Yes, yes, I’m still alive. Some of you may not really be aware that KumoriCon, my local Portland convention, was this past weekend. I volunteered as part of the Maid Squad, and we had an over 50% increase in attendance, so it was buuuuuusy! Then I got back and got handed a bunch of work to do for my current project which you will see the results of in what I hope will be less than eight weeks, hence my quietness.

But of course tons has been going on, so I plan on doing a slew of posts over the weekend. In the meantime, to tide you over, I present to you: A Day in the Life of the Maid Squad. I took a bunch of video on my teensy-tiny digital camera on Monday (the last day of the convention, hurray for holiday weekends) and clipped together the best parts of my misadventures for your amusement. WITNESS as I deliver cupcakes, peace bond weapons, provide directions, and just generally make an ass of myself– a performance in two acts!

For those who want to know more (yes, I’m looking at you, convention-runners who are curious about the concept): as I mentioned before, the Maid Squad is basically just there to help out. We kind of function as the polite, friendly, cheerful interface for the con-goers.

We might provide directions (or even escort someone to their destination if need be), we might bring water to people waiting in the reg line, hold someone’s spot in line while they run to the restroom, or show off items for sale at the charity auction. We may also occasionally pour alcoholic beverages at a sake tasting, and run around doing the “nyan nyan” dance from Macross F in a desperate attempt to keep the people in line for said tasting happy. But we are always happy to be helpful (and of course, we’re all wearing maid or butler outfits).

I’m looking forward to doing it again next year and making it even better! (I have some tricks still up my sleeve, you see.)

So I’m taking a break from my maid duties to sit in on the Dark Horse panel– Dark Horse is based just out of Portland OR.

Carl Horn takes the mic and talks about releases, menioning that Dark Horse is trying very hard to get Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service made into a movie. Do completely totally want.

Rough date for the CLAMP mangettes project: first week of August, probably. Still no title though…two main characters. That’s all we’re going to get out of them (without copious amounts of alcohol).

Vampire Hunter D movie? Dunno but if there’s any new news it’d probably be announced at NYAF in September.

It’s been noted that Dark Horse accepts unsolicited submissions and are seeking writers, inkers, and letterers, especially letterers. They also want fanart for the Shinji Ikari Raising Project manga.

Apparently they considered picking up some of the former Raijin titles bac in the day, interestingly.

I think this guy just asked if translators take translations from scanlations; Horn says that they know the people they work with and that their translations are all from scratch.

In relation to a different question Horn mentions that their deal with CLAMP and the mangettes includes 6-page previews for each 80-page mangettes issue.

The end!

See me at a con? At PAX I probably won’t be very distinguishable, but if you do see a crazy (and short) brunette (with super-long hair) running around the dealer room or wherever, give her a holler. Oh, I WILL be wearing a bunch of The World Ends With You pins, if that makes me more identifiable, and I may also be wearing a Haruhi or Gurren-dan jacket. But I’ll only be at PAX Friday, and mostly towards the afternoon/evening.

Kumori will be much easier to spot me, since I’ll be on the Maid Squad. I’m doing registration 10-12 on Saturday and then on Sunday I’ll be manning the Host Club tea party and the Slants Q&A. I will probably also help out here and there, so look for the maid with the ruffly wristbands and gosurori headpiece and it might be me O_o ‘Course I’ll probably have street clothes some of time too.

Anyway! On to the news:

TBS has confirmed the cancellation of Tonari no 801-chan. “Various reasons” cited but not specified.

Be Beautiful shows signs of life. Kuri notes that their website claims to be going through a redesign, and also that they’re going to be at a con (she doesn’t specify which and I’m not sure either– it doesn’t appear to be NYAF nor Yaoi-Con).

Okay, kids, be good while I’m gone. There’s $20 on the kitchen counter for a pizza.

Live in the Pacific Northwest? Attending KumoriCon? Got a maid or butler outfit (or are able to pull one together)? Want preferred seating at convention events? Good, I’ve got a deal for you!

KumoriCon is taking place in Portland next weekend (Labor Day weekend) and is seeking additions to its Maid Squad (of which I will also be a member part of Saturday and all of Sunday). Those who volunteer will get a special pin as well as preferred seating at the various con events. And Kumori has some great guests this year, including Dark Horse superstar Carl Horn, Robotech creative director Tommy Yune, Girl Genius creators Kaja and Phil Foglio, and Real Life comicker Greg Dean. Oh, and did I mention the Slants? (And preferred seating?)

Being in the Maid Squad entails basically helping out guests, at least as far as I’m told: you might hold someone’s place in line while they run to the bathroom, bring water to congoers awaiting an event or hanging around, or help someone find the viewing room they’re looking for. But you DO have to have your own maid outfit (and I think butlers are acceptable as well). And you do also still have to pay to register for the con.

But I also think it’s going to be really fun. I’m looking forward to participating, anyway! (Which reminds me, need to have my apron starched.)

Any of that get you interested? Be sure and e-mail Alexandra to volunteer!