AnimeNEXT 2014

Re-uploading my adventures at AnimeNEXT 2014. Originally, I was going to AN purely for business, selling my artwork at the Artist Alley. But with pure luck and good look, I was accepted to model for Acryl Agitt Fashion show. I learned a lot from the fashion show and I feel as though I had gain an artistic growth through this experience.




Thursday, June 5

Originally, I had wanted to go to AN on friday. But after the short noticed of my acceptance at the Acryl Agitt fashion show, I knew I had to go a day earlier to set up my Artist Alley table because of the time confliction on friday. With that said, I first started the day packing up and going to my friend Lisa house to pick her up. Arriving to her house, instead of leaving right away, I ended up helping my friend do a last minute cosplay touch up for her. Ah, the life of a con-goer!

By the time we left to drive to New Jersey, we hit the afternoon traffic. But it was okay because my friend and I just blasted music and grooved to it. When we arrived to the convention building, my friend had thought she left her phone at the rest stop back one hours ago and we both had a major panic attack. Luckily, it was in her jacket. 

Set up my table and left the con to go to my first experience to a one star hotel. It sure was an experience! I didn’t think all my assumption of a one star hotel would come true. The hotel smelled terrible, the blanket were dirty and rough, floor and the wall had water damage, damage furniture and the best of them all, our next door neighbor was moaning. Little bit overwhelmed, my friend and I decided to ditch the room and go to a lounge/bar to drink up the night. Had a caramel appletini, and it was delicious!!! Went back to our hotel little bit warmer inside.

Friday, June 6

Woked up in our lovely one star hotel eating one star hotel food. Good start of the day. Book out and went to the convention building. My friend is really awesome and said she would look over my AA table while I do all my fashion show business.

Went to the fitting and met the other model who were super awesome. Got to see the beautiful Stephanie again, huhu. Went to a secret room where I met the fashion designer and waited my turn to see what my outfit was for the fashion show. I totally didn't expect the style and clothes given to me. I had join the fashion show thinking I'd wear men fashion, but I ended up wearing the most girliest outfit out of everyone, haha! Took me a moment to take in the information, before I fell in love with my look.

After the fitting, I went to find my other friend, Gulia, whom I was to hotel with for the next few days. Went back to my AA table and just did art business. All day I got squashed by my neighbor because the table I was situated was a corner “L” shaped table, so I got ‘real’ close to everyone. It was okay, since my next door neighbor and my table partner were nice people. I mean, you can’t go wrong with anyone who can agonize my pain for Lancer in Fate/Zero.

After the AA, I went up to rest up before checking out how the rave with Lisa. It was really….. bad….. We tried to dance it for a while, but I couldn’t groove with the DJ. I understand pausing the music in a climax to change the mood of the floor. But the DJ continue to pause the music, which literally destroyed the mood of the rave. I just kinda noped my way out and went up back to the hotel to chill with my hotel mate and ended the day early to get ready for tomorrow.

Saturday, June 7

Woked up hella early to get ready for the fashion show. I kinda got lost trying to find the location of the backstage, but I found the guest model, Yo, walking at the con. I kinda just followed him to the place where I suppose to me, heh. Met the other model from Galaxxxy including my friend Yani. During the wait to get my makeup and hair done, I bromanced with all my fellow model friends. I discovered that everyone was from New York and that I was the only one out of state. I felt kinda special.

One of my favorite moment during the backstage was when the makeup artist told the model that they will apply makeup on the fairest skin first and goes up in skin tone. One of the male model, Sol, was black, and kinda giggle together how he was gonna be the last one to get his look done. However the main stylist called Sol out to get his makeup first. Everyone burst into laughter as he was now titled “The Fairest of them All” Ahhhh, funny time.

After waiting awhile, finally it was my turn to get my makeup and hair done. Again, bromanced with my stylist. Finally got my look down, I went with the other model to practice our runway walk. While everyone had experience with the stage, my friend Peter and I never done a runway before. We kinda backed each other out how to maaaybe pose in the runway. Who know, we didn’t know much at all and all the designer/staff were too busy to help us newbies.

Photo take by Lisa and Syra

Without realized, the fashion show began. Time was ticking faster than usual as everyone pace began to speed up to make sure the show was perfect. While I don’t know how the show look since I was “in” the show, alot of people had told me that the fashion show was wonderful and that they loved my walk. I only believe maybe 70% of the people since I thought I messed up alot on my walk. Or maybe i’m too shy to take compliment, heh.

Photo taken by someone at the backstage?

After Acryl Agitt fashion show finished, everyone returned to the backstage to have our photo taken by photographer and reporter. One of my fond memories was asking my friends to do JoJo Bizarre Adventure poses together and we three agree. Surprising enough, the photographer were “really” excited to see us do JJBA poses, and even help us get the perfect picture.

After the fashion show, I went back to my AA table and just went back being a salary woman. Met so many new people who saw me at the show; I blushed. After the AA, I went to change into my Satsuki cosplay because I really wanted to get couple cosplay picture of Lisa and I dressed as Satsuki and Ryuko. Met with Matthias to have a shoot. It was alot of fun. I was hoping to go to the rave afterward because the music from a distant sound awesome as well alot of my new friend asked me to tag along. But with so many things happening today, I was really exhausted and went back to the hotel to sleep.

Photo taken by CrunchySparta

Sunday, June 8

Woked up early in the morning to pack up. Went to Office Depo to restock my prints because I didn’t realized how well I sold at this con. Came back to the con and sold artwork all the way to the end. Lisa was really nice and let me go trade artwork with the other artist before they all left.

Con ended and Lisa and I left and headed to Philadelphia because of….. why the hell not? This was my first time going to Philadelphia, so was kinda nervous as well excited. Went to Philadelphia and said hi to a friend who was working at a restaurant. Dear mother of god the food was delicious. We only stayed for 2 hour before heading back down to our state which ended our AnimeNEXT trip.


Overall

Organization wise, it was pretty fair. I didn't like how the Artist Alley was in the same building with the main event because the noise level was beyond painful for me trying to focus selling and drawing. Positive side, got to hear all the concert. The layout of the convention was way too confusing, to the point of not able to find my own hotel connecting to the con. The convention should have a better map for sure. Also broken AC? Crazy... but atlease it wasn't so bad. Overall, just a decent con. I definately would come back just to sell artwork or participate activities. See you next year!

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