occasionally is considered to be a lesbian because of how she feels about Michiko and this is referred to within the anime. Atsuko's look is reminiscent of blaxploitation films of the 1960s and 70s. For this year's cosplay line up, I wanted to primarily focus on incorporating more POC characters in my cosplay. My reasoning is that representation matters.

Photography courtesy of  NoviceSnapshots

Photography Courtesy of Rulison Photography

 Morrigan Aensland:

Morrigan is a very popular character in the mainstream gaming world. Getting her start in the 1994 arcade game, Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors, she has grown into a household name in the gaming community. Morrigan is considered an anti-hero character rather than a villain. Funny thing is, I almost solely cosplay as anti-heros and villains. Morrigan's backstory is that she is a Scottish succubus from the late 1600s and the head of her clan. She's silly, flirty, playful, narcissistic, and hedonistic.  The sole reason she is not considered a villain or evil is because she is both friendly and approachable.  This results from her constant adventures into the world of humans. Outside of the Darkstalkers series, Morrigan makes appearances in other games including the *insert company name* vs. Capcom games, and even an anime series, where she was the main antagonist. Another factoid about me is that most of the characters I cosplay as are the opposite of my personality, ie, flirty, sexy, overconfident, etc.

Photography courtesy of Tammohawk Photography

Photography courtesy of The Steel Shark with my good friend, Crystal Rose Creations

Stay tuned for my next blog where I give pro tips on how to enjoy and thrive at your very first convention! :)

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Red Hair with Country Flare

Hi All! I hope everyone's been well! It's almost spring break! One more school day for me (Thursday). Then, I'm off until the end of the first week of next month. :) I have a few things I intend to do while on break, one thing being WonderCon. Otherwise, my family is coming to visit for a few days, so who knows where that will take me to. I've already started spring cleaning too. It feels nice to remove some clutter from my life both literally and figuratively. This blog is like a combination of a place review and a life update.

 Last Friday, I went horse riding for the first time with my Equestrian team as a beginner and had a fun time. I am slightly afraid of heights, but felt at ease on Freckles, the horse I was on. I also learned horse care and maintenance and it was nice. It actually reminded me of home being in a barn with various farm animals. The smell doesn't bother me at all like it does various people, but I think that's a product of growing up in the Central Valley.  The barn we went to is called BM Equine in Norco which gives English/Hunt riding lessons, Mercedes is our coach/trainer and she is very nice. I hope to find a Western riding school as well.

Also, last Wednesday, I went and got my hair colored at Tashi's Hair Salon in Diamond Bar, not too far from Brea Canyon. I got a dark reddish color to fix the bad hair color job that JCPenney in Brea had done. It turned out really well and the stylists were very positive and friendly, telling me about each process every step of the way. I recommend this place for people with natural hair styles. They also do other things like two strand twists, braids, and weaves. They can also help people with hair or scalp ailments. So check them out. Side note, they are pretty pricy, but I feel like for the area, it's almost expected.

Here's some pictures :)

Freckles and I before I washed him down :)

Shine on! 🌞

Anyway, that's all for today's blog. My next blog with be a product review rather than a place review for various natural hair products.  I'm trying to get back into the habit of writing more, but writer's block loves to strike when I least expect it. What type of hobbies are you guys into? Have you ever ridden a horse? Or have you ever colored your hair a wild color? Let me know in the comments below!

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Spring Cons and Gatherings, galore!

Hi all! This is a bunch of photos from all of the cons/gatherings I attended in the spring. I went to the Riverside Cosplay Gathering, Long Beach Comic Expo, WonderCon, and FanimeCon in the spring. As you can see, I've been pretty busy, and summer will be just as busy. Especially if I do end up going to Anime Expo. I will for sure be at San Diego Comic Con though as I am a volunteer there. One thing I love about anime/comic cons and gatherings is that I always either make new friends/acquaintances or run into my old friends from elementary school, high school, and college. Especially at FanimeCon, that's darn well a school reunion if I have ever seen one! Anyhoo! Without further ado, here are my cosplay photos! *warning, there will be a lot lol* :D

The best photo ever, and knuckles went turbo

Dawn and Misty!

Have a ball!

Cosplay Photoshoot - Dawn

Cosplay Photoshoot - Dawn

Obligatory low quality mirror shot of the full Yoruichi cosplay

Kaname Chidori - Full Metal Panic

Looking silly with my elementary school friend cosplaying as Kakuzu from Naruto

Peaceee

Future Cosplay!!! Nel from Bleach

Well I hope you enjoyed my cosplay spam! Enjoy your day! If you're a cosplayer, tell me what your favorite cosplay you have ever done was. Or! If you're not a cosplayer, but are interested in it, who would you dress up as?


Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Beginning of Summer Life Update

Hi all! It's summer vacation, finally! You know what that means! It's time for me to write some blogs! School and work got in my way the whole time so I am seriously lagging in the blog department. I will however be making plenty of blogs now set to post this week so I can make up for being late. This first semester of graduate school was something else. I made one really good friend and a handful of pretty neat acquaintances. I got pretty good grades (3.9gpa) this semester, and this is the highest I have ever gotten as both a cumulative and semester/quarter gpa. I am not sure why, but I feel a lot more motivated and encouraged to thrive at this school. That does not go to say that my alma mater was bad. I met plenty of amazing individuals there, and I keep them close to my heart. I think the primary thing to take out of that is that the way UC systems and CSU systems operate is very different. I came from a CSU family, starting out at a UC and getting my undergraduate degree there, and then going into graduate school at a CSU. The cool thing is, one of my childhood friends from elementary school also goes to the same CSU as me, so I see her periodically. I am also planning on moving soon! It'll feel good to get a new type of scenery outside of the Inland Empire. I have been here far too long, I think. I know this post is a little bit boring and lengthy, but I promise the rest will be more interesting. I would just say this is a beginning of summer life update. Stay tuned for more cosplay posts, fashion posts, travel posts, recipe posts, product reviews, and generally random ramblings. :)



Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Cosplay Project Haul - Yoruichi Shihouin

Hi All! :) This is my first blog post of 2015! Happy New Year to you all, even though I said that on my Facebook page on New Year's Day. Today was a decent day for me. I went around to the shopping centers in search for cosplay materials. Currently, I am working on Yoruichi Shihouin (四楓院 夜一) from Bleach and Faye Valentine from Cowboy Bebop for Winter/Spring. I might add more projects if time allows though. So my first stop was Michael's. I didn't find anything I was looking for there, which came to be a bit of a disappointment. Afterwards, I went to JoAnn Fabrics, and found my safe haven. I was able to gather some cream white fabric, some soft'n flexible sew on Velcro, some purple ribbon, and some white thread. I had a good deal too. I bought the fabric at 3.695YRD for 28.78$ at 7.79$/YRD. Originally, this would have cost 48$ so I saved a little over 20$ on my fabric. Something that is AMAZING for cosplayers! I am thrifty and cosplay on the cheap, but I still make it look nice. That is key.:) I used a 50% off one regular priced item on Beep'n Go, which brought my Velcro down from 3.99$ to 2$. My ribbon was 3$ and my thread was 3.49. I also got my wig in the mail today! It is a little lighter than Yoruichi's hair, and a bit shorter, so either I will get extensions to add to the length, or just hope people get who I am cosplaying as, which they should from her outfit.

A small review on the hair: it was only 10.97$ on Amazon, yet this is one of the better quality wigs I have had in a long time. When I got my Mirajane wig from Cosplay Magic for almost 60$, it was falling apart completely from the moment I took it out of the package, a lot of hair came out and it was shaped awkwardly for the head. This hair, I have only seen two strands fall out, which I expected, but it wasn't tangled or matted up at all. Also, it was easy to run my fingers through and it is able to withstand heat. So far so good, 8/10.

I will do a blog post about my Faye Valentine cosplay once I start prepping for it. I am using an app recommended to me by my friend Taylor (you can find her cosplay page by clicking on her name) called Cosplanner. I recommend it. It saves paper, helps you keep track of percentages done, and of amount for the purchases. I will include a picture of how it looks. :) Without further ado, here are my purchases and viewing of the wig!

All of the purchases, including the wig

Fabric

Ribbon

 Velcro

Thread

This actually has nothing to do with anything, but I wanted to show how my TV stand is organized.

Cosplanner

This is the look I am doing for her cosplay, instead of the orange one.

The wig, and yes I did add purple eyeshadow to my eyebrows so it'd match the color lol Eyebrows on fleek! jk

The wig from the back. See why it seems a bit too short?

That's all for now! As stated earlier, this was only some purchases for Yoruichi's cosplay, when I start Faye's, I'll make a new one, and I'll keep you posted on my crafting process. Do any of you cosplay? We have such a wonderful community, a family full of diversity, if I have ever seen one. I will also reiterate that "cosplay is not consent" so please respect us, and we will respect you back.

Till next time!

-Hachi