Last day to pre-register with early bird pricing!

As we’ve announced on all of social media channels and on our Registration page, today is the last day that online pre-registration will be available at the early bird price! This is also your last chance to get into the mailing list to get the Anthrocon-block hotel booking link. If you pre-register after February 2nd, the hotel booking link will be included in your registration confirmation email. However, the chances of being able to secure an Anthrocon-block hotel booking will be a lot slimmer!

We will also temporarily close online pre-registration from January 30th until February 2nd at 11 AM Eastern, at which time pre-registration will resume with regular pricing. More details on the rates can be found on our Registration page. If you’ve got any questions, let our team know by sending an email to [email protected]!

Banner photo: HawkPool

Anthrocon 2023: Update to our COVID Policy stance

Anthrocon has heard the concerns of our members and staff, and in response, will be posting the convention COVID policy details and guidelines in the coming week. While we work on finalizing the details, our policy will address vaccination and masking requirements and procedures. We will incorporate local guidance into the policy, with updates as needed, closer to the convention date. We sincerely apologize for any concerns or confusion to our membership regarding this topic.

The policy is being formalized, but we can share that we will require:

  • Masking in densely congregated areas (e.g. Dealer’s Den, Main Ballroom, etc.)

  • Proof of vaccination/negative test prior to convention

Due to current surges and changing situations, we will provide more details as the convention approaches.

If you have any further questions, please send us an email at [email protected].

Sincerely,

The Anthrocon Board of Directors

Banner photo: Aisling Wolf

Anthrocon 2023: New Year, New Updates

4 minute read

We’d like to wish everyone a Happy New Year from our team! We hope that 2023 will be an improvement over the past few years, but there’s plenty to look forward to in the coming months. Read on and find out what to expect!

REGISTRATION

Early bird pricing for pre-registration will end on January 29th, 2023. Afterwards, pre-registration prices will go up for each available level. Please note that online pre-registration will briefly be paused between January 30th and February 2nd.

Attendees must be registered for Anthrocon to reserve an Anthrocon-block hotel room. You will need the Registrant ID found at the bottom of your confirmation email in order to access the booking portal, which is composed of letters and numbers.

An example of the Registrant ID found at the bottom of the confirmation email, composed of letters and numbers.

  • Those who pre-register before January 30th will receive an email when general hotel reservations open, containing the link needed to reserve a hotel room.

  • Those who pre-register after February 2nd will receive the link to book a hotel room in the registration confirmation email.

Anthrocon currently does not expect to have a COVID-19 policy in place for our 2023 event. However, we strongly recommend attendees to be appropriate vaccinated against COVID-19 before attending. Attendees showing any signs of illness will be expected to wear a protective medical mask for the protection of other attendees. Any changes to our attendance policy will be published to our Registration page and announced through social media channels.

To review all of the newest updates and policies regarding registration, visit the registration information page.

Anthrocon HOTEL bookings

Hotel room bookings will start in late January for both Dealers and those who have registered as Ultrasponsor/Supersponsor, with general booking (Attending or Sponsors) starting in February. You will need your Registrant ID, found in your confirmation email, in order to successfully reserve a room. Only ONE room may be booked per registration.

The hotel reservation block will be opening as follows:

  • Ultrasponsors: January 25th, 2023 at approx. 11:00 AM EST

  • Dealers: January 27th, 2023 at approx. 11:00 AM EST

  • Supersponsors: January 30th, 2023 at approx. 11:00 AM EST

  • General: February 2nd, 2023 at approx. 11:00 AM EST

Looking for a room or roommates? There are several community channels including the Facebook roomshare group and Anthrocon Discord channel to find a room or roommates. Please note that Anthrocon cannot help arrange, verify, or mediate any disputes with your chosen roommates - exercise caution when interacting with new roommates, verify all the details are accurate on room reservations, and make sure payments made are legitimate.

For more details on the booking process and hotel options, visit our Hotels page.  

Anthrocon River Cruises

Tickets for our signature Anthrocon River Cruises are still available for purchase! Sail on the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh with your fellow furries and enjoy breathtaking views of Pittsburgh and its surroundings. With multiple options from sightseeing to dinner and cocktail cruises, it’s the perfect way to combine the best of furry and Pittsburgh. Learn more and find tickets on our Anthrocon River Cruises page.

PANEL SUBMISSIONS and PERFORMANCE AUDITION FORM

Anthrocon’s programming relies on its diverse and talented attendees to help us provide as much variety and entertainment as possible. If you’ve ever wanted to host a panel or event while meeting other furries with shared interests, there’s no better opportunity than at Anthrocon. To sign up for a panel or a performance audition, head over to our Events and Panels page.

Dealers room and Artists Alley

  • Dealers Room approvals and confirmations will be finalized this month. We plan to send information about Dealers confirmation and our Dealers hotel room booking by the middle of the month to ensure enough time for any questions or concerns to be asked.

  • Artists Alley sign ups are now open on our website. The Artists Alley is a great place for artists to showcase and sell their artistic talents throughout the weekend. For more information and access to the sign up form, head to our Artists Alley page.

2023 Guest of Honor updates

For Anthrocon 2023, in conjuction with our theme, we’re bestowing the Guest of Honor designation to the city of Pittsburgh. We want our community to show as much appreciation for the hospitality and camaraderie that the Steel City has shown the furry community since 2006. We have become integral to the city’s image and culture, and vice versa. However, this doesn’t mean there will be any shortage of talent or celebrity that might appear - Anthrocon always brings the best in furry talent and creativity together in Pittsburgh.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Our media team will continue regular updates on all of our social media channels including Twitter (@anthrocon), Facebook and our official Telegram channel. Remember to always verify that information you receive about the convention comes from a legitimate Anthrocon resource!

  • Always check the account the tweet is from - our official account handle is @anthrocon on platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and others.

  • Verify any information you hear from non-official sources. Even if you heard it from a friend!

  • If you’re not sure about a post’s authenticity, send us a private message through our e-mail or Direct Messages on social media.

Anthrocon 2023: Holiday season updates

3 minute read

Hello Anthrocon attendees! With the holiday season in full swing and the new year quickly approaching, now’s a great time to talk about some updates and important details for our 2023 convention!

REGISTRATION

Anthrocon registration is currently open, with early bird pricing valid until January 29th, 2023. Keep in mind that this year, attendees must be registered for Anthrocon to reserve an Anthrocon-block hotel room. Those who register prior in the early bird period will receive an email when general hotel reservations open, containing the link needed to reserve a hotel room. To review all of the newest updates and policies regarding registration, please visit the registration information page.

Transition to cashless payments

With our efforts to shift our existing payment practices to digital and card-focused options, we are announcing that Registration, Con Store, and Art Show will begin to transition to a cashless payment system. We will be strongly encouraging all attendees to prepare forms of payment such as credit card, debit card, or mobile payment when making purchases at these places during the convention. In addition, the convention center’s establishments, such as food and refreshment stations, will only accept cashless payment methods. Dealers Room and Artists Alley will not be transitioned to cashless payments, as the method of preferred payment is determined by individual vendors. We’ll have more information coming soon in updated FAQs.

HOTEL

Hotel room bookings will start in late January for both Dealers and those who have registered Ultrasponsor/Supersponsor, with general booking for Sponsors and regular attendees beginning shortly after in early February. If you have not yet, please review the new Anthrocon Hotel Booking Policy on our Hotels page.  

FURSUIT CRUISES

If you’re looking for a great last-minute holiday gift, or wish to secure your spot for a memorable adventure on the Allegheny River, tickets for our special River Cruises are available, in partnership with the Gateway Clipper Fleet! This year we are offering five hour-long Sightseeing cruises at various times on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, along with a special catered Dinner Cruise (Friday night at 7:30) and Cocktail Cruise (Saturday night at 7:30). For more information or to book tickets, visit the Anthrocon River Cruises information page.

PERFORMANCE AUDITION FORM & PANEL SUBMISSIONS

If you are musically or theatrically inclined and wish to schedule a performance on Anthrocon’s Main Stage, there is an audition form available to fill out on our Events page. Main Stage time is limited, so please apply early! Applications to host regular panels such as Meet & Greets, Seminars, Discussions, Demonstrations, Educational Talks, etc. are also available on our Events and Panels page. The success of Anthrocon’s programming relies on you - we encourage everyone interested to contribute and be part of one of the largest and most diverse panel tracks in furry fandom, while meeting other furry fans with shared interests!

SOCIAL MEDIA

Our media team will continue regular updates on all of our social media channels including Twitter (@anthrocon), Facebook and our official Telegram channel. Remember to always verify that information you receive about the convention comes from a legitimate Anthrocon resource!

  • Always check the account the tweet is from - our official account handle is @anthrocon on platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and others.

  • Verify any information you hear from non-official sources. Even if you heard it from a friend!

  • If you’re not sure about a post’s authenticity, send us a private message through our e-mail or Direct Messages on social media.

VOLUNTEERS & STAFF SIGNUPS

We know there are many folks interested in learning what it’s like to put on a convention, and we’d love to grow our team! We will have more information regarding volunteer and staff opportunities with our team in the upcoming months. If you volunteered last year, you’ll be hearing from our Volunteers team soon regarding interest for 2023.

Banner photo: HawkPool



Anthrocon 2023: Updates for Registration, Dealers, Programming!

3 minute read

With the warm weather now behind us for the year (unless you’re down south, share some with us!), our hard-working team is getting started with 2023 convention planning. Find out what’s changing for our 2023 convention as we work on finalizing details for our November launch.

Registration

Our registration is currently scheduled to open on November 1st, with early bird pricing until January 29th, 2023! There are several important changes to our registration policies for 2023. Here’s a high-level overview of the changes, with more details to come:

  • You must be registered for Anthrocon in order to reserve an Anthrocon-block hotel room, with room blocks starting in late January based on registration tier. For those who register before January 30th, an email will be sent out to registered attendee’s emails (depending on their tier). If you register afterwards, the link needed to reserve a hotel room will be included in the confirmation email from your registration.

  • Registration will close temporarily between January 30th and February 2nd to allow for advance hotel booking to happen for Supersponsors and Ultrasponsors. Pre-registration will resume daytime on February 2nd in time for general hotel block booking.

  • Both Supersponsor and Ultrasponsor tiers will only be available during online pre-registration, which ends on June 11th, 2023. You will NOT be able to purchase these tiers on-site due to limited quantities of perks/benefits.

  • We will be updating our Refund Policy page to reflect our 2023 Registration updates. The most important update is a clarification on our refund policy for Sponsor, Supersponsor, and Ultrasponsor tiers regarding what constitutes a non-refundable “donation” based on level of membership. In addition, we have clarified rules regarding refunds that are tied to hotel bookings.

While we continue to finalize updates to pricing and policy, you can find examples of what pricing and perks could look like on our 2022 Registration page. The page will be updated with 2023 information a week before opening.

Dealers Room Applications

Applications to be a vendor at Anthrocon 2023 will open simultaneously with pre-registration. However, please note that there are also changes to the Dealers Room policies and process.

  • Dealers can apply through the same form as online pre-registration, including upgrading your membership. However, you will still need to be approved and confirmed for a Dealer’s spot. All dealers will be approved in time for hotel room reservations in late January, and a separate hotel block will be made available to approved dealers.

  • The Dealers Room Information Packet for Dealers will be updated for 2023 by the time applications open. These will include important changes including insurance policy clarifications for all vendors, and updated vendor fees.

Panels & Events Applications

We will be renaming the Programming department to Events! With that, we’ll be looking to open applications for hosting a panel or event at Anthrocon 2023 starting November 1st and closing on March 15, 2023. More details about panel/event rules and guidelines will be updated closer to the opening date on our Programming page.

Volunteers & Staff Signups

We know there are many folks interested in learning what it’s like to put on a convention, and we’d love to grow our team! We will have more information regarding volunteer and staff opportunities with our team coming in the next months. If you volunteered last year, you’ll be hearing from our Volunteers team soon regarding interest for 2023.

Social Media and Telegram Announcements

  • Don’t forget to join our Telegram Announcement group for all important announcements - handy for when your timelines are filled with #FursuitFriday posts. You can find the new channel by searching @Anthrocon on Telegram, or this official Telegram link.

  • As always, we will continue to provide as many updates as possible on our website and social media. Make sure you follow us on our Twitter and Facebook for the latest updates.

Banner photo: Hokuloa Luau

Anthrocon 2022 Featured on CBS Pittsburgh

Anthrocon had the opportunity to speak about our upcoming return to Pittsburgh after a 2-year absence, and share what’s new with 2022 and what we’re looking forward to! Watch the full segment below featuring our Public Outreach Director (K.P.) and Digital Services Director (Ronnie).

K.P. and Ronnie speak to KDKA (CBS Pittsburgh) about the upcoming Anthrocon 2022 convention

Anthrocon 2022: 10 Tips Before You Get Here

3 minute read

It’s been some time since many of us have attended a convention, let alone one as busy as Anthrocon. We’re sharing some tips to help you cover the basics of what to do before the convention so you’re well prepared for a weekend in Pittsburgh.

1) Get your COVID and Registration Documents

Remember that with this year’s COVID policy, you’ll need to have one of our accepted documentations to get your registration: a digital or physical proof of full vaccination with approved vaccines, or a certified negative COVID test from a proctored test (not a home test kit). If you’re showing a test, make sure it’s within the timeframe allowed - one day for antigen tests, and three days for PCR tests.

To pick up your badge, you’ll need your government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license or passport) with your name and date of birth. If you’re a minor (under 18) and unaccompanied by parent, make sure you have your Minor Consent form filled out and notarized to show at Registration. Make sure you’ve got everything handy to help speed up the process!

2) Learn what’s changed for 2022

Read up on the changes to locations that you may be familiar with for things such as Registration, which is now in Hall E and accessed from the street-level. We’ve provided a summary of these changes on our Planning Your Arrival page.

3) plan your travel (and backup plans)

If you’re arriving by car, make sure to plan your routes and stops ahead of time to ensure you’ll have areas to rest, re-fuel, and get assistance if needed. If you’re flying into Pittsburgh, make sure you stay informed of your local airport and airline’s travel conditions as you may encounter delays and/or cancellations due to various reasons. Don’t forget our other travel tips on our Travel page.

4) Confirm your rooming arrangements

Double-check your booking details before you arrive so you know when your check-in time is. If you’re planning to room with someone else, whether you’re familiar with them or not, make sure you have all the details that you’ll need to check in and/or get a room key. The last thing you’ll want is to arrive with all your belongings, and no room to put them in.

5) Ensure you’ve got ways to pay

Check that you’ve got enough cash or ways to pay for things, such as a bank or credit card (and with funds on them). There are ATMs and local banks in the immediate convention area if you need more cash while at the convention. For those looking to conserve their spending, try and budget for at least two solid meals a day - the most important part of your convention spending!

6) Check your packing

Make a packing list and double-check everything so you don’t forget to bring something important to the con. Realizing you left something at home can make you feel pretty bad, or in some cases, make the convention difficult to enjoy.

7) Make a schedule

Make a handy schedule with all the places and events you want to see at the convention, whether it’s through the official Sched application or with your own planning method. It’ll save you time and stress doing it at the convention.

8) Familiarize with Pittsburgh’s local area

Learn what’s nearby the convention center and your hotel, such as where the nearest pharmacy or bank is, so you won’t be wondering where to pick up that toothpaste you forgot to pack (see tip #6!). A great place to start is by looking at what’s near the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

9) Follow Anthrocon's official update channels

Follow our main announcement channels for Anthrocon, which are primarily through Twitter and Telegram. Throughout the convention, we’ll be sharing important updates and changes through these channels, but they will not be the only source of information. Refer to our online schedule for panel times, and our website for other details.

10) Share these tips with your friends

Spread these tips around to those that you know are going to Anthrocon, and help them with their preparation! Nothing’s better than knowing you helped a friend with their convention experience. Well, maybe except for getting a hug from them as thanks.

—

Banner photo by Randorn

Anthrocon 2022: It's Almost Here!

3 minute read

After three long years, the buzz of excitement in the air is palpable! With only three weeks left until we descend upon the Steel City, make sure you know everything that’s happening and are fully prepared for the big return.

COVID Policy & Before You Arrive

  • Our COVID Policy is now finalized and will not be revised any further. In order to attend, you must bring documentation proving your vaccine and/or test status and wear a medical mask while in convention space. Review our full COVID policy

  • COVID travel requirements are still applicable depending on how you’re travelling to Anthrocon and/or into the United States. We highly recommend making arrangements now so minimize any chance of issues while you’re travelling. Please refer to your government’s travel resources, as well as the CDC travel website.

  • We’ve provided some additional tips and reminders on our Travel page, which could come in handy when you make your way.

Registration

Registration pick-up will be in Hall E this year, with the COVID check happening in Hall D. The entrance to these Halls will be outdoors and accessed street-level. A map is provided on our Registration page and Planning Your Arrival page.

  • Pre-registration will close on Sunday, June 12th at 11:59 PM Eastern. After that, at-the-door registration will be available starting on June 30th at 2 PM Eastern at the convention center.

  • Refunds for registrations will no longer be accepted after Friday, June 10th. After that point, only rollovers will be offered until June 27th.

Programming

Dealers & Artists

  • The Dealers Room map and list is now available to view on our Dealers section. The page and Dealers list will be finalized on June 12th, once pre-registration ends.

  • Artists Alley sign ups will be closing soon, right after pre-registration closes. Spaces are limited, so don’t wait to sign up on our Artists Alley page.

Charity

  • Bucket Brigade sign ups are now available! Help us raise money for our Charity and have some fun while doing it by signing up on our Bucket Brigade Form.

  • Want to donate something to our Charity Auction or Raffle? Send an email to [email protected] stating what you are donating, your name, your preferred email address if it's different, and details on the donation (what is it, medium, artist/donor, etc.). Your information will be recorded for the convention.

    Donations to the Charity Auction must be submitted by Friday, July 1st at the convention. Your items can be dropped off at the Charity table in our Dealers Room.

Volunteers

We’re always in need of more volunteers to ensure our convention runs as smooth as it can. You can find out what type of volunteering you could be involved with, and what incentives we have based on effort on our Volunteer page.

Social Media & Telegram Announcement Group

  • We have a new Telegram Announcement channel for all updates going forward, and at the con. You can find the new channel by searching @Anthrocon on Telegram, or joining through this link.

  • As always, we will continue to provide as many updates as possible on our website and social media. Make sure you follow us on our Twitter and Facebook for the latest updates.

—

Banner photo by Julia Wolf

Anthrocon 2022: It's Gonna Be May!

2 minute read

Well, it’s already May, and we’re guessing that folks aren’t bringing back the early 2000’s boy-band pop. But we are bringing you another edition of our monthly updates leading up the convention, and with less than two months to go, we want you to be prepared and aware!

COVID Policy

We’ve updated our COVID Policy to reflect the latest discussions and guidance, and provided some more clarity on:

  • Fursuit headless zones now having fans (with additional considerations);

  • Expectations for accessing the convention space;

  • Acceptable types of entry tests and proofs of vaccination.

Read the full policy and its updates on our COVID Policy page.

Telegram Announcement Group

For those are aware of our previous Telegram Announcement Channel, we have re-created a new channel that will be used for all Anthrocon announcements and updates going forward. You can find the new channel by searching @Anthrocon on Telegram, or joining through this link.

Registration

Online pre-registration is available until June 12th, 2022. If you are planning to attend Anthrocon 2022 but haven’t gotten your registration yet, or started preparing any of the necessary documentation you’ll need, make sure you visit our Registration page and learn more about the details and Registration levels.

Preparing for your trip

Depending on where you are and how you’re planning to travel, we’ve got some handy information that could help save you some time and headache. Check out our Ways to Travel and Planning Your Arrival pages!

Overflow Hotel

For those of you still looking for a place to stay during Anthrocon, we now have one final hotel addition to our block - the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown! Booking at this overflow hotel is open until May 30th. You can find more information about accommodations at the Wyndham, along with the booking portal on our Hotel page.

Charity events

We’re looking to keep our legacy of charitable donations going with this year’s Charity events, including our Raffle and Auction! Find out more information and how you can donate/participate on our Charity page.

Programming schedule

Our Programming schedule is now complete! You’ll be able to find our online schedule hosted on Sched. Take a look at the online Programming schedule.

DJ Submissions

If you’re a DJ and looking for your chance to play on one of furry fandom’s largest stages, now’s your opportunity to apply! Find out more information on our Nightly Dances page.

Dealers Room

Our Dealers team is hard at work with finalizing assignments and maps for the Dealers Room this year. You can find their progress and updates on their Twitter account at @AnthroconDealer - once the Dealers Room has been finalized, we’ll also be updating our Dealers page with the latest information.

Volunteers

Conventions wouldn’t be possible without the help of motivated, passionate volunteers. Sounds like you? We’d be happy to hear from you - check out our Volunteers page for more information on what, and how you can help out.

Social Media

As always, don’t forget to follow our social media channels for all the latest updates and announcements on Twitter and Facebook (along with our Telegram announcement channel).

—

Banner photo by Foptography

Anthrocon 2022: April Showers, Fuzzy Flowers!

4 minute read

While our attempt to make the title rhyme might not have been amazing, our efforts to get things ready for Anthrocon 2022 have certainly been nothing short of it! There’s lots to read about as we approach the 2-month mark to our convention.

Anthrocon Block Party

We’re taking our public engagement with city of Pittsburgh one step further and testing out something new for 2022: the Anthrocon Block Party! You can find out more details about the event, along with a short promotional video on our new page.

GOH Announcement: Sardyuon and Sokyokukokoh

We regret to announce that our performing GOH, Sardyuon, is not able to join us for Anthrocon 2022 due to unforeseen circumstances. We look forward to inviting him back for 2023, but we won’t be losing our special guest - his fellow furs from the Land of the Rising Sun, Sokyokukokoh and Hashita Kaoru, will still be in attendance and putting on a spectacular performance during our convention. Check out the new information on our Guests of Honor page!

Charity

  • Charity Donations: Anthrocon is seeking item donations for the charity raffle and charity auction. We are looking for: furry themed art, items, and comics, new clothes or plushies, crafts, fursuits, figures, etc. Items should be new, like new, or well-kept. Find out more information on how you can donate on our Charity page - questions can be directed to [email protected].

  • Charity Staff Recruitment: Charity is seeking several new staff members for the 2022 convention. We are looking for responsible and dedicated individuals who can help watch the charity tables and work with our charity representatives. Please reach out to [email protected] if interested.

Conbook & Advertising Submissions

The final deadline for conbook submissions and advertisements is May 1st. To learn more about what kind of submissions are acceptable, head over to our Conbook section.

Art Show

There's still space available in the Art Show for any artists who haven't already submitted a reservation! If you submitted an Art Show reservation for 2020, it's been rolled over to this year - if you haven't received an acknowledgment, check your spam email folder or any old/alternate email addresses you may have used when submitting the form in 2020, or simply submit a new reservation. Find out more information on our Art Show page. Reservations will remain open until the space fills up.

Programming & Fursuit Events

  • Panels: Panel applicants should be hearing back soon regarding the status of their applications - make sure you check the email that you signed up with! Questions or concerns regarding panel status can be sent to [email protected].

  • Masquerade & Stage Performances: As a test for 2022, we are working on a new way of organizing our main stage performances for a better flow, as well as leaning into the Westin’s Ballroom to host additional performances. We hope this will allow us to showcase as many performers as possible. We will also be opening the Westin Ballroom for an open-mic show to help new performers get practice in front of live audiences.

  • Fursuit Headless Zones: Due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19 and transmissibility of the virus through air circulation, we will not be having fans set up in our Fursuit Headless Zones this year. Additionally, we will be spacing out seating areas to help promote social distancing. We’ll aim to mitigate the heat by keeping Headless Zones cooler, and having more frequent water service.

Fursuit Dance Competition & Floor Wars

Are you looking to sign up for Anthrocon’s most exciting dance events? Whether you’re in fursuit or not, we’re bringing our two most electrifying events back to Pittsburgh. Check out our detail pages for the Fursuit Dance Competition and Floor Wars.

DJ Submissions

For all the talented DJs vying for a spot on Anthrocon’s nightly stage, applications will be available shortly. Keep your eyes out on the @AnthroconDances Twitter account, as well as our Events section of the website!

Volunteers

Anthrocon 2022 is actively looking for volunteers to help make our return as successful as possible. For those that are interested in volunteering, we now have our sign-up form available to fill out. Find out more information and sign up on our Volunteers page!

Telegram announcement channel

For those that may recall our previous Telegram Announcement channel, we’re in the process of creating a new channel for our official Telegram announcements for 2022 and beyond. Once we’ve been able to finalize the new group, we’ll share the link out for everyone to join!