New, and very nervous

There is no need to be nervous. This year was my first Anthrocon, and I must say, it was a blast. I myself don't have any friends that are furry that live anywhere near me, and I ended up having to drive 8 hours from Kentucky to Pittsburgh by myself. However, once I got there, I met up with some very nice friends that I have known online for a couple of years, and I roomed with them and we had a blast. You will make friends very easily, as everyone I met at AC is extremely nice and friendly. I found that going to the zoo really helped ease some of my nervousness. Being around all of those friendly furs and just striking up a conversation will do wonders. I hope to see you at AC next year ^^

What you really have to remember darlin' is that ALL of us, at one point in time, was "new" to this! And speaking from personal expereince, some of us, was Very nervy about coming to AC. That goes away after your first AC, because i was a VERY shy girl about meeting new people..not anymore, not at AC. most of the people here are so nice, and you'll get to know people afore hand here on the boards so you'll have friends before you get there! So much fun! Well, I hope to see you around! -scruffs up the persons fur and heads off-

SunShadow
Mrow-a-purr

this year was also my first AC. Only thign i was nervous at first about was wearing my Fursuit. I got there on saturday and there was no other eople in one so ummm i waited to put mine one til i seen more LOL.

I drove with my family (wife and 2 kids) over from the other side of PA ^_^ had tons of fun and never went anywhere that i felt so accepted. Like others i have no Furry friends. I met one named Orim which lives about 50 miles away from me. He is the closest furry i know to me.

Hope things work out and there is no need to be in the corner. I read somewhere that Takala is shy out of his fursuit but hell playing with him at AC you woudln't think he was. Get a fursuit and be like him ^_^. A fursuit helps cause you are more anonymous and well hehe it is damn fun to be in one.

Many moons ago I went to Anthrocon all by myself and had to take the train. At that point, you had to take a bus from the train to the con. I was experienced with train, but bus was a little daunting.
Fortunately a nice young man waiting at the bus stop asked about one of the pins on my hat and it turned out he was going to Anthrocon as well and had done the train and bus dance before.

That was about four years ago. He lives in another state, so I only get to see him at furry event. But it insanely easy to make friends even if you are an introvert.

Hint: if you can't drive, consider taking the train. It's about 14 hours 'cause you go through Chicago, but odds are good you'll run into other furs on the train because there's really only one train between the two points. From the current schedule, its an overnight train. Get on in the afternoon, switch in Chicago, sleep on train, get off at the con. The convention center is 1 block from train station. Can't miss it.

You can also get a discount on train tickets with the con discount, AAA, or a student fare through StudentAdvantage. (Student Advantage offers the largest discount)

And really, hiding where you're going and what you're doing will make your parents more upset than just coming out with it to start with. In said explanation its probably easier to start with the positive and don't even bother mentioning the bad.
Example: "I want to go to a furry con. What's that? It's a collection of artists that are interested in art with animals. You know, like cartoonists and wildlife painters and authors and even some people that perform in costume. I'll get to meet all kinds of people with all kinds of neat jobs!"

Bad Example: "I want to go to a furry con. What's that? Well they like animals... but not like that... it's not really all about sex. No, its not like that CSI episode! Only some of them like to have sex with stuffed animals!"

Hmmmmm, which con will your parents let you go to... not #2! Once you've gone with explanation #1, don't forget to include that this is an organized event run by responsible adults and there is security around that can help you if you have a problem. (You'll learn to love the security. They're really good and really helpful) You don't have a chaperone, but if there is a problem, there are adults around that can help you sort things out. Parents always expect when you go far away you'll end up getting mugged and they'll steal your shoes and you'll end up with no hotel room and you'll have to sleep in the rain and you won't even have a quarter to call them to come save you...

Parents are funny like that. That there are adults organizing this whole thing is an important detail that will help reassure them.

If possible, before the con see if you can find other furs in your area. Not sure if there's a Michigan fur group, but the one up her in New England has monthly events. There should hopefully be some small meet and greets in your area where you can make some friends. if your parents get to meet these friends that will help a lot.

Ima with you Mew.
I learned about Anthrocon like 2 weeks ago and I loved it.
That was when I decided to go myself.(As long as I dont get deployed somewhere else)
Im in the AF and Im goin to Deleware which Luckily is close to Pennsylvania.
So Im gonna drive (Im 18 too)
And Heck Im nervous too, I plan to go in a fursuit.
Ive been askin alot of questions trying to expect whats to come.
These are good people Mew. They can help.
And from what I learned Anthrocon is extremely friendly.
Youll make good friends so I wouldnt be too worried about that.

-I can't drive yet. My mom says I'm too nervous to drive. could ask my parents, but we aren't exactly the richest family.

Well, it's a valid concern of your parents there. Driving long distances at a young age is difficult- heck, the drive to Anthrocon has been a hard one for me when I was 31!

It is possible to find a ride, but I can understand parental nervousness about that, as well.. "A stranger taking my kid to god-knows-where?"

I wouldn't disguise your intent at all. Present it to your Mom/Dad as a vacation opportunity.. "I think this convention looks really neat. You could come to it too, but you'd probably be bored.. but there's other stuff in Pittsburgh to do, etc."

Be prepared with your answers.. some good recommendations in this thread as to where to point your parents to describe anthrocon. Especially this site.

And every Anthrocon is someone's first Anthrocon. That's why we have a "So this is your First Time at AC!" panel. It's usually easy to make new friends.. especially if you volunteer. Hands-down, volunteering is the fastest way for first-timers to meet new people at the con.

--Chiaroscuro

Thanks for the help guys. I'll try and tell my parents about it, though I'll probably try to get my dad alone first though. He's the kind of guy that would let you go to a party with no supervision, where you know there'll be drinking. But he knows you won't drink and if you do you won't drive home. My mom on the other hand...

And still not sure about the fursuit. I'm still embarrassed when I go to halloween with my nieces. XD

I just talked to my mom about it (my dad was at work) and she said it was okay. We still need to figure out how I'll get there though. And my niece says she wants to come, so I'll have to see if that's okay.

Hehehe...don't worry, dude. I'm turning 18 next year as well, and this will be MY first con, too! I'm really looking forward to going. Perhaps I can be of some help.

As to the nervousness, you, again, do not give any specifics, so I am unable to help.

As to the loneliness, let me know where you will be staying, and I'll try to meet up with you. I'm going to meet up with two of my "brothers" there, so I will probably be with them for the most part, but I feel that I can most certainly make time to help you out. I've met many nervous people in my life, and every one of them, after meeting me, have yet to be nervous around me. I'm a bit odd, but I'm pretty easy to get along with. You give off a kind aura, so you seem to be a pretty nice person. I hope we can work something out and meet some day!

Good luck!

This year was my first time to Anthrocon and my first real convention (i say real con because the first one I went to was... well, rather puny *IGN gaming con*). I, too, am an introvert and I still pretty much was at AC. But that's just who I am. I can't start conversations but I sure can contribute to one!

Even though I didn't meet a whole lot of people, Anthrocon still changed my life. I went through the post-con depression stage as I traveled home, but I cheered up the next day and began planning for my future as a bona fide Furry! I'm even working on getting my very own fursuit (subservient, here I come!).

My only regret... not knowing about this earlier. I envy you, really. Well... now that I think about it, according to 2 you won't be able to do Anthrocon right until you're of legal drinking age, lol. *quotes may not be accurate* "Anyone here drunk? You're doing it wrong! Anybody go to the wrong room? You're doing it wrong!" I am happy to say that I went to the wrong room on the wrong floor. *sniff* I'm so proud.
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OMG! My waffle! Oh, the humanity!