Anime Oasis 2013: Fever

Anime Oasis Fever!

The end of May saw the 2013 edition of Anime Oasis, this year titled "Fever", take over The Grove Hotel in downtown, Boise, ID and I had the pleasure of once again being allowed to cover the proceedings. The convention, as always, was home to many elaborate costumes, guests, and vendors. This year's event opened doors early in the morning on May 24, a Friday, as opposed to opening on a Thursday as in previous years. The strategy, I believe, was to capitalize on the extended Memorial Day weekend, whereas beforehand the convention would end just shy of that Monday. So what was new and/or exciting this year? Read on.

Evening, madam.

LOGISTICS
What could possibly be a more exciting topic to start things off with than logistics? I can think of at least 38. But in this case, I feel like mentioning some of the logistical changes and problems at this year's AO might be a good place to start.

One of the biggest changes to this year's con was the location of the dealers' room. The dealers' room had been moved from one of the second floor ballroom's to a new, sectioned off area on the arena ground floor. This would in turn create three primary events areas that could all host events simultaneously.

Of the convention goers that I spoke to about this change, it was about a fifty/fifty split on how they felt about the new vendor location. I personally was fine with it, as I feel having more rooms for events to run is a good thing. Getting the right events to run on time, however, is something different.

Hangin' out on the balcony.

One day two or three (the middle of cons tend to blend together) I attempted to attend one of the tea parties, this one of the lolita variety. I don't know if I had a screwed up schedule or if something had to be cancelled, but when I arrived in the tea party room, which was relocated and in a much smaller location than the previous year, I had unknowingly stumbled into Fandemonium's Minute to Win It competition. My schedule had told me that the tea party was in another room, but then a sign on that door told me it was in the (get this) tea party room, but so was the Minute To Win It competition. I don't know how that happened, but it was confusing and frustrating because frankly I wanted some tea and maybe a brownie.

The only other confusing mix-up had to do with a late night "fire dance" show that was supposed to occur on the balcony around 10pm on Sunday of the convention. Reportedly, due to the city's noise ordinance or some other such rule, the fire dance had to be moved to the fountain just outside of the hotel. After a long delay, the fire dancers were able to perform for approximately seven minutes before being rained out. I had actually skipped the formal ball this year to see what the fire dancers were all about, and was somewhat disappointed by how things turned out.

All in all, I'd say that while a few things got mixed up (this happens at every convention I've been to and is nothing new), I'd say that overall things appeared to be running smoothly. Then again, it could have very well been a chaotic mess behind the scenes that was ready to let loose at any moment, but if so it was well taken care of.

GUESTS

Now there's some classy gents.
From left to right: Curtis Arnott, Me, Christophr Sabat

Returning to Anime Oasis once again were perennial favorites Michael Coleman (Once Upon a Time), Sonny Strait (Dragonball Z), and Tonya Adolfson (Author/Souls of the Saintlands series). Newcomers this year were The Slants (dance rock band), Curtis Arnott (DBZ Abridged), Lisle Wilkerson (Tekken), and Christopher Sabat (Dragonball Z).

Every guest had Q&A panels and signed autographs for fans as per usual. During one such autograph signing, Michael Coleman could not make it down to the arena floor, as he had a panel scheduled during that time. I had set up shop in his empty chair so that I could go over the photographs I had taken that day. My friend and convention guest Tonya Adolfson was sitting next to me and we concocted the plan that I would sign autographs for people. Not as myself, oh no, but as the Fake Michael Coleman. I told her that I had been waiting my entire life to impersonate Michael Coleman, so why not start now? So, for about a half an hour, a lucky few received the autograph of me, the Fake Michael Coleman*.

*Note: And before any lawyers or you legal types bomb my inbox with forgery notices, take note I literally signed them as "THE FAKE MICHAEL COLEMAN". Although, to be fair, a few "Fake Mikey"s might have made it into the pile, too. Anyways, relax.

Sonny Strait (right) addresses convention chairman Jeremy (left) about his bio in the convention program.
"I am in fact not Vic Mignogna."

Every guest I talked to was cordial and receptive to conversation and questions. Curtis even took some time out to talk to me after Chris Sabat's panel and helped me get that amazing picture a few paragraphs above (PS. I owe ya' one). This was my fourth time meeting Sonny Strait, so it that wasn't as intimidating as it was the first few times. I always advise people when meeting people you admire or respect; just remain calm and talk to them nonchalantly and respectively. It's okay to fanboy/fangirl on occasion and lose your mind, but most of the time it's a better idea to play it cool and not assault guests with awkward stares or barrages of questions they have no doubt been asked hundreds if not thousands of times. The day I go to a convention where I don't have to hear "What was your favorite character to play?" will be a great day indeed.

Artist alley artists.

EVENTS
Anime Oasis is always host to a large variety of events and this year featured many old favorites, both big and small. One major event that has become a mainstay at Anime Oasis is Dead Town, an interactive zombie survival RPG. The event is hosted by COO-IE, an entertainment group based out of the Boise area. The group also puts on Karaoke Quest, an anime themed journey through a story filled with singing and much frivolity.

One of the challenging things for me is staying in one place to actually enjoy these types of events, as I always want to be on the move and getting the best coverage of the overall convention possible. Because of this, I wasn't able to fully experience some of these events but I was able to talk to attendees that had participated in COO-IE's games and the general consensus seemed to be that they were worth checking out.

Want some caaaandy?

Other events included the aforementioned tea parties, Fandemonium's Minute to Win It, guest panels, interactive game and discussion rooms, and more. Anime Oasis isn't a "24 hour" convention (with some exceptions) like some others, but there is usually always something going on to take a look at. One such event was the vaunted cosplay contest that takes place every year, and one that I was able to be a judge in both this year and last year.

Judging the cosplay contest was a lot of fun this year, and the seating arrangements were located much closer to the performance area where the cosplayers would be showing their stuff. Performances ranged from elaborately scripted  short plays to simply walking across the stage and showing off the cosplay. My number #1 overall for best in show, although it did not take home best in show when all the votes were counted, was a phenomenal Howl's Moving Castle cosplay that included moving parts and had to be the size of a go-cart.

Fire emblem cosplayers on the balcony.

Despite any reservations I may have had about the actual placement of the top five cosplay competition winners, they call deserved to be there nonetheless, and I was glad to see people's hard work paying off. Interestingly enough, I think every single one of the top five winners with perhaps the exception of one was from Utah. Come on Idaho cosplayers, we've got to step it up and take first place next year! But in all seriousness, the cosplay contest is always one of my favorite parts of Anime Oasis and I was honored to be able to assist in judging once again. (For pictures of the competition, check out my Facebook fan page here).

Want some candy, stanger? Hoo hoo!

Another event that I found highly entertaining was the Battle Cosplay competition. Cosplayers entered in teams of two and had to roll the dice (literally) to see if they could best their opponents. Hit points and strength were, so I am told, determined by the cosplayer's character. Each team was able to store up three levels of "super moves" that they could unleash on the opposing team. I believe there were about 32 teams in all and the final battle came down to a team of Wreck It Ralph cosplayers, King Cybug (King Candy post-transformation) and Venelope, versus another team that I unfortunately can't remember the origins of, but I want to say some that they were some kind of ninjas. In the end, King Cybug and Venelope were bested by the other team and left defeated on the cold arena floor. What better way to end a convention, right? In the end, it was a fun event to witness and I was able to grab multiple shots for the Facebook page linked above and below.

Con. chairman Jeremy Lopett at closing ceremonies.

Later on in the evening of the third day of the convention, the traditional slumber party took place in one of the ballrooms on the second floor of the hotel. I had never actually attended one before so I thought it would be fun to check out. I think I may have very well picked the best year ever to attend it. The slumber party was really less about sleeping and more about karaoke, dancing, and having fun. Halfway through the slumber party, COO-IE member and local rock station DJ Adam took the microphone and told us that someone in the crowd had something special to announce; a proposal. Yes, the AO2013 slumber party had a marriage proposal, and not only a marriage proposal, but an in-cosplay marriage proposal at my hometown anime convention. How freakin' cool is that? I didn't remember to get their names, but in the off-chance that they happen to read this: Best of luck to you ladies, and congratulations again.

Whatchu lookin' at!?

THE REST
In addition to scheduled events, the convention also featured a video viewing room, trading card and board game room, photography room, cosplay repair room, video game room, tattoo artist room, and of course the artist's alley and dealer's rooms. I managed to visit every single room at the convention this year, something that I always attempt to do at every convention but sometimes don't manage to in a timely manner. My dear friend, the aforementioned Tonya Adolfson, was in charge of the cosplay repair room once again. I personally witnessed her turn a bundle of tinfoil into a masquerade mask for the formal ball that evening using nothing more than the tinfoil and her imagination. If anyone ever has problems with their cosplay or needs ideas on how to make something work, seek her out if she's available at your convention. Trust me, given enough duct tape and safety pins, anything is possible in cosplay repair.

I didn't spend a great amount of time in the dealer's room/sectioned off area this year nor artist's alley, but I seldom do until the last day of any given convention, although there are exceptions. This year I saw many great crafts and pieces of art on sale, and as always I hope that every vendor and artist did well and sold plenty of merchandise. Alas, a poor journalism student such as me has to think of other things before purchasing anything from the convention; things like gas station hot dogs, ibuprofen, and energy drinks -- you know the finer things in life.

Give us back our Smash Bros.!

One bone I still have to pick with Anime Oasis is the lack of a proper game room with console games set up for attendees to play. A good game room is a life saver for when you're bored, tired, psychotic, a journalist, or some combination thereof. This year, much like last year, the game room consisted purely of arcade machines with nary a single console in sight. Most conventions I've attended have some consoles set up and even tournaments (see Fandemonium 2012). Sadly, Anime Oasis seems to want to keep things as they are as it pertains to the video game room. While I love arcade games, and I do, I would have loved to have seen some Street Fighter IV, Soul Calibur, Tekken, or even Smash Bros. C'mon, AO, I know you can do better than that!

FINAL THOUGHTS

"Guys no really, I'm.. I'm trying to wrap the convention up. Guys... hey c'mon now..."

Overall, I enjoyed Anime Oasis 2013 quite a bit and, while there were some logistical problems that even the convention chairman admitted needed to be fixed, I feel that things are getting better every year  and attendance figures seem to be reflecting that. At last count, and this is from memory at closing ceremonies, the convention drew over 1600+ this year, which was more than last year by about 200 or so.

Chairman Lopett gave a passionate speech at the end of the convention about wanting to grow the convention and not have a ceiling on how great it can be or how big of guests they can get, and I think that's a good message to go out on. And speaking of not having a ceiling on guests, if Anime Oasis were to land Sean Schemmel of Dragonball Z fame, I'd probably go back on my own advice given earlier and descend into a fanboy induced frenzy, never to recover. But in all seriousness, every year seems to be bigger and better to me, which is why I always try and make the time to set aside a few days every year at the end of May to be at AO.

Final goodbyes at closing ceremonies.

AO will always have a special place in my heart, especially because it was the first convention I ever attended four years ago. I want to see it do better every year, and I hope that the problems, big and small, will be ironed out in time for next year's convention. Every time something major changes at an event of this scale, there's bound to be some problems, and that is understandable. I enjoyed the convention despite a few of the bumps in the road. Had fun, no drama, good memories, can't complain.

See you all again next year!

-Jeff

NEXT PLANNED CONVENTION:
Evo 2013, the largest fighting game tournament in the world.
Las Vegas, NV July 12 - 14

Be sure to check out the new Facebook fan page and give that a look here!
Like video games? Like to watch people play video games? Check out my Let's Play page here!

Pre-Anime Oasis 2013 Update

Just a quick heads up, I will be at Anime Oasis 2013 this weekend covering it for all four days once again. It's hard to believe it's already been a year since I started this project, that is independently covering as many conventions as I possibly can before graduating and going on to be a small cog in a bigger machine like the Statesman or maybe something better and better elsewhere. I want to thank everyone for the continued support I've received over the past year from the staff and attendees; I can't do this without your help! Thanks!

Anyways, I'll be uploading plenty of pictures to my new ILikeConventions Facebook page! You can find that by clicking here. I'm currently in the process of adding links to all of my old photos from me personal page to this new page. Make sure to like it for more updates!

-Jeff

FurIdaho 2013: Furries in Time & Space

FurIdaho 2013 was Idaho's second annual furry convention and once again took place in the Boise Hotel and Conference Center over the weekend of March 8th, 2013. This was my second time attending FurIdaho, as I was lucky enough to be at the inaugural event last year (which you can read all about on this very blog). A convention's second year is always going to be held to a higher level of scrutiny than its first year I think, mostly due to the fact that we as people always want to do better than we did last time. Be it in business, sports, or entertainment, people always strive to top themselves. Did FurIdaho top its first year? Let's dive in and find out.

Friendly furries showing off their suits.

The first thing I need to mention is that I almost didn't make it to FurIdaho at all. When I set out on March 8th I felt good. I had my trusty camera, press pass, and a belly full of coffee. This, I thought, would go flawlessly. I stopped by the local Jack in the Box to ingest some unhealthy but tasty food when suddenly disaster struck. When I attempted to leave the restaurant and start my car, all I heard was a whirring/spinning sound. My car's starter had died. "What perfect timing," I thought. I was determined not to let my minor setback keep me down on this big weekend.  So, after a few phone calls, a tow truck, and a ride to the convention from a friend, I finally arrived at FurIdaho.

Talkin' 'bout furries, dude.

The first thing I do at every convention (or try to do) is check in with the registration staff at the front desk. Being a member of the press, and in my case a blogger, I had to contact the staff beforehand to assure that I would have a press badge waiting. Because it was primarily Fandemonium staff working the convention, they pretty much had everything down to a science. The process went smoothly and within a few minutes I had my badge and was ready to get going and start taking photos and observing the culture of furries. Yes, this year I had an ulterior motive. Not only did I want to cover the convention, but I wanted to spend some time getting to know the people themselves. I wanted to know why some people joined the fandom, what sparked their interest, and why they continue to attend conventions and participate.

Sup.

Before delving into the culture I observed at the convention, it's important to talk about the convention itself; the events, the people, the good, and the bad. Every convention has events, dealers, and fans -- you pretty much have to have these three things to be successful in my estimation. FurIdaho had all of these things in its first year, but there were some changes in its second outing. Firstly, the video game room had been significantly expanded upon. Previously, there had been maybe 4-5 televisions with a few games set up in a small room. This year, it had a much bigger setup and featured several multiplayer games for attendees to have fun with. This room ended up being my "pit stop" area where I would go to hang out and unwind after a few hours of shooting photos and talking to attendees. I'm really glad to see they are taking the video game part of their convention seriously, as it really is nice to have a place to just go and relax while bopping people with fireballs and/or turtle shells.

Super serious fightan' games.

Next up, I'm going to bring up my old nemesis: the dealer's den (kidding of course). I didn't get to spend much time in ye olde den this year because I was pretty busy trying to get photos of all the colorful fursuits. There was a bevy of merchandise on display, including tails, ears, hats, knit caps, buttons, and more. As always, I ask permission to shoot people's work, particularly if it's risqué of highly detailed. I didn't have any troubles this year (to date, I've only had one person complain about me taking a picture of their stuff, and it wasn't at FurIdaho). The layout of the dealer's den seemed to be relatively the same as last year, but I could be mistaken. It was only open until 6pm each day of the convention, and a few attendees I spoke with weren't happy about the early shutdown time. I meant to inquire about the reason for shutting down so early each day but I decided to dedicate more time to interviews and events instead.

A den for dealings.

The guest list this year featured returning guest of honor and famed artist Mokusei Kaze, the always funny Fine Young Deviants comedy troupe, the Fur What It's Worth podcast team, and DJ's CaBot and Househead.

Fur What It's Worth pretend not to notice Wreck it Ralph, lest they anger the mighty gaming villain.

I had been meaning to attend an FYD sketch and I finally did this year (unfortunately, I was not allowed to record or photograph the event, more on that later) and I have to say it was worth my time. The group has comedic timing, good improv skills, and encourages audience participation in some of their bits. It was a lot of fun and if you have a chance to experience the Deviants, I would definitely make time for it.

Yo dawg.

There were a large number of events taking place over the course of FurIdaho weekend, including "Fursuit Etiquette", a cookie social hosted by Fur What It's Worth, "Let's Make a Character!", a live rock performance by Angus and ScarredEyes, dances, art panels, FWIW Live, and more. I was able to make it to a number of panels this year, which is really rare for me as I'm usually too busy snapping photos or talking someone's ear off to make the time. Going to panels and events is definitely worthwhile, I think, as you never quite know what may happen when people have live microphones and an audience. Also, I could be mistaken, but it felt like there were more events this year than last year, which is definitely a good thing when it comes to growing a convention.

Moku doing her thing.

I usually don't have the time to go to a lot of panels, but this year I wanted to make sure and check out the Fur What It's Worth live podcast. The panel mostly consisted of stories from the furries in attendance as well as from the FWIW guys, as well as some Q&A and twitter interaction. They had a pretty cool setup going, with a live stream of their twitter feed being shown via projector next to the stage. There were laughs and tears, heartwarming stories as well as some that made me want to give the storyteller a hug and say "There there, it'll all be ok." In any event, it was definitely something I'm glad I went to this year, as I had meant to go last year but wasn't able to make it. Unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to record any of this or even take pictures, as there were strict rules in place about that this year during some panels and events.

One of the cutest tats you'll ever see.

Not being allowed access to certain events was something that I had concerns about going into the convention early on. Last year I had pretty much free reign to go wherever I wanted, minus the "headless lounge" where fursuiters and their handlers went to relax and take a breather. I respected that rule last year, and did so this year as well. In any event, I brought my concerns to convention management and asked what the deal was with being unable to record certain events. I was told that due to my coverage last year not breaking any rules, and the fact that I'm not there to try and be "controversial" or show furries as monsters, I wasn't being lumped in with certain other journalists and that I was able to proceed basically as normal.

Girl, look at that body

I inquired about the other journalists and what they had done and was told that some photographers from a local paper had snuck in and gone to places they shouldn't, including taking pictures in the headless lounge. After having this explained to me, I understood the reason for the increased security measures this year. Furries are often misunderstood and demonized by outsiders, particularly in the media. Part of the reason for my coverage of conventions (furry or otherwise) is to explore the sub-culture(s) that make up a particular fandom, and I think FurIdaho is an excellent place for people to get a glimpse into the world of furries.

Smashing!

When delving into a particular sub-culture, it's often best to do so by immersing yourself completely; learn the language, observe the people, embrace the rituals, etc. When it comes to the furry fandom, it's a bit more complicated than simply observing fursuiters or speaking to one or two people. At FurIdaho 2012 I discovered what it was like to cover a convention, and at FurIdaho 2013 I discovered what it was like to learn more about the people in a fandom/sub-culture. One thing that we all bring with us when discovering new things is our prejudices and misunderstandings. Many people believe (and I did too) that all furries dress up in fursuits, but I've discovered that it isn't always the case.

Just a badass bunny.

True, many furries at the convention were in fact dressed in elaborate costumes/fursuits that probably took quite a bit of time and money to make, but not the majority. When I asked different people about why this was, the majority of the time I got similar answers: cost, time, comfort, etc. Some people would love to dress in a fursuit and gallivant about the convention, but unfortunately most suits cost quite a bit of money, even into the thousands of dollars for materials and equipment. Others still mentioned that they simply aren't comfortable putting on a suit because it makes them claustrophobic, or they can't use certain materials because they are allergic. I had never really considered these reasons before, but it makes a lot of sense; not everyone is going to have the same tolerance for fursuiting as another.

Strutting their stuff.

Of course, when it comes to furries, the inevitable sexual questions begin to pop up. This was something I definitely wanted to tackle, and I was able to get some pretty interesting responses from people I talked with. From what I was able to gather at the convention, the majority of furries do not see their interests as sexual, although some do. Due to misrepresentation in the media (lookin' at you, CSI), it has become more difficult for people to be honest about their furry interests. True, there are those who enjoy sexual intimacy from behind the comfort of a first, and that is certainly fine if that's what they're into, but I didn't get the sense that the majority or even a large number of furries were into the fandom for sexual reasons. Most I talked to simply felt an affinity for animals, or enjoyed the artwork (be it risqué or not), or simply thought it was fun to dress up as an animal because "why not?” Not all fursuiters wore full suits, and some opted to wear the cheaper and more accessible partial suits, or "partials", to conventions.

H-hello...

Sexuality within the furry community is probably about as varied as it is in any other sub-culture or fandom. When asked, one source told me that he believes it's about an even split between heterosexuals and LGBT individuals in the furry fandom. When I brought up the large amount of openly gay members of the fandom, he and others believed that due to the furry fandom's accepting nature it was probably easier for LGBT people to feel accepted for who they are in the furry community, even if others may ostracize them outside of it. I found it pretty remarkable that people of all different backgrounds could come together and cast aside differences in the name of this unique sub-culture.

Tails, pups, ears, and more.

I think the most touching moment for me at FurIdaho wasn't any one "event", but rather the combined stories and testimonials of people who poured their hearts out to friends and strangers alike. One story in particular touched me. A young man said that he had come out as gay to his very religious parents, and that they did not want to accept him, but his furry friends did. It was at that moment that I realized that one of the biggest and most powerful ways this community impacted people was in its acceptance of differences within its members. Whether they be fursuiters, artists, crafters, or simply fans of the furry fandom, all seemed welcome under one accepting umbrella.

"What're you lookin' at, bub?"

The last day of the con I felt pretty miserable due to a lack of sleep (seems to be a theme with me at the Boise Hotel) so I decided to take off early. I feel that I accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish at FurIdaho this year. I had fun and learned more about the unique individuals that make up the fandom. The majority of the attendees I spoke with seemed to be enjoying themselves as well. I did, however, speak to a few attendees who were somewhat intimidated by the pseudo-military garb of the security staff. One told me they didn't understand the need for "guys dressed up like soldiers" to be running security. One answer I received was that the vests they wore allowed security members to carry radios in addition to other gear. I can understand the attendees' concerns. Security team members patrolling the convention like armed guards don't exactly exude an air of "friendliness" just by looks alone. I suppose the reasoning behind the fashion choice would be that if people see lots of security that look like they mean business, they'll be less likely to do something stupid. This is all guesswork on my part, however.

So long!

FurIdaho 2013 was a good experience, and I feel that I came away with a better understanding of the furry fandom than what I walked in with. I do wish that the convention could have been held on Spring Break as (I believe) it was last year, but apparently there was miscommunication between the hotel staff and the convention runners. Be that as it may, I feel that the attendance numbers were strong and, although I didn't get an exact number, I feel it was comparable to last year's event if not slightly less. I give FurIdaho 2013 a favorable review, and I do hope that the convention will be returning next year, although preferably during Spring Break if at all possible.

That's it for FurIdaho, I'll be seeing you guys again in a few months at Anime Oasis 2013!
For more FurIdaho 2013 pictures, click here!

-Jeff

BBC Fest

'Ello, govna!

Review by Jeffrey Bulger
Originally posted February 17, 2013
Updated February 18, 2013

There are very few things I get really, really excited about these days; Breaking Bad, Dr. Who, and conventions. Unfortunately for me Breaking Bad is on a hiatus and Dr. Who is hibernating as well. What is fortunate for me, however, is that a new convention has made its way to the Boise area (or Garden City to be more specific). BBC Fest is the newest convention in town and I had the privilege to attend the convention's inaugural event. BBC Fest's organizer, Laura Fuller, had invited me to experience Garden City's first UK pop culture themed mini-convention, and I just couldn't miss that opportunity. After all, with Dr. Who still in hibernation, I needed to get my fix of British goodness.

Wizards makin' wands

BBC Fest was held on February 9th at the Garden City Community Center, a venue that has been the home of Fandemonium dances recently. If you've kept up with the blog for a bit now you'll know that I've covered Fandemonium in the past and some of their staff was on hand to assist with registration and events at this convention as well. I have to hand it to the Fandem staff, they had to organize a dance the night prior to BBC Fest in the same venue, tear everything down, and help set up for BBC Fest the very next day. Kudos to them, they did a great job.

BBC themed Whose Line dating game
"Exterminate! Destroy! Exterminate!"

While conventions are a great place to hang out with friends, all conventions have to have events to engage attendees and press alike. Naturally, BBC Fest had quite a few to sample. I, through a horrid scheduling error, had to leave for a few hours in the middle of the convention to go to my "day job" or whatever they call it these days, but I was fortunate enough to witness a few events take place, such as wand making, BBC themed Whose Line (pictured above), costume contest, TARDIS building and of course the closing ceremonies.

A rather dapper TARDIS

There were plenty of costumes at BBC Fest, and costumes are part of what initially sparked interest in creating the mini-convention in the first place. As Fuller explained to me, the idea was to initially get people together for a BBC-themed photo shoot. The idea began to snowball and eventually became what was BBC Fest. I don't know what the attendance numbers were but I saw a healthy number of people at the convention, which seemed to be encouraging to attendees and staff alike. It's always good to see fans banding together and making something positive happen, be it big or small.

The brightest witch of her age peruses a mystical book
(Thanks again for letting me use the backdrop, Tim)

Outside of the main events area there was a photo booth set up, where local photographer extraordinaire Tim Boothby of Redzone Fandom was taking pictures of the attendees in their cosplays. Tim is a regular at most of the local conventions and is always very approachable and professional. If you're ever at a local con here in the Boise area, take the time to visit his booth/room and have some pictures taken.

Cookies, Mountain Dew, and Monster:
The cornerstone of any nutritious breakfast.

Elsewhere at the Community Center, the library had been converted into the "Discussion Room" (pictured above), where attendees could sit, drink tea, and eat cookies and snacks. I spent the majority of my downtime in this room because A) I have a horrid back and B) I like free stuff. I think one of the most important things about any convention is having a place for downtime and relaxation, and I really appreciated that. There was also a video room playing various BBC shows and the like, but I didn't think that would really show up well on the blog. You know -- a dark room, a digital camera and a projector... Not a good combo for pictures. I will say, however, that I did gain a new found love for Top Gear UK, or as they call it across the pond, proper Top Gear.

From weaving wands to designing Daleks

Being a one day convention at a smaller venue, there wasn't a huge array of things to snap photos of, but the mini-con did offer a very fun experience for those that attended. On the heels of the the success of the convention's first year, the BBC Fest staff fully intends to hold the convention again next year. Some of the things we might look forward to include the possibility of a new venue, a rebranding to reflect the convention being about all UK pop culture and even expanding the convention to two days instead of one. Selfishly, I hope the convention does expand to two days because I do love covering these types of events and two days is always better than just one.

Closing Q&A Session

Overall, I'd give BBC Fest's first outing a favorable review and I definitely hope to be there for their second year. Thanks to everyone on staff; you were all very lovely and cordial people. I hope to see you all again next year if you'll have me.

Speaking of second year conventions, FurIdaho is just around the corner on March 8 - 10th. I'll be there taking pictures, conducting interviews, and hopefully shooting some video to post on the YouTube channel (God knows that thing needs some love).

Until then, until then.