Like my attempt at a click-bait title?! Here's the post where I relive and revive myself from the busy hectic convention that was this year's AWA. If you read the whole thing, kudos to you! <3 I hope you enjoy this post, and look forward to a more informative post next time!
 |
| Thanks Tina from 50% Dangerous for the pic! <3 |
AWA 2018
September 20-24
Cobb County, GA
Thursday September 20
Generally, I work a 9-5 day at my office job... However during AWA I happily take both the Thursday and Friday off from work to ... work more! (I was even at the venue after work on Wednesday but that's besides the point!) The first thing we did was wake up and get our butts to the airport to pick up the great and powerful Grape-Kun, from Danzoo→Dash! He was as happy to see us as we were to see him~ To start off the actual work-day, Yumemi Hayley/AkibaKoala and I were going around as the AWA Mascots taking videos and interviews around the convention.
We proceed to go to the STARMARIE Panel which was... insane to figure out because of logistical and scheduling errors. However, I managed to ask a question that made the girls try to lick their elbows for the rest of the panel... (sorry everyone!)
To follow this up I immediately went to the Kuma Kuma Maid Cafe meeting and then to ~Starlight Idol Festival~ practice! Only to turn around and be told that the soundcheck was on Friday morning at 9AM instead... Which was not what I was told - but there is not much you can do when Super Happy Fun Sale is completely set up in that ballroom...
Most of the Overseas Idol Collection crew went off to practice together, which was nice! Afterwards it was time to hit the hay - and my anxiety was mile high because, quite honestly, I wanted the waiting to be over. I was incredibly happy to see the OIC crew and all of the people at the convention, and I was excited that people were already thrilled for SIF and AWA as a whole - but months of work and things all collapsing when there was a rhyme and reason... is dumb and anxiety inducing for anyone...
Meals: 2
Bed Time: 12:00 AM
We proceed to go to the STARMARIE Panel which was... insane to figure out because of logistical and scheduling errors. However, I managed to ask a question that made the girls try to lick their elbows for the rest of the panel... (sorry everyone!)
To follow this up I immediately went to the Kuma Kuma Maid Cafe meeting and then to ~Starlight Idol Festival~ practice! Only to turn around and be told that the soundcheck was on Friday morning at 9AM instead... Which was not what I was told - but there is not much you can do when Super Happy Fun Sale is completely set up in that ballroom...
Most of the Overseas Idol Collection crew went off to practice together, which was nice! Afterwards it was time to hit the hay - and my anxiety was mile high because, quite honestly, I wanted the waiting to be over. I was incredibly happy to see the OIC crew and all of the people at the convention, and I was excited that people were already thrilled for SIF and AWA as a whole - but months of work and things all collapsing when there was a rhyme and reason... is dumb and anxiety inducing for anyone...
Meals: 2
Bed Time: 12:00 AM
Friday September 21
Friday meant being up at 6:30AM to prepare for multiple soundchecks, SIF, and a late night... When we arrived to the SIF stage set up- things were not quite set up and my computer system was running like absolute garbage which needed to be fixed. Along with some other minor bumps, we managed to get the entirety of the soundcheck figured out and many of the performers were able to get their run through finished... While this was our first soundcheck, we will be improving the way we do it next year to be sure we can start actually sound checking on time... Thank you to everyone for bearing with us in this process!
Next was soundcheck for Opening Ceremonies! We did one quick run through and then Milky Kitty - fabulous make up artist, hair stylist, Lolita, extraordinaire gave me a nice hand massage back stage before we did our dance! Thanks Kitty! Performing at Opening Ceremonies has always been fun, and I hope to continue performing in some capacity. It is always really fun to welcome people to the convention, even if it's a rush during the day of SIF!
Next was the ~Starlight Idol Festival~, something Yumemi and I work SUPER HARD on year-round until the big day when we can pass out happily and feel glad everyone enjoyed themselves... Having a real Idol Group on our stage was nerve-wracking. But working professionally on that level really did help us understand more about what we are lacking and where we can improve. Our lineup included the following lovely people:
Next was soundcheck for Opening Ceremonies! We did one quick run through and then Milky Kitty - fabulous make up artist, hair stylist, Lolita, extraordinaire gave me a nice hand massage back stage before we did our dance! Thanks Kitty! Performing at Opening Ceremonies has always been fun, and I hope to continue performing in some capacity. It is always really fun to welcome people to the convention, even if it's a rush during the day of SIF!
Next was the ~Starlight Idol Festival~, something Yumemi and I work SUPER HARD on year-round until the big day when we can pass out happily and feel glad everyone enjoyed themselves... Having a real Idol Group on our stage was nerve-wracking. But working professionally on that level really did help us understand more about what we are lacking and where we can improve. Our lineup included the following lovely people:
- Milky Kitty - Web
- GalaxyGirl Paida - Web
- Kuma Kuma Maid Cafe - Web
- Alex Pinku - YouTube
- Tambourine Idols - Web
- Cherry Wallflower - YouTube
Please check out their SNS and enjoy following some new amazing performers you may have never known! We enjoyed working with each and every one of these wonderful people and we hope to meet them again soon~!
Danzoo→Dash did wonderfully and even our beloved Grape-Kun joined in with a wild introduction that was entirely unexpected... See that introduction AND his OIC Interview here{LINK}!
Also SIF would not be the same without the AMAZING amount of WOTA we have there. We love their chanting and UO's and amazing fun energy. No performance is the same without them - and they deserve a ton of love and IeTaiga's.
We got a short period of rest before I had to get dressed in a sleepy-time version of AWA's Mascot Wa and go to ~Cosplay After Dark~! This event is an 18+ after-dark event that is a cosplay runway and... Q&A with the models! The amount of self-love and confidence in that room was astounding, and it's something I would like to do again if not just for the kindness I was shown throughout the event. Thank you all who managed to come and meet me! (Plus hanging with Tina and Matt from 50% Dangerous is ALWAYS a pleasure~!)
Finally, at 2:30AM - I slept.
Meals: 2
Bed Time: 2:30 AM
 |
| Cosplay "After Dark" = Pajamas... Right?! (No) |
Saturday September 22
Saturday marks the half-way point of AWA. (And while most of this post sounds like me being excited for the end, I did thoroughly enjoy the weekend... I just work so much during the con like many people, that we like to celebrate the end, too!) I woke up at 7:00 AM this day!
The first thing I did was my Maid Cafe shift. This year I attended a 1/2 day in order to cosplay as the Mascot and take some video clips around the convention, too. I proceeded to help with 3 shifts as a VIP Experience maid along with a crew of other VIP Experience maids/butlers this year. While we were overbooked, I was very happy to see many friends grab VIP Tables in order to see us. We even got to sing happy birthday to a very special birthday girl! Maid Lilia experienced magical fire sticks (UOs) and explain that she can turn just about anything into ashes.
This was my final year within the Kuma Kuma Maid Cafe, I had an enjoyable experience and would love to work in a maid cafe again one day - but for now I am setting my apron aside and relaxing... Thank you to everyone who supported me in my 2 year run in a maid cafe, I hope that in the future I can attend cafe events that will be equally as successful!
Next Yumemi and I ran around getting video clips and enjoying the convention as the mascots while trying to get interviews and events on video - this was difficult...
Then after this, I ran around prepping for the next event on Sunday that I was in charge of as well as my head spinning trying to figure everything out. Due to this amount of overwhelming work - I stuck back from enjoying the StarMarie concert and instead choose to visit with some volunteer friends and then head to bed. I believe that everyone had a great time and I am glad to have spent it around amazing people!
Meals: 3
Bed Time: 12:00 AM
The first thing I did was my Maid Cafe shift. This year I attended a 1/2 day in order to cosplay as the Mascot and take some video clips around the convention, too. I proceeded to help with 3 shifts as a VIP Experience maid along with a crew of other VIP Experience maids/butlers this year. While we were overbooked, I was very happy to see many friends grab VIP Tables in order to see us. We even got to sing happy birthday to a very special birthday girl! Maid Lilia experienced magical fire sticks (UOs) and explain that she can turn just about anything into ashes.
This was my final year within the Kuma Kuma Maid Cafe, I had an enjoyable experience and would love to work in a maid cafe again one day - but for now I am setting my apron aside and relaxing... Thank you to everyone who supported me in my 2 year run in a maid cafe, I hope that in the future I can attend cafe events that will be equally as successful!
Next Yumemi and I ran around getting video clips and enjoying the convention as the mascots while trying to get interviews and events on video - this was difficult...
Then after this, I ran around prepping for the next event on Sunday that I was in charge of as well as my head spinning trying to figure everything out. Due to this amount of overwhelming work - I stuck back from enjoying the StarMarie concert and instead choose to visit with some volunteer friends and then head to bed. I believe that everyone had a great time and I am glad to have spent it around amazing people!
Meals: 3
Bed Time: 12:00 AM
Sunday September 23
Sunday I was proud to have the first ever Children's Matsuri event with AWA! I was open for 2 hours to provide entertainment and crafts for children who got taken around the con by their nerdy and excited parents all weekend! I believe that there was a high amount of interest and enjoyment in this event, and I am glad I can find ways to improve this event in the future!
After Children's Matsuri, I got to go to the AniParty/OIC Meet Up and be yakkai! It was so much fun and I enjoyed actually relaxing with everyone! It was time for many of our friends to leave, but for us we had ONE last event to go to~
CLOSING CEREMONIES!
We got to dance at closing ceremonies and we did Den Den Passion, a song we have been dancing on and off all this year in preparation for this! It was incredibly fun to dance and we were happy for the loyal crew of Wota to be there cheering us on in bright orange UO Light...
I lied, the last ~event~ was F L A V O R T O W N. (Aka. The Marietta Diner.) We got to eat dinner with the industry folks with Lumica and we had a very wonderful time with them, the WOTA Boys, and DJ Ceaser. I can't believe we ate so much AND tried eating cake/dessert?? Wth were we thinking...
Meals: 800 (because Flavortown counts for at least 2)
Bed Time: 11:30 PM
Well~ It's time to conclude with the fact that it's been a full calendar week since AWA ended and I'm still exhausted but I have to be strong to prepare for AUSA... GANBAPPE EVERYONE!
Please remember that it is HIGHLY IMPORTANT to try and eat 3 meals, shower 1x, and sleep for 5 hours EVERY DAY at a convention! Your health is important, so please do all you can to maintain it despite the fun and adventures!
After Children's Matsuri, I got to go to the AniParty/OIC Meet Up and be yakkai! It was so much fun and I enjoyed actually relaxing with everyone! It was time for many of our friends to leave, but for us we had ONE last event to go to~
CLOSING CEREMONIES!
We got to dance at closing ceremonies and we did Den Den Passion, a song we have been dancing on and off all this year in preparation for this! It was incredibly fun to dance and we were happy for the loyal crew of Wota to be there cheering us on in bright orange UO Light...
I lied, the last ~event~ was F L A V O R T O W N. (Aka. The Marietta Diner.) We got to eat dinner with the industry folks with Lumica and we had a very wonderful time with them, the WOTA Boys, and DJ Ceaser. I can't believe we ate so much AND tried eating cake/dessert?? Wth were we thinking...
Meals: 800 (because Flavortown counts for at least 2)
Bed Time: 11:30 PM
 |
| Heckin Goodnight, DUDES! |
Please remember that it is HIGHLY IMPORTANT to try and eat 3 meals, shower 1x, and sleep for 5 hours EVERY DAY at a convention! Your health is important, so please do all you can to maintain it despite the fun and adventures!
Please donate to my Kofi to help support me doing more cosplay photoshoots and write more for my blog~! I'd love to start streaming soon, and any help would be welcome and appreciated!
