SAKURA CON: What I Shoulda Coulda Woulda Done on My Trip
by Petal
Due to a lack of planning and understanding, I had a pretty crappy time at Sakura Con this year. This was my first time at the event and I was hella bored. Made me sad. I wanted to have fun... Oh well, here are a few lessons for next time:
1. DON'T LEAVE YOUR SCHEDULE OF EVENTS IN THE CAR. Sakura Con will seem really boring if you don't know about all the art shows, craft projects and anime premiers the even has to offer. Or you'll feel extra stupid when you realize that hey, the con is on more than two levels of the convention center! Better to know that at the beginning than twenty minutes before you have to leave. Trust me...
2. GO FOR MORE THAN ONE DAY. Once you have a loose itinerary you'll realize that five hours just isn't enough time to do all the things you want. If you have to leave the house at 3 am to get to the Con, you're going to be too exhausted to look at all the art exhibits later that day. So pace yourself; spread out the action.
3. DRESS UP. There are only a few ways to look like a dork at Sakura Con. One is to sit around pouting because you're bored, (see rule # 1). The other is to dress in street clothes. Have fun: where a costume.
4. PLAN YOUR SHOPPING. There's a lot of stuff at the market place. You can buy most of it for about $10 cheaper online, so plan on buying only the things you cant get anywhere else. Also, when a vendor is selling something you want, buy it immediately. Stuff sells quickly there. If you wait to find a better deal at another booth, you'll probably loose the item to some one more zealous.
5. BRING LOTS OF MONEY. Washington has a sales tax. And most vendors only accept cash.
Here are some ideas on how to improve the con for next year, (if they ask me):
1. OPEN THE DOORS SOON AFTER REGISTRATION. Its kinda lame that registration starts at seven but the commencement ceremony doesn't start till noon. It leaves a few hours with nothing to do, (unless I'm mistaken because I left the schedule in the car
).
2. OFFER FOOD. If your slogan is "bringing two cultures together", offer your attendees cultural foods on which to sup. Its sad to see Sailor Moon and Naruto settling for Subway and Taco Del Mar.
On the subject of Naruto...
3. ENOUGH WITH THE NARUTO COSTUMES. We get it, you're a "Narutard". But for diversity's sake wear something besides the orange jacket.
And lastly, as stated by Foamy the Squirrel:
4. SHOWER!
by Petal
Due to a lack of planning and understanding, I had a pretty crappy time at Sakura Con this year. This was my first time at the event and I was hella bored. Made me sad. I wanted to have fun... Oh well, here are a few lessons for next time:
1. DON'T LEAVE YOUR SCHEDULE OF EVENTS IN THE CAR. Sakura Con will seem really boring if you don't know about all the art shows, craft projects and anime premiers the even has to offer. Or you'll feel extra stupid when you realize that hey, the con is on more than two levels of the convention center! Better to know that at the beginning than twenty minutes before you have to leave. Trust me...
2. GO FOR MORE THAN ONE DAY. Once you have a loose itinerary you'll realize that five hours just isn't enough time to do all the things you want. If you have to leave the house at 3 am to get to the Con, you're going to be too exhausted to look at all the art exhibits later that day. So pace yourself; spread out the action.
3. DRESS UP. There are only a few ways to look like a dork at Sakura Con. One is to sit around pouting because you're bored, (see rule # 1). The other is to dress in street clothes. Have fun: where a costume.
4. PLAN YOUR SHOPPING. There's a lot of stuff at the market place. You can buy most of it for about $10 cheaper online, so plan on buying only the things you cant get anywhere else. Also, when a vendor is selling something you want, buy it immediately. Stuff sells quickly there. If you wait to find a better deal at another booth, you'll probably loose the item to some one more zealous.
5. BRING LOTS OF MONEY. Washington has a sales tax. And most vendors only accept cash.
Here are some ideas on how to improve the con for next year, (if they ask me):
1. OPEN THE DOORS SOON AFTER REGISTRATION. Its kinda lame that registration starts at seven but the commencement ceremony doesn't start till noon. It leaves a few hours with nothing to do, (unless I'm mistaken because I left the schedule in the car
).2. OFFER FOOD. If your slogan is "bringing two cultures together", offer your attendees cultural foods on which to sup. Its sad to see Sailor Moon and Naruto settling for Subway and Taco Del Mar.
On the subject of Naruto...
3. ENOUGH WITH THE NARUTO COSTUMES. We get it, you're a "Narutard". But for diversity's sake wear something besides the orange jacket.
And lastly, as stated by Foamy the Squirrel:
4. SHOWER!
apathi: