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AWA 2014 part two
Oct. 3rd, 2014 10:27 amSo where was I? Friday afternoon. I sat in on a panel about 70s anime and TV that endured some technical difficulties but managed to power through them, and BTW somebody still has my DVD of 70s anime clips that saved our panel bacon there. Ryan and I got some food at Ted's and Neil got started with Totally Lame Anime after some technical difficulties.
There's a new tech crew working with AWA in a new main events hall so hiccups were to be expected, especially when working with broadcast-quality pro gear and trying to plug our low-rent comsumer grade stuff into it. Anyway, Neil rocked the house, I prevented staff from clearing the house, and we got right into Anime Hell, which, technical problems aside, seemed to entertain the folks. Next up was Ryan's Midnight Madness, which kicked off with a brand new parody dub of Combattler V!
Saturday I slept a little late because I knew I had to get up early Sunday. Hit the dealer's room and picked up a cel. Maybe that was Friday, I forget.
This is Hiro from Acrobunch! Now I have 2 Acrobunch cels! I was kind of low-energy on Saturday - once Hell is over I kind of coast thru the con, there is a lot of prep and stress on that event for me and in its absence there's a mysterious, slightly regretful calm. BUT that post-Hell Ennui was blasted right out of me by MIQ and her opening act VLOMIQ.
VLOMIQ is an anime-theme-song group act doing high-energy covers of themes to Dragonball, Sailor Moon, medleys of old-school tunes, and accompanied by an audience of synchronized glow-stick waving fans. MIQ, formerly known as MIO, is the singer who gave us the themes to Dunbine and L.Gaim, and she gave US a terrific performance. She's still got the pipes and has the repertoire to prove it. She even did "Asteroid Blues" from Baxingar, and informed us that she'll be working on the music for the new J-9 series "Jinraiger" along with her group "Strangers Four." I wasn't sure how much I was going to enjoy it, being a music snob who likes garage bands nobody's ever heard of in tiny clubs, but I sure enjoyed their show, and it put a shine on the whole rest of the convention.
Also I got MIQ to sign this:
This is a Dunbine toy I bought at the Spencer's Gifts at the mall across the street from where AWA is held, 30 years ago. And the great circle of life continues.
At 6 we got the old-school anime fans together and held a C/FO Atlanta Reunion! Actually I was late to the panel because I thought it started at 6:30. But we had a great time reminiscing and recalling stories of our youthful behavior and shenanigans, and Rob Gibson of C/FO San Antonio was also present to give us the Texas side of things.
Around 8 I got my act together and went downstairs to get ready for the AWA Mixer, the 21+ social time for grownups over in the Highlands room. I made sure the room was prepped, the hotel arranged the tables and the bar, we started the music, and it was time to let folks in. Would this event be a success? Were AWA fans interested in cash-bar meet and mingle time? Turns out they were.
There was a big line for drink tickets, tables full of chatting fans, and me working the room meetin' and greetin', having discussions with total strangers about anime conventions in the South and every other topic imaginable. When I wasn't in the mixer, I was upstairs in Elizabeth's party socializing with a completely different mix of old Atlanta pals and new pals from Japan and elsewhere.
And then, at 1:30am.. the fire alarm went off.
More to come!
There's a new tech crew working with AWA in a new main events hall so hiccups were to be expected, especially when working with broadcast-quality pro gear and trying to plug our low-rent comsumer grade stuff into it. Anyway, Neil rocked the house, I prevented staff from clearing the house, and we got right into Anime Hell, which, technical problems aside, seemed to entertain the folks. Next up was Ryan's Midnight Madness, which kicked off with a brand new parody dub of Combattler V!
Saturday I slept a little late because I knew I had to get up early Sunday. Hit the dealer's room and picked up a cel. Maybe that was Friday, I forget.
This is Hiro from Acrobunch! Now I have 2 Acrobunch cels! I was kind of low-energy on Saturday - once Hell is over I kind of coast thru the con, there is a lot of prep and stress on that event for me and in its absence there's a mysterious, slightly regretful calm. BUT that post-Hell Ennui was blasted right out of me by MIQ and her opening act VLOMIQ.
VLOMIQ is an anime-theme-song group act doing high-energy covers of themes to Dragonball, Sailor Moon, medleys of old-school tunes, and accompanied by an audience of synchronized glow-stick waving fans. MIQ, formerly known as MIO, is the singer who gave us the themes to Dunbine and L.Gaim, and she gave US a terrific performance. She's still got the pipes and has the repertoire to prove it. She even did "Asteroid Blues" from Baxingar, and informed us that she'll be working on the music for the new J-9 series "Jinraiger" along with her group "Strangers Four." I wasn't sure how much I was going to enjoy it, being a music snob who likes garage bands nobody's ever heard of in tiny clubs, but I sure enjoyed their show, and it put a shine on the whole rest of the convention.
Also I got MIQ to sign this:
This is a Dunbine toy I bought at the Spencer's Gifts at the mall across the street from where AWA is held, 30 years ago. And the great circle of life continues.
At 6 we got the old-school anime fans together and held a C/FO Atlanta Reunion! Actually I was late to the panel because I thought it started at 6:30. But we had a great time reminiscing and recalling stories of our youthful behavior and shenanigans, and Rob Gibson of C/FO San Antonio was also present to give us the Texas side of things.
Around 8 I got my act together and went downstairs to get ready for the AWA Mixer, the 21+ social time for grownups over in the Highlands room. I made sure the room was prepped, the hotel arranged the tables and the bar, we started the music, and it was time to let folks in. Would this event be a success? Were AWA fans interested in cash-bar meet and mingle time? Turns out they were.
There was a big line for drink tickets, tables full of chatting fans, and me working the room meetin' and greetin', having discussions with total strangers about anime conventions in the South and every other topic imaginable. When I wasn't in the mixer, I was upstairs in Elizabeth's party socializing with a completely different mix of old Atlanta pals and new pals from Japan and elsewhere.
And then, at 1:30am.. the fire alarm went off.
More to come!
