Got home yesterday and already crushed with my regular workload. I'll be working on my report of the interview during nights and the weekend (and will hopefully be posting it before the weekend ends)
Anyways, here's a short personal recap of the weekend!
Thursday:
Got in at NYC and headed straight to NJ with my friends. Got some supplies to last the weekend and picked up regular con badge.
Went to Ruby Tuesdays with wota buddies and unexpectedly ran into Berryz. Needed to speak & confirm with Yaz about our interview but didn't want to seem like a stalking creeper.
After panicking a while, finally got the guts to approach her. All went well with business talk. Went back to table to join the buddies, waved to Berryz when they left.
And then waited 2 hours to get our food. And another 2 hours before we got our bills. Needless to say, I didn't go back to Ruby Tuesdays the rest of the trip.
Friday:
Naturally woke up around 5AM, not sleepy at all. Got ready and joined the already formed/long line for entering the dealer's room.
Surprised that the con staff actually helped us into turning the list official this time.
Left to get my press pass before dealer's room opened and overheard the girls rehearsing for the live that night. Came back to the line to find people jotting down the setlist
Finally got let into the room. High-fiving all fellow wotas as the line snaked around. Despite being the 24th person in line, had to wait an hour and a half to reach the booth, and by that time almost everything was out of stock. Met up with Ping to test the interview equipment, then went for some quick lunch and rested a bit at the hotel.
Dropped by for the end of the opening ceremony and then headed over to the booth to run into super-assholish AN staff. Especially that fat white tall guy on a power trip. I'll always remember that ugly mug. Anyways, they started screaming at us to try to herd us around. Finally, Berryz came and started signing the banner. Fat tall staff standing in a line in front of us, and that one asshole wouldn't even squat a bit even though he was clearly in the way. Before girls could even finish signing, some con higher-up old man came screaming into the crowd because we were creating a fire hazard. Having enough of their shit, I just turned around to look at the video game booth behind me. Berryz girls looked so shocked and sad to see us getting herded off, and started to wave. By the time the screaming stopped, turned around to see the girls already leaving since all the fans got shooed off.
By the time I got into the room for the concert, people with the premium passes were already in there. Was about to go find Ping and Ezra to get into the press area but the One Two Three started playing, and my excitement just exploded. After the song ended, finally calmed down enough to carry on. Got to the area in front of the barriers and told we were free to take pics for the first 3 songs and to leave during the first MC. After 2 songs, MC started and we left the front area. At that moment, realized that I gave up a good view for the concert in return for the press photos. D'OH. I had 2 other people to take pics for me.
Went to the side where press seats were marked. Was told that we could stand on the chairs so I did. Then after one song, tall fat asshole staff comes back AGAIN and tells us to get down. Had to worm my way through non-wota crowds to get to a decent spot in the concert hall/to my friends. ENJOYed the rest.
Here's the setlist, btw. Courtesy of Jen V.
ライバル (Rival)
友情 (Yuujou Junjou oh Seishun)
スッペシャ (Special Generation)
抱きしめて (Dakishimete Dakishimete)
恋の呪縛 (Koi no Jubaku)
Because Happiness
愛のスキスキ (Ai no Suki Suki Shisuu Joushouchuu)
VERY BEAUTY
雄叫びボーイ (Otakebi Boy WAO!)
本気ボンバー (Maji Bomber!!)
世の中薔薇色 (Yononaka Barairo)
一丁目ロック (Icchoume Rock!)
Encore:
ジリリ キテル (Jiriri Kiteru) *fanpicked song
Girls Times
After the concert, started joining in on the Riot for a bit before realizing "Hey! I have a backstage pass!!"
Went to go find my other backstage buddies and exchanged contact info with staff to get our pics mailed to us. Sat around and waited a couple minutes before they brought us to the back. Realized I didn't bring any goods with me to get signed, but Ric ever so kindly gave me one of his photosets to get signed. They started to let us into the back mini-room one by one. Photo op came first. Each of us got 2 pics with the girls. First one I did was the JPH!P handsign. Second was a normal peace sign.
Sat down again and watched everyone else get their pics taken. Then we got up one by one for our signings. Right before my turn, the girl next to me asked if she sould get part of her cosplay signed, since she didn't have any merch either. And since they said yes, I made a split second decision to get my overshoulder bag (that i take with me everywhere i travel) signed instead.
Once I got in front of them, I asked Chii if they could write my name on it, and she said sure before asking me how to spell it. (Btw, had to do this in my half-assed Japanese bc Yaz was busy atm. LOL quite a nerve-wracking learning experience) Chii asked me who I wanted to write my name and I pointed at her rather enthusiastically before a staff member gave me a paper and sharpie to write my name down. Then the other girls started talking to me when others were signing, namely Captain, Momo, and Chii, since they already signed and they were gonna write my name at the end. Girls complimented my Japanese, and started OOOing when I told them I learned it all from watching TV. Chatted with them about other stuff, incl going to Japan this fall, etc etc. Was surprisingly calm after entering the room and taking the pics though. After saying bye, me, Ric and Eric practically skipped out of the concert hall in a 3-way hug. Met up with our friends before heading back to the hotel's bar for an after concert party to end my day.
Saturday:
Woke up and fretted for half an hour about what to wear since I had the interview that day. Finally left the hotel to temporarily join in on the Q&A/autographs line to hang out with people. Got some of my interview questions reviewed and fixed from numerous friends. Started getting really nervous and sort of sick feeling while heading over to teh interview place. Once we got there, were met with Philippe and other Berryz staffs. Tested our equipment while Bryan was inside doing his interview. Finally got inside after a while of growing nervousness. When we got inside, the first one the girls saw was me. And unexpectedly, the first thing I heard was "Ah! S******-san!"
She frikking remembered my name.
And I didn't even say it out for her the night before. I only spelled it out letter by letter. Which means she remembered my name and read it out herself?!?!? *EXPLODES*
Anyways, waved at the girls and greeted them. We were trying to set up the equipment and cord layout when I had to turn around, and my signed bag flashed in front of them, and Miya pointed it out to the rest, who seemed pretty happy that I was wearing it(?). (Althought to be honest, I wanted to seal it up and not use it after it got signed but I didn't have anything else to carry my stuff around the rest of the weekend. Finally set up and got the interview under way. Risako was less than foot in front of me, and I kept playing this game of 'make eye contact with a member to see who loses and starts grinning first'. LOL. Did that with Miya a bunch since she was the 2nd closest from me and we kept making eye contact. It's more funny now that I think back on it hahaha
After the interview ended, we got up to leave before Miya and Momo(? Was it Momo?) got up and said "Stop! Stop!" while holding up their hands. "Purezento! Purezento!"
I had gotten so caught up and excited by the interview alone that I forgot we were to get some surprise gifts. Got a signed and addressed picture, as well as a limited version of their 8th album, handed directly to me by Chinami, who told me to listen to it. I just grinned and told her that I already have but will def listen again. More small talk as we wrapped up the stuff to leave, and finally waving to them as we left the room.
Went back to the hotel to drop off equipment and share the interview files b/t the 3 of us. Afterwards, went back into the big room to get our press seats in the front for Q&A.
Waved to the girls as they entered. Got pointed at by Maasa before she whispered to Capn about something. Enjoyed watching the Q&A and seeing numerous friends get to go up and give their presents to the girls. Afterwards, decided to forgo my autograph bracelet thingy since I already had 2 things signed and wanted to give people with nothing more time with the girls. So we just sat in the front row and watched for an hour. Only then did it really hit me how excruciatingly tiring it can be to be an idol. These girls were signing things and smiling at their fans with all the energy in them for over an hour while I was just sitting down quietly with the energy slowly seeping out of me. Every once in a while, there would be a break in the line, and the girls would look past the gap at us and wave some more. EXCEPT Momoko. Some people son't realize it but this girl really really REALLY works hard as an idol. Even when there was nobody in front of her to sign, she would look up at the person in front of Captain and start beaming at them. What a pro.
After that was the raffle for the signed banner. For some reason, they didn't have mics up there and had to scream. LOL. Was really happy to see one of the Japanese wotas I met the year before win the banner! Afterwards, went outside with the group before heading to dinner.
And after that...
HELLO!PARTY 3!!!!!!!!!!!
Was so damn awesome and fun I don't even know where to start. I forgot to ask Bryan and Jen on the reason later, but for some reason, Yaz & some of the Berryz staff were there for the beginning of the party. Unfortunately, they left before the funnest part of dance + wotagei. But then again, I'm not sure how comfortable I would be doing the wotagei to Romantic Ukare Mode in front of UFA personnel
Had a bunch of fun at the party just talking to everyone, and trying (in vain) to speak with the Japanese fans. (I can speak to the idols just fine, but for some reason have a hard time grasping Japanese when talking to the fans LOL)
Sunday:
Got up super early to head back into NY to return the rental car. Walked around China town and got lunch before meeting up with part of the gang at Kinokuniya. Found a bunch of magazines and photobooks that I was originally going to buy online. Spent over $80 on 2 PBs and 2 magazines. Then headed over to karaoke at Duet35. Had an incredible 5 hours of fun with everyone, despite losing half the range in my voice from all the craziness over the weekend. After that, we made a Berryz Psychos train into the subway and over to dinner at a Thai place. Good food + great company + live Hello!Ranking made for a wonderful time!
But then comes the sad part of leaving. Luckily I was part of the first group to break off so I didn't have to go through the pain of watching the group get smaller and smaller. Was still in a pretty foul/exhausted mood on the way back to get the car to head back to NJ though.
Monday:
Sent my good friend off at the airport before going back to NY and heading off myself
Wow, that was supposed to be a SHORT summary. What happened? lol
Also, dammit,
WRITERJUNKIE was there and I didn't get to meet one of my favorite writers ever!??!!?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
Topic: [2012/06/08 to 10] Berryz at AnimeNEXT (New Jersey, USA) (Read 43786 times)