Hello, Panda here :)

This may be a little different then some of the previous reports that have
shown up here about people's experiences at an anime convention. Most folks
relate their experiences as they happened, in a kind of linear journal
format which I always find fascinating, but having never attended a
convention before, I found myself reflecting in a different way, even
before the con had ended. I've tried to keep this brief, though I know I
could have included a lot more detail. For the sake of those on the list
who aren't into such things, anyone who wishes to reply to this should
probably do so privately. I'd love to hear about your own experiences :)

There aren't many places to buy anime where I live, and most of it is what
non-anime fans usually think of when you mention Japanese animation; a
dusty copy of Akira, a few episodes of Ranma 1/2, maybe a few other titles,
but nothing that might be considered difficult to find elsewhere. From what
I had heard about the dealer's room at most conventions, I just might be
able to pick up a few things I had heard about but hadn't seen back home.

And then there were the various events I had heard about. The Fanfiction
Panel, the CosPlay, Music Videos etc. I was really looking forward to the
Fanfiction Panel, having read about so many of them in reports like this. I
really enjoy discussing writing with fellow authors. It would be very
interesting to hear what they had to say.

But the main reason I was going was to finally meet some of the people I
had exchanged email with for so long, some of them since shortly after this
list was started up several years ago. What would they be like? Would they
be like I had imagined them, based on the emails I had received? Or would
they be entirely different? Would they be friendly, or shy? Would I find
out we actually don't get along as well as I thought? I was travelling to
Chicago with alot of expectations.

The dealer's room was as I had expected it to be. Busy, loud, and packed
with rabid anime fans! There were model kits, posters, wall scrolls, tapes,
DVDs, laserdiscs, laserdisc players, DVD players, t-shirts, cels, artbooks,
manga, you name it, it was there. And to this reporter, the selection
seemed overwhelming. So many series I had never heard of before! With the
intention to only buy a few select items, and a very select budget, I
stepped into the fray.

I had initally intended to tag along with my guides, Jeanne Hedge and Bert
Van Vliet, in search of BGC stuff, but it wasn't long before I was swept
away to a corner that seemed to call to me. I found some wall scrolls of
two of my favorite series and promptly laid out my hard earned cash. As I
continued to wander around I came across a very large backlit poster for
the new BubbleGum Crisis 2040 TV series, and despite my initial feelings of
dread towards this new show, the great artwork on this poster had me
wandering if maybe I was a little hasty in my judgement ;) The folks at the
ADV booth assured me the US release of the series would be sometime in
September. Hmmm. I then caught up with Jeanne and Bert, and I was shown a
few choice items, some of which fit the budget nicely, but the BubbleGum
Crisis (yes it is my favorite series<g>) B-Club special going for $500 was
not an option! >_< I left the dealer's room feeling drained, of currency
and energy, but I felt I had made some very good purchases, thanks to my
sharp-eyed guides.

Then came the Fanfiction Panel. We arrived shortly before the panel was to
begin, and I entered with my eyes wide open, squinting at name tags (these
things need to be redesigned with MUCH larger lettering) for names I might
recognize, but after failing miserably, I took a seat near the front and
then looked back.

Some of the faces I could recognize because I had met them a little
earlier, but as I gazed around the room I was struck by the variety of
faces I saw. People from all walks of life and a wider age range than I had
expected had gathered here, all with at least one thing in common; a love
of reading and writing. For some odd reason, I thought I should know them
all, know them like I knew friends back home. This was the beginning of a
phenomenon I now call "Second Contact".

The panel itself was interesting. There were awkward moments, where the
attention would slip unannounced from the intended speakers to someone in
the audience who was eager to be recognized (my advice is to simply post
the fic, friend ^_^ ), but for the most part, it was a genuine exchange of
ideas, and was very informative. But as the panel ended, and people
gathered in smaller groups, I wondered if maybe there might be an
alternative format for this forum. The same group of people, but without an
actual panel, in a similar room but with all of the chairs in an informal
circle, with everyone allowed to participate as panelists. Thinking about
it a little more, the idea definitely has its disadvantages, but seeing
everyone gathered in these small groups, I could not erase the notion from
my mind. And as I watched the various panelists converse with those from
the crowd who came forward to prod for a fic or to just say hi, I decided
to say Hi as well. The second contact phenomenon was in full effect though,
as people whose names I recognized said Hi back, then sort of looked about
the room, both of us wondering what to say next. I don't think this
happened because we did not have anything to say, but because we didn't
know *how* to begin to say it. Odd as the feeling was, I did get a few
words to and from some of those I spoke with, but I left wondering about
this strange awkwardness, and how to deal with it. Hmm.

Then there was the CosPlay. A much talked-about and eagerly anticipated
event, perhaps the most anticipated of the con. The lineup started early,
but again my guides, veterans of several cons, made sure we were all there
in time to get good seats. Though the show was far too long in getting
under way, the wait was still worth it. To this reporter, the CosPlay was a
rollercoaster, of awkward moments of silence, polite applause, and roaring
laughter. Some of the skits were well thought out, some were quite brief,
but I had heard so much about an event that had taken place last year
(Genma Panda dancing) that I wondered in the back of my mind if someone
might try to top my nickname-sake somehow. As the show wound down to the
last few contestants, my intuition proved correct. A giant Pen-Pen came on
stage, dancing to the song "You and Me", which I had never heard before,
but it did not need to be familiar to be recognized as the perfect dance
song for this act. The crowd roared as if hailing the return of a
victorious army general! As the song played on, Amanda Winn Lee, well-known
voice actress and con guest extraordinaire, leapt up on stage minus her
shirt, and danced with Pen-Pen. There was no shocked silence as we all took
in the scene, just a renewal of the roar that had never subsided from the
crowd. As the song finished, and Pen-Pen's partner left the stage to put
her shirt and jacket back on, the crowd started to chant, "PEN, PEN, PEN,
PEN!!!" In this reporter's mind, it was an event I will never forget. It
was good fun, the best kind, though clean may not be the second word I
would use to describe it ;) I left the CosPlay feeling a bit giddy. I have
been to dozens of concerts in my life, but none have ever had the same
degree of audience participation as this event. Pen Pen was god.

I was not able to attend some of the other events, time seeming to fly far
more than I expected. But that Saturday night provided the most memorable
of events of the entire weekend. Room parties, as this reporter was led to
understand, were a can't-miss part of the con experience. So, as the best
parties often start, a group of people began to collect that night in our
room, starting with a half-dozen and soon swelling to twice that, some
drinking exotic beverages with names like "BakaPepper", supplied by a
certain Gopher, or saki, or even both, much to the amusement/horror of of
those assembled. I was quite happy to sip away at my Coke in a corner,
until I was handed a beer by Gopher, and then his stories began. Stories I
cannot retell here, partly because I can't remember them all, but mainly
because they need to be told by the original story-teller, and heard in the
proper environment to be appreciated fully. But the stories could have been
about anything. It was the story-teller who was entertaining. It was just
like  being around the campfire again.

As I looked around the room, I recognized many of the faces I had seen at
the Fanfic panel, and realized that this was the "in-the-round" circle of
people I had been imagining in my mind earlier. I could not help but smile
alot, as the stories continued, and the laughter got louder. I found myself
part of the conversation more and more as some of us related  a little
about the old days of the FFML, and as the evening wore on, I felt the
erosion of the "second-contact" effect. It wasn't the beer. It wasn't the
stories. It wasn't the people. It was just the right time. It takes time to
really make new friends. The last four years on the FFML has certainly
helped me find people who have a similar passion and interest, but
friendships, even in the information age with all its possibilities to
reach across the world, still need to be earned and solidified by meeting
face to face, and spending time together to see what someone is really
like. This is a human process that is unlikely to change, no matter how
high-tech the world gets. I hope :)

Around 1:30 in the morning, our little group of mirth-makers disbanded,
some obviously wanting to stay, but even the best parties must end
sometime. I found myself wandering down to the artist's alley with some of
the others, for no reason other than to just walk around  a bit. I was very
tired, but as it seemed for the entire weekend, there was always something
going on and a few hours for a nap always eluded me. After talking a bit
with Gopher and then saying good-night to everyone, I went back to my room
to hopefully get a good night's rest. But as the last of our room guests
said good-night, and I put my head to my pillow, my mind was still going
over all that I had seen and experienced. Most of all, I thought about the
people I had met, and whether I had come to know any of them any more than
I had before.

I hope I don't embarass anyone too much here ^_^

Bert Van Vliet I have known outside of the FFML for a while now. I count
him as a good friend, someone who I can trust instinctively, and someone
who puns entirely too well ;) He is someone who has very definite values
and likes and dislikes, and for this I can see that he is well respected
among the group of people I met at the con. Like me though, he is under the
gun for not finishing his latest fic in a timely manner, but he handled the
prodding at the Fanfic Panel with great ingenuity (more water Bert?). For
all the great insight and tips on how to make the most of the con, and for
all that driving, thanks Bert :)

Jeanne Hedge was a little bit different than I had imagined her. From her
emails I imagined someone who might be a little bit critical within their
humour, but never scathing or cruel. She was far from it actually. She was
a very helpful and understanding person, listening to my ramblings and
musings over a meal without complaint, and always on the lookout for anime
goodies and events that might make my con experience memorable. She would
make an excellent tour guide, knowing a good portion of the world and the
area she lives in as well as she does. She also has an incredible amount of
patience. Several times she would begin speaking, and someone would
interrupt. She never got upset or introspective. She just waited patiently
until the other person had finished speaking before continuing. As for her
reputation for C&C that cuts to the bone, her personality reflects her
honesty and integrity. She simply tells you what she thinks but always
leaves helpful tips as to what she thinks a writer can improve on. She is
like that in real life. Having written a story with her, it was doubly
great to meet with her in person, and my expectations were met and
exceeded. The con would not have been the same without you there to show me
the ropes. Thanks again Jeanne:)

Gopher, aka Chris Snyder, is quite a story teller! He is taller than I
imagined, and always on the go, which suits his name quite well ;) He has a
great gift, in that he can tell a story to a group of people, and hold them
spellbound. It doesn't matter what he may be talking about, but everyone
just has to listen. I wish he would write more stories for us here! :) I
felt a certain kinship with Gopher (maybe it was the hair length?<g>),
though my chances to speak with him at length about anything were few.
Again, he was always on the go. But we did get a chance to share a few
laughs at the room party, and though he wondered what happened to my
punning abilities (reports have shown that, with certain people, drinking
can cause the brain to lose its ability to form puns... how horrible!<g>),
I promised myself that I would not slip up again if a punning duel ever
ensued in the future. I just hope no-one else is around if Bert, myself,
Gopher and Todd Hill ever start punning. Though I am not in their league
when crafting puns, there should be laws against this kind of gathering ;)

Speaking of Todd Hill, this man enjoys his Hentai anime innuendos way too
much! According to him, just by watching anime you are considered part of
the unofficial Hentai Anime Appreciation Club! My vocal impressions of
Happosai (no I don't practice<g>) cemented my membership :P ;) Todd was
always in high spirits (he did provide the saki for the party after all!),
and was always quick with a humorous quip. I was surprised that a punning
duel did not break out when he and Bert were in the same room, but perhaps
I should be thankful? ;)

There were others that I met that left an impression. Nick Leifker, I liked
what you had to say at the Fanfic Panel and our convo at the dinner was all
too brief. Gary Kleppe, our conversations were too short as well, but again
thanks for the fine work you have done with the FAQ. John Biles, our
introduction was much too brief. I hope I get the chance to speak with you
more at the next con. Travis Butler, I really wanted to get a look at your
legendary Powerbook, but our paths did not cross after the fanfic panel.
Next year maybe? :) Lara Bartram, I was trying desperately to think of
something to talk about at the FFML dinner, but I was a bit overwhelmed by
the whole evening. Maybe it was the food :P ;) Pearson Moy (I hope I
spelled that correctly), let us know when the pics are on the net, and
don't let Bert fool you... he wants a Palm Pilot too! :) Andy and
Dave...KUMPAI! (I hope I spelled that right<g>).

There were others that I met briefly, their names eluding me now. But I do
remember your faces, and  the words and the laughter. The sadness of
leaving the con behind has pretty much disspated now, and this reporter is
happy to be left with lots of anime goodies (What a haul! What a haul!"),
great memories, new friendships, and exsiting ones made more real, and a
persistent case of car-lag, if there is such a thing<g>. Hope to see you
all again next year :)


Panda
aka Andy Skuse

-------------------
Raven's Garage & Fanfics
http://members.home.net/askuse/