Yaoi con!

[tiggymalvern]

I had a fantastic time, with a bunch of new faces to go with most of the old ones returned from last time.


Overall, the con was a big improvement on last year, with much better organisation and a lot less waiting around while things were delayed. Lessons seem to have been learned. The only particular problem was the hotel's fault for booking a convention for The Church of God in the meeting rooms that yaoi-con wasn't using. Apparently some of those people didn't like us much, and there were a few complaints 0_0
The hotel room was both better and cheaper at the Clarion than last year when we stayed at the Westin. I'd definitely go for that one again.

The dealer's room was a disappointment compared to last year, with no big book chains there - nobody was selling art books at all, and the manga selection was fairly limited. Not a big problem for me (a bit sad in that you can usually buy cheaper at the con), but some people don't have a convenient Kinokuniya in their city and rely more on the cons. I still managed to spend a fair bit of money, though, despite not getting everything I'd planned, but that was the only let-down. The bishie auction was just a scream, with some genuinely entertaining *cough* 'performances'.

We managed to see quite a bit more of SF too, this year, thanks to the wonderful mac_lynn playing chauffeur and tour guide again for five days. I can't recommend the night tour of Alcatraz highly enough. It's timed so that you leave the pier in the late afternoon, you reach the top of Alcatraz island just as the sun sets behind the Golden Gate bridge, and then after the tour of the cell blocks you get to see the whole place in darkness with the SF skyline lit up all across the bay. Obviously we lucked out with the weather, as we did most of the week - a dull day wouldn't have had half the impact - but it's a lot more variety than just going during the day.


I didn't go to too many panels - it's not my thing at cons, I'm too busy talking to people to sit and argue over the differences between slash and yaoi - but I enjoyed the ones I did get too. Watching Kodaka Kazuma draw was quite an experience (I'm a bit bummed that the Alcatraz tour meant I missed Higuri You doing the same ::sniff::) and there's some great stuff coming up in the English language releases from various companies. More and more people are jumping into the yaoi publishing thing, which is great as long as they don't start turning out crap and then declare that nobody wants yaoi. Given the titles we were hearing about, that doesn't seem to be happening - the editor of TokyoPop's new Blu line is apparently subbed to yaoi_daily and checking out what everyone wants.

Count me in line for next year :-)

Comments

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

DEAD OF ENVY.

We were in San Francisco on Thanksgiving Day once, and I called my parents from Alcatraz, and they were really thrilled. :-)

[andmydog.livejournal.com]

DAMMIT! Halloween party in the South Bay = no yaoicon for me.

the editor of TokyoPop's new Blu line is apparently subbed to [info]yaoi_daily and checking out what everyone wants.

Awesome.

[arafel.livejournal.com]

The only particular problem was the hotel's fault for booking a convention for The Church of God in the meeting rooms that yaoi-con wasn't using. Apprently some of those people didn't like us much, and there were a few complaints 0_0

That's hilarious. Talk about putting oil and water together. A Christian youth group was booked at the same time as Ohayocon last year, and that provided some amusing moments, but Yaoi-con would multiply that by a thousand.

Glad you had fun! :)

[jaina.livejournal.com]

Haha, word. It was pretty WTF for us but I can only imagine how it was at Yaoicon.

[jaina.livejournal.com]

So what is the difference between slash and yaoi? ;) Kidding. Well, actually, I wouldn't mind hearing your take on it but I entirely agree that there is a difference.

[tameiki.livejournal.com]

Count me in line for next year :-)

I promise to practice my footsie techniques so I'll be better next year! XD

Right now, I'm having Yaoicon withdrawals and can't wait for next year now that we know Youka Nitta will be the guest of honor! *bounces*

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

It's a fun and interesting place, but wow, SF looks awesome from there at night.

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

No excuses next year, dammit! You're pre-booked XD

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

I've had these discussions before, and while everyone agrees there's a difference, nobody can quite agree on what it is - the trouble's always in the details!

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

I think I can stand to let you keep practising XD

This trip was just way too much fun for me to come back and start revising right afterwards. Blergh.

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

I think the cracked!Christians were scandalised by having to walk their children past all those scantily-dressed cosplayers. I don't know if they ever listened in on any of the conversations....

All of the yaoi people, of course, were most tolerant, and didn't complain at all about being forced to share our hotel with bigots.

And, yes, we had so much fun ;-)

[andmydog.livejournal.com]

Yes'm!

Got no excuses, do I? I mean, SF's, like, right there.

[jaina.livejournal.com]

Too true! It probably also depends on what fandoms people are in. There are subtle differences everywhere.

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

It's kind of hard to take ugly pictures when you've got views like that to work with! I'll have to sort through all the SF pics tomorrow, but the priority today was definitely the porno LJ *eg*

I think the Christians were far too daunted by the level of our depravity to try and save us. We definitely had them outnumbered XD

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

I don't suppose hotels are generally in the habit of turning down bookings, but it's not like the Clarion didn't know what we were like, since they hosted us last year too! You'd have thought someone would have used a little common sense, and at least warned the fanatical Christians so they could make a choice to book another week.

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

Oh, for sure, and all delighted to be damned XD

[king-chiron.livejournal.com]

If you ever get the chance to go up to Twin Peaks at night, that's another beautiful (if often cold) view of SF.

[meerkat.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous photo of the sunset! You're very talented. ^_^

It was wonderful to see you again this year, and actually hang out- that didn't happen too much last year. Can't wait for next year! If you're ever back in the Bay Area before Ycon 2006, let me know, and perhaps we can meet up again! Have a great week, and I'll talk to you later!

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

We went up there late afternoon (I'll get pics up at the other LJ tomorrow!), so we got some beautiful views of low sun rather than night. But I doubt anything could beat the skyline across the bay for night shots, because that was just stunning in every single direction. I was completely gobsmacked.

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

With a sunset like that, I'm not sure how you'd ever take a bad photo, especially with a decent camera and the merging software to create wide angle views. You'd have to be incompetent to make that look rough!

I doubt I'll be back in the Bay before next year, but it was great to get to know you better, and I'm really looking forward to next year's visitation :-)

I so want to go sometime.

[millyfan.livejournal.com]

*sighs sadly* But it looks like I won't be able to for the next four years at least. I hate living at home, and even when I move out I probably couldn't just pick up and leave for something fun like that.

[mistressrenet.livejournal.com]

the editor of TokyoPop's new Blu line is apparently subbed to yaoi_daily and checking out what everyone wants.
Shiny.

So glad you all had a good time. And jealous of course!

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

You don't fancy flying the width of the country for a con next year? You don't have to be jealous!

Re: I so want to go sometime.

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

Being a young and broke student sucks, I recall....

[mistressrenet.livejournal.com]

I don't fancy paying the airfare! And unfortunately it's kind of my worst time of year, work-wise.

[mencia.livejournal.com]

Could I add you? I have something that I am currently scanning (and it's long) that you might like. Pretty please with a donut buried in sprinkles on top? (And yes, I am trying to seduce you with my evil chibi ways. )

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

Hey, anyone can friend my LJ, as long as you don't insult me much XD

[(Anonymous)]

Why would I insult a good person like you?

[mencia.livejournal.com]

x_x;