Hi! Here's my tentative personal schedule for Otakuthon 2016 in Montreal, QC,   Canada.

Private photoshoot policy, booking procedure and rates remain the same as always.

Last update 2016-08-03 @ 12:35 am

THURSDAY, AUGUST 4

Attempting to arrive around noon thirty.

12:30 pm - BLOCKED for badge pickup (30m expected)
1:00 pm - OPEN ($30 base rate)
2:00 pm - OPEN ($30 base rate)
3:00 pm - TAKEN
4:00 pm - OPEN ($15 base rate)
5:00 pm - OPEN ($15 base rate)
6:00 pm - OPEN (free shoot)
7:00 pm - THURSDAY EVENING GROUP DINNER | Chez Chili restaurant in Chinatown (1h 30m)

Returning home after the group dinner to pack my luggage and get downtown early tomorrow.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5

As the con opens before hotel check-in time, I'll park my car and gear up lightly for any available activities until 2 pm.

8:00 am - BLOCKED for breakfast, gear-up, Art Gallery photo exhibit setup (1h)
9:00 am - OPEN ($15 base rate)
10:00 am - OPEN ($15 base rate)
11:00 am - OPEN ($15 base rate)
12:00 pm - OPEN ($30 base rate)
1:00 pm - TAKEN
2:00 pm - BLOCKED for hotel check-in (1h)

After we check in, I take a nap and wear my full photographic gear load.

3:00 pm - BLOCKED for napping (1h)
4:00 pm - OPEN ($15 base rate)
5:00 pm - OPEN ($15 base rate)
6:00 pm - OPEN (free shoot)
7:00 pm - OPEN (free shoot)
8:00 pm - BLOCKED for dinner (1h)
9:00 pm - OPEN (free shoot)
10:00 pm - OPEN (free shoot)
11:00 pm - OPEN (free shoot) | Extra slot if no sunrise photoshoot

WCS will be on Sunday this year.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6

Sunrise is at 5:45 am. I'll be geared lightly. Assistants welcome.

5:00 am - OPEN (free shoot, 1h 30m) | Suggested theme: Sunrise photoshoot | Suggested locations: Old Port (most likely)
6:30 am - BLOCKED for breakfast (30m)

After breakfast, I head back to my room for a nap.

7:00 am - BLOCKED for napping (1h)
8:00 am - OPEN (free shoot)
9:00 am - OPEN ($15 base rate)
10:00 am - OPEN ($15 base rate)
11:00 am - OPEN ($15 base rate)
12:00 pm - BLOCKED for lunch (1h)
1:00 pm - OPEN ($30 base rate)
2:00 pm - OPEN ($30 base rate)
3:00 pm - OPEN ($30 base rate)
4:00 pm - BLOCKED for nap (1h)

When do I eat dinner, you ask? Well, in-between my nap and when I head to line up for the Masq! I eat in the lineup, as always.

5:00 pm - Lining up for Masquerade (1h 30m)
6:30 pm - SHOW: Otakuthon Masquerade | Rm. 210 (3h)
9:30 pm - Walkaround (30m)
10:00 pm - OPEN (free shoot)
11:00 pm - OPEN (free shoot)
12:00 am - OPEN (free shoot)
1:00 am - OPEN (free shoot)

SUNDAY, AUGUST 7

9:00 am - BLOCKED for breakfast (1h)
10:00 am - BLOCKED for packing luggage (1h)
11:00 am - BLOCKED for check-out (30m)
11:30 am - BLOCKED for lunch (30m)
12:00 pm - SHOW: World Cosplay Summit Canadian Preliminaries | Rm. 210 (2h)
2:00 pm - EVENT: Masquerade Awards Ceremony | Rm. 210 (1h)
3:00 pm - OPEN ($15 base rate)
4:00 pm - Walkaround (30m)
4:30 pm - BLOCKED for wrapping up photo exhibit at Art Gallery (30m)
5:00 pm - OPEN ($15 base rate)
6:00 pm - Do last things
6:30 pm - SUNDAY EVENING GROUP DINNER (2h)
8:30 pm - OPEN (free shoot)
9:30 pm - OPEN (free shoot)

The end-of-con group dinner has been a convention tradition for half a decade. Wanna join us?

Booking Process, Rules, etc

Same as usual. Check 2013's Journal entry for details, they're unchanged for 2016:

Otakon '13 and Otakuthon '13 private shootsOtakon 2013 (Baltimore, MD, USA) Private Cosplay Photoshoots
As Otakon '13 (OTA) and Otakuthon '13 (OTK) are on back-to-back weekends this year and the 3 days in-between cons won't be enough to book shoots for OTK, I'll be taking shoot requests for both cons at the same time.
Here are my photoshoot availabilities for Otakon 2013 ( UNITED STATES). I have a few things planned but I'm pretty available the rest of the time.
I'll be both a cosplay photographer and a photo assistant for other photogs at OTA. To book a shoot or ask for my help, please comment below or send me a Note, specifying "Otakon 2013" or "OTA '13" as the convention - please don't forget to mention the con, to avoid confusion. "Helper" thread on Cosplay.com: TBA Meet me at the con.
Most time slots are 60 mins long. A shoot typically lasts 45 mins, with about 15 mins in-between to pack up to get to my next shoot/panel/event. Default meetup location is the taxi area in front o

Anime North 2016 con report, in point-form:

FRI:
Pulled an all-nighter to pack everything: -3
...Forgot sunscreen: -3
Arrived downtown, enjoyed my A&W breakfast: +2
Win: Bus was pink: +4
Lunch at Harvey's in Kingston: +1
Uneventful road trip: +2
Arrived at Crowne Plaza on time, checked-in: +2
Went to the Intl Plaza to get my Staff badge: +1
Fail: A Ruby dropped and broke her scythe at Weapons Check: -4
Obtained Moonlight Ball ticket: +1
Grabbed food in the TCC Staff Lounge: +3
Covered the opening rush of the Dealers Room from inside: +2
Win: Obtained a ticket for Reika's autographs: +4
...Briefly saw : +1
Met Shigatsu Cosplay in autographs lineup: +2
...Fail: She didn't have a ticket for Reika: -4
...Win: Some friends arrived and gave her a ticket: +4
Epic Win: Met Reika, took pics with her: +5
Returned to the hotel room, all sweaty: -2
...Took a shower to cool off: +3
Changed into my tuxedo: +2
Win: Caught the AN shuttle on time to get to the Holiday Inn: +4
...Arrived before 8 pm, 5th in line to get into the Moonlight Ball: +2
... wasn't there: -2
Total so far = +27

New venue and interesting theme: +3
Already tired from the all-nighter and earlier heat: -3
Epic Fail: AN shuttles all skipped the Intl Plaza stop, causing Ball-goers to be stranded: -5
arrives: 0
...Fail: No Cosplay Guests present at the Ball: -4
Win: Good Asian food: +4
Cold water ran out often: -1
People knew how to dance well: +3
became fatigued, left the Ball early: -1
Dessert arrives: +2
Epic Win: Costume Contest time, the Sarah & Jareth pair wins Best Pair: +5
...Male!Cruella de Vil and Little Black Angel win Best Male & Best Female costumes: +3
Epic Fail: As I was doing a photoshoot with cosplayers, a fire alarm went off: -5
...Entire hotel was evacuated, firewalls went down: -3
...Forgot my jacket inside the Ballroom: -2
...Firetrucks arrive, confirm it's a false alarm: 0
Everyone re-enters the Ball, the show resumes: +1
Prize draw: I won nothing again: 0
More photoshoots with cosplayers: +2
Fail: Ball ends, but I miss the last AN shuttle: -4
Long walk back to the Crowne Plaza: -2
Friday Total = +20

SAT:
Fail: Not enough sleep: -4
...Sleeping-in didn't have much effect: 0
Long march to Tim Hortons under a scorching sun: -2
...Returned to the hotel room all sweaty: -2
Prepared gear while others put on their costumes in the bathroom: +1
Bathroom clear, I took a shower: +3
Put on gear, marched to the Intl Plaza under a pounding heat & suffocating humidity: -3
Attended Reika's panel: +3
Attended 's panel: +3
...Win: She recognized me instantly: +4
Tried some Japanese snacks for lunch at Ginko's in the "central square" of the IP: +1
...Line was so long it went outdoors, under the hot sun: -2
Ate in the main lobby of the IP since there were no seats or tables available: 0
...Watched many amazing cosplayers passing by, couldn't take photos of them: -2
Attended the Resident Evil gathering: +1
...Fail: It had only 4 cosplayers, we were sure there were many more RE cosplayers at AN: -4
...The gathering was under a bright fiery sun: -3
...Some passersby lent some props: +2
Met : +3
Attended the Fate series gathering: +1
...Win: Show-up was high, with cosplayers from Stay Night, UBW, Zero, Kaleid Prisma and Extra: +4
...Epic Fail: Missed Vivid Vision: -5
Walked back to my hotel room under the sun: -1
...Cooled off, packed my gear for the Masquerade: +3
Brought about 60 lb of gear: -1
AN shuttle bus did not have A/C: -3
Arrived at TCC, entered North Building: 0
...A/C at last: +2
Met the Masq Staff, set up my lights: +1
...Win: was my helper/runner: +4
Total so far = +4

SUN:
TBA

Weekend Total = +20 + TBA

Hi! Here's my final schedule for Otakuthon 2015 in Montreal, QC,   Canada. To book a shoot, meet me at the con.

Last update 2015-08-07 @ 12:30 am

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7

My outfit: Civvies, then black polo + urban camo pants

As the con opens before hotel check-in time, I'll park my car and gear up lightly for any available activities until 2 pm.

7:00 am - BLOCKED for transit, car parking (1h)
8:00 am - BLOCKED for breakfast, gear-up, Art Gallery photo exhibit setup (1h)
9:00 am - Walkaround (2h)
11:00 am - Dealers Room, autographs of Cosplay Guests | Rm. 220BCD
12:00 pm - BLOCKED for lunch (1h)
1:00 pm - PANEL: Introduction to the World Cosplay Summit | Rm. 512CDGH (45m)
2:00 pm - BLOCKED for hotel check-in (1h)

After we check in, I take a nap and wear my full photographic gear load.

3:00 pm - BLOCKED for napping (45m)
4:00 pm - WCS Green Room photos (45m)
5:00 pm - PANEL: Basic Cosplay Photography | Rm. 515A (45m)
6:00 pm - PANEL: Advanced Cosplay Photography | Rm. 515A (45m)
6:45 pm - BLOCKED for dinner (30m)
7:15 pm - WCS Green Room photos (1h)
8:30 pm - SHOW: World Cosplay Summit Canadian Preliminaries | Rm. 210 (1h 30m)
10:00 pm - WCS Green Room debrief (30m)

I return to the hotel room to sleep and wake up early for the sunrise photoshoot.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8

My outfit: Civvies, then black tank top + woodland camo shorts

Sunrise is at 5:46 am. I'll be geared lightly. Assistants welcome.

5:00 am - TAKEN (1h 30m)
6:30 am - BLOCKED for breakfast (1h)

After breakfast, I head back to my room for a nap.

7:30 am - BLOCKED for napping (1h)
8:30 am - RESERVED
9:30 am - RESERVED
10:30 am - PANEL: Q&A | Rm. 512CDGH
11:30 am - BLOCKED for lunch (1h)
12:30 pm - GATHERING: Disney | Esplanade fountain
1:30 pm - BLOCKED for napping (30m)
2:00 pm - PANEL: Le cosplay en Europe | Rm. 512CDGH
3:00 pm - GATHERING: Borderlands games | Lipstick Forest
4:00 pm - GATHERING: Pokémon | Lipstick Forest | Esplanade stairs

When do I eat dinner, you ask? Well, in-between the end the Pokémon gathering and when I head to line up for the Masq! I eat in the lineup, as always.

4:30 pm - Lining up for Masquerade (1h 30m) | Rm. 220A
6:00 pm - SHOW: Otakuthon Masquerade | Rm. 210 (3h)
9:00 pm - Walkaround (1h)
10:00 pm - | Matt | 2nd floor Info Desk
11:00 pm - RESERVED
12:00 am - Walkaround (3h)

Longest day EVER at Otakuthon!!

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9

My outfit: White short dress shirt + navy necktie + navy pants

NO sunrise shoot for me on Sunday! I sleep in!

9:00 am - BLOCKED for breakfast (1h 30m)
10:30 am - BLOCKED for packing luggage (1h)
11:30 am - BLOCKED for check-out (30m)
12:00 pm - BLOCKED for lunch (1h)
1:00 pm - PANEL: Travelling to Other Conventions | Rm. 514C (45m)
2:00 pm - PANEL: Cosplay Photoshoots | Rm. 514C (45m)
3:00 pm - EVENT: Masquerade Awards Ceremony | Rm. 710B (1h 30m)
4:30 pm - Blocked for wrapping up photo exhibit at Art Gallery
5:00 pm - Walkaround (1h)
6:00 pm - Do last things
6:30 pm - SUNDAY EVENING GROUP DINNER (1h 30m)

The end-of-con group dinner has been a convention tradition for half a decade. Wanna join us?

Hi! Here's my tentative personal schedule for Otakuthon 2015 in Montreal, QC,   Canada. As a tentative convention schedule hasn't been posted yet, I'll use a carbon-copy of my last year's personal schedule.

Private photoshoot policy, booking procedure and rates remain the same as always.

Important note: I submitted 5 panel ideas. Should my panels be confirmed and fall on photoshoot slots, you'll be contacted for conflict resolution (move or cancel shoots). All 5 panel ideas have been accepted and the slots at which they'll take place have been updated below. Should other opportunities open for me, I'll take them as well and contact any affected people with existing appointments with me.

Last update 2015-08-05 @ 4:15 am

THURSDAY, AUGUST 6

Earlier badge pick-up times means I'll be at the Palais des Congrès earlier, allowing me to scout for photoshoot locations and give a tour guide to any of my out-of-town guests. Staying home till 4 pm to receive any imminent package delivery. I'll be photo-geared lightly on this day for any cosplayers present.

12:00 pm - Canceled
1:00 pm - Canceled
2:00 pm - Canceled
3:00 pm - Canceled
4:00 pm - Canceled
5:00 pm - BLOCKED for badge pickup (1h 30m expected)
6:30 pm - Walkaround
7:00 pm - THURSDAY EVENING GROUP DINNER | Chez Chili restaurant in Chinatown (1h 30m, see below)

Returning home after the group dinner to pack my luggage and get downtown early tomorrow.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7

As the con opens before hotel check-in time, I'll park my car and gear up lightly for any available activities until 2 pm.


My cosplay photo exhibit last year at Otakuthon's Art Gallery

7:00 am - BLOCKED for transit, car parking (1h)
8:00 am - BLOCKED for breakfast, gear-up, Art Gallery photo exhibit setup (1h)
9:00 am - OPEN ($15 base rate)
10:00 am - OPEN ($15 base rate)
11:00 am - OPEN ($15 base rate)
12:00 pm - BLOCKED for lunch (1h)
1:00 pm - PANEL: Introduction to the World Cosplay Summit | Rm. 512CDGH (45m)
2:00 pm - BLOCKED for hotel check-in (1h)

After we check in, I take a nap and wear my full photographic gear load.

3:00 pm - BLOCKED for napping (1h)
4:00 pm - OPEN ($15 base rate)
5:00 pm - PANEL: Basic Cosplay Photography | Rm. 515A (45m)
6:00 pm - PANEL: Advanced Cosplay Photography | Rm. 515A (45m)
7:00 pm - BLOCKED for dinner (30m)
7:30 pm - Lining up for WCS Stage presentations (1h)
8:30 pm - SHOW: World Cosplay Summit Canadian Preliminaries | Rm. 210 (2h)

I return to the hotel room to sleep and wake up early for the sunrise photoshoot.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8

Sunrise is at 5:46 am. I'll be geared lightly. Assistants welcome.

5:00 am - TAKEN (free shoot, 1h 30m) | Suggested theme: Sunrise photoshoot | Suggested locations: Old Port (most likely)
6:30 am - BLOCKED for breakfast (1h)

After breakfast, I head back to my room for a nap.

7:30 am - BLOCKED for napping (1h)
8:30 am - RESERVED (free shoot)
9:30 am - OPEN ($15 base rate)
10:30 am - OPEN ($15 base rate)
11:30 am - BLOCKED for lunch & a short nap (1h 30m)
1:00 pm - OPEN ($30 base rate)
2:00 pm - OPEN ($30 base rate)
3:00 pm - GATHERING: Borderlands games | Lipstick Forest
4:00 pm - OPEN ($15 base rate)

When do I eat dinner, you ask? Well, in-between the end of my 4 pm shoot and when I head to line up for the Masq! I eat in the lineup, as always.

5:00 pm - Lining up for Masquerade (1h)
6:00 pm - SHOW: Otakuthon Masquerade | Rm. 210 (3h)
9:00 pm - OPEN (free shoot)
10:00 pm - | Alois | Black Butler
11:00 pm - OPEN (free shoot)
12:00 am - OPEN (free shoot)
1:00 am - OPEN (free shoot)
2:00 am - OPEN (free shoot)

Longest day EVER at Otakuthon!!

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9

NO sunrise shoot for me on Sunday! I sleep in!

9:00 am - BLOCKED for breakfast (1h 30m)
10:30 am - BLOCKED for packing luggage (1h)
11:30 am - BLOCKED for check-out (30m)
12:00 pm - BLOCKED for lunch (1h)
1:00 pm - PANEL: Travelling to Other Conventions | Rm. 514C (45m)
2:00 pm - PANEL: Cosplay Photoshoots | Rm. 514C (45m)
3:00 pm - EVENT: Masquerade Awards Ceremony | Rm. 710B (1h 30m)
4:30 pm - Blocked for wrapping up photo exhibit at Art Gallery
5:00 pm - OPEN ($15 base rate)
6:00 pm - Do last things
6:30 pm - SUNDAY EVENING GROUP DINNER (1h 30m, see below)

The end-of-con group dinner has been a convention tradition for half a decade. Wanna join us?

Booking Process, Rules, etc

Same as usual. Check 2013's Journal entry for details, they're unchanged for 2015:

Help wanted: Full-time Photo Assistant for Otakuthon 2015

- Description: I'm looking for someone to help me out with my private shoots at Otakuthon 2015. Photoshoots can be run more efficiently with the help of a Photo Assistant.
- Requirements: You must attend Otakuthon 2015 on all 4 days of the con (THU-SUN). You must know how private shoots work, or be willing to learn. You must be available to help me whenever I have a scheduled shoot. You must be able to help both the cosplay photographer and the cosplayer(s) in their tasks and poses, as able.
- Optional: You can follow me from shoot to shoot. You have cosplay photoshoot experience. You're not required to carry all my equipment, though any help would be welcome. You can suggest either pose ideas for the cosplayer or framing/composition ideas for the cos photographer. You can pose as an "innocent bystander" for silly poses.
- How to help: Comment below or send me a Note, specifying Otakuthon 2015 as the con you want to help me out. By assisting me in my shoots, you'll have the chance to work with a seasoned cosplay photographer who knows how to obtain good cosplay photos without making things too complicated or difficult. The helper role is easy. And for each paid shoot you help me out, you're entitled to a minimum 20% cut; the more useful your help, the bigger the cut. Second photographers get 40%. Please discuss for details on how you can help me.

To make things easy, I'll be carrying the heaviest bag. All cameras will be with me, however you can hold my flashes, monopod, lightstand, etc. You should help me at every single one of my shoots, though if there are any that you can't make it to, please let me know and suggest me someone to replace you.

I rely on teamwork to produce cosplay photos of superior quality and it's with dedicated Photo Assistants that we have a team to achieve these amazing results!

Otakuthon 2015 Day 0 Dinner!

- What: A dinner at a restaurant in Chinatown before the con begins
- When: Thu, Aug 6 from 7 pm to 8:30 pm
- Where: Chez Chili (3 votes)
- Who: Any of my friends who pick up their badges on Thursday
- Why: To get together and have a good time before the con begins (and Chinatown restos are packed during the con)

People confirmed so far to the dinner:

Traditionally, we go to Sumo Ramen on St-Laurent. We're open to any restaurant suggestions.

Meetup point will be the Tim Hortons inside the convention center, at 6:45 pm. If that area is blocked, we'll gather outside the Couche Tard opposite of the Tims.

Otakuthon 2015 Preparations

A partial list of things to do for Otakuthon 2015:

Get more photo prints for the Photo Exhibit in the Art Gallery. Once again I need new prints. With the past few cons, I should have a good selection!
Get new photo gear. I'll order new gear on DX.com and eBay. I hope they'll arrive before the con. Update: ~$800 of new gear ordered yesterday. Unfortunately, only half of them are slated to arrive by Aug 6th...
Attack my photo backlog. Clear as much stuff as possible before the con. I may have a few days this month and in July where I could pull photo-processing marathons. You're more than welcome to come over to my place to help me out, I have a 2nd computer with all the software loaded on it. We could work side-by-side in the same room. Send me a Note if interested. Warning: I don't share my unprocessed photos over the Internet, even if it's more convenient. You MUST help me process photos at my house, using my 2nd computer, or with your own laptop.

World Cosplay Summit Canadian Preliminaries

New for this year, Canada has been granted the status of fully-participating nation, so not only this year's winning team will be at the 2016 WCS championship, they'll be able to compete in it and be able to win awards!

Here were the teams from last year at the Canadian prelims:

Far Travelers: Shipping to Your Extra Convention Travel Belongings to Montreal

Hi, are you attending Otakuthon this year? Will be you coming from far, requiring flying on a plane? Will you be bringing more stuff than you have hands to carry them?


Too many props, not enough hands?

If the answer is yes to all 3 questions, then shipping your extra convention travel belongings to someone in Montreal to conform to airline luggage limits is the solution for you. Basically, here's how it goes:

1) Packing, padding, sealing: Days before your flight, you pack anything that doesn't fit your luggage - oversize props, armors, shields, costume contest stage sets, etc - into cardboad boxes, plastic bins or wooden crates. Pad them well inside, and seal well the container.
2) Shipping, reception, inspection: Ship them to a contact in Montreal, who will receive them the day before the con or the day you arrive in Montreal, using a service such as UPS, FedEx or Purolator. Upon receipt of your belongings, your contact will open the container and inspect the contents, reporting any damage occurred during transportation to you so that you can prepare to fix said damage upon your arrival.
3) Arrival, check-in, bring-over, repairs: You arrive in Montreal and head to your hotel. Your Montreal contact brings your shipped belongings container to your hotel room. You repair damages to your stuff, if any.
4) Check-out, re-pack, re-pad, re-seal: When you check out from the hotel - if you don't throw away your props/parts/sets to the garbage - you re-pack your belongings into the container, re-pad them, re-seal the box and remove the old shipping sticker.
5) Hand-over, return-fee payment, fly home: You hand over the container to your Montreal contact, paying him/her the return-shipping fee in cash, equivalent to the shipping fee from your hometown to Montreal. You take your flight back home.
6) Ship-back, return-fee settlement: Your Montreal contact ships your container back to you, which should arrive a couple of days after you return home. Should the return-shipping cost less than the go-shipping, then your Montreal contact sends you the change by PayPal. However, should the return-shipping cost more than the go-shipping and your Montreal contact had to pay extra from their pockets, then you should refund your Montreal contact the difference by PayPal.

Normally, a cosplayer with more items than normally allowed on airplanes has a travel companion with them, who him/herself has very little luggage of his/her own. That companion takes the extra loads from the cosplayer, so that each person conforms to the luggage allowances of airlines. And naturally, the companion serves as an extra pair of hands to carry that extra stuff!

But that's not always possible. What if your potential travel companions can't afford the roundtrip flights to Montreal? What if your companion is also a cosplayer, and has reached his/her luggage limit? Or, worst case scenario, what if you have NO companion to travel with you?? Then shipping the extra stuff to someone in Montreal is the only solution.

Ideally, the person coming from far (you) must know someone in Montreal who'll attend Otakuthon and be able to carry your container from his/her place to your hotel, ie. with a car. If you know no one, then I volunteer to be your Montreal contact. If you're flying in from far for Otakuthon 2015 and must bring more items than airlines allow you to, then you can ship your extra items to me.

If you're interested by my offer, then please fill up this form in a Note:

1) Your contact information
2) List of items to be shipped and their container
3) Your hotel check-in & check-out dates & times
4) Your preferred shipping service
5) Any other important information concerning the shipped items

Once we've agreed for you to ship your items to me and me ship them back to you after the con, you actually go and ship those items. After you paid your shipping fee, remember how much it costs and bring that amount in cash with you to Montreal. (Alternately, PayPal me that amount.) I'll use the money to re-ship your items back to you.

It's important to estimate how long it takes to ship your container from your place to mine. Please ship it at least 1 day earlier than calculated so that if I'm not home to receive it, I'll have another day to pick it up at the distribution center of the shipping service. It really breaks my schedule - and yours - to pick up your package on Friday afternoon at the distro center when we're supposed to be already at the convention on that day at that time!

If all goes well, your items should arrive at my place on Wednesday before the con. You should arrive either on Thursday or Friday in Montreal. As a goodness gesture, I can pick you up at the airport and drive you to your hotel. If you prefer heading to the hotel yourself, then it's fine; I'll bring your package over when you check in. If you arrive on Thursday but don't have a room, I can host you at my apartment as another goodness gesture. The same goes for your flight back home and Sunday with no hotel stay: I can drive you to the airport, and on Sunday night you can stay over at my place till the next day.

On the day that you check out, you hand me over the container with your items as well as the cash for the return-shipping fee (if you haven't paid me by PayPal beforehand). On Monday or Tuesday, I ship the item back to you using the same shipping service that you used, telling you how much it actually cost. Either I PayPal you the change or you PayPal me the extra difference; if the shipping fee is exactly the same as the go-shipping, then no further steps are necessary.

This plan is most advantageous for cosplayers willing to participate in the World Cosplay Summit Canadian Preliminaries with full costumes, props and stage sets, but don't know how to bring all this stuff to Montreal for Otakuthon. Shipping the extra items here is the solution, and I volunteer to be your Montreal contact!

Now, should you really fly? Or could you drive to Montreal? Here's a list of cities within driving distance from here. I recommend driving no more than 1,000 km. For 1,001 km or more, flying is the better option. If you drive, then you can bring everything with you. But if you fly, then you'll have to ship some of your stuff to a Montreal contact.

1) Ottawa, ON: 198 km
2) Quebec City, QC: 252 km
3) Kingston, ON: 287 km
4) Toronto, ON: 542 km
5) Fredericton, NB: 814 km

List of major Canadian cities at more than 1,000 km of driving distance from Montreal (you should fly here):

1) Charlottetown, PE: 1,147 km
2) Halifax, NS: 1,242 km
3) Winnipeg, MB: 2,367 km
4) St John's, NL: 2,534 km
5) Regina, SK: 2,817 km
6) Calgary, AB: 3,535 km
7) Edmonton, AB: 3,597 km
8) Vancouver, BC: 4,558 km
9) Yellowknife, NT: 5,086 km
10) Whitehorse, YT: 5,578 km

Don't let long distance and air travel be an impediment to your participation in the WCS Canadian Preliminaries - or just simply cosplaying with everything you got - at Otakuthon. Make it happen! Ship your extra costume items and sets to Montreal so that you can enjoy one of North America's best anime conventions this summer!

Otakuthon 2015 End-of-Con Dinner!

- What: A dinner at a restaurant downtown after the con ends
- When: Sun, Aug 9 at TBA time
- Where: TBA
- Who: Any of 's friends
- Why: To get together and have a good time after the con ends

I'll post this information once I receive it. You can also ask DROO directly at the convention at his booth for the time & place. Traditionally, we go to Saint-Hubert or Mike's in the Desjardins Complex, but we'll need to ask DROO to confirm the location.

In point-form:

THURSDAY

Finalizing details for the pick-up at 's place: +1
Slept at 10 pm: +1
Thursday total = +2

FRIDAY

Woke up at 4 am, quick snack: +2
Drove to 's place: +1
...Temperature was cold: -2
...Win: Arrived and parked before he calls me: +4
Loaded the car with his luggage: +1
...Handed him my portable cellphone charger: +1
Drove to the bus pick-up point at Concordia University: +1
...Epic Win: Arrived FIRST on site: +5
...Found free parking not far: +3
Headed to Tim Hortons and peek to see if other travelers were there: 0
...Found no one we knew: -1
walked to the bank to get some cash: 0
...It started to rain: -3
Ate breakfast together at A&W: +2
...Coffee wasn't ready when we ordered: -1
...But was ready 5 mins later: +1
Total so far = +14

Walked over to the pick-up point, there was already 10 people: +1
...Andrew didn't show up yet: -1
...Guy L. had a cooler with "special" cargo: +3
More people arrived, including and Anik: +1
...Andrew is not there yet: -1
arrive: +3
...No sign of Andrew, the trip's main organizer: -2
Anik receives a text from Andrew, says "I'll be there in 15 mins": +1
Bus arrives, everyone loads their luggage: +1



Many travelers do last-minute runs for quick breakfasts, including José and Robert: +2
Bus is about to leave, where's Andrew: -3
Win: Andrew arrives, bus leaves with whole travel group: +4
I drove to a McDonald's near my old house for a 2nd breakfast: 0
...Then returned home to nap a bit: +1
Did the rest of my day as if nothing has happened: 0
...Not sad to not be on the trip: 0
Friday total = +24

SATURDAY

Followed updates from on Twitter: +1
...Epic Win: He got himself a copy of Dynasty Warriors 2 for the PlayStation 2: +5
...He reports cold temperatures and long lineups: -2
...Win: His makeup artist cosplayed as Moxxi with a tip jar and people actually tipped her: +4
...According to , the Anime North Masquerade was nicknamed "Leaguequerade": +1
...He also reports a wedding proposal at the Cosplay for a Cure booth: +3
...And was cosplaying as Elsa from Frozen: +2
Meanwhile, I did my everyday things as normal on this day: 0
Saturday total = +14

SUNDAY

Went to work as normal: 0
...Win: Finished work earlier than expected: +4
...Received update from that they were at the Kingston rest area: +1
Went home to eat dinner: +2
Drove downtown, found no empty parking spots next to the bus drop-off point: -1
...Circled around, found a spot near the Otaku Anime club office building: +1
Joined other families waiting for the Anime North bus to arrive at the benches in front of the Hall Building: 0
Documented the arrival of the bus: +3



Epic Win: got a large Cheese-kun plushie as a gift from someone at the Nominochi: +5



commented that it appeared as I've "never left the place": +3
Said goodbye to everyone, loaded Loki555's stuff onto my car: +1
Drove swiftly Loki555 back to his place: +1
...Fail: A car in front of us turned from Pine to Park onto the wrong way, braking suddenly, and I dodged it just in time: -4
I returned home without any further incidents: +1
Sunday total = +17
WEEKEND TOTAL = 2 + 24 + 14 + 17 = +57

In other news, my Otakuthon 2015 schedule will be announced SOON! Another exciting year for this continuing success story. Keep watch for private photoshoot openings!