Winnipeg Comic and Toy Expo 2012

Posted on by reirei18

where: Canad Inns Polo Park, Winnipeg

when: March 3-4, 2012

my first con this year.. it was small and cheap but sales went well.. i was the only anime artist in the place….. >v<! that really made me feel out of place coz everyone’s selling comic stuff and not much related to anime.. duh…. it’s a comic and toy expo… OTL but it was worth going since the point is to make some profit.. now i can buy my roundtrip to toronto for anime north.. heheh…. @v@

ctexpo12-01

I was planning to make my set up like in c4 with the cages on the side for my posters but i was busy fixing up my applications to game companies so i was not able to prepare for this con.. i cant find the cages i used before so i just used the stands…. it was an easy set up.. and luckily the table was good enough without a table cloth coz i didnt expect that a hotel venue wont provide clothes for tables.. XD anyways.. the only downside with this set up is that i wasnt able to display all my posters… i had way too many images for posters.. >v< but some of them are out of stock anyways and at least the table was big enough to have space for the stands.. i got a huge stand behind me displaying bigger posters.. it was useful and im happy to sell some old huge posters coz of that.. *^^*

i wasnt able to take lots of pics coz there’s not that many people.. but here are some pics in my facebook album

Something unexpected happen in this con.. I guess im used to people taking my pics but a guy came to me asking for a couple shots.. he then emailed me with the pics saying my pic was in the monday’s Winnipeg Free Press.. (where? in the news paper!) >v<

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the business cards and the spider man sticker are the loots i got from this con.. XD there’s only a few artist and i got the cards of some of them too..

Thanks again to Trevor Hagan for sending the pics..~<3 Here’s a clear shot of the featured image..

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and an extra shot of what i was working there..

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special thanks to Paolo and Janine for manning the table with me.. and to James for buying the newspaper.. lol.. =P

eeh… what else to report….. there’s a lot of antique toys and super sale manga from $4 each or 3 for $10.. nothing much caught my interest other than the sailor v manga.. but i didnt want to buy an on-going series so i’ll wait til the box set is available.. =P

overall, it was pretty much a successful con for me.. i didnt spend anything on my merch.. everything was just the left overs so the profit was great so now i can re-order stocks and print new images and a plane ticket for the next con.. @v@

next con: anime north..! im excited i got the full table but will probably share to a friend who’s in the waiting list.. unless they get lucky, i can occupy the whole table.. :>

C4 2011 Review

Posted on by reirei18

where: Winnipeg Convention Centre

when: Oct. 28-30, 2011

Central Canada Comic Con aka C4.. this con blog is super late but here’s my experience during my first “comic” convention.. *^^*

Another Winnipeg convention, this time it’s more on comics and not much anime but I know I can expect something better here than the other cons from my previous experience at Ai-Kon.. it all went well.. even better than expected.. There wasn’t that much people but my sales were better than fanexpo… >v<!!

I didn’t have much time to prepare coz of my seasonal job at that time but I manage to finish my preparations the night before.. somehow.. XD

also, the night before, I had to run to staples…OTL…just to print some posters of my new work, the GAIA illustration for the artbook. I wasn’t going to sell posters of that pic but since I’m trying to advertise the charity artbook, might as well sell some posters of my contribution. *^^*

day 1 was ok… I was really exhausted coz I had to set up by 7:30am by appointment. It was difficult to set up my display.. I didn’t plan my 8×3 table til I get there. It took me 4 hours to finish my set up…. 4hrs….. @______@;

It’s definitely a slow friday but I sold out my GAIA posters. I only printed 5 coz I didn’t think it would sell right away so I had to ask my friend to reprint more for the next day. It’s still up there but I sold out Morrigan, Weiwei, Breakaway and Hitsugaya. Unless I get orders, I wont reprint for cons.. They’re kinda expensive to order and not that easy to sell. ^^;

More importantly, I sold my most expensive print ever.. the one and only for Mr. Wayne.. thank you..~~!!

and then TigerFey (from deviantart) came to pick up the commissions he ordered.

There’s not that many cosplayers today so I only manage to take a few pics..

there were a bunch of kids cosplaying compared to anime cons..
at the end of the day.. i bought a set of copic markers while it’s at a huge discount..
*i only used it for a day and i haven’t touched it again since then.. XD

day 2.. it was busier than yesterday but compared to other cons, this saturday is more like a friday to some… or maybe just to me coz im only selling anime stuff.. some kid even asked me what is that.. XD anime is not comics, unfortunately.. v_v”

my cousin came today so i was able to relax a bit.. i looked around and realized how big the area is.. there’s probably less than 5 artists selling anime stuff in the alley.. but i found some anime cosplayers.. and some familiar faces too..

awesome domo cosplay with my cousin..~

she also took pics so enjoy some more cosplay photos..~


^ domo stayed there for almost the whole day.. he must be feeling heavy/hot.. XD

day 3 started really slow… more than an hour passed before i got my first sale..
my stuff is pretty much organized so there was really nothing to do but draw…..

it got busier near the end and there are still some people asking for prints of my black and whites even though they’re old from 2004.. eeh… maybe i’ll print a few copies for the next con.. ^^;

some more cosplay photos..

some more photos in my facebook c4 album

the loots…

lol.. only 2 anime art trades.. >v<! i was hesitant to ask for trades with comic artists but i really should’ve since it’s a comic con.. XD i wont fail next time.. =P a few people came to me with those ai-kon winterfest fliers.. i thought i threw them all but i found some inserted in my binder.. @x@

*extra extra*
i was really clueless and nervous.. i dont remember what nonsense i spoke but i remember feeling awkward yet i was smiling like a chipmunk.. lol… >v<!! 

(watch the video via youtube)

Please check my homepage or facebook for the next convention updates.. :>

FanExpo 2011 Review

Posted on by reirei18

where: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto

when: Aug. 25-28, 2011

Fanexpo 2011.. it’s a 4-day convention so this could be long.. =P

Fanexpo day 0.. Wednesday.. met Chrissy (falsedelusion in deviantart) and hello Angie (xaiisu in deviantart), a new hotelmate at Westin hotel.. we’re on the 33rd floor thanks to Chrissy’s mom for the awesome discount in this 4-star hotel.. :> amazing view throughout our 5-night stay..

Lakeshore view on the left side and the CN tower and Rogers building on the right.. it was a fine day until night came.

*notice the bed.. there’s a hand figure on the right pic that’s not mine coz I was holding the camera.. o.o*

Heavy rain and thunders made sleeping even harder but I fell asleep anyways.. I was ready and excited for the con..

Fanexpo day 1.. Thursday.. got there early to prep our set-up.. my tablemate Sam (5ammay in deviantart) got us a really tall pole to hang our posters.. This is our table and I’m really happy to have my posters up there.

I think I’ll do the same thing with my other cons in the future.. Chrissy went off somewhere to find her table far from mine.. =/ but Sam kept me company plus she’s very considerate with food.. <3 it was a fun table and she’d always help me sell my stuff.. always… @x@;

eeh so there’s not that many people as expected from day 1.. sale’s-wise is ok for a half day con.. Machii-chan from deviantart came to my table asking for the seriously poster.. It really makes me happy everytime people ask for the title instead of pointing the pic especially for that sailor moon fanart.. it makes titles worth it but I doubt about that seriously pic.. seriously.. XD

just a little thing called “filipino moms thing” happened during their stay in my table.. if I see my daughter buying something that she likes but doesn’t need much, I would probably do the same thing too.. but in the end, everything’s good.. XD They asked me for a picture with her and her sister.. I’m curious to see how our picture turned out.. I don’t remember smiling coz I was thinking “o-oh” deep inside.. lol jk… >v<!!

cosplayers… some really cool ones and a few made us wow.. especially this one..

Sam got a black board for her buttons in her table (see first picture above) that was covering her view and this cosplayer was so discreet.. she had no aura..! I can’t sense her til she’s close enough to reach our business cards in the table.. Sam, having the blind spot, jumped in surprise when she saw her.. lol.. *exaggerated but some truth* =P

some more cosplayers..~

Fanexpo day 2.. Friday.. Sam and I were both wearing the cosplay we commissioned from Yoyo (buumoo in deviantart)..

I really like how Yoyo makes our outfit with personal touch.. It was my 2nd time commissioning her for a cosplay and I’m really happy with it.. it was just a little too big for me but that’s about ok.. I was supposed to be cosplaying the 4th captain in Bleach but it’s way too hot to have the haori (or the white jacket for captains) and besides, I preferred to be my own bleach character.. lol… *fail* I shall draw that character one of these days.. >v<!

and oh.. I forgot my display book in the hotel so I had to go back alone and on the way back to the con, some staff who called a taxi for me asked me if I’m Japanese.. maybe because I’m wearing the cosplay..? but I feel flattered when people think I’m Japanese or Korean.. *I’m Filipino btw* but when I denied it, he added that I’m too dark to be Japanese.. gaaaaah… seriously.. pffft…. <_< I had too much summer fun… v_v;

nothing really special happened this day except that I found my camera broken so I wasn’t able to take pics of this day but then I discovered the brilliance of my new phone’s camera but it was too late coz all the other cool cosplayers have gone.. but anyways.. sales-wise, it’s not as great as I anticipated. Almost the same profit as the first day and I think it was pretty bad considering the amount of people that went and looked at my stuff.. most reason are because they will be there until Sunday so they’re just looking around for now.. it can’t be helped and I can’t blame them as most sales go cheaper at the end of the convention.. oh well.. this day has been ok but could be better..

Sam agrees.. this stolen shot proves it.. =P it was actually my 2nd attempt coz the first time she didn’t even stayed like that for more than 10 seconds and my camera wasn’t ready but 2nd try turned out to be a pic worth captioning.. *insert bubble speech somewhere* @v@!

oh.. if there’s one good thing about today, it’s the free c3p0 fan from sweet people who came to our table.. thank u~

Fanexpo day 3.. Saturday.. our cosplays look awesome.. for me, it was my most popular.. I got hugged a few times this day and they recognize my cosplay right away.. I don’t even have props nor the proper hairdo but I guess not too many anime girls wear the shrine maiden outfit..?

In this picture, we have Kennie.. I call her smiley eyes coz she has such pretty happy eyes.. <3 so cute especially in her Madoka cosplay..~ I don’t know where she got her cosplay but ours is from buumoo in deviantart..~ yeah..~ she’s great and I love this Kikyo cosplay I commissioned from her more than the ones I bought online… I will commission her again.. maybe for my wedding dress..? lol….. :D

so it’s day 3 and this day was supposed to be the busiest day.. not exactly.. I still had time to walk around.. just in the artist alley.. Fanexpo is way too big and I’m worried about my sales.. I was able to cover my expenses but I need to grab more buyers..

this day’s spotlight has got to be this girl..

it’s Kayla (miniphoenix in deviantart).. I knew she looks familiar..! she studied graphics design in the same school.. as in at RCC Academy of Design.. same batch.. same campus.. either I saw her during the graduation or at school.. XD anyways, we’re both cosplaying Kikyo aka a shrine maiden.. the picture we’re holding was her first commissioned art from me.. she asked for additional 3 commissions after that.. I’m just glad she likes the picture enough to commission me for more.. *^^*

that was a surprise.. such a small world… but this one made it big for me..

gosh.. I should’ve looked through the guest artists. I didn’t know this person until I googled his name.. Bobby Chiu. He’s an inspiration now that I know a little about him. He designed characters for Alice in Wonderland movie, worked for Disney, Warner Bros, etc.. He was just silently browsing my display book and I don’t even remember our conversation but I felt bad when he asked me if I don’t know him… gaah… I haven’t even seen the Alice in Wonderland movie… *fail* >x< But actually, I’m not the type who’d memorize an artist’s name but I look at their art and get inspired with their work.. I don’t even know who’s the artist for final fantasy but I love the art style.. lol.. I google names and list them as my favorite artists somewhere but no name sticks in my head.. well, except for Naoko Takeuchi who’s like a family to me.. XD anyways… it was really nice of him to invite me to his exclusive workshop (even though he’s probably inviting random people) but I’m not in Toronto anymore by then.. and glad I have his business card so I can check out his site (www.imaginismstudios.com)

so much for spotlights, here are some cool cosplayers of the day..

it was such an exhausting day.. especially for me since I had to wake up earlier than everyone else.. we’re 3 taking the shower in the morning plus we had to help James for his Ace cosplay..

I did the writing in his arm while Chrissy did the awesome skull on his back… we didn’t take pics..! >A<! we should’ve… maybe next time.. XD *this photo was from Kennie’s fb album..*

Fanexpo day 4.. Sunday.. finally the last day……. 2nd new cosplay from waltzmart.com..

the cosplay quality is great especially the top but I think Yoyo can do the same thing.. much cheaper and faster too.. I ordered this cosplay June and got it on the 1st week of August.. I even had it on express shipping hoping to wear it on Ai-kon but.. tsk.. If only I knew it would’ve taken long, I should’ve cancelled and order from Yoyo.. but at that time I didn’t know that Yoyo does awesome cosplay so it was too late for either.. oh well… this was supposed to be a Hetalia China cosplay but I didn’t feel like having a single hair tie so I had it on both sides.. now I’m like a character of yuumei in deviantart for her story (read here)

spotlight spotlight…~~ Jiayi from deviantart…~~~<3

I was totally speechless when she handed this to me.. This particular oc is very precious to me being the first charcter ever from 2002.. and to think this bookmark was hand drawn made it even more precious.. thank you Jiayi..~<3

ok so concluding fanexpo.. eeh… fanexpo sales were not as good as I anticipated but I earned back my expenses and have earned a bit too.. still, it’s kinda disappointing because this con is supposed to be the largest and there were a lot of people and competition.. about 200 artists..? XD regardless, it was still a great event and lots of networking happened.. I found potential game companies, potential collabers, a few 3d artists came to me for concepts.. they especially liked the nightmare bunny from my school game project.. =P

overall, it’s a con worth going for career networking but not so much for selling art.. especially anime art when this con’s more on comics and games.. >v< or was it because our location is not in the anime area..? then again, if they like the art much, they’ll buy it no matter what.. v_v; I still have lots more to learn.. “mada mada da ne”.

after the con, this person added me in facebook and I saw a video about the con.. I was really bored so I watched it and surprised to find myself in there.. lol.. *click the image to watch it on youtube*

I think I’m holding the cool c3p0 fan.. thanks again to the person who gave it to me.. >v< I still have it in my room.. =P

and finally, the loots from this con..~<3

the awesome prints were traded with my cheap stuff.. >x< from the upper left, swan girl from bluefeathers, sailor moon pic from Kaze-Hime, masked girl poster from Nazuroth, red riding hood from hitsukuya’s sister Kennie, a freshly drawn kross (her oc) by falsedelusion, dolphin ring (below the sailor moon pic and above the batman button) was from meomeoow, button and america keychain from Lisemo and the chikorita keychain from Sam the 5ammay in deviantart.. you can find them all in deviantart..~ the 2 other hetalia cards beside chikorita is from someone I don’t know.. I think someone’s giving it away and Sam got me some but there’s no label of who’s it from.. >v< they’re really cute especially UK the angel.. :> the batman and other buttons were free from…. some booth.. XD and of course, gotta have some awesome people’s bizcards.. <3

for tagged bizcard is whose and more cosplay pics, see my facebook album here –> fanexpo 2011 <–

*after the con*

Monday, Aug. 29.. still in Toronto.. getting ready to leave..

we still have some left over noodles.. lots of noodles through our stay courtesy of Chrissy.. I realized I didn’t bring any food.. just bought waters and snack.. I’ll make it up on Anime North 2012.. >v<

we barely did anything for fun after the con.. I was in a hurry to go to school for my diploma and transcript so we parted at lunch time.. they still went to the mall I think while I had to go to school.. I still made some sales there.. I planned to give a poster to Tito Jimmy who helped me a lot during my stay in that school.. He was really nice and helpful.. he took some more posters though… and also a few more staff who seemed surprised to see me grabbed some posters and bookmarks.. They’re all very nice people and I still feel welcomed there even after graduating and I’m really surprised they know my name… >//v//< I thought I didn’t stand out much during my stay in that school so it was really unexpected.. I went around the campus for a bit to check out my teachers but I couldn’t find them and one of them was busy lecturing so I didn’t bother showing up.. XD

I was secretly hoping to see 2 old schoolmates.. they’re both in IT class as I’ve seen them in the electronics lab during my last term.. very often coz their room is on the way.. especially I’m sitting in the door where I can see them in class.. lol…. anyways.. I know one guy had 2 more months after my grad.. *not a stalker.. I just accidentally looked up his schedule..* >v<!! I was just interested in his always smiling face.. ;) it makes me smile and forget about the stressful projects I’ve been working.. I didn’t see him and did not really expect to see them but I saw one at least.. unlike the other one, I don’t really stalk this guy much.. lol.. I mean I don’t remember which term I first saw him.. at least the other one started the same time as me but this one’s probably newer.. he’s on his way home holding a project.. same thing.. he’d just give me his smiley eyes and walk away.. oh well.. I was also pretty busy.. I was not gonna accept the money they’re giving me for the posters but people are really nice.. I earned some for taxi.. =P

but traffic… I had a plane to catch at 4:30 and I’m still an hour away from the airport.. not to mention I have to go back to the hotel to pick up my extra baggage.. and so disaster came in after those sweet moments with the school people.. x_x I seriously would’ve made it on time if only there was no traffic… stuck for hours and so I missed my plane… I had to rebook and pay additional fee.. on top of that, some lady rolled her heavy suitcase in my toe so I had to walk in the huge Toronto airport with a bleeding toe.. *a few days later, my toe is fine but it left a crack on my nail* =/ it didn’t end with just that.. I got picked up by 2 guys… ugh.. @__@! I bought some iced capp and was on my way back to the gate when 2 guys on their way to the baggage area stopped and offered to buy me dinner… it was nearly dinner time and they probably wonder why I’m taking just a small iced capp drink.. XD it was the first time this kind of thing happened to me so I didn’t know what to do.. I just ignored them but one guy followed me for a bit and then more people came so I guess they stopped fooling around.. it was scary for a moment but then I’m glad I’m in the airport.. >x< should I have taken the dinner offer..? lol.. jk.. but I was kinda hesitant to spend more money after paying $150+ for the flight changes fee.. <_< so just iced capp for dinner coz I know there’ll be food when I get home.. so I walked back to the gate and enjoyed my iced capp.. it makes me full for some reason… enough to cover about 5 hours of wait in there before I can board the plane….. glad they have internet so I can watch some anime while drawing my entry for the GAIA artbook.. just as when I thought I can sit back and relax, air canada changed the gate to a farther one.. from 151 to 136.. well, it’s not that far but the thought of moving with painful toe is not so pleasant.. and then again…. from 136 to 132.. I didn’t move because it was just 2 gates away… and it was the right decision because they moved us again to 146.. oh dear…. @_@; a lot of moving… it didn’t end there just yet… being the nice lady and all, I was seating beside a girl who kept looking back to her friends behind me.. when they asked who’s she’s sitting with, I feel like switching so they can be together.. if it was me, I would want the same thing too so I switched hoping I could get the window seat but no… =/ the girl beside me was just sleeping.. I was gonna ask for a switch so I can take pics and I especially don’t like to stand in the middle of the flight to let her through for a washroom break so I always prefer the window seat but I guess I can’t choose my seat especially after being rebooked.. it was a full flight too so I should just be thankful they were able to squeeze me in… >v< but anyways.. my seatmate was nice enough to take pics of me of the Winnipeg night view..

a few more shots can be seen in my flying scenes album –> here <–

got home really tired.. no time to feel hungry so I just jumped to my bed and recall the guy I saw at school.. lol jk.. I mean how there aren’t that many cute guys in fanexpo.. jk..! but seriously…. though honestly, I think I just fell asleep right away…

and so that concludes my trip to Fanexpo and my last visit in Toronto this year.. I’ll come back for Anime North on May 2012 or if I got hired by some game company there.. =P

now on to my prep for the last con this year, c4 which will be held in Winnipeg.. just gotta love Winnipeg..~ *^^*

Ai-kon 2011 Review

Posted on by reirei18

where: Winnipeg Convention Centre, Winnipeg, MB

when: July 15-17, 2011

it’s nice to be back home and great to know that fellow Winnipegers support my stuff just like Toronto.. I actually made more sales in this con than anime north..! the biggest con sale so far and to think it wasn’t as busy as the others.. I just had more posters to sell this time.. =P

expenses.. about $400….. OTL $167 went to ai-kon’s entrance, artist table and the art gallery…… >x< prints and cosplay took the rest.. I made more here compared to anime north but I earned back more in anime north coz of the huge expenses I had here.. even though i didn’t have to spend hotel and airfare… tsk… anyways…. pictures… not much really… i was working on the 2nd commission for TigerFey from deviantart.. this was the commissioned piece.. and this is the sweet TigerFey holding the commissioned pieces he ordered.. :>

view the commissioned images here –> TigerFey1 / TigerFey2

my sales were successful too.. i got rid of my huge posters but i didn’t have the chance to take pics of those who bought it.. OTL.. just this one coz it’s interesting.. a cool Karin cosplayer bought my small Sasuke poster.. ♥

I don’t remember her voice much but she left an impression that she’s the real Karin.. *thumbsup*

the art gallery.. I knew I had to take remembrance pic of the ones I put in the gallery coz everything got sold.. @v@

it was their first time having an art auction gallery.. a few issues have been brought to me by some of the bidders and watchers.. they noticed most of the displays in the gallery (5 out of 10?) were mine.. lol.. if it was me, I would probably wonder the same thing.. >v<! the fee per displayed piece is not so friendly.. definitely one of my major concerns and most likely the other artist who tried to enter the gallery had the same concern.. I like their idea of selecting pieces for the gallery but I can’t swallow paying $15 for each display.. I just had to remove my other pieces that got accepted.. the gallery was already more expensive than the artist table.. >_> the displays were also inconvenient.. Even though people will probably roam around the whole room, the gallery space is in the corner end and didn’t feel special.. The pieces were also laid flat. They offered stands but didn’t really happen.. I was gonna bring stands for mine but got warned that it might make it worse.. I see the point.. if people can freely see and touch the displays and the pieces are standing in the table, they might fall and get damaged…. XD It’s way too open for everyone to see. Anyone can bid like one of my pieces got a bid of “$99 billion mwahaha” (yes, with the mwahaha..) and anyone can runaway with it.. uh, there are volunteers in the exit but no security or watchers near the area.. what if someone scratched the pieces..? joke.. XD and there was no receipt provided in the end of the transaction.. I came to Amy for the rest of the payment but it seems she already gave me everything… I tried to recall and she could be right.. >w< can’t help but compare to anime north’s gallery.. we only had to pay for the table not per display and we’re free to put however many pieces with the given space, open for everyone to see but only officially registered bidders can bid for the pieces, volunteers on guard on entrance/exit and inside the special room, detailed sales transaction by the end of the con and a commission fee deducted from the total sales which is totally fine… but oh well.. the ai-kon gallery went well regardless..

these are some of the people who won the bidding for my pieces in the auction..

^ it was nice of her to give me the payment herself.. and because there was a change, she just took an oversized postcard for it or was it bookmarks..? XD

finally, cosplay pics.. i mean, my cosplay pics.. lol.. glad i can get a hold of some of those who took my pics.. still waiting for the official aikon photographer for other pics.. i’ll probably just update this post..

^ credits to Chec for the pic and QQcosplay for the outfit..

^ credits to Brad’s friend for the pic and Yoyo aka buumoo for my kikyo cosplay..

other cosplayers.. I saw a lot but I didn’t get a chance to take a lot of pics.. here are just some of the cool ones..

I don’t have that many pics.. OTL forgot my camera, busy doodling and chatting.. XD view full album –> ai-kon 2011

some good things about this con:

I met Jessyca..~~! woot..~

I knew Jessyca from theOtaku but I didn’t know she’s from Winnipeg so I just had to move beside her table.. My conscience was poking me when I decided to move.. I was sort of set in my previous spot, supposed to sit together with Justin Currie, another amazing artist that you should totally check out, and Lenette who makes adorable crafts.. I’m not really sure how she looks like without her cosplay coz she looks different everyday.. XD but yeah.. I felt bad when I moved but given the sweet spot beside Jessyca, not to mention, it’s by the entrance, I just had to move.. >w<! I thought I was lucky when I paid to upgrade to a full table but Jessyca here was supposed to have just half of the table… I would’ve invited Len if I knew since Justin also upgraded to a full table.. XD but anyways, it’s nice to be able to upgrade to a full table coz half of it is definitely not enough for all my stuff.. >v<

another good thing about this con is that the dealers room is on the same room as the artist alley.. our table is in the front so just across us are the dealers.. I was able to buy 2 sketchbooks from Artist Emporium for a super cheap $7 for both.. tax free..~ I was gonna buy copics coz the set of 12 was just $60..? It’s already cheap as they say but I don’t see myself using it this year or next year so no point in spending money for that.. besides, I had to buy slippers for $40 in the dealers coz mine broke… >__< my slippers broke on the first day of the con when I was wearing my kikyo cosplay.. I just had a regular flip flops but it seems it’s not really meant to be.. I was walking barefoot for hours.. luckily I found a booth selling traditional japanese geta slippers before the con started.. I had no choice but to buy it or wear nothing throughout the whole day.. XD it was nice and maybe worth the money.. it matches my kikyo cosplay too but kinda hard to walk with it especially on non-carpet floors.. my cousins who tried it said the same thing.. >v< it just takes a while to get used to it..

another good thing about this con, the artist alley is so spacious.. There’s a huge empty space behind us and the alley had enough space to walk with.. or maybe there wasn’t that many crowd..? but surely, this is the most spacious artist alley ever.. so it wasn’t that hard to walk barefoot especially since it’s carpet and I see them cleaning it before they open each day.. well groomed area.. :>

Staff and volunteers are very friendly.. Amy, the coordinator is also very nice and approachable.. some university friends are volunteers this year.. sweet of them to give me iced capp as ordered and spend time in my space.. if only they gathered more people in my space, that’d be better.. just kidding.. lol.. =P

as usual, I was lazy to go around the alley but I saw a lot of amazing displays and fellow artists were also nice and friendly.. some familiar faces and names too..~ by the end of the con, some artist came to me for a trade.. I don’t ask for trades.. too shy to ask..?! but when people asked, it was just hard to say no.. XD

a lot from sha-ni.. =P i think she bought a print and still came for a trade.. <3 others didn’t have a link to their site but everyone else had deviantart.. surprised to see meomeo.. I knew her from theOtaku.. I really thought she’s a guy but I saw her works and recognized some of them.. I tilted my head and thought, “meomeo is a girl..?! o_o!” she kinda reminds me of my friend Angela aka snowp.. lol.. Shilin was there too… she was so nice.. it’s just a shame I couldn’t get anything from her.. why didn’t I..?! gaah.. OTL I probably just won’t spend money on something from another artist.. maybe…. and I think it was right after I bought the sandals.. >v<! but maybe if I see her again on the next cons, I will get myself a remembrance of her pretty art.. gaah.. I should’ve bought something…. >_> and oh, Justin, you owe me something coz you took a bookmark.. lol just kidding..~ =P

overall, it was a fun convention.. family and family friends being so supportive.. *hugs* friends and unexpected online friends were there too..~ I really enjoyed this one and definitely will try to come back next year.. :>

Anime Next 2011 Review

Posted on by reirei18

where: Garden State Exhibit Center, Somerset, NJ

when: June 10-12, 2011

anime next……. it was great…. people are amazing.. staff and buyers.. also my tablemates were really nice.. shinyumbie shared the table cloth and provided me lead so i can continue my commissions.. also for the cute print as seen in the pic at the bottom of this long journal.. and to my other tablemate lossingfeathers who lent me her awesome fan….. it was really hot especially in my hinata cosplay.. =_= but coz of her fan, i felt fresh all throughout the con.. thank u..~ *hugs*

so yeah… first of all, the great difference with americans to canadians from con experience is that americans give tips… and not only a dollar or 5s but 10s to some… XD the biggest tip i got was $14 for something worth $46.. and also, didnt think some people would spend so much like a single person spent $95 for my stuff.. i wish i took a pic of her but she was sort of in a rush.. i really appreciate that she bought a lot despite of the rush… and a few others spent more than $40.. plus the tips…. i never thought i’d get tips… lol…. i have enough change or could’ve given them something worth their tip but i guess they wont have any use for them.. XD so yeah… thats one happy thing… ;p

another thing.. they give free cookies and free popcorn… one guy walking around giving free cookies and one girl cosplaying some character with popcorn.. never heard of such character but she’s giving free popcorn while she’s at it.. XD

if there’s a bad thing about this con, it’s the location… the artist alley is next to a super loud background.. it was really hard to hear myself especially since i have a soft voice… x_x i couldnt even hear myself but i tried… there was a lot of talking too.. >v< but it was fun… there’s one japanese girl named Temaki-chan.. i will remember her name for a long time.. we had a long chat in japanese and i cant believe it went smoothly.. XD i guess my japanese works fine.. and i was told my accent is perfect.. lol… it’s all because of the anime, drama and jpop everyday… XD

anyways… sales went so well.. there’s less people compared to anime north and there’s a lot of down times but i sold out 7 posters out of 10…. sold 8 copies of my manga.. thats more manga sales than anime north.. XD also sold out hitsugaya bookmarks again…. as well as chibiusa, for you and enma ai….. like wow.. my enma ai stuff sold so well…. a lot preferred poster size of it than the prints so i still have 14 prints and i think it’s enough for ai-kon… but i have to order more posters for others and a banner order for a guy named Geof who already bought so much from my stuff almost everyday…. i dont even remember how much he spent for my stuff…. thank u so much..!!

*edit: thank you for this pic.. he even put them in frames.. :D

ah, yes yes… the 30×47 enma ai banner shall be sent to him soon… >v<!

so yeah pics… i was kinda busy working on commissions to take pics of cosplayers but i had a few and failed blurry pics….. OTL

this is shirorogunsou cosplaying Len from vocaloid.. i now have a live reference for my future len fanart.. *^^*
she bought my enma ai bookmark.. and the stress pic in poster size… <3

while im at it, i didnt think the stress pic would sell.. it’s just a face with a bunch of hair.. but some asked for a print size.. unfortunately, it was not meant for small prints.. only poster size and im really satisfied on how the quality turned out… <3 thanks again to snowp for the awesome prints..~ *hugs*

anyway, some people who commissioned me were cosplaying too.. ♥

their happy faces were definitely worth losing some sleep.. XD i wasnt gonna take on the spot commissions coz i was also working on a previous commission but it was kinda hard to say no to the first person.. they were a couple *i assume* and wanted the couple pic as seen in this pic

i even told them i dont have a paper.. i actually have but it was a watercolor paper that i was gonna use to print something to make it look traditional but i didnt have enough time and forgot to take it out in my portfolio showcase.. they came back with a piece of paper and so i finally accepted… there was not much people anyway so i figured i could earn this way too.. and so yeah…. but later on a few more asked for commissions.. i only took 2 more and had the others to leave their address….. in total, i have 7 commissions to do from anime next.. some unconfirmed commissions thru email, 2 from deviantart notes, 3 previous commissions which will be in my gallery this week and a commission to be picked up at ai-kon… woot..~~ i need to plan my stuff for ai-kon…… i might have new prints and bookmarks especially since fanexpo is coming… XD i need to top up my cellphone too coz my balance went down to $2.10 from all the international text messages from commissioners…. i didnt even had a doubt giving away my number…. but that number is my toronto number anyway and i’d change it again when i go home to winnipeg… >v<

anyways… aside from that, i met star petals from theOtaku.. ♥

it might’ve been a coincidence.. i havent been that active in theO but glad she recognized my art and thankful she bought my poster.. *hugs*

also rubberducky from theOtaku but i dont remember her full username nor i have a pic of her.. some subscribers from my website dropped by.. they called themselves allen and crishell <– loving this name…. <3 and also some friends from the forums ginger oil, cracked black mirror and litza…. i wish i took their pics as a remembrance.. but well, some of them expressed their interest in going to fanexpo.. hopefully they will and buy more stuff.. i’ll have new prints by then.. >v<

before this post gets any longer, i want to thank everyone who dropped by my table and bought stuff… *hugs hugs* im really glad i attended this convention and met awesome and interesting people.. i really appreciate u guys buying my stuff.. i now have less stuff to bring home to canada.. =P

now for the loots…

majority of them are in deviantart.. go check them out..~ i missed a couple of bizcards as i just finished cleaning up my room and found a few more but anyways…. there was really a lot of awesome people in the alley and the convention itself…especially to those who noticed me despite my quick walk and said “hi hinata-chan”, “hey it’s hinata” or “hinata~~” when i was cosplaying hinata.. XD i wish i can see the pics they took coz i dont have a pic of myself cosplaying… OTL

and i wasnt able to take lots of pics but u can see some here –> anime next @fb

and so.. once again, thank you.. if u were there and had a chat with me, u know who u are.. i really enjoyed this con though i was basically stuck in my chair doing commissions.. XD but it was a fun and new experience.. hope i can come back next year.. *^^*

*now off to work on commissions* =v=;