AnimeUSA: Versailles Report

[rose_of_pain]

Alright I'm going to do things a bit different with my con report and break it up into sections. Mostly as I realize that most of my con-going friends probably don't want to have to skim over a large amount of Versailles babble and that most of the my J-Rock friends will only want to read the Versailles babble. XP So I'm making a separate entry just for the Versailles stuff now and going to do the actual con report later. That and I'm still waiting on photos that I want to post for the con report as I have none of Rai right now. ;_;

The Panel:

So the Q&A session was on Friday of the con in the evening. So I changed out of cosplay and well sadly I don't have much in terms of great clothing that really went with the style of the band. So I ended up taking out my OLD coat from my Ryouko costume which I was a bit nervous about as its not a very good coat, lol. But I managed to make it look alright I think. I had my frilly shirt and dress pants with it and actually pretty glad I did get dressed up for the events as most the girls there were dressed in lolita or h.Naoto or whatever those other brands of Japanese clothing are and really that's the type of stuff I'd wear to seeing like Gazette or Dir en grey, not really Versailles so I felt a bit proud of myself to be more nicely dressed than most there but that's the snob in me talking there so don't mind me.

So I get there about 2 hours early or so, which I thought would be enough time. And find out that because the room is so small, they decided to have a sign-up sheet for the available seats to try to make things "easier". Well I really wish they would've said something about that ahead of time as that was a tad bit nerve wrecking trying to find out where this sheet was. I did manage to find it in the Panel Ops room and managed to grab the last two "guaranteed seats" for Magenta and I. So after that relief, went back over to the panel area and was like "well guess we'll just wait here" but of course there were too many people so they told everyone to clear out. We went over to one of the nearby tables and just sat there so we were still not too far away from it as I was just so afraid they'd call out names early or change things around if I left the area entirely. Well then the time rolls around that they told everyone to line up at and of course its a large mass of people as people are also hoping to get in after the ones on the list. And they're trying to keep the hall clear and we're trying to do that as well but it was hard with all those people and we could barely hear what they were telling us to do. Luckily they did finally get some megaphones and so we were able to hear the names though I love how they didn't even like check that you were who you said you were, as everyone just kinda made a mad dash to the room when they called your name out so I"m sure a lot of people probably went in during that part who weren't even on the list. x_x; And then of course they took out some chairs to try to make more room so I didn't even get that seat I was "guaranteed". *cough* But that's ok as despite the pain I was in from standing for so long, I was in plain view of the band as I was the first row of standing people so its kinda nice to be all "well they definitely can see me now" and all.

So then they come in and wow, it was so mind blowing seeing them in person. Especially Kamijo. And I found it funny how DJ Sisen snuck in to the side so he could watch too. XP Oh man their costumes are so insanely detailed. I originally thought about making Kamijo's Noble costume and well...so glad I didn't! ^^; For one thing I wouldn't want to be standing, hot, and smushed in that costume, and more importantly...I would've felt very small in front of the real thing as he was wearing that exact costume at the con. Man oh man I was drooling all over those outfits. So incredible! The people who made them are like my idols, seriously. Such amazing work! I mean no offense to other bands but most J-Rock costumes I see in person tend to look kinda gaudy up close but not these!

So yes, onto the panel itself. While I could tell you every single question and answer, you could just look it up here... http://www.bonjourhoney.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=247 As one of the girls was nice enough to record everything down (I think I even saw her writing, lol).

But I will talk about some of my favorite parts such as the "If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only bring one thing, would it be?" and Kamijo answered "Hizaki" and Hizaki was all "And I shall be taken" which of course made us all laugh 'cause it sounded so wrong. XP Teru took too long to answer so Kamijo hit him on the head and throughout the whole Q&A whenever Kamijo couldn't think of an answer, he'd hand it straight to Teru. XP Poor Teru was all flustered each time too. And downright adorable the whole time. During a question for both guitarists, Teru never got to make his answer after Hizaki and he looked so confused the poor thing. ^^;

I loved how they kept passing the mic around trying to make each other answer first. Usually either Teru or Yuki would be stuck answering. And of course most of Yuki's answers were related to alcohol. XP He even made the rock symbol several times during his answers. Oh such s a dork. And sadly a lot of the answers were confusing to understand because the translators had moments of trying to figure out how to translate certain words so I also think some of the questions didn't quite come out clear to the band either judging by some of their answers. I tried to pick up as much of their Japanese as I could to see if I could figure out some answers on my own but I'm not that good either sadly.

Then when someone asked what they would do during the zombie invasion, Kamijo was like "Zombie. Game." and clapped his hands and then got us all to clap with him and then suddenly stops and goes "shhhhh!" XP I still don't get it but it was hilarious at the time.

Someone asked if Hizaki liked Ayumi Hamasaki (which I think the girl forgot to write down in her report there) and he said he does which I thought was cute because his face kinda looks like hers. XP

Near the end someone asked if they could switch place with any other member, who would it be. Kamijo said Jasmine You and imitated Jasmine's stage pose and then Jasmine said Kamijo and imitated Kamijo's pose. XP Teru looked over at Yuki who like smiled back at him and he was all "Yuki! *nodnod*" and of course Yuki said Teru. So then poor Hizaki just sat there looking back and forth at everyone for a while and we were all "awww" and he said "I'd like to be in the audience" XP So cute.

So after that everyone like started rushing out to go to the autograph session. I calmly walked as I was like "whatever, we're all getting one. Geez you crazy fangirls." lol Magenta stayed around the room 'cause it was the same room for her panel.

Autograph Session:

The Autographs were directly afterwards and the line was a lot less chaotic as it was downstairs on the floor under the lobby and the line was a bit more organized. The wait wasn't that bad but it felt a lot longer than what it was just because we were all standing for so long already and our feet were killing us. lol I was talking to some rather nice people in the line about it and we ended up like right in front of the men's bathroom for most of the line so we were like "hmhm awkward place to be..." XP And the guy friend of theirs was also really cool and he was all sad that they never picked on him despite the fact he was really tall and has his hand raised the whole time and he swore Roger looked right at him and kept choosing other people. My conclusion to him was "its because you're not some lolita girl so he didn't even notice you were there *patpat*". So we really only were waiting like 20 or so minutes after the starting time but it felt like an hour because we were all like "...going to pass out..." lol.

So anyways I get up to my turn and I got my poster out and oh my god. Seeing them that up close was pretty amazing. I had no idea each of them was going to shake my hand as I'm used to most J-Rock autographs of them just nodding their head to you and that's it. But as soon as Yuki put his hand out to me right after I was all "arigato..." I was all O_O *reaches out for hand instantly*. And they were all so cute and nice about it too. Hizaki was so adorable, I almost had a retarded fangirl moment of "kawaii~" but stopped myself. XP And then of course I get to Kamijo and he just looks at you with such an intense gaze. It's like time stops when he does it too. And he had my hand so firmly too. Sadly I totally don't remember what he said but it was more than just "arigato" there were a few more words in there too but I was a bit too taken by the fact that I was actually holding Kamijo's hand. And then Teru's autograph was the cutest thing ever and I couldn't help but laugh at him and smile as it was like he was scribbling all over the poster. And then Jasmine You totally took me by surprise when he waved a little and was all "Hi~ *tilts head*" Me: "O_O Eh? H-hi..." and after he signed, he like took my hand into both of his hands and shook them firmly and looked so sincere and as I was walking off all waved to me and watched me go. I thought I was going to run smack into a wall because of that. XP So yeah, now you know that Lyn every so often has her own silly fangirly moments. x_x

After I went back up to the panel room to see the end of Ling and Co's Cosplay panel. And they left the waters out from the band's panel and so Magenta was like "Here, this one's Kamijo's" XP And yeah I downed what water was left in it. >>; Ok, I guess maybe that was a bit over the top moment for me but I couldn't help it. I only do this with certain J-Rockers, ok? XP

Concert:

So yes I'm not going to get into the whole drama about what did or didn't happen behind the scenes in this report. I'm going to talk solely about the actual concert itself. The wait was indeed very long and confusing but I was patient and I do consider it to be worth it as I fully enjoyed every second of the concert.

I can gladly say that this is perhaps the first concert where I actually knew every song they played (other than maybe PLC but there was like one song I didn't know at the time. I'm ashamed to say I didn't know Area until after that concert ^^;; But this isn't about PLC...) so I'm proud of myself as I usually fail at having many songs of any band. ^^;; But I actually do have all the Versailles songs and managed to learn them all before the concert. XP Of course I can't tell you the order of the songs as I'm horrible at remembering what order they went in and all.

I managed to be pretty close to the stage and had a pretty good view of Kamijo the whole time. I missed some of the things the other band members did just because I was so focused on him. ^^;; Sadly could not see Yuki at all as that often happens with the drummer unless you're front row. I did see him raise his drumsticks up at one point and I was all "yay I can see his hands...oh that's so sad" lol. Poor Yuki. The band did seem a bit annoyed the first two songs but then they really got into it and they were all their usual selves and happy to be there and getting really into it with the audience. Kamijo pretended to flirt with Hizaki and Jasmine several times and be just plain silly with Teru (and I think there was some pretend flirting there too but it was hard to tell, lol). Teru was the cutest thing ever I swear. XP And Jasmine was simply fabulous with his poses and his mere prescense (which I suddenly can't spell) in general.

Kamijo did do a few moments of little monologues but nowhere as big and over the top as the Lareine ones. And I did feel a bit of nostalgia when he did as I couldn't help but think "...oh how I wish I could've heard him say 'bonjour honey' or give a dramatic monologue where he's all "boku...boku....boku!" XP But I loved Versailles just as much so it's alright. Kamijo also said in broken english at one point that he wanted to take us all with him back to Japan. That was so cute. ^_^ We were all "please do!"

I can't remember what order the songs were in anymore. I think Revenant Choir was last? And everyone got pretty hard into that one of course. For me I think History of the Other Side was the one that got to me the most. I got REALLY into that one and I got pretty emotional. The whole concert was like that for me as I was just so happy and I kept crying like the dork I am. XP

Sadly they didn't throw any of the picks or drumsticks anywhere near me but Jasmine You did throw his water bottle nearby and Magenta managed to catch the straw from it and gave it to me. XP So I do have his straw. lol

And I feel like I'm forgetting something but I can't remember so I'll add things later if I realize them later on. XP But that was pretty much my experience

~Lyn

Comments

[zoi-no-miko.livejournal.com]

You know... I laughed so hard when I heard it in person, but... I kinda miss the Bonjour Honey too. ;____;

He said it during the Akon Q&A and us little Lareine fans were so happy. <3

[rose-of-pain.livejournal.com]

I remember reading that in your report and I was kinda hoping he would do it at some point during the con and so was a little sad when he didn't. XP Oh well.

~Lyn