Well, I was there too, and I did want to write down most of the stuff that
happened just because I don't want to forget. I think that I've got some
different stuff to say just because I was staffing, and I didn't go to the
video rooms at all ^^;;

Friday: 

Went to class, had my test, and then drove over to Fanime site at 12:00
with three other staffers. Got there around 1:00, where I and my friend
Soung ran around for a few minutes trying to find Eileen, who was supposed
to have our hotel room. Heard that check-in wasn't until three, so stashed
our stuff at the Green Room (Eileen, Soung and I were all part of Green
Room staff). Had a quickie staff meeting, and then chilled out at the lobby
for a bit while waiting for various guests to arrive, either from the
airport in the case of Iijima and from a different hotel in the case of
most of the other guests. Worried a bit because the guest I was supposed to
escort (Fred Schodt) wasn't there, but then was told he wasn't going to
show until Saturday. ^_^;; 

After checking in at 3, I helped out in preparing Green room, and grabbed
some of the ridiculously good food in Hospitality before running back down
to meet and help out the guests who were arriving. Went into the dealer's
room for a few hours while waiting for the Opening Ceremonies and did my
shopping -- one postcard collection, four volumes of Joker manga for 10
dollars, two posters and some pencil cards. I was very restrained this year
^_^ Afterwards, went to Opening Ceremonies and then hung around for a bit
more before going up and helping out karaoke for most of the night. Quit
that at about 12 midnight or so, and took a breather by chatting with Steve
Bennett and Mark Hoffman, two of the Ironcat crew. Was joined by various
other people including Mike Tatsugawa, and Eileen and I had fun messing
with the guys' minds. ^_^ Went to my hotel room at around 2, showered and
crashed.

Saturday:

Woke around 8 AM and got ready to go. Went to the fanfic panel, had lots of
fun meeting/seeing people, epecially Joseph Palmer and Marisa Price. I
wanted to hang around with people some more, but had a Green Room meeting
that I had to go to right after. We all met and I was told that I was
supposed to moderate the Giles & Fred Q&A ^_^;; Did so, and then hung out
at the dealer's room some more with the Ironcat and Bang tables. Made sure
guests had everything they needed and then helped out the You Don't Know
Anime game show by being the Vanna/category girl. 

Afterwards, got the guests together for the masquerade, and then went off
to see it with Yamaga, Fred, Giles, and Eileen (who was driving). When we
got there, there was a bit of confusion because they wouldn't let us eat at
the theatre, but we managed somehow. Got our seats in the theatre and
waited... and waited... Steve went up and entertained the crowd for a while
^_^ (Birthday Story!) before things got rolling. Walkthroughs, and then
intermission, then skits and a short wait before the Iijima concert. The
concert was a lot of fun, because of the last song (A minmei song!) and the
fact that her twin boys came up on stage and sang the _english_ ed to
Pokemon of all things. 

Drove back from Masquerade and then went to karaoke for a bit before having
dinner with Bang's group, most of Studio Ironcat, Yamaga and a few staffers
(Eileen, me and Soung) at the hotel resturant. While waiting for the group
to assemble, Yamaga and a few others amused themselves by drawing on the
paper over the tablecloth with the crayons provided by the resturant.
Yamaga said he felt like a bad boy which was why it was fun ^_^ Yamaga drew
a _Really_ well done eye (he was an artist before a director!) and Shinpei
Itoh (the hyperdolls creator) drew a young girl. We got both of them signed
and then cut them out (yes! ^^)

After dinner, went to the dance that was in full swing, and stayed there
for about 30 minutes. Watching Yamaga dance was quite interesting ^_^ And
then sat out for the rest of the night and got to hear the infamous
Birthday Story. Stayed up until 3~ and then took a shower and went to sleep.

Sunday:

Woke around 11 and got dressed and packed to check out. Went to dealer's
for a bit again, before I went to the NorCal AX meeting for 2.5 hours
(ouch) and then had another meeting of GR Staff where the autograph
sessions were discussed. The signing session for Mari was pretty well
organized, but the Yamaga/Bang-etal session was less so just because of the
huge number of people. ^^;; I got my badge signed by Mari, and my program
book signed by everyone else. ^_^ Then got them to Closing Ceremonies just
a little late and then stuck around through all of it. After helping people
clean up and such, we piled into the car and then got myself out of the
hotel and the con. We were considering going to the end-party/food thing,
but then decided not to because were rather tired....

---

I think that Fanime is one con which is better to staff at because there
honestly isn't all that much to do there. It's still a pretty small con,
just with a lot more people than usual. I was really busy, but there were
perks like access to Green Room/Hospitality and Dealer's Room. Also,
running things makes it much more interesting to be at the con at all, and
interacting with guests is a lot of fun! ^_^ 

I honestly had a whole lot of fun there, and I'll hopefully have as much
fun at AX, when I'll be exhibit hall staff... 

Monica
-----
Monica/Akira-chan/Heero/Hayama/Naga/Kircheis no Miko- Proud TABBE! Member
monica@pipeline.com, mshin02@uclink4.berkeley.edu, knomiko@yahoo.com (alt)
http://www.pipeline.com/~monica/ - main web page ^_^
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