Roadblock -___-

Please don't rant for your first post.... :/ Other then that though.... There are a couple of things you could try to do... like talk to your parents about it. find other furs in the area that may go. and for a suit - make one. And... If you wanted to go to AC which is what this con page is about... it's in PA.

Look into solutions rather then ranting about a problem....

Why do you "need" a fursuit to come to the con?

Out of 2,849 attendees last year, only 353 of them were in the fursuit parade.

 
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#1 Show your parents the "What is Furry" page.
#2 Parents are not required, just their consent if you are under 18, there is a
new FAQ section just for under 18
#3 A fursuit is NOT required!
#4 Can't help you there, working does it for me
#5 Round trip flights are easy to book on-line with a credit card. There will
also be people driving and looking for others to share gas expenses
#6 See "Travelling Info" to the left... over there... <<<
#7 Rooms are still available and there will be a "room share" section of the
forum up in plenty of time for the convention.
#8 Anybody that will let you. Volunteering is one way to meet lots of people
#9 See #5... "Round trip"
#10 See #3.

Go and read the FAQ section if you have not done so, there is plenty of information there. Maybe "Do I need a fursuit to attend?" should be added! (or is it already buried in there?)

Jovina

Few things are "impossible", but many things are DIFFICULT.
If you focus on what you need to do to bypass these obstacles
(things that make something more difficult) and stop calling them
"roadblocks" (things that make something impossible), you may find
solutions.

First of all, there's no rule saying you HAVE to go. If you're a minor,
and can't find a decent job, you can show up in a few years once you can
at least make minimum wage or something.

Ok, on to the list.

If you wait until you're 18, then you can just tell them you're going, nicely.
If you don't wait, you need to get one or the other, or both.
A parent may want to know what there is to do, and especially what it is and
what YOU will do. Rather than panic, consider that you're not the first person
who's had to explain to their family what this is about, and others (like AC)
might have some answers to that.
AC has added an FAQ section a few days ago JUST for minors.
And inside this month, I've posted-more than once-some further links for those
seeking to educate non-furries about AC.

Others may have better answers than both.

Either they become confident you can have a safe time, or they don't.
If they're not confident, try again another year.

If you're wondering where you'll get the money for transit,
why are you even THINKING about a fursuit? Those cost over $1000!
My entire AC'07 budget wouldn't come close to buying a fursuit.
Most AC attendees will NOT have fursuits with them.
Just don't get one. "Roadblock" solved.
Not a problem.

If you don't get a job, kiss the trip goodbye.
If you do get a job, save up a little each paycheck, or save up a lot.

You're somewhere in Wisconsin. If you don't share a ride, you'll either be taking
a Greyhound bus or a plane there. I used Madison, Wisconsin as a guideline.
If you buy the tickets more than 14 days in advance, you can get tickets
from Madison to Pittsburgh-and back-for $90 plus tax; figure about $100 including
tax. It's a long ride, but the cheapest trip. (I saw someone who was over 20
hours on buses to get to AC'07, and this would be a shorter trip.)
If you were flying from Madison to Pittsburgh, you could buy tickets on Travelocity
right now for $269, which will go up as we get closer to the convention.
Various specials in various places will offer lower prices. Since money is an
issue, though, I'd pack some books and a jacket for a pillow, and bus it in.

If you can't save up $100 for bus fare for months away, you are NOT ready to handle
a convention alone this year. Try again when you can.

Information is easy in the internet age. The answers to that are all over the
website and messageboard, and will be discussed as we get closer to the Con.
The parts you will need to find on your own involve how you're getting there
(bus or plane) and where to go for either.
Greyhound has addresses posted on their website.
Airports have their own websites, too.

Not a problem.

If you're not travelling with your family, you almost certainly will need to split
a hotel room. The "roomshare" forum will be open early 2008.
You can also get your own room, but if you're not sure where you'll get the
money to get there, you certainly will need help affording a room.
I'd say most attendees split rooms, so you'd certainly not be alone in that.
A problem, not insurmountable.

There will be TONS of things to do. You can find people interested in the same things
and just hang out with them. Or use any other method of finding people. One method
is to interact on the board, so a few people won't be strangers.
Still, the convention's a pretty safe environment, so you're free to go up to almost
any convention attendee in public and just strike up a conversation.
(It happens a lot, actually.)

It's also fine to travel alone to all events.
Not a problem.

Once you know how you're getting there, you know how you're getting back.
Not a problem.

Since you saved $1000 by not having one, you don't have to worry about it.
Not a problem.

Ok, you can see what you need to focus on. Happy hunting!

Not exactly ranting in my mind.. it gets responses ;D. (another way to manipulate)

And exactly how I wanted. Ty guys I know I have a while but.. x.x

I never said I NEED a fursuit just get one... which I can at mixedcandy.com but..

Again, tx for the motivation ;D.

(holy wow that was a faster response than I thought ;D)

1. Getting the ok to go.

- Remember to do your homework.

2. Getting a parent to go.

Introduce a parent to one of your furry friends, or take your parents to a small gathering. Once they get the idea that we're actually OK people, they should be comfortable with the idea.

3. GETTING A FURSUIT! (omg totally want a fursuit)

This is NOT mandatory, nor should you ever consider it to be. Fursuits are *very* expensive. I've been saving for one for an entire year, and I'm in sales.

4. Getting the money to go.
5. Getting a flight.

Save, save, save. With every dollar you break, take the change that is left over, throw it in a jar or tub somewhere and forget about it. If you save $2-3 a day, you'll have around $800 by the end of the year.

6. Knowing the location to go to.

Airport code "PIT." This is the Pittsburgh International Airport. Make sure to check out the FAQs listed on the left pane of this site.

7. Place to stay. (if I cant get hotel room)
8. If I get there then who will I hang out with? (very shy person unless know the person)

You should see if you can share a suite with a few friends to reduce hotel costs. There are other hotels more distant from the convention centre, or so I've heard, but the amount of money that you'd spend on cab fare would add up.

9. Getting back.

Same way you got there. Cab to the PIT airport. Make sure you flight ticket is round-trip.

10. What to do with the fursuit when im done.

Best people to ask about that:

Tony Ringtail
JD Puppy
Lucky Dog

If need be, you could always pull some funding from the fursuit. Fursuits are great, but better to go in street clothes (which the vast majority will be wearing anyway) than to get the fursuit and not have a con to wear it at. I'll keep my talons crossed for you.

Somehow, i doubt this will be anywhere near as much a barrier as you might imagine. I, too, am actually an intensely shy and easily frightened person iRL, and find it very difficult to meet new people. I had thought that this would be more of an issue than it turned out to be, once i started actually attending.

My suggestions:

--Give yourself permission to take in exactly as much of other folks as you want. Everyone needs a little space to themselves sometimes. I've had moments where my big step towards going out to meet new people is just planning to go hang out in a room where you know that other people are and see what happens. Often nothing happens from that, but that's ok; i'm just allowing myself to ease into things. Take AC at your own pace. No stress.

--Attend a lot of panels, especially the ones with a lot of conversation. It gives you a smaller, more intimate arena in which to meet people, and it starts you out with a topic that interests both of you and a moderator to get the ball rolling. I've met many a random person just by showing up to panels.

--Volunteer! I found helping out with the con to be the best method ever for meeting new people, since it meant that i knew what i was supposed to be doing but also put me in contact with a group of the nicest, friendliest, funniest people, and let me meet them in very small doses (no more than a few at a time). Joking around about the work you're doing can be wonderfully low-stress. Plus all you have to do to get on board with it is show up at con ops when the proverbial bat signal is on, and they'll direct you somewhere where they need help. You might even work enough to get next year's registration free! And isn't it nice to feel useful sometimes?

So those are my thoughts. In addition, i don't know if it helps any, but...I'm often to be found helping with the art show these days, and you're always welcome to come visit with me for a while. Worst thing that could happen is that we'll be a little frazzled there and i'll put you to work checking bags, right? *impishgrin*

Hope that helps. *snugs*