Now that I have fully recovered from a fornite fortnight of conventions, I can finally sort of look back at the past and the future. It’s rare that I’m this lucid this quickly after a show. I dunno, maybe it’s the weather or a change in something else, but who cares? I’m making a post after a show.
Anime Midwest was first, and for a moment it almost didn’t happen at all, thanks to inclement weather. But I had a keikaku in place, and everything went according to plan. I was able to move my flight up for free and my arrival only ended up getting delayed by about 15 minutes. Getting back was a different issue, but that’s the nature of flying through O’Hare, I guess. At least I had the most fulfilling meal I’ve ever had at a Chili’s while waiting for my plane.
The con itself was perfectly adequate. I had another 5 hours of programming (matching my 5 from last year) that, for the most part, went off without a hitch. Tech delays bogged Wheel of Fortune down, but once it got going, everyone was into it, crowd included. I hate to pick on people who don’t play the game well (honestly, all three players were actually quite capable—only one seemed to have the luck to go with their skill) but every time a crowd reacts to an obvious misplay, it warms my heart. My other programs went off as well and overall it was a good experience.
Unfortunately, it may be the final time in the foreseeable future that I go to Anime Midwest. The main reason I’ve been able to attend the last two years is because I have an agreement with a independent third party (i.e. someone not affiliated with Midwest or Ani.me) where I get a free hotel room during the convention. This agreement is the main reason why I was able to attend so many shows last year. After discussions with my contact, there is a high likelihood that they will not be going to Anime Midwest in 2019, and so I would not, either. I can justify $300 in travel expenses, but I can’t justify that on top of paying $500+ for a hotel room. There’s always a chance plans will change, but if not I’d like to thank each and every person, both staff and otherwise, who made Anime Midwest a fun experience both times I was able to attend.
But, as the saying goes, when one door closes, another opens, and that new door may be Hazard Con. It was a second-year show, but my first time there, and after a svelte 3 hours of programming (compared to the 16 hours at the prior two), I can say that I’d love to go back again, and any game room that has a Nostalgia cabinet is always going to be one of the best game rooms around. I have some strong but measured opinions about the Erie convention scene, and it’ll be interesting to see how this show grows. I hope to be part of the growth process.
But, as implied by the title, that’s all for my summer schedule. The next show I present at will be Anime Weekend Atlanta which is on the autumnal equinox. That means I have another two-month gap between major events. Granted, I will be attending Otakon, but not as a panelist. That being said, you never know what shenanigans I may get into in the meantime. Watch this space to see what happens next.
