They said we would be getting more attention put to J-Rock for 2005, but they want to make a separate masquerade,which we (Kuroeand Ametenshi) Beleive will just give Jrock less attention then it got this year. It will be brushed into a corner, and Misa said that it would give people the oppurtunity to learn more about Jrock. It's not like somebody's going to see it on the schedule and go "OH MY GOD JROCK I DONT KNOW WHAT THE HELL IT IS LETS GO" when they could be off doing other things that they know what they are. At the main masqerade, they might see a J-rocker, and become interested, and then want to learn more about it. So, basically, we are now petitioning against separate J-Rock and Anime masquerades.
Calling all j-rock fans, especially those who plan to attend Anime Boston 2004! We were impressed that there were so many j-rock fans who attended Anime Boston 2003. However, there was a disappointing lack of attention paid by the convention programming to the existence of a j-rock fan base. Everything revolved around anime. There was only one booth in the dealer's room that sold j-rock merchandise, and only one panel on j-rock met. J-rock cosplayers were also sadly ignored in the Masquerade. We as j-rock fans (and by j-rock we mean visual kei and real rock, *not* pop artists like Ayumi Hamasaki!) want to make sure that j-rock is not ignored at next year's Anime Boston.
Our plan is to make a pitch for a j-rock room. Like a video room or a game room, this room would be devoted to one theme through the whole convention: j-rock. This room would function as a place for j-rock fans and cosplayers to hang out and spend time together. We hope to get people to run some j-rock related panels there, and the rest of the time, we will play j-rock PVs (music videos), concert DVDs, and of course we'll have a CD player in there...we'll invite anyone who wants to to bring in and share their music collection. (So long as it's j-rock!) This room would also be a place for cosplayers to meet and take photos, and people who don't know anything about j-rock but are interested to come in and find out about it.
To convince the Anime Boston organizers that they should give j-rock fans their own room, we need the support of the fans. We are petitioning, and ask anyone who has an interest in j-rock to sign. Even if you aren't a die-hard fan, if you like to listen to Dir en grey or Malice Mizer once in a while and think you might drop by the room if it existed, we would love your support.
Signing the petition is simple: simply send your name and any comments or ideas you may have to this email address: