What about A-kon?

[Carlos Martinez]

Ok as some of us are aware, there is an event happening at the Adams Mark Hotel in Dallas. It is a convention for people who enjoy Anime. The only down side is, that you have to pay to get in. so there only might be a few of you actually going. There are plenty of people there and it could be a good place to make a scene. So if anyone is interested or just happen to be going, reply with any ideas you may have. They do have plenty of people dress up like characters in some of there favorite shows. And this year, A-kon is going for a record. They are trying to see how many video game characters they can get this year. They do have plenty more events at their website. so don't be afraid to pitch in.

[Sarah]

If there was such a disturbance, then I wonder if they won't try and break up a group of marchers. Like they won't be prepared for it this year??

[Tegan]

Only certain areas are restricted to paid attendees.

The hotel itself is not a restricted area, and nor is most of the convention center, so it is possible to do a mission within - there will be many more people inside and it is likely going to be very hot outside.

Kim and I have been brainstorming to find something that would not offend security or be a hazard in any way to the safety of the convention goers, and what we have come up with is this:

We could come up with meeting points in the non-restricted parts of the hotel/convention center where an individual (or two, if we have enough people) can wait out of the flow of traffic.

At a designated starting point/time, we have one (or two; whatever) person/people start heading towards the next designated meeting point, singing the first verse of Henry the Eighth. When the verse is over and the next checkpoint is reached, the people waiting there start in on the second verse (starting with 'second verse, same as the first'), and the whole group heads to the next check point (in an orderly fashion!), while the second group takes over the singing and the first group backs up the second group, and the process repeats until all checkpoints have been reached, continuing to the nth verse.

It's a simple song; and you don't have to be a good singer to do it. Here's a link to the song, if you've never heard it: http://youtube.com/watch?v=znv_sUPaKfE.

[Carlos Martinez]

that sounds like a pretty good idea, although we wouldn't be able to do it the first day of a-kon, unless we get everything ready early the first day, and do it later the same day. also does it sound like a good idea to do it all 3 days of a-kon? or just one? and other than that, i think thats a god idea.

[Tegan]

I think it would probably be best to do it only once, but then, it would be a relatively short mission, and, if well-planned, simple to repeat if we feel like it.

Saturday would probably be the best day - maybe sometime around noonish.

We can probably get the hotel layout and plan our routes off of the areas that Kim and I know will be unrestricted areas.

[Robobbyerto]

hey carlos, we'd talked a while ago about doing something with akon, I know theres some people that are planning on going, and I agree it would be a really good place to do a mission, lots of people and I'm guessing press too? I think previously we'd talking about maybe doing a mission outside the actual event so people dont have to pay to get in, but there would still be a crowd.

Do you know when exactly Akon is, where it is (if I'm correct the downtown adams mark that I was told it used to be at is now a Sheraton, is akon still going to be there? next to the plaza of the americas?) , and how much it is to get in?

[Carlos Martinez]

Well, if we were to rally up the people that were going, we could see if there would be enough people to do something cool. also, how many people on here have video cameras?

[Stephanie]

I'll add in my two cents to the discussion! I know that some people might balk at the price, or not want to volunteer to get in for free, so I'll do a bit of a sales pitch. Even if you don't like anime and stuff, the price to get in also gets you into the concerts, the raves, all the fun little seminars, etc.

[Kimberly]

You can also volunteer to get in for free. If anyone wants to register, you need to do it before the cut off date, May 1st. And I think there are already quite a few people here that are going in one capacity or another. Not much press though, except for maybe the world record part. And you can get into the main hotel lobby and conference center without a badge, no problem. It is May 30th - June 1st in the Sheraton (formerly Adams Mark Hotel) in downtown Dallas next to Plaza of the Americas. Website is www.a-kon.com for more info.

[Carlos Martinez]

That sounds like doing it outside would be a good idea. According to the website, it is at the Adams Mark Hotel, yes. And it used to cost $40 to get in, but now it is $45. so it would probably be better if we do it outside, and if we do whatever it is we will do, then maybe it should be pretty long, so that word can get passed around and the people inside might come out.
but what would be a god idea?

[Sarah]

I'm very new to this site, but this caught my eye. Akon...well it would have to be something pretty wild to shock people there. The singing would be fun, but I'm not sure if anyone would bat an eye, as there are tons of people there trying to shock and awe people.

What about going the opposite direction? People at Akon dress very creatively, very laid back. Costumes, t-shirts from the Anime, shorts and jeans. What if we went completely formal, like business attire (shirts and ties, skirts and pant suits)? Frankly, I think that would cause more of a stir than singing alone.

Just a thought

[Carlos Martinez]

Although since it is somewhat of a fancy Hotel, people might confuse us with just people on a business trip. And there are also some people wearing suits because of certain anime. (ex. Death Note) although that is in the right direction
we need to figure out what costumes to wear, because normal clothes wont draw attention, weird and crazy clothes might get some, and formal might get some also.
But maybe another genre like..... Halloween, Christmas, or maybe 80's. It would have to be something that would stick out completely.

[Rhysa]

What about just doing your hair crazy, maybe spraying some color in it or wearing a strange colored wig and wearing as much mix matched clothes as possible? It would have a harajuku feel to it and people who dress like that ALWAYS stick out at the convention. If there was a huge gaggle of us, it would work even more. Just bright, bright colors and stuff will work wonders.