Well, the con’s over, we’re home, and things will slowly start getting back to the usual mix of reviews, commentary, and podcasts. After we get all our video up, of course!
If you saw last year’s video diaries, you might remember my parting message was “May AX 2008 be sweeter.” It was. It was much, much better run than last year: lines no more than an hour. (Even registration lines.) Events starting on time. Staff who worked double overtime, like the ones at our panel, to make sure everything worked. Was it perfect? No–we could have used more advance info about photography and video rules for various events, rather than last minute changes announced in an ad-hoc way. But compared to last year, AX have redeemed themselves in my eyes. And that’s not just because I got press and managed to get most of the interviews and autographs that I wanted. 🙂 They really seemed to have turned a corner, and my talking to lots of people have confirmed that impression. They realized it was do or die.
It’s thus very pleasing that they have just announced that they will be returning to the LA Convention Center next year. I couldn’t be happier–the venue was wonderful, providing enough space for everyone (I rarely felt all that crowded), with helpful and courteous staff that didn’t jerk around the AX volunteers like Long Beach did, and while there was some skimpiness with regard to audio for our panel, the volunteers totally came through for us. Plus, there was good accessibility with hotel shuttles and places to eat nearby. It was reachable by LA’s very limited Metro, of all things. And I only lived 30 minutes away or so. 🙂
My hopes for next year include even bigger guests that I can interview :), and maybe by then I’ll have better camera equipment too. But in either case, it was a great con, and we’ve got some great videos and coverage lined up for you, including a number of exclusive talks with not only the guests of honor but also the winners of AX Idol and the Masquerade. So stay tuned, as coverage isn’t quite over yet–there’s tons to get through still. I simply was too tired most evenings to put together videos like I did last year almost on the fly. But they will be coming out for all of you to enjoy.
Once again, thanks to the AX staff for a great show, and thanks to everyone out there who came out to our panel. It was awesome, and you’ll see why soon!
Hi All!
First off, I have to say I had a BLAST, met alot of new friends and learned alot. As this was my first AX, I can not compare it to the previous ones, but I have been to a few conventions and would like to offer AX corporation some suggestions.
Website, there was no descriptions of the various workshops, even though once I picked up my packet the magazine had them, so they had the info, but never posted it.
Overlapping workshops, there was enough open time frames where the “art” workshops could have been spaced where they didn’t overlap, spread between 2 ends of the coliseum.
Tables in workshops the main “art” room had 4 or 5 rows of tables, and the rest of the attendees had to sit in chairs, the floor, or stand…I don’t know how they could have taken decent notes.psss the room/s need to bigger next year all my classes were at standing room only size!
COSPLAY…Now this was really irritating to me. After the workshop classes, this was the things I wanted to see most. The CosPlay office, while congenial, had not a clue as to where anything was, what was meeting when and were. I found out on Saturday late that the only posting of events was on cosplay.com. The AX should just turn over that part to them, if they do not want anything to do with it…but let them post it on the AX site! (side note..If Jeremy (sp) didn’t run into me I would have missed out on the Soul Eater group meet up. Even though I asked directions from a regular security guard and sent to the wrong place…but had the company of a lost Soul Eater till we located the group!)
As a recap, Had a blast,Tired as Hell, will go again. Thanks to all AX volunteers..you did a GREAT job..its time for AX corp to step up to the plate!
Yoshi
@ Yoshi We’re glad you enjoyed it. We’re not the official AX organization so you’ll have to send all your thanks to them. Stay tuned for the rest of our coverage!