#13 It’s YUUUGE!

The tenth San Japan came and went like a lion.  I had three panels to do and my compatriot WolfBoy had furry things to do.  As always, I noticed a few things…

1. BEFORE-Okay San Japan people, I’ll do a third panel I’ve never done before and have to prepare in three days because you asked so nicely. Just spell my name right in the schedule this time, mmmkay?
2. Time to retire my 2009 iMac from recording duties, it derped out on me when recording the pre-game podcast and ate some audio >.<
3. I asked a friend if he was going to San Japan and he said he was more of an ‘indie rock’ guy versus ‘arena rock’ so I had to try to convince him that San Japan wasn’t just another ‘autograph-con’
4. Holy cats, did we get salty during the pre-game podcast.
5. I’ll be wearing my smartwatch for the first time since I got laid off because I HAVE IMPORTANT ANIME CON THINGS TO DO.
6. I also won’t be wearing my rings. I’ve lost enough weight to where they’re starting to slip off my fingers now; a good problem to have.
7. PROTIP: You can read the Chili’s lunch special menu through the window if you want to be weird
8. Walking through the mall, WolfBoy and I decided to stop and take a seat…in front of the Victoria’s Secret. YEAH, NOT CREEPY AT ALL
9. It says something that I can get 12 Streetpasses in my hotel room on Thursday night
10. I finally remembered my Nintendo 3DS this time!
11. As I get the presentation together for the third panel, I’m really looking forward to putting it on!
12. Seems folks are taking a bit longer than usual to get set up, either that or were just really early
13. I asked for a bigger panel room and I got it…boy, did I get it 0_0
14. THURSDAY NIGHT-530pm No Japanese arcade machines set up. WolfBoy: “WORST CON EVAR!”
    1000pm Initial D cabinet set up. WolfBoy: “BEST CON EVAR!”
15. Idiots asking “Is San Japan not happening because of Hurricane Harvey or gas shortages?” should be charged double for their badges.
16. Concerning: Nobody was watching the entrances Thursday night
17. Also concerning: The way too wide open aisles behind the artists with nothing to keep people from walking down them.  Hope there aren’t any thefts.
18. At the risk of sounding like a shill, Verizon service has been pretty awesomesauce. A little slow at times, but ‘slow’ is better than ‘none.’
    

    #17 Maybe too much space, guys?

19. FRIDAY-First the signs weren’t big enough, and now they aren’t spelled right. This is why Dave is already grey, people!
20. Charger box things at the Henry B are almost a good idea, the flaw is that most folks can’t bear to be away from their phones
21. Dear Guidebook: If I only have one event downloaded PLEASE OPEN THE FREAKING EVENT WHEN I LAUNCH THE APP, K?
22. Also: TOO MANY SCHEDULE FILTER OPTIONS
23. Artist friends: Don’t just say “I’m in artist alley, find me.” There are over 100 artists. I NEED DETAILS!
24. Sure, WolfBoy, it’s only 90 degrees outside and you’re wearing a partial fursuit with a dark business suit LETS GO
25. Always adorable to see little girls taking pictures with Wonder Woman cosplayers
26. Not sure why, but they kicked up the difficulty on the Time Pilot game in the game room.  I spent longer than usual getting the high score.
27. Got inadvertently put to work in Registration directing traffic for ten minutes. JUST WHEN I THOUGHT I WAS OUT THEY PULL ME BACK IN
28. Almost lost my badge before Furry 101, yipes!
29. As I saw people walk away from the convention center for dinner, I had a feeling attendance was going to be down for Furry 101.
30. Dear former coworker: If I didn’t want to talk to you at work, what makes you think I’m going to want to talk to you outside of work?
31. I apparently can’t give a panel if I can’t read my presentation, the rear projection screens at Furry 101 completely threw me off >.<
32. Just as well, I don’t like presenting while standing over people on a stage.
33. We had 150-200 people at the panel, I guess that justifies the biggest room at the con. 😛
34. Annoying thing: People that use Q&A time to make dumb jokes.  Get a life.
    

    #58 Batteries not required!

35. REALLY annoying thing: People that try to answer questions during the Q&A part of my panel. GET YOUR OWN PANEL
36. The A/V guy was very complimentary after Furry 101, though.  Thanks man!
37. The only time I get a ton of steps is at cons and after 20,000 today, my dogs were barking.
38. By ‘dogs’ I mean feet, not like actual dogs or furry costumed dogs.
39. SATURDAY-When you’re up at 6am on Saturday morning, you’re up, what can I say
40. If you aren’t willing to make your own waffle at the hotel breakfast, YOU DON’T WANT IT BAD ENOUGH.
41. There is another event happening at the Henry B, which answers the question of why there was a higher-than usual number of older Mexican women around downtown San Antonio in the morning.
42. Weirdest thing I’ve heard so far: “Dad, doesn’t she have nice boobs?”
43. There seem to be quite a few empty tables even in the Dealer’s room; an effect of Harvey, perhaps?
44. The number of people donating blood is pretty awesome
45. Peeked in on the panel that took my spot from the beta schedule and they had just as many people as I had the night before…maybe less.
46. To be fair, they’re a major sponsor and I’m just a guy with a microphone, an attitude, and weird friends.
47. I kinda want a Steven Universe T-shirt (think I got a little resemblance to Steven there) but I kinda don’t want to pay thirt bucks for one
48. To the harpy working A/V before my audio panel: If you don’t want attitude thrown back at you, don’t fire first. I’ve done tech support too, but I treated my people and customers with respect until they gave me a reason not to.
49. “Really Basic Auido Recording” was easily the worst panel I’ve done in a while; next time I’ll just say no…or hold another ‘hide Dave for an hour podcast’ panel.
50. That said, the few people that did hang around had really good questions!
51. Bad idea: Dragging a boom mic (and it’s heavy base) to the panel.  I think I’ll use a Rock Band mic next time to make a point.
52. Heard an ambulance and thought ‘Oh boy, it’s a party now,’ but it didn’t stop at the con
53. SUNDAY-Other artist booths : Out to lunch  Friend’s booth: Out Fursuiting
    

    #19 Someone needs to be fyred

54. To the people playing Bee Gees and Michael Jackson on their Bluetooth speakers: THANK YOU FOR PLAYING GOOD MUSIC
55. That said, can we just ban those damn things from cons already?
56. Had to defend my honor by retaking the top spot on the Time Pilot game (see #26).  I doubled the score that had topped mine.  BEAT THAT, AAA!
57. Parking lot guy: “Twenty bucks”
    Me: “Pass”
    “Ten bucks!”
    “Pass.”
    I parked at the city lot across from the Hyatt for $11 so NEENER NEENER PARKING LOT GUY
58. Old hotness: Mind-reading robot cat ears
    New hotness: Ballcaps with words
59. Thing to remember for next year: Fursuit straws!
60. I think I’m finally over being weirded out by crossplay…mostly.
61. Funniest question of the weekend: “Are you a Mawg?”
62. E-book panel went awesomely; lots of people with good questions and I had JUST enough handouts!
63. Two out of three good panels ain’t bad!
64. Highly disappointed in the other ‘How to publish books’ panel; I spent 25 minutes hearing the guest blab on about herself and walked out.  I think I had a bigger audience, too.
65. I’m going to be that old guy (because I am) and mention that too many products and displays in Artist Alley/Dealer Room had swear words on them.  There seemed to be less nudity than in years past, though
66. AFTER- Might be time to retire my digital camera, too many ‘ghost spots’ >.<
67. Step count: Thursday 19627, Friday 20797, Saturday 23268, Sunday 14284  I swear cons are the only place I get a lot of exercise, I should go to more!