Convention Confessional

This week we rant about how to pack a bag for the convention.  How things change through the years.  From the first con where you have to bring half of creation with you, to 20 years later and you bring pills and underpants to get you through it all.  We give some tips, some things you have to pack because it's the rules and some ideas of how to keep yourself organized.  We'll see you at Anime Boston 2025!

Let's just dust this off here... HEY GUYS!  Back with another episode of Convention Confessional!  Don't get excited, we're still working on getting back into the swing of things.  This week, we're talking about Rhode Island Comic Con and how we gave the convention a third chance and we're pleasantly surprised!  Feels good to be back... don't get used to it.

So ends the trilogy.  Rob is back to talk about one of the bigger costumes he made from a little show called FLCL.  And in pure Rob fashion, that costume was a giant robot, Canti!  Sounds easy, right? (sarcasm). A big ass red robot with a television head, it's own guitar and caused a man to become allergic to the material it was made from... 

Sometimes, you have the best laid plans when it comes to skits.  And sometimes, you need to know when to turn in the towel.  This is that story.  Jess is back this week to talk about some of her best skit background stories.  Learn from our mistakes, but also know when to listen to the signs!

Nicole is here and we talked about the flood at Anime Boston 2023, things from conventions past that don't exist anymore, some behind the scenes moments of working at conventions, trying not to fall off the stage and a special not sponsored plug for Icy Hot.  Cause we old.

Jen is here!  And by the time this podcast is done, you'll love her as much as we do.  She swung by to talk Star Lord, Star Wars and Harry Potter cosplay.  Well, Harry Potter before Joanne decided to make poor life choices.

Sami came on the show to talk about her first convention experience!  Being 'chaperoned' by her brother who was in different hotel room on the other side of the convention... We also talked about my new cookbook, how conventions have changed through the years and more!

Tory, Anime Boston's Best In Show Performance Winner 2023, came on the show to talk about the experience!  We also discussed when it is and isn't okay to take pictures, not asking for uncomfortable pictures and cats.  Those topics aren't related, but who doesn't love talking about their fur babies?

What better way to kick off our third season, than getting the gang back together?  We got the gang back together for another round of 20 Questions and no one disappointed!  Lots of sage advice from some cosplay veterans.

Mel is back this week and have we got some tales to tell.  We lament about the days before wigs were so good and sacrificing our own hair, group cosplays and other sound advice for those competing!

HERE IT IS!  Your favorites of 2022 and we were delighted to see such a great group of people's stories being appreciated!  It was such a close call this time around, because of wonderful listeners like you being so consistent with your downloads.  If only we could be the same... ANYWAYS!  Thanks so much for an amazing year and we can't wait to see what we're brought in 2023!  Happy Everything Everyone!

Liz has finally landed on the podcast and as the 'newest' cosplayer of the friends group, we talked about some of her favorite moments of the past ten years.  First con, first guest, first creep and more!  We also brought up a boy who has alluded her for several years at Dragoncon and how I'm certain they're meant to be.

Some people were a little upset about our stance on certain voice actors last week, so Ryan came around to discuss it.  But we also spoke about other types of trolls.  And how our host is always right, especially when it comes to judging people.  Their personal cross to bear.

It's guest palooza this week on the show!  Patrick joins the five timers club as we talk about some great guest encounters.  Which include: playing DOOM with the Mystery Science Theater 3000 people, Scotty from Star Trek, and some not to great times with Vic Mignogna.  Also, full disclosure, we don't support Vic on bit on the podcast.  Period. 

Jess and I have done some serious (and not so serious) judging in our lives.  One time we judged a whole masquerade before it was even done.  Well, it was done, but no one seemed to mention it to their last contestant...  ANYWAYS!  This week, we're all about our best and worst moments judging and hand out some helpful tips to those making their way on stage.  The general message is JUST HAVE FUN!

Elizabeth is back and we talked about some cosplay failures.  Not every costume is perfect and not every piece is right but you always try your best!  Even if the universe tries to tell you no, or you pack the wrong shoes or cut the really expensive fabric out wrong.  It's fine... IT'S FINE.

Doug is back, because he wasn't out of stories just yet.  This week, a trip down to a convention in an area smacked around by Hurricane Sandy, greetings with a copious amount of libations and then talking about Doug's favorite thing to get from the artist alley: commissions of Wartortle!  Doing something awesome, of course!

We took to our Q&A block over on Facebook to answer one of our listeners questions.  This week, Matthew asked us about Cotton Eyed Joe.  And you're wondering, what that has to do with conventions and I, have the answer you're looking for.  We're here for you, for the crowds and it's all about fan service this week on the show.  It's also about kissing Ryan Pagella... because somehow these things always turn into kissing Ryan Pagella.

Our friend Courtney stopped by this week to talk about a Lolita convention.  What could have been a cute day of fluffy dresses, cute desserts and tea parties, turned into over priced snack cakes, no guidance from those in charge and guests worst nightmare.  There also might have been some questionable people with questionable opinions involved.  Certainly a horror story if we've ever heard one!

This episode was not an easy one to record.  It's a story we always planned on sharing when we felt the time was right.  Not every convention is made the same, some start off wonderful and end on a sour, bitter sweet note.  Sometimes, we hang onto things too long, thinking things will change.  This week, a cautionary tale.  Always do what's best for you, folks.

This week, we went to Granite State Comic Con for a day and it's just as fun as we remembered!  Games, cosplay, comics for miles and some amazing guests of honor!  We got to meet actor Doug Jones and if you don't know who Doug Jones is, you're lying to yourself.  Granite State just had it's 20th Anniversary and we recommend anyone in the area to hit up this convention every September!

If you woke up to an email, telling you about someone getting stabbed at a convention, you'd make that person record with you the same day too.  Melissa McCommon is back and this week is all about a wild story of going into lock down, people more worried about the food they ordered then their own lives, having a plan and it just being another day in Antioch, California.

It's been a while, but we have an episode full of poor timing and we're here for it.  Erich Schafer is on this week to talk about encounters with guests and the reason why he's usually tucked away from people have conventions.  Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain this week on an all new episode!

We're very excited about this weeks guest.  If you love graphic novels and manga, you'll remember TokyoPop and perhaps a comic by the name of Dramacon?  This week, the artist behind that title as well as Brave, Awkward, and now her newest young adult graphic novel, Enemies joins us!  It's Svetlana Chmakova!!  We talked about first conventions, being left outside a hotel waiting at 5:30am and the first time we met.

To think, if Pat D had missed his train to New York Comic Con back in 2007, we might not be the friends we are today!  This week is all about the past: first time meeting, first cosplay group together, Anime Unscripted, The Chibi Project.  But most importantly, how I can't seem to have a normal conversation with Chris Sabat... I'm sorry.

Doug is back and now a member of the FIVE TIMERS CLUB here on Convention Confessional!  This week is all about Gundams, and building them and buying them and meeting with the directors/writers of them and… You get it!  Also please excuse your host this week.  Covid is a bitch, but it won't keep us from keeping this podcast train rolling! Toot toot!!

Have you ever walked into a convention and realized almost everyone is dressed from the same show.  Then you, my dear listener, have witnessed what I like to call a 'Cosplay Cult'.  We've all done it as cosplayers.  Dressed from the popular anime of that year, conformed to the crowd.  Some years were less involved than others and in this weeks episode, we talk about some highs and lows from following the crowd.  Flag burning, is where we drew the line.

MEG IS HERE!  This week, the story of ‘The Biebs' is finally shared, as well as the good times we had working conventions together, cosplay, becoming one with our badass selves and realizing if it wasn't for the convention life, you wouldn't make some of your best friends. We also talked about the new yarn business which makes hand dyed yarn to match some of D&D's best creatures, spells and characters.  The link is in the description below to check out!

If you went to ConnectiCon in 2014, then you probably remember a little show called Agents Of C.A.T.A.P.U.L.T that was an informative show for the convention to announce guests, events, panels and everything big happening, while throwing in some antics caused by the agents themselves!  This week, I brought (almost)the entire cast back together to talk about the show, predictions for where characters are now and how Marvel is just waiting to sue us.

Let me tell you, when we make new friends, we're all in or nothing!  This week, we talked with Mel and BOY did we talk.  They told us about the blow up Allison mentioned last week, awkward requests for pictures from people old enough to be our kids and one game of chess that almost ended in another type of explosion.  (Warning, it's poop.  We talked a lot about poop.)

ALLISON IS HERE!!  ALLISON IS HERE!  If you're not aware, we're very excited for this next guest.  Our once back alley Lush dealer/cosplayer/friend to all is on the show this week talking about being the next secretary of Anime Boston, hoping cosplayers get the same experience we got growing up and someone's insides literally blowing up at a convention!

Cori, aka Lady Cels is on the show this week and we talk about working conventions together and all of her amazing cosplay builds.  Competing and odd moments at other conventions.  We also talk about some upcoming events for Cori, but some of it is still top secret.  You can stay up to date with all of her convention appearances on Facebook and Twitter under her cosplay name: Lady Cels 

Melissa is on the show this week.  My sister has tagged along to conventions with me for almost a decade now.  First she was just my table lacky, but she's always been my hype man!  We talked about all our adventures together, cosplay and a few of her favorite moments!

Ever attend ConnectiCon?  Remember those trailers that aired for all the big events?  Bet you didn't know I was involved with filming them.  And Ryan was there as well!  Leading the line of our little group of Masquerade HQ.  This week is all about the trailers for the shows and we decided which ones were our favorites and which ones were our least favorites.  You can catch (almost) all of them on the YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9g0XhZfOj_vT0HJY25Njww

We're back with some more 'bad' roommate stories.  First, about roomies that disappear in the night.  But not without trying to burn the hotel down and second, a tale of what happens when you try and put too many people in one room.  We still don't think anything beats our first bad roommates episode, but we'll let you be the judge of that!

YOU GUYS WE DID THE THING!  After two long years, we went to our first anime convention and we wanted to tell you guys ALL ABOUT IT!  From working, to roaming around, it was just like coming home.  Thanks to everyone that made Anime Boston 2022 special and came to our first (of we hope many) LIVE shows!

Is it perfect?  No, but we still wanted to share our first live show with everyone!  Thanks so much to Anime Boston for having us and thanks to those that came out to share!  Wait till you hear the one that won... we might just need them on to give us more than the five minute version.

Lantis is back in our right before the convention episode!  Where neither of us really have time, coming off meetings, working full time jobs, but hit that level of pre-con insanity that recording just felt right.  We talk about troubles and woes in traveling and everything going on this weekend for ANIME BOSTON!  Make sure to come to our live show FRIDAY NIGHT!

We're back this week after our 'week' off... three weeks off... OKAY WE'RE SORRY!  Life comes at you pretty fast and with moving and moving and well, you get the picture, we thought this week we'd talk about some packing woes when it comes to packing for the con!  Also, we have the information for our LIVE SHOW at Anime Boston next weekend!

Ken Irons is on this week to talk about our time hosting masquerades together. Favorite costumes, favorite moments, which turned into talking about Critical Role and meeting voice actors, friends of those voice actors and Ken thinking that Sam Riegel is his biggest fan.

Rob is back for the continuing story of the next year at Anime Boston, cosplaying as Lynx from Chrono Cross.  Because for your second costume, you learn full prosthetics, large weapon making and... who am I kidding?  Of course that's normal.  It also just happens to be the 20th anniversary of the game being released this year!  (Not Sponsored)  We also got into artist alley tables and a web comic.  Yes, there used to be  web comic.

Xan from Xan Spiraken Review Podcast came on this week with some tales of his own!  Everything from bad roommates, waiting on an engagement ring, Lupin the Third cosplay, panels, panels, panels and going to a police station in zombie make-up!  Phew!  So much going on this week, make sure to tune in!

It's a short episode this week, but we were so inspired by another interview we did talking about hosting and conventions coming up, we thought it would be a great idea to share a few quick stories of some of our past hosting experiences!  Plus a special guest star popping in to say hello this week.

Reüben came back  for another week of chatting it up!  We talked about power moves with meeting guests, fake birthdays and when they're not appropriate, a secret Disney character mafia and then rattled off some wrong Star Wars facts.  Sorry, Doug.

We're kicking off our second year on the air, with our lovely friend Jeannette!  She's been cosplaying for almost two decades and came on to share cosplay plans, her love of Chocobos, stories of competing in Masquerades and more!  But also, Blaze.  Also how stoked we are about Anime Boston coming up for the first time since the panorama started. 

IT'S OUR ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!  And we wouldn't be anywhere without a little help from our friends.  We've brought back Jess, Elizabeth, Doug, Patrick and Rob to play a game of 20 questions: Convention Edition.  Some more sage advice from people that have been through it and a little tea, because who doesn't love some gossip?  We also announce the winner of the 3,000 downloads contest!  Thanks to everyone who has kept up with the show and listened a whole year.  We're just getting started!

Amanda Graves comes on this week and we're super excited about going back to Anime Boston this year!  We work together in the Cosplay/Masquerade Department and talked about helping people navigate through their judging and going on stage.  We also talk about massive costumes we've seen in the past and how excited we are for all the food we've missed out on the last two years- I MEAN CONVENTION THINGS.  All the things!

Jason Kiss is on this week and we're talking about some less than ideal convention circumstances, basement dwellers who never cosplay making people feel bad about their costumes, working together on a show on YouTube and conventions we don't think we've heard about.  He also mentions a great organization he works with, Las Vegas Cause-Players Alliance.  Make sure to go support them and check out all the great work they do for the kids in their area!

Don't say it, sing it!  It's a musical!  This week, Ryan has come back to talk about that which was the Connecticon Musical (not affiliated).  What worked, what didn't work, people just trying to have a good time and way too many directors.  Truly a good, bad and ugly story if we've ever heard one.

Doug's back and it's all about Star Wars cosplay!  Doug is a member of the 501st Legion, New England garrison and when he's not helping at charity events, he's at conventions or out in the snow almost getting trapped on Hoth without a Tauntaun.  Bad guys, doing good.  This is the way.

We're so excited for the release of The Legend of Vox Machina this weekend, that we couldn't help but share some of our favorite moments in Critical Role cosplay.  We talk about meeting voice cast members, dressing up as our favorite characters and just what a wonderful community this DnD show has created and brought together.  This episode is NOT sponsored, but if you're listening to this Matt Mercer, our DM's are open.