I’ve always been something of a geek or at the very least interested in nerdy things – However, this year those interests have really kicked into overdrive & really completely by chance. I attended the Sundance Film Festival for the first time earlier this year and was invited to stick around and cover the Salt Lake City Comic-Con, one of the more reputable cons in the country. I had so much fun & met so many new people that when I met the organizers of the Star Wars Celebration being held in Anaheim earlier this year, I jumped at the chance to attend.
Now back in Dallas, it was time for more.
Billed as the largest convention of it’s kind – A-Kon the annual Anime & Convention Expo is something that in spite of having little to zero interest or knowledge of anime & it’s culture, is an event I’ve always wanted to attend.
My interests began over 3 years ago when I was hired to DJ a late night rave beginning at midnight at A-Kon that year but I had just flown in and went straight to the gig and not much time to look around or any idea what I was getting myself into. I swore I’d be back and this year I made good on that promise.
Project A-KON 26 – June 5-7th – Hilton Anatole – Dallas, TX
Of course the first thing you see when you enter the hotel (after you have battled insane parking issues) is that it has been COMPLETELY taken over by the convention and nothing informs you of that greater/quicker than the sea of Cosplayers everywhere.
Unlike typical Comic Cons or gatherings catering to fans of all things nerdy/geeky, A-KON is specific to the genres of Anime & Manga which arguable gave birth to the Cosplay phenomenon. Also unlike other conventions that are usually patronized by awkward teens, families with small children and your video game enthusiasts, this place felt more like Summer Camp with no counselers. At times, unbearably chaotic (gawd I sound old) with what seemed like the vast majority were High School kids teeming with the excitement of being out of town and left to their own devices for the first time.
After checking into at the modest press room, I was out to have my own adventure to explore what the convention had to offer.
The central thing it did have in common with other conventions is the marketplace that generate the income with exhibitors selling just about anything you could imagine pertaining to this demographic.
There was also alot of music to hear & discover which I really enjoyed, especially anything that I’ve never heard of/have been exposed to and to take advantage of seeing some of these acts, that may or not be in the States performing for the first time.
In the main performance room I caught a set from 7!! (pronounced Seven Oops) from Okinawa, Japan
Apparently Seven Oops are working for the Japanese government or something because the convention wasn’t letting any photographers take photos of them nor could if find a SINGLE LIVE PHOTO of them anywhere, so my apologies for the shitty cell phone pic (that was taken in haste after being reprimanded by some teenage volunteer reminding me of their policy).
And later that evening I checked out the Steampunk Ball with a great eclectic band keeping the even more eclectic crowd on their toes.
As you can see, dressing up/cosplaying is an essential part of A-KON where at other conventions it’s clearly optional and the minority.
Because of this, it does cast a slight air of competition (and their was an official contest) and the benefit is that the costumes where more inspired and the cosplayers much more committed to the characters. I had a blast meeting and photographing cosplayers that had come from all over the country.
Later in the evening I attended one of the many panels the convention offered, this one on podcasting. As a fellow podcaster I’m always out to learn new things to make my podcast better and pick up a few new tricks here and there. Unfortunately, this panel was a complete waste of time (for anyone) that was led by three dudes that appeared to have started a podcast simply because they like to hear themselves talk. They offered literally nothing but their own insufferable elitist cadence of speaking and didn’t know anymore about podcasting than anyone else.
I bailed early on this and made my way back over to the main performance hall again, this time for the late night rave (again that I DJ’d back in 2012) this time simply as a patron here to enjoy.
That’s what really gives A-KON it’s edge is that it doesn’t end at 6pm, it goes all night and everyone is staying at this or a neighboring hotel. With the rave starting at midnight and another party beginning at 3am it fuels (and requires) the energy of teens intoxicated with the lack of supervision ready to go all night.
Thanks again to the producers of A-KON for having me back this year and I look forward to next year.
Photos –
Roy Turner
Bill Hitt
XPC
Jim Eppes
Rose Photography
Axela
Ben Tucker
