Holiday Matsuri is SO Different now...

[@SarahSpaceman]

Thanks to Milanote for sponsoring this video! Sign up for free and start your next creative project: milanote.com/sarahspaceman0125

[@comet-soda]

"Were you stuck in the elevator?" "You're Sarah Spaceman!" That was probably my favourite moment of the whole video, just such a funny and wholesome interaction!

[@ArcticAirUltraPro]

She was probs like, omg I will get stuck in an elevator any day to see Sarah spaceman 😂

[@melanie_kay_6014]

"And now there was a trashcan in the elevator" 😂

[@KnoviceCosplay]

It means so much that you loved our skit! ahhhhhh i'm glad you liked it and i have to plug the amazing game we cosplayed from, Little Goody Two Shoes made by Astral Shift!

[@stanwee]

YOU BOTH DID SO WELL!!! i know nothing about the game but you made the characters so compelling in just a tiny skit !!

[@chaoticgabby]

Best skit out there 🔥

[@may-tine]

Literally buying this game right now because of your skit!

[@ash_tree_o7]

YOUR COSPLAYS ARE SO AMAZING!!! honestly, i only know the plot of the game vaguely through youtube videos (unfortunately i can’t play the game myself), but i was so happy to recognise these characters!! designs in this game are honestly on the whole other level, ethereal i would even say, and you captured these characters so well!! the details on your costumes are so stunning, and the skit??? your gentle movement, the thing with a blue butterfly, and how the sound of the bell was perfectly synced with Elise’s and her lantern’s movement???? you did such a great job, i loved your performance so much!!

[@sunako4955]

it’s so beautiful!!! i love little goody two shoes!

[@alloragamer]

Hey, as someone who talked to the constaff at the end of holmat 2023, I can confirm that the venue change was 100% because of the mariott pushing holmat out and treating the attendees and staff horribly. I don't know what thier beef with holmat was, but they were for sure trying to push us out with forcing bad dates, trying to upcharge the con on the booking fees, treating attendees badly, etc. As far as the hyatt convention center stuff/18+ stuff, the panels were good and packed, but the organization was absolutely atrocious. the wristband thing was a mess and imho shouldn't have been implemented with how poorly it was done in practice, and there was a huge issue with the hottest men in anime line getting pushed back, moved around, broken up and reforming, etc for like, 3 hours straight and it was clear the staff had no idea how to handle the crowd (which was surprising since 2023 had a good system of "you can line up 3 hours ahead but you have to stay in the roped off corner so you aren't a fire hazard") overall i agree with your sentiments, but wanted to pop in w that, especially about the whole mariott situation.

[@selanryn5849]

The standing alcohol on the floor of the soon-to-be-broken elevator is a small clue as to why they were kicked out of the prior venue. Just saying.

[@jp-wc4ce]

why can't hotels ever end these arrangements gracefully :/

[@jazzycat8917]

@@jp-wc4ce I mean the Hilton did when they (deservedly) killed Rainfurrest

[@moonshiro]

​@@selanryn5849 how is y the elevator being broken is the con go-ers fault..? And the alcohol too why you're assuming it was the cosplay con-go-ers and not the basketball fans that were also staying at the same place because the convention that they were having was happening at the same time as the cosplay convention? And it could be people from neither of those events , people can be gross and they don't have to be basketball fans or cosplay fans . And the elevator and the AI thing was just weird ..

[@alloragamer]

@@jp-wc4ce while true, generally when cons get kicked out or evicted, the hotel just tells them "you cannot host your event here any more" instead of trying to get the event itself to change venues.

[@four1629]

sometimes i get sad at my age because it feels like all the good things that are already established are coming to an end 😭 i know there are plenty of good events still, but things get more expensive and we have to make new ways to have fun or be around each other. i wish i could've experienced these things at their greatest!

[@crowstray]

Same here. And the vibes too, though it may be looking through nostalgia/rose-tinted glasses.

[@Forginswagger]

I get how you feel, but another thing is a con that is still growing and has a new space for the size has potential to improve. I used to think one con I loved was great but then instead of 3 hotels sharing it, it move to the convention center and has since just improved since moving into a new space. Another thing is the hotel might just need a breather from a big con.

[@Forginswagger]

I get how you feel, but another thing is a con that is still growing and has a new space for the size has potential to improve. I used to think one con I loved was great but then instead of 3 hotels sharing it, it move to the convention center and has since just improved since moving into a new space. Another thing is the hotel might just need a breather from a big con.

[@OhMyChord]

yeah it seems like the end of an era for cons, but i think that means a new and hopefully better era is incoming

[@basementdwellercosplay]

I think cons will just need to evolve and they likely will as cons have evolved before

[@skellebonez]

The characters from the skit you started playing around 25:25 are from the video game Little Goody Two Shoes, which is a connected to another game called Pocket Mirror. And that is legitimately one of the BEST cosplays for these characters I have ever seen, if not the best hands down, and based on the description and what we get to hear the skit seems to be a play on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Fits extremely well with the game itself!

[@succinyerbollz]

I love them so much

[@allenkwan8310]

an alt universe Hadestown?? lol

[@chaoticgabby]

Point being, it is a niche game & the skit was understood & enjoyed by the entire audience. Which is incredibly important for skit competitions! (Btw, they do announce what characters they are before the skit :)

[@StarKidDreams]

@@allenkwan8310that what was I was thinking

[@KnoviceCosplay]

@@StarKidDreams @allenkwan8310 hadestown (and the original myth ofc) was a huge inspiration for us!

[@chacha_rouge]

One of my local cons put the artist alley right at the entrance of the con, and while it's not as big as American cons at all, this was really nice for the artists, as it put them in the same priority as the vendor hall, and far from loud stages, which were closer to the food court hall which was always loud anyways. I hope French cons take example and continue doing this.

[@salima1777]

Which one did you go to ?

[@iimuffinsaur]

I like how anime nyc did the artist alley when I went last year too. There wasnt really a seperation between the exhibit hall and artist alley which meant like tbh I didnt realize it started but also it was so easy to get there

[@Rose-bb4ze]

yah this is the same for PH cons as well, artist alleys tend to pull more people in because of the placement

[@C0nnor-Aliv3]

Where i live in the uk because if how small the places are its essentially just one giant dealers den and artist alley lol

[@clemenceb101]

C'était quelle convention ?

[@nosleeptillcosplay]

As locals (and long time HolMat goers) this has been a hot topic of discussion. The bottom line seems to have been that during the last several HolMats con goers did a lot of destruction to the hotel itself (and sadly I can confirm quite a few I personally saw) so that’s why they kicked us out. Being local (but still staying at the Rosen Plaza for costume change ease) it was easier for us to do fun stuff outside of the con but for folks flying in or driving in it was probably super annoying compared to how all in one the original HoMat experience was. This year was strange but not as bad as expected and we are going to go next year just to see if it gets a bit better.

[@LynnHermione]

Con goes are paying and if they actually break anything they have to pay it. Anime con goers are not the bad guys here, i bet they dont treat sports men like this

[@jazzycat8917]

@@LynnHermione We can argue all day about whether there is a double standard to which anime con goers vs sportsball fans are held, but that doesn't change the fact that the hotel is 100% within their rights to stop accepting a convention if attendees are causing considerable damage to the hotel. Like that is completely at their discretion to do, they are not required to tolerate that at any level even if the individuals responsible do end up paying for it. Like sure we can criticize them for being passive aggressive assholes about it, but at the end of the day its their space and their rules.

[@NOLA-vv3sz]

@@LynnHermione Yes. Because for profit hotels HATE MONEY!!! Think about that for a moment. The claim is they are making tons of money. If that were entirely true, why would they cancel it? Companies do not care what you are (anime, furry, sport, etc). They care about money. And yes, they do treat sporting events the same way. In my city, hotels actually closed down during certain weekends where huge college football games came to town. They shut down due to the amount of damage caused during the weekend by the people who came into town. Hotels in Florida do the same thing during certain spring break periods. If they can make more money than problems caused, there is zero reason to believe they would choose to go with less money.

[@animehuntress9018]

It usually takes event a few years to iron out the kinks when they move venues or are new, so hopefully next year it will be better. Planners can do their best to predict but really experience in the space is the best way of determining hat is needed where and how. Even big companies who plan things everywhere like Disney have these issues.

[@kwilliams8440]

I, for one, got REALLY tired of hearing, “GET OFF THE ROCKS!!!” “Excuse me. Um… excuse me… You’re not supposed to be on those. It’s not safe.” Year after year? It was very annoying. Like, it’s NOT that hard to listen and it’s definitely not that hard to read and it’s really not that hard to remember… ALSO, the amount of “room parties” that weren’t supposed to go on, and always seemed to spill outside, even though the pool area was closed was INSANE, and the crowded bar and lobby was nauseating. I don’t blame the Marriott. It was way too small to keep hosting.

[@thelying2594]

25:36 Hey if anyone is curious these characters are Elise and Freya from Little Goody Two Shoes!, the game is amazing I watched a retrospective on it a few weeks ago.

[@E7XEE]

The retrospective convinced me to buy the game and I don’t even remotely regret it, it’s so beautiful and it’s been really fun! (Except for the bird puzzle which can burn in hell)

[@nat__bird]

aaaa thank you so much for the kind words about our goody two shoes skit!! 🥺 it really means a lot

[@girlgok]

Hi!!! So about that empty space in the hotel convention center at about 11:55 -- my friends and I were just as confused about that area as you when we looked during the daytime. However, when we did go back Friday night to attend one the of the major 18+ events there, I would say that it was kiiind of a nightmare? The crowd control in maintaining us was really shoddy; people who waited hours beforehand were told to get into several different groups in different spots of the area in front of the major events there, which ultimately did not matter because when we were finally allowed to lineup, they disregarded these different pre-line groups and a swarming issue ended up happening. Somebody even told us that apparently staff was threatening to cancel the show if the crowds that ended up forming didn't clear out the way? I'm not sure how true that is now, but it definitely got chaotic in there. Just thought I'd share this for any potential Holmat goers who are interested in the after hours content the con provides! Definitely go early and stay vigilant for whatever staff says!

[@amari3953]

omg i was also waiting for hottest men in anime (if that’s what you’re talking about; i had no idea how cosplay deviants’ line was). hmia (or rather, trying to get into it) was SUCH a nightmare. several people around me were having panic attacks and barely anyone knew what was happening. a staff member with a megaphone was so stressed out i remember them saying something along the lines of “GIVE ME SOME F**KING ROOM!” while trying to maintain crowd control. i genuinely felt so bad for them. i hope they got some good sleep that night. idk if they and other staff members were trained in public safety, but if that is the case, i wish holmat had invested in actual security. it feels really irresponsible for the con to put that responsibility into the hands of volunteer staff. (assuming the person trying to keep us in line was volunteer staff). this year was my first holmat, but according to my friends, there has always been chaos when it comes to getting into hmia 🗿 wish it wasn’t so chaotic though. that evening was a literal public safety hazard and could’ve turned disastrous. i didn’t even get into the event after all that chaos LMAO

[@girlgok]

@@amari3953 YES it was hmia specifically!! This year was my first year ever being able to get inside, but man was that a wild time just making it in. I hope they’ll be able to work out a better system both for congoer’s sakes and staff’s :(

[@xspookyartistx]

Can confirm. That whole area was pretty lively after OCCC shut down for the day and it was really nice to have that late-night atmosphere vibe similar to when we were over at the Marriott! But as mentioned, that Hottest Men in Anime crowd was intense. I don't think I'd go so far to say it was crowd crush levels packed, but it was proper thick. Me and my group of friends had to single-file (legit) push our way through that crowd just to get back to the hotel side. Wild.

[@naurlind]

you werent supposed to line up early, holmat was trying to stop that this year completely. Only an hour before.

[@honey2200]

New dose of Sarah-tonin

[@StartSplash]

That's us at 0:04 performing as Vivid BAD SQUAD! Always happy to be the little dancers during halftime B)

[@stitchgor3]

Pjsk mentioned!

[@RuikasaBunnyTherian]

P-PROJECT SEKAI MENTIONED

[@lukashayward2356]

WOOOO LOOK AT US GO!!!!

[@Kitty_clxws]

PJSK MENTION‼️‼️🔥🔥🔥

[@405vinny]

YOU GUYS LOOK SO COOL!!! 🫶🏼😭

[@F0rtuneLT]

Petition to abbreviate the Orange County Convention Center "OC3" in the same way people abbreviate Archive Of Our Own as "AO3"

[@Marbles-q3h]

oh im totally doing this

[@SanikraindoomXD]

I'm the Radahn in the cosplay runway, you have been such an idol to me for so long you have no idea how much I just started freaking out to hear you compliment my cosplay 😭😭😭😭🩷🩷🩷🩷

[@SarahSpaceman]

We were screaming in the audience about Lenard's santa hat, fantastic job! Congrats on your best in snow!!

[@Forginswagger]

28:54 After getting trapped in an elevator I will say the worst thing that can happen is immediate panic. Yes it will get hot and there won’t be air flow and you will be standing in it. But as long as you stay calm (easily said then done) and you breath and then you’ll be fine. I did start to panic, so obviously this is easier said then done.

[@gggthsb]

yeah good luck to everyone stuck with me, I would panic and then start defending the little space I have 😂 I am really claustrophobic and elevators are an especially tricky thing for me so I try to avoid them as much as possible. Being stuck in one with me would not be fun for anyone involved 🙈

[@AwesomeBlassom]

Such a shame I never got to go to Holmat because of holiday blackout dates. BUT I think it’s crazy that Holmat didn’t utilize their space well in the center because megacon is held in the same building and they do the EXACT SAME THING! So much open wasted space, isles aren’t big enough, no signage anywhere. So frustrating

[@jamlannistar4280]

Megacon is significantly larger than HolMat.

[@AwesomeBlassom]

@ that’s true but I just think it’s odd that both cons have a lot of wasted space and cramped areas. Especially considering Holmat is way smaller. I wonder if it’s the convention center regulations that make this happen or smth

[@LordSlayer001]

@@AwesomeBlassom I agree. While Megacon did do better in 2024 with the setup at the West Concourse, when they use the North/South, there is a huge area that gets left empty. Other then the morning line-up to get in after the ticket booths, that space is empty for the rest of the day.

[@soccergalz7401]

For some positives: -the food selection at the Hyatt was much better than usual cobvention food -having the 18 plus panels in a separate building was kind of ingenious and it was really fun -idol fest this year was FIRE -parking was a lot better, if expensive. IT was.. horrifying last year. Cons: you nailed it on artist alley. I sort of shuffled along and felt guilty lingering anywhere I wasn't fully sure I was buying from. -they very clearly weren't sure how to use the space properly. -The lax prop checking and overall bag checking was again non existent this year xD

[@jukesy1992]

As a blind person, I don't usually buy stuff. I get so much more out of just talking to people, and if ther's an atmosphere that seems to force you to buy, I don't figuratively seee the point.

[@ADadsLife921]

30:14 An escalator can never break: it can only become stairs. -Mitch Hedberg

[@TereziPyrope-q6m]

those elscalators stop literally all the time!! they might aswell just be stairs

[@hotshot104]

Oh they can break and you do not want to fall through when they do. Final destination movies ruined my life I trust nothing anymore 🤦‍♀️

[@yoshiiscool2002]

Ive never been to Holmat but i did hear of the rumours of bad attendee behavior happening during 2022 and i heard that that was the reason of the hotel having dates of Holmat 2023 in the middle of the week.

[@pinssnip]

2:35 omg how were we out so late IN FULL COSPLAY 😂 As long as WCC and you are there, Holmat will always have a spot on our lineup 💛💛💛

[@SarahSpaceman]

We were young and fueled by hot chocolate

[@AlpacaAsh]

As always thank you for covering everyone at WCC! Everyone was amazing this year. One international winner that wasn’t mentioned was StitchfullyBewitched (the scented strawberry sakizou) who was the solo craft winner. She’s going to Switzerland!

[@HarryLovesRuth]

Pro tip on milk and kettles: you can make an open topped kettle into a double boiler with a second vessel inside the kettle. Milk in the inner cup/jar, water 3/4 of the way up in the kettle. Keep an eye on it and use a hot pad when removing the inner cup.

[@Zephewow]

So from what I "heard" is that the old hotel forced them to spend 1 more year there because 2020 was skipped due to covid. however, they refused to give the OG dates because something else had them booked.. so they forced them to stay 1 more year for the contract but also forced them to take shit dates. but again.. hearsay

[@CdrChaos]

They couldn’t very well be that weekend since that would have been Christmas Eve. The fact that the con was still so packed proved people will go to a convention during the week.

[@fioledarsenic]

7$ a hot dog and it doesnt even have crispy onions on it what a world we live in

[@TheFlauschig]

Yes! Thats the saddest hot dog I have ever seen. For that price, I could buy 3 hot dogs at Ikea and those come with onions and pickles.

[@Gee-xb7rt]

I used to live in Orlando and with rare exception the food\ around the resorts and parks is fairly horrible and way overpriced.

[@JadeynReeves]

Running into your channel has given me the final steps to going into my first cosplay contest at Sakura Con 2024. My friend and I watch your videos while sewing our first ever project of Princess Peach and Rosalina. Full gowns. Crazy. You have kept us going and realziing not everything has to be perfect. Thank you for having comfy videos we can watch!!❤

[@MadisonSquareCosplay]

It was so strange this year. Giving it the benefit of the doubt that it’s the first year at OCCC and they hadn’t figured out how to utilize the space properly. Was amazed at how empty the Chapin theatre was for the WCC too.

[@-Flower-xr6xd]

Sara spacemen, your my favorite KZbinr and actually got me into sewing and cosplay. I look up to you and wish I could be just like you

[@HeyLizardLeigh]

honestly incredible work minimizing the LED flicker on the contest footage, that's CWAZY impressive lol. I always love seeing the contestants in your videos, there was so much amazing work in this one!! and welcome welcome welcome to the poached egg life THEY ARE MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE!!

[@pepper_insult]

HOW DID I NOT REALIZE THAT WAS YOU FILMING AT THE IRON COSPLAY THING

[@SarahSpaceman]

Thank you for the chaos you bring to this world, I am still not over the toad thing 😂

[@DannyMcFlyCosplay]

To this day we keep saying "TOAD WAS ROBBED" and it will be like that for a long time :D

[@Sofficial1113]

HOW DID I JUST CATCH THIS, MS. SPACEMAN?!

[@KuroKosupure]

It's about to be Mrs. Spaceman real soon 🤭

[@Sofficial1113]

@KuroKosupure omg yes, so glad for her!

[@skintsugi]

I was here!!! It was my first Holmat and idk. I really enjoyed the events and panelling; but I really did not like how it was laid out. I was in the Rosen Centre and I really REALLY did not like that the NBA stuff caused so many issues, especially with us. They LOST my badge in mailing - I bought it in August. They told me to go to the VIP line the next morning and then TURNED ME AWAY and told me to get in the line with other people who also had the con lost their badge; my friend bought hers the week of the con and had hers before I had mine. The Hyatt was soooo difficult to navigate imo and gods it took forever to get from the Rosen Centre to the Hyatt at the con. I bought a lot from the AA but yeah it was terribly crowded. The skits were sooo amazing; they were all soo good. YOU GOT FOOTAGE OF MY FRIEND BASTET. YEA YEAH YEAH YEAH thank gods I was so excited to see her skit. also lol i see me and my ex when you panned over the sunday theatre. so close…. also okay, last comment: i hated how the feedback form was. you can’t make actual complaints.

[@keithsimpkins1229]

Pk_cosplay here (Mahoraga from the WCC day two), I thank you so much for making content because I binged so many of your videos whilst making that cosplay. Literally you kept me entertained through the 3.5 STREESFUL weeks it took to make him. So again THANK YOU!!

[@bokukko.cosplay]

You did amazing! Congrats on your award you popped off

[@keithsimpkins1229]

@@bokukko.cosplay thank you so much 🥰🫶🏾

[@The_Dark_Brother_Pierre]

I am glad you liked Manuel. I work for him at Elfia in the Netherlands as guest caretaker. He's lovely. And I love Diana who runs the cosplay Compo. I might see her again at our event this year. I hope to be back at Holmat in the future. Hope to see you then. Good vids!!!❤

[@SarahSpaceman]

I was so excited to finally get to see him preform, I saw clips of his performance from the NCC year I competed, but was backstage for that, so it was awesome to finally get to see him take the stage!

[@heishi_keki]

I was a vender in the HolMat artist alley and holy hell, it was not good. This was my first time vending at a convention and hearing the commotion from my booth neighbors about the quality of the con a few HOURS in to day one was concerning. Not to mention everyone almost got MAJORLY screwed over price-wise when booking tables because Staff thought it'd be a fantastic idea to raise table prices right before sending acceptance emails and then not reply to anyone for three days. I only almost BARELY broke even and artists were constantly saying that their display products were getting stolen after hours by staff and VIPs. It was a hot mess but I'm only hoping that this is a "first time venue" problem and not something up with the Organizers themselves.

[@JeskidoYT]

If it makes you feel any better, when the con was at the hotel in years prior, the artist alley only had two ways of entering/exiting. It was inside a giant room/ Hopefully HolMat moves the artist alley to a space more secure.

[@HeavensLastHope]

HolMat was a negative con for myself. Like very negative. I only made around 200 everyday. It's honestly made me consider quitting art after doing it for many years. I flew in for this event.

[@emilyhery854]

This is so helpful! I caught the panel at ALA about WCC and international completions and it was great to hear your perspective. It was also fantastic to meet you at ALA!!

[@sneepybeepy]

When the trumpet hits I get so sentimental and emotional lol 💖

[@PurpleFire2308]

Always look forward to a Sarah spaceman post

[@abbyartscrafts2530]

I was just about to go on a spaceman binge as I started sewing my cosplay today! Yay new video!!

[@JoJo-fan-right-here]

REAL I always watch her when I’m sewing just in case I forget something important because then there’s Sarah saying “remember, satin has a weird grain thing”

[@rachelash6325]

I wanted to say thank you for even mentioning us (the SiX cosplay)! It means a ton that you liked it! I really appreciate your coverage of the con itself--I barely got out to see it and I know that I missed a lot, but this makes me feel like I got out more ^_^

[@DareWearsofficial]

Thank you for making this vlog! I’ve been a big fan of cons like DragonCon, SDCC and and NYCC and my first con was Megacon Orlando. I’ve been eye-balling Holiday Mat for Years! And your commentary on the competition makes me Really want to go! So this year I just might! Thanks again! Great content! ❤

[@littleaudity]

you have such fun insights into the con world, and I love getting to experience florida through your literal camera lens. so excited for a new year of the spaceman!!!

[@littleaudity]

also omg Brazilian Miku!!!

[@Sn0w_c0splayzz]

Hey, extremely out of topic here but i js wanna say how much ur videos have had an affect on me. Youre mostly the reason i got into cosplay, and found out abt vocaloid, heh. I even learned how to sew so i could sew my first cosplay! Ur videos have helped me so much in sewing, and also gave me motivation to cosplay, sew and start a yt channel!! Keep posting more, and sorry for the long comment, im just a huge fan!!:D

[@ryancollin2409]

Great video! The elevators were definitely an issue -- in addition to the one you mentioned, my fiancee and I got stuck one of the ones on the skybridge from the OCCC to the Hyatt for a bit! Hotel area was far more occupied at night (and as people realized it was a thing that existed), and the OCCC was actually open until at least midnight, including the game room there from what we could tell when going to stop by the pop-up lockers on our way out each night!

[@envymordecai4429]

5:01 Looks like it’s dice bag for Bucket! Absolutely love that for you ❤ I also love how you managed to use the guy on a segue as an actual segue 😂😂 and that HolMat seemed to hear your plea for a Christmas tree

[@lichthex]

Oh! The cosplays from 25:50 are from a game called Little Goody Two Shoes by AstralShift! It’s a horror adventure game with sapphic romance elements and AAAAAAA it’s just so good and I definitely recommend checking it out :D

[@FaylynSeryph]

14:59 OMG I love Pins & Snip's cosplay! My sisters just got me the same Doctor Plague squishables for Christmas, so it's such a treat to see them cosplayed! Congrats to them on winning best team!

[@wyntersriddle]

I see my booth at 10:43 (I’m the Carmen Sandiego in the large hat) aahhh thank you so much for doing this vlog!

[@McKenzieShaneArt]

Thank you so much for covering the Holdiay Runway and WCC 💞💞 i never find content of the contests easily (also I was the Dunkin Bun with the Starbie 👯‍♀️)

[@Artemiswitchcosplay]

11:08 that my best friend Abii Candii’s sets! She builds them herself and she is a dope photographer!

[@pinssnip]

Tell her she's super cool and I hope they bring her back next year!

[@darlingdarylann3453]

I met Sarah camera man! I was the Harley who came up to you very anxiously and asked for a photo. I appreciate you taking a photo with me!! I loved saying hi to you even though it was very short and sweet!! 24:28

[@sailor_gaia]

LOL, giiiirl, there is something about turning 30 that makes one feel their years (I remember that distinctly). Welcome to the "Elder Otaku" club (not actually a thing). I've got a decade on you and the biggest thing that has changed for me in that time is I'm very picky about which conventions I go to (if I attend any in a year), I make sure I get plenty of sleep, I take more time to eat and I don't feel the need to cosplay *all the time* (I am happy with one cosplay a day). I still love my night life but I find it's harder to find at bigger conventions. Smaller ones have a greater sense of community, IMHO. You just learn to take naps during the day if you want to stay out late OR if you're competing in anything, they're essential since you basically give your day over to that process. :P Cleary preaching to the choir on that one though. Thanks for the coverage, as always. I don't think I'll ever make it to this convention but it is very fun to live it vicariously through your adventures.

[@Sqoiledmilk]

Your content brings me so much joy that it's gotten me BACK INTO COSPLAYING, I'm still trying to decide what character I'm going to make from scratch (obviously an easy one) but you've taken me out of my 4 year "strike" of cosplaying and I have rehatched a joy I completely forgot about. THANK YOU FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL CONTENT AND AMAZING COSPLAYS!!! ALSO CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING ENGAGED!!!

[@monoman2000]

Ah, I remember when HolMat started. We went every year until we retired from cosplay and moved out of state. So many fond memories because of that con. 🥰

[@nastyakh22]

I don't know why, but these videos about cons and cosplays always make me tear up at the end I love those videos so much, You can clearly tell how much love is there for the craft and community! Thank you for letting me cry some good tears

[@fujisaki-haruka]

Just so I can say it the cosplays are from the game little goodie two shoes it's an amazing horror game with yuri romance and old shoujou manga fisuals and the two characters are Elise the main character and Freya one of the love interests

[@EuniceReyes7]

I haven't gone to Holmat since 2019, and now I definitely won't be able to since I moved to Asia. I'm sad it's changed like this but maybe after a while, people will get accustomed again to the thrill and the people planning would use the space of the convention more efficiently, and some of the magic can come back. Great video, thank you for filming. ❤

[@Mita_Miran]

Hello Sarah! I'm from Brazil and I'm using translator right now, I hope it doesn't look bad and that you read this. So, it's been about 2 months that I've been watching your videos (I know English, my writing is horrible) and I found myself thinking about cosplays, which is an idea that I had given up trying about 1 year ago because it was too much work or too expensive around here, seeing your videos I decided that I would do definitive cosplay this time. A few days ago I walked up to my mom and said, "Hey mom, I want to cosplay!" She then asked which character and I said about everything I wanted, it was nice to talk to my mom about it and soon, maybe we'll have a cosplay coming! I wanted to thank you for inspiring me again, keep being wonderful and make many more videos! Bye bye from Brazil!

[@bumblepluck]

Hi Sarah I just wanted to thank you for your videos, you got me back into cosplay after thinking I was too old to try it again. Every time I watch a new video from you it reinvigorates me to work on my first cosplay in 12 years.

[@FallFromGrraceCosplay]

Ahhhh the Anastasia skit you see for 2 seconds was me 🥹

[@marlowpop]

HOLY SHIT Kelly!! I miss her so much 🥺. I met her at Katsucon in 2018 and 2019, seeing her in lapis again makes me wanna cry

[@TZBoba]

This poped up right as i finished the momo con vid as her being pomni ❤ also love your videos. Helps me alot with my cosplays!

[@kanjifaith6619]

Thank you for sharing your experiences! I'm so excited to see what you do next!

[@Phynnwin]

AHHHHH OMFG DANDADAN ‼️‼️‼️‼️ ANYWAYS SO HAPPY TO SEE U POSTING THIS IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS VIDEO 🙏🙏🙏

[@PrincessPonies81]

YAAAY NEW SARAH VLOG!! its always so nice to get a glimpse and review of cons like this, especially an overview of the new space and such. and Sarah's videos are always so wholesome with uplifting and spotlighting other members of the community i adore it so much

[@Nahsaghara]

Oof, as someone who has tabled at my local con for years, the spacing in that Artist Alley made my soul cry. Why did they do 'em like that 😭 Also, hot chocolate with milk supremacy, sorry not sorry 🤣

[@WyrmpantstheClown]

YES YES YES NEW VIDEO I'VE BEEN *STARVING.*

[@pazandlove777]

I really love your content and it’s always with me when I paint and sew. Your many videos where you sew skirts inspired me to do a project for my school based or the math and effort of making a skirt ❤

[@columbinafan]

2:20 I'm an Australian, can someone explain the Florida government issues that Sarah might be referring to? I don't really know American politics

[@the_homun_system]

as an american all i know about florida politics is the governors a little dit and everyone hates him cause hes super conservobrained and doesnt know how life works. ...and yet the people that support people like that are the only ones that vote....

[@vasbel1207]

FL state government has targeted LGBT+ people, passed book bans, made abortion illegal, removed DEI from our unis etc just standard right wing culture war BS while also making quality of life worse for all of us unfortunate enough to live here

[@mkgaca8721]

florida goverment has repeatedly made homophobic and transphobic laws (including the dont say gay bill, which banned discussions of lgbtq+ topics in schools)

[@Catfishlikerocks]

They passed a lot of anti trans and anti gay stuff recently

[@eriberrybean]

Aaaye fellow aussie :3 I think it’s due to anti lgbt sentiments but same as u American politics confuse me c,:

[@coolgamer69767]

i couldn’t agree more about the tight walkways in artist alley!! especially during megacon last year (which was held in the same convention center), there was so many people it was literally shoulder-to-shoulder the whole way through.

[@alicependragon4586]

I know that convention center very well! Megacon is held there either at South or West concourse

[@genesisdefontaine]

I go to the OCCC all the time for volleyball I actually enjoyed it being there! I usually stay in the Rosens, So I know that convention center like the back of my hand- normally there would be a cheerleading competition, volleyball tournament, and math tournaments going on all at the same time every two weeks- it’s chaos. Thanks for covering Holmat again this year, always my favorite videos!

[@astererratum6546]

OMG I love the Squishables Plague Dr. Cosplays!

[@sidereuscaelestisdraconis6968]

Hey Sarah! Congrats on your upcoming wedding!! ❤🎉

[@aline506]

To answer your question, the Hyatt convention area had a lot of people at night. I almost took a microwave but decided against at the last minute. Maybe this year I actually will. I must say, Holmat needs to up their decoration game. It's a holiday convention but there were barely any decorations considering the area size of the con. That's my only complain.

[@lacey_moon]

AHHH thank you so much for this video!! We all know so many people were skeptical to go this year bc no one knew what to expect, but this makes me want to go next year! I've never seen the WCC, and it sounds like such a wonderful thing to witness in person! Also loved to learn through this video that FMA got you into cosplay! FMA:B is my all-time favorite anime!

[@saltinedkrills]

25:35 they're cosplaying little goody two shoes! its an rpg game! I thought i recognized those outfits from somewhere! they did it justice❤

[@jilliancosplays]

You said "you can print your boards", and I immediately paused the video to download my current cosplay one. I love having references on the wall when I'm working on one for motivation, and now I can print out the whole board to hang up? *chef kiss* Thanks for the tip!

[@upthebuff]

I'm not a cosplayer, if anything I'm a mild crafter, but you're videos are so engaging and genuinely interesting I absolutely just say and watched all 43 mins of this while trying to decide what to watch. Now I'm just watching more of your vids ha

[@JoAnaCeja-v3y]

its great seeing myself in the background of your videos when you go to a convention. getting so close but being so oblivious that i miss getting a picture again this year.

[@avevee9708]

The MCs played it off so well lol. They were getting so confused but he was doing it

[@ValeHydrangaea]

So glad I got to go to the very first Marriott HolMat back in 2016. Great room rate, wasn't too crowded, and the Cosplay Super Show still existed. Good times! Your commentary at the end got me veeeeery curious on what exactly your thoughts are on AWA's cosplay contest. 👀

[@Rarity36Rage]

Swiss miss does have powdered milk, but it is a lot better with milk regardless

[@ScarfNinja36]

Yay I'm so happy I get to see what I looked like on stage!😭 (edit) you are literally my inspiration for trying to compete for the first time, and even though it didn't turn out how I wanted, I'm glad I got to have that experience!

[@tracychallice1099]

your wedding colours are so pretty and warm, sending you all of the best vibes for your best day

[@iterfacile5481]

These videos always get me so hyped for cons!!!

[@delanocarson7544]

I know it was only a mention at the end but I attended AWA this year and honestly, I liked it. I think our priorities are a little different but I thought there were a lot of crowding solutions, expedited registration, a really great artist alley/dealers hall, etc. their contest was a mess from what I heard but as someone much less invested in competing, from the audience perspective it was fine.

[@megancashatt]

14:36 omg it’s a Christmas Adam from Hazbin Hotel!!!!!!! I LOVE IT❤️💚❤️💚

[@YamiHikariHime]

Sarcasm Hime is so cool 😭 I met her a while ago when I worked for Anime North and talked to her. I had no idea she was a huge cosplayer and just thought she was a cool, nice person who made incredible costumes and clothes. I feel like such a dummy finding out she had a cosplay page and is LEGENDARY. I looked up to her for years with no idea 😅.

[@SpaghettiFarmLabs]

Thank you! Your videos really do help reinvigorate me and to keep pushing forward and try to be the best me that I can be.

[@Mothinthestudio]

I'm glad to see HolMat being able to move on to possibly bigger and better things, though it does seem like they had a lot of things happen this year. While I didn't attend the con, even online there's been some confusion with the fan art contest they host every year. As every day leading up to the convention's start, they'd announce the 10th through 2nd place winner on their socials, and a whole month later they still have not released first place winner or put together a full page of the winning pieces as in previous years. I think a lot can be chalked up to the new venue and a lot of changes and I hope they'll have an easier time with organization, map layouts, and whatnot in the future.

[@KoriMolesworth-eg2nz]

OMG this video was sooo good! Also I love how you seem to know where the GOAT sarcasmhime is at all times

[@melody_moon2761]

42 minutes being blessed by THE Sarah spaceman 🙏

[@andenvelez7142]

Dude thanks for making this, my bud and I went for all 3 days. This was our first time going and we were so confused on where to go for events.

[@StitchfullyBewitched]

Ahh I was the Strawberry Sakizo! 💖And yeees all my strawberries were scented! Im surprise people in the audience could smell it 😹 Scratch and sniff cosplay

[@juliettedemaso7588]

absolutely gorgeous and scenting it is brilliant!

[@StitchfullyBewitched]

@@juliettedemaso7588 aww thank you so much!! 🥺

[@fikanera838]

Thankyou for giving such indepth reviews of all the cons. I've never been to a cosplay con, & crowds are really not my thing, but I would like to make a cosplay just to wear around. Top of my list is the Penny-Pockets Lady from Kit William's book, Masquerade, but it's taking me ages!

[@G3ar5JoyBoi]

Yeah me going to MegaCon for years, Orlando Convention Center always throw two or more events at the same time which is annoying because they'll have to close off some entrances and exits if you're not a participant.😑

[@SaltyMouse10]

I live in Florida I hate how cons don't seem very well put together. I was at Central Florida Comic Con the other day and it was just meh

[@lukashayward2356]

Omg I’m part of Start Splash at the beginning!!!! Thank you so much for putting us in 🥹 A huge honour to see us up there!!!!

[@SpringStarFangirl]

I am cackling at the mistaken identity bit, oh my God. Also, _please make a Shallan cosplay I beg of you_ Edit: right sleeve ginger boy is Hinata Shoyo from volleyball anime Haikyuu. Highly recommend.

[@YoItsEmo]

Thank you so much for this video! I've worked production the last three years at HolMat and this is a better recap than my own memory could ever provide. If you want the tea on 2023 lmk.