THROUGH THE LOOKING-GLASS A NEWBIE AT ANTHROCON
by Michæl W. Bard
©2008 Michæl W. Bard

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   Okay, not the most accurate of titles, I admit. But given that this is only my second furcon, and that it is snappy, how can I resist?
   On Writing: This is my longest-term interest in furrydom, but its dominance is fading. I think it’s fading because I’ve gotten arrogant enough that I go to the panels, find little of use, and have to throttle myself every five minutes to keep from leaping up and yelling that the person running the panel is an idiot! Not always true, but it happens a disturbing number of times.
   The AC writing track was fairly substantial—five panels (plus) in all, most longer then an hour. The order was a bit mixed up, but they had one on character, one on plot, one on world building, one on dialogue, and one on character development. There was also a panel on adult writing that we don’t talk about. And then Iron Author (this one’s premise: write a story worse than The Eye of Argon), which we talk about even less…
   As to usefulness—the panels were of a guided question-and-answer style, which I think is far more useful than a straight lecture. The one on plot even had you do actual writing exercises. Thanks to those exercises, it’s the only one I got anything out of: An interesting little story plot that may be useful. For more normal—read: ‘less arrogant’—persons, I think the panels would be, in general, fairly interesting and useful. Recommended.
   Besides, you get to sit down. :)
   On Ursa Major Awards: This I went to because I was curious, and because a lot of people I know who couldn’t go wanted to know how the awards stood. As to the panel itself… About 25 people were there originally. Within 10 minutes, it was down to six. Granted, they’d moved the rooms around and there was going to be a different panel there, but still… Six? No wonder the UM awards don’t work worth crap! Far, far too many people don’t give a damn about them.
   And as a slap in the muzzle, even though the host tried to bring writing up, it lasted about 45 seconds. Then it was back to webcomics, anime, and movies.
   Sigh…
   On Hoofers: At these cons, there are apparently various panels on various species. Kind of a love-in for furries who have a special connection with said species. MFF, as I remember, had foxes (everybody always seems to have foxes), mustelids, bunnies, and a few others. AC this year had foxes and mustelids, but no bunnies. And it had ‘hoofers’. So I figured, what the hell?
   It was probably the most fun I had at the entire con.
   The person running it said they’d never done anything like this before, so I have no clue how typical this one was. Amongst the attendees was the host—in a full wolfdeer costume (don’t ask), myself (with the horse partial), a minotaur full, a goat full, and a lot of tails. We did take our heads off to talk. The wolfdeer started by having everybody introduce themselves to each other, with a brief note as to why they were a hoofer. After that… there was dead silence. I think it was I who brought up fursuits and hooves, and then it went on quite actively and fascinatingly. If this is typical of the species panels, I heartily recommend them! Of course, your mileage may vary…
   On Fursuiting: I admit, having mastered writing and having the same arrogant bastard experience at the writing panels I went to at MFF, I planned to concentrate on fursuiting. It didn’t quite work as planned. In essence, due to a sudden dental emergency (filling falling out), and miscommunications, I ended up staying at a friend’s house in Pittsburg, and not having any place to change. Thursday I did some as I had a room then since my friend was going to be out of town until Thursday. Then it was all lugged to his house. Friday I did none as there was no easy way to change. Saturday I built my entire day around changing in the washroom (meaning that I had to wear components, and make other arrangements to make it as simple as possible) so as to be in the parade. Sunday I left it out all day to dry—
   No, I’m not joking. That’s how much I sweated into the thing.
   I won’t go into observations about my personal fursuit; here and now is not the place for it. I’m going to try to keep it to more general thoughts and observations for the interested people who may wish to visit AC in the future and fursuit.

  1. The Westin hotel (that is adjacent to the convention centre) is, indeed elevator hell. There are six elevators serving the hotel tower of ~30 floors, and there is almost always a sizable queue lined up to use them. Usually only 5-10 minutes, but still… Security there always moves fursuiters to the front of the line; I understand why (safety, in case a ’suiter is losing it heat-wise and needs to get undressed ASAP), but it does breed a bit of arrogance. After all, it just goes to prove that fursuiters are important. As to rooms, I would prefer either one right near the bottom (fursuiter floors) or right near the top. There is no security on the floors, so the poor sods on floor five get to watch full elevator after full elevator after full elevator stop, open, and then go away again. And there were persons in full costume stuck waiting…At the top, the elevators start down nice and empty. :)
  2. The fursuit panels are really basic. I only got to one, Intermediate Performance—the construction one wasn’t listed in the reference guide for some reason—and I was too out of it for Advanced Performance on Sunday. I got a bit out of Intermediate, but most of what I got were things to think about. The basic one I went to at MFF really boiled down to be aware of your limited vision and drink lots. This one was about signature moves and signature walks. Not so very much to fill up an hour with… I think I get more ideas watching fursuiters and video of fursuiters, than I did from these panels.
  3. The AC site is fraking huge! After the fursuit parade and the individual pictures, it took me close to an hour to find my way back from the convention centre location to the hotel. And I didn’t take too many wrong turns. And the entire walking was entirely in fursuit (well, partial anyway). If you go fursuiting at Anthrocon, be prepared for long periods in said fursuit just because of the distances you have to walk. Comfortable footpaws/hooves are vital!
  4. Most people are quite helpful. I needed help to find my way back to the hotel—not because of lack of vision, but because there were very sparse posted directions—and everybody who saw me looking around helplessly immediately helped. Thank you everybody! However, I have heard stories of people who pounce on fursuits from behind, stalk fursuits, and do other annoying and possibly dangerous things. I saw quite a few security personnel, and they were present most everywhere. Don’t be afraid to go to them for help! I had no need to, but… ‘a word to the wise’, eh?
  5. The fursuit parade is also known as ‘The Death March’ for very good reasons. They shortened it to half length/time this year, but then I spent almost half an hour standing in a ballroom getting set up—a full ballroom—and then another half-hour on the outside balcony with no shade, next to no breeze, complete with excessively hot and muggy weather, while the photographer got his thing done. They did offer straw-containing bottles of water at the beginning setup—take one with you!

   Note that even given all of the above, and given the wonderful sauna that is my suit, I would have done it more if I’d been able to. However, I would also get a hotel room at the con hotel! In other words: Yes, it is worth all the frustrating and baking. To me, anyway… :)
   On Friends: Probably the most important use of any furry con is to go there with friends, and to meet others. Sad but true; a furry con is not the best place to try and meet new people. On the other hand, it’s a great central place to meet friends you already know via internet contact, and it’s a safe place as there is good security and lots of people to provide help if required. Myself, I arrived late Wednesday because of the way my ride worked out. Until people I knew started arriving at ~3pm Thursday, I basically sat alone in a corner reading. So if I’d not known any friends who came, the fursuiting would probably still have occurred somewhat, but I would not have had near as much fun.
   Final Thoughts: Next year I’ll be going again, unless something major gets in the way. I will also be renting a room for fursuiting purposes instead of staying with nice friends—that is, remaining on-site most/all of the time, rather than having to leave the con every day. Staying with friends has advantages, and I may do it one night—but it’s far too much of a damper on fursuiting, which I’m still exploring.
   If you go next year, good luck and have fun!


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