/cgl/ - Cosplay & EGL

Otakon is pretty awesome. Lots of local hotels and bars, great cosplay, next to the pier and good panels and guests.

San Diego Comic Con is in July and the biggest and best! GL getting a ticket though lol

Yes come to Otakon! Its in Baltimore, MD and it is being held on Aug 9-11 at the Baltimore Convention Center. There are many hotels right next to it, including the Hilton which is connected via skywalk. Plus tons of places to eat too!

Attendence is about 30k so its fairly large but it is sooo much fun!

>>6551506
Sounds awesome, I was thinking of Otakon and OMG am I looking forward to American food :)

Also, are there some 'must see' places around Baltimore?

>>6551543
besides the shopping... not really? lol I live within 20 minutes and I only go to the inner harbor if I have to or if I decide to go out to eat.

There are the stadiums (Camden Yards and M&T Bank), aquarium, hard rock cafe, a huge Barns and Nobles, Science Center, World Trade Center,

I like Fells Point a lot but its a good 20 min walk away and Fed hill is very popular with drinking too, lots of great bars.

Anime Expo is the biggest anime convention in the US and it's during the 4th of July weekend in Los Angeles
AX always brings out the best in cosplay and you're bound to find a ton of afterparties across Downtown LA

>>6551543
Not really. Balmer is a shithole of a city, walking 2 or 3 blocks away from the harbor the con is at will put you straight in the ghetto.

>>6551543
I really like the aquarium. It's only a few blocks down from the convention center.

Also, be careful about walking around too much! Otakon is basically the hottest time of year. I got heat stroke there once, it was really awful. Get some ice cold water, it's only one dollar.

There are also some pretty mugtastic areas around the city, so be aware of where you go.

>>6551592
>walking 2 or 3 blocks away from the harbor the con is at will put you straight in the ghetto.

You'll see a lot of black people selling things while you wait in line to enter Otakon.

ICE-COLD WADDER, ONE DOLLER!

Anime Expo is probably the best and the only one worth traveling across an ocean for but the area right around the convention center is terribad and Los Angeles is just an absolute shithole if you don't have transportation.

Anime convention specifically? Or just any big costuming convention.

Dragon*Con is held in September in Atlanta and is quite the show. But it's not an anime-specific convention.
Atlanta is also quite the party city with a number of cool things to see, such as the aquarium and Coca-cola factory.
Hotels have been sold out for months now, though.

I've heard Otakon is way overcrowded to the point where it's not even slightly comfortable to be there.

>>6551607
That's why you stay at the JW Marriott or the Luxe City Center, walking distance to the con

>>6551614
>>6551607

How far away is too far?
I think the hotel I just booked is a little under a mile away. It was the most affordable one I could find.

>>6551607
LAfag, here, that area is actually experiencing a revival and there's some pretty neato shit happening. I will agree that if you want to do anything other than hang out downtown after AX, rent a car - but, otherwise, there's a lot to do that's a Metro-hop away!

>>6551543
Otakon's been on a pretty steady decline the last few years. Granted, last year was my first and I thought it was awesome but everyone I met who was a regular kept on telling me how downhill it was going.

And even though I keep saying this for every new con I go to.. seriously, truly, Baltimore had the most black people I had ever seen in one place, at one time, in my life.

>Never been to the USA before so don't have a clue what I'm doing

You need to look up information on traveling abroad, visas, customs, etc.

>>6551621

Also I don't mean customs as in culture, customs as in airplanes and airports. Sorry for the confusion.

>>6551620
Never been to Detroit?

And yeah, next year is going to be bullshit because they're demolishing parts of the elevated walkways that make the area so convenient. I can't even imagine how crowded and pain in the ass the street-level is going to be without it.

>>6551629

eventually they will be bulldozing the sheraton and adding on to the convention center, along with making underground parking and a new hotel. all thanks and funded to the gentleman who owns the sheraton.

>>6551637
Welp

Guess it's a good thing I said fuck it to Otakon after last year. The Sheraton was my favorite area hotel.

>>6551639
well it won't happen for a while and it be a sheraton again just better I guess?

here is the link to the plans and press release http://www.mdstad.com/current-studies/baltimore-city-convention-center-expansion

>>6551622
just butting in here- I work for a (small, local) car rental company in the US, and we won't rent to british/foreigners who come from places where they drive on the other side of the road, because we've had problems with first-timers driving on the right and culture-shock accidents . not sure what policy is at the big ones or in LA, but make sure you ask before you get there to avoid getting stranded at the airport.

>never been to the US before
Don't forget to apply for an ESTA well in advance before you travel there, otherwise they'll turn you back at immigration. Make sure you get it sorted when you book your flights.

Also I hear it's usually super hot around that time so don't wear anything too heavy and have water on you.

I would recommend Otakon. It's in August and is located in the mid-atalantic region. It's a three hour trip to NYC if you want to visit there while your in the states, and an hour away from Washington, DC which is a great place to visit.

It's a great convention in a great location, you can easily make a week or so out of visiting the Baltimore-Washington Area, and seeing how so many attractions in DC are free it can be done on the cheap side.

>>6551708
OP here, thanks!!!!

So I take it you can't really rock up at USA customs with cosplay home made weapons??

Thanks to everyone so far, this is great.

>>6551790
Hah, no. I doubt they'd let you have it in your hand-luggage, but you might be able to put it in your hold luggage. I'd recommend airmailing it over a few weeks beforehand to a friend so you still have suitcase space, that's what I'm doing with one of my props.

There is also some more advice in the AX thread over here: >>6541108
You should come along to Otacon too if you have the time, I don't want to be the only Brit there.

>>6551708

You don't have to do it when you book the flights, since they last for a couple of years and cost about £5. I did both of my last two a couple of weeks before I flew out - if I'd done them when I'd booked I'd not have been able to use my first one twice, and my second one is still valid for a while.

Just as long as they make sure that they do do it.

>>6551965
Yeah, just any time before the flights really, but it's better to do it sooner than later because you could always forget it (much like my father did one time). I couldn't help but laugh at the questions they ask you though, I mean, geez...

Is there much difference in heat between Otakon and Anime Expo?

>>6551997
IKR I am a terrorist. Yep.

Most customs forms are just as bad though, I'm pretty sure the one you have to do on the plane was as stupid.

To keep this productive, I've had my luggage search all three times I've gone to America as an adult, but my friend lives in the middle of nowhere, so I suspect it's on the tiny arse plane from seattle where it gets searched. On the other hand, that means stuff does get searched so it's always worth being weary about it. I've had stuff gone through on the way there too.

OP here . . .

OK, looks like heat is going to be a issue then for anything July/August . . . . any parts of the USA that are better that time of year?

>>6553402
Not really, no... Humidity and heat are going to be an issue about anywhere in July/August. MAYBE the Pacific Northwest.

>>6553402
AX and SDCC are nice because it's not humid, it's just a dry heat. Like being in a desert filled with nerds.

>>6553402
Try Youmacon (Oct. 31-Nov. 3). Granted, it's Detroit, but you can come and experience godly barbeque and an actual Halloween. The cosplay is nice, the people are friendly, and as long as you stick with a buddy, you'll do just fine.

>>6553495
Hell no, OP. Youmacon is a pretty good con for regional goers, but it's definitely not worth coming from out of country. Plus, it's Detroit.

>>6553560
Arrrgghh, this is getting really hard

>>6553560
Why not? We had quite a few folk come over from the UK for the con. It's the safest part of Detroit. You're by a freaking border crossing and really close to city hall. The entire police force is located in that 3 mile radius.

Also, Slows. Why would you deny anyone the joy of SLOWS?? Fucking heathen!

>>6552764

Otakon is east coast so it's humid and hot.

Anime Expo is west coast so it's dry and a bit better.

They're probably both in the 90F range? But I prefer California weather since it isn't humid.

So maybe I'll bit the bullet and come early to a con in May instead

>>6553807
Fanime or ACen. Both are decently large and have their share of good and bad.

Heat is an issue for it, but there is METROCON at the end of July Anime Festival Orlando in the first weekend of August.

http://www.metroconventions.com/
http://animefestivalorlando.com/

There are heaps of cons but worth crossing the ocean for????

If I was going to go to another American con, I'd probably wait for the year to go round and go to one in the Jan-feb-march period when we have our dead spot.

Been to Sakuracon, though, and that was pretty good. A lot like the good parts of expo (size, location) mixed in with the good parts of the proper cons (ie actual events, not just being a massive dealers room). Wasn't too hot, wasn't too busy, decent stuff to do. Location wasn't amazing in that there wasn't anywhere great for photos, but it still wasn't bad.

And plenty of good costumes, too.

However, I think the West Coast is normally at least £100 more and an extra flight, so it's probably not worth it if you're not visiting someone like I was.