Otakon 2008 - Why is the rum gone?!

[maverick_hunter_17]

i'm hoping to go next year.. still trying but my parents want me to go with someone that i know..
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[Mei Qiao]

I actually have a high chance of going to '08, since my parents seem to have no qualms with it. So assuming I go off and get myself a part-time job, I should be in the green.

Although, I hate to be a nuisance, but I really need to ask a few n00bish questions, since it'll be my first anime convention. Hope you don't mind. I figured my questions would be answered faster here than at any other board I go to. ^^;


For those of you cosplay experianced, I REALLY have to ask this. What's the best type of fabric to use for cosplay? I plan on doing one, maybe two cosplays, so I'd like to know what's the best fabric I should be looking into buying for it. If there is one, of course. Unless it depends on the cosplay(s) I plan.

And... uhh, is there possibly an estimate on how much money goes into the essentials for Otakon?


I'm really sorry for these stupid questions, but like I said, it would be my first convention and I'm nervous about the thought of possibly messing up somehow. ^^;;
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[PlaguedOne]

I can't help you as far as cosplaying goes, but as for costs, that's going to vary. Travel expenses are going to depend on how you're getting there and from how far. Hotel expenses will depend on the hotel and the number of people you're splitting the costs with.

This year my flight cost me $280 and my share of the admin room was $150 or so. To cover everything else I brought $100 with me for food and anything else. I still had $40 by the time the con was over with. It all depends on where you eat and ultimately....how much you spend in the dealer's room and art room. :P If you have self control, you can get away with spending very little.

Hopefully that gives you an estimate on what you might spend.
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Squad Canadian Corn Pops (Ohayocon 2006)
Team Canadian Health Care (Otakon 2007)

[PlaguedOne]

I can't help you as far as cosplaying goes, but as for costs, that's going to vary. Travel expenses are going to depend on how you're getting there and from how far. Hotel expenses will depend on the hotel and the number of people you're splitting the costs with.

This year my flight cost me $280 and my share of the admin room was $150 or so. To cover everything else I brought $100 with me for food and anything else. I still had $40 by the time the con was over with. It all depends on where you eat and ultimately....how much you spend in the dealer's room and art room. :P If you have self control, you can get away with spending very little.

Hopefully that gives you an estimate on what you might spend.
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Squad Canadian Corn Pops (Ohayocon 2006)
Team Canadian Health Care (Otakon 2007)

[Zippo]

My first year at Otakon, I got away with having next to nothing. Granted, that year I didn't buy anything at the dealer's room.
Definitely bring along $100 for food and any necessities you might need. If you're only going for the three days and flying home right after, you will likely have money left over, but it's better to have too much than not enough. There's plenty of places around the convention center where you can buy food - there are numerous fast food joints (Oh, how I wish Burger King didn't close ;o;), as well as a food court in an adjacent building. Try to avoid buying food IN the convention center, however, as it is amazingly overpriced. There's also a grocery store within walking distance of the con center if you wish to save even more.

Things are well priced in the dealer's room, but my god is that place ever a trap! You'll find anything and everything you've ever wanted to buy, and lots you didn't think you did but do... and some stuff you might not want to buy ever. There's lots for everyone. What you bring for spending money is entirely your own decision. You can spend $30 - you can spend $300. I went nuts and bought everything I could find that was Kirby related this year... You can also haggle some dealers and weasel a better price, especially towards the end of Saturday and Sunday when dealers are more willing to get left-over merch off their hands. I managed to get a katana that was selling for $120 for $106. Just be nice and friendly about it.

Other than that, it purely depends on how much your hotel room is going to cost, plus any transportation costs to and in around Baltimore (flights, cab/train to hotel, transportation to/from hotel to con if your hotel is far away from the con)... I've never had to pay for any transportation to or within Baltimore (I've always roadtripped with friends to Baltimore and I've always stayed at a hotel within walking distance of the con), so maybe someone else can be helpful with that. Do some research yourself too :)

Basically, if you want to enjoy the con without financial worries, start saving up as soon as possible. Like I said, too much is better than not enough.
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[Goldenmane]

It doesn't take long to save up money, either. I mean, in a year if you saved $50 a month you'd have $600. I figured (considering I'm driving and paying for two other people as well) at least $500 in gas (probably more, maybe less,) $500 for food, $800 for the hotel (assuming I can get it for no more than $200 for 4 nights and not including all taxes/parking fees,) and whatever I can scrape together after that for miscellaneous spending money (I'm targeting about $3500 to have by Otakon, just to be on the safe side.) And that won't include a possible hotel/motel stay on the way down and the way back (hence the extra funds for a 'just-in-case' moment, something I seem to have a lot of when I travel.)

As for cosplaying and fabric, I guess it depends on what you're making, how much you're willing to put into it money-wise/time-wise and how handy you are at crafts. At least that's the impression I get. Others who have cosplayed officially would know more. For mine I plan on using plastic canvas, foam and styrene (as well as the appropriate color paints and other items.) But that's because I'm getting pretty darned fancy with what I want to make. And for an under bodysuit I plan on using whatever fabric is the cheapest I can get that will be light and airy and the right color I need. But that I'm not worrying about until Winter/Spring.
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It's better to know a little about a lot than it is to know a lot about little.
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Future Con Goals
PortConMaine &/or Otakon
Dingo - Forte.exe - Armored Armadillo and others.

[ACME-Rian]

[Ryouko]

In case anyone was wondering...

We officially have hotel rooms at the Days Inn for Otakon. We'll all be calling them again in the morning to see if we can get the con rate instead of the normal one. (currently $199 a night)
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"Cats are interesting. They're kind of like girls. When they come talk to you, it's great. When you go talk to them, it doesn't go so well." - Miyamoto

[Ryouko]

In case anyone was wondering...

We officially have hotel rooms at the Days Inn for Otakon. We'll all be calling them again in the morning to see if we can get the con rate instead of the normal one. (currently $199 a night)
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"Cats are interesting. They're kind of like girls. When they come talk to you, it's great. When you go talk to them, it doesn't go so well." - Miyamoto

[Enzanette]

._.; Wow, that's amazing. Already?

I called up Days Inn at 9 on the dot, and had to be put on a waiting list. . .
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[Ryouko]

Yeah, I was put on a waiting list too in order to try and get changed to the con rate. At least we have these rooms at the regular rate for sure.

I know I got two, Ruby got her two, Maq got one for herself and co., and Mana reserved two as an overflow backup. So between all of us, we have seven rooms. XD
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"Cats are interesting. They're kind of like girls. When they come talk to you, it's great. When you go talk to them, it doesn't go so well." - Miyamoto

[Ryouko]

Yeah, I was put on a waiting list too in order to try and get changed to the con rate. At least we have these rooms at the regular rate for sure.

I know I got two, Ruby got her two, Maq got one for herself and co., and Mana reserved two as an overflow backup. So between all of us, we have seven rooms. XD
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"Cats are interesting. They're kind of like girls. When they come talk to you, it's great. When you go talk to them, it doesn't go so well." - Miyamoto

[Shakai]

Is there a way for me to know which hotels around the convention center have good costs? Like, a list of the hotels around there, and what the rates are, etc.
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[Ryouko]

Keep an eye on Otakon's web page, they'll be posting rates as soon as they're available.
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"Cats are interesting. They're kind of like girls. When they come talk to you, it's great. When you go talk to them, it doesn't go so well." - Miyamoto

[Ryouko]

Keep an eye on Otakon's web page, they'll be posting rates as soon as they're available.
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"Cats are interesting. They're kind of like girls. When they come talk to you, it's great. When you go talk to them, it doesn't go so well." - Miyamoto

[Mei Qiao]

PlaguedOne, Zippo, Goldenmane, ACME-Rian, thank you very much for the answers! The money information is especially helpful for me. I know for sure I'll be spending $143 or so for hotel from Thursday to Monday morning (Myself and my buddy will be staying with the group Mary from CN will have), and I figure the advice of $100-150 should be good for food and other necessities. Everything else will depend on cosplay materials, bus fairs and money for the deathtrap of a Dealer's room. Thanks for the tips, you four!

Man, I'm glad we'll be with Mary. She saved us both from a LOT of hassle. @_@
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Doctor Steel loves you!

[ACME-Rian]

[Izumi]

Hate to break it to you, but 2003 was the first Ota-Rockman. :P So this year was our 5th.
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[Izumi]

Hate to break it to you, but 2003 was the first Ota-Rockman. :P So this year was our 5th.
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[GM_Link]

Actually, he's right. You don't count the first time of an event part of the anniversary. The whole point of the anniversary is to commemorate the first time. So this coming year would be the 5th anniversary.

-GM_Link
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[Sai-kun]

[Ryouko]

That's all up to the hotel and what they have available when you check in. This year the 5th floor was the only one with rooms near each other by the time we got there~
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"Cats are interesting. They're kind of like girls. When they come talk to you, it's great. When you go talk to them, it doesn't go so well." - Miyamoto

[Ryouko]

That's all up to the hotel and what they have available when you check in. This year the 5th floor was the only one with rooms near each other by the time we got there~
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"Cats are interesting. They're kind of like girls. When they come talk to you, it's great. When you go talk to them, it doesn't go so well." - Miyamoto

[Zero Beat]

Im gonna try to go for sure next year. I wont take breaks haha after Anime-Expo im going staright to Otacon :D well not straight to but you know haha. Just hoping to room with some ppl here or CN or I will just bum it. Want to cosplay as a Rockman character but Im way to deep into cosplaying One Piece and Gintama Characters :D;;
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[Izumi]

[Izumi]

[Anime Master ZERO]

Which is why I like to call it this upcoming Otakon gathering as OtaRockman VI.
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