Photography and more for the Cosplayer
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Sakura-Con 2006 General Review written by: BSaphire Thursday evening, when we arrived in Seattle, WA, our first goal was to find the convention center and pick up our badges. We had very little problems finding the convention center we just encountered issues with where to park. Once that was settled we found our way to the fourth floor and to the table to pick up our press badges.
King Yama and I met Jeff Allen, Sakura-Con's Press Coordinator, at the press table on the 4th floor and picked up our badges with no problems. Jeff was awesome. About a month before Sakura-Con we knew that we were going as press. He answered our emails promptly, courteously and was extremely helpful. A week before con he sent out the press kit which included a complete and color coded layout of the convention center, a complete listing of all programming, main events, gaming, workshops and panels. Jeff is very organized and this benefited us extremely. There were a few minor changes before we got there and Jeff had emailed them to us prior to the con. He gave us directions to locate the press interview room, con ops, and special events for our benefit during the convention. Jeff was always helpful throughout con. From the press interview room to quick conversation in passing, Jeff was always on it. Jeff's friendly and comfortable demeanor along with his respectfulness made the interview room more relaxed for both the press and the guests. He kept the room running on schedule and did an outstanding job. Thank you Jeff ^^).
King Yama and I then went site seeing around the convention center to familiarize ourselves with the location. We said hello to Eurobeat King and a couple of convention attendees that we knew. I was very impressed with the layout of Sakura-Con. The main events, workshops/panels, press interview, events passes table, and guest autograph room were located on the sixth floor. I think that I spent more time on this floor than any other *LOL. There were escalators, stairs, and elevators to get you up or down from the sixth floor. There was also a seating area with tables and chairs at the top of the escalators which benefited the con attendee as a resting and meeting place. Opening ceremonies, the Camino concert, Cosplay, to Club Sakura there didn't seem to be any problem getting up or down during the time of a main event.
The dealers room (and within it was artist alley,) peace bonding, and registration were in the south lobby area/rooms on the fourth floor. When you came up the escalators each level had a large board that told you what to find on that floor. The fourth floor, behind the escalators, contained the video rooms conveniently located next to each other and titled Sakura-Con Multiplex.
Also located on the forth floor was another large seating area with windows all around which was a perfect spot to hop on line or grab a bite while you watched the parade of cospeeps coming up the escalators. To your left and around the escalators, was the information booth. If you couldn't find it or if you wanted other info about the convention center or con, this was the place to go. They were friendly, knew the answers to most questions, and if they didn't they tried to find out. Just what a con attendee wants from an information booth.
On the third level was computer (LAN) gaming, console gaming (both classic and modern console systems,) tabletop gaming (card, miniatures, and RPG,) and the tournament arena. The 24 hour AMV (animated music video) room was located on the third floor next to the doors to the convention center parking garage. Each of the rooms featured a white board outside letting the attendees know what was featured in that room. In one room Microsoft allowed the gamers the opportunity to check out upcoming games for the XBOX & XBOX 360 along with a drawing for an XBOX 360!!! ^^) The gaming staff was on their stuff all the way around. I was asked for my badge, if I needed help with anything, and I don't remember ever seeing the rooms empty ^^)!!!.
I admit that I needed my right hand gaming guru there (Videogamefanboy,) but when I stopped and talked with the gamers they were nice, helpful, and really positive about the gaming set up at Sakura-Con. To quote one of them, and having approximately 10 others around us agree, "I finally feel respected as a gamer at con!" Another added, "Yeah, the whole gaming area is better than it has ever been!" I asked how it differed from previous years and the general feedback was that there was more room, better time allotment for tournaments and that each area was much improved. I had one of them come up to me later and he said, "I wanted you to know that I have attended other conventions, and the gaming area (meaning Sakura-con's gaming) was very impressive." He also thought I was cool because I took the time to check out what they thought and I was specifically mentioning the gaming. It was his first time to Sakura-Con, like me, and we both agreed that we would be seeing each other next year! The second level of the convention center featured an area called the "International Meeting Place." This was an impressive area that I figured was the location for photos. There was an area with seating, a staging area, large windows and doors to possible photo areas just outside. With plenty of natural lighting and landscaping I was surprised that this area wasn't take full advantage of. I did catch quite a few con attendees tucked into nooks having quiet conversations, utilizing their DVD players or laptops, a quiet power nap, or just using it to meet others. The second level offered the photo booth, art show, lost and found, con ops, tabletop and Asian gaming.
The first floor of the convention center offered a large seating area, a couple of eateries, and a few small shops. Many times the con attendees would be in large numbers at either the top or bottom of the escalators. The convention employees would nicely ask them to move out of the way of the escalators due to fire and safety hazards. I noticed that the convention center also changed the direction of the middle escalator in the evening so that there were two going down and one going up, but during the day there were two up and one down. This helped to move the flow of traffic through the levels of the convention. For those that had troubles with the escalators there were elevators. I must tell you, I noticed several con attendees that were in wheel chairs, and I think that the con and the convention center did accommodate for these individuals. I know that King Yama joined their ranks Saturday because he couldn't walk. I also want to tell you that if you ever need medical equipment while attending Sakura-Con, you should contact CARE Medical & Rehabilitation Equipment. They are located at 4135 Stone Way North, Seattle, WA, and their phone number is (206) 547-2200. They are way too cool! They saved King Yama's con experience by giving him mobility. They adjusted the wheel chair that we rented for him and they picked it up from our hotel at the end of con. THANK YOU CARE Medical & Rehabilitation Equipment!!! I didn't hear any real complaints about registration. They seemed to move the line along and most complaints revolved around, "I wish this would hurry up so I can get into the dealers room!" Of course I expected to hear that at least once at con *giggles! The program was nicely done and offered the con attendee a way to plan out what they wanted to attend. I was disappointed not to see the con schedule included inside the program or as a pocket program included in the bag I got. Rectifying the problem, Sakura-con made them available on Friday. Hey! Things happen, and that was not a big deal. They noticed and fixed it. That speaks volumes to me!!! ^^)
I thought that the guest line up was outstanding. From notable people in the industry such as David Williams (director and producer for ADV films), Tony Oliver (director, producer, and voice actor), Jennifer Sekiguchi and Jessica Boone (voice actresses), Ippongi Bang (manga-ka and cosplayer from Japan), to outstanding musical performances from the J-Rock band Camino and the wonderful piano concert from Michael "Piano Squall" Gluck. The masquerade ball featured a live band (sorry I didn't get their name, but I enjoyed them ^^) and Club Sakura was driven by outstanding DJ's on Friday and Saturday night. The industry panels included: FUNimation, Geneon, Tofu Records and some of the coolest workshops like Katie Bair on wig craft techniques and art for profit, Yaya Han on make-up techniques & Tristen Citrine on costuming. From Q & A sessions to Dreamcatchers J-Pop & J-Animation voice acting production, fan improv, crafts, art gaming and all around fun, Sakura-con had something for everyone. I wished several times that there was more than one of me so that I could do it all!!! ^^)
Though I was not able to attend the cosplay, tea ceremony, or closing ceremonies, it is my understanding from attendees that they were enjoyable, mostly on time, and fun. My observation is that most of the events ran on time. The con peeps in line were not only courteous to each other, but to the convention staff. There wasn't to much complaining that I caught either first hand or overhearing about the convention itself.
I really enjoyed meeting the con attendees. Sakura-con has some of the best!!! Friendly, fun loving, caring, energetic, spontaneous, and outgoing are just a few of the words I use to describe them. I know that the convention attendees and cospeeps really give the final feel to my con experience and Sakura-con's attendee's were the top!!! Thank you! I wanted to say thank you to Elmira Utz, Director of Publicity for Sakura-con 2006, and Renee Naddeo, Sakura-con Treasurer. Elmira helped King Yama and I out on Saturday when we need info on a wheelchair. Her immediate attention was, and still is, greatly appreciated. Renee made sure that we were all set for the Sakura-con Guest Reception Dinner Friday night. Both of these ladies were very helpful and their kindness will be remembered. Sakura-Con started in 1998 with 300+ attendees and was held at the Double Tree Inn in Tukwila, Washington. It ran for three days and it offered 12 exhibitors, 6 guests of honor, and ran with 15 staff members while offering live programming, gaming, and video rooms (information on previous history found here). Last year, Sakura-Con #8, the convention had to cap the number of attendees at 4,800, due to the facilities, but relocating the convention this year brought over 6,000 con attendees (I was hearing that the # of paid attendees was a lot larger and I will update when I find out exact #'s) and next year looks to be even bigger. Being in a new venue there are those occasional hiccups and fires that happen, but the general population didn't seem to grasp any of these concerns. This shows the level of professionalism that the Sakura-con executives, staff, and volunteers presented. I feel that they did an outstanding job. I am quite sure that any problems that presented itself this year will be rectified for next years convention. Over four hundred people must agree with me, because they have already pre-registered for next year. This is quite a jump from the year before when Sakura-con had around one hundred pre-registered before the end of con. In closing of the general Sakura-con 2006 review I would like to thank everyone who attended Sakura-con, from con attendee to executive, for such a wonderful con. I came away knowing that Sakura-con is the best convention I have attended. I will have to wait a year to really enjoy dancing at con. Club Sakura was the BOMB!!! I loved it!!!. I will miss Sakura-con and be counting down the days till I get back up there to Seattle, WA again. Your the best convention I have attended and are first rate in my book. I will definitely recommend Sakura-con in the top three anime conventions to attend on the west coast. Till we meet again... Anime Corrupted Wishes & Deviant Cosplay Dreams!! ^^) ... BSaphire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Welcome
to the general review section of the convention report. This section is to give
my personal view and a fan based review of the convention. Thank you to all of
the convention attendees who helped by giving me their feedback on different
areas of con. Your honesty and voice is appreciated. I have heard many times,
from you the con attendee, that you don't always feel the conventions you attend
listen to what you say and I feel honored to give your voice a forum in which it
can be heard. Now on with the review... ^^)
