Arisia: A Review

It started off with a simple question at one AM on Friday morning: "Do you want to go to a new con with some of our friends?" It was the standard question we all, as cosplayers, have asked at least once each year, some upwards of ten or more times. This time the answer was, "Sure, we have enough for a one day pass." And it was the best decision we have ever made at one in the morning on a Friday of a con.

By noon we were on our way there, arriving by 3:50, and we had our badges by four PM. We found a friend in the staff operations room stapling together schedules and asked if she needed a hand.

"Sure. Talk to Jodie. He'll tell you what you can do to help."

And that's how we ended up on staff, stapling for four hours. We enjoyed conversing with all the staff members, thrilled to be accepted in so easily and without question as to our skill. By the end of the four hours, the three of us had done work equal to five or six of their usual staffers. That's what happens when you've been staffing big cons for years—you become proficient to the point that most tasks assigned are mere child's play compared to the usual tasks.

We explored and took pictures of what few cosplayers had shown up that day and enjoyed our time in what few panels caught our interest. We are picky people when it comes to content, so only a handful of things caught our eye, especially so late on a Friday. What we didn't realize was that this con was 24 hours for four days straight. There was stuff we missed because we failed to realize things did not end at one AM, like most cons.

Saturday we made better use of our time, meeting up with various friends for pictures, chatting, and enjoying a couple of panels. We ended up at a dance at one point. Their dances were amazing fun! They have a little bit of everything for everyone, from raves to square dances, to swing dances, to formal dance. There was live music to be had almost everywhere in the con.

Sunday was the Masquerade and Puppet Slam. Both were brilliant and well done. Some of the skits were clearly novice performers, but others were shocking to see as novice. Competition was fierce this year, as even the beginners had a high skill level. I plan on trying to compete in future years in hopes of joining in on the glorious fun everyone was having on stage! The cosplays, referenced in the photo heading this article, were beautiful and so well done. It was thrilling, especially getting to talk to the winners afterwards and making friends with a handsome Lestat cosplayer.

Monday was wrap-up, and the con was done and over by three PM. It was depressing to see the place so barren, where once there were copious amounts of people and activities. We saw the dealer's room Sunday, but failed to make it to the Art Show room, where the artists were displaying their wonderful works. It is my only regret of the whole con.

The highlight of the con, though, would have to be the level of catering to the disabled. They made sure so thoroughly to ensure everyone was taken care of, even offering free snacks to all attendees. There was always food and water, as well as soda and juice throughout the con that could be eaten and required no money to buy it. I found myself easily able to find seating that wouldn't put me in the way of others, and watched as people in scooters and wheelchairs were given front row seating every time. Anyone who was handicapped was treated like royalty, within reason, and that was something I have not seen at any other con. All cons could learn a good lesson from Arisia in the way they run their con. This was a blast and I look forward to next year, for sure!