My AFA Experience

Hi everyone, my name is Linus, and some of you might know me as cyclo online.
Singaporean, 20, a graphic designer, and hoping to meet more of you!
I've been lurking around since 2007, but this is my virgin post so よろしくお願いします　^^;

Like many of you here, I share the dream of living and working in Japan someday, so Danny Choo has been a great source of inspiration and guidance ever since I discovered his blog 4 years ago.

What I respect about Danny Choo is that not only was he able to get to where he wanted to go, he eventually managed to build his career around the things that he loves the most. This is a picture of his booth on AFA Day 1 (Friday). I remember when Mirai was just an awkward looking girl sitting on the header of dannychoo.com.

Following his advice, I began to actively pursue my dream. I started taking Japanese lessons, immersing myself in the language (my entire playlist is J-Pop, a huge fan of YUI and LiSA so here's a shout-out to YUI and LiSA fans!!), building an online portfolio of my graphic design work, and actively reaching out to companies for a chance to work with them.

Some of you might wonder, how on earth did I get a picture of the booth before it the exhibition hall was even open?!
Well, this little booth over here has a part to play, and here's where my AFA story really begins!

Something always leads to something. After what must have been half a year of 10-15 companies rejecting me (well, I was pretty picky about where to apply as well), I finally got a job offer from SOZO, the organizing company of Anime Festival Asia. I was to work for dwango, the company behind Nico Nico Douga!

Screenshot borrowed from CutHeard @ Figure.fm
My job description seemed pretty simple: I was to man the booth and answer the queries of any passersby, while taking turns with the other part-timers to bring "interesting people" to participate in the Live Stream, as well as perform some crowd control.

What I didn't expect was that the Japanese staff would be too busy most of the time, and they ended up getting us part-timers to emcee the show. The little bit of Japanese I'd learnt came in handy, and although I don't think I did a splendid job, I manage to play the emcee role for some time, translating questions and answers ^^;

Did any of you see me at the booth? :x
(Fans of Nikoro and Nozomi, the two really talented girls who spontaneously agreed to help out emcee-ing, Nikoro is still hosting livestreams on NND, ID:co1410696 )

Although it was an extremely short lived stint, the job had its perks. This is me backstage during Ichiro Mizuki's Rock Your Soul performance. (Notice the LiSA tour towel and Letters to U album in my hand ;)

Left to Right: Ebi-chan (dwango JP staff), Jeff (another part-timer), Sono-san (dwango JP staff), and myself.

As Nico Nico Douga had a resting room backstage where we kept our stuff and had our lunch, we were given Artiste passes that granted us access backstage (as well as the front area next to VIP section of Rock Your Soul concert!)

Our employers were really nice and we got them some souvenirs at the end of our stint. We exchanged contacts and hopefully I'll be able to meet them again (or even work with them!!) some day in Japan :D

Snapped a photo with USAGI too! She's really nice :)

After LiSA's performance ended, I managed to catch her and get a signature on my First Press Letters to U!! (I had never opened it until I let her sign it xD)
Sorry for having to blur out her face, they have a rule about artists and photos, and I don't want to get her into trouble.

Remember the rule about artists and photos? I found her again a little later, and her manager wasn't around. I asked if it was possible to take a photo, and she gestured me over to take a fast one before her manager came. Really nice! (Sorry again for the blur :P)

A little note LiSA left on the door of her resting room for the AFA Staff. I was so tempted to bring it home!! (I didn't, don't sue me)

Here's the CD in all it's glory (Unfortunately it smudged a little ;_;)

Btw, I also happen to own LiSA's first english Fan Site and International Forum: LiSA-Lab.com
If you're a fan, do check it out! ;)

At the end of the third day while packing up, I managed to catch Danny Choo himself at the booth!

My job with Nico Nico Douga had come to an end, and it was time to think about my next step!! I still wasn't very much closer to achieving my dream of working and living in Japan.

Maybe, I might get to work with him some day...

Even got to ride in the Mirai-Mobile as the owner of the vehicle was there (didn't manage to get his name though >_<).
'Tis a really sweet BMW...

The next day was Culture Japan Night. I didn't plan on attending originally as I had a dental surgery that morning. I thought I would be missing out on a great opportunity to make new friends and speak with Danny Choo though, so I headed down after a nap and some pain-killers.

Didn't eat a thing (not really because there was not enough food, but also because I couldn't chew anyway), and it was really painful for me to talk all day ^^;

Was my first time visiting AKB48 Cafe, and I still can't really understand how AKB48 fans remember all the girls!! There are so many and they are all really pretty >_<

Photo borrowed from Fabrice Requin, a comrade I got to know at CJN!

Got to meet lots of interesting people too!
A guy who seemed quite a lot younger than me, but was really good at video editing and special effects.
A guy who saves up to travel the world, taking photos with his life size cardboard cut-out of Horo from Spice and Wolf at key landmarks across the globe.
Camera enthusiasts, figure reviewers, bloggers, and fans of LiSA!!! (Yes, LiSA-Lab grew quite a bit since that night xD)
And many more...

A great speech at the end of the night, it really got me thinking about working harder to pursue my dreams...

So I'd like to end of with a little tribute to AFA11 and Danny Choo for making that spectacular and eventful weekend possible.
Here's a little something I drew over the week :)

P.S. Did anyone notice the Retrokyu little Mirai is holding on to? Retrokyu is currently my favourite character from Mirai Millenium (besides Mirai herself of course!). Speaking of which, I wonder what Danny has prepared for us in Mirai Millenium. No idea what to expect except that it's got some mecha, really cute girls, out-of-this-world animation (judging from the OP sequence), and did I mention really cute girls?

Who is your favourite?