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It's about time I made some kind of a mini-report on Otakuthon 2008 in Montreal, Canada.
It's THE only anime convention here, so it's an event I never miss each year.
I came there wearing emo clothes... I just felt like trying out the skull T-shirt I bought recently. After all, there will be so much colors from the cosplay at the con that someone has to balance it out with some black and white, right? :D
I had my table at the Artist Alley, as usual.
I sold prints of Sonic and Megaman fanarts (no TMNT because it's risky)- Not really for profit, really. What was important in terms of sells was for me to cover all my fees related to the convention (rent of table, admission, printing fees).
Last year, I took on commissions and the stress killed the fun for me. It wasn't worth it at all.
So this year, I decided to take no commissions, but to make free sketches to my readers/SA watchers instead.
There was no food or drinks allowed at the Artist Alley, but either way, I was too happy and busy to think about myself.
However, when I started to feel hungry, I found out that I was stuck. I had no table partner (he dropped out a few months back) so there was no one to look over my stuff while I was away (same thing for my neighbour). In the end, a really cool artist went out, got food for me and watched over my table. Thanks, Yue!! (who is also a TMNT fan!)
The thing I look forward the most during the convention is to meet people and talk about videogames or share tips about our crafts (drawing). Because I talk a lot, I'd run out of saliva quite often. On the convention's second day, I ended up trapped at my table again (All my fellow artists were either alone or were gone to help at panels). I felt dried up like a prune, but fellow TMNT fan "Kingyo" handed me a bottle of water (THANK YOU!). I've never cared so little about rules in the Artist Alley.
Most of the people who stopped at my table were Sonic or Megaman fans because I was the only Sonic/Megaman fan artist this year again. We had good times badmouthing new-gen Sonic games and praising the return of Megaman to his old-school graphics and gameplay.
From time to time, I'd hear loud girly screams in the hallway, outside of the Artist Alley.
When I went to check (got someone sitting at my table), there was always a huge crowd of girls getting excited about two guys making out. I think it's because they were cosplaying as their favorite anime characters and it was those girls' chance to see their yaoi wishes getting granted in real life.
The guys usually did it because there is something in return for them. Sometimes, they can ask for two girls to make out in return ("Will yaoi for yuri!!") or sometimes, they just get a free donut.
There was a "yaoi night" between the two days of the convention. Basically, it's just a yaoi panel that takes 4 hours. The guys who participated in that event got free DVDs of anime... Those girls got budget, I guess.
Yaoi is not scary. Moderate shounen-ai and yaoi fangirls aren't either. However, Yaoi hardcore fangirls are very scary!
A friend and fellow artist came to my table saying she was thinking of buying something.
I said something that sounded totally wrong and she didn't really feel like buying a print from me afterwards. :P
There was also a panel for Smile.DK's upcoming CD.
I attended that panel because I was one of the cover artists.
My good friend Mr.Jay (manager) kept telling people to check out my art, but I was so shy I remained silent throughout the presentation (though he'd push the microphone towards me to invite me to talk more).
Conclusion?
Super cool convention.
I'll definitely return next year.
I'll also bring more art stuff to generate more conversations with attendees.
And I hope you'll be there too, if you're nearby! ;)
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