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HAHAHAHA that just sounds funny....
Seriously. I used to go to the con just for the exhibit hall, but honestly, I can pretty much get anything I want locally or online at the same price or lower. Especially in LA. Depending on the day you go, there are tons of things that are interesting.
My experience at last years AX was ok. The modeling contest blew chunks. I was hoping for more modelers to show up and show off stuff, but a gigantic Lego Salamis (not painted, nothing, just lego) won for best of show - one of 4 or so total awards. I remember years ago the model contest was something to behold. Which is one of the reasons I went ahead to propose my model building workshop. Gotta raise gunpla/model building awareness...
Now it wasn't until my experiences at Otakon, that I realized there was so much more to a convention than just the Exhibit Hall. I saw the Anime Music Videos. Very impressive, especially the comical ones. The Masquarade - imagine skits from folks dressed in various cosplay outfits. Most are very well done, and it's an interesting show. Panels. Now this is where you get upclose and sorta personal with the intricaties of the anime realm. Before Otakon, I really didn't spend much time browsing things other than the exhibit hall. I too am only a casual anime fan. I'm very picky about what I watch, and I usually don't watch alot of anime. I am, first and foremost, a gundam fan. But this experience at Otakon opened up my eyes to the "other" activities. Even with the Masquarade, there were lots of "Naruto" themed skits, I had not watched a single episode of today's "DragonBall" series... but I throughly enjoyed the skits - they were well done.
Speaking of panels, last year folks grilled the Bandai rep. This year I want to meet Yutaka Izubuchi - my favorite Gundam mechas were designed by him: Hygog, Dogas, Sazabi, Nu Gundam, Gundam NT-1, Kampfer, etc etc - having him sign the Mecha Design Works art book that I have being delivered to me.
I would highly recommend picking out a single day from the schedule that offers the most activities that interest you; and come on out. Registration is what it is. The AX staff are all volunteers and usually youngsters. They know nothing. It's supposed to get better, but sometimes you just get it stuck to you without any lube. Last year's registration sucked, I pre-registered, only to show up a full day before the event to pick up my "pre-registered" badge and wait about 3.5 hours in line. There was an empty line for "non pre-registered" badge purchases... mind boggling. This year however, I pre-registered and they have mailed out the badges. I think it may be too late to get a badge mailed out to you, but I think there still is a pre-registration thingy. If you find that there are events that you want to see or take part in, on multiple days, I would recommend just buying the 4 day pass... it's about equalivant to buying 2 individual day passes.
Last year, I met up with some folks from various modeling message boards and that made it so much fun for me. If you're going alone, you're more than welcome to hook up with me and the group I'm with. I have a couple of friends coming in from the east coast, and another friend from sacramento. Hell, I live in your neighboring city (Placentia) - we can trade modeling secrets :)
As for IPMS shows.... you just missed a decent show up in Ontario. The big IPMS show is OrangeCon tho. And that's fairly close to you as well. Details on the club and the show here:
http://www.ipmsoc.org There really needs to be more "gunpla" modelers at these shows. I'm getting tired of showing up at the door and the guys at the club reconizing me and saying "good, the Gundams are here".
edit: oops. misread the part about IPMS. I have yet to go to a meeting... most of the guys seem to be older. But now that you mention it, I think I may join IPMS OC.... since I am in the OC now, and I could always learn some new tricks from fellow modelers.
Here's meeting info:
We meet the third Friday of the month at 7:30 PM at the
La Quinta Inn and Suites
3 Centerpointe Drive, La Palma, CA 90623
(714) 670-1400
The next meeting should be July 23. I'm going to plan on going... So come along too... better to be a noob with another noob than a lonely noob
