"...Feel like running and dancing for joy, for I'm loved by a pretty wonderful boy..."

[hazelchaz]

EDIT: If you're going to tell me my website's a little broken, I know, I know... they're working on it.

More about Costume College. (Incidentally, long-time followers of my LJ will note that I'm breaking my usual rule into flinders about trying not to post more than once per day...) Most of the convention runs smooth like clockwork, they've been doing it for a while. There are a number of L.A. "usual suspects", some with obvious costuming connections (Jess and Malcolm). They use vertical format ribbons, which makes sense because they only have a few of them. Most people had no more than one vertical ribbon (such as "New member") and if you position the sticky end in the middle instead of the bottom edge of the back it's easy to hang your horizontals in front. The unofficial ribbons are starting to spread. The costume_con Pre-Convention Hall Costume Award ribbons, the Sunday Undies ribbons that collency had (and the very rare Two stitches forward one stitch back)... I handed out Shot by a Bear to the people I shot, outside of the Gala/Tea rushes. I had my kit with me, but didn't end up delegating any ribbons. Maybe next time we meet someone will want to hand out Live Journal ribbons?

Speaking of ribbons: If anyone has ordered from a ribbon company that accepts online orders, and you're happy with the results, and it's not one of these five: rvawardsaz.com, hodgesbadge.com, ribbonsgalore.com, shopforawards.com, or marcomeetings.com can you let me know please? I want to update my Ribbon Resource page...

library_lynn played minion for me for a little while during the Tea, following me with the notebook taking down names (and quick notes about the costume they wore to help matching 'em up) so I could move person-to-person that much more quickly. Very helpful! If anyone wants to be my minion at the next convention I shoot at, look me up. I met Kirsten Manning, a beginning costumer from Alaska. (Reminded me of Kat H., but in a good way.) She helped me with the stuffing-envelopes stage. I hope she met a few new friends at the convention. If she's into anime she might want to see how easy it is to get to Anime Evolution in Vancouver weekend after next, or Aurora-Con in Anchorage next month.

The dealers room ("Marketplace") was busy most times I stopped by. I think that's where people tended to go between classes. Some would trickle down to the Costume Exhibit, as I mentioned, but I think the dealers room had more traffic. It looked like they assigned space by taping rectangles on the floor. We're going to do that next year at animelosangeles. I didn't take a lot of pictures there, partly because I didn't spend a lot of time there, but mostly because it was too crowded to take many photos without inconveniencing the other shoppers.

Comments

[chloeandrudy.livejournal.com]

Why was I hearing someone calling you Bear? Was it because of the ears? And is that a nick you go by?

Bear

[hazelchaz]

The teddy bear ears, yes.

Sometimes I'm called Hazel Chaz, or Hazel the Bear. I've known people to call me Hazel, or Mr. Chaz, or Mr. Bear, or even HC. Abbreviating it to "bear" is rare, but I'll answer to it if it's obvious they're talking to me. I generally assume they're using "bear" as a common noun, not a proper noun -- like saying, "Hey, lady" or "Thank you, sir."

Bear, Shot by a

[hazelchaz]

And I was handing out ribbons that said SHOT by a BEAR -- I can naturally see people turning around and calling me "bear" if they had one of those.

Re: Bear, Shot by a

[chloeandrudy.livejournal.com]

OK, I was afraid I had mis-identified you as Bear. But I prefer Chaz. :)

[bovil.livejournal.com]

The exhibit might have been more popular if it had been near hospitality or the marketplace, and hospitality had been open during the day.

The vertical ribbons were ordered a few years back, enough stock to last for a while. I expect they'll move to badge-extenders when it comes time to reorder.

Costume Exhibit

[hazelchaz]

I've already told Becca (this year's Vols coord) that Christian and I will sit the room next year. The whole weekend, not counting setup/teardown -- they don't have to recruit anyone else for those slots.

I don't know about Martha Davis (next year's chair), but I know that colleency is or will be reading this. We'll have to see if they do anything about the "move hospitality to 180" idea.

Perhaps, if they don't, we'll make up ribbons or stickers that say "I visited the Costume Exhibit" or maybe just little round stickers with 186 on them, and go out into the crowds to spread the word about where to find it. Or maybe do something else to encourage people to stop by.

Re: Costume Exhibit

[chloeandrudy.livejournal.com]

I'd have a sticker that says "Room 186. Go there." It might raise some curiosity as to why you should go there.

If things don't move`

[hazelchaz]

If we assume hospitality and marketplace stay in the Plaza Tower, then I would definitely recommend they block the first two rooms on the 1st floor of that building for the costume exhibit.

If they don't connect the way 184/186 do, I'd recommend they use two rooms opposite each other instead of adjoining -- that way someone sitting in one can look across the hall to see if there's someone in the other.

Ribbons

[pheltzer.livejournal.com]

I've used PC/Nametag www.pcnametag.com in the past for ribbons. They're a little pricey... but they're quick. An order of 100 custom ribbons comes out to about $38 + shipping. But they can generally turn an order around in about 5 business days with no extra fees

Re: Ribbons

[hazelchaz]

I've used them before myself, when I'd maxed out RV Awards' capacity.