cteno4 Posted July 16 Share Posted July 16 We will be at Otakon on Friday Aug 2 12p-8p and Saturday Aug 3 10a-6p with the club’s Ttrak layout. Otakon is the big anime convention in the area, with 42,000 in attendance last year at the Washington DC convention center. It’s a 3 day con, but we just do Saturday due to logistics getting in and out as well as enough members to get into dc to run things. Maybe next year we may try to see if we could do Friday and Saturday. it’s a great show, lots of folks in costumes, tons of creative people. Folks are very interested and surprised to see the Japanese and anime themed trains at the con and everyone is very appreciative of us being there, which really feels nice. If you are going to Otakon come see us, we are in the open area behind the big dealers hall. jeff fun from previous years! 5 Link to comment
Dillon Posted July 16 Share Posted July 16 Can’t wait, hope you guys have fun! -Dillon Trinh Link to comment
cteno4 Posted August 1 Author Share Posted August 1 So we have enough members to cover doing otakon Friday as well! Show opens at noon on Friday so that means we don’t have to be there until 10a and miss commute traffic into dc! Then means Saturday we don’t have to be down there until 10a. Also means not trying to do setup, a full day, and the teardown all in one day. Hopefully also be able to see the show some more. jeff 2 Link to comment
cteno4 Posted August 2 Author Share Posted August 2 Holy crapspace Batman! I just fit in all the club modules and layout stuff, wagon and such, plus another double and single module into the BACK of the Kia Nero PHEV with th front passenger slot open! I had not tried to fit it all in there before. In the past it packed the Prius V to the gills including the front passenger space to do that and it was a pita to jigsaw puzzle it! Nero was sposta have 4 cuft less cargo space. I figured I could squeeze it all into the Nero as it took like 75% easily last show only 2 layers high, not to the top with three layers. I was stunned when I got it all into the back plus some extra thrown in to boot! so glad we chose that car and not a larger one, we got the smaller car size for regular use, best fuel economy and 35mike PHEV, and it fits everything! Wooo hooo! jeff 2 Link to comment
cteno4 Posted August 2 Author Share Posted August 2 Wasn’t me it was the Nero, it’s swallowed it all! I’m just glad we picked it over a bigger car, this one does the job just right. jeff Link to comment
RS18U Posted August 2 Share Posted August 2 Looking forward to seeing pictures from this show, looks awesome! Link to comment
cteno4 Posted August 3 Author Share Posted August 3 So our first Friday went well. This is the 30th anniversary of Otakon so big year. This year the vendors/exhibitors hall was filled to the gills! Like 40-50% more than last year. This is the main hall that is like 2 square full city blocks! Unfortunately we were pushed to the back a bit more than last year and just so many more vendors it’s a bit harder to be seen, but not bad. Also it seemed from the scale of the vendors this year people seemed more in a hurry to see everything and some were walking around a bit dazed, I think on overload. But we had good crowds and always tankfuls and polite and enthusiastic! Best quote of the day was “OMG, that’s f#$king fun!! not a huge showing of costumes, I think Saturday will be a lot more people and costumes. We are back for another 8 hrs Saturday! jeff 7 Link to comment
Dillon Posted August 3 Share Posted August 3 7 hours ago, cteno4 said: So our first Friday went well. This is the 30th anniversary of Otakon so big year. This year the vendors/exhibitors hall was filled to the gills! Like 40-50% more than last year. This is the main hall that is like 2 square full city blocks! Unfortunately we were pushed to the back a bit more than last year and just so many more vendors it’s a bit harder to be seen, but not bad. Also it seemed from the scale of the vendors this year people seemed more in a hurry to see everything and some were walking around a bit dazed, I think on overload. But we had good crowds and always tankfuls and polite and enthusiastic! Best quote of the day was “OMG, that’s f#$king fun!! It seems like it was packed, glad that Friday was working with you guys. Link to comment
cteno4 Posted August 4 Author Share Posted August 4 Saturday went even better, bigger crowds and way more costumes (costume ball is sat night). They set a new attendance record, last year was 42k! tired to get some of the more elaborate costumes as they visited the layout today. The two train ladies were so jazzed the layout was there! Tons of appreciation form the attendees, it’s so wonderful to get the great job, but having folks say thank you for doing this is the best. Don’t get that at train shows! jeff 3 Link to comment
cteno4 Posted August 4 Author Share Posted August 4 And a few layout shots. Eva battle module alway a big hit at otakon, but Godzilla I think still beat out Eva for the love and photo ops. Interestingly in the last year or two a high proportion of visitors ask if they can take a photo or video. Something has really changed in the culture on this, very nice and respectful. It’s not only at otakon (where they have a lot of artists that don’t like their artwork photographed) but even at the train shows. Sadly my inflatable gojis have slow leaks now so lots of blowing them up. It’s funny in the last few years folsk are not as interested in posing with the big inflatable goji. We use to have a line sometimes to take your picture with goji. jeff 5 Link to comment
Dillon Posted August 4 Share Posted August 4 (edited) Great job guys! Makes me motivated to do this again for my own local convention. Edited August 4 by Dillon 1 Link to comment
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