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Anime Boston: Day One (and my only) Report
March 22nd, 2008 by Babs

After picking up forgotten cat food and stopping at the bank, I finally arrived at the Hynes at 11:45 am. Security directed me to the registration overflow room in Exhibit Hall B. On the way I passed two Sims, who where at the front of the line. The Hall was half full but that didn’t deter me. After all posts on the message boards mentioned waiting times ranging from non-exitent to a couple of hours. I plugged my headphones into my Sansa and listened to my AB playlist (consisting of songs from various anime, as well as songs performed by anime voice actors). Ahead of me was a young teen who was busily chatting away on her cell phone. Behind was a guy in his late twenties playing unknown versions of a variety of DS games. We were surrounded by numerous members from the cast of Naruto, which was apparently the unofficial anime of this year’s con. šŸ™‚

Two and a half hours later I had finally reached the front door of the Hall. Chatty teen had been rescued by two of her friends and, I assume, moved ahead in line. She was “replaced” by a young adult male, who was obviously cosplaying, but hell if I could guess what anime he was from. From this point on I shall call him “Joe” because he looked remarkably like an online friend of mine by that name. He and some friends (who had the smarts to pre-register) had come down from Vermont to spend the weekend at the con. Joe had two friends come and visit him, one of them had the nickname of (if I remember correctly) Expendable Convention Member #1024. Ahead of Joe was a beautiful Botan whose picture did not come out. Ahead of her was a young woman dressed as a character from Naruto (I never watched the series so don’t ask). I only noticed her when she started belly aching to someone from security about how long she had already been waiting and how she was missing the voice actors whom she had come to the con to support. 20-something DS player was joined by one of his friends (ah the joys of cutting in line). My friend, Nikki, had come over from the pre-reg waiting area to talk to some other friends of hers, but I was unable to text her in time to get her to turn around. There was also an attempt at the wave, but halfway through the line in the Hall the ball got dropped.

During the next hour Joe and I watched cosplayers pass by as we inched our way to the front of the line. I got a picture of a guy dressed as Misty from Pokemon. He was equally scary and hilarious at the same time as he flirted with other male con goers. There was a trio extremly well done up as Link, Zelda and Sheik. Unfortunately my camera being as old as it is took forever to get to its ready state, so I missed it. šŸ˜› 20-something was taking advantage of the oulets along the wall to charge his DS. Just before reaching the front of the line I caught sight of a Sanosuke from Rurouni Kenshin. He looked good, except for his hair. Instead of simply spiking it with some gel he clumped handfuls of it together, making him look like he had an accident with a tube of Nair. Ol’ Roosterhead would’ve been ashamed.

Finally at the front of the line, we eagerly awaited entering the registration room. Then we learned that the line continued on around the corner, around a second corner, down a one mile-long hall and back, down another mile long hall and back, and around one more corner before entering the registration area.

The next hour or so was spent holding places in line while we took advantage of the currently present restrooms. 20-something with DS and friend had somehow managed to sneak ahead in line by about ten people. My new rear flanker was a gentleman who was there with his disabled son, to whom he had literally offered $1000 to not come to the con. I think he was ready to throttle his son when he announced that he didn’t really mind missing all the panels while waiting in line because he would most likely be able to catch thin online on Youtube. We were also visted by another of Joe’s friends, who brought pizza for him and informed us that it would probably be another 4 hours before we were registered because AB “grossly underestimated the turnout” and they “only had four terminals available for registration”. At this point I gave up on making it to the panel with Brad Swaile.

Around the second corner I spotted the two Sims that had been at “the front” of the line when I arrived. They were on their way down the second hallway. Oh, and I lost The Game.

The trip down the first hallway wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been. We had benches to sit on, on one side at least. I was surrounded by DS users. Sadly none of them were playing Animal Crossing. About halfway down a group started singing “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall”. They managed to complete the entire song without us moving once. šŸ™ Joe and I had made it to the end of the hall in about two hours. Well so much for my chance at meeting Brad Swaile at the autograph session.

By this time I was starving, not to mention dehydrated. Joe’s girlfriend, who had pre-registered, had joined him and the two were busy snogging so I really couldn’t ask them to hold my spot while I grabbed something to eat. I was tired, my body ached, and I snarled at a member of security who demanded I move my spasming legs out of the middle of the way. I was frantically trying to decide whether or not I should still get a three day pass given that all most of the panels I wanted to partake had already been missed. At the same time I wondered if a one day pass would still be worth it just to go to Nikki’s Hentai panel. I was defininately NOT going to bring Glenn with me if I decided to come back Saturday, nor was I going to make the Pre-teen endure this nonsense for a series viewing that may be over by the time he was registered. Someone started singing “The Song that Never Ends” but folks were so tired it ended after three rounds.

At 7:05pm my mind was made up for me. The Teen called, informing me he had (accidently) cut himself and couldn’t get the bleeding to stop. I had no choice but to leave. As I staggered up the hallway I realized I had deluded myself into thinking I would be registered before the area closed at 10pm.

I spent over 7 hours in line for naught. My body still aches immenesly despite it being more than 24 hours later. My Miracle Balls failed me.

Did I mention that I lost The Game?

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8 Responses  
  • finnyb writes:
    March 25th, 20081:50 amat

    Ow!

    I’m so sorry it turned out like that for you! When I went in ’03–my dorm was four blocks from the hotel–I had a wonderful time, as did my roommate (so much so that we ended up going to AnimeNorth in Toronto in ’03 and again in ’04, where I met , who is now my husband of 13 months); all the G-boy’s North American VAs were there (as well as at AnimeNorth a month or so later, along with Heero’s Japanese VA), and it was a great time. I’m so very sorry that it didn’t turn out for you. (AB was absolutely insane, from what I hear, and I know a whole bunch of people aren’t going to be back next year, considering the stunt they pulled with registration; from what I gather the computerized system wasn’t even tested before they sprung it on everyone this year.)

    Oh, and I’m just wondering…would you mind having Brad Swaile’s autograph even if it had someone else’s name attached? Because I have a program from AnimeBoston 2003 that he signed for me; it’s got my name on it, but if you’d like it, you’re welcome to it. Just e-mail me at finvic @ gmail.com if you’re interested and let me know where to send it. (I’ve got a couple others from him signed to me–a headshot and a picture with all five G-boy’s NA VAs and Heero’s Japanese VA’s signatures–and I totally don’t mind if you’d like to have the AB program. I’d actually be glad if you’d like it, really–like I said, I’ve got others, and I’m all about sharing the love of stuff like that; heck, when I went to AN in ’03, I grabbed autographs for a couple friends who weren’t able to make it.)

    • finnyb writes:
      March 25th, 20081:51 amat

      Oh, and I hope the Teen is okay!

      *hugs*

      • Babs writes:
        March 25th, 200811:25 amat

        The Teen has a deep slice in his finger, but nothing requiring stitches. He just has to keep it clean and bandaged to keep the cut closed so it can heal. Had he mentioned it was his finger when he called I would’ve stayed. This is the son who is known by first name by many of Cambridge Hospital’s emergency room staff, he has been there so often. šŸ™‚

        • finnyb writes:
          March 25th, 20084:26 pmat

          I’m glad stitches were not required! Known by first name by many of the ER staff, huh? Sheesh!

          (Oh, and the husband says to tell you that if you’re able to or want to travel, Brad Swaile is also going to be at AnimeNorth in Toronto this year, May 23rd to 25th. The site is http://www.animenorth.com, if you’re interested.)

    • Babs writes:
      March 25th, 200811:19 amat

      (AB was absolutely insane, from what I hear, and I know a whole bunch of people aren’t going to be back next year, considering the stunt they pulled with registration; from what I gather the computerized system wasn’t even tested before they sprung it on everyone this year.)

      Dear Gods that was an understatement! I’ve been reading the boards for the past few days. They are getting ripped for that one! I’ve noticed a few cheerleaders popping in, telling us we have no right to complain given AB had no idea that there would be such an increase in attendance. The pom pom waving decreased a bit after someone (I think with a data entry background) showed how that, even by last year’s attendance, AB was severely under-prepared.

      The most infuriating part for me was knowing they were trying something new with no back up plan. Hey, if you want to work without a net, then you deserve everything you get when you screw up.

      Oh, and I’m just wondering…would you mind having Brad Swaile’s autograph even if it had someone else’s name attached?

      Thanks for the offer. It’s much appreciated, but I’ll pass. While the autograph is important, it was the “OMG! It’s Quatre and Kurt! Squee!” factor that I really wanted. *wonders how many women in their 40’s he’s had to endure fangirling over him*

      I’ll most likely be going back again next year, but definitely not without pre-registering. Waiting an hour in line on a Thursday night I can do. šŸ™‚

      • finnyb writes:
        March 25th, 20084:21 pmat

        The most infuriating part for me was knowing they were trying something new with no back up plan. Hey, if you want to work without a net, then you deserve everything you get when you screw up.

        I don’t blame you there–that’s just a dumb idea. Try something new, sure. Try something new with no back up? Incredibly dumb!

        Thanks for the offer. It’s much appreciated, but I’ll pass. While the autograph is important, it was the “OMG! It’s Quatre and Kurt! Squee!” factor that I really wanted. *wonders how many women in their 40’s he’s had to endure fangirling over him*

        You’re welcome. Don’t blame you for wanting to squee–Brad Swaile is really nice. (Heck, when I went to AnimeNorth after AnimeBoston, I was working security, and he remembered me! I could not believe that, but he actually remembered me. No way would he now, since that was in ’03, but I’m surprised he did then.) Let me know if you do change your mind–that particular autograph, like all my others, is just hanging around in a Digimon folder, waiting until I have somewhere to put them all.

        I’ll most likely be going back again next year, but definitely not without pre-registering. Waiting an hour in line on a Thursday night I can do. šŸ™‚

        Pre-regging is a good idea. Both me and my roommate did so the year we went, and we still ran into hassles (mine was fine, but they’d forgotten to make her a badge, so hers is just handwritten while mine’s typed), so I don’t even want to imagine what it would’ve been like without pre-regging! I do hope it goes better for you next year.

        • Babs writes:
          March 25th, 20088:45 pmat

          I would’ve pre-regged this year, but didn’t find out about the registration deadline until it was passed. I could’ve dealt with either an hour Thursday night, or even the 4 hours on Friday. šŸ™‚

          This year I know to keep an eye out in October.

          • finnyb writes:
            March 25th, 20089:27 pmat

            Makes sense. Just don’t forget–I know I’m prone to doing that! (And yes, an hour on Thursday or four hours on Friday is much better than what you had to deal with this time around!)


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