Aki-Con Report: Pre-Con
7 years ago, after I got out of the day’s class in college, I took the bus to the Holiday Inn in Everett, WA, where I attended my very first anime convention, Sakura-Con 2001. I had been to the old “Seattle Comic Cons,” which were nothing more than a glorified dealers’ hall with a few guests attending, and I had no clue what to expect.
7 years later, I’m a bit more experienced at anime conventions, especially since I’ve been on staff for Sakura-Con since 2002. But, today will be a new experience for me, once again. Today, after I finish this and get a few last things ready, I will be once again taking the bus to the Holiday Inn in Everett, WA.
[As a side note, the Holiday Inn where Sakura-Con 2001 was held changed it's name to Comfort Inn, and tore down the entirety of where the convention had been held (there's a big empty lot there... not that I'm sad to see that horrible dome go). The Holiday Inn where Aki-Con is taking place is on the other side of I-5.]
Aki-Con is a new anime convention that has sprung up (literally… I think I first heard of it in July), run by NDP Comics and Manga Kissaden (I probably spelled that wrong, and I honestly don’t care righht now). It is a FOR-PROFIT anime convention (as opposed to Sakura-Con and most of the other successful anime conventions around the country, which are all either NON-PROFIT or NOT-FOR-PROFIT [yes, there's a difference]), and this is it’s first… well, for now, I’ll say it’s a “first attempt,” not a “first year.” As I’ve learned from following the Anime Convention Mailing List (ACML), many “first year” cons never have a second year, especially if they are for-profit.
But, I digress. I am attending the convention as a guest of Soul Candy, a local rock band who specializes in covers of anime music. They are opening for The Slants tonight at 8:30, and have their own set on Sunday at 4pm. During their set, I will be performing “The Rising Fighting Spirit” from Naruto with them. Since the con is so close, I will be coming home each night, and giving everyone a report of the day.
So, see ya tonight!