Cosfest IX – Watching from behind a booth

The website seems to be working well now. It will be some time before it gets restored to its full glory though and I’m working on it, one post at a time. At the meantime, regular posts would still be made and first in line, is our event report of Cosfest IX. It was like other Cosfests and like other Cosfests, it has its drama and it has its fun.

Relax guys. We can close shop at 6p- What?! 8 bloody pm?!

It’s a pity that I could not be over at our Mascot Parade booth since I heard that Lyo and Merly were there. It would have been a great opportunity to ‘present’ our contributions to the YOG effort. Unfortunately, it had to clash with Cosfest and I am more inclined to station myself there. As much as we <3 Cosfest as much as Daiyaku, I still rather place my personal support for an (originally)  organic community-centric event than one that has state-involvement. Plus, it’s a proven event that has the continuous and consistent support of the cosplay community. Like it or not, Cosfest is the mid year cosplay event to go to. For cosplayers, photographers, casual animanga fans, familes (maybe?) and of course, for booth owners like us.

No more Saberssss

This year, we’ve got the latest (technically still not officially announced) Project Saberssss posters, Durarara! / Angel Beats canbadges, Working! poster, even more K-on! scroll posters and when those are sold out, we brought out the older but still classically golden products. On the whole, I would say that I was satisfied with the sales. Everyone seems to think that the Working! poster is a giant car decal. Admittedly, it does look like one and I suspect, with some static electricity, it might actually stick to the back of your car window. Can somebody give it a try and tell us if it actually does?

However, the booth layout could easily be better. For one thing, I could not see the stage from where I stand. The darn Maid Koohi booth stood between us and where the cosplay competition was happening. Thus while I could hear the horribly out-of-tune crooning of the Gatsby song, I could not enjoy the accompanying performance by ol’ Franky. Come’on! Us booth owners enjoy cosplays too! Cosplayers are like fan artists, except they are their own canvas. We do appreciate good art! Giving us some power source would also go a long way towards improving the booth.

Anyone saw this on Day 1? Remember to support Extravaganza!

NUS CAS was there, just beside us promoting Extravaganza and selling more stuffs. That’s right. Extravaganza is back again and the theme for this year is flight. Check out the official website for more details. I also got the chance to interact with our fellow art groups such as SURFACE (coming all the way from across the causeway to sell their touhou tome) and Daiyaku (promoting their BRS compilation work). We could really work on another collaboration project together some day.

Finally, I did not get a lot of chance to check out the cosplayers but I could see some of them when they walk past us. There is the good and the bad (as usual). And then, there is the awesome manliness and the pretties. I had to say that the local standard of cosplay really is improving. The presence of international cosplayers also helped. The photo links are all ripped off from The Banzai Effect. Their epic Ghostbusters animated gif is epic. I had an enjoyable time cosplay watching from the booth and feasting my eyes on those that are really, really good.

Cosplay what you buy. Get an instant discount and end up having your photo here.

Now that Cosfest and Mascot Parade are over, A.C.M.E. II is looming in the horizon. Next month, in fact. Yet another rush to get everything ready in time for everyone. There will be something new, something good I promise. So be sure to watch out for its announcement when the time approaches.