Ottawa Comiccon 2014 Con Report

This is an abridged report.

SATURDAY
Breakfast at Tim Hortons: +1
Uneventful drive to Ottawa: +1
2nd breakfast at Tims, to-go as lunch: +1
Epic Fail: Arrived at the con, the parking lot was already full: -5
...The Staff opened a makeshift overflow carpark on a grass field not far: +1
...Cost was the same, $7: 0
Grabbed essentials, went to the con: 0
...Fail: Massive lineup to get in, a Linecon: -4
...Nothing I haven't seen before, and it advanced quickly: +1

Got a handstamp instead of a badge/wristband: 0
Refreshed myself then lined up for the panel Cosplay Around the World: 0
...There were just 10 people in front of me: +2
Win: Sat in front: +4

... shared their horror stories at cons in different parts of the world: +1
Returned to the car to eat lunch and gear up: +1
Back to the con, lined up again for the DestinyNickelsen panel: 0
Sat in the front again: +3
...Listened to the funny stories of the derp duo & Nicole Marie Jean: +3
...Win: Destiny liked my glowing wires: +4

Went to the Dealers Room, did a walkaround: 0
...The layout was different from Pop Expo: -1
Visited at their booth, lineup was short: +1
...Bought a print featuring both of them, got it autographed: +3
...Posed in photo with them: +3

Visited & Nicole's booth next to them: +1
...Got them to autograph the program booklet: +3
...They were surprised to see the booklet, they haven't seen it since they arrived: +3
...Posed in photo with Nicole only, as Destiny didn't want to be taken in photo: +1

Total so far = +28

Chatted with Elffi, he was interested in my con adventures and knew many of the cosplayers I met: +3
...Calssara was busy dealing with table visitors: 0
Chatted with Nicole but she and Destiny seemed bored: 0
...Couldn't catch their interest no matter what subject I talked about: -1
Took some walkaround shots with Loki555: +2
...Encountered the great as Erza Scarlet: +3

Spotted as she visited Calssara & Elffi, and posed with them: +3

Split ways with Loki555 and lined up for the Masquerade: 0
...Line was longer than I thought, as there was a 2nd tent: -1
Got an aisle seat, 10th row from the front: 0
...Had 3 blind spots: Judges table, guy in front of me, girl to my front-left: -3
... was a Judge, along with and Calssara & Elffi: +3

Win: The show was great: +4
...Saw many entries by & others: +1
...It was hosted by : +2
Met Loki555 in the main hallway after the show, took my last hall cosplay shots: +1
...Took some derp shots with & friends: +3
Return to carpark, we were one of the last cars to leave: 0
Ate dinner at Denny's: +3
Left Ottawa, returned to Montreal without a hitch: +1
...Fail: Loki555 forgot one of his bags in the car: -4

Total = +48

Montreal Botanical Garden Flower Trees Cosplay Photoshoot on Sat, May 17, 2014 raindate Mon, May 19, 2014

I'm enacting a raindate for the Flower Trees Cosplay Shoot at the MBG. Reasons: heavy rain predicted for Saturday, and the trees are not yet in bloom. I'm giving them 2 extra days to show their flowers!

MONDAY (Victoria Day)

If rules haven't changed, gates should close at 8:59 am sharp. If we're still in the low season, then admission should still be free. It was free last year!

Bring your own lunches!

8:45 am - Gather at the lion statue's bench area
9:15 am - Move to the Japanese Garden area for some quick shots
9:30 am - Move to the northern tree park and settle there for some rotating mini-shoots
11:30 am - Break, lunch time
12:00 pm - Photoshoot resumes, but would be cut short if participants didn't bring their own lunches
1:00 pm - If no lunches brought, shoot ends here and everyone leaves the Botanical Garden to head for food
2:00 pm - Break, snack time
2:30 pm - Shoot resumes
4:30 pm - End of shoot at Botanical Garden, head to Chinatown
5:00 pm - At Chinatown, early dinner at Sumo Ramen or another restaurant
6:30 pm - End of day, or head to night shoot if desired
9:00 pm - End of night shoot if there's one

If no one shows up, I'll take landscape and flower shots only, and leave before lunch time. They'll be part of my annual "5 Days of Flowers" series.

Anime North 2014 Photoshoots Schedule

I'm attending Anime North 2014 in Toronto, ON,  CANADA on Fri-Sun, May 23-25, 2014. To book a shoot, comment below or send me a Note.

Here's my tentative schedule for the weekend:

FRIDAY

I'm based at the Crowne Plaza. We should arrive between 2 and 3 pm.

2:00 pm - BLOCKED for badge pickup, hotel check-in
4:00 pm - OPEN ($15 base rate, as able depending on badge pickup speed)
5:00 pm - OPEN ($15 base rate)
6:00 pm - BLOCKED for dinner, change of outfit
8:00 pm - EVENT: Moonlight Ball @ Marriott Hotel Main Ballroom - ticketed event
9:00 pm - OPEN (free shoot, at Moonlight Ball only - ticketed event)
10:00 pm - OPEN (free shoot, at Moonlight Ball only - ticketed event)

Heading back to hotel to sleep early for the sunrise photoshoot.

SATURDAY

5:00 am - OPEN (free shoot) | Suggested theme: Sunrise photoshoot (sunrise @ 5:44 am)
6:00 am - BLOCKED for breakfast

I'm taking a nap at 7 am for about 2 hrs.

9:00 am - OPEN ($15 base rate)
10:00 am - OPEN ($15 base rate)
11:00 am - BLOCKED for lunch
12:00 pm - OPEN ($30 base rate)
1:00 pm - OPEN ($30 base rate)
2:00 pm - OPEN ($30 base rate)
3:00 pm - OPEN ($15 base rate)
4:00 pm - OPEN ($15 base rate)
5:00 pm - BLOCKED for dinner
6:00 pm - Masquerade lineup

I'm checking out where the lineup starts at 6 pm. If there's a sizable amount of people, I'll join the line.

8:00 pm - SHOW: Masquerade @ International Plaza Main Ballroom
11:00 pm - OPEN (free shoot)
12:00 am - EVENT: Masquerade Awards @ International Plaza Main Ballroom
1:00 am - OPEN (free shoot)

SUNDAY

8:00 am - BLOCKED for breakfast, hotel check-out, luggage storage
11:30 am - Walkaround
12:00 pm - BLOCKED for lunch
1:00 pm - OPEN ($30 base rate)
2:00 pm - OPEN ($30 base rate)
3:00 pm - OPEN ($15 base rate)
4:00 pm - Doing last things

We're leaving Toronto shortly before 5 pm.

NOTE! Panels, cosplay gatherings and such, are not included in this schedule. However, photoshoots will always come first, so if you book a slot before I replace it with a panel or other event, I'll honor your shoot request.