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

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

Merry Christmas Photography!🎄🎄🎄

Hi all! Merry Christmas! I know that this post is a little bit late in the day, but I hope that everyone has had a wonderful day with their loved ones. I would like to share with you all a few of the photos I received from my first ever Christmas cosplay, so I hope you can enjoy that as a present from me. Eat, drink, and be merry as we end our Christmas night in the United States.  Also, just one more week left until 2018, so try your best to make 2017 end on a positive note. End this chapter of your life full of greatness! Without further ado, here are my Christmas Morrigan photos from various photographers during the Inland Empire Cosplay Gathering. I'll also post a couple of the photos I took at the gathering as well since I am a cosplaying photographer as well. 😊

Photography courtesy of Shameless Self Photography

Photography courtesy of Matthew Keiser

Photography courtesy of John Matter

Photography courtesy of Shameless Self Photography

Cosplayer - "Casual Goku" MVious Cosplay

Cosplayer - "Gijinka Ninetales" Kira Masquerade

Cosplayer - "Kuzan" Snazzy Jazzie

That's all for now you guys! I hope the photos were to your liking. If you guys ever need a photographer, I'm free for cosplay gatherings, photo meets, and conventions due to personal preference, but all private shoots start at 25$/hour, cheaper than most because I am just starting out. Anyway, I hope your Christmas is amazing and if I don't post before the new year have a happy start to your 2018!!💖💖 Let me know in the comments below how you intend to ring in the new year.

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

LACC 2017 Recap - Press Edition

Hi all! I know this is a little delayed of a post, but I've been extremely busy, this month. I went to Vancouver, British Columbia for a week to present my Master's Thesis at a research conference. I also went to Fan Expo Vancouver, fun times were had! I digress though, today's post is about Los Angeles Comic Con, so I hope that you enjoy it since "con season" is essentially over for the year in California.

Me cosplaying as Nana Osaki from the manga/anime Nana. - LACC Day 1

I attended LACC for three days as a press member. That was an interesting experience for my first time officially covering a larger convention despite some hiccups along the way. I would like to recap each day attended and end this post with my overall opinion of LACC 2017. This review is fully honest and not sugar coated in the least bit.

Friday: 
I arrived at the convention a few hours after badge pick up opened and noticed that there were banners to tell attendees where to go line up at. That was very efficient because they had a line for regular attendees with weapons, without weapons, with bags, and a line for VIP, Press/Exhibitors/Panelists. This made the shuffle easier to go about as bag check right upon entry was fast and hassle free. Afterwards, we had to go to the pre-registration booth for press to get our badge. The main issue with this part was that many of the staffers running the badge pick up were not very cordial with the attendees and it did not make for a welcoming experience. However, the bag check security members were really kind people. The convention opened 30 minutes later than they were supposed to despite only having the vendor's hall and the fashion show happening on Friday. I am someone that typically enjoys going to panels on the slower days, so that was a little disappointing that there were no panels happening. I was able to do some photo shoots with various cosplayers though and that was nice. The overall downside to the Friday convention was that the night security staff had horrible attitudes and threatened my photographer friends and I. The way these security guards acted did not represent the convention well at all. If anything, it reflected negatively on the convention given that these people are selected to work a convention and should do their best to keep the attendees happy.

The full look of my Nana Osaki cosplay - photography courtesy of @francheezy24_7

Many cosplayers came casual on Friday - @francheezy24_7

While cosplayers went all out on Friday -@actcostumes

Saturday: 
I decided to get to the convention a little later, and did a few photo shoots as both a cosplayer and as a photographer. I didn't attend any panels that day, but I did get to collaborate with other photographers to hone my craft. I also spoke with various cosplayers and photographers asking how the convention was going for them. The overall opinion for Saturday was positive. Most people, including myself had a great time on Saturday. All of the security were friendly and way more lax when it came to closing time than they were on Friday when they kept threatening us. They still opened up the vendor hall later than expected as I was told by other attendees. I spent a majority of my time doing photo shoots with my friend Derek ( @tammohawk.photography). He was teaching me how to do studio style photography with lights. I am rather pleased with how the photos came out. Saturday was probably my favorite day of the convention.

A practice session with @takingbacksam as genderbent halloween Harley Quinn & @tammohawk.photography.

@allyn_monroe slays as Emma Frost

@misstinakay89 kicking butt as Damian Wayne's Robin. 

@nikki_s_k as Injustice Raven

Sunday:
I came to the convention a little later and checked out the Disney cosplayer gathering to get some photos for that event. I also did some photography with my partner: Jerry (@jackofalltradesx11) as both his model and fellow photographer. We went around the vendors hall and checked out various booths. We spent a decent amount of time at the booth of Alicia Marie Body. She was the nicest person I have ever met for a "popular" cosplayer. She was funny, cordial, and welcoming to everyone, who came to check out her booth. I also bought a Reptar Bar from the FYE booth. The overall downside of this day was that I was sexually harassed on six different occasions by both men and a woman. As a result, I would like to express this regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, "COSPLAY IS NOT CONSENT"! Do not ever touch or grab at a person just because they are in cosplay. Always ask politely for photographs or any contact, and do not make vulgar sexual remarks towards any person. Please refer back to my previous post on how to experience your first con. There were no security around to report a person, who has stalked me for the past two years at a different convention to the point I have to always be around someone at cons or I feel uncomfortable going. I am certain that this particular person, who commonly cosplays as Waldo has done this to other people as well. This can be fixed by having a larger amount of security at a con.

@aliciamariebody as Lola Bunny

@spideydna as Spider-Man

@justnaction as Black Panther. I can't wait for that movie, next year!

@_jaegerb_ as a genderbent Joker

My overall takeaways from LACC 2017:

• The con had a primarily chill atmosphere. 
• They need to hire better security as I was told by multiple photographers that they were threatened by security guards and nothing happened upon reporting it.
• The booklets were simple  to understand and straight to the point.
• Most attendees were more interested in the vendor's hall than the panels.
• Cosplayers were more likely to attend on the bigger days rather than the opening days. 
• The staff needs to be a bit more enthusiastic especially when people are picking up badges. 
• I have done badge pickup duty for both SDCC and WonderCon & have noticed when the people giving the badges are upbeat, it makes for an overall better experience for the attendees. 
• Fix the communication between professional attendees on guest lists as many people doing panels were not on the list and could not easily pick up their badges
• The public relations staff is great with communication though. (I was always kept up to date with all new announcements regarding the con. )
• The convention needs to be more strict on timing and stay true to their scheduling.
• Con rating: 8/10
• I would return again for 2018
• The factors that caused this rating were the lack of enthusiasm by several staff members, opening the vendor's hall late, not enough security guards, and the fact that nothing was done about security guards threatening attendees. 
• All of these factors are fixable. 
• I hope to actually makes the Club Comic Con event, next year too. 

Well that's it for my LACC review! I hope this was thorough enough, and stay tuned for my future posts now that I have free time again!

Did you attend LACC? What was your overall opinion of the con? Let me know in the comments below.

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

All Aboard the Hype train! Dwayne Johnson x LACC

Hi all! Stan Lee's Los Angeles Comic Con (aka Comikaze Expo) is fast approaching and I would like to let you all know about a newly confirmed guest appearance! You all know him either through high octane films such as Fast Five or through the WWE circuit, that's right, Dwayne Johnson, aka the Rock is going to be at Stan Lee's Los Angeles Comic Con to discuss the new Jumanji film! This will take place on Saturday, October 28th. Please refer to the below press release for more information! Also, might I add, all attendees will receive a full year of Entertainment Weekly with their badge purchases.

Stan Lee's L.A. Comic Con Logo

Stan Lee’s Los Angeles Comic Con and Official Media Partner ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY Announce Appearance by Dwayne Johnson at L.A.’s Mega Pop Culture Gathering at the Los Angeles Convention Center on October 28

For Immediate Release:

LOS ANGELES, CA (Thursday, October 12) – Stan Lee’s Los Angeles Comic Con and Time Inc.’s (NYSE: TIME) ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY (EW), the official media partner of the 2017 edition of L.A. Comic Con, announced today that Dwayne Johnson will make a special appearance at the convention. On Saturday, October 28, Johnson will appear on behalf of his upcoming film “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” which hits theatres December 20. The 3-day pop culture extravaganza runs from October 27-29 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. 

As the Official Media Partner, EW is collaborating with L.A. Comic Con to enhance and elevate talent participation and programming for the over 100,000 attendees expected for this year’s 3-day mega-convention.  EW will feature all the fun and excitement of the Convention in the magazine as well as on EW.com.  And to top it all off, each and every badge holder will receive a one-year subscription to America’s leading pop culture magazine, with a total combined audience of 26 million consumers.

Badges are available now at http://StanLeesLAComicCon.com.

2017 marks the 7^th year for Stan Lee’s L.A. Comic Con, which has grown into one of the largest gatherings of stars and creative talent in comic book, publishing, gaming, film, broadcast, cable and streaming entertainment. 

About Stan Lee’s Los Angeles Comic Con:

Stan Lee’s Los Angeles Comic Con is Los Angeles’ biggest and best large-scale, multi-media pop culture convention. Held annually at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Stan Lee’s L.A. Comic Con assembles the most exciting and innovative in comics, video games, sci-fi, fantasy, horror and all things pop-culture. With a mission to provide celebrity, creator and talent access that is unequalled in comic conventions, Stan Lee’s Los Angeles Comic Con features unique panels, autograph sessions and photo-ops that give fans once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to truly interact with their favorite creators and major players in the entertainment industry.  Stan Lee’s Los Angeles Comic Con is a partnership of Stan Lee’s Pow! Entertainment, Cassandra Peterson, and Comikaze Entertainment, Inc.  Visit http://www.stanleeslacomiccon.com/.

ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY is your all-access pass to Hollywood’s most creative minds and most fascinating stars. The magazine was launched by Time Inc. in 1990 and is America’s leading consumer publication in the entertainment category, with a guaranteed circulation rate base of 1.5 million and a combined audience of almost 28 million loyal, engaged fans.  Each day, EW.com publishes a myriad of featured stories, news articles, TV-recaps, original videos, film reviews and photo galleries. The PEOPLE/ENTERTAINMENT WEEKKLY Digital Network continues to rank as the #1 site in its competitive set with close to 100 million monthly unique visitors. ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY is the first to know about the best in entertainment. With sharp insight, unparalleled access and a trusted voice, EW keeps readers plugged into pop culture. This is where the buzz begins.



Hope to see you all there! I'll be at the con all three days, so if you're a cosplayer wanting to do a shoot, feel free to contact me by email or comment down below.

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Welcome to the Grave Harvest

Hi all! We are three weeks away from Halloween! Isn't that exciting?! I feel like Halloween is a favorite holiday of many cosplayers. As a result, several conventions, parties, and gatherings happen this month. I was recently at a Halloween con, this past weekend, called Grave Harvest in Fullerton, CA. I got to be a part of the press and spent a majority of my day there. I would like to tell you all about this con and hope you like what you see!

I decided to be Vampire Harley with a dress that I upcycled from the thrift store, my Timeless Trends corset (I'll be doing a full review on that later), and my Sony A6000.

Grave Harvest 2017 was the convention's second year in operation. It was at a very affordable price of $10, online only. It is also a one day con, which is good for conventions just starting out to do. It allows the organizers to gauge the interests of the attendees and eventually decide whether to change locations or add more days to the con. Guests were greeted by friendly and enthusiastic staff, which was a wonderful way to start out the day. As press, we were also welcomed with cookies from one of the vendors, Lucky 13 Sweets and Treats, based out of Costa Mesa, CA. They were some great cookies, as well! :)

There were two rooms full of vendors and I took it upon myself to interact with as many vendors as I could, collect their cards, and take photos of their goods. That will be shown below in slideshow format. The vendors were extremely nice, cordial, and welcoming. All of them were very enthusiastic about the con too. Some of the vendors stuck out to me more than others given the uniqueness of their craft, but all of the vendors that I interacted with were friendly and open to talking with me about their items.



I also attended two of the three workshops during the con. The first was Skeleton Corpsification led by Larry Carr. He demonstrated by usage of latex, cloth, and spray paint how to make a plain skeleton look like a mummified corpse. It was extremely cool and well received as I counted over 50 people in attendance. I don't even always see those numbers in my own panels I participate in at larger comic book conventions! The other panel I attended was in regards to making armor out of EVA foam called Foam Fabrication 101. That panel was very relevant to me as I am a cosplayer and have made my own armor before. While this panel had much smaller numbers, it made for a more intimate experience. The workshop coordinator, Dave King, did a very good job explaining the ins and outs of armor building and even stayed later to talk with us all.

I ended my day by looking at the hearses outside and left feeling good about the con's atmosphere. I really hope they do it again next year. Here is a complete list of all of the vendors at the convention, so I hope you check them all out and help support their passions!


Well everyone, that's all for today's blog! I hope you enjoyed it and stay tuned to my next con related blog when I "cosplay" as a member of the press for Stan Lee's L.A. Comic Con, always known as Comikaze Expo! Do any of you dress up for Halloween? Let me know in the comments below !

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Great Things can Come in Small Sizes: Ontario California Comic Expo Review

Hi all! Happy first week of Fall!🍂 Fall/Autumn has got to be my favorite season of all. The weather cools, but isn't unbearably cold, the leaves come off the trees and I get to hear the crunch of them as I walk down the sidewalk, and I have even more cosplay/convention opportunities than I do during the summer.

Today's blog is actually about the most recent con that I went to, Ontario California Comic Expo. At this con, I was given the honor of being a cosplay guest, a panelist, and an artist alley vendor. While I have been on various panels in the past, the other titles were new to me. The convention was Saturday, September 23rd, and Sunday, September 24th from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm. This was the very first year for OCCE, and they had a great turn out. The con was affordable, easily accessible, and also had free parking. The location was the Ontario Airport Hotel and Convention Center, and it was the perfect size for the con's inaugural year.

The Con flyer - picture courtesy of OCCE.

Both my friend Crystal, and I had booths as cosplay guests where we were allowed to sell items. Crystal chose to sell artwork that she does, which she takes commissions for, along with cosplay prints. She also had some of her cosplay on display, such as her renaissance Harley Quinn & various masks.  I loved her display, very professional looking with great attention to detail.

My friend's booth - Photo credit by Crystal Rose Creations

My friend's booth - Photo credit by Crystal Rose Creations

On the other hand, my booth was much simpler.  I sold cosplay prints, gave out Dum Dum Pops (they're free of major allergens), and did a raffle. My raffle is actually still ongoing because I am trying to raise enough money to donate partial proceeds to the Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) and the Children's Hospital, Los Angeles (CHLA). Once I figure out how to do PayPal entry fees, I will extend this raffle through Halloween. For the $5 raffle, the winner will receive an approx/ 54" x 60" Legend of Zelda blanket, and for the $1 raffle, the winner will receive a Legend of Zelda Bi-Fold Wallet. When I get that PayPal entry set up, the raffle will also be extended to my readers to enter. I am also taking commissions on both the blanket and the wallet.

I wasn't kidding when I said my booth was rather simple.

I cosplayed both days. Day one as Lucoa, but I forgot my horns, so that isn't pictured. On day two, I was both Bumblebee from the Teen Titans and Storm from X-Men. Also, I played a "cosplaying photographer" both days and went around the convention taking pictures of other cosplayers. I would like to share a couple pictures and the pages of the cosplayers pictured with you.

Me on Day Two as Bumblebee with my Sony Alpha a6000.

Here is cosplayer Adam Arroyo, known as Aadarthbane on Instagram, cosplaying as End Game Joker. He was a fun person to work with because he played the part of Mistah J very well and he was so kind. I would love to work with him again at a different convention.

Talk about some Bokehlicious bokeh. Photo by me on my photography ig page: Himawarisayscheese

Another cosplayer that I was able to work with is Stevie Belleperche, known as TheBoneBitch on Instagram. From one Harley Quinn cosplayer to another, she was such a great Harley Quinn. Her posing is top notch and she has such a photogenic aura about her. I would love to work with her again.  

See, the camera loves her! Photo by me.

At OCCE, the attendees, vendors, and guests were welcomed with cheerful staff volunteers. I mean, these staff volunteers looked like they loved what they do and that can greatly affect an outcome of how a convention will turn out. The wonderful staff that often passed out snacks and bottled water to the vendors and guests, while maintaining constant interaction with the attendees were a delight. I have honestly never seen such amazing hospitality by the staff at any convention I've been to like how I experienced here. This is coming from someone who goes to an average of ten conventions yearly. The pre-purchased badge attendees,vendors, and guest were given a high quality badge, that looked like a lot of work went into it. There were decent sized panels, and I was graciously offered to also be a panelist on a panel about the ins and out of cosplay for beginners. While this con might have been small, it generated nice sized crowds and was a decent price at $15/ day & $25/weekend. My favorite thing about this con was the staff, to be honest. They just made the whole con experience amazing. They were always checking on us guests to make sure that we were alright, and if we had to leave our booths, someone would come and stand-in for us. Safety was also their number one priority. So, if anyone had a problem with someone at the con hassling them, they would have their security escort them from the premises. I am so very glad that I was able to be a guest at this convention, and hope to return to other cons ran by this staff again.





Have any of you ever attended a brand new convention? What was your experience like? Let me know in the comments below. Also, on October 7th, I'll be at Grave Harvest, the Halloween con in Fullerton. It's going to be at the Hotel Fullerton, which has free parking as well. Grave Harvest is $10, online only as no tickets will be at the door. So if you love Halloween, I recommend checking this con out as well.

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Vancouver or Bust: A hypothetical, yet Strategically Planned Vacation

Hi all! I know summer is nearing its end, but that doesn't mean that planning out an ultimate vacation has to! Can you imagine if you had a budget of $10,000 to plan your dream trip? Think of all you could do and where you could go with that kind of money. While that seems like a lot compared to the lesser amount that I usually spend on a five day vacation or trip to a research conference, I decided that this will be a challenge accepted, courtesy of Earnest!

I decided I would base my hypothetical vacation off of a real trip that I have planned out for November. In November, I'll be flying to Vancouver, BC for a research conference. I might have mentioned in a previous blog that I do Psycho-linguistic research and enjoy presenting my research at conferences when I can. Anyhoo, let me see if I can make an itinerary that can get my to that $10,000 budget, or close to it. I feel like with the excessive amount of thriftiness in me, the princess of bargain hunting, I won't make it anywhere near that budget. If I am lucky, I will get to $5,000 with some cheating😉, but I feel it is worth a try.

Well the first decision I would make would be whether to fly or take the train. Flying would be the faster option, but if I have a good amount of free time before hand, I would also consider taking the train. Everything else follows after I decide how to get to Vancouver.

To and From Transportation:

Flight -

Date: During the middle of the second week of November 2017

Price: $267 round trip from SNA (John Wayne Airport - Santa Ana) to YVR (Vancouver).
This particular flight is also the fastest way to Vancouver from Orange County. However, the flight happens to have multiple connections as seen with cheap flights. In order to avoid connections, LAX is the closest option. I don't personally mind connecting flights as it gives me a chance to stretch my legs, so I will keep it for this hypothetical itinerary.


Train -

Date: During the end of the first week of November 2017

Price: Utilizing my AAA discount, I would have to take the train straight out of Los Angeles to Vancouver, BC, as no connecting train from anywhere in Orange County to LA Union Station would work for this particular mode of travel. The stressful part about this train is that it only leaves two times per day, 10:10 am and 3:10 pm and it is reserved travel. So if you miss your train, you might risk paying extra to catch another one. The cheapest train is $112 one way for a coach seat, but since I have "money" to spend, I would go for the sleeper car. My train riding goal is to go on a long trip in a sleeping car, but they are expensive that I haven't been lucky enough to do so yet. That sleeping car will set me back $361 one way. Taking the train requires a 34 hour one way ride too, so this is only useful if I had free time to leave earlier and return later.

Transportation During Stay:


Walking:

Vancouver is considered to be Canada's most walk-able city with a score of one, so I would probably just walk everywhere like I mostly do in San Francisco.


Housing:

Hotel:

Fairmount Waterfront Hotel

If I am really going "all out", I would have to pick this hotel because it boasts amazing views of the city and the harbor. It is also only $189 CAD/ $151 USD per night. This is actually far cheaper than any of the hotels I have stayed at during any of the research conferences. Based off of a five night stay, this would be $945 CAD +tax/ $755 USD +tax.


Activities:


The most exciting part of this hypothetical itinerary, because there is actually one thing I am definitely doing in real life while in Vancouver.

Conventions:

Fan Expo Vancouver: I was extremely excited when I learned that my research conference and this comic/pop culture convention were in the same location during essentially the same time. While, I am only intending to go one day in real life, for the sake of hypothetically spending money, I will go all three days and get the deluxe package. The price of this would be:$229 CAD/$183 USD. Now, if I was able to purchase comic books that I need to add to my collection, this price would jump up about $500-$1000 extra.

Other Activities:
Realistically, I would probably do primarily free events and activities like I do during most of my vacations. However, since I HAVE to spend money, I would go on to Vancouver's primer tourism website and sample from paid activities that pique my interests. My estimate is that I could try to spend about $1000 on activities in 5 days (that's if I picked mostly expensive activities and did them multiple times)

Food:

I have a funny feeling that my largest expense would be food, and that I would be able to eat somewhat extravagantly. I would push for trying the priciest meals on the menu at swanky restaurants and hope that can get me to spend at least $100-200 per meal . So if I ate 3 meals per day, that's $300-$600 per day, just by eating. That's another $1,500-$3,000 down the drain.

Stock photo of Vancouver from Patrick King

That's all for now, my friends! I knew I would fail this miserably, being as thrifty as I am, but it was still a fun thing to plan out. Ultimately, by train with sleeper car, the most I would have spent: $6,495 and by plane, the most I would have spent: $3,505. If you’re interested in planning a similar trip, budgeting and travel research is the way to go. It is definitely possible to make due on less if you have good money management skills. Let me know in the comments below where you would go and three main things you would do on vacation with $10,000. Hopefully, you guys are better at this than I am. 😅



Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Cosplay Mashups: Zelda Quinn

Hi all! Sorry for the random hiatus! I've been in the midst of a "con crunch " for San Diego Comic Con and spent a while working on my cosplay. A con crunch is when you try and finish a cosplay close to the start of a convention. I made the whole outfit on one week and two days. I would probably never do that again, it was extremely stressful considering that I had never used a pattern before. The pattern is by Simplicity #8113, R5. It's their version of Princess Zelda from the Twilight Princess game in the Legend of Zelda series. My pet peeve about patterns is that they are extremely expensive for being on flimsy tissue paper. I recommend waiting until Joanns has their 1.99$/pattern sales. Save your self some money! That's what I did and that's also the reason why I had such limited time to make it. The reason I call her Zelda Quinn is because it is a mashup between Princess Zelda and Harley Quinn.  Every year that I volunteer for SDCC, I go to Harleypalooza. That would be the Harley Quinn cosplay gathering. I always have to be different, so instead of making her classic or canon outfits for the gathering, I always do some sort of mashup. It's become a bit of a tradition for me now. I made the whole thing in under 65$, with my goal being under 75$. I think I did pretty well for myself. The only downside is that by the end of the day,  after being "peace bonded", which means that they attached my "weapon, or prop to my costume", the security ripped my overlay. Sadly, I will have to repair it for the next gathering or convention I go to. Otherwise, I am glad I got some great shots before that happened and that my post-ripped overlay shots were modified to hide the rip, but those are not processed yet.  Without further ado, I will show you guys some of my SDCC photoshoot photos. I really hope that you like them! Below is also a quick review of SDCC 2017.

Photography courtesy of Ron Z. Photography

Photography Courtesy of Michael Greening

Photography courtesy of Snapshot 360 Photography

Photography courtesy of Snapshot 360 Photography 

SDCC Review:
As usual, I attended San Diego Comic Con as a volunteer. I have been volunteering with Comic-Con International for five years now. It still is an enjoyable opportunity for me. For many people, volunteering is the only way to actual get into the convention as it has grown exponentially over the years. It was another humid day in San Diego, as it has been every year I've volunteered. It felt like there were more people at the convention, this year, as opposed to last year. The staff were not as helpful as I would have liked them to be, but they were for the most part very kind. The officers on duty were extremely kind, courteous and easy to approach. There were plenty of panels going on and the usual mad rush to Hall H. I actually decided to do outdoor activities for the first time since I started going and had a blast at the FXhibition. I hope that they bring that back for next year. I also enjoyed playing the video games, but I did feel like there were less video game exhibits offered this year. Or quite possibly, they were spread out more than usual. Another favorite of mine is the walking dead section where the zombies come after you. One of them actually managed to scare me this time, it was pretty funny. I also FINALLY found out how to get to the back of the convention center to do the cosplay gathering stair shoots. Only took five years to find that out hehe. I unfortunately didn't get the volunteer shirt this year due to miss communication in the volunteer room, and that was extremely unfortunate. Other than the staff ripping my costume while peace bonding me, not getting the volunteer t-shirt this year were the two downsides of the con this year. The rest of it, and being able to reconnect with friends was great. I will always enjoy volunteering for this convention.


That's all I have for now, but I'll continue to add more as I get more photos back! Let me know in the comments below if you have any cosplay suggestions for me. :)

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