Review Youmacon 2009

[Michaelangelo]

Hiya everyone,

Well I'm at Youmacon 2009... right now I'm sitting in the lobby of the hotel tired from running around since 7:30 this morning, getting around and driving out here.  So here is a fast review of yesterday and today.

I got here around 2pm yesterday, no badges or anything were being given out yet.  So I sat in the lobby and visited with fellow con goers.  Some of which knows me from other years hear at Youmacon.  A handful of the people I talked to were new comers to conventions.  Looking for advice about sleeping in their car.  We talked with them a bit.  Hours went by of people coming and going, and the hotel staff moving chairs and tables around us. 

When I finally got up to try and get my badge is when Eclipse and Iruka showed up to hang out.  I got their stuff in my car than went back to the line to get my badge, meeting up with other friends from past Youmacons.  It's amazing how many people I've met and connected with at this event, everyone is so friendly.  After getting my badge I sat in the hall with Eclipse and Iruka as I charged a few things.  Casey Jones (from here on TMNT-L) saw me and said hi for a little bit.

Than we went up to the Halloween PJ party, where they had a bunch of small contests.  I saw one that looked fun... make your a Haunted House... using food, gram crackers, iceing, sprinkles, gummy bears, gummy worms and more.  So I sat down, only crumbs were really left by time I jumped in.  I couldn't even get a plate, I got a like thin foam pumpkin to build mine on.  So I sat there and built one, took a long time on it playing around and just making it look like a total mess I had fun, and really I had a favorite on the table that I was saying should win... it looked like a monster face... I thought that one was really really cool.  When the judges came to the table I pushed mine off to the side and watched them, than they asked me to carry it over to the judging table... they only picked three and mine was one of them.

Well while the other two that made the top (including the monster face) were on plates and made it safely, mine was on a foamy pumpkin which was not a safe walk, just as I got to the table it caved in on itself.  I said it was on fire any how with the chocolate flames I made, so the fire just made it go down.  Some how I still won first place!  The judging was done before it fell apart hehehe So my little joke contest gave me a smile... I got a small ribbon (with price tag of 80 cents still on it) for my Haunted House.  Than I watched their first costume contest of the weekend take place.  And for once I agreed with the winning costumes.

After that we went back to my house for the night, got some sleep around 2am. - I'll make the Friday review in a reply.

[Michaelangelo]

I got to the con early with Eclipse and Iruka, we split up soon as they had to get in line to register and I wanted to get my ticket for Maid Cafe.  I kept walking in circles waiting for Maid Cafe tickets to go on sale, wanting to buy those before going to Opening panel, though they did take a bit to open up the sales.

When they finally sold us tickets I raced to the line for opening panel, than sat in the line as the panel was almost an hour late... normal for most cons.  I'll be amused if I ever see one of these start on time   Got really crappy seats for this, with a big pillared in my way. They played the "This is Youmacon Video" from last year, love that video it's a great theme song for the con.  When they introduced the guests just like last year a guest caught me off guard with their costume, this time it was Brad S.  He was dressed in Indiana Jones with a Monkey on his shoulder.  After that panel I went up to Maid Cafe line and sat with friends who were going.  People I see each year at the con. We agreed to sit at the same table.  We had an hour wait before Maid Cafe opened.   

Once in, we got a nice table, the table next to us sat Michael S, Laura B, Travis W, Caitlin G, and Brad S.  I ordered a Strawberry Cheese Cake and some tea, than started to talk with the guest.  I make sure to go to the table where Wayne was to say hi to him, than sat down and talked a little with the others.  It was good to see Laura again, it's been awhile since I've got to see her.  I took time during Maid Cafe to talk with each of the VAs that were there.  It was good to catch up with these friends.  I had seconds of both my tea and cheese cake before leaving the cafe.

After Maid Cafe I got in lines for autographs from Mike and Wayne, getting to go up there and talk with them a little bit more.  I got a few things signed, than went down stairs and found an area to sit in the lobby.  It was around this time that Eclipse surprised me.  She came to the con this time with no cosplay which didn't feel normal for her, so while I did opening, Maid Cafe and the autograph line she did shopping with Iruka... and they both showed up showing me that Eclipse was now dressed like Ed from Fullmetal Alchemist!  Hehe  I was highly amused.  The two of them were going back to the mall to get food so I gave them my cash and asked for two bean burritos, which turned into my dinner. 

I was going to head to some panels during this time, but found myself hanging out with my friends instead.  Just enjoying the con, it is also when I got on TMNT-L and posted my Thursday review.  I tried to help with figuring out some of the clues for the scavenger hunt that was going on, some of my friends were taking part in it.  I knew one of the clues was Sweeney Todd and another one was Repo.  I did end up going to a panel in Panel Room 4 that evening, it was called "The Other Way around"

In the "Other Way Around Panel" they talked about US stuff going to Japan.  They showed us clips of mangas and shows that are from the US that we all know and love, going over to Japan and being changed.  People think Anime gets it bad coming here and getting changed, those people have to see what happened to Spiderman in Japan!  LOL!   He got a Mech!!!!  They showed a lot of different shows, including the TMNT.  In which they talked about the toys and the anime.  I wanted to add something else they did in Japan with the TMNT, but didn't get the chance.

After that panel I went down and got in line for the Travis Uncensored Panel, this was a long time of waiting in line.  So I talked with the guys next to me, most of the people that I met this year was new to anime conventions, so we had a lot to talk about.  Eclipse and Iruka kept going and doing different things than coming back to the line to hang out.  Another group in the line was doing a musical as they were getting people sing with them, songs like "Duck Tails" echoed through the hall way.

Once we got into the panel I got a seat in second row near the front.  To my surprise it wasn't just Travis, Laura was there as well.  One of the first rules of this panel was you could not ask a question without swearing.  So you can picture how little of this panel can even be talked about here on TMNT-L hehe.  This was my favorite panel of the con for the year, as we got to know Travis a lot more and that he's a big fan of Dragon Ball and like most fans of Dragon Ball hated the live action movie.  Laura told us the story of a fan that got her number and called her at least once a month wanting to do voice work on Dragon Ball, which turned out to be Travis before she really knew him.  We got to hear well things we never really needed to hear come from their characters.  And Brad S. joined the panel!   All around they had us laughing and really enjoying a great time!  One of those panels you wish you could video tape!  Hehe but they were after any camera that came out *G*  Let's just say there was a lot of on chair and under the table action during this panel... and they did enjoy their cups of "Water" that was supplied to them on stage *G*

After this panel we headed back to the house to get some sleep as another early morning was to follow... not getting to bed till after 2:30am and the alarm was set for 7:30am.

More to come in the Saturday review.

[Michaelangelo]

Saturday morning, Halloween.  I got up, and changed what I had packed to even less than I originally had.  Than put candy in my bag to give out at the convention.  Eclipse and Iruka got ready and the three of us went to the convention.  This day I decided to stay in costume the full time.  Wearing my Michaelangelo head, three coats and three fingered gloves.  I was to be a Turtle for the day.

Now the first panel I wanted to go to was "Voice Actor Radio" though to do this right, I knew I had to go the panel before hand to get good seats.  So I walked in on M-Bro's Youmacon Otaku Pop Quiz, I had NO clue what I was walking in on.  I came in and sat on the left side of the room which I learned was the right thing to do.  Anyone sitting on the right side would be called up to do trivia.  Though the thing about this trivia is they had a list of topics to choose from on a screen, than they were asked questions about the topics.  In my Turtle head I could not read what the topics were.  The people got excited when I came in and even pointed out the Turtle in the room.  They had a two hour block the first hour I was left alone, but at t he beginning of the second hour they changed their list of topics and right away the guy in charge called me to the front.

"But I can't read the topic choices" I protested in my Michaelangelo voice.
"OH we already got one picked out for you" the guy said, as I walked up to the front of the room.  "#30"
"Uh oh, what's that?"  I asked still staying as Michaelangelo.
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" He answered.
"Ooohhh I can do this" I laughed.

I decided at this moment not to drop the Michaelangelo voice at all for the full day, so everything I said at this con was done in character.  Their first question they almost skipped cause they didn't have a recording of it for me to follow along with, but that was to sing the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Theme song, I did it... had the crowd excited.  Than they asked me the names of the Creators, I replied

"Kevin B. Eastman and Peter A. Laird" 
"You even know their middle names?!"  They replied in shock. 

Heh yeah, I enjoyed this, I got all their questions besides for a last one where they did a supposed bonus question which I don't think could be real where ever they heard it from.  "What name did Playmates want to the Ninja Turtles to be changed to?"  the reason I don't believe this is because a lot of the sale facts was on how weird the name already was.  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sold themselves with that title. So I don't know where they heard that from, I never heard it... and just don't believe it.  We laughed a bit I got to pick out some prizes (Got a Death Note Tie and picked up what looked to be "Battle Toad" for the Xbox360 - though it turned out to be 3 months free of XBox Live... so um... don't know what to do with that... would love to use it but I don't have an XBox. )

I went and sat down for the rest of the panel.  At the end I moved to the front and got front row for the "Anime Voice Actor Radio" panel.  In hopes of something just as cool and funny as last years... and found myself a bit disappointed.  A bunch of extra people on stage, a long dragged out script, not as much play... everyone remained seated in their chairs for the most part.  It reminded me of the San D radio read, and well just disappointed.  True there was a few funny parts, but I won't put this up as my most recommended panel anymore.  It all depends on the script and how it's handled.

After that I went to sit in on "Anime Auditions" but I was not in the mood to stay seated around so did not stay for most of the panel as I got up and walked around.  Posed for pictures, talked with anime fans, and such.  The Turtle even though it wasn't a full scale costume went over great there.  Though the line people kept asking the most was "Have you seen the Shredder?  He's walking around here!"  So I looked for the Shredder a lot, I also found myself going to Con suite a lot for free pop which yes, I could drink through the costume.  The head did not come off of me once as I walked around, heh most people thought I was a guy so I got a lot of lines like "Bet you pick up a lot of chicks in that costume" hehehe

It was during this time of walking around that I realized I haven't seen Eclipse or Iruka since we got here.  So I gave them a call (using speaker phone to not take the head off), Eclipse told me they were waiting for their ride.  She had a family emergency and had to leave.    Last I heard things are going better with this, but it's Eclipse's area to share if she wishes to, not mine.

I went down to the lobby and as I was walking I looked up and saw Shredder.  We both jumped into a fighting stance.  Than I threw my arms up by my side like a question as I said "Do we have to fight, we can just have fun today it is a convention" with a nervous laugh... though Shredder did not take that for an answer as he came at me.  We had our epic battle in the lobby of the convention center.  We were both holding our own... Shredder even said I was a good fighter... than some guy jumped between us..

"STOP FIGHTING!  I WILL MARRY BOTH OF YOU!!!!!"  Shredder and I both jumped away from him, as some other guy ran in and scared him off.  I thanked the guy for scarying off the scary guy who wanted to marry Shredder and I.  Than Shredder and I posed for some photos and split ways.  We never got each other names or anything, sadly I don't have a camera and I was alone, so I have no photos from this.

I than headed up for Brad's panel, in which I found an empty room as there was no panel before his.  So I came in and sat down, others did as well.  We were told it's ok for us to stay in there since we were the first ones there.  If others just kept walking in there would of never been a line in the hall way, but someone started a line in the hall way, so others who tried to join us in the room were turned away.  How disappointing is that?  Would of been cool for the fans to all be able to hang out in the room while waiting.  I'm not one for lines to panel rooms, unless the panel before hand is full or just about to end so you're not being rude and walking in while another panel is in progress.  Seriously would you rather waste your time in lines in hall ways if you're trying to get to a panel early, or get to enjoy some other panels before hand?    It's a benefit for both you and the other panel... the other panel gets more people to hear what they have to say, and you get something to do besides sit on the ground in the hall way, maybe find you like what they have to share with you.

Brad's panel started, I stayed for half of it, I would of stayed for the full thing, but my mom wanted me home to help with Halloween Trick or Treaters.  So I had to get up and leave... which was so not easy. 

Got home, helped with Trick or Treaters than what a costume contest with my dad where he won first place! 

One last review to do!

[Michaelangelo]

When I got to the convention Sunday morning I thought I'd go to the Potter Puppet Pals panel, but I saw the line all the way in the lobby and decided not to this time.  I was alone and not up for sitting in another long line, so I looked at the panels I wanted to go to, th ere was the Caitlin Glass panel, so I decided to head there.  Though it didn't start for awhile so I got there for the "Avatar Panel"  The room was dark when I first got there, so I waited for the panelist to go in and start setting up, than I went and took a seat.  I am not a big fan of "Fan" panels so I was only there for the panel after wards.  In which had no line out in the hall way. 

I sat through the panel, I did have fun with it since I am a fan of Avatar the Last Air Bender, and they showed pictures of the actors doing the living action movie.  Also we got free candy.  Though what I did not like was when it was over they cleared the room out!  Even of those of us there for the next panel, we had to go get in a line for the Caitlin panel!  I was there before this line, I was there for the Caitlin panel, I am not a fan of "Fan Panels" if I knew they were going to start clearing rooms (which they did not do the previous days) than I would of started the line when I got there and skipped Avatar.  So yeah, was not happy about getting in line.  I still got an ok seat because I was alone, but being the last day and all I put my arm through during the weekend I was in a lot of pain.  Getting up and walking around isn't fun when you're hurting.  It was a waste of walking around too since I got a seat right near where I was sitting. 

I enjoyed Caitlin's panel, she was giving out freebies to anyone that asked a question.  I found that amusing... I didn't really have a question, though I did want to give her candy since I didn't see her on Halloween, so I let her choose a candy bar and she gave me a Armstrong patch (Fullmetal Alchemist).  I sat and watched the panel, since I'm missing one of my batteries for my camcorder.  So I only video taped when she was singing.  It was a fun  panel, it was cool to see the stuff she was giving out, plush dolls, DVD box sets, toys, patches... she had a lot of stuff.  It was really cool of her!

After her panel I went to the Laura Bailey panel, had a lot of fun in there as well.  Got to give her candy, too.  Than watched the panel, again only did a little recording here or there.  Now Travis was suppose to be at the same time as this panel, but Travis refused to make fans choose YAY Travis!!!!  I was so proud of him!  Hehehe, so since this panel room was empty after Laura's they moved him in afterwards.  Laura signed autographs on the way up to the autograph session... I stayed to watch Travis.  He does put on some great panels!!!  Wish I had enough batteries to record it all!

After that though, the evil people turned around and emptied the panel room out again!  I am NOT liking that.  There may be people in a line out in the hall way, but that doesn't mean they've been waiting for the other panel longer than we have!  A friend of mine some how talked the people into letting her stay in the panel room, so she saved me a seat front and center... THANKS FRENZY!!!!!   So I was able to still sit up front, even though I was chased out again.  I really wish I wasn't out of my pain meds during this weekend (got a refill since, but went a long summer without going to the doctors, took my last pill on Saturday after being Mikey for the day).

This panel was the big Voice Actor panel "I get paid to say this?"  Though it seemed more like a good bye panel as voice actors had to keep leaving to catch their flights and couldn't finish the panel.  By the end of the panel all we had left was Brad and Michael.  As everyone else was dragged away for other things... Wayne was the first to go, but he warned me before the panel so I got to say good bye.   Laura and Travis left together, it was funny cause someone had a question for Laura and she was already gone, Caitlin called on her and she's like "Oh my question was for Laura" so Mike called Laura and used the mic to try and get Laura to answer the question... but the phone died before she could do so.   At one point Brad said to give Mike more sugar so I did a short toss of a bag of M&Ms landed on the table in front of them, not close to where it could of hit but on the end to where Mike had to reach and grab it.  Heh so they were eating M&Ms during the panel.   I did video tape this full panel.

After the panel was over I came out and saw the line for "Closing" I wanted to cry... I was in too much pain to be carrying my stuff back and forth... I saw some friends in the line for those who paid more for their badges and went over talking to them.  I told them how I was feeling, and that I was thinking of just sitting near the front and waiting for the full line to go in so I didn't have to do the extra walking.  They convinced me to just go in with them.  Which is what I did, got a good seat area up near the front and set the camera up, recording closing.

Only Brad went on stage for closing, Mike disappeared in the middle of closing so didn't get to really say good bye to him.

All in all I had a fun time at the con. 

Only complaints goes to the clearing of rooms after panels on Sunday and running out of food in con suite

[Michaelangelo]

Here's the link to a review done of Youmacon 2009 by one of the guests... thatguywiththeglasses.com with his bum reviews.   If you watch long enough there is a short bit with me in it from when I got to fight the Shredder.  So check it out at.

http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/thatguywiththeglasses/bum-reviews/14269-ep033

[Raphaelsan]

I saw it, funny guy, and great to see you there fightinh Buckethead, Metalmouth, Tinface...or whatever his name is!

Good stuff!