Robbie's Convention Year Review for 2011

I gotta say, 2011 has been a busy year for me. Not just because this has been my first year writing for California Conventions Blog (although it has been, so I hope it's been a year off to a good start), but because I made the effort to go to as many events, conventions, and gatherings as possible.

Matthew's Convention Year In Review 2011

As a preparation for writing this year-end review, I look back at what I wrote last year. I also wonder if I'll say that "this was a year of firsts,'" but at this point I need to find a new catchphrase to say during these year-end reviews. Regardless, 2011 was a year of milestones for myself and the California Conventions Blog, which I hope can lead into success in 2012.

California Conventions Blog: The Podcast Episode 01: SacAnime Winter 2012 Preview

Yesterday we recorded the first ever episode of the California Conventions Blog: The Podcast, the preview for SacAnime Winter 2012. It was up on Soundcloud yesterday night, and this morning the podcast was updated for our iTunes subscribers:

This is part of the end-of-the-year review and convention pre-coverage blitz for both Anime Los Angeles and SacAnime Winter. As I write this, everyone including myself is working on our year-end recaps and we're hoping to get a Year-End Podcast before the next set of conventions. But for now, enjoy the first episode of our podcast!

Soundcloud link
iTunes link (There's also a link to the podcast on the sidebar)

Pacific Media Expo 2011

As promised, I'm back again this year with my review of PMX 2011. Before the con started, I already had much to look forward to. The con returned to the much preferred LAX Hilton location, there was a new impressive block of BJD (Ball-Jointed Doll) panels and workshops, long-beloved J-Rock band, D, was announced to perform not one, but two nights in a row, and my favorite, the lolita brand announcement. Gothic lolita brand, Atelier-Pierrot and it's designer, Yuko Ashizawa, would be bringing their wares for the Fashion Boutique this year. As expected, I was thrilled and selling whatever I could to have a decent amount of spending money.

SacCon December 2011: Con Report

A panoramic view from insiders the Dealers Hall at the Scottish Rite Center.

I remember a year ago coming to this very same SacCon, wondering why I haven't attended any Sacramento conventions in the past year. Since then, I went back to SacAnime this past September and I'll be returning to the winter edition in January. I also came to this year's "the-end-of-the-convention-season" convention in which all of us gather one last time, partly in preparation for next year's conventions but to also chill out in a small setting with finals and the Christmas rush looming. I had a final exam two days after the convention, so for me it allowed me to relax the day before cramming.

SacCon December 2011 Videos

I took some footage from SacCon December 2011 using the new HD camcorder that I got. I can consider this a trial run in a convention setting before ALA and/or SacAnime in January, and so far I'm pretty impressed with the quality so far. Of course, I hope to have more footage for future conventions, but for now this is a start.