Griffin's BotCon Adventure (non-news bits).

[griffin]

Just quickly, Thursday details (still 3 days behind on my trip details - I didn't think I would be this darn busy).
I mentioned that I had to get up early on this day because of the early start to the Air Force tour, and when I turned on the TV for some audio company while getting ready, I ended up turning it onto the weekday repeat of Transformers Animated on Cartoon Network (Meldown controlling the Dinobots episode). When I got to the Hyatt lobby for the Tour, I noticed that there was a lot more people this time. So many that I think we almost filled the bus.
We only had one Fun Pub staff member accompany us this time, as the rest would have been required to set up the convention.
The Air Force Museum was further away than I thought, as it took and hour and 10 minutes to get there (was closer to Dayton than Cincinnati).
The museum was huge. It was three huge aircraft hangers, and a six story Imax theatre, and they plan to construct a fourth hanger some time soon.
Inside, it was broken up into sections:
History of US flight from the first flight in 1907 to before WW2.
World War 2.
Korean War.
Vietnam War to present day aircraft.
Missiles and Space craft.
Bob Hope commemoration.
Operation Berlin Lift.
Educational Centre.
Holocaust Display.
Imax theatre.
Presidential aircraft.
Research and experimental aircraft.

It took 7 hours for me to go through the entire place, just in time for the 4pm departure back to the hotel.
As soon as I got back, I pretty much went straight to the line for the Club Store purchases, to get the other convention toys and merchandise.
Brian (head of Fun Pub) did his usual welcome and run through of the convention stuff, to the people queuing up at the pre-registration pick-up area.
THere were about 25 people in front of me, and it took an hour and 50minutes to get to the front of the line.
When I got my stuff, I went straight over to the hotel I was no longer staying at, to see if Saintly had arrived (I was to meet up with him, but had been unable to get in contact with him at all to let him know that we were in the other hotel now).
At the Hyatt hotel, the trading messageboard was already up with notes, including one listing convention toys for sale. I rang up the number and grabbed several toys, a lot easier than I had expected (he said he only just put up the note, so I think I was just lucky). As soon as the purchase had been completed, I actually got a call from Saintly (finally) saying that he had just arrived at Dayton airport (about 75minutes away) and would be on the way soon.
Unfortunately for him, him and his kid (Tim, who was a bit sick while he was here) were not able to get in before pre-reg ended at 10pm, so they would have to go in first thing the next morning.
Because of how late I finished up buying stuff from the club store and the extra stuff from another fan, it was too late to buy anything to eat other than at pubs and the pizza place I already tried on my first night. So I had pizza, again... Yeah, it was painful to have to eat pizza again....
Saintly and Tim arrived at 10.30p, and after a bit of unwinding and chatting, we ended up getting to sleep by 12.30.
Friday we got up by 6am, to get ready quickly enough to pickup Saintly's stuff as soon as pre-reg opened at 8am, and get his extra stuff from the club store straight after.
And then the panels began, which will be covered in the news section, as soon as I can get to it.
Off now for the last six hours of BotCOn for 2008.

[turtle boy]

Yes.... I am inraged with loving hatred right now, for both you and Saintly... Thanks again.... Hope you have fun the rest of the time you guys are there. Take care...

[Saintly]

lol!!! loving hatred?

It has been fun... anyway we better scoot along to the final day. We'll chat again in maybe 24hrs... after the convention, Saintly legend and myself will be catching a plane to Vegas to join the rest of the family.

*i'm praying that there's free wireless internet again in Vegas* otherwise I'll be offline for about 5days...

nevertheless use PM if you need to contact me

[Pulse]

Can't wait to see snaps of your Dealer Room acquisitions!

[griffin]

Just wanting to wrap up the rest of the non-botcon details before I go and work on the full length report (for my own records and for anyone else who is interested).

Friday was the Pre-registrant day, with events not open to the general public.
While Saintly was lined up for his club store items for about an hour (it is a very slow line), I popped downstairs to the panel room for the first event of the day - auditions for the script reading on the Saturday night. THe competition allowed for two fans to win the role of two characters (Transtech Shockwave, Flareup), and would read along side the the Voice Actor Guests who whould be playing their Animated charaters. THe judges at the audition were Benson Yee (from the Club) and Matt Youngberg (from Animated).
I sat in for about 10 minutes, listening to a few contestants, before heading back up to Saintly (Francis) and Legends Saintly (Timothy), just as they were almost finally at the front of the queue.
They got their stuff and we took their stuff back to the room (it's like 5 minutes away - our hotel was actually closer to the panel room than the Hyatt was), and then went back to the panel room for the start of the first official panel. The IDW comics panel started 15 minutes late, and the following two panels (Animated Production Team and Voice Actors) were also about 10 minutes late.
About 1pm we were back to the room, because there wasn't anything scheduled until the 2pm dealer room opening. Timothy was a bit unwell during the week, so he was very tired and slept most of Friday and Saturday. As such, we ended up leaving him in the hotel room to sleep while Saintly and I went to the Dealer room. When we got there, it had already been open abou 10 minutes, and people were still filing in.
This BotCOn for me seemed to be plagued with annoying inconveniences, not just with the delayed flight in Brisbane, or the misplaced credit cards, or the three-quarters of my spending money being tied up until after the convention was over (AU$900 refund from the first hotel, AU$500 transfered to the wrong account by accident, AU$400 in toys for others), but to top it off I managed to lose my toy shopping list twice!!!
So not only did I have limited spending money, I was stuck a few times not knowing for sure what I was missing and how much I was willing to pay (my shopping list has max-prices noted to know if I can get the items cheaper online).
One of the first things I did though was go to the IDW desk and buy up Trades I was missing (last year they sold out fast, and I missed out). THey were still at US Retail price, but that still saved me money.
Strangely enough, if it weren't for a bit of risky spending on the Saturday on two toys, all of my Botcon dealer room purchases would have been on the Friday. THere were probably 3 or 4 other items I would have bought if I had the money, but to be honest I would have been regretting buying anything extra that was over-priced just because I had the money. So circumstances that tied up my money ended up being a good, although frustrating, thing as it leaves me with money to live on until I get paid again in 2 weeks.
Saintly managed to get a few bargains as well, including a complete loose Energon Scorponok, for US$3, for Timothy.

When the dealer room closed at 5pm, we headed back to the room, and with 2 hours until the pre-reg evening events begin, Saintly and I went off to the nearby Walgreens (pharmacy and convenience store) for some food supplies, and something for Timothy to be able to eat. Poor kid wasn't able to have much fun, and missed a lot of the convention.

Taking a bit of time getting ready, we ended up back at the panel room an hour late, but the the Faction Feud trivia contest was still going, and was apparently late as well due to technical issues. We caught the last few (entertaining) rounds, and the final, which was once again won by the TF Wiki Website team.
Next up was Film Fest - where fans submitted short TFs films, and the audience would vote on a winner. THere were only four entries in this its first year, but were very funny. We also saw promos for the Club toys Nightbeat and Topspin (which was a little late, as the cut-off for that toy was in mid April).

We were then treated to an advance screening of an Animated episode, one that would air in America in about 2 weeks time - Garbage in, Garbage out. It is the episode that features Wreck-Gar, and was filled with heaps of Gen1 references, that delighted the audience.

Then at 10pm, Jerry Wade and Aaron Archer from Hasbro talked us through a screening of the 2007 Transformers Movie, kinda like a DVD commentary. THey talked about when they first talked about doing a movie (way back in 2003) and about certain character and name choices. Unfortunately I was having trouble staying awake in the dark panel room, so left after the Scorponok desert battle scene. Which was a pity, because this really was a once in a lifetime opportunity to hear about the Hasbro side of things relating to the Movie.
Ironically, when I got back to the hotel room, I was able to do computer stuff (photos and postings) for another couple of hours. I guess it was the darkness and sitting in the one spot for so long, that made it difficult to stay away in the panel room.

Saturday we woke up at 6ish, and went to the dealer room soon after it opened, to line up at the club store table to buy extra Convention toys (we were told the night before that their restricted sales had left them with quite a few left over - 300 of the 1100 made). Saintly and I bought about three of each of the 2-packs for those we knew who wanted them, and dropped them off in the room, before heading to the panel room for the day's events.
First up, the second Voice Actors panel was late to start, so the Animated production team filled in for about 20 minutes answering questions.
THe rest of the panels for the day were - Club Magazine panel, Hasbro product panel (2 hours), Collector Club panel, IDW's second panel.
I left the IDW panel after a few minutes, not expecting there to be anything too significant, and spent the remaining hour of the con's opening hours in the dealer room. Saintly and I were having a bit of fun looking for the cheapest priced Clear BT Mirage in the dealer room. We were fascinated at how there were so many of them in the dealer room this year, to the extent that most were heavily discounting them. THey usually sell on ebay for a minimum of US$200, but we ended up finding dealers discounting theirs progressively to $120 by the end of the saturday, and I had to buy one (to save $80 and shipping, why not?), despite the possiblility of not having enough money left to get home.
Saintly, Legends Saintly and I got ready for the Awards Dinner, and headed over at 7pm and faced a huge line. It wasn't necessary to queue up early for the dinner, because like last year, they had food set up on several tables around the room, and people just helped themselves to whatever they wanted, and sat where ever they wanted. Not a huge selection (pasta, roast beef, wraps, mini spring rolls and some strange tuna dish that came with corn chips). Also throughout the room were casino tables (blackjack, poker, craps, roulette) for fans to use their pre-reg pack token to earn more 'money' to then be able to bid on items at the end of the night (9.45). THe items up for grabs were mostly assorted convention toys, display banners, toys, and non-TF stuff.
I didn't have anything to bid with, but Saintly managed to have donated the winnings of one of the Takara people he was sitting with, and was able to bid on and win several items.
But before the bidding started, they had the presentation of awards for the art contest, Trivia contest, Film Fest and the fan-vote for favourite websites. Then we had the script reading, with the three Voice Actors and the two fans who won the additional two roles.
The Auction started at about 10.40, and I left at about 11.30 (was dead tired). I got back to the room and pretty much fell asleep as soon as I got back. Saintly told me later that the auction went on until about 12.20, because of the huge amount of stuff.

Sunday. Woke up at 7am. Today there was only about 5 hours of convention left, and the Saintlys had to prepare for departure before the convention ended at 3.30pm.
All three of us went down to the Animated Panel at 10am (Timothy came with us because we were supposed to see another advance screened episode). The Episode 'Black Friday' is supposed to be near the end of the season, which as expected, had elements that were yet to be explained and spoiled what happens in the episodes before it.
THat was a 2 hour panel, so at noon I went back up to the dealer room for more photos and writing up details on the Hasbro display cases, while talking to one of my best TFs friends in America (Benson Yee).
1pm was the other Hasbro panel, which dealt with the behind-the-scenes elements to the toys, explaining various decisions behind the toys themselves. I sat with one of my oldest TFs friends (Tim Finn) during the panel, as I only just met up with him on the way to it. He was only a walk-in this year, so I was thinking that he wasn't even at the convention this year. I was so relieved to see him there, and after the panel we chatted for about half an hour until he had other people wanting to talk to him.
I then went back up into the dealer room to take any remaining photos and fill out the rest of the feedback form, handing it in just before the drawing at 3pm.
THe two winners of free entry into next year were drawn, and after a few minutes taking in the last minutes of the convention, I decided to go up to the room before it officially closed, to hopefully catch the Saintlys before they left.
I arrived at the room literally as they were leaving. I went down to the front where their taxi was waiting, and saw them off.
My ninth BotCon, and I never seem to get used to how the Sunday afternoon windup feels. After such a huge weekend of events and highs, the shutting down of the dealer room and seeing off people, plus the night by myself and the journey home, I get a little overcome by sad emotions. This year though, I was a little surprised at how quickly the week went. I was on a plane home and it felt like a few hours ago I was on a plane there. I must have had so much crammed into the week I was there, I didn't have time to even stop and reflect on my time there.

So that Sunday evening, I went out to find something to eat, and with everything closed on a Sunday in Cincy, all I found was an Arbys. I bought a couple of items, and returned to the room to try to pack up everything into my bags and box.
Asleep by about 2am, I woke up at 7am and posted to the board most of the convention panels.
Aiming to get to the post office by 9am to post off the stuff I couldn't get into my check-in luggage, I was an hour late there, leaving me with only 90 minutes (to 11.30) to grab some food, return to the hotel room, shower, pack the remaining items, tape up the box, and get downstairs to the front of the other hotel for the shuttle bus to the airport. Managed to rush out of the airport with my 50+ kgs of luggage just as the shuttle bus was there waiting for me and one other person.
Got to the airport within 30 minutes, and after checking in, I proceeded to sample the Outback Restaurant in the terminal - something I had been wanting to do for 9 years, but never yet been anywhere that had one convenient (it's a franchise throughout America, with an Australian theme to the restuarant and names of the dishes, but the food itself isn't what I would call Australian).
Flew out at 1.30pm, which arrived in at LA at 3pm LA time. That left me with 8hours to fill in, and I had planned to get a taxi to a nearby restaurant that is said to have huge burgers, but without any spending money, I had to cancel that idea and just check in at the International terminal. Fortunately I could fill in about 3 of those hours online, posting photos to the board, but had to waste a $10 'day pass' to the internet to do it. The computer ran out of power just after I posted the last photo, and I wandered off to find out where my departure gate was (I was so early, it hadn't been allocated a gate at the time I checked in). I managed to read most of my comics I bought at the convention, had a nap, and then the plane started boarding.
I was actually really lucky to get a row of three seats to myself, which allowed me to be able to lie across them for most of the 12 hour trip.
It made it really easy to sleep for about half of the trip as well.
Got in at Brisbane at 6.20am, and at the customs hall, the channel 7 'Border Security' were filming.
Took the train to the station nearest me, and thought I could try to walk home with my luggage (backpack, big bag, big box), but after walking up one set of stairs at the trainstation, I quickly decided against that idea. I called up a cab instead for the 5 minute ride back home.
I was home about 9am-ish, and another Botcon adventure was over.
The next one should be about 15 months away, which will give heaps more time to save up for that one (if anyone else was interested in going to one).

[Paulbot]

15 months away? So July. That's kind of annoying as it's peak holiday season so prices will be up...

Anyway very interesting report and it sounds like it was lots of fun, money concerns aside.

[griffin]

15 months away? So July. That's kind of annoying as it's peak holiday season so prices will be up...

Anyway very interesting report and it sounds like it was lots of fun, money concerns aside.

The one next year should be timed to coincide with the TF2 movie (like last year), which is supposed to be late June. The July 4th weekend was suggested as a possible option for the convention next year, as it would probably be cheaper that weekend (no businesses would be holding conventions on that weekend). But if that ended up being true (a date and location hasn't yet been secured, apparently), it would be after the movie is released, so an advance screening would me out as a feature.

[Kyle]

Saintly and I were having a bit of fun looking for the cheapest priced Clear BT Mirage in the dealer room. We were fascinated at how there were so many of them in the dealer room this year, to the extent that most were heavily discounting them. THey usually sell on ebay for a minimum of US$200, but we ended up finding dealers discounting theirs progressively to $120 by the end of the saturday, and I had to buy one (to save $80 and shipping, why not?), despite the possiblility of not having enough money left to get home.

[Pulse]

It's kinda strange how you can remember every single little detail like that (when I was in NZ for a week a couple of years ago, I couldn't recall every single little detail like that if I tried).

Border Security filming? I bet you would have been an excellent suspect to have the blow torch turned upon (with all the plasticcrack you were carrying through customs )

[griffin]

I take a lot of notes to make it easier to write up the reports when I get back.
This year was quite easy to get through customs - I answered a couple of questions to a customs official while waiting for my baggage to appear on the carousel, he stamped my customs card and all I had to do was walk through the non-screening line (which has no queue). I kinda look forward to having my bags scanned at one of the customs tables, to see their reaction to all the toys in the bag. My favourite was in about 2001, with Gen1 scorponok in robot mode filling up most of my backpack, and the strange looks on the faces of the customs people looking at the x-ray screen. I miss having my bags opened for mere curiosity, rather than looking for something illegal.