Getting Started - Megacon 09

[JojiP]

Since introductions are complete (I was hoping more people to chime
in) I guess, its time to get down to prepping for our first convention
as a group - Megacon 09 in Orlando. Our theme for those participating
is ARIA and several points to cover in order to get started. One, the
characters assignments currently stand as follows: Alicia Florence/
AC=Jen, Akari Mizunashi/AC=Fred, Ai/AC=Fred's Sister (need to get you
a profile), Akira E. Ferrari/HC=Diamond Seamstress(Inez), Aika S.
Granzchesta/HC=Lil' Lady(Bayley), Alice Carroll/OC=Alice and Akatsuki
Izumo=JojiP. The slot for Athena Glory of Orange Company is still
unfilled, if anyone knows a taller, tanned short haired girl/woman
willing to take the role (LOL), speak up please. Two, the basic
design for the uniforms for all 3 companies is identical (not
withstanding the emblems and patches) and is relatively simple. We
have an extremely skilled seamstress in our group, Diamond Seamstress
(Inez), who has assisted in several previous cosplays and can easily
generate the uniforms for all of our group for a small cost. Anyone
who would like to use her services for the outfit, let me know so she
can get started; I have purchased enough white material to cover
everyone in the group, if you decide to build your own uniform, let me
know so we can pass on the needed material. Third, to create a
consistant look, I have recreated the shoulder/hat badges and will use
a home heat transfer kit to press them onto a felt material recreating
the "embroidered badge" look. The cost should be minimal (kit and
felt-about $10 total), anyone wanting to contribute to a group cost
pool is welcome. The front designs, being more complex and larger, I
have been looking into having a local screen print company do up a
larger heat transfer - again to keep the consistant look. Once I can
get a quote on cost, I'll post it to the group. Design pics have
alerady been posted in the files section for reference. More tonight
on the con tickets/cost and rooms at Disney (we hope to make this a
2day stay).

[Fred]

So when my sister gets home from school I'll have her join the group!
There is a strong chance we are gonna both need Inez to make our uniforms.
And are we doing the paddle/broom/thingys XD?

Thanks.
- Fred

--
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

[JojiP]

On Sep 16, 8:56 am, Fred <pandach...@gmail.com> wrote:
> So when my sister gets home from school I'll have her join the group!
> There is a strong chance we are gonna both need Inez to make our uniforms.
> And are we doing the paddle/broom/thingys XD?
>
> Thanks.
> - Fred

I have the designs for the paddles and would not be difficult in the
least to make. Main consideration would be costs which I'll go over
in the next post. Don't forget to get your sister an email and
profile so we can keep everyone up to date and at some point, we'll
want to discuss some of the set up and con info with your parents.
Inez will post up later with her info on the uniforms and if you want
to see some of her/our previous work, you can find this in the photos
from the previous cons ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/jojip/sets/ ).

[JojiP]

Since basics are in order, I'll put forward information on resources
and potential costs. Main consideration - the passes to Megacon 09,
which can be found at http://megaconvention.com/ . The prices
currently stand at $52.19 all three days ($49 plus 6.5% sales tax),
children 10 an under are FREE with a paid adult. Since we plan on
making this a 2 day event, several of us were intending on getting a
room Friday night at Disney at one of their economy resorts,
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts/roomPriceMatrixPage?id=BenefitsOSOP2009RoomPriceMatrixPage
, (family friendly, safe and clean) such as the Pop Century or the All-
Stars - not bad at $82 average a night. Fred and family can check it
out or look at other local rooming more to the liking. And outside of
uniform cost, each "company" in ARIA has unique footwear which will be
the responsibility of each to purchase. During some hunting around, I
actually found some good possibilities thru BASS Pro Shops. For our
Orange Planet cosplayers: http://www.basspro.com/ and enter
42-745-048 into the "keyword or item #" box; for Aria Company: search
Woo Daves Chukka or 42-745-304. These are a bit expensive I admit, so
searching my still be in order depending on budget, but they
definitely match the outfits and with care, could be used again for
other future cosplays or general use. And wigs.....
http://stores.ebay.com/Professional-Only_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZQ2d33QQftidZ2QQtZkm
. We've used this retailer before - good pricing, excellent delivery
times and awesome choices; I highly recommend them for your cosplay
wig buys. And the question was presented on props (paddles). This
would be by no means difficult as it is just a modification of a
racing skiff paddle, but cost would depend on if we could find a used
paddle or have to purchase a new. If anyone wants to have the props,
let me know and I'll see what I can find. Plus, as a consideration,
do we want to do a professional photo shoot, in full cosplay, once the
uniforms are done? Everyone send input please.
If anyone had some good ideas, resources and/or cost cutting measures,
please by all means voice yourselves. I'll try over the next few days
to post reference pics for each character as well as bio information
to prep your characters.

[Fred]

Ok! That sounds fine to me! Ok I'll go get her to do that now (our internet was died for the last two days D:)

Sounds good to me!

- Fred

[JojiP]

Check out the Files page for character shots of each character match-
up.

[JojiP]

Quick message right now - time to get serious about planning. Look
for a major new thread tonight for setting commitments, times and
costs.