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It was my first Animazement, and first big road trip in about 7 years! The ride down was pretty good. We drove straight threw the nigh and made it to our hotel around 9:30am Friday, freshened up and headed to the the con for 11am. I had been told that this was the area's largest convention so I was prepared for some waiting in a long registration line. I was pleasantly surprised to find no line at all! And then no programing at all. The Artist Ally was opened and Dealers room was opening at 12, when the rest of the programing started. This gave us some time to wonder around and get familiar with the layout, and snag a perfect spot in line for the Shinju Mayo panel- the reason we made the 14 hour trip! My friend has been a fan of hers for over 10years and had to meet her. She saved our spot and I wondered into the Origami Crane panel then joined her for Shinju Mayo. Both panels were great! I really liked the format they had for guest panels, first hour was the formal panel and the second was for autographs and at times pictures. I would like to say more about Friday, but unfortunately we headed out to dinner and then back to the hotel to change and just take a nap- but the overnight drive took its effect and we were out for the night.
Saturday was the registration line I had expected to see. Long, out the door,around the building, and down the street long. Happy not to be standing in it we quickly hurried around and into the air conditioned convention center. It was still early and the heat and humidity made a melt worthy combination for a cosplayer. The programing was packed-- in fact almost everything I wanted to see/do overlapped! I got to attend a Chris Cason Panel, another Shinju Mayo panel, wondered by a how to wear Hakuma before lining up for the Masquerade. Their line up system seemed like it would have worked nicely. You picked up a sticker during the day that was numbered 1-4, that was your line up group. There was an assigned line up time for each group outside of the convention center- each was 15min apart. Now I say this would have worked because I showed up at my group 3 time and see every group in a nice line, and we proceeded to stand outside for 45 minutes. They finally let people in, and it was orderly and fairly quick, but then we sat for about 20 min after everyone was seated waiting for something to happen. The Emcee did the wave a few times and kept reassuring that the show would start soon. It finally started and then it was over. 15 entries this year for performance. They had a craftsman judging but no walk-ons. From first hello of the show to the final bow of performances took maybe an hour--if that. They don't show the AMV winners, so you have to go to closing ceremonies to find out who won. I raced down to try to meet my friends in the end of the 18+ Shinju Mayo panel to be greeted by a volunteer who said sorry it was full. That is understandable-- but when a group of 3 people left and he still wouldn't let me in I was a little upset. He told me his instructions were to not let anyone in. The reason was they didn't want it to run over with autographs at the end--but this was one of the panels that you needed to get a ticket to get an autograph. So because I didn't have a ticket I couldn't have gotten an autograph at this panel, so why not let me in when there are plenty of seats? I just really wanted to photograph my die hard fan friends face when she got to shake her hand-- and I did because after panel portion ended the doors opened and all the people who didn't get tickets came out and I was let in. I did get to see some of the panel because the panel room had a long window next to the door--hmmm, 18+ panel with suggestive materials being shown and a large window right in. We wondered around a bit and decided to meet up with other friends and stepped outside the convention center for a moment and then the city lost power-- well half of it. So we called it a night because the rave was super over crowded, and I guess I'm getting older and was tired before 1am.
Sunday we were back and scored some great stuff at the Art Auction/ Charity Auction. Wondered around the Dealers room, hung out with Chris Cason a bit and then it was closing time.
Over all it was a good convention. There were just over 7,000 attendees so not mega- but a good size. The venue was spacious and offered a lot of variety. The actual con staff was a bit small for the size of the convention. It was very hard to find an actual convention staff. The convention center had its own staff for security and all the tec operations were also outsourced, so they didn't know much about actual Animazement information. Still it was worth the drive, down side is its always on Memorial Day weekend- so I can't go next year- but it 2 years I plan on going back!

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