Ozine Fest 2014 (Day 2) in two POVs!

Credit: ozine-events.com

I already lost count of how many times I have cosplayed. Well, never mind. What’s important is that we did (we almost didn’t) attend Ozine Fest 2014 Day 2! I apologize, Jeanne and I never intended to attend all three days. Anyway, this is the worst con experience that we’ve ever had (since I didn’t attend UP AME back then, I wasn’t able to experience the long lines and stuff).

For today we have two POVs in a post (however it is more biased towards the ordinary congoer POV)! I asked my friends who went to the same event but didn’t share the same experiences as me. They are the ones who were able to buy tickets before the event (missed long lines and the heat outside). Let’s get started!

By the way, I don’t own all of the pictures here. Some photos were taken from Jaimee and Jeanne. The ticket information and other posters related to Ozine Fest 2014 were taken from ozine-events.com.

The story

Jeanne and I planned to attend Day 2 because it was the only day that was convenient for us. She had appointments on Day 1 (while I attended my driving lessons) and we were both busy on Day 3. So Day 2 it is! The first plan was to go to MOA at 8-9 AM, but we changed the plan to 11 AM because it’s just another event and it felt like we didn’t need to rush. After all, the lines during Ozine Fest 2013 wasn’t long and the area wasn’t full. Besides, if Ozine Fest 2014 was to be held at the 2nd floor of SMX and the lines are long, it won’t be that hot (since SMX is airconditioned).

Jeanne and I met up at exactly 11 AM and arrived at MOA a few minutes later. When we arrived at SMX, we were shocked. Is this the freakin’ line to Ozine Fest? Guess it is. How was I able to say that? The people who were in line were in cosplay. And if not, there were evidences that they are going to attend the event upstairs like wearing anime shirts and stuff. Even though there were other events that shared the same time and date as the Ozine Fest, all those people that we saw were obviously going to Ozine Fest. Anyway. We parked at the basement and then we were supposed to go in through the entrance there, but the lady guard told us that the line is already outside. Ugh, bad luck. Not like what we expected, we ended up there (it was going around SMX like a snake already).

I told you it looks like a snake.

The REALITY equivalent of the photo above. :3

Okay, so from the photos I shared above, the line was moving (thankfully) in a surely but slowly manner. A few minutes later we ended up beside the shops (I remember Tamayo’s Catering) and the line freakin’ stopped! Everyone was totally bored. The people who were in front of us were playing their 3DS and kept themselves busy. The others just sat down (even cosplayers…like us) and waited for the line to move again. And yeah, when it was announced that everyone must come inside, many congoers rejoiced!

Yup, that glimpse of happiness!

After two hours we already entered the ground floor of SMX and yeah, the line is now going up the escalator! Yay! But there were too much people going up that we ended up pushing like there was a stampede. OF COURSE THE ESCALATOR WAS MOVING DAMMIT AND THE PEOPLE ARE ALREADY ACCUMULATING AT THE EDGE! Because of this, the hanger that was holding Jeanne’s clothes in a supposedly neat manner unfortunately broke. And yeah, we were able to get the tickets at exactly 2:11 PM. We changed into our cosplay stuff inside the comfort room outside the event (it was pretty crowded tho) and then transferred to the comfort room at Function Room 4 (which no one seemed to notice) and applied makeup there. Another line (inside FR4) and present your ticket, you’re in! But instead of going in we just got our hands stamped (for re-entry) and went to the FR4 comfort room to apply makeup first hahaha. And went in for re-entry (even if it’s our first time to go in)!

WE SURVIVED THE TORTURE!

Those who were not tortured (tickets)

See this link for ticket information: http://www.ozine-events.com/ozine-fest-tickets/

See this link for passes to the picture taking with guests: http://www.ozine-events.com/ozine-fest-2014-meet-greet-vip-pass-details/

Credit: ozine-events.com

Jaimee and Cherry were not part of this torture simply because they bought the pre-selling tickets (PST). These tickets were bought before the event at a lower price. Each PST costs 100 pesos (and the tickets that Jeanne and I bought cost 150 pesos, contrast to the announcements made before the con that it was supposed to be 120 pesos, which caused commotions). Besides the regular and the pre-selling ticket, there was actually another pass that makes you VIP (they prioritize you in the line, etc.) and grants you a free entry to the con, which is the All-Star VIP Pass but because of the treatment that they give you it costs a lot—1300 pesos.

COMPARE THIS B/W TICKET WITH THE COLORFUL ONES ABOVE MEEP (sorry about the light)

The big advantage of these PSTs: they didn’t experience what Jeanne and I experienced. No long lines and stuff. They can just waltz in like one-two-three. But all’s the same once you get in the event: IT’S FREAKIN CROWDED LIKE HELL and yeah, they just opened FR4 for space but mind you, because they opened FR4 many cosplayers didn’t go inside (or stayed inside) the event anymore! They just sat down and took pictures and blah blah blah.

The PEEEERFECT Soul and Maka! 🙂

Survey!

I asked my friends to answer some questions. However, I wasn’t able to ask them personally because we were separated.

Ordinary congoer POV (ordinary tickets)

“Oh sheeeems. It’s hot, crowded, and only a few cosplayers attended. However, they were able to organize the lines and a hall was opened for those without tickets. Suggestions: bigger venue, and more spaces between halls. I guess that’s it. (laughs)” -Jeanne

“The lines are long so I guess they have to fix that but the other lines were okay. And it’s crowded too, lewl. Next time they should add more people to take care of the tickets, I guess? And also rent more rooms if possible.” -Angel

Congoer with connections POV (PST)

“I got my ticket from Cherry during the first day of our UPCAT review. It’s good because we didn’t have to line up outside, it’s hot! There are indeed a lot of people. But the perfect Maka and Soul cosplay made my day, plus I was able to buy the stuff I wanted!” -Jaimee

Other photos

Jeanne and I learned our lessons with this con. Hope you learned, too! If you want to enjoy a con, research information about releasing of tickets and other stuff so that you won’t die in the heat! Thanks for reading about our experience~

~Kairu