Second Time at Erie Anime Fest

Yesterday, Drillimation made a second appearance at the second Erie Anime Fest in Erie, Pennsylvania. The first appearance was in March 2024.

Issues

Getting to and from the convention is a challenge. Both were plagued by rain and it’s our responsibility to cover everything to avoid damage to the equipment, especially if you have a 20+ inch (50 cm) monitor in your hands. Because the convention starts in the morning and I’m out of the studio from 8AM to 5PM (roughly a full day at work), I don’t hesitate to stop by the nearby McDonald’s to pick up some hotcakes which I like.

First Time

I’ve had all sorts of issues when it comes to getting things running. Because I have an external monitor and a MacBook Air in my arsenal, even getting electricity can be a challenge. The first time I had to put up with the lights flickering and requiring me to restart my monitor (it was gusty that weekend, and it was accompanied by a winter storm). It would’ve been much better if my parents didn’t come in and stalk me, though a few things that I would have to give credit for is them bringing in lunch plus bringing in my donation box after it arrived following a delay.

Second Time

The second time my electrical outlet wasn’t working, and the staff had to plug me into another outlet using a very long extension cord that was old and dirty (but still functional). Even worse, the doujin group left of me had a baby that threw a temper tantrum. Thankfully, my parents didn’t stalk me this time, though I had to bring my own snacks to keep me afloat.

Summary

Going to conventions is a great way to get my word out, but it’s expensive. I’m always happy to have fans stop by my booth to give me donations or check out what I’ve done. It would’ve been much better if it had more Touhou Project doujin circles. A lot of people who stop by my booth have never even heard of Touhou Project before, sometimes converting non-players into players.

Additionally, Drillimation has also used the Erie Anime Fest to launch an anti-smoking campaign following the death of famed manga artist Akira Toriyama, which occurred a week before my first exhibition back in March. Any type of smoking does not just harm the lungs, but nearly every organ in the body, including the brain, which was the source of his death.

A 2020 study by the American Heart Association has confirmed that smoking can lead to an increased risk of hematomas and brain tumors. Nicotine can damage the walls of blood vessels in the brain through the use of increasing blood pressure, increasing the likelihood for a stroke or hematoma. The link between tobacco and brain tumors is not well understood.

Sources

• https://www.yourerie.com/news/breaking-news/thousands-in-erie-face-flickering-lights-and-power-outages/